Why did the Lib-Dem led Borough Council sell off the Idsall Car Park?
Having spent the weekend campaigning in Prestbury with Green Candidates Jan Foster and Ian Cameron, I was overwhelmed by the strength of feeling within the parish against the selling off of the Idsall car park by the Lib Dem led Borough Council. The current Prestbury PAB councillors must also take some responsibility for the loss of the car park, as it has happened on their watch.
Prestbury is a large area which already suffers from a limited bus service and car parking provision. Whether attending Church, popping to the butchers or buying groceries from the shop, Idsall car park has played a vital role supporting local residents and businesses. The loss will be felt.
It is time to nationalise the water companies
The amount of sewage dumped into England’s rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled in 2023. According to the Environment Agency, there were 3.6 million hours of sewage discharges into our rivers and seas, compared to 1.75 million hours in 2022.
It is a scandal.
Locally there were the equivalent to 186 days worth of sewage discharges in the rivers around Cheltenham – the biggest being in Andoversford, which recorded an outrageous 87 days alone. This has to stop. The Green Party would end this failed experiment in privatisation, bringing the water companies back into public control so we can clean up this industry.
The Council needs to focus more support on the poorest areas of the town
With money already tight, the council needs to start focusing on those in the town who need the most support and not on loss making projects such as the Ice Rink. The Ice rink ran at a £74,000 loss last year.
The cost of living crisis on the back of 14 years of Tory austerity has left many Cheltonians needing the council’s support more than ever. Many simply cannot afford travelling into the town let alone the high prices to use the ice rink. They could however have benefited from a share of the £74,000 to fund additional support in the most deprived areas of the the town.
The town centre continues to receive a disproportional amount of council funds and I would urge the council to consider abandoning the Ice Rink this year and use the money for something which supports the areas most in need of the help.
If you have any questions about this article or want to raise any issues with me as your Green Parliamentary Candidate for Cheltenham, you can contact me at directly at daniel.wilson@cheltenham.greenparty.org.uk