Local Democracy Reporting Service

A plan to redevelop part of Worcester city centre with bars, restaurants, cafes, shops and flats has been criticised by campaign groups.

In a letter of objection to the city council, the local Civic Society said the proposals for the Lowesmoor Wharf area were "laughable, derisible and pathetic".

Image source, Godwin Developments

The Civic Society added: “This whole application should be rejected as totally unsuitable for the centre of Worcester.”

Save Britain’s Heritage also opposed the plan, saying the high-rise buildings would “substantially harm” the character of a historic cathedral city.

Image source, Godwin Developments

The project, put forward by Godwin Developments, is estimated to cost about £85m and the company says it will "breathe new life into this important part of Worcester".

It pointed out the site was designated as an area for redevelopment within the Worcester City Centre Masterplan and was similar in design to Gloucester Docks and Eagles Works in Oxford.

Izzy Fletcher got a surprise when she turned up for her treatment in Worcester.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

A village's scarecrow decorations have more than trebled this year, with organisers putting it down to community spirit in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Every year, Fernhill Heath in Worcestershire has a scarecrow trail that normally involves between 30 and 40 on show outside homes and other locations. In 2020, there are 138 scattered around the village.

A map has been created to record them all, and the event encourages people to get out and do some walking.

Here's an NHS-themed display...

And a wedding - events which have also felt the impact of the virus.

One of the world's oldest motorbike brands is expanding in Asia, the biggest market for two-wheelers.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Carmelo Garcia

A new Covid-19 testing centre will be opened in Ross-on-Wye this week as part of moves to expand testing in Herefordshire.

Image source, Reuters

The main testing centre in the county is a mobile unit at Merton Meadow car park, Hereford.

The county's director of public health, Karen Wright, says the local authority's intention is for more sites in Leominster, Ledbury, Kington and Bromyard.

"We want to be testing in all of our market towns as we go into winter to make it as easy as possible for our residents to get tested,” she said.

The government should have a "real think" about extending free school meals for children over half-term, the leader of Warwickshire County Council said.

Image source, PA Media

Pressure has risen on Boris Johnson over his refusal to rethink the issue but he said they were supporting families through extra money for Universal Credit and the £63m given to councils.

In Warwickshire, county council leader Izzy Seccombe said it would support families this half-term.

"We've recently had a further £65,000. That will help us to cover this but it won't cover all of it and we've decided we want to do this ourselves so we're going to have to find the resources ourselves," she said.

Image source, PA Media

The campaign, led by footballer Marcus Rashford, has led to firms promising to dish out free food to eligible children over half-term, which began on Monday in many areas.

They include coffee shop Picnic Box in Malvern. Owner Carly Weyman said she wanted to give back to the local community who had supported her.

"It just felt like something we could do to support the local community and those children that might go hungry this half-term," she said.

Peter Florence was suspended at the start of October pending the outcome of grievance proceedings.

BBC Midlands Today

Businesses across the West Midlands are offering free meals to families from today to help stop children going hungry over half term.

Image source, The School Food Plan

Cafes, hotels, community groups and councils such as Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Telford & Wrekin and Staffordshire have stepped forward to offer food.

It's after a campaign to extend the free school meals scheme over the holiday by footballer Marcus Rashford was rejected by the government.

Kate Taylor (pictured), from the Courtyard Cafe in Tardebigge, Worcestershire, said they would be offering free lunches for children this week.

"We didn't have a lot when I was growing up, same as Marcus Rashford, so we just decided that, this is a new cafe, recently opened, so we thought we would offer something to the children."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the community collaboration was "brilliant" - but said providing help through councils was "the best way to do this".

Sam Stables moved 140 sheep from Yorkshire to Hereford when his friend became ill with coronavirus.

Dog welfare charities say they are braced for a range of problems related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff at Haresfield Surgery in Worcester are self-isolating after an outbreak at the practice.

Four-year-old Chloe Osborne from Redditch cannot speak or use sign language.

Oscar Saxelby-Lee's mother says he was "buzzing" to be back at Pitmaston Primary.

Zobaidah Salangy's husband has been charged with her murder.

Cordelia Farrell stabbed Wayne Coventry with a kitchen knife at his brother's home in Bromsgrove.

A women's basketball team is lobbying MPs and the government after being told its players can no longer train due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Image source, Bromsgrove Bears

Bromsgrove Bears has over 90 members with teams from under sevens to adult level.

But the club's director, Dawn Hall, said they have had recent issues with their women's team joining national leagues and have now been told they can't train.

The Bears are based in Rednal, south Birmingham, which is in tier two zone - which only allows organised indoor sport if households don't mix. , external

Mrs Hall said the news has "left our women devastated" and could have a "detrimental effect" on the players' mental and physical health.

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these stories today:

• Guilty of manslaughter - the woman who stabbed partner to death, external
• Worcestershire care homes reopen for visits despite rising Covid cases, external
• Malvern man speaks out over difficulties faced by deaf people in lockdown, external

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

A construction site at a hospital has closed for up to 14 days after several workers tested positive for coronavirus.

MTX, which is building the three-storey extension at Hereford County Hospital, said up to 12 additional staff are also self isolating and waiting for test results.

The director of the firm told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester the firm was working with Public Health England, Herefordshire Council and the Environment Agency, who it said were happy with how the site was being run.

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times has these stories today:

• Firefighters tackle huge barn blaze in Herefordshire, external
• Fly tipper caught after business waste dumped in Herefordshire, external
• Staff member tests positive for coronavirus at Herefordshire school, external

Wayne Coventry was stabbed at his home in Bromsgrove in October 2019.