logo
What does Worcestershire's local election mean for town centres?

What does Worcestershire's local election mean for town centres?

BBC News25-04-2025

We are often told to "spend local" and support the local economy - but what do Worcestershire's five main political parties think about the future of the county's high streets?The Labour government has insisted it is working to stabilise public finances and is "focused on creating opportunities for businesses", but recent rises in the minimum wage and employers' National Insurance (NI) contributions have been met with some trepidation from small businesses.Ahead of the forthcoming county council election, Sarah Turner, who runs Mad Hatters Tea Room in Bromsgrove, asked what steps each party would take to ensure the survival of businesses like hers.We put her question to them.
Labour's Beverley Nielsen described Worcestershire's high streets as "essential" to the local economy - and claimed independent businesses were doing "very well"."We are actually supporting local businesses through shared prosperity funding, which is providing grants to local businesses and across Worcestershire, but we're [also] providing, as district councils, funding for retail improvements."On the issue of the rise in NI, Nielsen compared the current situation to that under Liz Truss' premiership."You're talking about national economics there and basically trying to have a budget that inspires confidence in the markets," she said. "That's something we've had to do. It is actually working at the moment. And we have seen the impact of when governments do things very rash."
The current Conservative leader of the council, Simon Geraghty, cited the authority's decision to retain local enterprise partnerships, which see businesses work with other sectors to stimulate the economy.He said that had led to a 25% growth in the economy and the creation of 28,000 jobs."We're bringing forward housing, economic activity [and] looking to improve rail services and connectivity."He pointed towards the development of the Worcester 6 business park and the regeneration of Shrub Hill, the council's work in Malvern Hills Science Park to create higher paid jobs, and the Eastern Gateway development in Redditch."We've attracted more jobs and more businesses outside," said Geraghty. "So there are things the local council can do and has been doing."
For Liberal Democrat Mell Alcott, small businesses are "the backbone of our country".She said she would lobby government not only to reduce employers' NI contributions - which she said was a "squeeze" on businesses - but also the amount of tax paid by large retailers such as Amazon."I would also look at transport [to make it] much more accessible and much easier for people to come into cities," added Alcott. "I think there can be too much emphasis on out of city and out of town.She also suggested legislation was needed "because there isn't a level playing field for small business against big business. I think we need to do more."
Improved transport links are also a focus for Matthew Jenkins, of the Greens, who said people were often put off going into Worcester because of congestion problems."If you've got a decent public transport system, if you've got decent public park and ride, a decent cycle infrastructure, you can come in," he said. "There is research showing that people who cycle in tend to spend more money because they can cycle in, pop to a local shop, spend a bit of money, cycle somewhere else."But the rising costs, like NI, faced by businesses are also on the Greens' agenda."We've had three small businesses in Worcester, just over the past few weeks, all closing and one of the reasons they gave is those increased costs," said Jenkins."If you can invest more locally, that money usually stays within the county for much longer."
Rerform UK's Max Windsor-Peplow called for an "immediate rate review" for high streets."No matter what we do at a council level to help small businesses, it isn't going to change the fact they've just been clobbered in the national budget by a National Insurance rise," he said."I'm hearing about wage freezes left, right and centre because there is no way to increase it - because their revenues aren't increasing but their costs are."There's very little we are going to be able to do as a council to counteract a 1.25% increase in National Insurance and, very likely, further tax rises in the autumn."
More information on the election, how to vote and a full list of candidates is available on Worcestershire County Council's website.
Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Labour to end 200 years of injustice by ripping up 'shameful' rough sleeping law
Labour to end 200 years of injustice by ripping up 'shameful' rough sleeping law

Daily Mirror

time17 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Labour to end 200 years of injustice by ripping up 'shameful' rough sleeping law

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the Government is 'drawing a line under nearly two centuries of injustice' by abolishing the Vagrancy Act, which has been on the statute books since 1824 Labour will finally tear up "shameful" 200 year old laws criminalising rough sleepers. The Government has announced it will abolish the Vagrancy Act, which makes rough sleeping illegal in England and Wales. The 1824 legislation has long been criticised by homelessness charities, and the move has been branded a " landmark moment that will change lives". ‌ The Government said the move will be included as an amendment to the flagship Crime and Policing Bill - with new laws instead targeting organised begging by gangs and trespassing. ‌ The Act will be scrapped by next spring, ministers say. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: 'We are drawing a line under nearly two centuries of injustice towards some of the most vulnerable in society, who deserve dignity and support. 'No one should ever be criminalised simply for sleeping rough and by scrapping this cruel and outdated law, we are making sure that can never happen again.' The move has been welcomed by charities which support rough sleepers. Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said: 'This is a landmark moment that will change lives and prevent thousands of people from being pushed into the shadows, away from safety. 'For 200 years the Vagrancy Act has meant that people who are homeless are treated as criminals and second class citizens. It has punished people for trying to stay safe and done nothing to address why people become homeless in the first place. 'Ending the use of the Vagrancy Act recognises a shameful history of persecuting people for poverty and destitution, something that figures like William Wilberforce and Winston Churchill warned against in their opposition to the Act. ‌ 'It is of great credit to the UK Government that they have shown such principled leadership in scrapping this pernicious Act." And St Mungo's CEO Emma Haddad said:"The repeal of the Vagrancy Act, which criminalises rough sleeping, cannot come soon enough. "Right now, we are supporting thousands of people who are rough sleeping; everyone facing this issue has their own heartbreaking story to tell of how they ended up on the streets - from complex mental and physical health issues to an increasingly unaffordable housing market." The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) says it will be concentrating tackling the root causes of homelessness. It has boosted funding for homelessness services by an extra £233million this financial year, while Ms Rayner is heading up a new homelessness strategy. Minister for Homelessness Rushanara Ali said: 'Today marks a historic shift in how we're responding to the rough sleeping crisis, by repealing an archaic Act that is neither just nor fit for purpose. Scrapping the Vagrancy Act for good is another step forward in our mission to tackle homelessness in all its forms, by focusing our efforts on its root causes.'

Reeves says spending review will be about ‘making working people better off'
Reeves says spending review will be about ‘making working people better off'

North Wales Chronicle

time33 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Reeves says spending review will be about ‘making working people better off'

The Chancellor is expected to announce funding increases for the NHS, schools and defence along with a number of infrastructure projects on Wednesday, as she shares out some £113 billion freed up by looser borrowing rules. But other areas could face cuts as she seeks to balance manifesto commitments with more recent pledges, such as a hike in defence spending, while meeting her fiscal rules that promise to match day-to-day spending with revenues. Sir Keir Starmer meanwhile rejected the idea that squeezed police budgets could make communities less safe. The Prime Minister also said that the decision to reinstate most winter fuel payments was not a response to the backlash against the policy. The Chancellor has committed £16.7 billion to nuclear power projects, including £14.2 billion of investment to build the new Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk. Ms Reeves said the Government was 'making Labour choices' and 'making progress' in an address to the GMB Union Congress in Brighton on Tuesday. She said: 'I know that not enough working people are yet feeling that progress, and that's what tomorrow's spending review is all about – making working people better off, investing in our security, investing in our health, investing in our economy. 'This Government is going for growth because that is the best way to create jobs, boost wages, lift people out of poverty, and sustainably fund our schools and our hospitals and all the public services we rely on. 'And we're doing things differently, because unlike the Tories, I don't think that the only good thing that a government can do is get out of the way.' Sir Keir was asked about reports that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was among those concerned that the financial settlement for police in the spending review could lead to crimes not being investigated. 'No, we will be more safe,' he told GB News. The Prime Minister also rejected the idea that he had reversed course on winter fuel payments amid political pressure. 'We had to take difficult decisions in the budget; the economy was broken,' he told Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2. But he cited recent growth figures and falling interest rates as proof that 'the economy has stabilised'. Ms Reeves is under pressure to reverse course on cuts to benefits after she confirmed a U-turn on winter fuel payments that will see them restored to pensioners with an income of less than £35,000-a-year. She stood firm on welfare reforms on Tuesday as a union representative urged her to 'think again' on the cuts. The Chancellor said the current system is 'not sustainable' and that reforms aimed to get those who can work back into work and help 'fulfil the ambitions of people with disabilities themselves to get back into work'. The reforms include plans to tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payments, known as Pip.

SNP opposition to new nuclear power stations ‘makes no sense', says Miliband
SNP opposition to new nuclear power stations ‘makes no sense', says Miliband

North Wales Chronicle

time33 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

SNP opposition to new nuclear power stations ‘makes no sense', says Miliband

The Energy Secretary said Holyrood's position 'makes no sense', as Labour MP Gregor Poynton claimed the policy had cost workers and taxpayers north of the border 'billions of pounds of investment and thousands of high-skilled jobs'. SNP MP Kirsty Blackman described the UK Government's new £14.2 billion investment into Sizewell C in Suffolk as a 'splurge', when she pressed Mr Miliband on whether the Government will back the Acorn carbon capture and storage project. Mr Miliband said the Sizewell development along East Anglia's North Sea coastline will 'power the equivalent of around six million homes with clean homegrown energy for 60 years, and it will be a jobs and growth engine for Britain, supporting 10,000 jobs in the peak construction and creating 1,500 apprenticeships'. It is one of several nuclear projects which the Government has backed, which also include a prototype fusion plant at West Burton, Nottinghamshire, and a partnership between Rolls-Royce and Great British Energy – Nuclear to rollout small modular reactors. Mr Poynton, the MP for Livingston, told the Commons: 'Scotland was once a pioneer in nuclear energy and should be again, but due to the SNP Scottish Government's outdated, backward, quite frankly bizarre opposition to nuclear energy, turning away billions of pounds of investment and thousands of high-skilled jobs. 'So, does the Secretary of State agree with me this is yet another way the SNP Scottish Government has lost their way?' Mr Miliband replied that Mr Poynton was 'so right', and added: 'People in Scotland will be looking at these announcements and saying, 'well why isn't it us that are benefitting from this? Why are we not even in the race?'' The Scottish Government, led by SNP First Minister John Swinney, has a policy of opposing the building of new nuclear power stations. Lillian Jones, the Labour MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, criticised the position as an 'ideological block on nuclear power, blocking billions in investment, blocking thousands of well-paid, secure Scottish jobs, and blocking growth'. In his response, Mr Miliband said: 'We can announce a golden age of nuclear with our investments but not in Scotland, because of the position of the SNP Government. 'It makes no sense.' Aberdeen North MP Ms Blackman had earlier said: 'This £14 billion splurge on English nuclear power plants comes on top of £22 billion for English carbon capture and storage, while there's nothing for Scotland's Acorn project. 'With Grangemouth (oil refinery) allowed to close, with a fiscal regime that is ruining north-east energy jobs, this latest announcement shows that Scotland isn't just an afterthought, it isn't a thought at all. 'If nearly £40 billion can be found for English energy projects, why is it that money is never found for Scotland's carbon capture project?' Mr Miliband replied: 'Well look, I think maybe there is an SNP change in position coming. If she wants to have a conversation about Scottish nuclear power stations, then absolutely. 'We're in favour of the Acorn project and we'll be saying more about this in the coming weeks. 'But let me just say to her – on nuclear power, they've really got to think again. We are backing nuclear with the biggest building programme in a generation. 🔧£14.2bn for Sizewell C👷10,000 jobs & 1,500 apprenticeships⚛️ Small Modular Reactor programme Clean, homegrown power will boost the UK's energy security, protect billpayers & drive economic growth. — Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (@energygovuk) June 10, 2025 'They are absolutely sticking their heads in the sand when it comes to this. This is about jobs, it's about investment, it's about clean energy, they should really rethink.' In an earlier statement, Mr Miliband said: 'The Government is taking decisive steps today to usher in a new golden age of nuclear for Britain.' He added: 'For too long, our country has not made the crucial energy – or indeed other infrastructure investments – we need. A short-sighted failure to invest for which the British people have paid the price in lower living standards, insecurity and declining public services. 'This week's announcements symbolise a decisive change in approach, to invest in the future – the right choice for energy security, the right choice for jobs, the right choice for climate and our children and grandchildren, the right choice for Britain, investment, not decline. 'This Government has made its choice.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store