SDC Leader's blog - w/c 4 May

“Celebrating creativity alongside climate action was the theme of this year’s May Day Festival, held on bank holiday Monday at the Hawkwood Centre just outside Stroud. The festival remains a popular spring highlight, offering local food, live music and family activities in setting which reflects the strong links between culture, land and community.

Addressing the climate and nature emergency continues to be a core part of council work and I’m delighted that the next round of community climate grants is now open (deadline for applications is 25 May), supporting practical local projects. Previous funding has helped community and school groups improve access to green spaces, restore wildlife habitats and carry out spring bulb planting.

We’re also encouraging people to take part in No Mow May. Allowing an area of garden or a local green space to grow can make a real difference, support wildflowers and provide valuable food for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

Health and wellbeing is also a high priority for the council, and at last week’s council meeting, councillors confirmed £650,000 investment to refurbish and renew gym equipment at the Active Lifestyles Centre in Stroud.

It was encouraging to see so many people attending the meeting in support of the Stratford Park Lido. I’m pleased to report that work is progressing collaboratively to explore options to safely reopen the Lido this summer, while also securing its medium- and long-term future. Further information is available on the council’s recently updated webpage.

Finally, I’d like to highlight the People’s Emergency Briefing, an excellent new film being screened across the country setting out the climate and nature risks and solutions we face. Following screenings in Minchinhampton and Stroud, there will be showings at Wotton Cinema (9 May), community venues in Nailsworth (1 June), Thornbury (4 June), Dursley (7 June).”

Cllr Catherine Braun, Deputy Leader of Stroud District Council