THE city council has an extra three weeks to finalise how it wants to spend £5 million of Levelling Up money.

Worcester was promised the funding for heritage and culture projects and given until May 10 to tell the government how it will spend the windfall.

A list of proposals was revealed last week including plans to add more public spaces to the Scala project, invest in city parks and museums, and to commission a Battle of Worcester sculpture.

Worcester City Council’s managing director David Blake told members of the Policy and Resources Committee on Tuesday (April 23) the government’s deadline had been moved back to June 3.

This gives the council an extra three weeks, during which time it will work with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to prepare its final bid.

It also means the plans will come back before the Policy and Resources Committee for scrutiny on May 21.

The committee could well have a different make-up by then as local elections are taking place next Thursday (May 2).

Councillors questioned whether enough money had been set aside for some of the proposed projects, such as the plan to improve accessibility at the Swan Theatre.

Labour’s joint council leader Lynn Denham said it’s important the public understands the money given by the government has narrow criteria attached and can only be spent on certain projects.

She said she was particularly disappointed sports facilities can’t be included as she would love to see investment in the Nunnery athletics track.

But she added: “the £5m is welcome and these are all worthy investments within the city.”

Francis Lankester, who is standing as an independent candidate in the upcoming city council election, spoke as a member of the public.

He said he was pleased to see a Battle of Worcester statue on the list but said Worcester could do more to promote its historic connections with the civil war.

Mr Lankester said ideas could include a Battle of Worcester trail around the city or a large diorama of the final battle.