Cathedral ward

Almost 100 taxi drivers - the vast majority of whom work in the ward - staged a protest outside the Guildhall last month because they were upset about the attacks.

Many blame Worcester City Council's publication of spot check results, which showed 40 per cent of cars were unsafe.

Because of the location of the ward, CCTV has been a big focus in the area, with all cameras upgraded to metal mickey' status last year, improving their quality.

The CCTV in the city centre is now as good as anywhere else in the country, and there are plans being discussed at the Guildhall to install it in taxi cars.

The plan would mean the city council joint funding the project with the Worcester Taxi Drivers Association. One of the ward councillors, Councillor Mohammed Riaz, is a former taxi driver himself and still owns a licence. The ward is home to one of the best known figures in Worcester politics, Coun Allah Ditta, who has served as city mayor and more recently as cabinet member for the environment.

Coun Francis Lankester is the third and final ward councillor in Cathedral, and is cabinet member for safer and stronger communities.

All three represent the Conservative party.

CANDIDATES:ALLAH DITTAConservativeAllah Ditta says he has worked hard over the last seven years to make life better for everyone.

He says his party kept its pledge to build the City Centre Community Centre.

Mr Ditta says he will continue to campaign for better bus services and for residents' parking schemes.

He is also working to get a shared taxi service for Diglis, which would be routed through the Perrywood and Wyld's Lane area.

Mr Ditta says the council has spent nearly £1 million on the Commandery, the city's parks and riverside, and he pledges to campaign for increased government funding for flood defences.

CHRIS WINWOODLabourChris Winwood was born and bred in Worcester and attended local city schools.

He worked in financial services, in the city, and lives in the heart of Cathedral ward.

If elected, Mr Winwood says he will work hard and enthusiastically for all of the people of the ward, not just some.

He pledges to stop the "wasteful" use of public money on logos and consultants, and use it to benefit local people with better services.

Mr Winwood also promises to fight for more affordable housing in the city, and to help tackle parking problems that are so common in the area.

ROB WILKINSGreenRobert Wilkins has lived off the Bath Road in Worcester for more than two decades - 21 years in total.

Before retiring, he worked in parks and countryside management.

He is a big campaigner on environmental issues, and is a Worcestershire Wildlife Trust volunteer.

Mr Wilkins wants the city council to provide services and create a policy that encourages the very best environmental practice.

He also thinks the city council has a role to play in helping to conserve the biodiversity of Worcester.

If elected to serve the Cathedral ward he will try to influence this.

IAIN MACBRIARLiberal DemocratDr Iain Macbriar gained a PhD in Transport Planning from Newcastle University and now runs a public transport consultancy firm.

He spends his spare time renovating his Worcester home, where he has lived for 16 years.

He points out that the high-density housing developments now under way at Diglis and the Worcester Porcelain site, the new Worcester University campus in Castle Street, including the "super library", and the "stop-start" regeneration of the riverside all affect Cathedral ward.

He is concerned about the effect on the city's transport network, the implications for the supply of affordable housing, and community safety.