Arboretum ward

Worcester City Council has tried to solve the lack of parking spaces in the ward, but ended up dropping its idea last year after more than 700 residents objected to the plan.

The council was proposing to hand out 300 permits, costing £30 a year on a first-come, first-served basis, with each house in the area able to apply for a maximum of three.

The idea was raised because of a lack of spaces in the ward, which is made worse by city centre workers and shoppers using the tight terraced streets as a free all-day car park.

But the city council received 220 letters and a 484-signature petition objecting to the idea, and decided to drop it.

It would have meant 500 homes vying for 300 permits and was criticised by the residents' association.

The ward could be the most competitive in this year's elections - with Labour defending a 37-vote majority.

As the Worcester News reported in January, Conservative councillors were asked to cough up £60 of their own money to start up a campaign to try to win a seat in Arboretum this year. The ward currently has two Labour councillors, Coun Bob Peachey and Coun Richard Bird, with the latter stepping down this year.

CANDIDATES:MARK BAYLISSLabourMARC Bayliss is 34, married to a teacher and has two young children. He has lived in Worcester for 12 years and highlights his record of working for the community as a school governor, charity trustee and former city councillor. Mr Bayliss says he was appalled at the way the city council "wasted" more than £240,000 last year on management consultants and a "pointless" re-branding. He believes the money should instead be invested in tackling the priorities of Arboretum ward, including cleaning the streets and parks, sorting out parking and giving young people something to do.KEN CARPENTERLiberal DemocratKEN Carpenter has three adult children and lives with his wife, Sue Askin, in north Worcester. He studied maths at Cambridge and now works at QinetiQ, specialising in systems to prevent collisions between aircraft. He was a councillor on Malvern Hills District Council from 1983 to 1991, when he was leader of the Lib Dem group and chaired the administration and finance committee. He believes the city council should do more to protect Worcester's heritage. He would like to cut congestion in the city and make it a pleasant place for the middle aged and elderly in the evenings.MELANIE HEIDERConservativeMELANIE Heider believes the Arboretum needs a strong voice to stand up for local people and businesses and says she can can bring a fresh, common sense approach to local government. She says she is passionate about people and local issues and intends to make it her priority to listen to and represent the views of people living in the ward. She believes in fair housing schemes, value for money and keeping the streets clean and safe. She promises to fight for youth facilities and a solution to the parking problems. Miss Heider will lobby for more policing and zero tolerance on anti-social behaviour.JASON PHILLIPSUKIPJASON Phillips was born, bred and still lives off Lansdowne Road and was educated at Bishop Perowne High School. He decided to stand after watching "the gradual decline" of his ward "thanks to both Labour councillors". He says the final straw was reading about the "lack of compassion" shown by Tory councillors following assaults on city taxi drivers. Mr Phillips promises, if elected, to serve the people of his ward and provide youth facilities. He says winning would mean "so much" to him because he'd be able to make things happen and show people how great living in the ward could be.MARTIN SULLIVANGreenMARTIN Sullivan has lived in Worcester for 11 years, is married with three children and works in computing. Having been involved in various environmental organisations, he is increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of various planning decisions in Worcester. He hopes he can become a city councillor so he can help change this by having a direct say on planning matters himself.