STROUD District Council leader Geoff Wheeler keeps you up to date with what is happening at the council

Monday, August 4 – Rounders success Last month I mentioned that as part of the council’s health and wellbeing work we had just launched free rounders sessions in Stratford Park, to get people active in a relaxed and enjoyable way.

The sessions are going from strength-to-strength, so we have extended them until the end of September. We are also looking at hosting them indoors and around the district in the months ahead. These free events take currently place at 6pm on Mondays and anyone interested in trying it out can just turn up and play. If you are interested in coming along or would like to see these events held where you live call us on 01453 754508 or email leisure@stroud.gov.uk

Tuesday, August 5 – Walled Garden donations I mentioned last week how work on Stroud’s Museum in the Park is going extremely well. Thankfully the rain held off for the topping out ceremony for the pavilion. The project team has been very successful in attracting funding on top of the council’s contribution. Some 80 per cent of the funding for this project has come from external sources such as Gloucestershire Environmental Trust and Arts Council England. The Friends of the Museum have also been doing their best to encourage further donations to ensure that this project fulfils its potential. If you would like to donate, the simplest way to do it is by text. Text WGDN23 and your donation amount to 70070 eg WGDN23 £5 to donate five pounds. The museum attracts 55,000 visitors including school pupils from across the district and beyond each year and the finished garden will make it even more of an attraction. You can keep up-to-date on progress at museuminthepark.org.uk

Thursday, August 7 – New district councillor Congratulations to Martin Baxendale, who was elected as the new Green Party district councillor in the by-election for the Valley ward in Stroud. The council’s political make up of 51 councillors is now 20 Labour, six Green and three Liberal Democrats – which make up the ruling administration – and 21 Conservatives and one Conservative No Group member.

Tuesday, August 12 – planning committee, Ebley Mill, 6pm Seven applications were considered by the committee.

The largest was for 30 new homes in Eastington, and two which have attracted considerable media interest - a gazebo, parking area and access at the home of a celebrity in Edge and a decision on what should be done about a dilapidated home in Wotton-under-Edge.

This evening meeting took place just a little too late to for the SNJ to cover its outcomes as it went to press just before the meeting started but log on to stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk today or read more in next week’s papers on the outcomes of the meeting.