LESS litter, better transport - that's what Worcester people want, with local sporting facilities (or the lack of them) and crime noted as major concerns.

The findings of the recent Worcester Alliance survey, carried out across the Faithful City community are hardly surprising. The survey result was published after a period of public consultation, which included questionnaires, roadshow exhibitions and other soundings.

A draft copy of the community strategy has now been drawn up and the project will go forward from here.

Two things worry us...

First, despite a mass of publicity and effort put into mounting the numerous roadshows in a number of venues, only 556 people thought enough of their own city to take the time and make the effort to respond.

We hope that this does not mean that residents are apathetic as to the future of the environment in which they live and work.

Secondly, it emerges that 10 per cent of people aged between 25 and 39 would miss nothing about Worcester if they moved away. To us this is a very worrying statistic.

In the hands of people from this age group lies the future prosperity of the city. If they cannot be enthused enough to stay, then is there any hope?

Despite the small response, there are clear messages to the city leaders. They need now to get cracking and make things happen.

Better public transport and less litter may sound like easy things to achieve, but, this paper suspects, the achievement will be harder in reality.

The final strategy is timed to be ready by November. That seems a long way away to us.

How about making a start now?

Any delay will not alter the main findings.