In a few short weeks the country goes back to the polls, and this time it’s the Big One! On July the 4th the country will make their voices heard on who gets to run the country in the General Election. In Worcester fighting for the Lib Dems is Councillor Mel Allcott. With an impeccable record in Council, Mel has been a dedicated champion for the people of Claines over the years, which was reflected in her receiving the highest votes of any single candidate across Worcester in the recent city elections. It’s one thing reading the headlines, but quite another seeing the person. So here is the lady herself, in her own words. Meet the Candidate: Mel Allcott!
COUNCILLOR MEL ALLCOTT READY FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION
COUNCILLOR MEL ALLCOTT READY FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION At 5pm on the 22nd May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak finally announced that the UK would have a general election on the 4th of July. After months of dithering and delay in a futile attempt to improve their constantly bad numbers, No. 10 finally threw in the towel and called the inevitable. After a battering in the recent local elections leaving the Conservatives third in council seat numbers, Rishi’s plan to count on voter apathy to help stem their losses was only too plain to see for anyone involved. At 5.01pm Councillor Mel Allcott, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Worcester was ready. “It’s about time we had an election. Change is needed and now is the time,” said Councillor Allcott. “Rishi may take credit for inflation going down but its minimal comfort for those with high mortgages. People are sick of being taken for granted and the government cannot take credit for anything. The inflation drop, would have happened anyway regardless. Meanwhile priorities to the public have been left to fester. The NHS has been turned into a shell of its former self. Clapping on doorsteps did nothing during Covid to help those workers do their jobs. Instead, we’ve seen closures like that of Farrier House GP surgery and the 40 new hospitals they promised are nowhere to be found. The cost of living has skyrocketed, with inflation being out of control since Liz Truss was given the reigns. Let’s not forget that the Prime Minister lost in a leadership election to Ms Truss as well. He was considered by his own party to be WORSE than she was. Then when it turned out she was way out of her depth, he came in through the back door. Members of the Tory party including Worcester’s very own Robin Walker have just toed the line in voting-through policies that have ruined our standing in the world as well as been damaging to the environment and the country we live in. Take their recent vote to allow sewage dumping into the rivers in Worcester. That saw a shocking 101% rise in the duration of sewage spills compared to the previous year. An analysis on official data from the Environment Agency, compiled by the House of Commons Library revealed that sewage was dumped into waterways in Worcester for 2,171 hours in 2023. The Tories have lost control of the country and have been pretty much asleep at the wheel for years. They never acted unless it benefitted their rich donors and friends as we saw during the PPE scandal during the Covid pandemic. Meanwhile MPs like Worcester’s Robin Walker were forced to stand by and say nothing, being made to vote along party lines like their bosses told them to. Robin was less an MP and more an errand boy. No wonder he’s now stepping down.” Mel Allcott has for years been a stalwart of the Worcester politics scene since she became a City Councillor in 20XX for the ward of Claines. She quickly rose in status and took the county council seat in 20XX seeing her vote share increase each time. In 2024”s city council election she was without a doubt the most popular candidate across all the wards in Worcester, garnering 1,798 votes, the most by any single candidate. “Winning that amount of votes was humbling” said Cllr Allcott. “I never take any election for granted, but seeing those figures as well as the votes for my colleagues across Worcester was extremely gratifying. It showed to us that the Lib Dems in Worcester have a real support for what we stand for. Those who voted Conservative but have become disillusioned with their antics over the last 14 years have begun to turn to us and believe that what we are doing is the way to move Worcester forwards.” In response to the election finally being called, Mel had only one thing to say: “Bring it on. Its time this Tory calamity was brought to an end and as the Liberal Democrat Candidate for Worcester I am ready to step up to that plate and deliver what the voters want: Strong Representation by a candidate from Worcester who delivers for the people of Worcester.”
Meet the Councillor: John Rudge
In one of the standout results of the City Council elections, The Worcester Lib Dems welcomed to the fold its newest Councillor, John Rudge. Those in the St Nicholas area (formerly Warndon Parish North) were already familiar with Cllr Rudge as he’d been a hard working member in the Parish Council over the last few years. Fighting off some stiff competition he joins the City Council team for the first time creating a formidable duo with Cllr Sarah Murray and giving the WLD five seats, the highest number to date. Heres a bit more about the man himself: 1.Name: John (Rudge) 2. DOB: 08/04 3. E-mail: rudge.john@yahoo.com 4. Birthplace: Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. 5. Where do you Live? St. Nicholas – Corfe Avenue 6. Role/Title for WLD? St Nicholas City Councillor 7. When did you join the Lib Dem’s? 2016 8. Favourite Colour: Burgundy 9. Favourite Film: Shawshank Redemption 10. Favourite Song: Purple Rain 11. Favourite TV Show: ‘You’ 12. What would you do if you won the Lottery? It’d be spent on setting up a nature reserve next to the river Wye just outside Ross. 13. Tea or Coffee? Coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon! 🙂 14. Tell us an Interesting fact about yourself? I was interviewed by Phil Tufnell for the BBC highlights of the recent Oval Test! 15. If you could meet any famous person (past or present) who would it be and why? Sinead O’Connor, or Prince. Would love to do a duet with either or, ideally, both! 16. What’s so good about Worcester? Worcester is unpretentious and genuine. Big enough to have most things to hand but small enough to get round easily. The Worcester Liberal Democrats want to make a real difference and you could be a part of it too! If you or anyone you know would like to join the team just click on the below link and from as little as £15 a year you can help shape the future of the Lib Dems in Worcester and beyond. Go to https://libdems.my.salesforce-sites.com/LiberalDemocrats/NewMemberLocal’ or see our link in the bio!
The Fab Four becomes FIVE!!
The Worcester Liberal Democrats were in celebration mode over the weekend after receiving some tremendous results in the City Council elections. The party saw their hard work for the residents of Claines recognised with three thumping victories for Councillors Mel Allcott, Jessie Jagger and Karen Lawrance. Coun Mel Allcott also gained the single most votes by any candidate, with 1,798 people putting a tick next to her name. WLD also saw their efforts in St Nicholas recognised (formerly Warndon Parish North), with Councillor Sarah Murray being re-elected. But thanks to his considerable efforts as a Parish Councillor, John Rudge was also elected to join Cllr Murray creating a formidable duo for the area. Mel Allcott (who is also standing in the General Election) said the result showed the party was going in the right direction by making sensible moves and slowly moving across the city. “Looking across the wards not everyone wants to make that move from the Tories to Labour and we can offer a home for them, we’re very centrist. “People can expect to be looked after, we are focused on transport, the environment and housing as well as the NHS which has been neglected for far too long. We will use a democratic approach and listen to our residents, not just tell them what the agenda is. “We have listened to people and it has worked, the results are in the majority we have in Claines.” Special mention had to go to John Renshaw, who in his third election saw a huge increase in his personal vote seeing him come in third in St Peter’s. John said ‘I’m delighted with the increase in my personal vote. The two Lib Dem candidates outpolled the two Conservative candidates in St Peter’s and now move into second place behind the Green Party. That’s real progress.’
SARAHS BLOG: ELECTION TIME AND REFLECTIONS
As the 2nd May election draws closer I am reflecting back on the challenges and successes of my year in office at Worcester Guildhall. At my first full Council meeting we were presented with a proposal to use harmful astroturf on an all weather football pitch. Knowing that this would kill the life beneath it, had cancer causing properties and was a material about to be banned in Europe, the LibDem team did not feel it was in the best interests of the people of Worcester to vote for this. I was therefore shocked that every other group of councillors at that meeting voted in favour. At my second meeting I put forward two motions. One asked the Council to pledge its commitment to the White Ribbon campaign to promote a life free from fear of violence for women and girls. The motion also raised questions about backlogs in Courts. However, the Conservatives voted against it saying that there were no backlogs! The second motion was about road policing and asked the Council to write to the Home Office about vehicles speeding around Warndon Villages late at night and the lack of resources we had to tackle it. The response from the Home Office was that it fell in the remit of the Police and Crime Commissioner. That was when I first began to think I could do a better job than the current PCC. Now I am standing for that very position which is also electedon the 2nd May 2024. In October I put forward a motion about Ash Dieback. The reason for this was that in spite of the efforts of the late Cllr Andy Roberts, the can was being kicked further and further down the road. Thankfully a plan is now in place which means that the disease can be sensitively managed and hopefully save some of Worcester’s trees. As well as these motions, I have worked on many issues for residents of St. Nics. We have worked hard to achieve the best outcomes. Trees have been cut back, gates installed in play areas and street lights have been repaired to name just a few. We are delighted to report that council officers have secured funding for the restoration of the Offerton Lane Nature Reserve Ponds and will be working to clear the ditches and watercourses that drain into these ponds, which in turn should alleviate a lot of the surface water across Warndon Villages. I look forward to the elections on 2 May and my greatest wish is that my friend and colleague, John Rudge will be elected to join our team on the Council so we can work even more effectively to get things done for the residents of St.Nicholas. We always aim to provide sensible solutions as well as scrutiny and challenge to any decisions by the Council. We promised to work for you in the last election. That is what we have done and that is what we will continue to do.
JESSIES BLOG: The Red Flags of “The People’s Scala”: An In-Depth Analysis by Cllr Jessie Jagger
Background In 2018, the Government launched the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) to revitalise town centres and create jobs nationwide. In December 2020, the Council secured £17.9 million from the FHSF for the Blackfriars area regeneration, with £6.517 million initially earmarked for the Scala/Corn Exchange project. However, by December 13, 2022, construction cost increases and material shortages necessitated reallocating £6 million from other FHSF programs. Now this money cannot be used for healthcare, services, or anything else. It can only be used for “capital investment”, that is buying and renovating buildings (excuse the teacher simplifying everything). So, the initial plan conceived by the Conservative-led council was a grand 500-seat theatre, but spiralling costs saw this project scaled back. Consequently, the Scala Project underwent a transformation under the Green-Labour joint leadership in 2023-2024, re-emerging as “The People’s Scala” (as this was described in a recent Labour party leaflet in Cathedral ward) – a multi-purpose community arts hub. Back in 2020, a consultant was hired to carry out a financial viability report. As part of that process, they produced the table below to evaluate each option which included the theatre and the Arts Hub, and this is how the council reached a decision on the theatre. However, it soon became evident that option 5 could not be accomplished within budget leaving the council searching for a new solution. The Scala Project costs to date. I submitted some questions through the Policy and Resources committee, and I received answers at the last meeting. I have done my best to summarise some of those answers here. The spend as of (31 December 2023) is £4,305,263. This includes acquisition costs, including all fees and charges, of £1,824,080, and re-location costs of £980,509 (getting the business that was there to move next door). A further £1,500,674 has been spent on consultants and other professional services as outlined below. I will make no comments on these costs and let you the reader decide if this is expensive considering all we have right now is two unusable empty buildings. While it could be said that most of this expenditure was incurred under the previous administration, the new Green-Labour administration took a “new approach” which involved hiring another consultant to run focus groups, surveys, and one-to-one interviews in hope of finding a new way forward. However, the outcome of this endeavour was merely the re-packaging of the art-hub option that was considered in 2020, without addressing any of the concerns that were raised then. My issue with The People’s Scala: Back in 2020, one of the very expensive consultants the council hired evaluated the arts-hub idea. Now, I had some issues with the methodology of some of that initial consultation, but I will not bore you with that. The point is that back in 2020 they highlighted fundamental hurdles, particularly concerning leadership, coordination, and venue management. Quoting directly from the report: “The co-location of the various artists and organisations could be a powerful audience development tool which enables more people to engage with the arts and particularly cutting edge, contemporary and experimental art. On the other hand, Section 4 describes how audiences in Worcester have mainstream interests and it could be that the community arts hub appeals to a narrow but engaged section of the population. In order to be financially sustainable, the venue would need to programme commercially which could have a detrimental effect on other venues in the city (Swan, Huntingdon Hall and Marrs Bar).” “Discussions with both Severn Arts and Worcester Arts Workshop were very positive, and they could see the merits of such a proposal. The challenge however would be in leadership, co-ordination and overall management of the venue. This would probably require one of the organisations to take an overall lead and responsibility for the venue (unlikely and too risky for most) or the council taking on the management of the venue and co-ordinating the tenants. Significant rental income is unlikely to be forthcoming from these organisations further reinforcing the need for a commercial events programme which, as stated above, could squeeze other venues in the city and affect their viability.” With regards to the questions as to whether a community arts hub would create an ongoing burden on the council, the report in 2020 concluded: [burden on the council is] “Likely to be significant and unlikely to come from anywhere but the council in the short term unless a bid to Arts Council was made as a new NPO (national portfolio organisation).” Despite this assessment four years ago, the Green-Labour lead council have hired yet another consultant who carried out a social science consultation resulting in the same idea, with some of the same players, but without any indication of how they will mitigate the risks that were clearly laid out four years ago. I have a lot of issues with the methodology in the second consultation, which I will not bore you with; I will only say that the process is vulnerable to selection and confirmation bias and is an inappropriate tool for assessingfinancial risk. While the initial consultants in 2020 were not flawless, their words have already been proven true. Despite pressure from me at the different meetings, I still have not seen a business plan or model of how The People’s Scala will work. So far, it looks like the council will have to run it and pay for it. In fact, in a year where the council has had to cut services and budgets, the Labour-Green led-council is asking for £80,000to be spent on the running of The People’s Scala and that is just for the first year. As far as I am aware, nobody knows if this project will ever be able to pay its own bills. The Art House Cinema Proposal: Anyone who has heard me speak at council meetings will know I had to declare an interest saying something to the effect that I was involved in helping someone put forward a proposal
35% increase in sewage dumps by SEVERN TRENT last year
New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Severn Trent which covers Worcester discharged sewage a staggering 60,253 times last year, a 35% rise compared to in 2022. Worcester Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers, including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator. The party has also called for a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways. Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis, including MP for Worcester, Robin Walker. Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Worcester and Parliamentary candidate Mel Allcott said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into Worcester’s rivers and waterways. “Our community should not be forced to put up with this any longer yet time and again this Conservative government has voted against tougher action on sewage dumping. “Here in Worcester, the Liberal Democrats have been leading the way in holding water companies to account and have called for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local rivers. We need to see a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways and our local community is protected from this filth.”
JESSIES BLOG: Sabrina Play Area Update.
I wanted to take a moment to address an important matter concerning the safety of our community’s play areas. Currently, 35 out of 45 of our Play Areas in Worcester have a wet pour safety surface, and repairs are needed at a significant number of these locations. As your councillor, ensuring the safety of our children while they play is of utmost importance to me. To address this issue following question of members of the community. I visited the site yesterday and have contacted a member of the Works Unit, who is currently focusing on play maintenance, to compile a detailed schedule of all the surface repair works required across our city. This comprehensive schedule will allow us to go out to procurement and appoint a single contractor to complete all the necessary repairs. However, I want to be transparent with you – resolving this issue will take time. Creating a detailed schedule of works, including photographic evidence of every task, to be included in the specification/scope of works is a meticulous process. But please rest assured that we are committed to ensuring that our play areas meet the highest safety standards for our children. Therefore, I kindly ask for your patience and understanding as we work through this process of identifying and addressing the repairs needed in the first instance. Your safety and the safety of our children remain our top priority, and we are dedicated to resolving this issue as efficiently and effectively as possible. Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work towards making our community a safer place for everyone. Best regards, Jessie Jagger Councillor for Claines
Karen at Work: Repairing Vandalised Bus Shelter
In a recent victory for the community, the Claines Liberal Democrat team successfully campaigned to repair a vandalised bus shelter. At a time when the City Council proposed replacing it with a mere bus stop, our team, led by Karen Lawrance, stepped in to preserve this vital amenity. “This is an exposed site, and it’s important that people have somewhere to sit out of the weather whilst waiting for the bus,” Karen emphasised. Thanks to Karen’s dedication and our team’s persistence, commuters can have a sheltered spot to wait for their bus, rain or shine. It’s another testament to our commitment to prioritising the needs of our community and ensuring that everyone has access to essential services.
Karen at Work: Lib Dems Championing Elderly Residents
In 2021, residents of Noele Court found themselves grappling with a daunting challenge—a 12-day elevator breakdown. Amidst the frustration and concern, one individual stepped up to champion their cause: Cllr Karen Lawrance. Not just any councillor, Karen brings a unique perspective to the table as an engineer, equipped with the expertise to understand the technical nuances of such issues. Karen wasted no time in taking action. Recognising the urgency of the situation, she launched a vigorous campaign for urgent repairs to the elevator. But her efforts didn’t stop there. Karen also took the fight to the council chambers, where she challenged Sanctuary Housing’s maintenance approach. Her impassioned advocacy and technical insights led to significant changes in how maintenance was handled. As a result of Karen’s work, Sanctuary Housing revamped its maintenance strategy, bringing it in-house. Moreover, the company initiated nationwide elevator assessments to proactively identify and address potential issues, thus preventing future incidents. This proactive approach underscores the commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of older residents—a commitment that resonates deeply with the values of the Liberal Democrats. The story of Noele Court serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of having Lib Dem voices represented on every committee. It’s not just about policy—it’s about real people facing real challenges. With individuals like Karen, the Liberal Democrats continue to stand as staunch advocates for the most vulnerable members of our community.
