Safety key as eyes of the nation fall on town again

IT’S Festival week! The eyes of the nation are once again on Cheltenham as we host racegoers from across the British Isles at the greatest racecourse in the world.

It’s difficult to overstate how important this week is for our town, with Gold Cup day alone attracting around 70,000 people.

The Festival overall is estimated to be worth £200m to the Gloucestershire economy.

Like many Cheltonians I take huge pride in the Festival, and I am conscious of the image of our town that we project to the world during this special week.

It’s why I and volunteers were out digging out impacted mud, litter and weeds opposite The Brewery Quarter.

Thousands of people will be passing that way this week, and our town should be projecting vibrancy not neglect.

I am also absolutely clear that the rise in misogynistic behaviour during Festival week is unacceptable.

A recent survey by Cheltenham Borough Council found that 75 per cent of female respondents don’t feel safe at night during race week and that 30 per centregularly get sexually harassed.

This is appalling and I have been working with the police who have agreed that this needs to be tackled as a priority.

So I welcome that there will be more police and stewards than ever before.

There will also be a roving CCTV van, a police community engagement vehicle outside M&S and more marshals along popular walking routes.

But everyone must play their part, and I remain astonished that women’s concerns about not feeling safe anear Sexual Entertainment Venues are being ignored by the council.

Cheltenham Borough Council can and must use their powers to ban strip clubs in our town.

The Council claim that opponents of strip clubs are a ‘small minority with moral objections.’

That is patronising and wrong, and betrays a worrying misunderstanding of the issue.

And despite claims that their hands are tied, it reveals the council are simply unwilling to follow the approach of other towns such as Exeter, Blackpool and Swansea who ban them altogether.

I call on them finally do the right thing and prioritise the safety of women and girls.

Like many I take huge pride in the Festival, and I am conscious of the image of our town that we project to the world during this special week.