Column by the leader of Stroud District Council, Doina Cornell.

A unique milestone in our country’s history will be celebrated this week as we mark The Queen’s historic 70-year reign, I know there are Platinum Jubilee celebrations all across the district. There will be no change to collection days over the extended Bank Holiday, so do put your bins out in their normal place by 6am on collection day this week. And a huge thank you to our hard-working waste and recycling crews who will be working as normal over the bank holiday.

If the weather is good you can also now enjoy an outdoor dip as the Stratford Park Lido is now open again for the summer. The 50 metre, spring-fed Lido in Stroud has seen some improvements, including a modest amount of extra heating, new morning sessions and a changing room revamp.

The pool will be open seven days a week, from noon until 7pm. Daily daytime lane sessions for swimmers will run from 12pm – 1pm and 6pm – 7pm, with public sessions for all ages and abilities to enjoy the whole pool, available from 1:15pm – 3:15pm and 3:45pm – 5:45pm.

Early morning swimming sessions will also be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7am – 9am. Customers and members can book online, via the Everyone Active App, over the phone or at the centre.

I’m also pleased to highlight the positive report the council has received from the Local Government Association following an independent peer challenge visit in March, looking at the council’s performance and the services that residents and businesses receive.

The report has just been published, stating that SDC is a good council, progressing well towards its ambition of being a great council, and that we should be proud of what has been achieved over the last 3 years and of its response to the pandemic, working to support residents, tenants and businesses.