THE polls for the local elections open tomorrow, with all 57 seats at Worcestershire County Council up for grabs.
Below, political reporter Tom Edwards takes a look at the five main party's election manifestos.
Conservatives
THE manifesto for the Conservatives covers six main pledges for voters in Worcestershire.
It includes growing the local economy "by one third" by 2025, with the party saying the spin-off would be more investment into schools, social care and roads.
The second pledge is around infrastructure, including finishing the Southern Link Road dualling, including Carrington Bridge, building Worcestershire Parkway and upgrading the A38 in Bromsgrove.
The third pledge is on education, including the creation of more school places to "keep pace with new developments", and increasing apprenticeships.
A fourth pledge is getting roads and pavements into the top 25 per cent nationally by 2022, based on extra spending of £18 million.
The other two pledges are based on "protecting the most vulnerable people in society", and keeping council tax in "the lowest 25 per cent" of all county councils between now and 2021.
Labour
LABOUR'S manifesto includes having a "fully funded youth service" in Worcestershire, as well as a pledge to "reinvest" into children's services.
The party also says all pothole repairs would be carried out within 48 hours of a complaint.
Its manifesto also says it will "invest in safe routes to schools" and back 20mph limits "where necessary".
A fourth main priority is renegotiating all contracts to bring services back in-house, or provide them under member-owned "co-operatives".
The party also wants to invest in a fund to "ensure equal access to sport", reinstate park and ride for Worcester and re-introduce free concessionary travel before 9.30 am.
It also wants to make Worcester's northern relief ring road a priority.
Liberal Democrats
THE Lib Dems' manifesto pledges include getting children's services to "at least good", from its current Ofsted grading of inadequate.
The party also says no schools should be in special measures and that "every child" must go to a school graded 'good' at the very least.
It also says some council services might come back in-house, college transport would be better funded so all teenagers aged 16-plus can study, and that youth activities would be protected or improved.
Care workers would be offered more money so they are paid 'travel time' going from one residential home to another, and "adequate and safe bus services" would be available "across the county".
The dropped kerb service would also be enhanced, with other providers than Ringway able to offer it, giving residents a choice.
The manifesto also calls for the cabinet to be scrapped and replaced by a committee system.
Green Party
THE Green Party wants to promote a new 'green economy' strategy for Worcestershire, saying it would create local jobs in energy conservation, recycling, renewable energy and food production.
It also wants policies to move towards 'zero waste', including extending recycling to pubs and restaurants, and a project to "reclaim our streets" for cycling and walking.
It also calls for an anti-litter education campaign, and has created a separate 'transport vision' for Worcestershire.
That includes contactless bus ticket payment systems, the possibility of a free 'young person's bus pass' and the creation of more cycle lanes.
The party also wants to re-route much of the traffic travelling south to north, to reduce the amount of traffic passing along St Nicholas Street and Foregate Street.
UK Independence Party
UKIP's manifesto centres on council tax, saying it wants the household bill to be "as low as possible".
The party also says green spaces should be protected, saying its councillors would oppose "excessive housing development" as well as windfarms.
It also says it would "cut highly-paid council executives", and encourage the creation of new grammar schools and technical education colleges in Worcestershire.
The party also says it would "reinstate rural bus routes", make sure extra free parking is created near town centres and make pothole repairs the main infrastructure priority.
UKIP also says it will maintain its 'no whip' policy at County Hall, meaning its councillors would not be asked to vote on party political lines.
HOW ABOUT ELSEWHERE?
The Women's Equality Party Party is standing one candidate in Worcestershire, with Leisa Taylor up for the vote in the Worcester division of Rainbow Hill.
She has published her own list of pledges, which can be found on the party's website HERE.
Independent Community and Health Concern (ICHC) is also fielding eight candidates in the Wyre Forest, including Bewdley - the party's website is HERE.
- Tomorrow the Worcester News will be running a LIVE elections day blog on this website from 9am
- ELECTIONS 2017: Elections almost here as polling day at Worcestershire County Council nears
- To find out who is standing in your area, the candidates across all 57 seats can be found HERE
- To see the Worcester candidates go HERE, Malvern's hopefuls are listed HERE and the Wychavon list is HERE
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