Council Tax – Keeping our promise

Conservatives, who run a minority administration on the City Council, have kept their promise to limit the Council Tax rise to 3%, through efficiency savings and paying off most of the multi-million pound debt run up by the previous Lib-Lab administration.  This is despite extra costs such as pensions, recycling and licensing being loaded onto the Council from the Government.

Museums – Keeping our promise

The Folk Museum has re-opened on Fridays and Saturdays and will re-open full-time in April, in line with our election pledge.  It was closed under plans passed by the City Council’s previous Lib-Lab administration.

The timber-framed building is home to a varied collection of local history, crafts, trades and industries as well as an attractive garden.

Regenerating Gloucester – Keeping our promise

The regeneration of Gloucester continues apace, with progress stepping up a gear since the Conservatives started running the City Council.

Work in progressing well at the St Oswalds Park scheme on the former Cattle Market site, with new shops and restaurants.  The renaissance at the Docks continues, with strong demand for the new apartments, with both warehouse conversions and new-build underway.

Works to de-clutter Eastgate Street and Kings Square have been completed and the revamp of Gloucester Park is underway.

The City Council approved plans for the massive Gloucester Quays development on land south of Llanthony Road.  It is now with the Government Office for approval – we hope they will make a quick decision.

Plans for the Kings Square area are expected to be made public in the near future.

Secondary Schools Review

Conservatives in Gloucester have been campaigning hard to save schools threatened by the Lib-Lab County Council’s Review.

Barnwood Park High School for Girls is battling for survival after Labour and Lib-Dem County Councillors voted to close the school.  Despite huge public opposition, and the fact that the school has been one of the most improved in the country over the last few years, the Lib-Lab cabinet refused to think again. The plans now go to the Schools Organisation Committee on March 24th, who will rule on whether they can proceed.

A concerted campaign by parents, pupils and teachers, supported by Conservatives, over the last 18 months has seen off plans to close city grammar schools.  But there are still fears that the grammar schools will be attacked by the back door, by changing entry criteria.

If the Conservatives take control of the County Council we will seek to reverse any closure plans.

Save Our Regiment!

The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (RGBW) is to be disbanded as part of a reorganisation of the army – and the Gloucestershire name will disappear.

The RGBW was formed in 1994 when the Glosters merged with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment. 

The reorganisation was prompted by the Government’s decision to reduce the size of the infantry from 40 battalions to 36.  Conservatives vehemently oppose cutting the infantry in an age of increasing commitments around the world, from Cyprus to Iraq and Afghanistan.  A Conservative Government will halt the disbandments and amalgamations in their tracks.

Paul James tabled a motion at a meeting of the City Council to protest at the threat to the Regiment.  Under the Government’s plans, the Glosters element of the RGBW will be merged into the Light Infantry. 

We support the campaign to retain the Glosters’ illustrious back badge, won at Alexandria in 1801 – but it is a shame that this was ever threatened in the first place.