Stroud's plastic bag campaign continues with an event to coincide with an international action day on Saturday April 17th as it joins a host of other towns holding activities to persuade people to go plastic bag free for a day. It is connected to the website www.nomorebaggage.org.

We have set up a working group to investigate possible new allotment sites for the town and whether a community composting scheme could be established.

At present all five of Stroud's allotment sites are fully occupied with long waiting lists. The working group, consisting of councillors Marjoram, Cockcroft, Read and Poulton will investigate possible locations for new sites or extentions to existing ones and how these could be achieved.

Planners are inviting Stroud residents to comment on seven options that will guide the future shape of housing and jobs in the district.

A series of public meetings, including one in Stroud, will offer the chance to find out more about how the district council could find sites for 2,000 new homes and encourage a new generation of jobs by 2026. A six-week consultation process runs until March 22nd.

Despite providing funding for 14 new initiatives across the town, Council Tax payers in Stroud will see a standstill in the part of their bills set by the Town Council next year.

Meeting on Monday January 11th councillors agreed a budget of £556,390 for the next financial year (2010/11). For the second year running, this will mean our cost to the taxpayer is frozen.