Leader's blog - w/c 5 January 2026
“Happy new year. I hope that 2026 has started well for you and your family.
Our thoughts very much remain with the family and all those affected by the tragic house fire in Brimscombe, which took three members of a much-loved family and their dog. Since the incident, staff colleagues from different parts of the council have been working alongside the emergency services, the county council, the Red Cross and such supportive partners in the community - including the churches, parish council, the schools, The Ship Inn, the Nelson Trust and the Long Table - to provide support in the aftermath. It’s been an extraordinary community response to an awful disaster, and I’m so grateful for everyone who has and continues to put their own lives on hold to do what’s needed.
Otherwise, here at Stroud District Council, the doors have reopened to residents, our waste and recycling services have returned to the usual weekly rounds, and our leisure and community services are back to their normal timetable. The Museum in the Park will reopen on 24 January after its annual deep clean.
Our formal meetings restart on the 15th with Strategy & Resources Committee, with a busy schedule over the remainder of the month. These meetings are where council policy and spending decisions are made – how your money is spent and your area is run – and if you are interested, the papers come out around a week before the meeting here. The meetings are open to the public and are screened live via the council website and then available on YouTube.
Finally, the Longfield Hospice real Christmas tree recycling scheme remains open for sign-ups until 6 January.
Wishing you a very happy and healthy 2026.”
Cllr Chloe Turner, Leader of Stroud District Council