The government has still not made a decision on Stroud District Council’s application (known as a Strategic Outline Business Case) to reopen the station, which was submitted in September 2022.

The Department for Transport had promised a decision by the end of last year, and local campaigners have been very frustrated about the subsequent lack of action.

Cllr Braun, Leader of Stroud District Council, said: “We are pleased that the minister finally made good on his promises to visit Stonehouse to talk to campaigners and it was helpful to discuss the business case for the Stonehouse Bristol Road station with him, and the wider context of strategic planning for the district. Now all we need is a yes or no decision on whether the Conservative government is willing to fund the next stage of the work to develop this vital transport link.”

Cllr Turner, who chairs the stakeholder group, said: “After many years of campaigning by Stonehouse Town Council and others, we gained £50,000 from the Restoring our Railways fund to pay for the initial application. The Strategic Outline Business Case was duly submitted and since then there has been silence, despite a Green peer asking questions about this in Parliament. 

“There are a series of tests to pass in the reopening of a station, and we want to know – on behalf of everyone in Stroud District – if the government can now support us in moving to the next stage of review, or if not, what further information they need from us and our partners in the rail industry. We also want assurances that a decision is going to be made before the General Election; and we want a realistic timetable for the station being reopened.”

Cllr Kambites, who is Mayor of Stonehouse and who has been involved with the campaign for more than 10 years, said: “We asked for this visit for two reasons: to put our case to the minister, and to ask whether the government has made a decision and, if not, when they will make it. I also want to explore alternative ways forward if the Restoring Your Railways scheme won’t fund the reopening of the station.”

She added: “We were very disappointed that the minister still hadn’t decided whether we could proceed to the next stage. The re-opening of Bristol Road station would have so many advantages for Stonehouse and the Stroud valleys. We really can’t put it off any longer. Not only would it support the local economy, but it would also improve the quality of life of local people and, perhaps most importantly, would reduce the negative environmental effects of travelling to Bristol and the south-west.”

Pictured, from left to right: Carol Kambites, Catherine Braun, Chloe Turner.

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The neighbouring Gloucestershire towns of Stroud and Stonehouse both have Green Party mayors for the first time ever, following the unanimous election of Cllr Stella Parkes by Stroud Town Council and Cllr Carol Kambites by Stonehouse Town Council.

Both were elected on May 15 at the annual meetings of their respective councils.

It is the second term as Mayor for Cllr Parkes, who represents Stroud Central ward, while Cllr Kambites takes over after four years as Deputy Mayor.

Stella, who was born in Stroud and went to Stroud High School, has been a councillor since 2020. She was elected as Mayor last year when Green Mayor Cllr Kevin Cranston stepped down after seven consecutive years in the role (in total he had been Mayor for 10 years).

Stella is deputy chair of the Regeneration committee and serves on the Consultation & Highways and Finance & Policy committees.

A former careers adviser, journalist and public relations consultant, Stella is chair of Trustees at Stroud Valleys Project, where she co-founded the SVP eco shop.

Carol has been on Stonehouse Town Council for 12 years and is the council’s first Green Mayor. A retired teacher and research fellow, she serves on the Town Business Committee and Town Environment Committee and a number of working groups, and chairs the Stonehouse Community Climate Action Forum.

A keen cyclist and walker, she is involved with Stonehouse Walking Festival and the campaign to re-open Stonehouse Bristol Road station. She is also Chair of Stroud Valleys Cycle Campaign.

Stella said: “I want to thank the Stroud town councillors for voting me back for a second term as mayor. It is a great honour to represent the town. I look forward to helping to create a thriving and sustainable community and a place that residents are proud to call home.”

Carol said: “I’m honoured and delighted to have been elected as mayor. Stonehouse Town Council has a lot of exciting projects in progress and in the pipeline. I’m looking forward to working with my fellow councillors and the people of Stonehouse to tackle the twin emergencies of climate change and the cost of living – and to make our town an even better place to live, work and play.”

Pictured: Stella (left) and Carol with Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, during her recent visit to Stroud District. Photographer: Gill Thomas at Mouse About Town

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