A multi-million-pound bid to ‘modernise’ Worcester Racecourse has come under fire with critics saying the council should not be profiting from horse racing and gambling.

Green city councillors Louis Stephen and Karen Lewing spoke out against a proposed £20 million bid for government ‘levelling up’ money to pay for a new grandstand and bigger conference facilities at Worcester’s Pitchcroft Racecourse saying it was “unethical” to cash in on the two pursuits.

Cllr Louis Stephen, leader of Worcester City Council’s Greens, said he was unenthusiastic about the plans to improve Worcester Racecourse.

“I think there will be some people who query why we want to be investing in something that is supporting gambling and potentially have issues with protecting animal rights,” he told the policy and resources committee.

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The bid, which also contains plans to install a new running track at Nunnery Wood Sports Centre and proposals to transform the former listed Engine Works building in Shrub Hill into offices and creative spaces, was still given the seal of approval by the council’s policy and resources committee at a meeting in the Guildhall on Monday (July 4).

Cllr Karen Lewing added: “My real issue is the racecourse project I’m afraid. It is not the conference facilities, fantastic, but what I struggle with is investing in something that some people think is an unethical investment.

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“The problem is, if we are getting profit from gambling, people spending money on alcohol, and horse racing, which some people have a real issue with, as a council, I have a bit of an issue with that and I’m hoping that if we make a profit, our profit is coming from the conference facility and Sports Arena take the profit from the unethical side of the business … unless we can do that I’m afraid I can’t [support this].”

Cllr Marc Bayliss, leader of the city council, said he disagreed that horse racing was unethical and said the council already made money from selling alcohol in venues and at events and from handing out gambling licences.

He said: “I’m satisfied that the proposal, or the one that is at our own conference facility, will benefit the people of Worcester and will bring in more money and develop our economy in many important ways.”