THIS year has proved to be an eventful year that has seen us achieve so much by careful budgeting, working together with partners and the local community.

This year the town council successfully achieved ‘Quality’ status in the Local Council Award Scheme, demonstrating good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement.

We hope to achieve ‘Quality Gold’ in the near future.

One of the highlights of 2016 was the launch of our new council website which has enabled us to improve communications and community engagement activities.

This year we organised the Dursley Annual Assembly in May and a public meeting in September to discuss proposed changes to the Kingshill Road/Dursley Road/Tilsdown (Sandpits) junction, both were very well attended.

Over the year, we continued to embark on improvement projects within the town.

We improved access and introduced new signage at Kingshill Cemetery, installed a new council noticeboard in the market place and a new pedestrian gate to the War Memorial Recreation Ground.

With the support of Sainsbury’s, we helped to introduce a Community Parking Scheme for local businesses, following the closure of the temporary long stay car park at Long Street.

We also adopted the telephone kiosk on Castle Street and successfully obtained funding for a new community defibrillator from the Big Lottery Fund.

After several years of negotiations, in the summer we completed the lease to take over responsibility for Highfields Play Area from Stroud District Council.

In 2017 work will start to undertake improvements including resurfacing the BMX track and the installation of replacement goal posts.

This year saw many events and activities that helped to promote our town.

The Dursley in Bloom team won a well-deserved Gold award for their entry into the Heart of England in Bloom competition; the Town Festival in the summer was enjoyed by many as was Dursley’s first Flower and Produce show since the 1970s organised by Transition Cam and Dursley at the Chantry Centre.

The Dursley Welcomes Walkers annual Walking Festival had a great selection of walks on offer this year and saw greater numbers than ever before attending.

Our most recent event, the Christmas Lights Switch-on, was also a great success drawing huge crowds for the countdown, fireworks and festivities.

I would like to personally thank the people and volunteers involved in these activities and projects and every member of the public for their support in making all of this possible.

Our achievements would not have been possible without the combined effort and commitment of local organisations, traders, dedicated volunteers and the Town Council.

I know that Dursley can rise to the challenges it is given over the coming year, as this year’s achievements have shown.

I am very proud of this community.

On behalf of the town council, I would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.