Stroud: A Truly Green Community
Stroud has a long history of protest & civil disobedience going back to the Stroudwater Riots of 1825. More recent protests include campaigns against the Gloustershire County Council & the Stroud District Council itself. The Gloustershire Council wished to generate a ringroad around Stroud & the public overcame this choice in a meeting. The District Council wished to start urban renovation In the High Street area by demolishing 18th century buildings. This historic area is now a must see area on High Street
In a reflection of the towns attitude toward preservation & maintaining a “Green” environment, the 2008 Town Council was made up of 1 Liberal Democrat, 1 Conservative, 5 Independents & 11 members of the Green Party.
Stroud has played home to a large & growing artistic community dating back to the early 20th century. Newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph & London Evening Standard have taken note of place Stroud takes in the world wide artistic community. Stroud hosts monthly Vintage, Fashion, Textile & Accessory fairs in the subscription room in Stroud. A 4th annual International Textile festival will be held in May 2009.
While the area around Stroud has been inhabited for centuries, Stroud itself only came into separate existence in 1304. It’s favorable location with 5 surrounding valleys & the Cotswold sheep grazing in nearby pastures provided the impetus for woolen mills. Perhaps the most obvious product of Stroud was the military uniforms in a color known as Stroudwater Scarlet. Transportation was a requirement to get the finished goods to market. A canal network was created & was in existence until the early 20th century. The Stroud District Council has received a multi million pound grant from the Lottery to redevelop this canal system as a recreation area.
Stroud is a truly green community with the historical backing of civil disobedience. In lots of cases today’s society requires civil disobedience to maintain a green lifestyle. In this Stroud is in the forefront.
A farmers market held every Saturday was nominated for & won The National Farmers’ Market of the Year in 2007. This further provided recognition of Stroud as a “green” community.
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