Latest news with #WorcesterCityCouncil
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Revamp of Worcester leisure centres part of five-year plan
A deal has been struck over the management of a city's leisure services for the next five City Council has extended its partnership with not-for-profit company Freedom Leisure to continue its existing contract up to December the agreement, originally signed in 2016, the firm has run Perdiswell Leisure Centre, St Johns Sports Centre and Nunnery Wood Sports Complex, along with the city's Healthy Communities council said the renewed contract included a commitment by Freedom Leisure to invest in facilities and boost energy efficiency. Perdiswell Leisure Centre will get refurbished fitness facilities, improved energy efficiency and upgraded CCTV equipment under the St Johns Sports Centre will see a revamp of its fitness suite and the 3G football pitch will be replaced and upgraded. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Worcester Volunteer Expo to highlight opportunities in city
AN event is set to highlight the crucial role of volunteering in Worcester. The Worcester Volunteer Expo 2025 will take place at the Guildhall on Friday, June 6, from 10am to 2pm. More than 40 local organisations will attend, sharing information about their community support and volunteering opportunities. Councillor Jabba Riaz, chair of Worcester City Council's communities committee, said: "The Worcester Volunteer Expo is a fantastic opportunity for anyone curious about getting involved in local volunteering. "Volunteers truly are the heartbeat of Worcester. "Whether it's protecting our green spaces, preserving our heritage, or promoting our city's rich cultural life, their contributions help shape a stronger, more connected community." He added: "Every year, volunteers give hundreds of hours of their time, making a real difference to the services and support available in our city. "Volunteering is not only a way to give something back to your community – it's also a chance to develop new skills, meet people, and grow both personally and professionally. "The Expo is a relaxed, drop-in event – there is absolutely no pressure to sign up on the day. "I'd encourage anyone who has ever considered volunteering to come along and discover the wide variety of opportunities available in Worcester." The event is a chance for residents to explore various ways they can contribute to the community. For more information about the event, email worcestercommunityaction@ The Expo is a drop-in event, and there is no obligation to sign up on the day.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Worcester's splash pad reopening hit by fresh delay
The reopening of Worcester's Gheluvelt Park splash pad has been hit by a fresh a £366,000 refurbishment, the popular children's attraction had been due to open on Saturday 24 May, in time for the Spring Bank Holiday and half-term. After initially being set back a week, until Saturday 31 May, Worcester City Council said the reopening had now been delayed local authority has apologised to families. It said it would confirm a new opening date once a series of tests and checks were complete. Works to repair the 15-year-old water play feature were approved by councillors last November, after persistent maintenance problems led to it being shut repeatedly over the summer months. A £366,000 investment has included the replacement of the original filtration system, as well as an upgrade to the safety surface.A Worcester City Council spokesperson said: "Work is ongoing to ensure that the splash pad is ready to be safely used."The structural work is now complete, and there is now a series of commissioning tests and checks to undertake before it can be safely opened."We are sorry for the delay, which has been due to unforeseen circumstances."We will update our social media accounts when we have a confirmed opening date, which we are hoping will be in the next several days."When it finally opens, the splash pad will operate daily between 11am and 4pm until 18 July, and then 11am and 6pm until 1 September. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Worcester Crematorium to close for nine months for refurbishment
Worcester Crematorium is set to close for nine months after plans for a major refurbishment were scheme will see three gas-powered cremators replaced with electric models, with the aim of making the site the "greenest crematorium" in the West is scheduled to start in August and is due to last for nine months, with the crematorium building closed but cemetery grounds remaining open throughout the were being made to allow funeral services to continue to be held in Worcester while the refurbishment was carried out, Worcester City Council said. Council leader Lynn Denham said the aim of the refurbishment was to make it an "even better place" to hold memories and honour the lives of loved ones."At the centre of the refurbishment will be the first electric cremators in the West Midlands," she explained."In fact, after Lambeth in London we will be only the second local authority-owned crematorium in the whole of the UK to make the move from gas to electricity."Planning permission for the scheme was granted by the local authority on the plans, the chapel would be refurbished with new furniture, fittings and council said the scheme also included a new heat recovery system and roof with solar panels, as well as electric charging points for vehicles and a chapel garden."Taken together, all these improvements mean that when it reopens next year, Worcester will have the greenest crematorium in the West Midlands," Denham project will also receive a £1.4m grant through the government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which supports energy-efficient projects. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why garage conversion and house extension plans were rejected
PLANS for a garage conversion and house extension in Warndon Villages have been rejected. The owner of a house in Hoskyns Avenue wanted to convert the property's existing garage into a living space. Proposals also included a two-storey extension at the front of the house and a single-storey extension at the back. Worcester City Council said the house is on a 'narrow but very visible plot', adding: 'The proposal would result in overdevelopment of the site'. READ MORE: Retrospective loft conversion rejected by council Planners also said there were not enough car parking spaces for what would become a six-bedroom home, should planning permission be granted. Neighbours had criticised the plans, raising concerns that the extensions would overlook their properties and that there would be an impact on parking and road safety in the area. Warndon Parish Council also objected, saying the proposed dormer was of 'poor design' and would dominate the roofline.
