ALL candidates competing for election to Worcester City Council in Bedwardine ward have confirmed their opposition to the Christopher Whitehead relocation.

A public inquiry into the potential high school move to the outskirts of the city is close to concluding.

But candidates are already sure of their views on the school and how a supermarket could serve the west side of the city.

"We don't feel that the county council has made either the educational or transportation case for moving Chrissies from the centre of town," said Bedwardine Tory candidate Coun Barry Mackenzie-Williams.

"We believe taking the school out of the centre of town will take a certain amount of the heart out of that part of the west side of the city."

He is equally firm on which supermarket giant would be better for St John's. "My own view is that Tesco will be competing with every shop in St John's and Sainsbury's still tend to be a grocer's. Small shops will suffer less under the Sainsbury's arrangements than with the Tesco proposal."

Worcester Liberal Democrat party chairman, Paul Griffiths, said: "The need for a west side supermarket is well-established. Liberal Democrats want a supermarket of a size and scale that will fit well in to the St John's community.

"We have opposed moving the Christopher Whitehead School to the edge of the city to make way for a retail development."

Labour councillor for St John's, David Candler, reflected the dilemma at the centre of the debate over a move for the tattered school.

"We believe Christopher Whitehead is right at the heart of St John's and is an integral part of the lifestyles of many parents in this area," he said.

"That's why the council and the Labour group has backed the Sainsbury's proposal in order for the school to remain part of the heart of the city.

"But at the same time we are only too well aware of the physical problems associated with the school.

"Clearly the school is badly in need of rejuvenation and refurbishment. The longer the saga goes on, the more neglected it becomes.

Vaughan Hencher, Liberal Democrat.

Vaughan Hencher is Worcester born and bred. He has served the community as a special constable, an assistant scout leader in St John's and a member of his children's school's PTA.

He works as an information technology lecturer.

He said: "Worcester's west side faces many controversial issues on which people have divergent views, from flood defences to whether to relocate Christopher Whitehead, and the prospect of a new supermarket with knock-on effects on roads and traders. want to ensure that the opinions of all Bedwardine residents are given equal weight in the council chamber.

'More police'

Mark Heaton, British National Party

A plastics engineer, 28-year-old Mark Heaton moved to Worcester two years ago and lives in Warndon. "I'm campaigning for a speedy decision on the Tesco issue one way or another," said Mr Heaton. People have also been telling me about car vandalism in the main roads in Bedwardine. Really, that's anti-social behaviour and we need more police on the streets.

"More generally in the city, if anyone suggested banning flags from being flown or Nativity plays, I would oppose that.

Gary Kibblewhite, Labour.

Formerly an Independent Conservative, Gary Kibblewhite joined the Labour Party in April.

He became an independent in 2001 after sitting as a Tory councillor for five years.

Derek Prodger MBE, Conservative.

Born in Worcester, Derek Prodger served as Mayor in 1998 and 1999 and is currently the cabinet member for a clean, green and safe Worcester.

He was recently appointed chairman of Worcestershire County Council.

Barry Mackenzie-Williams, Conservative.

Currently a Councillor for St Clement's, Barry Mackenzie-Williams is a member of the city council cabinet as the portfolio holder for customer services.

He works as a volunteer for a number of local and national charities.

David Clark, Conservative.

As well as serving as Mayor of Worcester in 2001 and 2002, David Clark has been Bedwardine ward councillor for 13 years.

He is chairman of the city council's licensing committee and runs a business in Worcester.

As part of the boundary shake-up, Bedwardine - which is mostly taken up by Lower Wick - has been expanded fractionally to border Dines Green.

Bedwardine is currently represented by two Conservative councillors and, following Coun Gary Kibblewhite's switch from standing as an Independent Conservative, one Labour councillor.

There is a high proportion of home ownership in the ward. While the city average is 73 per cent, that figure is 10 per cent higher in Bedwardine.

The number of cars owned by ward residents is also high. Only 15 per cent of households have no car, down from a city average of 23 per cent.

Meanwhile, 38 per cent own two or three cars, seven per cent higher than across the city.

The Conservative candidates say:

"As Bedwardine residents, and with mayoral and city council cabinet experience, we understand your concerns.

"We know that we must continue to campaign for fairer funding for Worcester from Government.

"If elected, it is our pledge to the citizens of Bedwardine that we will be available to pursue your concerns as they arise and continue giving you a strong voice in the city council."