Worcestershire's most read politics stories for August to December

JULY

The caravan that wasn't

A man was ordered to demolish the ‘home’ he had built in his back garden without planning permission after failing to convince the council it was a caravan.

Worcester City Council ruled an application by Dr Hayder Ghazi Alwattar for a ‘caravan’ that was built in the back garden of his home in Wrendale Drive, Worcester, was unlawful and ordered him to demolish it.

However, Dr Alwattar went to the government’s planning inspectors, which have the power to overrule the council, in a bid to get the decision overturned.

Full story: Man told to demolish building after arguing it was a caravan

If the inspectors sided with Mr Alwattar then it could mean the controversial back garden home could stay.

ROW: The planning application asked for permission to keep this 'caravan' in the garden of a home in Wrendale Drive, Worcester (Image: Worcester City Council) (Image: Newsquest)

The pub that couldn't be saved

A long-running saga came to an end as plans to knock down a former restaurant were given final approval by planners.

Two new homes were agreed for the site of the Wagon Wheel in Grimley, near Worcester.

Councillors had originally backed the plans the previous April - but final permission was only granted this month following the completion of a Section 106 agreement.

According to its website, the restaurant closed in December 2022.

The Wagon Wheel closed in December 2022 (Image: Newsquest)

Owners Giuseppe and Julie Giuliano had been trying to sell it since 2014 after being at the pub for 35 years.

The couple wanted to retire but had had several planning applications refused.

Planners at Malvern Hills District Council rejected an application in July 2019 to convert the restaurant into homes as it was a “valued community facility” that would not be replaced in Grimley if it closed.

Mr and Mrs Giuliano appealed that decision, but despite the government’s planning inspector ruling that the restaurant was not a ‘community asset’, the appeal was thrown out.

Planning inspector Gareth Thomas determined there was a risk of flooding and the homes would be out of character for the village.

AUGUST

The party that was too popular

A city centre street party was cancelled over fears it might prove too popular.

Neighbourhood had organised a street party in Worcester’s Copenhagen Street on Saturday (August 12).

But the council turned down the licence over fears it would prove too popular.

However, there are no hard feelings from the organisers and owners of Neighbourhood who said they would work with the council to build a bigger event for 2024.

PARTY: Copenhagen Street in Worcester (Image: Newsquest)

September

'Too many' coffee shops

In September, coffee shop owners sounded the alarm after plans to open another new Starbucks was approved by the council.

Famous coffee makers Starbucks were given permission by Worcester City Council to move into a Shrub Hill Retail Park in a unit left empty by Carphone Warehouse five years ago.

A new starbucks plan created concern (Image: Newsquest)

But Francini Osorio, owner of Francini Cafe de Colombia in Angel Street said multinational coffee chains did not offer anything unique compared to the city’s independents.

And Andy Reynolds, owner of Jaks Coffee in the city centre’s Reindeer Court, said a ‘fixation’ on brands meant many of the city’s young people turned to Starbucks for coffee instead of independents.

The new Starbucks at the retail park off Tallow Hill was the city’s third with coffee shops already located in The Cross and Cathedral Square.

October

Parkway is born 

The first part of a huge plan to build thousands of homes next to the city was put forward in October. St Modwen Homes and Hallam Land Management put forward initial plans to build 2,500 new homes between the M5 near Worcester and Worcestershire Parkway.

The application includes the first quarter of the 10,000 homes planned for the area in the next 20 years and beyond that will eventually form a new town around the railway station.

St Modwen has nearly 240 acres and plans to build up to 1,250 homes south of Pershore Road with Hallam’s 230 acres to the north of Pershore Road, a stone’s throw from Whittington, just the other side of junction 7, and just under two miles from the listed Spetchley Park, also set for 1,250 new homes.

The developers put forward a ‘screening opinion’ which means Wychavon District Council will have to rule whether the huge plan needs an environmental impact assessment before it is formally put forward.

Success for the city's greens

Meanwhile, the city’s Greens enjoyed another successful day at the polls as the party tightened its grip on power in the Guildhall.

VICTORY: Katie Collier (inset) who won the by-election in Warndon Parish South (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

Katie Collier became the latest Green councillor to join Worcester City Council after she earned a nearly 400-vote win against the Conservatives in the Warndon Parish South ward on Thursday (October 19).

The by-election was held in the ward following the death of long-standing Tory councillor Andy Roberts in August.

November

More homes for village

A new plan to build 25 homes in a village was revealed.

The application by developer Country Living would see the new estate built on fields off Cutts Pool Road off Pershore Road in Upton Snodsbury near Worcester.

The new homes would be accessed from a new road off Pershore Road opposite Upton Snodsbury Park.

A planning application to build 22 homes on the same land was put forward in 2015 but later withdrawn.

No decision has yet been made. 

New micropub for city centre

The Cocky Anchor opened in November (Image: Newsquest)

A new micropub also opened in November. The Cocky Anchor, welcomed its first load of customers aboard its Broad Street pub. 

The watering hole is in the historic Grade II listed building on Broad Street, which used to house Phone Guru and is opposite Wetherspoons.

December

Kepax Bridge takes shape

In December, new photos showed how high the city's newest bridge would tower over a city park.

The Kepax Bridge pylon has now been lowered into place by two huge cranes as work continues on the project - and people got a clearer idea of what it will look like when finished.

Marc Bayliss, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Worcester, shared images of the bridge and described it as 'a great new development' and an 'exciting project'.

VISIT: Marc Bayliss visits the Kepax Bridge now taking shape (Image: Marc Bayliss) (Image: Marc Bayliss)