FOLLOWING on from last week, we’re working closely with the SNJ to get your views on how the district should develop.

This week we’re asking for your thoughts on areas such as employment, transport, jobs, tourism, retail and town centres – essentially everything that makes up a strong local economy.

Just before I sat down to write this column, with a focus on employment, I, like many others, was saddened to hear the news that Renishaw, one of our largest employers, was to make 500 staff redundant.

I’ll take this opportunity to stress again that anyone facing a change in their personal circumstances, such as redundancy, should make contact with the council.

We’ll do our best to help, but if we can’t, we’ll put you in the direction of someone who can.

It’s clearly evident that the global downturn is having an impact locally.

Right now, we want your views on the areas mentioned at the start of this column, so that we can create a district with a sustainable economic future. Here are a couple of issues to get you started.

Rural districts face different issues to urban areas. How many of us commute long distances to work? Remember last year when petrol and diesel prices shot up?

They went up much higher in our district compared to the neighbouring urban areas of Cheltenham and Gloucester.

When this happens again, and no doubt it will, it will have a huge impact on commuting costs – so maybe a key area of focus should be to encourage business growth and the creation of local jobs.

Aside from mitigating against the vagaries of fuel prices it would lessen commuting time, reduce emissions and as a result improve our quality of life.

This district also has a strong environmental ethos, so what about ‘green collar’ jobs?

There are more suggestions and examples on page X , so please take a look and put forward your views.

Next week, we’ll be focusing on housing and communities.

Cllr Chas Fellows Leader Stroud District Council