Cheltenham Borough Council budget consultation and Boots Corner Plans take a step further forward

The New Year is off to a busy start with a number of important events and consultations taking place, some of which will help shape the future of our town.

On Thursday January 15^th 2015 Gloucestershire County Council’s Traffic Regulation Committee will be meeting at Cheltenham Town Hall (10am start) to discuss the ‘Cheltenham Transport Plan’. The Plan proposes changes at Boots Corner, which will see private vehicles banned but taxis and buses allowed through, along with a number of other significant changes to the road network in the town.

The final decision doesn’t rest with this committee, I am told this lies with the cabinet of the County Council. Before the final decision is made by the County cabinet, the Borough Council, who have been the driving force behind the proposals, will be holding an extraordinary meeting on Monday 26^th January at 6pm to discuss the outcome of the meeting of the Traffic Regulation Order Committee. 

The Borough Council need to give a view as to whether or not they want the County Council to proceed with The Plan in light of the large number of objections received during the Traffic Regulation Order consultation.

Cheltenham Borough Council is currently consulting on its budget for 2015-16 and I would particularly encourage you to take a look and get involved this year. As well as the consultation on the revenue budget, the council also wants to hear your views on how it should spend the substantial capital reserve it has built up since the sale of the North Place and Portland Street sites.

The sale of these two key town centre sites represent a once in a lifetime opportunity to change Cheltenham for the better. Suggestions for what this money could be spent on have come from councillors, council officers and the Cheltenham Trust and the council is now asking residents to give their top three preferences.

One of the options is the public realm improvements at Boots Corner which the Borough Council has linked with the aforementioned Cheltenham Transport Plan. In my opinion the whole of the High Street could do with some TLC not just Boots Corner, it is all starting to look pretty tired. Improving our High Street must be a priority but not one that is dependent on whether the plans to change our road network including Boots Corner go ahead. The responsibility for the maintenance of the road surface and paving along the High Street rests with the County Council and it is grating that they have allowed it to fall into such an unloved state. However, the Borough is able to contribute money to get a higher spec finish as they have already done with the recent Promenade repaving and with not quite such great results outside M&S.

Other choices include improving the play area in Pittville Park, investment in the Town Hall, improvements to car parking and signage, investment in renewable energy and relocating the council from the Municipal offices to somewhere else. The consultation continues until Monday 26 January 2015. If you want to read more about the budget and have your say please have a look on the Borough Councils’ website at http://www.cheltenham.gov.uk/budget.