Councillor John Payne (PAB) accepts that changes to any services and particularly changes to public services are inevitable. But he also expects changes to any public service to be for the betterment of the service, not to downgrade it. The recent ‘secret’ plans by the local NHS Hospital Trust managers to downgrade the A&E at Cheltenham General Hospital (CGH) smacks of the worst kind of bureaucracy. The fact that the ultimate future of the CGH A&E Department has been the…

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The public hearing of the Cheltenham Plan took place between 13th and 28th February 2019 following the submission of the Plan and its supporting documents to the Secretary of State for independent inspection. The Localism Act and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) brought about changes to the planning system, including the requirement for local councils to produce a ‘Local Plan’ for its area. The ‘Local Plan’ should not only show a presumption in favour of development, but clear policy…

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Good news to hear that the planning application to erect 91 houses on the lovely historic meadow at Oakhurst Rise was rejected by the Cheltenham Borough Council planning committee at the planning meeting in July. Saddened, but not surprised, that the planning officer recommended permission, even though there was almost unanimous rejection of the scheme by those who live locally. The councillors who expressed their support for the scheme should remember that a local green space in a residential area…

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The Imperial Gardens is one of many attractions that bring thousands of visitors to Cheltenham each year. The colourful floral displays are breathtaking each year. Cheltenham is full of gardens and parks, which is why the town was once called “a town within a park”, and even “the garden town of England”. It is sad to read in the local newspaper that these descriptions might no longer be applicable in future years; if new council plans to change the present…

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VOTE ON PARISH COUNCIL PAB do believe in parish councils where the benefits outweigh the cost. A good example of this is Prestbury where the High Street and many publicly owned assets, which are primarily used by the residents, give it geographic and community focus. In Pittville there are few, if any, such assets to manage, particularly as campaigners could not get the allotments included in the ‘parish’ area. The majority of publicly owned assets are for the use of…

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The PAB Group response to the recent alarming report about a possible school being built on ‘The Chargrove Triangle’ is as follows. Readers of a national or local newspaper should always be wary of any story that appears to be based on rumour or wishful thinking. The developer, as in this case, appears to have started a rumour about the possible construction of a school, in the hope that it would create a response from the local residents, followed by…

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Dear Sir, The area designated as Green Belt in England at 31st March 2010 was a meagre 13% of the total land area. This figure has probably been reduced in the past seven years, and Gloucestershire has the smallest amount of Green Belt in England. This is not good news, so, the heading ‘Wrong place, wrong time’ (Echo July 15th) with reference to the proposal by Redcliffe Homes to build houses on the Chargrove triangle is misleading. The land should,…

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The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines an independent person as,” a person who acts independently of any party.” This describes the members of “People Against Bureaucracy.” Your organisation is a local, non-political group, dedicated to helping local residents and, as such, always puts the needs of the individual first. P.A.B councillors are free thinking individuals, who are independent in the true meaning of the word. They will support an initiative if they feel that it is going to benefit residents. What…

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