Claims over Cathedral plans spark angry row - The Worcester Observer

Claims over Cathedral plans spark angry row

Worcester Editorial 16th Dec, 2014 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

THE LEADER of the city council has furiously denied claims of a “conflict of interest” in connection with plans to revamp Worcester’s cathedral square.

Coun Simon Geraghty hit back at accusations made by Coun Lynn Denham that he was using his position within the city council to benefit his role of deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council.

The comments were made during a council meeting last Tuesday (December 9) where the Conservative cabinet were asked to approve £400,000 of New Homes Bonus funding to go towards the £1.1million scheme.

Coun Denham, councillor for the Cathedral ward, said she was in favour of the project, which would see the roundabout opposite Worcester Cathedral reduced in size in a bid to make the area more pedestrian friendly. But she believed the city council should not be responsible for funding the scheme which she described as a “highways” project and felt Coun Geraghty’s role at County Hall was influencing the decision.




“I do have a concern whether the leader of the city council is actually making a decision that will help the deputy leader of the county council meet the austerity challenge of the county cabinet member for economic skills and infrastructure,” she said.

“City council taxpayers have already paid the county council for highways improvements, so why should further money be diverted to this?”


This led to a heated exchange, with Coun Geraghty calling Coun Denham “the queen of cheap shots” and describing her comments as “absolutely diabolical”.

Coun Marc Bayliss, deputy leader of the city council, added: “I believe her assertions are absolutely scandalous and it is a classic case of playing the man not the ball.

“This is not a highways scene in any shape or form.

“This is about regenerating a part of the city which I believe the people of Worcester will strongly support.”

Coun Geoff Williams backed his fellow Labour councillor’s comments, but Duncan Sharkey, managing director of the council, insisted he had no concerns over a conflict of interest.

“This is not a highways scheme, it is a public realm scheme,” he said. “If anything it is anti-highways, so we don’t have that conflict of interest.”

The new roundabout and public space form part of Salmon Harvester’s plans to redevelop Cathedral Plaza which secured planning permission in August and is expected to be completed by spring 2016.

Cosy Club and Mitchells and Butlers have become the latest restaurants to sign up to the scheme after Byron Hamburgers agreed to join and Coun Roger Knight believed it would encourage more companies to invest in the city.

“This brings about much-needed improvement to this area of the city – not just because of its location, but because it has not been utilised for years,” he added.

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