Local News

David is urging local garages to sign up to a new scheme designed to improve the standards of garages across the country. The motor industry has put in place a new code of practice, launched in the summer and an enforcement regime to address sub-standard service which costs motorists an estimated £4 billion a year.

This is going to be a tough Christmas and New Year for all of us but I am thinking about and in particular praying for those individuals, families and businesses that have faced real problems over recent months or who know that they will have a bleak New Year.

It really strikes home when an old friend describes the impact the recession is having on his business. Coming on the back of a very good previous year and massive capital investment for a small business it hits all the harder. Many businesses are now battening down the hatches and my friend's is certainly amongst these.

We recently commemorated World Aids Day. Though we may think that Aids is a problem of yesteryear, in the West at least, in fact figures of people recently diagnosed demonstrate that this is far from the case with last year’s figures showing the highest ever number of new infections diagnosed as HIV Positive in the UK. Thankfully we now have means to successfully treat individuals here so that diagnosis is now no longer a life threatening sentence, and with care can lead to a relatively long life even when someone has developed full-blown Aids.

I celebrated Warm Homes Week by visiting a property in Kingsdown, Dursley which has benefitted from Warm Front monies. I met with representatives of NEA which oversees Warm Front. The house we visited had new insulation and a new boiler system.

On Friday the 28th November I joined Steve Tomlin and other directors at the opening of the new buildings which I opened at Minchinhampton Architectural Salvage Company (MASC). This was followed by a massive party to celebrate the company's success held that evening.

It was very moving on Friday when we welcomed Bob James from Operation Christmas Child to meet and greet our knitters and sewers. We collected over 2,500 knitted and sewn items for the Christmas boxes.

I received a certificate from Friends of the Earth this week, it congratulated me on my contribution in helping the Climate Change Bill receiving Royal Assent.

David is head of the queue at the Stroud and Swindon Building Society Children in Need Breakfast on Friday 14th November. David looks forward to this annual event gives praise to the Stroud and Swindon Building Society for the role they play in raising money for such a worthwhile cause.

As the mist rose over the Stroud Valleys a historic event was taking place. Uplands Post Office Re-opened! Congratulations to Postmaster Robin Craig and his wife Phillipa. Much of the success was down to the work and support of Stroud Town Council, Mayor John Marjoram and Deputy Mayor Andy Reed. But also the incredible support of the local community.