Help for local trade (From Stroud News and Journal)

Help for local trade

POLITICIANS have dreamed up a roundabout way to spruce up the roads - by allowing businesses to sponsor Stroud's traffic islands.

The initiative will allow companies to erect signs on roundabouts in exchange for plantinf flowers and landscaping them.

Eight sites are up for grabs, including Cainscross, Dudbridge, Dudbridge Sainsbury's, the Horsetrough, Chipmans Platt, Whitminster, Slimbridge and Hardwicke.

The scheme is being run by Stroud District Council and Gloucestershire County Council, and is expected to bring in around £2,500 per roundabout every year.

It is not expected to run at a profit and surplus cash will be ploughed into environmental projects wherever the roundabout happens to be.

County councillor Stan Waddington (Con, Nailsworth and Minchinhampton) is portfolio holder for the environment.

He said sponsorship would be carefully monitored to prevent high street giants taking over the town.

"A different business would sponsor each one," he said.

"I think we can steer the bidding process so we don't end up with a McDonaldsville or a Kentucky Town."

Planning applications for the signs have just been submitted and the first should be in place by next summer.

* If you want to sponsor a roundabout call 01453 754646.