Greetings, I’m thrilled to share my reflections on the recent developments surrounding the pump track project in Battenhall, following last night’s Policy and Economic Development Committee meeting. As a representative of the Liberal Democrats, it was a pivotal moment for me to advocate for a more inclusive and community-oriented approach to decision-making. First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to both the Labour and Conservative groups for their unanimous support with the amendment that sought to make progress on this. The cross-party collaboration demonstrated during the committee meeting was truly inspiring and reinforced the importance of putting community interests above party lines. I also want to express my appreciation for the bravery displayed by Green councillors Hanna Cooper and Katie Collier. In the face of party tensions, Hanna and Katie stood firm on their convictions, demonstrating a commitment to the youth they represent. Additionally, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank colleagues who opposed the motion. I understand the challenges of being in the firing line of resident anger, and I respect the decisions made by those who had reservations. It’s crucial for us, as a council, to collectively address the genuine concerns of residents and work towards a solution that benefits the entire community. While progress has been made, it’s essential to note that the decisions in the committee still need approval at the full council meeting. The road ahead is promising, and I am committed to navigating it with diligence and sensitivity to the concerns of our residents. The consultation process, as it stands, has faced its fair share of challenges. The online survey, in my view, proved to be an inappropriate tool for such a contentious topic like the pump track. I attributed no weight to the survey data, considering it not representative, easy to manipulate, and overall unsuitable for capturing the nuanced views of our community. Instead, I focused on the identified needs in the play plan and relied on my discretion as an elected presentative, coupled with the voices of those around me. It became clear that the residents’ concerns needed a more nuanced and thorough approach. While the progress achieved in the committee is commendable, I firmly believe that officers need to engage more extensively with residents to find a compromise that effectively addresses their concerns. Advocating for young people is a personal commitment for me. It goes beyond political ideologies; it’s about creating spaces and initiatives that contribute positively to the development and well-being of our youth. The pump track project in Battenhall presents an opportunity to achieve just that. Almost three years after the pump track was first proposed, I couldn’t help but worry that postponing the decision until after the election might well kill the idea in an area where there is a considerable need. Time is of the essence, and our community deserves initiatives that address their needs promptly. As we move forward, I encourage officers and fellow councillors to engage in a more robust dialogue with residents. Finding a compromise that addresses concerns and reflects the diverse perspectives of our community is crucial. While progress has been made, the journey to a mutually agreeable solution requires continued collaboration, open communication, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of Battenhall. I look forward to the continued collaboration and dialogue that will shape the future of our community. Warm regards, Councillor Jessie Jagger Liberal Democrats Watch the highlights of the debate right here:
Navigating the Next Steps Against Ash Dieback: Budget Approval Crucial for Warndon Villages and Claines
As Worcester City Council continues its resolute efforts to combat the looming threat of Ash Dieback, significant progress has been made following Councillor Murray’s impactful motion to the full council. The city has not merely acknowledged the urgency of the Ash Dieback issue but has also formulated a comprehensive management plan. This blog post delves into the city’s proactive strategy, with special attention to Warndon Villages and a note on tree removals in Claines. Acknowledging the Widespread Impact: Ash Dieback, a pernicious fungal disease identified in 2012, poses a substantial risk to public safety and the vitality of our cherished ash trees. Councillor Murray’s Motion: Councillor Murray’s motion (which can be found HERE) to the full council has proven instrumental in catalysing a robust response. The city council, recognising the urgency, has crafted a detailed Ash Dieback Management Plan (which you can find HERE). This strategic document delineates a systematic approach and underscores the creation of a specialised team devoted to managing the disease. Commitment to Minimising Removals: A pivotal aspect of the council’s strategy is a resolute commitment to minimising tree removals. The management plan, employing a risk-based approach, allocates resources judiciously to reduce or remove individual trees that pose a high risk to health and safety. This approach ensures that unnecessary removals and prolonged closures of public spaces are avoided, allowing the continued safe enjoyment of our parks, nature reserves, and plantations. Warndon Villages and Claines: Priority Areas: The Ash Dieback Management Plan extends its focus to priority areas, with Warndon Villages taking centre stage. A ‘heat map’ identifies higher-risk zones, including New Plantation Woodland Edge, Warndon Woodland Edge, and Astwood Cemetery. The council has initiated monitoring processes for individual trees that will require eventual removal in these areas. Additionally, it is crucial to note that some trees in Claines had to be removed due to the severity of the disease. The Next Steps: Crucial Budget Approval As the city proactively addresses the Ash Dieback crisis, the next crucial step involves securing the necessary budget for the comprehensive management plan. Officers have identified a pressing need for £65,000 in the first year to execute the proposed strategies. This funding will undergo scrutiny by the Policy and Resources Committee, whose approval is essential for the successful implementation of the plan. It is paramount that this budget is approved to ensure the safety of residents and the preservation of our city’s natural beauty. Annual Review: Emphasising a commitment to adaptability, the Ash Dieback Management Plan will undergo an annual review. This iterative process ensures that strategies remain effective and aligned with the evolving challenges posed by Ash Dieback. Looking Ahead: The forthcoming budget approval represents a critical milestone in the battle against Ash Dieback. The city’s commitment to a proactive stance and robust strategies, coupled with ongoing reviews, underscores its dedication to protecting our environment and ensuring a sustainable future for Worcester. Conclusion: Worcester City Council’s response to Ash Dieback demonstrates a commitment to proactive and comprehensive management. As the city moves towards securing the necessary budget, let us collectively rally behind these initiatives, safeguarding our city’s natural heritage for generations to come. See Councillor Jessie Jagger ask questions of the Council on this topic…..
74,260 people in Worcester waited more than four hours in A&E last year
The number of patients waiting more than four hours in Worcester’s A&Es has risen by 50.7% compared with four years ago, Liberal Democrat analysis of House of Commons Library research reveals. The data showed that across Worcester, 74,260 people waited over four hours in 2023, 24,970 more than in 2019, a 50.7 increase. The data also revealed that the number of patients who waited over 12 hours to be seen in A&E in Worcester rose from 948 in 2019 to 3,372 in 2023. In England as a whole, there were nearly 6.5 million waits of over four hours in 2023, up nearly 3 million since 2019. This comes as Liberal Democrat research revealed that the NHS budget is facing a £4.7 billion cut this year when inflation is taken into account. Conditions can worsen significantly for patients who are not promptly seen, and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has previously estimated that there were 23,003 excess patient deaths in England in 2022 associated with long waits. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to reverse its near £5 billion of real terms cuts to NHS funding over this year and next, and invest more in local health services including A&E. Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Worcester and newly announced Parliamentary Candidate, Mel Allcott, said: “Every year A&E delays keep getting worse under this Conservative government as hospitals in our area are starved of the funding they need. “These appalling delays are leaving often vulnerable and elderly patients in our area waiting for hours on end in overcrowded A&Es. “It is simply unthinkable that Rishi Sunak is now choosing to slash funding for the NHS further, while appalling figures like this are emerging. This will just pour petrol on the flames of the NHS crisis. “Worcester deserves so much better than this Conservative government that is ignoring the suffering of patients and driving our health service into the ground. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to fix the NHS and ensure people can access the care they need.”
Worcester Lib Dems back Proportional Representation Petition
At the present time in the UK we have a myriad of different voting systems, the Welsh and Scottish assemblies have a form of PR, while our electoral system for the Westminster Parliament is the First Past the Post system. So England has a different system for its electorate than Wales and Scotland, yet we are all supposed to be one “United Kingdom” The Liberal Democrats are advocates of Proportional Representation. If the majority of the people are being ignored in our voting system then we don’t have democracy and the majority of the people need to force a change. If you feel the same as we do, please sign this great petition ‘Use Proportional Representation for UK General Elections.’ Also please share the petition with your friends and family and together lets work to get a better and fairer election system that truly represents the will of the people. Go to https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/655171
Liberal Democrats select Mel Allcott as Parliamentary Candidate for Worcester
The Liberal Democrats are pleased to announce that Cllr Mel Allcott has been chosen as their parliamentary candidate for the upcoming general election. With a distinguished track record as both a city and county councillor as well as the civic role of Deputy Mayor, Mel brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to public service. Having dedicated the last decade to serving the city, Mel is driven by a passion for addressing the needs of Worcester. With a focus on putting the community first, she aims to prioritise the interests of Worcester residents above partisan politics. Mel’s extensive experience as a councillor has equipped her with a nuanced understanding of the challenges facing the city. Her dedication to transparency, accountability and collaboration will be instrumental in driving positive change for Worcester. In accepting the nomination, Mel expressed her eagerness to work tirelessly on behalf of the community, emphasising her commitment to ensuring that Worcester’s needs take precedence in political decision-making. The Liberal Democrats believe that Mel’s leadership will bring a fresh perspective to parliamentary representation, one that prioritises the welfare and aspirations of Worcester residents. As the campaign unfolds, Mel looks forward to engaging with the community, listening to concerns and advocating for the positive development of Worcester. Cllr Allcott said “Worcester matters. As Worcester residents we have had too many career politicians who make choices on self-interest. Worcester needs a real voice at Westminster and I am the candidate to make sure we have one”
WLD shares details of new Worcester Nature Programme
The Worcester Liberal Democrats have today shared the details of a new scheme that has been launched to help in the forming or development of natural spaces. The Natural Networks Programme is a Worcestershire-wide scheme offering grants and advice to projects which aim to create or restore wildlife-rich habitats. The programme offers free professional Biodiversity surveys carried out by partners of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust who will assess the project site and make recommendations on how to create or enhance your land to maximise habitats for wildlife. Grants of £1,000 – £15,000 are available (up to 70% of the total project cost will be available to help carry out the recommendations suggested in the survey). Private sector organisations will be expected to match fund at least 50% of the project Public or voluntary sector organisations will be expected to match fund at least 30% of the project The programme aim is to create a natural network of wildlife-rich habitats across Worcestershire that will enhance the quality of our blue and green infrastructure. For those who want more information, visit the webpage HERE
Worcester Liberal Democrats Nature Walk
Worcester Liberal Democrats cordially invite you to join us for a nature walk along part of the Wild about Worcester Way with Paul Snookes, of Worcester Environmental Group, followed by a visit to Waitrose for coffee and cake. Date: Saturday 9th March Time: 10am-12pm (end time is flexible) Where: Bath Road, through Battenhall Park and Redhill up to London Road Distance: 2km with lots of stops to observe and learn about the nature on our doorstep Post-walk coffee and cake: Waitrose, 223 London Road, Worcester WR5 2JG Please meet at the dropped pin here. Parking is available on Bath Road and Ransom Avenue. Please also ensure you dress appropriately for whatever the weather is doing on the day and wear stout footwear. Paul will guide us along the route for 1.5-2 hours and tell us all about the nature that is on our doorstep. We will then meet for refreshments at Waitrose. If you would prefer not to walk back through the park to your car, please let us know and we will make sure we can transport you back. If you would like to make a donation to WEG the bank details are: Worcester Environmental Group 30-98-97 77819560 Please drop us an email if you would like to attend at alisonmorganlibdem@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!
Urgent Call to Preserve Healthcare Access in Worcester
In response to the impending closure of Farrier House Surgery, a vital GP practice in Worcester, residents, and community leaders, including prospective LibDem council candidate Paul Jagger and wife Cllr Jessie Jagger have raised concern after they received a letter telling them their GP practice Farrier House Surgery is set to close its doors on 1st March. The letter cited recruitment challenges and rising costs as insurmountable obstacles. The closure raises concerns about the strain on Worcester’s already overstretched healthcare system and the potential exacerbation of difficulties in securing timely GP appointments. Paul Jagger said “I don’t want to lose my GP. This practice was already overstretched, and if they go, it will get even worse. I know people in the city who struggle to get a GP as it is” Parliamentary spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats Mell Alcott said “ Worcester healthcare is at a critical juncture. Losing more GP practices is not an option. The closure of Farrier House Surgery will only compound the strain we are already experiencing. We need long term solutions to train and retain more doctors” In response to these concerns, the Jaggers have initiated an online petition demanding immediate action to preserve Farrier House Surgery, secure better contracts for GPs, and implement sustainable healthcare solutions. The petition, spearheaded by community leaders and supported by the Liberal Democrats Worcester, aims to draw attention to the urgent need for intervention in safeguarding healthcare access in Worcester. The petition which was created on Change.org and has been supported by Worcester City Councillors Sarah Murray and Karen Lawrance. TO SIGN THE PETITION click HERE
City Councillor Joins Calls for Resignation of Home Secretary
Cllr Sarah Murray has added her voice to calls for the Home Secretary to submit his resignation following reports that he joked about drugging his wife. Cllr Murray said, ‘This shocking behaviour just shows that the Conservative party is not fit to govern. People in authority should lead by example. Spiking drinks is not a laughing matter and anyone who finds humour in it, is demonstrating a total lack of understanding of the serious nature of this crime.’ ‘James Cleverly is not fit to be a Home Secretary. This is just the sort of attitude that perpetuates violence against women and is something I have campaigned to address at a Worcester City Council through the White Ribbon campaign and my motion for the Council to become White Ribbon accredited. It’s because of men like James Cleverly treating serious issues as a laughing matter that we need to keep raising awareness. We need to keep doing this until men like this finally wake up and realise it’s just not funny!’ Councillor Murray tabled a motion at September’s Council meeting which asked Councillors and staff to take the White Ribbon Pledge to never use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women and girls.
Warndon Parish Lib Dem December Newsletter
Dear Resident Christmas is almost upon us, and your local LibDem team have had a busy December. Sarah and John are finishing off residents’ surveys which we started back in the summer, but which were interrupted by the recent by-election. We’ve also been busy participating in community church events. Sarah and John both read lessons at carol services at Woodgreen Church and St Nicholas Church. They are also members of the singing group at St Nicholas and enjoyed performing John Rutter’s Christmas Lullaby at Sunday’s Carols by Candlelight. St Nicholas features on our calendar which we are delivering to all houses in Warndon Parish North. We thought this was particularly relevant this year as, if the Boundary Commission proposals are approved by Parliament, our ward will be changing its name to St Nicholas in 2024. Sarah has been recovering from her second hip replacement of 2023 and so has not been out and about as much as she usually would. She is recovering well and is looking forward to campaigning for the May elections. On City Council matters Sarah has been in contact with officers about a range of issues on behalf of residents including trees, flooding between Tolladine Woods and Harlech Close, hedge trimming, raising a matter on behalf of community nurses, active travel and council tax banding. Ash Dieback In November, Sarah tabled a motion to Worcester City Council, requiring them to take positive action to protect our local woodland from Ash Dieback. The Green party put forward an amendment which watered down the motion and leaves the Council in the position that it was already in. There is currently no Ash Dieback plan and the Council is kicking the can down the road which potentially could cost taxpayers’ money to resolve. Both of your City Ward Councillors (Stephen Hodgson and Sarah Murray) voted against this amendment, but the Green Party and Labour Party Councillors all approved the amendment to delete the positive actions Sarah had proposed. We will continue to campaign to protect our precious woodland. St Paul’s Hostel John Rudge was invited by the Mayor of Worcester to spend an evening at St Paul’s hostel on 7 December, getting to know staff and residents by helping out in the kitchen and serving food. John was impressed by the quality and variety of food on offer and the chef’s commitment to catering for all dietary needs. John found St Paul’s to be professionally run, providing a welcoming and supportive environment to some of our most vulnerable Worcester residents. John is urging anyone who can, to volunteer to support the amazing work undertaken by St Paul’s. Barbara Hopper On Tuesday 19 December, Sarah and John attended the funeral of Barbara Hopper in St Nicholas Church. Barbara was a local historian who wrote about the history of the church and surrounding farm land. She also wrote poetry books and books outlining good local walks; she set up the walking group which leads walks from the Lyppard Hub. Barbara loved singing and was part of the church singing group with Sarah and John. She was also a keen gardener and was full of energy even to the last. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Climate Change As keen environmentalists, Sarah, John and Paul attended an event put on by the ecology group from Worcester Cathedral at the Bishop’s Palace on 7 December, for prospective parliamentary candidates from the four main parties to attend a husting to state their party’s case on all matters ecological. John asked all candidates about their party’s policy on rewilding as a possible solution to so many of the issues being debated, including the issue of flooding in Worcester. None of the candidates seemed very sure whether their party had a policy on the subject. This was disappointing to us as rewilding has so many benefits from improving biodiversity to slowing the flow of water from hills and preventing flooding as a result. John is keen to campaign for politicians to catch up with the pioneering work done by conservationists, reverse the damage that has been done in recent decades and give nature a chance to recover so that we can all benefit from living in a vibrant and rich environment. 2023 Summary We end 2023 with double the number of City Councillors that we had this time last year. We hope to end 2024 with even more. Your votes have helped to put a Liberal Democrat on every Committee at the City Council, providing scrutiny and challenge and bringing the most important issues to the top of the Council’s agenda. As the year draws to a close, all that remains is for us to wish you a peaceful and blessed Christmas and New Year. We will be on hand if you have any issues you need our help with. Join Us You can help us to fight for a better future. Liberal Democrats work hard for communities. We hear your concerns and never take you for granted. That is why we can now boast a membership of more than 90,000 people and that number continues to grow. Liberal Democrat members devise, develop, debate and decide Liberal Democrat policy. Members can get involved through joining policy working groups, responding to consultations and attending conferences. If you would like to join our growing membership you can do so here. A portion of your membership fees will go directly to our local party and help us to gain even more seats in future elections. You would be joining a local team of motivated individuals who all want to campaign for a fairer deal for residents, their families and friends. We hope you will consider joining us. Volunteer If you can spare an hour or two each month and would like to help us win locally, perhaps you’d be happy to deliver for us in your street. The more deliverers we have, the more time we can spend talking to our neighbours and persuading them to vote for us next May. If you can’t deliver, perhaps you would enjoy getting involved in other administrative tasks. You might even want to join our canvassing team and come out knocking on doors with us. If you’d like to help, please let me know. If you have any problems or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Cllr Sarah Murray – sarahmurraylibdem@gmail.com Cllr John Rudge – rudge.john@yahoo.com Paul Jagger – pauljaggs@me.com Kind regards Sarah, John and Paul
