2021 EDITION SDC NEWS WE’VE DONE IT! LOTTERY FUNDING WILL CONNECT CANALS

Outdoor New local activities lottery guide launching soon

Let’s make district carbon neutral

Stroud District Council @StroudDC strouddistrictcouncil Stroud District Council CONTENTS CANAL PROGRESS 5 Huge progress made on the Cotswold Canals Connected Welcome, by project

THINGS TO DO AND SEE 8 There are still plenty of Kathy O’Leary things to do outdoors in the Chief Executive, Stroud District Council fresh air around the district his last year has been a year like no other and I am proud of the way that your council and the residents ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS and businesses of our district have responded to the Help us to become a carbon T 10 Coronavirus pandemic. neutral district At the start of the pandemic we had to change the way OUR PRIORITIES we work to protect vital services that you rely on and we continue to run the day-to-day business of the council, In our Corporate Delivery Plan, we albeit in di erent ways. gainst that backdrop am very have set out fi ve priority areas for pleased to say that our annual independent residents and the district, and the articles in this businesses survey found that satisfaction with SDC remains magazine are marked with an icon high and is rising in most areas. representing each priority area. I am delighted that our work as lead development partner will see Stroud and These are: Stonehouse become canal towns again, following the National Lottery Heritage ECONOMY Fund’s decision to grant £8.9 million to the Cotswold Canals Connected Project – it will join up the section that has already been restored with the national inland waterways network. HEALTH & WELLBEING olunteers play a key role in that project and continue to make a di erence in the ENVIRONMENT pandemic. We have set up the Lucky Severn Lottery to help charities and voluntary groups raise funds to continue to help our communities at a time when we need them more than ever. Details on how to sign up to the Lucky Severn are in this AFFORDABLE HOUSING edition.

DELIVERY THANKS FOR HELPING TO ABOUT SDC NEWS SDC News is delivered to every SAVE VALENTINE household in the district to provide In February last year, a beautiful dog with a heart-shaped pattern on information about services available his face was dumped outside a vet’s surgery with a broken leg. He from the council. We hope that lay cold for 10 hours until waste collectors raised the alarm. Our it will keep you informed of local animal welfare o’ cers named him Valentine and found him a foster developments and initiatives. home, but we needed to pay for substantial surgery. An appeal was raised by a kind hearted member of the public, and an amazing If you, or anyone you know, would £1,300 was donated to help pay for the surgery. prefer to receive a copy of this in large print, or another format, We thought we would let you know that Valentine is settling in well with his new family, living a full and happy life, and has fully recovered please email [email protected] or from his injuries. call 01453 766321. This newsletter costs approx 28p per copy to publish and deliver to you.

SDC News is Stroud District Council is led by a cooperative alliance printed on FSC® YOUR COUNCIL of the Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat parties. certifi ed paper. for Stroud Please place in your recycling box once you have fi nished with it.

Every eΠort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in this publication, 20 15 9 2 1 3 however Stroud District Council will not be liable for any form of loss or inconvenience arising from RULING ADMINISTRATION information contained within it. Information correct at time of going to print. Conservative Labour Green Liberal Conservative Independent Democrat (No Group)

PAGE 2 STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS STROUD.GOV.UK The Lucky Severn Community Lottery is launching now

New online lottery to support local good causes e are launching a new online layers who do not wish to support a specifi c community lottery to benefi t good cause can still take part in the ucky evern Wcauses, and players will be in with a ommunity ottery, with p of their ticket price chance of winning a weekly jackpot going into the general troud district good causes fund, which will be distributed by the council. Tickets for the Lucky Severn Community Lottery will cost with p going towards local troud istrict ouncil leader, ouncillor oina good causes, compared to just p in the pound ornell, said ith our budgets under increasing for the ational ottery. The draw will be weekly with a jackpot pressure, and local good causes also needing a boost, the ucky of , for a matching seuence of six numbers, other pries evern ommunity ottery provides a great opportunity to help being ,, , or three free tickets. local good causes to raise additional money. e are committed to continuing our support to local community groups but this will be There are two ways to take part in the ucky evern ommunity a way of spreading the benefi t to many more groups. ottery scheme. troud district good causes will be able to set up their own lottery page, and will receive p in every pound egular updates on the progress of the ucky evern spent by players using this method. further p in every pound ommunity ottery will be posted on the ucky evern ottery will go into a general troud district good causes fund, with the acebook page and Twitter account, and remainder being put towards pries, operating costs and T. www.luckysevernlottery.co.uk

WATER RESCUE HEROES ARE OUR CHARITY OF THE YEAR Stroud District Council sta nominated the Severn Area Rescue Members of Association (SARA) as their charity of the year for 2020-21. SARA in training The inshore lifeboat and water-rescue charity based in Sharpness was to be the focus of fundraising e orts until April, however as fundraising opportunities have been reduced by the Coronavirus pandemic, sta decided to extend the period for a further year. The charity of the year is chosen by council employees who are invited to nominate a local charity, then vote for their favourite from a shortlist. SARA Sharpness provides emergency rescue services along the and River Severn, and assists the emergency services including evacuating people when the county is hit by fl oods.

STROUD.GOV.UK STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS PAGE 3 HOUSING Investing in housing We delivered our best year for building and facilitating new a ordable homes for sale or rent in the district.

lmost 200 properties including and we have approved an action plan to a ordable, energy e cient build over more. Ahousing for a diverse and changing Housing ommittee hair, population were built in the district in ouncillor Mattie oss, said e are OUR NEW 2019/20. committed to positively contributing to PROPERTY CARE were rented units, in shared the provision of a ordable, good uality, SERVICE GETS ownership, one was a discounted sale, and energy e cient homes that meet current two were o ered under the uy to ent and future needs and while we are trying UNDERWAY scheme. as a council to build as many as we can AND NOW HAS for our own stock, we can help developers e built homes for our own stock of build a ordable homes for rent and for ELECTRIC VEHICLES! rented properties between and , sale.” In April last year, we launched our new repairs service for council tenants. Our Property Care team is run in-house, with our own QUALITY HOUSING FOR OLDER RESIDENTS employed sta , and it replaces the We are committed to providing quality housing provision for those wishing to previous system of out-sourced move into Independent Living accommodation. These 11 modern apartments contractors. were completed in 2019 in Nailsworth. The £1.6 million scheme at Tanners Piece is part of our wider investment in modernising and rebuilding our Property Care now employs Independent Living schemes, to ensure they meet the needs of an ageing 16 people, which includes gas population. engineers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians and multi-trade operatives, to look after our stock of over 5,000 properties. Due to Covid restrictions, since the launch of the service we have only been able to o er emergency or urgent repairs, rather than our full maintenance service. At the end of November we introduced the fi rst electric vehicles to our fl eet - two electric cars and a hybrid 4x4 - and by operating new systems, such as mapping of routes to reduce wasted journeys, we have been able to reduce our overall carbon footprint.

INDEPENDENT LIVING DO YOU OWN AN EMPTY PROPERTY? From April, Sheltered Housing will be We are committed to helping bring empty homes back into use as local homes. known as Independent Living. The There are around 265 homes which have been left empty for more than one year, support service will concentrate on these are homes that could be rented at an a ordable cost to local residents. Our social inclusion led by a Community housing team is able to support families or landlords who have empty properties Hub Facilitator, who will set up a varied to get them up to a good standard before renting them out. This could include programme of activities aimed at a low-cost loan to refurbish the property, or assistance with tenancy checks and improving physical and mental wellbeing the fi rst month’s rent up front. Contact [email protected] or visit for residents and the wider community. www.stroud.gov.uk/housing/private-sector-housing/empty-homes

PAGE 4 STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS STROUD.GOV.UK ELECTIONS MAKE SURE YOU’RE Health and REGISTERED On May 6*, the district will be going to the polls, with elections being held for the Police and Crime economic bene ts Commissioner, County Council and District Council. In some wards there may also be contested for the district Town or Parish Council elections and Neighbourhood Planning Multi-million-pound canal project gathers pace Referendums.

Families In order to vote, you must be on enjoying the Electoral Register, over the the canal age of 18 and hold British, Irish, EU or Qualifying Commonwealth Citizenship. You can register to vote online at www.gov.uk/registertovote and you will need your date of birth and National Insurance Number - it only takes a few minutes. The deadline to Volunteers register is Monday 19 April. Needed! troud and We need volunteers to help with of thousands of HOW TO VOTE… all sorts of things – engineering, Stonehouse are people in the local Once you are registered to vote fundraising, habitat creation, there are three di erent ways Sset to become o€ ce work and much more. Go to area through new canal towns once cotswoldcanalsconnected.org/ opportunities to you can cast your ballot: again, following The access outdoor Vote by post: This is a quick and volunteering or email National Lottery canalvolunteering@ activities and events, easy way to vote, you will need to register for a Postal Vote by Heritage Fund’s decision stroud.gov.uk Join and by engaging to invest £8.9 million in the the team! them in training and submitting an application form Cotswold Canals Connected volunteering opportunities.” by 5pm on Tuesday 20 April. Project. Vote in person: at your local Work is expected to be completed by the polling station. About a month end of 2023. Work to reinstate the canal s a result, the fi ve miles of canal before election day we will send through the roundabout at Whitmister is already restored will be connected to your o€ cial poll card to you. already complete and work on the new the national inland waterway network at This will contain details of the railway bridge at Stonehouse Ocean is Saul Junction. polling station you’ll need to go well underway, with the bridge to be put to between 7am and 10pm on This is about much more than a in place in just three days next May. navigable stretch of water however the day. - the mental, physical and economic Other major funders for the project Get somebody to vote on your wellbeing of communities is at the heart are Stroud District Council (£2.3m), behalf (Proxy): To vote by proxy of the project. Cotswold Canals Trust’s members you need to submit a separate and donors’ contributions (£2.2m), application form by 5pm on Stuart McLeod, Director London & County Council Tuesday 27 April. South at The National Lottery Heritage (£700,000) and the Canal & River Trust Fund, said: “Thanks to National (£625,000). Cotswold Canals Trust will Lottery players, this ambitious project continue fundraising the remaining £1.2 For further information about the will improve the health and wellbeing million needed. upcoming elections visit www.stroud.gov.uk/elections THE PROJECT IN NUMBERS… or call 01453 766321. *The elections will take place at a time when 30,000 21 £8m £5.5m 4.5 500 Covid-19 may continue to present risks to public new trees hectares of a year of a year miles of extra health. We will be following government guidelines and shrubs biodiversity valued of new canal will be volunteers while planning for Polling Day. Please look out for will be land will be health spending restored will get more information on your Polling Card and on all our regular media channels as we get nearer to planted created benefi ts will be involved May. Information correct at time of printing. generated

STROUD.GOV.UK STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS PAGE 5 HEALTH & WELLBEING

CYCLE, RUN OR WALK ALONG A PATH MADE FROM RECYCLED TYRES A section of the Stroud to Nailsworth pathway was re-laid last Autumn using more than 8,000 recycled tyres, creating a tra c- free smooth surface that’s ideal for walkers and cyclists to get out and enjoy some exercise. HEALTH & WELLBEING Having spent much of the past year in our homes, it’s never been more important to get out and get some exercise in a safe way. As well as excellent sports and leisure centres in the district there are also many free outdoor activities you can do to keep your body and mind healthy. Here are some ideas and inspiration…

THE PULSE STRATFORD PARK The Pulse LEISURE CENTRE in Dursley is Stratford Park owned and run Pool | Gym | Studio Leisure Centre in by the council. Stroud oˆ ers a The leisure centre has a modern gym, range of indoor with a large range of equipment, a studio and outdoor facilities. Inside you will fi nd with an extensive program of classes, a swimming pool, 100 station gym, over and a swimming pool for fun swims and 75 group exercise classes each week, lessons. During lockdown periods The sports hall, squash courts, and café. Pulse oˆ ers free workout classes via its Outside there is an astro turf pitch, park Facebook page and free personalised and tennis courts. home workout plans for members. To fi nd out more about gym membership, To get the latest information on opening swimming classes or opening hours visit hours, fi tness classes and swimming www.everyoneactive.com/centre/ lessons, visit www.pulsedursley.co.uk stratford-park-leisure-centre/

PAGE 6 STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS STROUD.GOV.UK PARKRUN If you like to exercise with the support of others, then community Parkruns are a great option. These events are free and take place across the country, with Parkruns in Stratford Park in Stroud, Stonehouse, Wotton-under- Edge and Berkeley. All ages and abilities are welcome to the runs, including walkers, dogs on leads, babies in buggies (although only all-terrain buggies are suitable at Stratford Park) and children. The events are suspended during lockdown, however if you sign-up online then you’ll receive lots of advice on STRATFORD PARK LIDO running and keeping fit, until the events start up again. The outdoor pool at Stratford Park was unable to open in summer 2020 due to coronavirus, however there is still a dedicated group of volunteers who are working For more details visit towards bringing the pool back to its former glory as a heated Lido for the town. The www.parkrun.org.uk/register/ spring-fed pool was built in the 1930s and still has many of its Art Deco features. Stroud District Council, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Stroud Town Council have funded preliminary work to develop plans to improve the pool’s facilities, including introducing heating. The Lido will be part of a new Stroud District Council leisure and HEALTH & WELL™BEING cultural strategy for Stratford Park too. SOCIALLY GET STROLLING DISTANCED WALK OR RUN WITH OTHERS EXERCISE ALONG THE After being put on hold for five months, FOR PEOPLE WITH CANAL TOWPATH between March and August, Strolling in the Stroud District walks are back HEALTH There are miles of beautiful canal up and running with Covid measures CONDITIONS towpaths to explore. Most of the in place. The walks are provided free of route between Eastington and charge, and led by volunteer walk leaders Our Healthy Lifestyles team deliver a Brimscombe is flat and accessible, as part of the council’s commitment to range of specialist exercise classes for making it ideal for pushchairs, oŒer opportunities for our residents to people living with a range of conditions wheelchairs and bikes, as well be physically active while enjoying the (cardiac, respiratory, better balance and as runners or those wanting a fresh air. living with & beyond cancer). During the gentler stroll. The `Discovering first lockdown the team delivered these Britain’ website has an excellent classes online so people could continue guided walk and audio trail with vital exercise at home. from Wallbridge in Stroud to the Ocean in Stonehouse; Outside of lockdown the classes are when you follow it you’ll pass available, socially-distanced, at venues St Cyr’s Church, possibly the These walks are for all abilities, and they across the district. most photographed spot along are a great way to get people more To find out more information about how the canal. Please remember the active whilst meeting people in the to exercise from home with a health slowest users have priority and community. condition visit www.stroud.gov.uk/ dog owners must keep their pets For more information visit health-wellbeing on leads. www.frontlinecommunication.co.uk/ Strolling/

STROUD.GOV.UK STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS PAGE 7

06-7_SDCNEWSJan2021 .indd 7 29/01/2021 12:17 EVENTS Out and about in the… STROUD DISTRICT THE MUSEUM IN THE PARK Despite restrictions early last year and 2021, The Museum in the Park was able to remain largely open to the public during 2020, with additional measures to keep sta• and visitors safe. The museum has also made a large proportion of its exhibits available to view online, as well as videos of crafts and activities to do at home. You can take a trip into the Museum’s walled garden, a hidden oasis of calm, nature and horticulture. It’s a wonderful outdoor day out for children or adults.

Visit www.museuminthepark.org.uk to book a visit.

WALK AROUND VISIT A GOTHIC WOODCHESTER MANSION PARK Woodchester Mansion, with its FLY A KITE Woodchester Park is owned by the beautiful stone carvings and stunning ON A COMMON National Trust and is open all year for historic grandeur, is owned by Stroud people to walk around. A hidden secluded District Council and managed by the Common is a huge expanse of valley, Woodchester Park is the remains of Woodchester Mansion Trust. It is common land, with far-reaching views and an 18th-19th century landscaped park with closed for the winter, but re-opens it is looked after by the council. If you’re a chain of fi ve lakes. You can take dogs on from April 2. When open, you can take looking for a free activity to get you out leads and there is a car park (fees apply). a tour of the mansion from Fridays in the fresh air then why not take your to Sundays (and Bank Holidays) and dog for a walk or a kite up to the common GAZE AT A SHIPS enjoy food and drink from the café. to fl y? There are also and You can also hold your wedding at the Minchinhampton Commons, as well as GRAVEYARD Mansion. Visit Coaley Peak and Cam Peak to venture up! The Purton Hulks is the largest collection www.woodchestermansion.org.uk of boat wrecks in maritime Britain. The FOLLOW A boats were intentionally beached in an SCULPTURE TRAIL attempt to protect the banks of the River Severn from erosion. There’s parking just The artwork at Dursley Sculpture and o• the mini roundabout in Purton. Visit Play Trail in Twinberrow Woods has been www.friendsofpurton.org.uk created by local community groups. It’s free, and open access to visit any time.

All events and attractions are subject to the government guidelines and restrictions.

PAGE 8 STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS STROUD.GOV.UK ENVIRONMENT Keeping our district KEEPING clean and safe THE NOISE DOWN We can all play our part in keeping the district a Another consequence of the pandemic great place to live. We provide public services, and national lockdowns has been the rise in complaints about noise disturbances, from loud but there are plenty of ways we can all ensure music to barking dogs. Excessive and unwanted we are being a good neighbour and looking after outdoor noise can cause annoyance and even ill-health. If the noise is deemed to be a statutory nuisance, spaces for the benefi t of others. action can be taken and legally enforced. For more details or to report a noise The dog walkers code of conduct complaints about disturbance visit: bonfi res have risen www.stroud.gov.uk/noise Did you know we have a dog walkers code of conduct in the signifi cantly, and with Stroud district? During 2020 we consulted on the code as part of more people at home this a three-yearly review, and residents decided that dogs must still be can cause great frustration and kept on leads on canal towpaths and cycle tracks. even health problems for some people.

The four Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) Burning garden waste is also harmful to the require dog owners to: environment, so we recommend the following: • Pick up dog faeces • Get a garden waste bin from the council: For a small fee ut dogs on leads when directed to do so by an o cer we collect all garden waste from the kerbside in brown wheelie • Keep dogs out of areas signed as exclusion areas, e.g. children’s bins fortnightly between Feb - Nov. You will need to order and play areas pay for a brown bin and a licence from us, which you can do at • Keep dogs on leads in designated areas such as allotments, www.stroud.gov.uk/gardenwaste cemeteries, car parks, canal towpaths, designated cycle tracks • Build a compost heap: A compost heap can be created by and specifi ed footpaths used to reach schools and colleges. simply piling garden waste into a corner of the garden and covering with something waterproof, allowing nature to break ot picking up after your dog is an o ence and the council it down over time. Advice on how to start a compost heap at can serve a ixed enalty otice allowing the o ender to pay a home, and details of where to buy a compost bin are at fi ne or we can prosecute in the Magistrates ourt with a www.stroud.gov.uk/food-waste maximum fi ne of ,. • Hire a shredder: Shredders make mulch from woody waste. Why not club together with your neighbours and share the cost What to do with garden waste – of the hire? don’t burn it! • Take your waste to a Household Waste & Recycling Centre: Hs remain open but visits must be booked. As we approach spring and people get back out in their gardens, yke uarry near Horsley, run by loucestershire ounty we want to ask residents to not light bonfi res in their gardens, ouncil, is open six days a week. To book a visit causing smoke and irritation to neighbours. Since the pandemic, www.gloucestershirerecycles.com Help for The Armed Forces The Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) is a promise by To access this, and more information visit: the nation, ensuring that those who serve or who www.stroud.gov.uk/community-and-living/ have served in the armed forces, and their families, armed-forces-community-covenant are treated fairly. During the Covid-19 pandemic the Royal British SDC has two AFC Champions, and a web page with Legion is also o„ ering additional support for the useful links to other supporting agencies, veteran armed forces community. You can contact them groups and NHS information including fast-tracking on this freephone number 7 days a week for veterans. 0808 802 8080.

STROUD.GOV.UK STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS PAGE 9 ENVIRONMENT Let’s make Stroud a carbon neutral district e want to make Stroud a “This is an opportunity to make an ACTION carbon neutral district by 2030, impact,” said SDC Environment Wand we are already a carbon Committee chair, Simon Pickering. ON PLASTIC neutral council, thanks to the work of sta “We must act now or climate change will We are pleased to support and and councillors. severely adversely a ect our lives and work with Stroud District Action those of future generations.” One of our top priorities as a carbon on Plastic, a community group neutral council is to minimise carbon The 2030 Strategy sets out what we of volunteers who are helping footprint, adapt to climate change and need to do to achieve the goal. There businesses and individuals avoid improve recycling rates – but we know are seven themes - Built Environment, plastic. that’s not enough. Natural Environment, Energy, Mobility, Economy, Waste, and Community - plus Which is why we’re aiming to help the 65 commitments, and 26 targets over the whole district to become carbon neutral course of 10 years. by 2030 and we have drafted a strategy for this, which the public were consulted on You can download the full strategy last year. here: www.stroud.gov.uk/ draft2030strategy

Photographs taken pre-Covid restrictions pre-Covid taken Photographs Green voucher funding to help In July, Stroud district was awarded Plastic Free Community status by landlords improve homes marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage in recognition of the Landlords in the district can take advantage of new national funding for work our community has done to improving the energy effi ciency of homes. The Government announced start reducing the impact of single the Green Homes Voucher scheme last year, but did you know landlords use plastic on the environment. We can apply as well as homeowners? Green Homes Vouchers can cover are among the fi rst districts in the two-thirds of the costs of eligible improvements up to a value of £5,000 UK to achieve this accreditation. per property, such as low carbon heating systems or insulation. To fi nd out more or get involved More information about how the scheme works is available on the follow Stroud District Action on Government website www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-green-homes- Plastic on Facebook. grant-scheme or visit our environment pages at www.stroud.gov.uk

BEST IN THE SOUTH WEST YOUTHLED ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR This year, Stroud District Youth Council (SDYC) and the local youth forum groups across the district were acknowledged by the British Youth Council as the ‘best in the south west’. The Youth-Led Organisation of the Year Award, was given to recognise the huge impact that youth voice representatives from the district make both regionally and nationally, as well as in their own local communities. This year SDYC will be working on projects and campaigns including: health and wellbeing, access to GP

Photographs taken pre-Covid restrictions pre-Covid taken Photographs services, bullying, education, and the environment.

PAGE 10 STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS STROUD.GOV.UK RECYCLE …WASTE MORE… LESS!

We want to say a big thank you for keeping up the great work on recycling! Stroud district residents continue to be among the best in England at not throwing away rubbish to landfi ll, but we can still do more.

ince the beginning of the pandemic, despite How Cutting food waste recycling rates remaining at a steady 60%, we can we The food waste we recycle is collected and taken Scollected approximately 14% more rubbish to an anaerobic digester where it is turned into that went to landfi ll or to the incinerator. This recyclemore gas and electricity for homes. The waste product trend will have been driven by people working and waste from the process is then used as a fertiliser for from home, and generally staying in their property farm fi elds. However, it is even better for the for longer periods during lockdown – but so much less? environment to waste less food and put less into of what is thrown in landfi ll can be recycled. your food waste bin.

Tackle upstairs plastics Love Food, Hate Waste Making it easy for everyone in the household to recycle is More than 2,000 tonnes of edible food waste was thrown away in key. Most people are happy to recycle plastics when they are the district last year, www.lovefoodhatewaste.com has some downstairs near the recycling bin – but what about all those great tips on how we can make the most of our left overs and plastic bottles upstairs and in your bathroom? Try putting a plan ahead to waste less and save money. box or bin upstairs to collect things like shampoo and shower gel bottles. Home Composting Much of the food you put into your food Don’t forget cartons in your box waste caddy can be composted at home Most of us are pretty good at remembering to recycle paper and if you have a garden, and the reward is cardboard, but you can also place food and drink cartons in your a rich compost to put onto your plants. green box – like empty cartons of orange juice, or soup cartons. There are local groups, such as The Bisley Community Composting scheme Make the most of the green bin that you can get involved in. As well as plastics, glass and cans, your green wheelie bin (or Or for advice and a link to ordering a compost bin, visit green bag) is also for aerosols, foil and food tins, so make sure you www.stroud.gov.uk/foodwaste add those to the mix and keep them out of your black bin.

STROUD.GOV.UK STROUD DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS PAGE 11 At the heart of the community… Our Covid response It goes without saying that 2020 was an exceptional and Temporarily • More than £26 million unprecedented year in which suspended parking distributed in Government we were faced with a huge charges in Stroud grants to small business number of challenges. town centre to support local which have su ered due to businesses and key workers Covid We’d like to thank the whole community for keeping each • Shop Local and Think Local Contacted other safe, and to those First – our campaigns to help all 53,000 who volunteered to help the promote local businesses and households in vulnerable and elderly who safe shopping our district by letter twice were shielding. with help and advice – not • More than £750,000 everyone is connected online We prioritised the services distributed in discretionary which matter most,while grants, for businesses which • £50,000 distributed most of our sta worked have to close temporarily due to local groups helping from home. to Covid restrictions people in need through a joint SDC/Gloucestershire FREE online exercise County Council Community Here are just some of classes provided Resilience Fund the ways we have been by The Pulse during lockdown • Helped the Long helping local businesses, Table distribute protecting the public • £54,500 paid out in Test 3,500 Christmas and supporting the and Trace Support Payments meals to people in need local economy REMEMBER…

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