Car trick mooted (From Stroud News and Journal)

Car trick mooted

CONGESTION charges could be coming to a Five Valleys village next month.

With the Randwick Wap just around the corner this year's honorary mayor, Joy Kennard, has taken a leaf out of London mayor, Ken Livingstone's book and proposed a £5 congestion charge for vehicles visiting the village on the big day.

With tongue firmly in cheek Mrs Kennard has insisted her plan will reduce reckless driving as well as help to maintain the peace and tranquillity of the hillside village.

"The proceeds from the charge could go towards the development of our very own traffic calming and improved transportation scheme," she said.

Londoners could pick up a few tricks from Randwick residents on how to treat mayors who introduce such measures.

Mrs Kennard's proposal is unlikely to save her from the traditional public dunking which is one of the important roles of office for the mayor of the Wap.

The Randwick WAP is a village festival dating back to the Middle Ages which involves Gloucester cheese rolling, a procession through the village with costumed town-folk, musicians and Morris Dancers, as well as crafts, stalls, entertainments, refreshments and bands playing all afternoon.

This year's Wap looks set to be one to remember. Villagers have put a lot of extra work into the preparations for the event and are hoping for a good turn out. Proceeds from the Wap will help swell the coffers of the Randwick Village Hall fund.

The villagers are hoping to raise £20,000 this year to kick off the fund raising for the renovations and expansion of the village hall.

"In the past few years the Wap has been scaled down as there was a general desire to return it to its roots as a family village fun day," said Wap committee chairman Stan Giles.

"But this year we see a return to the larger format which has been so popular and successful in the past.

"It is always a good, relatively inexpensive family fun day out." The WAP festival will take place on May 10 with festivities starting at 12.45pm.