IF the Labour Party has any chance of regaining control of Worcester City Council it would need to win in St Clement - a ward that has seen the Conservatives consistently elected for many years and is home to a couple of Tory heavyweights.

Whilst a Labour win could be possible, having run Conservative candidates close in recent years, it would be quite the scalp to defeat a certain Tory who has steadily increased his majority since being elected and is looking to strengthen his position at this election.

St Clement, a two-seat ward which covers part of St John’s as well as the city’s riverside, is currently home to Councillor Chris Mitchell, who chairs the city council’s planning committee and has served as councillor for the area for the last eight years.

The ward’s second seat is occupied by current leader of Worcestershire County Council Cllr Simon Geraghty

Cllr Mitchell fought off competition from Labour and bagged a seat in the Guildhall with a small majority of 156 votes in 2011 but bolstered his grip on the seat increasing his majority to 469 votes four years later again coming out on top over nearest challenger Labour’s Jordan Powell.

If it is going to be any party that chips away at the Conservative control of St Clement it is most likely going to be Labour who has put its faith in Ian Craigan.

A huge Conservative win is not always guaranteed in this ward and it could prove to be a two-horse race yet again.

The party has managed to push the Conservatives fairly close in recent years and has teased to topple the Tory hold – making Cllr Simon Geraghty slightly uncomfortable in the last two elections when he managed to hold onto his seat by 240 votes in 2016 and just 191 votes four years earlier.

Also involved in the four-way contest is UKIP’s John Butterfield, who last stood in St Clement in 2008 and stood in Battenhall last year, and Frazer Bufton for the Green Party.

FRAZER BUFTON (GREEN)

I am a director of an architect’s practice based in Worcester, where I have lived and worked for more than 30 years.

Worcester is also home to my wife and our four children who attend school, university and work locally.

As a practicing architect, I am passionate about our built environment and will work with my Green colleagues to champion the future development of the city to the highest possible standards of design and sustainability for the benefit of all of its citizens.

I welcome the fantastic work of the Green Party locally, in promoting improvements to the cities cycling and walking infrastructure and the planting of more trees in our streets and open spaces.

I will build on this by campaigning for improved public transport links to help alleviate the scourge of traffic congestion and for the provision of more and better public spaces in the city.

IAN CRAIGAN (LABOUR)

I’ve lived in Worcester for 30 years, working in community development and managing the Sure Start programme across the city.

I’m now a storyteller in schools and nurseries, busy musician and folk dancer, school governor and Anglican worship leader.

I’ve loved bringing up a family in St Clement’s and I want to secure the very best for all my neighbours.

If elected I will fight to keep St John’s library open, fight cuts and protect a much needed local resource and will work with the university and student bodies to reduce antisocial activity and increase community benefit.

I will campaign for lower speed limits on residential streets and for the ring road to be completed to take traffic away from main roads and I will work with planners of the Kepax footbridge to make sure local voices are heard.

CHRIS MITCHELL (CONSERVATIVE)

I am a retired army officer having served 20 years in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

I have proudly represented St Clement for the last eight years and have made a number of key achievements that have benefited ward residents.

These include, fighting for the children’s play park in Oldbury Road, the introduction of HMO licences in order to enable the council to better manage HMOs and the introduction of a number of parking measures across the ward that have helped residents with inconsiderate parking.

If elected in May my focus will be to ensure the St Clement footbridge across the river is completed, continuing to tackle poorly managed HMOs and parking issues across the ward and to be as accessible as possible for residents.

As the city’s Armed Forces Champion I will continue to represent and support our veterans who deserve nothing less.