City streets echo to the sound of protest march

Trades unions, local political parties, pensioners, students and even children joined in the march which moved peacefully from Mealcheapen Street, through the Shambles and High Street, to Broad Street.

The marchers followed a group of about 10 drummers, waving flags, holding banners and chanting.

They also held signs aloft, each representing a different concern – including proposed cuts to library services, to respite care and to children’s centres.

The group then dispersed and moved to Huntingdon Hall where they listened to Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, and others talk about alternative ways to cut the deficit such as redistributing tax more fairly and a crackdown on tax evasion.

The march was one of many which have taken place around the country since the Government announced its austerity drive in a bid to tackle the deficit.

Bryn Griffiths, secretary of Worcester Trades Unions Council, said: “We have organised this march with friends from Worcester Against the Cuts, various local trades unions and political groups.

“It is a public demonstration of our revulsion at the cuts being introduced by this Government which have an effect on working people, on poor people and on society.

“We have got about 150 people to come out and protest publicly and peacefully and are following it up with the talk at Huntingdon Hall with various speakers to discuss how we should take these protests forward.

“There is a national protest in London on Saturday, March 26, and we are trying to get as many people as we can to Hyde Park.

“We really want people from Worcester to come out to that demonstration and say ‘No, people are being harmed’. There is an alternative, it is not necessary.

"We could do things with taxation, we could consider alternatives – and that really is the reason for what we think is a very successful event today.”

• To find out more, visit worcesteragainstthecuts.org.uk