Your Parish Council working for you. Here's a showcase of some of our recent achievements.

Working in partnership with the Parish Councils of Coaley and Slimbridge, Cam Parish Council was successful in acquiring funding from the Countryside Agency to provide a rural bus service once per week, with the main aim of giving people living in the more outlying areas a means of travelling into the centre of Cam. This gives them access to shops and services and the chance to make social calls on friends and relatives living along or near to the route.

The fare is currently 70p per journey, although this is refunded by the Co-op with a spend of £10 or more and at Take Note with a spend of over £5. further details are available from Cam Council Shop, Coaley and Slimbridge Parish Clerks, Take Note and Slimbridge Post Office.

The social element of the service has proved even more beneficial than expected, with the journey itself becoming a social occasion for many of the users, especially the more elderly. Passengers greet each other and their driver, exchange gossip and so on. It has even reached the stage where some passengers send apologies if they are unable to make the trip one week!

The bus operates on Wednesday mornings, covering routes centering on Cam Co-op and including a loop through Coaley, Ashmead and Upper Cam, journeys to The Patch at Slimbridge and to Springfield Court at Woodfield. Various sheltered housing complexes are covered and the bus may be hailed anywhere along its route.

The Parish Council is pleased to be involved with Stroud District Council in a pilot project to provide Neighbourhood Wardens to patrol the Dursley and Cam areas. If this project is successful, it is hoped that it will be rolled out around this District in due course.

Based at the Council Shop, Steve Law and Colin Magrath make daily patrols around the area, noting community problems, such as litter, dog fouling, dangerous potholes etc. etc. and reporting these to the relevant agencies, as well as being 'an additional pair of eyes' for the Police with regard to more minor crime and anti social behaviour.

They visit more vulnerable people in their homes and give advice and help with a whole range of problems and also get involved with young people, both on the streets and by visits to all the local schools. They have already made a big impact in the community, and are especially valued by the elderly people who they visit:

"We received so much help. They always give us plenty of time and tips on how to look after ourselves. I just feel we owe them a big than you"
(Mai Smith, The Crapen)

If you have a problem with which you feel the Wardens can help, they can be reached on the following numbers:
Steve Law - 07753 725185
Colin Magrath - 07753 725186
Or through the Parish Council Shop at 7 High Street. (01453 548884)

Steve Law

Colin Magrath