Trade chairman's new vision of Stroud (From Stroud News and Journal)

Trade chairman's new vision of Stroud

CHAMBER of trade chairman Nigel Messenger has outlined a vision of Stroud as a capital of the arts complete with avenue of sculptures to draw visitors from far and wide.

The proprietor of the town's Downfield Hotel believes Stroud could follow the example of Herefordshire town Hay-on-Wye, which reinvented itself as a internationally renowned second-hand book town.

Mr Messenger said: "Hay-on-Wye is now world famous for that and our strength in Stroud is the arts. A thought I had is we ought to demonstrate the arts to local people and the world.

"It's a way of promoting ourselves as a town and as a centre for the arts. What we could do is take the High Street and have sculptures the length of it, showing off the best of Five Valleys' talent.

"I don't know another town that has done this in a big way."

Mr Messenger believes sculpture would better endure the ravages of traffic and vandals than other forms of art.

Town mayor Cllr Kevin Cranston gave a cautious welcome to the idea.

He said: "My initial reaction is it's a nice idea because Stroud is noted for its arts but its just where to get the money and the arts from."