"The way we look at transport is changing and the proliferation of electric vehicles will create a need for more chargers. As the local transport authority, Gloucestershire County Council has a project to install on-road chargers across the county, and is seeking sites in Stroud District. Read about it here. Residents can share their views on where they think the charging points should be located too. At SDC we’re working on plans to make charging more accessible and we expect to have more news on this very soon.
Something that has featured regularly on the Committee’s agenda over past years is the draft Local Plan, which maps out local development over a twenty year period, based on housing targets set by government for the district. Our draft Plan is currently under examination by government Planning Inspectors. While much of it appears to have found favour, the Inspectors have written to the Council with some serious transport concerns, in particular about the capacity of local motorway junctions to support all of the new development. This is not an issue that can be resolved by the Council alone, as other partners are responsible for the strategic road network, but one on which we are keen to work collaboratively to resolve. So rather than withdraw the Plan from the examination process as suggested, the Council has requested a short pause in which to address the Planning Inspectors’ concerns.
With the sun still shining and after a delayed start to the season, we’re pleased to be able to extend the opening of Stratford Park Lido for an extra fortnight this year – sessions will now continue until 17th September (timings here). Sports fans will no doubt be aware that Stage Seven of the Tour of Britain will race through parts of the district on Saturday 9th September (details here). The cycle race will be shown on a big screen at The Bike Drop’s Festival of Cycling at Brimscombe Mills, alongside free bike servicing, bike marking and children’s crafts (from 10.30am). And if all this is making you feel inspired to jump on a bike, why not join #CycleSeptember? – log your rides this month and encourage others, with hundreds of prizes up for grabs."
This week's blog was written by Cllr Chloe Turner, Chair of SDC Environment Committee