SDC Leader's blog - w/c 11 August 2025
I was thrilled to hear last week that an environmental grant by the Summerfield Charitable Trust has supported the community purchase of Stroud’s Heavens Valley. This additional funding has enabled loans for the purchase of the Heavens Valley to be repaid and will support future land management and outreach projects. Huge congratulations to the Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society who have worked incredibly hard to rally the local community and secure this beautiful space for future generations: https://www.heavensvalley.org.uk/
Closer to home for me, the Wotton Community Land Trust with over 200 members has a similarly inspiring vision, to secure Brown’s Piece (also known as Hack Hill) on the edge of town, for community benefit with a focus on nature recovery and recreation. The Trust is now close to exchanging contracts for the land purchase and was continuing to fundraise at Town Hall Teas on Sunday afternoon, where I caught up on their news over a slice of lemon drizzle cake. Further donations would be very welcome at: https://www.wclt.org.uk/donate
In June, we launched the next wave of crowdfunding projects through our Council Stroud Funding initiative, partnering with the Spacehive platform. These projects can’t support land purchases, but they are a great way for groups to improve their local areas and strengthen community ties. I’m delighted to be attending the opening next month of the Playground and Community Space in Stinchcombe, which secured funding during the first round, and I’m hopeful that two local projects in Wotton, for the Symn Lane Play Area and the Long Street Summer Social will also be successful. There are many other inspiring projects to support at: www.spacehive.com/movement/stroud/
Thank you to everyone shared views on council services, through the countywide Local Government Reorganisation survey which closed on Saturday.
Each council’s preference for how council services will be delivered be submitted together to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government by 28th November. Then Government will consult with the public, probably early in 2026 before deciding how Gloucestershire should be organised. Elections to one or more unitary councils are expected in 2027, with the district councils due to be dissolved in 2028. We’ll keep you informed as we go along.
Cllr Catherine Braun, Deputy Leader of Stroud District Council
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