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Cotswolds Liberal Democrats have expressed their ‘absolute delight’ at today’s announcement that Stratton Post Office is due to reopen.  Councillors Maggie Edney and Andy Lichnowski campaigned vigorously to save Stratton Post Office when it faced closure in 2008. From the original announcement of the possible closure of Stratton PO in 2008, Lib Dem Councillors were instrumental in gathering support for a mass petition, holding public meetings and leading a demonstration outside the stores. They also organised a 300 strong protest march in March 2008 through the streets of Cirencester which included cross-party support and celebrity backing from the Llewellyn-Bowens. Town Councillor Andy Lichnowski (Stratton-Whiteway) said, “After all the campaigning we’ve done it is marvellous news. We encouraged local people to send letters of objection and we sent a detailed report of objection. Following the unjustifiable and regrettable closure of the Stratton post office we continued our campaign to get postal services re-instated and we were in discussion with John Lafford.” “It will bring great benefits to Stratton and the surrounding area – the return of a central community hub, helping older people and families with young children who previously had a difficult journey into Town, a saving in car parking charges, a reduction in carbon emissions and the encouragement of small local businesses dependent on postal services, and remarkably it’s also going to be a great improvement to the previous service by being available 7am-9pm every day including weekends. It’s a great success for local people and it’s created 5 new jobs. I congratulate John Lafford for his community minded spirit and for the positive intervention of our local MP in promoting the debate in Parliament. We now all need to encourage our community to use the Post Office to ensure its long term prosperity.” Liberal Democrat Group leader, Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (Churn Valley), said: “When Stratton and other Churn Valley post offices were threatened with closure in 2008 I described the situation as ‘bonkers’ as they were providing such good services. This was the front page headline in the Standard in February 2008. We fought to save Rendcomb and Colesbourne, but Stratton was lost. Thank goodness that over the last year, the Coalition Government has backed existing post offices. I’ve really welcomed the announcement by Ed Davey, the Lib Dem Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills of new additional funding and opportunities for Post Offices.” “Many residents in my ward used to visit Stratton Post Office and they will be delighted that it’s about to re-open.” CALLS for a plastic recycling service to be introduced in the Cotswolds have been renewed. Liberal Democrat members of CDC have quizzed the ruling Conservative group over a trial last year.  Cllr Margaret Rickman Margaret Rickman (LD, Chesterton) raised the matter at a council cabinet meeting recently. She said: “Can you let us know the outcome of the trial and confirm this is of as high importance to the cabinet as I know it is to residents who signed our petition? “I’m frequently asked when, not if, this will start.” More than 700 people had signed petitions calling for the scheme to be introduced. Plastic recycling is available in Cheltenham, while in the Tewkesbury borough, bottles can be put into wheelie bins along with other recyclables, to be sorted at the depot. Conservative cabinet environment lead Mark Tufnell said trials last year to test waste contractor SITA‘s collection vehicles, had ‘found problems’. He said the trucks struggled to make enough pick-ups in a day meaning more vehicles and drivers were needed. Mr Tufnell did say the trial had provided “valuable data”. He said: “There’s clearly demand for kerbside plastic collections, which was demonstrated by the high level of participation from Cotswold residents in the trial. Despite this, the Lib Dem group has accused the council of “backsliding” on its pledge to roll out the scheme. They say West Oxfordshire and other councils include plastic collections at a lower cost per household than Cotswold District Council. Lib Dem leader Paul Hodgkinson said: “Plastics are too valuable for landfill. “The only way residents can (currently) get rid of their plastic bottles is to save them up and drive to a bottle bank.” Residents who use the main Cirencester Post Office have told us they are waiting too long to be served. That’s the result of a survey carried out by Park campaigner Joe Harris who asked people what they thought of the new arrangements which have left the town with just one post office serving thousands of residents. Joe tells us, “I found that 60% of people I asked felt they had to queue for too long for postal services. Some mentioned the difficulty they have in getting into town whilst others wanted their closed post offices back. Stratton and Beeches post offices closed in 2008 and the impact has been particularly bad on those who don’t have transport and have to make their way into the town.” “Post Office Counters originally said we’d have nine bays in the town centre branch but much of the time only four, or even . . . → Read More: Post Office queues too long, you say Residents in Watermoor have been calling for action to be taken to sort out the parking problems in our area. They also want a community space which they can use as allotments. Town Councillor Gary Selwyn was approached by the local residents around Purley Road and has teamed up with them to listen to their concerns and back their call to get something done. . . . → Read More: Call for parking and allotments to be sorted Following on from residents concerns, Cllr Gary Selwyn has made a successful bid for a new bin at the Victoria Road playing fields. Gary tells us, “This site has been prone to littering and people have told me they want to make sure it’s as claean as possible. I’ve made a bid to get a new bin installed and it should be there pretty soon.” Town Councillor Jenny Hincks agrees with Gary that more action needs to be taken to clear up our area and was pleased at the work residents took to clean up the underpass earlier this year. Jenny says, “The subway now looks so much better, thanks to the hard work of a dedicated group of people. Now, there are probably other spots which need clearing or maybe a new bin installed to clear up a litter problem.” “Dogs sometimes cause issues too – there . . . → Read More: There’s some good news about cleaning up our area! A new Park neighbourhood group has been formed. Have you heard of it? It has met twice and is looking for people to get involved. . . . → Read More: Park Neighbourhood Group Residents who live along and near the Whiteway have been calling for action to be taken to combat the speed of traffic along that road. Town Councillor Andy Lichnowski was approached by the local residents group and has teamed up with road safety campaigner Patrick Coleman to listen to residents’ concerns and back their call to get something done. . . . → Read More: Residents call for lower speed limit along busy road Liberal Democrat councillors are asking Cotswold District Council to give its full backing to coalition government plans for a major reform in social housing. In a motion to go before next Monday’s Council meeting (13 December) the Lib Dem group welcomes a government consultation paper entitled “Local Decisions: A Fairer Future for Social Housing” which, they say, could help resolve the serious shortage of affordable homes in the Cotswolds. The district is currently near the bottom of a league table of local authorities in the South West in the provision of social housing and the party has been highly critical of CDC’s Conservative administration for favouring holiday home provision at the expense of ordinary housing. The party believes the consultation paper is further evidence of central government shifting power from Westminster to local councils and communities. Cllr Margaret Edney (Stratton-Whiteway), who is proposing the motion, said the proposals would make . . . → Read More: Liberal Democrats welcome “fairer” deal on housing Joe Harris, Park Ward campaigner, has challenged council bosses to accept there is a problem with random violent attacks in Cirencester. He confronted Conservative councillors at a full meeting of Cotswold District Council, spurred on by the fact that he was himself the victim of an attack in the town in December 2009. Joe says, “I’ve logged 12 other recent attacks, including one on my stepfather. In my case the assailants weren’t caught. Yet, CDC’s Cabinet member has claimed they were! He needs to get his facts right. My attack was partly in view of a CCTV camera, which was unmanned.” Now, Joe is backing calls for the monitoring hours, slashed by the council in secret from 112 to 56 a week in June 2009, to be reinstated. He added: “Most of all I want the council to admit there was a problem. I’m angry and frustrated that I’ve been . . . → Read More: Crime campaigner challenges CDC |
 Cirencester is strongly represented by the Liberal Democrats: 9 out of 10 District Council seats, and 12 seats on the Town Council. Deryck Nash is the main contact for our Cirencester branch, working with Liberal Democrat Mayor Andy Lichnowski. We are always looking for new people to get involved - whether it is fundraising, delivering, helping in the community or standing for election - whatever your interests and skills, if you are interested in finding out more and getting involved with your local Liberal Democrat team please get in touch! You can contact Deryck & the Cirencester Liberal Democrats team using info@cotswoldslibdems.org.uk or telephone 01285 651122
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