Contrary to the views in political leaflets, I would say that Cheltenham residents who know anything about the People Against Bureaucracy Group (PAB), understands that it is a local non-political organisation, dedicated to helping local residents wherever they live. They also know that its aims include keeping ‘party politics’ out of local government and for the past forty years PAB has always put ‘people before party politics’. Local residents in Prestbury know that the PAB Group will always commit to…

Read More Read More

Hard-working John Payne wins the county council seat for PAB after a hard-fought contest against a Liberal Democrat who stopped at nothing in order to gain a seat on the county council. Many thanks to the 1525 residents who voted for John and were not swayed by the misleading and inaccurate statements in the Lib/Dem candidate’s leaflets. Les Godwin. Hon. Secretary.

Political leaflets from the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties accuse each other of wasteful expenditure – but who is right? The Conservatives claim that the Liberal Democrats, “when they ran the council they increased tax every single year by an average of 8% per year”. On the other hand, the Liberal Democrats claim that “the roads and pavements have suffered 12 years of neglect by the Conservative County Council”. The question that local electors should be asking themselves is whether…

Read More Read More

With the County Council Elections to be held on Thursday 4th May 2017 I would like readers to know that Cheltenham Borough Councillor John Payne has my full support to become Pittville and Prestbury County Councillor. The PAB Group has held a seat on County Council for the past decade and, as a consequence, local residents have benefited from a realistic share of the road maintenance, education, library and social care budgets. Additionally, the allowance that each County Councillor has…

Read More Read More

Readers, It seems to me that the personal letter delivered to households in Prestbury by the Liberal Democrat councillor for the Pittville and Prestbury Division, is an act of desperation on his part. His claim that anyone representing another political party is wasting their time putting up against him is either ignorance or an act of crass stupidity. In a democracy, no-one knows until the votes are counted who is likely to be the successful candidate. In his desperation, he…

Read More Read More

A letter to the Gloucestershire Echo in February 2017. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GREEN BELT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHELTENHAM To their credit, central government has been true to their word and re-emphasized the importance of the green belt in their recently published White Paper. Unlike developers and town planners, I do not believe that the sacrifice of the green belt is inevitable in the immediate future, nor do I believe that local authorities and central government have taken…

Read More Read More

Attached is a shocking letter sent to me about children feeling sick walking to school due to the increased traffic Pollution on Pittville Circus and All Saints rd in the last few weeks, When the works on Oriel Rd are completed, traffic here will not revert to how it was, as the road is being narrowed and the junction constricted, so the recent flow through Pittville is likely to be how it remains, or until the next phase, when further…

Read More Read More

The article regarding Pittville having a parish council (Echo Jan 7th), made interesting reading. Of course, as the article states, the people of Pittville should have the final say on whether they believe that a parish council is necessary, and whether an extra tier of bureaucracy is really going to give them better or more services than those currently being provided by Cheltenham Borough Council. There is also the matter of the precept (tax) that entitles an established parish council…

Read More Read More

Residents of Prestbury, particularly those living in the centre of the village are reliant on the Flood Alleviation Scheme to minimise the risk of local flooding. The Parish Council Flood Wardens keep a close eye on the scheme and forward information to the Environment Agency. Despite repeated requests from your PAB Councillors no action was planned to reduce the increasing levels of silt and gravel . Finally in December a request for action was requested from Floodline, the Environment Agency’s…

Read More Read More