Mediaeval wall could be worst city grot spot (From Worcester News)

Mediaeval wall could be worst city grot spot

10:00am Friday 23rd July 2010 in Take Pride Headlines By Flora Drury, @floradruryWN #worcsnews

HERITAGE: The overgrown mediaeval city wall, which runs along City Walls Road in Worcester. 34488201

A Worcester historian has urged people take a litte more pride in their heritage by not dropping their litter.

Paul Harding, manager of Discover History, has been dismayed by the state of the mediaeval city wall, which runs along City Walls Road, and he believes it could be one of the city’s worst grot spots.

Attempts to repoint and repair the monument, uncovered in the 1960s by Worcester City Council and English Heritage, have been hampered by the fact there are 25 different owners of the wall – and they all need to agree on the work.

It has taken two years, but they are now hopeful to have contracts signed by each and every owner by the autumn, when they can begin the work.

But as well as the overgrown weeds and cracked stones, the appearance of the wall is not helped by the litter which can often be seen strewn along its base.

Mr Harding said: “Hundreds of people drive past it every day – it should be looking good. It needs a general tidy up and facelift.”

He said he is sometimes embarrassed to take his tour groups down to look at the wall, especially when he compares it to old city walls in cities such as York.

It is an example of the wider effect of dropping your litter which the Take Pride in Worcester campaign, which is being run by your Worcester News, the city council and VisitWorcester, wants to highlight.

By just throwing rubbish away, the appearance of the wall could be greatly improved – making it a tourist attraction Worcester can be proud of.

“The city walls are in urgent need of repair, and the city council is working with English Heritage, the landowners and the county’s highways team to find a long term solution to the problem,” says James Dinn, archaeological officer at Worcester City Council.

“However, in the short term, the appearance of the city walls would improve a great deal if people could refrain from dropping litter in the area, and clear up after their dogs too.”

And, as Mr Harding points out, the wall has protected us for hundreds of years so it is the least we can do is to protect it.

“If you look at Worcester’s coat of arms, there is a castle in the middle,” he said.

“That represents the fact Worcester’s a walled city. It’s good we still have some left, and so we should take care of it.”

How you can play a part: PEOPLE are being encouraged to band together and clean up their areas.

Worcester City Council would like groups of people to organise litter picks.

In return for their efforts, the council will provide a street sweeper, bin bags and high visibility jack- ets, and arrange for all the bags of litter to be collected.

And your Worcester News will be on hand to take before and after photos to record your efforts.

l Anyone wishing to organise their own community clean-up should call 01905 722101. Don’t forget to let your Worcester News know when and where, either by calling us on 01905 742260 or by e-mailing fd@worcesternews.co.uk.

Grot spot pledge: PEOPLE who report ‘grot spots’ in Worcester have been promised they will be cleaned up within two working days.

Worcester City Council has made the pledge as part of the Take Pride in Worcester campaign – and it is determined to fulfil it.

The only time Worcester City Council cannot keep its promise is when the grot spot falls on private property – in which case it will contact the owner.

To report a grot spot call 01905 722101.