A THRIVING community group, working hard to improve life on a Spa estate, could lose vital backing.

Chairman of the Westlands Community Planning Forum, Roy Seabourne fears Wychavon District Council will pull their funding for the group's second phase of work.

The forum spent the last four months spotting and dealing with problems harming the quality of life on the estate.

"There is much to be done and it may be that Wychavon will withdraw most of its support for the next phase. We shall not let this deter us from continuing this work," said Mr Seabourne, who is also a Labour district councillor for Droitwich West.

But council managing director Sid Pritchard dismissed these claims. He said: "The comment by Cllr Seabourne is more than a little misleading and somewhat disingenuous in view of discussion between him and me on this matter.

"It was Cllr Seabourne himself who put forward the idea that if the forum was to be a success, it needed to be owned and run by the "locals".

"Wychavon put in considerable effort to get the forum up and running and has agreed with Cllr Seabourne that the organisation of the forum needs to transfer to the members."

He went on to say the council would continue to support the activities of the forum.

"It is regrettable that such a valuable initiative is being tainted by a misleading statement about this council continuing involvement," he added.

With the first phase of work now complete the forum has claimed a number of successes including:

l Cutting the amount of litter on the estate dramatically.

l Grass cutting is about to be unified under one management team, to boost efficiency.

l Funding has been found for a 'kick about' area near the centre and consultation will begin immediately.

l Community safety is being addressed by plans to appoint a neighbourhood watch warden

l The newly merged and strengthened Community Association is undertaking a refurbishment of the Community Hall.

l Shop owners have been persuaded to take refurbishment of the shopping precinct seriously.

by EMILY BRIDGEWATER