ON Stratford Park being recognised in the International Green Flag Award Scheme for the 14th year in a row.

Posted by Thing II: I’m not quite sure where the “one of the best in the world” headline came from as it seems a bit hyperbolic but it’s true that the staff who maintain Stratford Park should be very proud. They do a wonderful job in keeping the whole site clean and tidy as well as managing to bring in regular improvements to the grounds. Well done to the whole team!

On the appeal against the decision to reject plans to demolish an empty gospel hall in Stroud and build a three storey block of flats.

Posted by Crow: Yes, derelict buildings are more in keeping with the look of Stroud!

Posted by The Ghost Of JC: Same old story, we need housing... but not in my back yard!

Posted by kjag23: Put a few more parking spaces in there and it should be fine. The site is useless as it is now, may as wall make use of it.

Posted by Phyllus Jones: Such a large amount of the character of Stroud has already been lost, do we really need to lose any more?! The Gospel Hall may not presently be in use but the building does form a part of Stroud’s history and heritage. If local developers had their way, the whole of downtown Stroud would now be a residential housing estate. Developers are just out for their own ends without any concern for how their developments fit in.

On the arrests of four protesters at an anti-fracking rally in Lancashire.

Posted by Jo McAndrews: Thank you to Jo and her fellow activists for giving their time and courage to this action. Fracking is shown to be environmentally dangerous but big business interests are ignoring both the evidence and public opinion to overturn strong rejection of this toxic technology. It is thanks to protesters, offering peaceful, non-violent action that there is any chance of stopping this destructive behaviour.

Those of you who condemn this action as leftist or destructive - do you have some interest in the fracking industry? Have you found out about what it does? Let’s all find out more about it before we criticise those who are knowledgeable and who care enough about our environment to put it above their own personal comfort.

Thank you again for your actions on behalf of us all whether we know it or not.