Town's streets getting cleaner

Kidderminster's streets are getting cleaner, according to a new report.

And there have been significant improvement to town centres in the Wyre Forest district thanks to regeneration schemes, it says.

The report, by the Audit Commission, provides a summary of its assessment of Wyre Forest District Council for the year 2007 to 2008. It shows that street cleanliness improved by 25 per cent during the 12 month period.

The report also said the council had played a crucial role in attracting outside investment.

This improved the range of shops in Kidderminster and helped boost tourism in Stourport and Bewdley.

The council had also been proactive in helping the town retain business, it said.

The report said the local authority had been affected by the economic downturn but had "acted swiftly to deal with the situation taking action to mitigate the impact of the credit crunch".

This included restructuring and a review of spending plans. Plans for improvements to Kidderminster town centre have also been put on hold.

The report warned spending must be kept under review especially in developments surrounding the possible recovery of the £9 million trapped in Icelandic bank accounts.