Ebley wharf precinct

I'm not sure that is the right description for the pedestrian area between the new canal housing development, the canal and Ebley Mill. It was early evening and I was early for the meeting at the Mill where the Stroud District Council was holding its regular Strategy and Resources committee meeting.

I was there as a member of the local Stroud community to support the protests about the handling of their proposals to dispose of the responsibility of the town's Subscription Rooms, which have been getting a lot of attention. 4000 signatures have been collected to insist that the building is kept in public hands and that it remain as a predominantly cultural venue. There was fear that the venue would be sold to a local business with the consequent loss of most of the facilities to the community.

After four hours a new motion proposed by the Labour/Green party coalition was passed which will change the basis of the invitations to groups to take-over the building. Instead of an outright purchase of the freehold a 30 year maximum lease will now be offered with the requirement to provide services that the community wants. The new process will take another year probably but it does seem to be the best way forward. The BBC tv Local News service based in Bristol carried the story this morning, which shows how important a decision is thought to be.

While waiting for the meeting to start I walked about the canal side precinct and rather liked this view through the windows of a new hairdresser.