FREE drinking water is on tap, thanks to Stroud Town Council's new public water bottle filling station.

The mayor of Stroud officially launched the new filling station in Bank Gardens on Monday (June 17).

It is part of the #RefillStroud scheme promoted by Transition Stroud and Stroud Valleys Action on Plastic.

The town council approved the project last year but it was delayed when lead pipes were discovered in Bank Gardens.

The old pipes had to be replaced with new safe ones.

“While the discovery of lead pipes meant additional costs to the project, we persevered because the town council is committed to doing its part in protecting the environment,” said town mayor, cllr Kevin Cranston.

The town council has been working with Transition Stroud and Stroud Valleys Action on Plastic to ensure people can easily refill their reusable water bottles for free and reduce the use of single-use plastic.

The town council was one of the first in the country to make reducing carbon emissions a priority.

It has pledged to become completely carbon neutral by 2030 and to encourage more sustainable transport, reduction in energy, production and consumption of locally-sourced food, the reduction in consumption of animal products and reductions in energy use in homes, businesses and elsewhere.

The council is also offering community grants to support these aims.

More information about how to apply is available at: stroudtown.gov.uk/what-we-do/grants/

The deadline for applications is noon, September 23.