Wotton Ward Walk

13th November 2024

A beautiful day to show the Stroud District Council Strategic Leadership Team around Wotton Ward with fellow district councillors Linda Cohen and Catherine Braun. I took some notes.

We met up in the Civic Centre car park and started off looking at the new SDC council housing site between Bradley Street & Gloucester Street take a look at the demolished buildings and discuss timescale for redevelopment which will be starting before the end of the financial year (Spring 25).

Then we headed over the the top of the OK footpath. We were discussing the idea of getting solar lighting installed along the path. Much cheaper than mains powered lighting. It was also a good opportunity to discuss future aspirations of the Greenway project, supported by Sustrans. Work is progressing towards a route design to ultimately link Wotton, Charfield and Kingswood. A safe route for children to walk and cycle to school and maybe, eventually, to the new railway station at Charfield. :)

Then we made our way over to the Symn Lane car park to discuss the planning issues, parking pressures, concerns, and SDC's role in brokering a solution.  My one and only election promise was to get the car park opened as quickly as possible. (newbie mistake!) Although I have attended numerous meetings there has been very little progress, except for SDC CEO (Kathy) getting involved. Personally, I think the project has gone on far too long and further delay is inexcusable. It looks inevitable that there are going to be some unpalatable compromises. :( I've kept a note of information that creeps into the public domain here.

We discussed the work done by The Keepers and Under the Edge Arts at Chipping Hall on our way back to the Chipping Car Park. The Chipping will be in need of relining before too long. Maybe more blue badge spaces and secure cycle parking too. After the meeting I thought that I should have mentioned that this could an opportunity to widen the bays somewhat, especially after the new car park is open.

Then we wandered down the high street visiting the Cotswold Book Room and knocking up Fred from Good Food Kitchen and Bar. He gave the team a splendid, off the cuff, presentation on all the activity planned in the Town. I guess they could have visited Cookability too but it's my restocking/meeting day! Hey ho.

We then headed off towards North Nibley via. the Wotton Farm Shop which was crammed with people enjoying coffee and food, no room for us lot! So we headed off via Stinchcombe to see the Swedish Houses and then onto Leaf & Ground for a bite to eat.