Stroud Conservative Group

19/10/2026

13/09/2026

National security makes everything else possible.
Labour knew it then. Why not now?

11/09/2026

The news that Local Government Reorganisation in Gloucestershire has now been paused is deeply disappointing and raises some very serious questions that need answering quickly.

This process was not something we asked for. Local Government Reorganisation was imposed upon our councils by this Labour Government, and from the outset we have had to work within the process put in front of us.

Whatever our individual views on reorganisation, our responsibility has been to engage constructively and try to secure the best possible outcome for residents across Stroud District and Gloucestershire.

Considerable officer time, resources and public money have already been committed to this process. At Stroud District Council, officers have spent many hours preparing submissions, attending meetings, producing evidence and planning for a completely different structure of local government.

That inevitably comes at a cost.

I now want to know exactly how much this process has cost Stroud District Council, how much officer time has been diverted into it, what commitments or contracts have already been entered into, and whether any of those costs can be recovered.

Every pound and every officer hour spent responding to a Government-driven reorganisation is money and capacity that could otherwise have been directed towards delivering services and supporting residents across the Stroud District.

We also urgently need clarity from Government about what “paused” actually means.

Is Local Government Reorganisation in Gloucestershire no longer going ahead, or has it simply been postponed until a later date?

Councils cannot sensibly plan their finances, workforce and services while being left in limbo over something as fundamental as whether they will continue to exist in their current form.

The Government needs to provide answers quickly, not leave Gloucestershire’s councils spending further time and taxpayers’ money preparing for something that may or may not happen.

This whole episode is extremely disappointing. Once again, it is our residents who ultimately feel the consequences of uncertainty and wasted public resources.

The Conservative Group at Stroud District Council will now be seeking a full breakdown of the financial and operational impact this process has already had on the Council, and we will be pressing for clear answers about what happens next.

Cllr Lindsey Green
Leader of the Conservative Group
Stroud District Council

09/09/2026

Some votes tell you exactly where the dividing lines are.

Conservatives voted to protect children from puberty blocker clinical trials.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats voted for the trials.

Children should not be used to settle political or ideological arguments. When their health and future are at stake, safeguarding MUST come first.

09/09/2026

CONFIRMED: Labour are the welfare party. 🥀

24/08/2026

Vote for Louise!

🏡 5 reasons to vote for Louise Tandy on 2nd September! 🗳️

Louise has called Kingswood Ward home for 10 years and is standing to be a strong, local voice for residents.
From protecting our rural communities and heritage to tackling parking, fly-tipping and rural crime, Louise will focus on the issues that matter locally.

💙 Vote Louise Tandy, Conservative, on Wednesday 2nd September.

18/07/2026

🚨 The Future of Stroud District Starts With You 🚨

The decisions we make today will shape our communities for the next 15–20 years – and this is your chance to influence them before the detailed plans are drawn up.

Stroud District Council has launched the early consultation on its new Local Plan, and this is the stage where your views can make the biggest difference.

The Council needs to plan for at least 846 new homes every year, but it’s not just about housing. This consultation also asks what matters most to you, including:

🏡 New homes that meet local needs
🌳 Protecting our countryside and green spaces
🚗 Better roads and transport links
🏫 More school places and healthcare provision
💼 Supporting local jobs and businesses
🏘️ Building communities with the right infrastructure in place

No decisions have been made yet. There are no preferred development sites at this stage, which means this is the perfect opportunity to tell the Council what you want to see before proposals are finalised.

Whether you’re concerned about traffic, want stronger protection for our rural areas, believe we need more affordable homes, or simply want to ensure future growth is properly planned, please take a few minutes to have your say.

📅 The consultation closes on Sunday 9 August 2026.

👉 Complete the survey here:
https://www.stroud.gov.uk/environment/planning-and-building-control/planning-strategy/new-local-plan-2026/

📢 Please like, share and tag friends and neighbours. The more people who respond, the better chance we have of ensuring the Local Plan reflects the needs and priorities of communities across the Stroud District.

Your voice matters. Make sure it’s heard.

16/07/2026

Statement from Cllr Lindsey Green, Leader of the Conservative Group at Stroud District Council

I welcome today’s announcement by the Government confirming that Gloucestershire will move to a single unitary council.

This is the option that the Conservative Group at Stroud District Council has consistently supported throughout the Local Government Reorganisation process. We believed it offered the strongest long-term future for Gloucestershire, providing a clear county-wide structure capable of delivering better joined-up services, supporting economic growth, and creating a more coherent approach to housing, infrastructure and strategic planning.

While there have been differing views across the county on the preferred model, the Government has now made its decision, and it is important that we all work together to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for residents, businesses and our dedicated council staff.

For local people, it is important to stress that nothing changes immediately. Council services will continue to operate as normal, and residents should continue accessing services in exactly the same way they do today.

There is still a significant amount of work ahead. The new authority must now be established in law, elections to a shadow authority will take place in May 2027, and the new unitary council is expected to come into being on 1 April 2028. Throughout that period, our priority must remain delivering high-quality services while ensuring the new council is built on sound governance, strong local representation and financial responsibility.

As Conservatives, we will continue to play a constructive role throughout this process. We will work to ensure that the voices of communities across Stroud District and Gloucestershire are heard, that local identity is respected, and that this reorganisation delivers genuine benefits rather than simply structural change.

Today’s decision provides certainty after many months of debate. We now have an opportunity to focus our efforts on creating a council that is efficient, accountable and delivers the best possible outcomes for everyone who lives and works in Gloucestershire.

14/07/2026

Please all take part in this as it affects all of the Stroud District.

🚨 The Future of Stroud District is Being Planned – Now is the Time to Speak Up! 🚨

The new Stroud District Local Plan will help shape where homes, jobs, roads, schools, healthcare and other infrastructure are provided over the next 15–20 years.

🏡 The Council says it must plan for at least 846 new homes every year.

🌳 The consultation is also asking how we can:
✅ Protect our countryside and environment
✅ Support local jobs and the economy
✅ Deliver the infrastructure communities need
✅ Decide the priorities for the future of our district

The key point is this: No decisions have been made yet. This is the earliest stage of the process, when residents have the greatest opportunity to influence the direction of the Local Plan before detailed proposals are developed.

Whether you think we need more affordable homes, better roads, more school places, stronger protection for our countryside, or improvements to healthcare and public transport, this is your opportunity to make your views known.

Please don’t leave it to someone else. The more people who take part, the stronger the picture the Council will receive about what matters to our communities.

📅 The consultation closes on 9 August 2026.

📲 Take a few minutes to complete the survey and, if you can, share this post so more people across Stroud District have the chance to have their say.

Your voice matters, but only if it’s heard.

www.stroud.gov.uk/environment/planning-and-building-control/planning-strategy/new-local-plan-2026/