A RETIRING member of Worcester City Council has called on his colleagues to pay more heed to the views of residents.

Speaking at a meeting of the council’s planning committee on Thursday, April 24, Cllr David Tibbutt said he felt members sometimes adhered a little too closely to rigid guidelines.

The Conservative member for Battenhall, who is retiring after a decade on the council, said: “We probably should be giving rather more emphasis to the opinion of local people.

“Sometimes we have edged a little bit further away from that.

“Maybe we take the rules a bit too literally.”

Cllr Alan Amos paid tribute to his colleague, saying: “I’ve always found him wise, balanced and fair.

“He’s been a valued colleague.

“I’ve always valued his opinion and we will be less without him.”

Cllr Tibbutt, a retired consultant physician at the old Worcester Royal Infirmary, remains chairman of Worcester Conservative Association and is well known for his volunteering work in Uganda.