Leader's blog - w/c 10 November 2025
“As lead development partner with Cotswold Canals Trust in the Stroudwater canal restoration project, it was brilliant to be able to share that we’ve been successful in our bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for £6.46m to support our work to reinstate the ‘Missing Mile’ and connect to the national network. This enormous commitment from the Lottery is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the many organisations involved in the partnership, and of course to the hundreds of skilled volunteers and the staff team whose hard work has got us this far. The Lottery’s funding recognises the heritage, nature, community, and local economy benefits of the project for our whole district - a huge thank you to everyone involved.
Congratulations too to the team who ran this year’s Stroud Book Festival, for which the council is a proud sponsor. I attended several of an incredible line-up of author events, joining a packed house at the Sub Rooms on Friday night for an inspiring session with Robert McFarlane. Robert’s challenge to us is to rethink our perception of rivers, considering them as living beings deserving of rights, a conversation we’ve been having with a local community group in relation to our River Frome.
On Tuesday 11th, our Chair of Council Cllr Kate Kay and I will be at Stroud rail station first thing, to see our local wreaths off on the ‘Poppies to Paddington’ train. I will then attend the Remembrance Service in Minchinhampton, while council colleagues at Ebley Mill will mark the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for us with the traditional two minutes silence there at 11am.
Strategy & Resources Committee on Thursday – lots to see in the papers, including updates on Brimscombe Port and our Community Wealth Building work. Do take a look.”
Cllr Chloe Turner, Leader of Stroud District Council