New councillors induction tour of the district

Spent most of Wednesday on a bus visiting key places around the district where SDC are involved with projects.

First off to Stroud Rail Station and to hear about ideas for the regeneration of the area on both sides of the tracks as well as step free access to the station.

Then we travelled down to Brimscombe Port, a former inland port dating back to the 1780s which was in-filled after the Second World War. The site has been cleared and awaiting development.

We stopped off on Selsley Common which is home to ground nesting birds like skylarks and meadow pipits and numerous other rare plants and animals. It is therefore important that dogs are kept on a short lead. SDC manage a number of other commons across the district too.

A quick tour of The Pulse Leisure Centre of in Dursley and talk of the range of services they offer which also link in with the NHS provision. A short discussion of how operations are going to be merged with Stroud Leisure Centre. 

The tour concluded with a visit to the Cotswold Canals Trust Western Deport at Eastington. We met canal volunteers and learnt more about the Canal Restoration Project. 

I was constantly thinking, with all the investment going into the canal, how Wotton, North Nibley and Stinchcombe can benefit from the economic pie that's being baked!

The photo is of the canal being dredged next to the Queen Elizabeth II Playing Fields. My other photos included pictures of the council officers, and I recall that publishing photos of them isn't allowed!