Dear Editor,
Labour is proud to have candidates standing in all 51 seats in the forthcoming Stroud District Council elections on 2nd May.
Labour successfully led Stroud District Council for 8 out of the last 10 years.
Labour is not just a protest party, it is a party which gets things done. During its time in office, the business and public satisfaction ratings on Stroud District Council’s services were at the highest ever.
Labour has pledged to listen to and work with tenant groups in the Stroud District, making community engagement a priority. In council and private housing it will work to bring all properties up to a good living standard. Labour has successfully worked with Community Land Trusts to build more affordable homes and we will continue this work to help to reduce the housing waiting list.
Supporting our communities will be a priority, continuing to build resilience through our network of Community Hubs, helping to improve residents’ mental and physical health. Labour is committed to invest in the provision of sport, leisure and play areas across the Stroud District. It will continue the excellent work which it started on equality, diversity and inclusion.
Support for our High Streets is paramount to the economy of the Stroud area. We will maintain free car parking, where it already exists, in our market towns and we promise to look at the parking charges in Stroud town. Labour understands the need to regenerate key sites across the district, especially ‘brown field’ sites. We need to make Stroud district a more attractive area for businesses to invest in.
On the environment and climate change, Labour pledges to find suitable properties, both council and community, to set up
Community Energy Schemes. Investing in these schemes would give local people cleaner, cheaper and climate friendly energy generation. Labour will map out opportunities to restore and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity and improve accessibility to green spaces, walking and cycling networks.
With the increase in fly-tipping, Labour will restore the free collection of 3 bulky household items from residential properties and we will also support local ‘reuse and repair’ schemes in our communities.
Cllr Steve Robinson
Leader of the Labour Group at SDC.
