Tories promise better schools and record recycling rates

CONSERVATIVES in South Gloucestershire are promising better school standards, record recycling rates and free parking in council-owned car parks in the upcoming local election.

The Conservative party is defending a narrow majority of five seats from the Liberal Democrats and Labour in South Gloucestershire.

Asked what’s better about South Gloucestershire compared to four years ago – the last time local elections took place – leader Toby Savage, pictured right, said: “If you look at the promises we stood on four years ago, you can see very clear progress. School standards was our number-one promise in the elections four years ago, and 90% of schools are rated good or outstanding. That equates to an extra 10,000 pupils who are now being taught at good or outstanding schools. That’s been backed up by record levels of investment into education, including building a number of new schools across the district.

“On recycling, we’re now up to 60%. That’s the second best in England for unitary authorities, councils that we’re comparable with. We’ve also made progress on housing and regeneration as well. We’re currently building the most homes we ever have in South Gloucestershire, and within that, the most affordable homes that we ever have. We’re making sure though that we focus on brownfield regeneration, because as well as building homes that we need, we need to protect what’s precious about the district, including protecting the green belt and the countryside.”

The Conservatives are promising to keep all council-owned car parks free, if they win the election. Charges have recently been introduced in many car parks across Bristol, and Cllr Savage said South Gloucestershire was “one of the last in the country” to still offer free parking.

He added South Gloucestershire would not follow Bristol and Bath with introducing a Clean Air Zone in any part of the district.

Bus passengers have been left stranded in many parts of the district, and the wider West of England region, as several subsidised routes have been axed and bus companies have struggled with a shortage of drivers. Cllr Savage said the shortage was now easing, and one solution to the region’s bus crisis was exploring franchising — which would see the bus network brought back under public control.

South Gloucestershire is not on track to hit its net zero carbon targets by 2030, the council leader admitted. Four years ago the council declared a “climate emergency” and promised to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but Cllr Savage said much more work still needs to be done. Plans include installing solar panels on the roofs of schools and businesses, and using geothermal processes in former coal mines to power heating and cooling.