Mayor's Christmas Message 2024

2024 has certainly been a year of change. We have had elections at a local level and national level, changeable weather that has blighted us all year long, and regime changes and conflicts abroad which (despite the distance) are not at all far from our thoughts.

One thing that remains constant is our community spirit in Stroud; a strong foundation that supports us all. Our community hubs have been busier than ever, supporting those most in need and providing an important place to bring the community together and fight isolation and loneliness.

We have also been blessed with an excellent schedule of events and festivals. There are too many to mention, but our Book Festival, Arts Festival, Stroud Show and Food Festival immediately spring to mind, as does the Stroud Pride event that brought so many in our Community together. Of course, the Christmas Tree Festival and Goodwill Festival are recent examples of great, local events.

So, what for the year ahead? I think it will be a challenging year for many. Consumer confidence is still not where we need it to be, and our fuel poverty and cost of living crisis is not yet behind us. What I know is that no-matter the challenges, the people of Stroud will rally together to support each other. If we think local first and buy locally, our high streets will continue to survive and thrive. Volunteers will work together to bring an exciting mix of festivals and events to our communities. We will all work together to make Stroud an even better place to live, work and visit.