Page 7 - City Life Magazine - Winter 2021

www.worcester.gov.uk
Dear Residents,
As I write this column, Worcester
is preparing for Christmas and the
ever-popular Victorian Christmas
Fayre is just days away. I am so
pleased we are again able to hold
this popular event, having not been
able to do so last year because of
the pandemic. The Fayre really is an
annual showcase for Worcester. It
brings so many new people to our
great city, who almost always leave
impressed with the beauty of the
place and resolve to return at other
times of the year.
Marc Bayliss
The work of the City Council has
been focused on a number of
important areas over the last few
months, including continuing to
develop our ambitious plans for the
regeneration of the city centre and
Shrub Hill; looking at new ways in
which we can collectively address the
climate crisis, and preparing a new
budget that meets the aspirations of
both residents and businesses.
High on my priority list for the next
budget is the need to continue our
extra investment in keeping the
city clean and tidy. I know from my
correspondence with residents that
many have been pleased to see the
impact that the extra money put
into street cleaning and measures
to tackle the problem of seagulls
has had this summer. As a new
Conservative administration elected
this May, we promised to focus extra
money and attention on the issues
residents care most about. That’s
why we invested over £250,000
extra in street cleaning right across
Worcester – not just the city centre.
We have also sought to improve
how attractive the City is, with
extra money for plants and hanging
baskets. We doubled the budget
for controlling seagulls and have
led the way nationally with the work
we have done in this area. Despite
this extra investment of money and
effort, we recognise there’s more
to be done and that we will need
to keep investing in these areas to
make a lasting difference – but it’s
something my colleagues and I are
committed to do. I hope to bring you
details of our new budget and what
Street cleaning – a priority difference it will make for you in the
for the City Council
next edition of City Life.
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PAGE 07.indd 1
7
LEADER’S MESSAGE
Knife Angel
set to come to
Worcester in 2022
While Worcester is one of the
safest cities in the country we do
unfortunately still suffer from violent
crime, including knife crime, and
doing everything we can to tackle
it is something all of us at the
Council are united around. That’s
why I am so pleased that we have
been successful in securing the
27ft-tall ‘Knife Angel’, created using
over 100,000 knives and blades
confiscated by 43 UK police forces.
The Knife Angel will be coming to
Worcester in March 2022 and I hope
that its visit can be a catalyst for
change. We will actively encourage
visits from schools, colleges and
community groups. Guest speakers
who have experienced violence
first-hand will talk to young people
about the impact it has had – as
well as the long-term consequences
for perpetrators. During the month
a general weapons amnesty is also
being proposed, in the form of a
‘surrender’ secure bin which travels
with the Angel.
As Council Leader I am always keen to
understand your issues and to know
what more the City Council can do to
improve Worcester and the quality of
life for residents, so if you have an idea
or comment please do not hesitate
to get in touch. You can email me at
mbayliss@worcester-research.co.uk
Finally, I would like to take this
opportunity to wish you all a very
merry Christmas and the very best for
the New Year.
Kind Regards,
Marc
Councillor Marc Bayliss
Leader – Worcester City Council
25/11/2021 15:06
15:06