Worcester elections 2023: the race for a place in St Peter’s

But as has happened in other parts of the city, the Green Party has begun to prise a couple of fingers off the firm grip the Tories were used to having on some wards and what was once a bit of a shoo-in for the Conservatives, is now a much tighter affair.

The knife-edge battle for the chance to represent St Peter’s at county council level in 2021 saw Tory candidate and former city mayor Steve Mackay, who has stood down from the Guildhall and will not be seeking re-election, pushed all the way beating Green Party candidate Tom Piotrowski by just 32 votes.

One year later and the Greens went one better and were triumphant in St Peter’s with Steve Cockeram winning by more than 250 votes ahead of the Conservatives.

The results from the last two times that residents in St Peter’s have gone to the polls paint an interesting picture for this year’s contest and it is expected to be a lively battle again between the Conservative and the Green candidates who are both looking to secure a win and return the ward to all-blue or tear up the history books and make it all-green.

This time around it is left to James Woolgar, who was co-opted onto St Peter’s Parish Council in November last year, to carry the torch for the Conservatives against Elena Round for the Green Party.

For the other main parties, it’s usually third and fourth-placed finishes and there are some familiar faces in this year’s match-up with St Peter’s parish councillor and returning Lib Dem candidate John Renshaw standing again, having finished behind the Greens and Tories last time out and Labour’s Chris Giles has also put his name forward again having come a lowly fourth, more than 770 votes behind the eventual winner, last time out.

Paul Hickling returns again for Reform having picked up 29 votes in a last-placed finish in 2022.

CHRIS GILES (LABOUR)

“When I moved back here in 2002 traffic congestion seemed a rarity. I’d been living in Birmingham and was astonished at the difference in air quality and that’s partly why I chose to make Worcester my home once again. Now traffic chaos, parking and pollution are concerns, and the never-ending roadworks on the southern link road don’t help. With better communication with residents, planning, public transport and cycling infrastructure, St Peter’s would be a greener, cleaner and nicer place to live.

“I will articulate your concerns about travellers clearly; sites are needed but as residents recognise, the Ketch isn’t appropriate. I’ll oppose ugly industrial units and ill-conceived housing developments. I’ll fight for more buses, dedicated cycle routes, anti-speeding measures and for more say in the way road schemes are planned and the speed with which they are executed.”

PAUL HICKLING (REFORM)

"I have recently been elected to the parish council for St Peter’s, and hope to represent the ward on the city council as well.

"Over the years I have seen the residents of St Peter’s being taken for granted by the local city council, there is a clear disconnect between the two and Worcester needs a fresh political vision that works for its citizens and represents their local needs within the ward as well as the city, you can’t keep rewarding failure by voting in the status quo at local level, it’s time for change, its time for Reform UK."

JOHN RENSHAW (LIB DEM)

“I’ve lived in St Peter’s for the past 19 years and became a parish councillor in 2019, with responsibility for organising the St Peter’s Parish Festival.

“During the pandemic I was active in the St Peter’s coronavirus support group helping elderly and vulnerable residents. I also organise the regular foodbank collections in St Peter’s.

“I believe that St Peter’s and Worcester are great places to live and could be even better. I want to see an end to Severn Trent’s practice of dumping sewage into Duck Brook in Battenhall Park and I will work with others who share my vision of a cleaner, greener, fairer, and more prosperous Worcester.

“I also want to see more investment in Worcester’s pedway network to encourage walking and cycling, as alternatives to the car, and a more frequent and better bus service for St Peter’s.”

ELENA ROUND (GREEN)

“My husband and I have three children, one of whom has learning difficulties and complex physical needs. It took years of hard work to get the council to provide the essential support that our son desperately needed. I now support other parents who just want the best for their children.

“Before moving to Worcester I was a parish councillor and found great satisfaction in serving my local area and using my training as a solicitor and experience of being a small business owner to get things done. It taught me the critical importance of listening to people and striving to represent them.

“St Peter’s will only remain a wonderful place to live through effective representation. New challenges are developing that will need leadership and a detailed understanding of residents’ views. I want to use my experience to ensure St Peter’s continues to be a fantastic place to live for many years to come.”

JAMES WOOLGAR (CONSERVATIVE)

“I’m James, I’m 30 years old and I live in St Peter’s along with my wife Kim and our eight-month-old daughter. I’m standing to represent my fellow St Peter’s residents on the city council.

“I was a police officer for a couple of years with Staffordshire then West Mercia.

“I loved the job but with Kim working shifts in the NHS, raising a baby with both of us working odd hours was a huge challenge. I left for a job in IT, but my passion for serving the public still runs deep.

“I believe in local representation for local matters.

“I also believe in keeping our communities safe, clean, and enjoyable to live in for all. Ensuring taxes are low, crime is prevented, parks are kept green, and the city centre remains thriving are my main goals.”