Worcester Riverside Park is over 80 hectares and is a free to access Public Park The park is located along the banks of the River Severn in and around the outskirts of Worcester City centre and includes Diglis Island an island within the River Severn downstream of the city centre The River Severn flows in a southerly direction through the city The Severn Way and Route 46 of the National Cycle Network transverse the park The park forms an important green corridor connecting a wider chain of parks In addition to the recreational value of this connection the park has a biodiversity value as a major wildlife corridor for both the city and county connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities or structures and allowing an exchange of individuals between populations Species diversity is high with two hundred and twenty-five plant species and thirty-three bird species recorded in 2014 The park also contains the City’s swan sanctuary which can have up to 200 swans living in the sanctuary at any time Swan food is available for purchase at various points throughout the park and at the Cathedral Operating from the Whitesun bank holiday at the end of May until 1 September while others help us to serve you relevant content and improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used Select \'Accept all cookies\' to allow all cookies on this site choose your preferences below and then click \'Close\' Privacy policy Learn more about website advertising Necessary cookies enable core functionality The website cannot function properly without these cookies and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences Consent for the following cookies could not be automatically revoked Please follow the link(s) below to opt out manually We use cookies to optimise site functionality and give you the best possible experience WORCESTER — Now lush with blooms, children laughing and ducks quacking underneath the Myra Kraft Bridge, it is difficult to imagine this plot of land as a mere pasture and dump site instead of the historic Elm Park While many believe Elm to be the country's first public park it is a common mistake due to the sign hanging at the entrance reading: "This section of Elm Park containing 27 acres deeded to the City of Worcester March 17 and March 20 by Levi Lincoln and John Hammond was the first purchase of land for a public park in the United States." Work first began in 1873 with a number of ponds built to act as natural drainage for the area foliage was planted and walking paths laid Walking through the trails more than 150 years later A group of juniors and seniors from Worcester Technical High School had begun work on the Iron Bridge Morgan Blundell said the group had been there a few times to replace rotted wooden beams and replace decaying parts of the bridge spent their summers and have fond memories of the ice cream truck "This was my park every summer," said Cordelia Anokye with a chuckle "I went to Elm Park (Community School) and I was here every summer More: Laurel: Elm Park, then and now Laurel: Worcester's Elm Park, then and now or the Common as it was known at that time circuses and in 1888 a steam yacht was placed in Lincoln Pond as an exhibit of sorts At the turn of the century, Worcester too felt the need for change, so the city hired the Olmsted Brothers who had previously been the lead landscaping architects of both Central Park in New York and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville The Olmsted Brothers helped Worcester acquire Newton Hill In the 1970s the park was once again the focus of the city as they took on another refurbishment in the same style of the Olmsted Brothers the park was named a National Historic Landmark and listed in the National Historic Register of Historic Places "It's kind of crazy to see the before and after," said classmate Gissell Cabrera adding she too used to come here as a kid and remembers the wood chips over the modern rubber ground like you'd have to wait in a line to get a swing," Anokye said adding the equipment has also changed quite a bit 2-year-old Lucy is being pushed by mom Shannen Avila who is due with another bundle of joy in late July "We like to come here when it's warmer," Avila said while giving the toddler another push Lucy let out a loud "whoooo hooo" as she continued to swing back and forth the circuses and carnivals have been replaced by a thriving and diverse community "There is so much free space here," Blundell said adding she's been to a few of the city's events in the park "A splash pad would be nice," the trio of girls agreed T&G engagement editor Sarah Barnacle is getting to know Central Mass. by exploring some of the best places to go and things to do in Worcester County. If you have an idea or suggestion, please email sbarnacle@gannett.com Drivers in Worcester are able to pay for their parking and extend their stay using just their mobile phone Cashless parking service RingGo is offered as an alternative to pay and display machine machines in Worcester City Council's 14 off street car parks Cash payments through pay and display machines will still be possible motorists no longer need save up their change or visit a machine nor feed coins into a slot or tap cards in the rain and cold.  Instead they can pay from the comfort of their car Extending stays is also available by using RingGo First-time users can register by mobile phone when they want to park, by calling the standard rate number 01905 880055, or in advance, by visiting www.myringo.co.uk.  Registration may take a couple of minutes and then on future uses the service recalls the details so calls to pay usually take less than a minute.  which lets you pay for your parking with a credit or debit card rather than using cash or card at a machine.  When you park your car in an area featuring the RingGo service you simply contact RingGo by iPhone or Android app You can pre-register with RingGo either on the internet at www.myRingGo.co.uk/register or by using the RingGo apps for iPhone and Android handsets (downloadable either through your handset or from the Apple App store or Google Play).  If you pre-register for the service you will be asked to provide: Alternatively you can register at the same time you want to park either by using the RingGo apps or by calling the RingGo number which is 01905 880055 RingGo recognises your mobile phone number and retrieves information you have previously given.  This means that when you pay you only have to provide: There are several ways to pay to park with RingGo: iPhone users can download a RingGo iPhone application (free of charge), through their handset from the Apple App Store.  The app allows you to register for the service lets you manage your account and allows you to pay to park directly through the app RingGo offers a similar application for Android users, with all the same functionality as the iPhone app (register, locate zone, manage account, pay for and extend parking).  Download this for free at the Google Play Store you simply call the telephone number on the signs when you want to park.  RingGo will remember you (by recognising your mobile phone number) and ask you to: You can use the quick and easy RingGo "text to park" option instead.  So for instance sending a message with RingGo 7796 2h 867 to 81025 will park your nominated vehicle for 2 hours in the Cattle Market car park For details on how to set up the service for your particular location please see the myRingGo website – www.myRingGo.co.uk/texttopark If you have a phone with mobile internet access, you can use the myRingGo site to pay for your parking.  Simply login at www.myRingGo.co.uk/park and complete the details.  Alternatively you can use the same link from a standard pc or other internet connected device For more information on all of these options, please see www.myRingGo.co.uk There is no charge for registering with RingGo and no charge for downloading or using the RingGo iPhone and Android applications.  you generally pay a 20p convenience charge on top of the normal parking tariff charges which apply.  This parking charge will be shown on your monthly credit/debit card statement.  so you are charged the standard rate agreed with your mobile phone operator.  Such calls are often included free within mobile phone packages so if you receive a free "bundle of minutes" your call will usually be included within this.  If you use the RingGo "text to park" option you will pay for the text message at your agreed operator rate.  You will also pay a 10p charge for the summary text message (which you automatically receive) providing confirmation of your parking session details.  The optional parking session confirmation messages and reminder texts (alerting you when your session is about to run out) you can remotely top up your parking fee when you use RingGo.  If you want to extend your stay simply contact RingGo again and the service will ask you: The RingGo system automatically recognises that you have a parking session currently operating.  If you need a VAT receipt for your RingGo parking session, you can view and print it online by logging in at www.myRingGo.co.uk.   If you provide us with your e-mail address you can opt to receive a receipt automatically every time you park.  Just login and add your email address into the Settings menu Please visit www.myRingGo.co.uk/whereitworks to see all the location numbers in your area and across the UK For general information about RingGo please visit www.myRingGo.co.uk.  If you have a specific question about how RingGo operates, please see www.myRingGo.co.uk/help which contains a lot of common queries Croft Road car park is the only Worcester City Council car park which offers parking for larger vehicles Parks in Worcester are receiving a boost thanks to the planting of new trees alongside the creation of extra wildlife habitats As part of a project to improve biodiversity in the city’s parks Worcester City Council has successfully applied for a Natural Networks grant.  The funding will be used to improve local green spaces and create wildlife-friendly habitats City Council staff and voluntary groups have begun planting a variety of bulbs and shrubs in several of Worcester’s parks and green spaces.  10 fruit trees will be planted in each of Gheluvelt The trees will take between 10 to 15 years to reach maturity providing a long-term benefit to the environment and hedgehog houses will also be installed Some park areas will also be designated as wildflower meadows Vice-chair of Worcester City Council’s Environment Committee said: “The City Council is committed to supporting the creation and restoration of wildlife-rich habitats throughout our parks “These efforts are part of a larger initiative to increase the ecological health of Worcester’s parks and public spaces “This funding allows us to take meaningful steps toward enhancing our parks and creating healthier ecosystems for both wildlife and people.  “The addition of fruit trees and new hedges will not only support biodiversity but also provide beautiful sustainable green spaces for the community “Thank you to all the volunteer groups who are helping to make this project possible by planting thousands of bulbs “Volunteers play a vital role in making sure our parks are kept looking lovely and vibrant all year round.” Natural Networks is a partnership between Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust The Natural Networks programme is part-funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Forestry Commission and is delivered in partnership between Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment added: “I’m extremely proud of what the Natural Networks programme has achieved in Worcestershire by working closely with partners and local communities.  “The addition of more native trees and hedges creating shelters for animals and establishing new wildflower meadows all go a long way to maintaining and improving biodiversity across the county.” We're also on Worcester City Council is inviting people to share their views on proposals to improve play facilities at three city parks The plans include creating a second pump track in the city at Perdiswell.  The Council is also proposing to install new play equipment at Cornmeadow Lane in Claines and at Weyburn Close in the Lower Wick and Pitmaston ward You can give your views on the projects here  The proposed new pump track at Perdiswell Park would become a destination facility designed to be larger than the popular track opened at Battenhall Park last year.  This new track would feature a series of bumps It would be designed for people of all ages and skill levels to use on a bike an adaptive bike or wheelchair or with roller blades.  The new pump track would benefit from the existing parking toilet facilities and the café at Perdiswell Leisure Centre Vice-Chair of Worcester City Council’s Place and Economic Development Committee said: “The pump track at Battenhall Park has already proved a popular facility since it was opened in November “The proposed new track at Perdiswell would provide a key facility for those living in the north of Worcester while also benefiting from the existing amenities at Perdiswell Leisure Centre “Pump tracks are a great way for people of all ages to build their skills in a safe and controlled environment “The tracks also play an important role in reducing anti-social behaviour by providing a fun and healthy activity for young people to engage in with their friends.” The Council is also proposing a brand-new playground with fencing at Weyburn Close in the Lower Wick and Pitmaston ward.  Proposals at Cornmeadow Lane include the installation of extra play equipment and fencing around the existing facility Both parks will also include seating to provide a social space for teenagers Councillor Cooper added: “The park improvements are part of the City Council’s Play Plan which sets out priority projects to improve play opportunities in Worcester and includes dedicated spaces for teenagers “These three projects aim to address a shortage of play provision in these areas of Worcester.  “Please let us know what you think here.” The consultations on all three schemes are open until Sunday 16 March A new mural to signify peace in Worcester has been painted at Cripplegate Park The mural has been created ahead of the International Day of Peace on Saturday 21 September The design incorporates a dove and olive branch – to symbolise peace – and the world in different sets of hands combined Worcester City Council’s Chair of the Communities Committee Councillor Jabba Riaz said: “It is brilliant to see the mural painted in one of Worcester’s beautiful parks “It’s a symbol of togetherness and peace in our city I would urge people to take a few minutes out of your day to come and have a look and reflect on how we can all work together to make the world a more peaceful place.” said: “This is a day to think of those living where there is conflict and also to be grateful for the peace that we enjoy “I’m so proud to live in Worcester where so many cultures are celebrated and we all share a common love for our city “This mural is a beautiful artwork and symbol created by Worcester Paint Festival members was officially unveiled today (Friday 13 September) a week ahead of the International Day of Peace – which will be marked in Worcester for the first time added: “Street art has been used to represent peace for years “Worcester Paint Festival shares the morals of the International Day of Peace and we are honoured to be involved in this way “Thank you to Mural Minded for providing this lovely piece of work.” Next Saturday (21 September) a Peace Day event is taking place at Cathedral Square between 11.15am and 12.45pm speeches followed by the laying of candlelights and flowers Participants will also join with a minute of silence across the globe at midday This will be followed by the raising of a peace flag Worcester Paint Festival is running on the same day as the International Day of Peace They will have a base at the History and Heritage Pod at Crowngate Shopping Centre Also taking place next Saturday (21 September) is a Faith Conference at the Guildhall Worcester City Council welcomes all representatives of faith and belief to attend the event to reflect Worcester’s diverse community will allow representatives to share aspirations A free activity which aids both physical and mental health is coming to Worcester this summer Park Yoga will take place every Sunday morning at KGV Hub Community Centre (WR4 9TL) in the Brickfields area of Worcester starting on 4 May and continuing until 14 September.  with no prior experience or booking required There will be refreshments available afterwards at the KGV Hub The Worcester events follow a successful scheme in Kidderminster Participants are encouraged to consider environmentally-friendly travel options Park Yoga in Worcester is supported by Public Health in Worcestershire and Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire to encourage people to get active and have fun meeting new people this summer while delivery partners include Worcester City Council Worcester Community Trust and Freedom Leisure.  The yoga instructor for the sessions will be Emma Blunston Director of Physical Activity and Wellbeing at Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire said: “We are very excited that Park Yoga is coming to Worcester to the Brickfields area.  “Offering yoga in an outdoor setting allows participants to enjoy both the physical and mental benefits of movement while embracing being in nature.  “It’s a brilliant opportunity to bring the community together it’s more important than ever to take time for self-care and mindfulness and Park Yoga provides the perfect opportunity to do just that.  “Not only will participants improve their flexibility and strength but they’ll also have the chance to clear their minds and reduce stress in a green space.” Programme Manager for Adult Wellbeing Services at Onside said: “I am delighted that key partners have come together for the second time in Worcestershire to bring Park Yoga to yet another district!  “At Onside we are passionate about delivering initiatives which enable people to live their best life possible and yoga has huge benefits for both mental and physical wellbeing.  “It is also brilliant that we have been able to do a 'Park Yoga Plus' in Worcester through a pop-up cafe at Brickfields to offer attendees and residents hot and cold refreshments and further opportunity to unwind in their local green space - I am really looking forward to the Park Yoga season starting!" said: “We are really looking forward to Park Yoga coming to Brickfields this will be a great opportunity for the community to come together and engage in activities outdoors.” Homes and Communities at Worcester City Council said: “Park Yoga will provide Worcester residents a free opportunity to participate in a physical and social activity each Sunday morning throughout the summer in our public park “Improving health and wellbeing is a key theme in our Worcester City Plan for 2025-2030.” Freedom Leisure Healthy Communities Manager said: “We're thrilled to collaborate with our partners to bring this exciting initiative to Worcester.  “Free parks yoga offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the outdoors Construction has officially begun on a major new development at Worcester Six Business Park marking a big milestone for the county.  has chosen Worcester Six as the new site for its headquarters which will be the largest building on the site to date further making the business park a prime location for international companies which are expected to be complete by the end of 2025 will bring significant investment to the local economy creating around 250 new jobs in the county and further putting Worcestershire on the map as a key player in global manufacturing Cabinet Member with Economy and Skills at Worcestershire County Council commented: “This is fantastic news for Worcestershire MiTek’s investment will not only create hundreds of jobs but also demonstrates that our county is increasingly becoming a magnet for world-class businesses and this development will further enhance Worcester Six’s reputation as a leading destination for global enterprises to thrive.” Located just outside Worcester and close to the Worcester Parkway train station Worcester Six offers excellent transport links making it an attractive location for businesses looking to expand or relocate.  With over 1.2 million sq ft of commercial space already developed and plenty more in the works this latest project is part of a long-term effort to attract investment and create more opportunities in the county Wychavon District Council’s Executive Board member for Economy and Tourism said: “This is a significant investment by a global business that will create jobs and opportunities for our residents It once again demonstrates the attractiveness of Wychavon as a place to do business.” said: “Construction starting on MiTek’s new headquarters is really exciting and is a significant milestone at Worcester Six boosting the growing manufacturing presence at the park and within the region We are extremely proud of what we have delivered at Worcester Six and look forward to welcoming MiTek in Q4 2025.” Managing Director for MiTek's EMEA operations commented: "As demand for offsite construction continues to grow this building will provide us with the manufacturing capacity to support the continued growth of our customers across Europe as well as providing spaces that inspire creativity Worcester Six Business Park has created around 800 jobs serving as a vital engine for local employment Not only is it attracting global businesses like MiTek but it's also helping local companies expand benefiting from its strategic location and modern facilities Worcester Six continues to drive outside investment into the region boosting the local economy while supporting Worcestershire's homegrown businesses making it a thriving hub for innovation and growth The victim was walking along Worcester Park Road on Saturday the 17th of August when he was approached He was threatened and ordered to hand over his Rolex watch Anyone with information or who recognises them should contact police on 101 Residents who lost their homes in a fire have settled their court claim against the housing association that owned the block and the developer that built it Victims of the 2019 Richmond House fire in south-west London had been seeking damages against freeholder Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) and builder St James More than 50 residents lodged a High Court claim against the two organisations in April 2024 for loss damage and personal injury suffered because of the fire Inside Housing understands the settlement was reached just before Christmas The latest agreement means all disputes between the residents, St James and MTVH have now been resolved. MTVH settled its own court claim against St James last spring timber-framed block which burned to the ground five years ago All 23 shared ownership flats were destroyed many of whom were key workers including teachers and NHS staff After the fire, research by UCL professor José Torero and the London Fire Brigade found defective cavity barriers that allowed the blaze to spread into the internal structure and destroy the building which built the block in 2010 before selling it to MTVH had given the block a stay put strategy in case of a fire MTVH’s annual report for 2023-24 included net income of £2.69m from insurance proceeds paid out because of the fire The housing association logged £7.29m of one-off costs related to the fire in 2021-22 MTVH has since restored the block and remediated others on the estate There are no adequate protections for defective low-rise buildings We have been lucky in being able to make a claim but the costs to victims of making a claim are in most cases prohibitive.” the residents’ solicitor of Bindmans law firm said: “Attempts to fix the broken system have not gone far enough As well as missing protections for under 11m buildings negligent and dishonest constructors of all sizes of buildings can still avoid responsibility “A damages claim could be made in this case because St James is still a going concern Many defective and dangerous buildings have been built by short-lived companies which disappear afterwards leaving profits to a parent company and leaving residents with no one left to hold accountable.” Mr Hansen added: “The Building Safety Act 2022 recognises that problem It allows only limited claims against associated companies leaving victims unable to claim for many losses “Victims cannot recover anything from such constructors if their building burns down – as happened to Richmond House claims against associated companies should be widened beyond the narrow confines in the Building Safety Act.” A spokesperson for MTVH said: “We can confirm that MTVH has reached a settlement with the residents of Richmond House and St James working constructively within the mediation timetable set out by the residents’ lawyers as they sought a resolution with both MTVH and St James “We hope that coming to this settlement will help to bring some closure to residents.” New to Inside Housing? Click here to register and receive our fire safety round-up straight to your inbox Already have an account? Click here to manage your newsletters Following the conclusion of Wimbledon this weekend Worcester City Council is serving up 385 hours of free tennis In partnership with provider Freedom Leisure the Council is making tennis courts at Cripplegate Park and Gheluvelt Park free to use at set times on Wednesdays Saturdays and Sundays for the next five weeks Worcester City Council’s Deputy Leader and Communities Committee Chair said: “This fantastic offer of 385 free hours of tennis is for anybody in the city “We want people of all ages and abilities to come and try this fantastic game and have some fun We’ve got some excellent facilities at Cripplegate Park and Gheluvelt  Park which we would like you to try “Hopefully it will lead to bigger and better things Maybe some of the next generation of tennis aces will be training at these great facilities in the next few weeks “Booking is required, so reserve your free court now at www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/FreedomLeisureTennis.” From 17 July five courts at Cripplegate Park and two at Gheluvelt Park will be free each Wednesday between 5pm and 8pm The courts will also be free on Saturdays and Sundays between 2pm and 6pm said: “We are thrilled to be working with Worcester City Council on this project It will offer 385 hours of free tennis to Worcester residents from 17 July to 18 August at Cripplegate Park and Gheluvelt Park with rackets and balls available on request too “We urge everyone to pick up a racket and have a game with their friends or family Whether you are an experienced player or a complete beginner this is your chance to enjoy the Worcester parks’ tennis courts.” 24 year old Darius was last seen on Monday the 3rd of June leaving his home in the area You can view an image of him on our Radio Jackie website anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact police on 101 A planning application has been submitted by Worcestershire County Council and healthcare property company Prime plc to continue progress of a new Worcester City Secondary School and new car parking facilities adjacent to Worcestershire Royal Hospital which is set to open for the start of the academic year in 2028 will ensure children can access a secondary school place within their local community in a growing City The need for a new secondary school in Worcester goes hand in hand with the approval of large housing developments around the City and also improves choice and access for families Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Communications said: “Submitting the planning application alongside Prime is the next step in ensuring we are able to meet the need for secondary school places in Worcester Working alongside Prime also enables a joined-up approach to making best use of the wider site.” said: “Demand for parking at Worcestershire Royal Hospital has been an ongoing challenge for staff “Through Prime’s previous experience we have identified a solution next to the hospital which improves current congestion issues and increases parking capacity “We will be asking planners to support proposals by granting outline planning permission for the facility which approves the development in principle We will then be working alongside the hospital County Council and local community to develop more detailed designs before submitting more detailed plans in 2025.” The application will also focus on the associated highway works in the form of a new access and exit road onto the A4440 Nunnery Way which will allow entry to the hospital car park and create the potential for a new blue light route for emergency vehicles to reach and leave the hospital It will also include a new access road off Newtown Road to service the school specifically By pursuing a hybrid application for the school the access roads and the multi-storey car park jointly it enables a more strategic comprehensive approach and solution to  traffic users of the hospital whilst providing a biodiversity net gain on the site The new 850-space multistorey car parking facilities for the hospital will ease the current traffic and congestion issues experienced around Charles Hastings Way and address any potential concerns about additional school-related traffic on Newtown Road and consequential impacts on the blue light route at peak times the Department for Education confirmed that Oasis Community Learning would be the preferred sponsor for the new Worcester City Secondary School Oasis Community Learning is a multi-academy trust with 52 academies across the country including 18 secondary schools and Oasis Academy Warndon which opened in 2015 and is proudly rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted The planning reference for this application is 24/000020/REG3. To view and comment on the live application, please visit the e-Planning Portal. Twelve new electric vehicle (EV) charging points have been installed at Tallow Hill car park in Worcester Worcester City Council is continuing its rollout of EV facilities and these latest additions add to charging points already available in King Street and St Martin's Gate car parks Tallow Hill was chosen for the chargers as some nearby residents do not currently have access to off-street charging Residents living within one kilometre of any City Council EV chargers are eligible for a residential EV permit allowing them to park free-of-charge between 6pm and 8am whilst charging their electric vehicle overnight The chargers are part of the City Council’s EV Charging Strategy and have been funded by the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme run by the national Office for Zero Emission Vehicles Chair of Worcester City Council's Environment Committee said: “It's vital that Worcester has the infrastructure for people to be able to charge their EVs in the city “As the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2035 gets closer the number of electric vehicles on our streets is growing all the time “These new chargers will give Worcester residents especially those who live near Tallow Hill car park “I would urge those eligible to apply for a free EV charging permit at www.mipermit.com/Worcester.” Charging at Tallow Hill costs a competitive rate of 45p per kWh Standard parking charges will also apply at times outside of permit hours All charge points in Worcester City Council car parks are powered by green electricity A strategy for the rollout of more EV charging in Worcester was approved by the Council's Environment Committee last year Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More -  A pair of unlikely new neighbors in a busy Worcester neighborhood is stirring up surprise.   “You can hear them before you even see them you know they’re big,” Worcester resident Mark Tomasko said “Usually you have to get into the woods to see them but right here in the middle of the city was very surprising.” There's no traveling needed as now you can drive down Park Ave or walk along Institute Park for a chance to see a pair of bald eagles its still surprising,” Mass Wildlife ornithologist Andrew Vitz said.  Vitz said these birds have been in the area for about a year now and even though it’s still rare urban nesting is becoming more common as eagles adapt to new environments “People never used to see them in places like the center of Worcester “Wherever there is a water body and some larger trees to provide potential nesting habitat high traffic areas carry added challenges and hazards for eagles “There’s lots of activity in terms of vehicles Vehicle collision is one of the primary known type of mortality that eagles come by each year so that’s a hazard for them,” Vitz said “Just having buildings around is a hazard for them Birds and raptors can regularly fly into buildings and windows.” Eagles are also very sensitive to human disturbance so Vitz said if you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse Use the bird’s behavior more than anything to determine disturbance,” he said Mass Wildlife is following roughly 100 nesting eagle pairs across Massachusetts and said this is one of only two pairs in the Worcester area Chelsea star on her club’s new manager and how the Euros defence is motivating the forward to make history “Sometimes I forget how many people look up to me,” says James, pleasantly surprised, after helping out with the grassroots session at Worcester Park in south-west London. Perhaps it is also easy for the rest of us to forget that the Chelsea No 10, who has played 24 times for the Lionesses, only recently turned 23. Read moreJames is friendly yet rather shy appearing slightly nervous as she sits down inside one of the ground’s wooden dugouts for an exclusive interview It is evident she enjoys putting on a performance in front of tens of thousands of people in a stadium more than holding a microphone another performance will be expected as Chelsea meet Tottenham at Kingsmeadow ShowNikita Parris’s header ended her old club Manchester United’s 100% start to the season as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Amex Stadium Marc Skinner’s side took the lead through Grace Clinton’s third goal of the campaign in the 10th minute and the England midfielder was within inches of scoring again four minutes later when she struck the bar Brighton subsequently hit back seven minutes into the second half as Parris who was United’s top-scorer last term before moving on to the Seagulls on transfer deadline day It was the first time the goalkeeper had been beaten this season having kept clean sheets in each of the three wins with which the Red Devils had begun the season including late on to deny Elisabeth Terland Thank you for your feedback.“Sometimes change can go one of two ways but it’s been good so far; I’m happy and Chelsea are happy,” James says of the impact the Frenchwoman has made at the club since replacing the long-serving Emma Hayes James says it has taken the squad no time to adapt to their new coaching team Sonia is just bringing in her qualities and adding it to our own qualities Hopefully we can try to win the Champions League.” Lauren James at Worcester Park for the McDonald’s Fun Football kids grassroots football programme Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The ObserverJames has been on the receiving end of sickening racist abuse online on multiple occasions She is determined to rise above it and let those horrible experiences fuel her on the pitch “I just try to let my feet talk and hopefully let my success do that,” James says “Having the right support network around you helps you keep on track and try to block out the noise they just keep you on the ground and keep your head sane.” James is speaking after a McDonald’s Fun Football session having this year become an ambassador for the programme that delivers free coaching to children aged five to 11 In 2024 the programme adjusted its centre locations to ensure that 80% of the lowest income urban areas in the UK have access to the sessions and James wanted to get involved to be a “role model to kids who have barriers” She says: “It’s nice to see kids smiling and having access and it’s a step closer to people being able to reach their dreams.” Sometimes change can go one of two ways but it’s been good so far; I’m happy and Chelsea are happyThat desire to help youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds was also behind James’s launch of her LJ10 scholarship scheme in September which provides help to aspiring players from diverse backgrounds “For kids that have potential or aren’t getting seen or have barriers perhaps not being able to fund kit or get to training I’ve been pleased to support them,” she says James was yet to make her international debut when that tournament on home soil came around injuries in the 2021-22 season meaning it came too soon for her That is giving her more determination to be an important player at next summer’s Euros in Switzerland England’s Lauren James (left) and Sweden’s Magdalena Eriksson compete for the ball at Wembley Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The ObserverJames watched the 2022 final at Wembley against Germany from the stands as a fan and says: “It was hard but at the same time I was happy that they did that England meet Germany at Wembley again on Friday in a friendly as they step up their preparations to defend their title, and James says the squad are all driven by the pain of losing 2023’s World Cup final against Spain “To get so close to winning a World Cup and then not being able to achieve it But that’s football and you need to move on to the next opportunity It’s not that it doesn’t hurt – of course it does – but all you can control is the next game the next performance and the next opportunity to win another trophy “I know what that winning feeling feels like and I want to be able to do that with England The Euros is a massive opportunity for the team to repeat what they did in 2022 and we’re all massively motivated to make another piece of history.” This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Worcester’s bikeshare scheme was launched by Beryl on 17 June 2024 There are 175 e-bikes and 50 pedal bikes around the city which can be hired by the minute The bikes take seconds to unlock then you can be off on your journey There are bay locations all around the city where users can hire a bike using the Beryl app (or unlock via SMS) and cycle away leaving the bike at another bay location near to their destination A map of all bays and the number of available bikes can be found on the Beryl app or on website The scheme is dockless with each bay consisting of a painted outline on the pavement Beryl’s local operations team swaps out the e-bike batteries maintain and redistributes the bikes to meet demand More information about the scheme and how to sign up is available on the Beryl website or simply download the app from your app store and get started please contact Beryl using the chat icon on their app email This email address is being protected from spambots or call their customer service team on 020 3003 5044 (7am - 9pm Monday-Sunday) If you would like to see a bike bay in a new location, request a new parking location using the form on Berly Bike's website. Working with colleagues from County Highways and other key stakeholders the bays have been carefully chosen to avoid any obstruction To gain formal approval of the bay locations from the Highways Authority a consultation with residents and businesses within the immediate vicinity was carried out for each location on highways land The scheme is a key project within the Worcester Town Investment Plan. The capital costs of setting up the scheme were funded from the Council’s Towns Fund Grant. The award of the contract to Beryl was approved by Health and Wellbeing Committee in 23 October 2023 Accessible descriptions of all bays being installed are available in the document below This will be updated regularly as new bays are added Beryl work with charities and community groups to provide access to the bikes through their Community Champions initiative A timber-framed housing association block in which a serious fire broke out last year was fitted with “defective” cavity barriers that “contributed nothing to control of the fire” a report obtained by Inside Housing reveals Richmond House – a 23-flat building in the Worcester Park development in south-west London owned by housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) – was almost totally destroyed in the fire one year ago today reveals that flames were able to rip through a 16cm cavity between the building’s main structure and cement board cladding This cavity contained three layers of timber battens which provided fuel for the fire to burn behind the non-combustible cladding This fire spread should have been slowed by cavity barriers – dense blocks of mineral wool insulation that are pressed into gaps to close them to flame But the barriers installed at Richmond House were defective the cavity barriers that were fitted were defective: they were too small to close the cavity and they would have contributed nothing to control of the fire,” the report said “Based on the limited number of drawings that I have seen the defects in the cavity barrier installation appear to be the result of errors in the design.” This issue meant the fire was able to spread “almost unhindered both horizontally and vertically” through this cavity it met a plastic board attached to the battens that “burned readily and melted away” Cavity barriers should have been fitted to prevent spread into the roof “There was no effective obstacle to prevent fire spreading into the roof which there should have been,” the report said Absent cavity barriers were an issue in the cladding system at Grenfell Tower where they were omitted above windows and at the top of the cladding system – in breach of official guidance A report on Persimmon Homes developments in December last year concluded that Persimmon has a “systemic nationwide problem” with missing and/or incorrectly installed cavity barriers in its timber frame properties The Richmond House block was built by St James an arm of large house builder Berkeley Group before being sold to Metropolitan Thames Valley for use as shared ownership affordable housing were present in the block at the time of the fire and many are still in temporary accommodation Today they made a submission to government calling for reforms to its planned building safety legislation to prevent another fire like the one at Richmond House They say the current package of reforms “fails to tackle the fundamental need to hold construction companies and property owners responsible for the construction failures they were responsible for” Richmond House after the blaze (picture: Lucie Heath) “We had to run for our lives in the middle of the night in many cases carrying babies and young children Residents opened their curtains to see a wall of flame We all escaped the flames by moments and were lucky to come out with our lives,” the submission says “The requirement for cavity barriers is not new It does not arise because of modern cladding materials but is a basic fire safety requirement identified within the existing building safety regime The nature of construction is that failures can remain hidden for years and are only revealed By this time construction companies have moved on and seek to avoid or deny liability.” It adds that Berkeley and MTVH are “refusing to pay compensation and have instructed commercial professional dispute lawyers to deny any liability” It also notes that Richmond House – which was below 11m in height – would not be considered a higher-risk building under the new regime They say the bill needs “an increase in scope to cover all innocent leasehold victims coupled with backing of real financial consequences that cover the costs of remediation” Former resident Jennifer Frame told Inside Housing: “The attention and focus and funding has been so much on cladding it’s the most visible one but there’s so many other less visible issues that are not getting the attention they deserve We’ve seen with our own eyes what a lack of cavity barriers and compartmentation can do to a building.” A spokesperson for MTVH said: “In November 2019 MTVH provided Richmond House residents with the intrusive survey report into their building from forensic architects This was in line with our commitment to understand what happened on the night of the fire and to share information with residents The report was discussed openly at a meeting attended by the residents and other stakeholders independent experts also carried out assessments of the other buildings at The Hamptons owned by MTVH and the findings of these investigations were then discussed at a series of drop-in events with residents where the proposed remedial works were outlined St James will be carrying out the remedial works on behalf of MTVH on the properties we own on the estate.” Richmond House will be rebuilt in the same style of construction with planning permission granted by Sutton Council last week A spokesperson for St James said: “A year on St James once again extends its sincere sympathies to everyone affected by this terrible fire the cavity barriers contributed to the spread of the fire although its initial cause was never identified planning consent has just been given for its replacement and construction work will proceed once the detailed design work has been completed and building regulations approval is in place “St James continues to work with MTVH the council and all residents on The Hamptons development to make sure wider remedial works across the site are carried out properly safely and with a minimum of disruption.” Each week we send out a newsletter rounding up the key news from the Grenfell Inquiry New to Inside Housing? Click here to register and receive the weekly newsletter straight to your inbox Already have an account? Click here to manage your newsletters Details: cache-fra-eddf8230033-FRA 1746535658 4030885340 Network Rail has joined forces with street artist Lionel Stanhope to establish a mural to honour the residents of Richmond House in Worcester Park who lost their homes following a fire in September 2019 The mural displays the Worcester Park town centre name but also features 24 butterflies each one representing one of the families who lost their home and the mural is a way of bringing positivity into the community This the first mural to be funded by Network Rail Wessex and is on the wall under the railway bridge on New Malden Central Road The green background represents the parkland surrounding The Hamptons as well as the town's historic link with the Great Park Worcester Park takes its name from the 4th Earl of Worcester The artist Lionel Stanhope worked with residents on the mural which was finished  on 9 September marking the one-year anniversary of the fire Network Rail Wessex franchise and access manager said: “The mural is a way to bring positivity to the community while maintaining focus in a sensitive way “We considered a street art mural to be appropriate - a way to thank and celebrate every neighbour for the community spirit they have shown “We’re always open to creative ways to make our railway look better and more welcoming for the neighbourhood.” Lionel Stanhope said: “I’m really pleased with how the mural turned out it’s a piece of artwork for people to enjoy but to others – particularly what the 24 butterflies represent –  it will mean something else and it’s a way a giving the community a focus.”Jennifer Frame said: “We are really proud of the art that Lionel Stanhope has created and we want to thank Network Rail for all their support “It has been a difficult year for all the Richmond House residents but this mural represents a sense of renewal It’s our way of bringing something bright and positive to our community in return for all the support they gave us.”  to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years WORCESTER – Police arrested one man for drugs and issued two others a summons to appear in court for tresspassing on Wednesday Officers located three individuals inside Oread Castle Park while conducting a check of Oread Castle Park at around 1:15 AM According to the Worester Police Department an officer noticed a folding knife sticking out of the pants pocket of one of the individuals A search of Reyes led to the discovery of 12 small bags of cocaine The two individuals with Reyes received a summons to appear in court for tresspassing Follow us on The016.com