Council Chief Executive visits Whiteshill and Randwick

David Hagg, Chief Executive of Stroud District Council makes a point of meeting all new councillors. Some meet him at Ebley Mill, while others like myself, readily accepted his offer to visit the ward. We met in Whiteshill shop for a strong black coffee before we walked around the Parish then did the same in Randwick. Nearly two hours of talk: hopefully making him aware of some of the key issues in this area and some of the wider issues that directly effect us here.

While I've lived here and been involved with many community groups plus visited many homes when canvassing or leafleting, I did also meet with councillors this week, from both Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish and Randwick Parish, to ensure I didn't miss something crucial. It was great to meet those councillors in my new role - and I am looking forward to working more with the Parishes - they have been involved with getting many local projects going like the planned Randwick Village Hall redevelopment, Whiteshill Community Orchard, improved play areas and much more.

One clear frustration that has come up time and time again in this area is the seeming inability of the County Council to help us sort out traffic calming. The issue is clearly not easy - there is little agreement on the best way forward, there are huge costs involved and limited budgets and the very nature of our lanes and roads make some solutions difficult. Nevertheless despite all these factors it is vital we continue to make attempts to improve the situation as it has such an impact on the lives of residents here.

Other issues that got mentioned include safer walking or cycling routes to Stratford Park, improved play facilities, the Randwick's ward boundaries that lack logic, village hall redevelopment, Far Westrip Farm lane redesignation that could mean lots of 4x4 traffic there, the Stroud interchange, Cashes Green Hospital site and much more.

Archway school redevelopment plans

Planning application reference: S.06/0967/LA

Provision of new technology and entrance block, new carpark and associated works.

Archway is a Community Comprehensive School with a wide range of community facilities - it has 1161 11-18 year-old girls and boys with room for up to 1249 pupils. The majority of Archway buildings are from 1961 with some additional buildings added in the last 4 years like the Sports centre and some temporary classrooms. The school was named after the recently preserved Freedom Arch which was built to commemorate the abolition of slavery.

The roofs are largely flat and the buildings do not make any attempt to fit with the Cotswold landscape - the site has also seen piecemeal development over the years so it lacks uniformity. Few could describe the buildings as attractive and for years the school has managed valiantly in these poor quality buildings.

In 2004 the LEA were at last successful in getting £6.25 million from the DFES to start replacing some of the outdated buildings. This first phase hopes to see a new main reception entrance, a new design technology block to replace existing facilities that do not comply with current DFES guidelines, new hard play areas, new car park, internal remodelling of the building and facilitate removal of all the temporary accommodation from the site. None of the work is designed to increase student capacity.

The plans were on show yesterday at Archway but can also be downloaded from the Stroud District Council website.

A decision is expected early June.

Pioneering proposal for Cashes Green Hospital site

Cashes Green Hospital has been empty since it closed in the early 1990s. The site has recently been transferred to English Partnerships and is allocated for housing in Stroud District Council's Local Plan which states a minimum capacity of 40 houses with a percentage of those being affordable. A figure of 60 homes is being mentioned as suitable for the site.

A proposal by Gloucestershire Land for People to acquire the site for affordable homes has been welcomed by many including the local Parish Council. The proposal incorporates a unique new form of tenure known as Mutual Home Ownership which if agreed will be the first scheme in the country which looks at the provision of affordable housing in this way (i).

I have been involved in consultations with Cainscross parishioners over this site as part of helping to develop their Parish Plan. I have also attended a half-day meeting earlier this year (see photo above) to learn more about this project. I was therefore keen today to see the very draft plans being put forward at an open afternoon at the Scout Hut in Randwick.

This does seem like an interesting proposal which could lead to a revolution in housing provision. Under the scheme the land will be passed to Gloucestershire Land for People who will hold it in perpetuity for the benefit of local people wishing to purchase houses in the locality but unable to do so given current high property values.

The Gloucestershire Land for People have consulted widely with the community about the provision they are proposing and what is needed by the community. They seem to have taken on board the wishes of the community to preserve green spaces and have some community facilities.

This pioneering project is one of the first to address the issue of affordable housing in a fundamentally new way - it builds on ideas by the New Economics Foundation and housing provision schemes in other countries like Norway.

One concern I, along with others, have already raised is that this project must benefit people in Cainscross. In the past this area has been seen by many as having housing 'dumped' on it. It has the highest concentration of housing in the District and fewest green spaces. The affordable housing should go first to those living or working in the Parish. It would seem they have taken this on board. Another issue I raised was the hope that the scheme maybe adapted to include renewable energy and much higher specifications regarding the sustainability of the build.

This week Stroud District Council also unveiled their view that "the local community should presented with a range of options." They outlined desired outcomes and how the community can achieve these in a 10 point plan for the site and other public land holdings in Cainscross:-

1. Additional land for the provision of additional Affordable homes
2. A new Doctors’ surgery
3. A tenure range of Affordable Homes including rent, shared ownership and the Government’s Homebuy scheme all allocated “off-plan”
4. A new Local Equipped Play Area
5. More allotments
6. A coalition of local companies for a Modern Methods of Construction pilot project
7. A Housing Legacy fund ring-fenced for the people of Cainscross, to help future households afford the first step into owner-occupation
8. Reduce the opportunity for unauthorized use of public land
9. Providing shared equity solutions that are proven and which households understand
10. Giving a choice to the local community to enable the benefit of alternative proposals to be properly evaluated.

At first glance there are many elements that are similar between the proposals, but there are also some different suggestions. They have for example a different approach to achieving affordable housing, 12 new allotments rather than the 24 suggested by the other scheme and also suggest some of those may go on the Cainscross car park site or perhaps that could take 8 new affordable homes.

At the moment these are only ideas as I understand that English Partnerships only have the Gloucestershire Land for People's proposals under consideration. We shall have to wait and see what proposal comes forward and what it all entails - both schemes appear to have merits but we really need to see details.

See also news release re concerns about contractors cutting trees on the site


Notes:

(i) The land is effectively taken out of the market and separated from its productive use so that the impact of land appreciation is removed, therefore enabling long-term affordable and sustainable local development.

Read more about Community Land Trusts

Read more about Mutual Home ownership

Ruscombe Wood for sale

Ruscombe Wood - 22.5 acres (9.09ha) of woodland and pasture is for sale by informal tender by 30th June.

Any sale of a treasured piece of land can cause concern to residents particularly when in the past plans for a hotel were suggested near there. It is no wonder I've received a couple of telephone calls about this.

However planning permission for housing or anything else is not on the cards for this site: it is being sold with restrictive covenants precluding any development. This is clearly stated in the particulars so anyone looking at them would know there is no prospect of development. We can only hope that whoever purshases the woodland will want to keep and enhance this beautiful spot that I am told contains patches of ancient woodland.

A Sculpture Park for Ebley?

A year ago the local press reported that there was a plan for a five-acre Sculpture Park at the Snow Mill, Ebley. The owners, Snow Business is a company well known locally and has made snow for hundreds of movies including Harry Potter, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bridget Jones Diary and Bond films. Yet for some reason this exciting idea seemed to have been dropped.

In a casual conversation I learnt that Snowbusiness were still keen for the project so over the last few months I've started to sound out local opinion. Many people seem to be in favour of the idea. In the street questionnaire for the Cainscross Parish Plan, that I have been helping to compile, we found 58% in favour of a sculpture park, 33% having no strong opinion and 9% saying it wasn’t a good idea.

Local artists also responded positively to the idea, so today I went with Lis Parker, a local representative of Stroud Arts Forum to the Snow Mill to find out more.

Darcey Crownshaw met with us at the Snow Mill (see photo above) and shared his vision: a sculpture park to allow local artists who create large items to exhibit their work at an annual festival and maybe two mini-festivals during the year. Snowbusiness would provide the facilities free of charge, pay the set up costs and receive no commission on sales. There was also the possibility of funding 'Artists in Residence' which schools could visit and a £10,000 plus prize every two years that would aim to be the Turner prize of the sculpture world. The secure site would not be open to the public the rest of the time.

This seems an exciting proposal, but clearly there are many issues that need addressing.

Arts already has a big place in Stroud - and there is certainly room for more - sculpture being one area that is less celebrated here than 2-D art. The Daily Telegraph once wrote that Stroud is to arts what Hay-on-Wye is to books! We already have the nationally-acclaimed Stroud College School of Art, Design & Media and the wonderful 'Open Studios 'each year - those great colourful flags have just gone up in town. World famous artist Damien Hirst has also just announced he is to turn the old Automold premises in Dudbridge into an arts production studio for paintings and sculptures with showing space.

“The creative energy that surges through Stroud and the surrounding valleys is extraordinary, stimulating and exhilarating at the same time.” Matthew Fort, journalist and Guardian Food Editor writing in the open studios directory.

I will certainly be exploring the Sculpture Park idea further - ideas welcomed!

Why health cuts when more being spent?

We have already seen cuts in Standish, Fairford, Tetbury, Thornbury and more. Yet more money than ever is being spent on the NHS. What is going on?

I should state first that it is wonderful that all parties locally are pulling together to beat these cuts - but that should not mean we ignore the causes of this crisis.

Gloucestershire is getting 12% less than other health authorities - this clearly is not fair. We should rightly be critical of this shortfall - but it is often shouted loudest by Conservatives who voted against every rise in health spending Labour have made.

And let us also not forget that the NHS has been in debt massively for years - the Primary Care Trusts were created 3 years ago and given debts to make up before they even started. Why now do we have to suddenly balance the books?

GP contracts, new drugs, pay awards, GP out-of-hours services and rising health needs in the population are also part of the picture - talking to many health staff it seems that poor management is much less of an issue than some sections of the media suggest. So where is the money going?

To my mind a crucial element missed from most of the reporting is the huge rise in the private sector involvement in the NHS - Labour are literally throwing away money at the private sector.

The problem stems from the Conservative introduction of the market economy into health care 16 years ago. Labour have since expanded private sector involvement where for example:

- under the Private Finance Schemes, companies involved with the NHS are set to make colossal windfall profits of £3.3 billion! Gloucestershire's deficit is £38 million.
- operations 'cherry-picked' by private companies cost 40% more than the NHS
- pharmaceutical companies get 20% more than most European countries for their drugs.

The NHS is also facing hugely damaging internal market reforms and now faces the 24th major restructuring in 32 years. Even the Commons health select committee unanimously warned that the costs of the latest shake-up "outweighed the benefits."

Healthcare should not be left to the market: witness the appalling situation in the US. We must stop throwing our money away on these companies whose primary aim is profit not the needs of patients. The Green party are urging people to sign the national online petition to stop the privatisation of our NHS under 'Campaigns' at: www.glosgreenparty.org.uk

Read the latest from the new websites:
Save Stroud Hospitals:
http://www.savestroudhospitals.org/
Also more at:
http://www.stroudmaternitymatters.co.uk/

Health cuts: Weavers Croft is priority

The situation is very bleak indeed - we need all the support and energy we can muster to fight all these cuts.

At the Stroud Town Council meeting on Monday night it was heartening to see over 130 people turned up to have their say about the massive threat to Stroud's health services. Mayor Kevin Cranston chaired the meeting which had numerous expressions of support from all sections of the community and all parties.

These cuts to Gloucestershire's NHS go beyond all sanity - 9 hospitals, 500 NHS jobs and up to 240 beds face the axe along with many other services to meet a £38 million deficit. Locally Stroud Maternity Hospital, Stroud General inpatients and Weavers Croft all face the axe along with other services in Gloucestershire that Stroud residents use.

Weavers Croft is the priority as we only have a month of consultations - that means we must act now if we are to save this important in-patient assessment and treatment hospital for older people with mental health needs. Please see below for what you can do to help this vital facility and what we can all do to stop the other cuts. I will post seperately another Blog on why these cuts are taking place.

Weavers Croft is sited just below Stroud Maternity and also provides day hospital facilities and is a base for community staff. This 18 bed facility has a proven record of providing high quality sensitive health care in a very safe environment and to move all those patients to Cheltenham makes no sense. It would be environmentally and socially damaging to increase the distances we need to travel - the journey for many older carers to Cheltenham from the areas served by Weavers Croft is difficult and often daunting even more so to those without access to cars.

To close Weavers Croft would be a move contrary to the principles of the recent White Paper on Health which encourages the delivery of health care nearer to where people live. It looks to give more choice to people as to where they receive health care. Our General Practitioners also strongly support the retention of Weavers Croft because it is offering an excellent service to our community.


Great urgency - what you can do to help Weavers Croft

This vulnerable group of people need our support. Please act quickly - we have only until 23rd June:

Write letter - Please write to the Gloucestershire Partnership Trust to express your views: Mr Jeff James, Chief Executive, Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Rikenel, Montpellier, Gloucester GL1 1LY

Or complete consultation document questions - in the Cotswold and Vale PCT consultation document on these proposals, which are online at:
http://www.partnershiptrust.org.uk/content/services/mh_consultation.htm

See also below how to save Stroud Maternity and join rally, march and more.


Stroud General Hospital In-patient Surgery

At Stroud General Hospital, the NHS is proposing that surgical services are provided on a day case basis only (this will include endoscopies). This will enable both Berkeley and Stroud Hospitals to focus on medical and rehabilitation care. It will mean that surgery, requiring an inpatient stay, such as the fine breast care and gynaecological surgery will cease. Patients will have to travel to Gloucester or Cirencester. Consultation details are still to be announced.


Stroud Maternity

This small midwife led maternity unit in Stroud with nine postnatal beds, two delivery rooms and a third room with a birthing pool, together with a 24 -hour helpline faces the axe. The staff have a high reputation for their very caring approach to both mother, baby and the whole family

At an emergency meeting at Stroud District Council at Ebley Mill today it was great to see cross-party support to prevent these cuts. It was also announced that SDC would offer secetarial assistance to the campaign against the cuts and help with compiling a financial report to illustrate the Maternity Hospital is cost effective: closing Stroud will mean simply more costs - as the homebirth rate rises, for instance, more community midwives will be needed.

Read more about this wonderful facility in The Guardian article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1779415,00.html

The timing of the consultation period regarding these proposals is to be decided on 31st May by the County Council's Oversight and Strategy Committee. See details of rally on that day below - we won the battle to keep Stroud Maternity open in 1998 we must win this again now.

Write expressing concerns to:

1. Richard James, Chief Executive, Costwold & Vale Primary Care Trust, Trust Headquarters, Cirencester Hospital, Tetbury Road, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 1UX
2. Paul Lilley, Chief Executive, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust, Trust Headquarters, 1 College Lawn, Cheltenham, Glos. GL53 7AG

What else can you do?

1. Rally at Shire Hall, Gloucester - join rally at 9.30am on 31st May to meet the County Council’s Oversight & Scrutiny Committee who will meet then to discuss Stroud Maternity.
2. Consultation meeting - attend Gloucestershire Partnership Trust consultation at 2.00pm or 6.00pm at Sub Rooms, George Street, Stroud
3. Stroud march - starts at 11.00 am on 10th June at Park Rd- it looks set to be the largest march ever in Stroud and will pass all the Hospital complexes down Middle St, High Street onto Glos street to finish with a rally in Stratford Park. Cllr John Marjoram on 01453 750962 is coordinating the march that has cross-party support.
4. Write to David Drew MP - Stroud Labour Party, 5a Lansdown, Stroud, GL5 1BB or email him at: ,
5. Write to Rt Hon. Patricia Hewitt M.P., Secretary of State for Health - Department of Health, Richmond House, 79, Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS email:
6. Write to Trevor Jones - Chief Executive, Avon, Glos. & Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority, Jennor House, Langley, Park Estate, Chippenham, Wilts. SN15 1GG
7. Write to local press
8. Choose Stroud for treatment: when patients and their GP agree that a hospital visit is needed, then under the new 'Choose and Book' system, patients can choose their hospital or clinic from at least four options, one of which must be private. Supporting our local centre of excellence will help keep our services local.
   

Salt bins need attention!

The large plastic salt bins are wonderful when it's icey but they are also ugly things that clutter our countryside and are prone to vandalism.

A year ago I raised this issue as I am sure there must be a better design that discourages vandals and looks better. However we've not found a design.

The bin at the end of Bread Street has been emptied by vandals on at least three occasions to my knowledge since last October. Today when I spotted it 50 metres down the road from it's usual spot it was empty and the rain was so hard that the salt and grit had been washed away completely (see photo).

Does anyone know of a good design? Possibly a basic wood frame to discourage tipping over and set back more from the edge of the road? Wouldn't it be possible to commission someone?

“Nothing says more, nor more immediately, of how a nation feels about itself, than the way it dresses its streets.” Bill Bryson, English Heritage Commissioner, October 2004

While salt bins might seem a very minor issue to be concerned about, it is these small concerns that all add up to how we feel about our community.

Stroud 2020: One Planet Living

Sunday afternoon a group of 10 of us from Stroud area and beyond met with much tea and flapjacks to work again on a positive vision of a future sustainable Stroud and it's five valleys (Photo left).

Stroud is pretty much in line with national figures that show on average we are leading a 3 planet lifestyle - we want to explore and find ways to move towards a more positive view of a better and possible future.

“Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with Vision is making a positive difference.” Joel Barker

Someone else once said: "We are limited, not by our abilities, but by our vision."

There are many exciting ideas and ways to move forward, but we need to be clear about where we are going. The draft ideas that are starting to take shape will soon be more widely available for discussion but if anyone has an interest now they are welcome to contact me on 01453 755451 - this is not about party politics but about ensuring a better future for our children and their children.

I can almost see the headlines in 2020 now..."The people of Stroud and its valleys celebrate winning the prestigious ‘Future Communities Award’ for achieving an increased quality of life within a sustainable ecological footprint. Stroud is declared the ‘best place in Britain to live and work’!"

Paganhill: May Fair great but was community 'mugged' re post office move?

Today was a wintery, wet and blowy day - but the bad news was that by the time I arrived at the May Fair with my partners 5 year old granddaughter the ice cream van had given up and left. We only managed a little of the impressive Excelsior Brass Band from Gloucester before going in search of the promised cold stuff at the 'One Stop'. We returned for the Dog Show, 'England's Glory Morris Dancers', corn snakes, tombola (won bubble bath) and a cup of tea - all quintessentially English and a wonderfully friendly atmosphere. It was a pity the weather was not so great but spirits seemed far from dampened.

Paganhill Post Office saved

Many of those who had helped the fight to keep a post office in Paganhill were at the Fair - their huge success, borne of much hard work, is to be celebrated. The 'One Stop' post office will close on Wednesday, June 21, with services opening at the Maypole Hall at 9am on Friday, June 23.

However while it really is great news that the Paganhill Post Office has been saved, as I noted in a letter to the Stroud News and Journal, I have been left with the feeling that this is another example of our community being 'mugged' by supermarkets.

Tesco announced plans to close the current counter at the One Stop shop on Stratford Road 18 months ago. There was a huge campaign to keep it open with several large cross-party demonstrations and a march. Yet the supermarket giant insisted there was not room to keep the post office counters - despite their Nailsworth store of a similar size retaining a post office.

'Tax payers money to develop post office when we already had one'

The Green party launched a boycott of Tesco, but very quickly almost everyone rolled over and we were even grateful that Tesco said they would keep the counter open while an alternative site for the post office was sought. Then came the months of work by community leaders to put together the current scheme. Yes, there are significant benefits for the local Maypole hall, but it seems extraordinary that many thousands of pounds of our tax payers money is being used to develop a new post office when we already had one in the One Stop before the Tesco takeover.

This to me is yet another example of Tesco walking all over us. Why wont our politicians and government stand up to them? Worse still all the indications are that if current Government policy of more "market liberalisation" for postal services continues we will face more closures, including perhaps even the new Maypole Hall service will be threatened.

For those interested in reading more about the impact of supermarkets, there is a brief summary 'Supermarkets: Challenging the myth that they promote jobs and are good for the local economy" from a couple of years ago under 'Reports' at the Glos Green party website.
Or more info at "Tescopoly" an alliance of many groups including Friends of the Earth and the Small and Family Farms Alliance:
http://www.tescopoly.org/
See details of Parliamentary report re power of supermarkets:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1696989,00.html
And look under 'Campaigns' or use the 'Search' facility at:
http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk

Update on Ruscombe Brook

Last year, as many will know, we had a catalogue of very serious incidents of raw sewage escaping into the Ruscombe brook and surrounding fields including into the Randwick tributary. Over 70 local people came to the Ruscombe Brook Action Group (RBAG) conference at Ebley Mill to share their concerns and seek solutions.

Photos above:15th Dec: Randwick tributary, 15th Dec: Monster tractor with 10 tonne trailer to unblock pipes, 12th Nov: manhole in field opposite Archway School, 17th Nov: pipe and chamber collapse

Severn Trent officers also came down from Dudley earlier this year to meet with members of RBAG. We have been very disappointed that at this time they do not see it as a priority to consider more sustainable, cost-effective solutions like reed beds that would reduce the health risks from sewage still further and improve the biodiversity.

Severn Trent have however taken a number of significant steps to improve the situation like cutting plant roots that have grown inside the sewer pipes. These actions will reduce the likelihood of these appalling incidents that are such a serious health risk to people and livestock. Just this month RBAG are celebrating that Severn Trent have at last redesigned and replaced a sewer pipe bridge across the brook - a site that has experienced some of the most serious incidents of sewage getting into the brook.

All these improvements are great news and we are also pleased that Severn Trent have agreed to work with us on improving the situation further - however independent water experts that we have consulted have suggested that our problems are unlikely to be over - not just in terms of water quality but also the sewer infrastructure.

Indeed just this week we have been alerted to two possible collapsed sewers near Acres Place and Puckshole. Severn Trent have just visited the sites and will be sending cameras underground to see the extent of possible damage. We are hopeful that the 'damage' is infact badgers digging and the sewers are still intact - if this is the case only mimimal work will be needed. I suspect though that RBAG still has much work ahead and we will be continuing to seek long term sustainable solutions for the brook.

Meeting with British Waterways

We did for some months try to meet with British Waterways to discuss their proposals for the Lawns where the Ruscombe brook enters the canal. The Lake at the Lawns, for those not familiar, is a large pond hidden in woodland opposite Tricorn House. The area has had several clean-ups by members of the community, the most recent being this year by the Stroud Valleys Project.

British Waterways have clearly been very busy getting funds for the canal regeneration project and we certainly congratulate them on their success which we hope will bring many benefits to the area. We finally manage to arrange a meeting with them on 17th March at Ebley Mill to which RBAG invited all the key players like the Environment Agency, Stroud Valleys Project and local councils.

British Waterways' funding is clearly limited - we are therefore delighted that their draft plans include de-silting the lake and establishing a small set of reed beds there. However I think it is fair to say that virtually all around the table were disappointed with British Waterways' proposals: indeed water experts were unanimous in their view that the best and most cost effective way to deal with the problems is to also do work further up the brook say at Hamwell Leaze.

British Waterways, to give them their credit, have said they will consider this approach but I suspect for many reasons they wont be able to take this route - but at least we can celebrate the fact that the Lawns and the surrounding area will be improved. At this point we are still waiting to hear back from British Waterways - time is racing ahead for all on this particular project as all the work needs to be completed in under a year!

RBAG meets every month in peoples homes in the area and have a number of projects in the pipeline including a wildlife survey and a joint project with Severn Trent to raise awareness about water. To join us or hear more call me, Secretary of the group on 01453 755451 or visit our website at: www.rbag.org.uk

WATER VOLES AND OTTER SURVEY TRAINING?

Choice of two dates: SATURDAY 3rd JUNE 2006 or SATURDAY 24TH JUNE 2006
Both are from 10.00AM-1.00PM at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
The water vole, or ‘Ratty’ is threatened by habitat loss and predation from American mink. There are a few remaining populations in Gloucestershire. Otters are becoming more common, but are still rare. Staff from the Environment Agency will explain how to look out for signs of water voles and otters with the aim to survey a few places this summer where they used to be found. Who knows, one day Ruscombe Brook could be clean enough for voles and otters if the Action Group have their way. Free course, donations appreciated. Contact: Stroud Valleys Project 01453-753358

80 trees cut down - time for a debate

Over 80 trees between 20 and 30 years old were cut to ground level on the road out of Whiteshill and along a lane to Haresfield Beacon. Many hundreds more trees were felled along other roads across the County as part of a "road verge restoration programme"

I have now had correspondence with the County Ecologist, Cotswold AONB, County Highways and others regarding this matter including many parishioners who have been as shocked as I was by the loss of all these trees.

The County accept that the consultation process was inadequate and will be improved in future although I have not yet had a reply to my letter requesting details of their new procedures. They also consider the tree felling was in line with County policy and that the restoration programme may continue next year.

The policy gives various reasons for the felling and it is clear they all have some validity. Indeed I would fully support the removal of non-native species. However in the light of climate change and public opinion I think the policy needs reviewing.

- "Maintaining and restoring the character of a distinctive landscape" should be open to question. The Cotswold landscape is itself, man-made and once upon a time was wooded.

- Improving wildlife by felling trees is also questionable. Creating virtually new grass verge habitats is great if properly maintained in future but this has been done at a huge expense - the loss of the significant wildlife benefits from mature trees that also filter transport pollution.

- Safety has also been used as an argument: yet there has been much research showing that making the road clearer leads to faster traffic. For example we know parked cars are great at slowing traffic on many roads. And if we are talking structural considerations then surely this is an argument to remove virtually all verge-side trees? I have as yet been unable to get a better understanding of this argument from the County.

I would also note that the removal of trees along many sections like the road to Haresfield Beacon do not appear to fit any of these categories: at this site they are on one side of a road with woodland on the other side. This is certainly not an example of opening up the landscape.

In my view, in the light of climate change it is time for a debate on the issue. What do others think?

Village Bus Service reduced

A version of this appeared in the Randwick Runner in the hope of more debate and as many people were unaware of the change, to publicise that the '230' service that runs Stroud-Paganhill-Randwick - Ruscombe has changed:

A week before the recent elections Ebley Coaches stopped going along 'The Lane' and providing their bus service to the centre of Randwick. They now only stop near the church and at the stops in Bread Street. The remaining Stagecoach bus service is set to follow their example.

The change has been made due to the bus companies concerns relating to the narrowness of the road: in particular the risks in maneuvering past parked cars and delays to the service when cars needed to be moved: on one occasion the bus was delayed nearly 3 hours and on other occasions passengers have missed their forward connections.

I've had phonecalls from several bus users and others who are concerned by this move. Indeed I am also concerned that people, like those with less mobility or heavy shopping, will now find it impossible to use this reduced service. Furthermore this service is already under-used and with this restriction could lead to a further drop in use which in the longer term could contribute to the service being lost all together. I also have concerns that if the bus has difficulties regarding access then what about the Emergency Services? It has been suggested that in an emergency cars can be bumped out of the way. This is surely unsatisfactory?

Lack of consultation

I have to say I have been shocked by the almost non-existent communications to the public over this change to our service and the fact that that timetables were only change last Sunday following my request (old timetable pictured above). I am told that one woman waited for a bus and when it didn't turn up she returned and waited half an hour for the next bus which also didn't turn up.

I have expressed my extreme concern to the County about this lack of consultation and they admit their consultation was poor. They also note that the change was made hurriedly in response to the difficulties noted above and that they will change the displays.

What options are there?

(i) Accept new arrangements: some public transport users are able to walk to the other stops while the Dial-a-Ride scheme maybe able to help some of the others.
(ii) Route change so that the bus comes up from Bread Street and turns near the Village Hall: this has been ruled out at the moment as buses are restricted in where they can reverse and there is apparently not a large enough area to turn near the Village Hall.
(iii) Alternative forms of transport like shared taxis or smaller buses have been ruled out at this stage because of cost.
(iv) The community taking an active role in reminding all to take care with parking: this may not be enough to satisfy bus companies.
(v) Restricting parking times on The Lane near the school: while it is a public highway and their is no automatic right to park there, this move would impact on residents in an area where there is already insufficient parking and would penalise residents when those who have blocked the bus route largely do not live on that road.

This bus service has been described by some users as 'a social event' as regular bus users chat to each other, but I understand this particular bus stop has only ever been used by a handful of people. Clearly there are already problems about the services overall cost and viability. This perhaps explains the very limited public outcry - yet my fear is that this seemingly small change could have a much greater impact on village life than many appreciate - the phrase 'death by a thousand cuts springs' to mind. We often hear that people must 'Use it or lose it', yet small changes like this make it increasingly difficult for people to use a service.

Most agree that public transport is an important part of a healthy village and should be what we are developing, not reducing. The challenge is how to do it in the present climate where public transport services are often poor and expensive.

It is positive that Gloucestershire County Council appear willing to work with the community to find a way to restore the service - but it seems clear that if we want to keep our bus service in the heart of the village and ensure better access by Emergency Services then some form of restricting the parking is the only option. I would welcome views about the best way forward.

Where to now?

Thank you to the people who responded to the article in the Randwick Runner. A bus service in The Lane is by no means ideal but I still see it as preferable to not having one visit the village centre. Options are still being explored but I am not hopeful at this moment that the service will be restored. Please telephone me to hear the latest: 01453 755451


Report problems

Lastly I have had a couple of comments that the bus service has deteriorated over the last year since the new contracts were issued. It is vital that people call the County to let them know of poor service as they can fine operators and put pressure on them to improve: 01452 425985.

Randwick Wap

This curious festival dates back to the Middle Ages and may have started when Randwick church was built. But apparently in 1892 the vicar took a dim view of all the rowdiness and the tradition was stopped until being revived in 1972 by the late Rev. Nial Morrisson. It is thanks to him and the very hard work of many local people that several thousand people have such a great day out each year.

However the proceedings all start much earlier than this Saturday: there is an election for Mayor and Queen in February open to all villagers who sign the Wap Poll Book. The results are announced in March on Princess Saturday by the Town Crier processing through the village. Then on the first Saturday in May three whole Gloucestershire cheeses are blessed then rolled around the church anti-clockwise by the Mayor, Queen and Vicar.

The Wap itself is the culmination of all these events and includes the Mayor being carried shoulder high to the mayors pool - accompanied by the "Mop Man" who clears the way with a wet mop. The Mayor then gets a ducking - doused with spring water before all sing the Mayor's song before returning up the hill for more cheese rolling. The procession is made up of Morris dancers, Mummers, a Wind band and many colourfull people plus hundreds of locals. See the links section for "Randwick Village Gateway" for photos and more info. The afternoon has performers and music, a children's disco and then more music in the Vine Tree pub.

For me the day started with helping the Cream Tea stall set up in Randwick school - it is surprisingly difficult to get dollops of jam and cream into fairy cake cases - anyhow after managing that and a number of sales including buying myself a large slice of an exceptionally tasty chocolate cake, I was released to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and chatting - loved the balloons release - a big thank you to all who organised the event - Randwick is definitely a richer community because of them.

Election results May 2006

Philip Booth elected to Over Stroud covering Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill

Green 418, Conservative 214, Labour (who held the post previously) 71 and Lib Dems 46 - with a much higher than average turnout of 52%.

Photo: Philip Booth pictured right giving acceptance speech on election night

Although I've been active in many community groups I've never stood in a local election before - getting 56% of the vote came as a huge surprise - a very pleasant one! I am inspired by the faith people are putting in me and hope to repay this trust by working with the community to improve our area - but also to work on broader issues.

Stroud could and should be a leader in tackling the threat of climate change. It seems astonishing to me that virtually all new developments in the area go ahead without renewable energy installed. We need to start thinking more long term and consider the sort of future we are making for our children

Greens got an average of 20% of the vote in the seats they stood in Stroud and now have 5 seats like the Lib Dems. We missed Nailsworth by a whisker, came second in three further seats and in two-thirds of those seats we were ahead of Labour. With a fairer political system we could expect those Green votes to be represented on the Council by more seats here in Stroud - and indeed in other Councils around the country. Nationally the Greens made significant gains and now have over 90 Principal Authority Councillors.

A huge thank you to all who voted Green and many thanks to all the letters, emails and phonecalls of support.

"I believe strongly that we are seeing an emergence of true community politics, and there is no better example of than than in Stroud where the Green candidate, Philip Booth, captured a seat." Ian Mean - Editor, The Citizen

"I doubt you will find better than Philip to represent Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill." Lt Col (Retd) Kevin Cranston - Mayor of Stroud

"The Green party worked very hard in Over Stroud and they probably deserved to win." Cllr. Chas Fellows, Council leader, Conservatives quoted in SNJ (10/05/06)

"Well done Philip Booth, an excellent result for Over Stroud. Philip has worked tirelessly to win this seat and it is well deserved. Described as the most prolific contributor to local newspapers in the area, Philip is well informed, up to date and passionate about sustainability and local concerns. He has made a major contribution to the Cainscross Parish Plan, helping us to write one of the most informative and sustainable plans in the country. I look forward to working with him in the future and I know Over Stroud will be glad they have such a committed and active person working on their behalf." Helen Royall, Cainscross Parish Council