Worcestershire County Council has today voted to support a new Healthcare Worker Parking Permit scheme, following a campaign led by Worcester City Councillor Sarah Murray (Lib Dem, St Nicholas). The decision comes after more than 440 residents signed a petition calling for fair treatment for community nurses and healthcare staff, who currently risk parking fines while visiting patients in their homes — including end-of-life care visits and urgent interventions. Cllr Sarah Murray said: “This is about fairness and common sense. Healthcare workers should be able to spend their time with patients, not worrying about parking fines. I’m proud that today Worcestershire has shown it values the people who deliver vital care in our communities.” Cllr Mel Allcott (Lib Dem), who proposed the motion, said: “I was proud to bring this motion forward on behalf of healthcare workers and the residents who rely on them. The stories we’ve heard from nurses and carers make it clear that the current situation is unfair and unsafe. This scheme will make a real difference.” Debbie Handley, a local nursing manager who addressed councillors during the debate, said: “This decision is a huge relief for healthcare workers. It means we can reach patients more quickly and focus on providing care without the added stress of parking fines.”
Worcester Lib Dems to propose motion for Healthcare Worker Parking Permits
Worcestershire County Councillors will this week debate a motion to introduce a Healthcare Worker Parking Permit scheme, following a long-running campaign by Worcester City Councillor Sarah Murray (Lib Dem, St Nicholas). The motion will be debated at the Full Council meeting on Thursday 11 September. Over 440 residents have signed a petition backing the scheme, with nurses and healthcare staff describing the daily struggle of parking while delivering essential care in the community. Testimony includes reports of fines received while attending patients, and the risks of walking long distances with heavy equipment — sometimes at night, sometimes to end-of-life patients. Cllr Sarah Murray said: “Healthcare workers should not be punished for delivering care in our communities. I hope councillors across the chamber will back this motion on Thursday.” The motion will be proposed by Cllr Mel Allcott (Lib Dem, Worcester), with Debbie Handley, a local nursing manager, attending to address councillors directly.
SARAHS BLOG: “Those who do not remember the past…..”
Operation Raise the Colours has left me uneasy. I have no objection to our national flag being flown when appropriate — on civic buildings, at Jubilees, Coronations, Royal Weddings, or great sporting moments. I am proud of our nation and happily wave the flag when the occasion calls for it. But to see flags hung from every other lamppost across Worcester, with no special event to mark, feels excessive. Like too many sweets, what begins as enjoyable is starting to feel a little sickly. I have recently returned from visiting Dresden, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Kraków (including Auschwitz), and Berlin. Each city is filled with reminders of the horrors of the Second World War and the Holocaust. The memorial of shoes on the Danube in Budapest was profoundly moving. Auschwitz itself was almost beyond comprehension. On the walls of one hut I read two quotes that have stayed with me: “We must free the German nation of Poles, Russians, Jews and Gypsies.” George Santayana’s famous warning: “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The Holocaust did not begin in the gas chambers — it began with words, symbols, and the slow normalisation of hate. That is why I feel uneasy when I see a proliferation of flags with no occasion to justify them. It is not the flag itself I fear — it is what such saturation of symbolism has meant in darker chapters of history. In pre-war Germany, flags were not flown to celebrate, but to condition. To me, true patriotism is not measured by how many flags line a street. It is shown in how we care for one another and our shared community. As a City Councillor, a magistrate, a special educational needs teacher, a Trustee of a community centre, the organiser of a volunteer litter-picking group, a campaigner against domestic abuse, and Worcester City Council’s Member Champion for Personal Safety and Civility in Public Office, I try to live that out daily. Serving others, supporting those in need, and working for fairness and safety is, in my view, a far more powerful statement of love for one’s country than a thousand banners on a lamppost. I love my country. But I do not wish Worcester to start resembling something it should never be. Patriotism is best expressed not by the sheer number of flags, but by how we remember our history and uphold the values of freedom, tolerance and dignity for all.
Worcester Liberal Democrats: “Protesting is not the same as sitting on your hands. We are standing against the erosion of local democracy”
At yesterday’s (2nd Sep) council meeting, Worcester Liberal Democrat councillors voiced strong opposition to government-driven plans to abolish Worcester City Council as part of local government reorganisation. Speaking after the debate, Liberal Democrat Co-Group Leader Jessie Jagger said: “First, I want to thank our officers for their work on this report, and also thank our Labour and Green colleagues here in Worcester for engaging openly with us. As Liberal Democrats we have taken part in this process in good faith. But what we are being asked to do tonight is not a real choice. Both options abolish Worcester City Council and take the local voice further away from the people we represent. If pressed, we recognise that two authorities with shared services is the least damaging option – but what is the point when the County Council has already spent £350,000 on PwC consultants to make the case for one giant authority? This consultation feels like it has been designed to defend a foregone conclusion.” The group highlighted serious flaws in the financial case being presented for reorganisation. The Liberal Democrats also raised concerns about new powers contained in the government’s English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (2025). “This Bill doesn’t just invite councils to reorganise – it gives Ministers the power to direct us to submit proposals. Either we do what we are told, or we are told anyway. That strips local democracy away with the stroke of a pen. We are being ordered by a minister. We do not have a choice ” On the proposed introduction of “super mayors”, the group warned that the new roles could hand unprecedented powers to one individual. “Ministers assume these posts will always be held by progressives. That is dangerously naïve. A populist could sweep in and hold more power than any Member of Parliament, with fewer checks and balances.” The Worcester Liberal Democrat group confirmed they would abstain on all votes yesterday as an act of protest.
Cllr Rudge Urges Dog Owners to Keep Pavements Clean
Cllr John Rudge has appeared in the local media recently in a plea to dog owners in Warndon Villages. The frustrated councillor was forced to clear up around 20 bags of dog mess on a short walk around Corfe Avenue just recently and took to the Worcester News to complain about what he sees as a lazy attitude among some canine owners. Failure to pick up after your dog can result in a £70 on the spot fine but can cost up to £1,000 if the case goes to court. Cllr Rudge, also a Warndon Villages Parish councillor and deputy portfolio holder for the environment is himself a dog owner and said he believed it was a selfish minority of dog walkers that were responsible. Cllr Rudge, said there were four dog bins ‘within a small area’ around Corfe Avenue and Hastings Drive, He added: “People just don’t want to make the effort to walk another 50 metres at most. They know if their dog poos and they’re seen not to pick it up, they will be in trouble so they take the bag with them, pick it up rather than be caught red-handed. But as soon as they see no-one is looking, they chuck it in the hedge which is a real shame.” “A minority of people either don’t know or don’t recognise how antisocial the behaviour is. For example, residents in Corfe Avenue have reported a very unpleasant smell in the summer that wafts across their garden.”
‘Youth Engagement Matters’
Worcester’s former Mayor, Cllr Mel Allcott is continuing in her promotion of the theme ‘Youth Matters’, a cause which she championed during her mayoralty. This Summer, Mel donated to the Youth Engagement Partnership and has been able to spend some time with its director, Peter Martin on site at Redditch Self Defence. One of the things that stood out for the Lib Dem councillor was a course entitled “Jab don’t Stab”. These free classes are offered to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people at risk of offending. It is given to young people who are referred to it because they will fit a strict criteria and is performed in a non-contact gym setting. Cllr Allcott said Mr Martin was a real inspiration with all the youth safety work he does and was not surprised he had received the West Mercia High Sheriff Award, the BBC Make a Difference Trophy. He has also won the Community Hero Business award, has received two Quality Policing Awards as well as the Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister. The money will be used to provide education to young people on the dangers of knife crime within the county. The education will include the consequences of being involved with knife crime and the impact on communities. Sessions will also reassure young people that Worcestershire is a safe place. Cllr Allcott is also using the opportunity to raise awareness of the Bleed Kit Campaign that Mr Martin is running. Bleed kits provide vital aid in preventing severe blood loss from traumatic injuries such as stabbings, accidents and falls. Once purchased and sited, their location is stored in a national database and accessed by 999 operators. If anyone is involved in an emergency and call 999 and a Bleed Kit is nearby they will direct you as appropriate. These inexpensive kits are endorsed by West Midlands Ambulance Service and allow bystanders to control severe blood loss before an ambulance arrives. You can find details about the campaign by going to https://redditchselfdefence.co.uk/bleed-kit-campaign/
‘Patriots’ Don’t Know Which Way Is Up
Liberal Democrat campaigner Paul Jagger has poked fun at the so-called “Raise the Colours” campaign after spotting that a majority of the Union Flags outside Perdiswell have been put up the wrong way up. A photo taken this week clearly shows one of the flags flying upside down — traditionally used as a maritime distress signal. “The Union Flag has been flown the wrong way up on most of the poles,” Paul said. “Traditionally, that’s actually a distress signal – so perhaps it’s more accurate than they intended!” He added: “If you’re going to wrap yourself in patriotism, the least you can do is know which way up the flag goes. Getting it wrong doesn’t show national pride – it shows national parody. And to those who genuinely care about our heritage, this kind of ignorance is more insulting than patriotic. Maybe these self-styled patriots need to do their homework.” Paul stressed that Worcester has every reason to be proud of its community and heritage, but suggested that the flag-raisers might want to brush up on the basics before telling others what patriotism looks like.
“Worcester Deserves Better Than Delay and Disrespect,” Say Lib Dems
The Worcester Liberal Democrats have responded to comments from Cllr David Taylor, Deputy Leader of Worcestershire County Council, (Worcester News Story HERE) accusing the Reform-led administration of making excuses and dragging its feet over the future of local government in the county. Liberal Democrat Co-Leader, Cllr Jessie Jagger, said: “While residents face rising costs and local services are under pressure, the administration seems unable — or unwilling — to make a decision. It’s hard not to notice that as summer holidays rolls on, there’s a distinct lack of urgency.” Reform has cited a lack of detail from the districts as the reason for delay, but the Liberal Democrats say Worcester and its neighbouring councils have not been treated as equal partners in the process. “District voices have been sidelined. This isn’t how good governance works. Residents deserve transparency and respect, not a top-down approach that shuts them out,” Cllr Jagger said. The Lib Dems also warned against the push for a single unitary authority, calling it the “cheap option” that would risk erasing Worcester’s identity and voice. “We cannot allow a cut-price solution to wipe away centuries of local heritage. Nobody wants to see the Guildhall turned into a nail parlour. If Worcester is absorbed into a distant mega-authority, we lose the ability to shape our future and protect what makes our city special.” With final proposals due to go to government in November, the Liberal Democrats are calling for clarity, urgency, and real leadership. “Worcester can’t afford to wait for politicians to return from their summer break to start having serious conversations. This is too important. Reform need to step up.”
Lib Dems Demand Transparency Over Devolution Spending
The Worcester Liberal Democrats are calling on the Reform administration to provide clarity on its devolution plans and to reveal how much public money has been spent on consultants exploring these proposals. Liberal Democrat Co-Leader, Cllr Jessie Jagger, has submitted a Freedom of Information request to uncover the total amount spent, committed, and expected to be spent on consultancy work linked to devolution since the last local election. Cllr Jagger said: “Reform doesn’t seem to know what direction it wants to take – one week it talks about a single unitary authority, the next it hints at two. This uncertainty risks wasting taxpayers’ money, and residents deserve to know how much is being spent on consultants rather than improving local services. So much for promises of cutting waste and being accountable.” The Liberal Democrats have warned that any devolution deal must protect local democracy and ensure vital services, such as waste collection, remain under strong and local oversight. “We need a clear plan, not mixed messages,” Cllr Jagger added. “As Liberal Democrats, we will keep challenging this confusion and push for full transparency on how public money is used.”
Campaigner Raises Safety Concerns on Cherry Tree Walk and Infirmary Walk
Local campaigner Paul Jagger has raised concerns about safety on Cherry Tree Walk and Infirmary Walk, describing the area as “chaotic and unwelcoming” for pedestrians. Paul, who regularly uses the route with his elderly mother in a wheelchair and his baby daughter in a sling, has highlighted how confused drivers often end up in Infirmary Walk, unaware that it is a dead end. This frequently results in cars trying to reverse out of narrow spaces, putting pedestrians at risk. Paul Jagger said: “This route should be one of the most welcoming entrances to Worcester, but instead it feels unsafe. Too many drivers are ending up in the wrong place, often having to reverse around pedestrians. It’s not just inconvenient — it’s dangerous.” Paul has spoken to businesses along Cherry Tree Walk, many of whom would like to see the area prioritised for pedestrians and local residents, with fewer unnecessary vehicles. In addition to safety concerns, Paul has pointed out the neglected appearance of the area, with weeds growing over the railway arches and a general lack of upkeep. “This is the first impression many visitors get of Worcester, and right now it’s not a good one. With a few simple changes, this could be a much safer and more attractive part of the city,” Paul added.
