WYRE Forest Labour has set out seven key pledges ahead of its fight to make district council gains in the May local elections.

The party, which will field candidates in all the 11 seats up for grabs, launched its campaign with the slogan “Vote Labour: for people, communities & businesses”.

And their focus will be on seven priority issues. These are affordable housing, protecting local services including the retention of the Hub at Kidderminster Town Hall, economic development, and lobbying the Government for more council funding.

They are also pledging to prioritise development on brownfield sites in the local plan, campaign with regulators for better bus services and boosting Kidderminster Town Centre.

Stephen Brown, Labour’s Media spokesperson said: “Labour believes there is a different way to run the council that puts people, communities, and business, at the forefront of investment and our local democracy.

“For too long, the Tory council has been run in an insular and authoritarian way ignoring the wishes of local people.

“Labour will put an end to this approach. Our people, communities and businesses are our biggest assets and they deserve to be treated with respect and listened to properly.

“Labour will carry on making the case for protecting our local services and ending austerity, but will work in partnership to deliver positive change for the district, including on business investment and much needed affordable housing.”