Stroud News
The latest Stroud news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Rodborough By-Election: Five Candidates Named for 13 Oct
Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, the Greens and Reform UK are all standing in Rodborough on 13 October. Register to vote by midnight on Friday.
More stories
House Prices
Stroud House Prices Fall £2,291 in July to £351,736
Stroud's average home lost £2,291 in July, the first monthly fall since December, and the annual rise more than halved to 2.9%. Flats are now falling.
Crime
Stroud Bank Gardens Racist Abuse: Man Bailed, Police Appeal
A man from Cam is bailed after racist abuse and flags ripped down at a 5 September event in Bank Gardens, Stroud. Police want witnesses: occurrence 53260076823.
Roads
M5 Closed at Gloucester Both Ways, 16 to 19 October
The M5 closes between Junctions 11 and 12 from 11pm on Friday 16 October to 6am on Monday 19 October. The order behind it allows four more weekends.
Council
Stroud Mayor Stands Down Four Months Into Third Term
Cllr Tony Davey has stood down as Mayor of Stroud so whoever inherits next year's budget can help set it. Full Council next meets on Monday 28 September.
Jobs
Stroud Claimant Count Up 115 in a Year, Under-25s Up 28%
Stroud district had 1,595 claimants in August, up 115 on a year: Gloucestershire's biggest rise. Claims by 16 to 24s rose 28%, against 10% across the UK.
Planning
Stroud Maternity Car Park Plan: Council Protects 23 Trees
23 trees at Stroud Maternity Hospital are now protected, beside a plan for 41 more parking spaces. The tree officer could recommend refusal. Comments close 23 Sept.
Crime
Stroud Suspected Park Stabbing: Man, 18, Charged
An 18-year-old is charged after a boy, 15, was hurt in a suspected stabbing at a park near Slad Road, Stroud, on 12 September. What police have said.
Roads
Cowcombe Hill Shuts 29 September for 11 Days
The A419 above Chalford closes day and night from 29 September to 9 October, with no emergency access. The main repair is now not expected until November 2027.
Roads
A417 Air Balloon Roundabout Goes at 6am on Friday
The A417 switches to its permanent new layout at 6am on Friday 18 September and the Air Balloon roundabout is removed. Four nights of closures come first.
Council
Stroud Council Abolition Paused by the Government
Stroud District Council's April 2028 abolition is on hold. Ministers paused the Gloucestershire reorganisation on 7 September and told councils to stop work.
Elections
Rodborough By-Election Called for Tuesday 13 October
A Rodborough by-election will be held on Tuesday 13 October after Councillor Katy Hofmann resigned. Nominations close 16 September, registration 25 September.
Elections
Kingswood By-Election Result: Lib Dem Hold, Reform Third
Fred Hulls won Kingswood for the Liberal Democrats with 442 of 691 votes on 2 September. Turnout fell to 37.3%, and Reform UK took third at its first attempt.
Elections
Kingswood By-Election: Polls Open Until 10pm Today
Polls are open until 10pm in Kingswood, where five candidates are standing for the Stroud District Council seat. Counting starts at 10.15pm tonight.
Health
Stroud Maternity Rated Good, But Beds Stay Suspended
The CQC rated Stroud Maternity Hospital good in all five areas on 27 August, up from requires improvement. Its postnatal beds remain suspended.
Cotswold Canals
Missing Mile: 750m of New Canal Being Dug at Eastington
Six years after planning began, volunteers are digging 750 metres of new canal at Eastington, and the River Frome is now diverted under the M5.
Transport
Stroud to London coach: back 8 September, £30 return
Stroud's commuter coach to London returns on Tuesday 8 September, £30 day return. It runs Tuesday to Thursday until 21 October and stops at West Drayton.
Schools
Stroud High GCSE results 2026: 22% of grades a 9
Stroud High School's Year 11 took 22% of grades at 9 and 74% at 9-7 this summer. Nationally 22% of all GCSE entries reached grade 7 or above. The full figures.
Jobs
Stroud Claimant Count: One Ward at 5.7%, Another 1.2%
Stroud Central's claimant rate is 5.7%, joint second of the county's 138 wards. Bisley, Amberley and Painswick are on 1.2%. The district average of 2.2% hides both.
House Prices
Stroud house prices up £21,532 in a year, fastest in Glos
Stroud district's average home reached £355,953 in June 2026, up 6.4% in a year. That is the fastest rise of the six Gloucestershire districts and beats the England average of 1.8%.
Recycling
Stroud recycling centre now opens 7 days, no fridges
Pyke Quarry at Horsley is open seven days a week while Hempsted is shut until mid-November, and no Gloucestershire tip will take fridges or freezers. Hours, booking and what to do instead.
Health
Stroud GP survey 2026: Beeches Green 96%, Five Valleys 77%
All 13 Stroud district surgeries ranked from the 2026 GP Patient Survey: Beeches Green and Frithwood 96% good overall, Five Valleys 77%, and only 46% at Five Valleys found the phones easy.
Community
Stratford Park Lido reopens: opening times and the £476k fix
Stratford Park Lido is open again from Saturday 15 August after a £476,000 repair programme, five months after the council said a £5m bill meant it could not open in 2026. Session times, booking and what was fixed.
Council
Stroud Council Abolition: the 2028 Plan, Now Paused
The plan to close Stroud District Council on 1 April 2028 and create one Gloucestershire Council, and why the government paused it on 7 September 2026.