AFFORDABLE housing development and the return of road management to the county council are amongst the key policies outlined in Gloucestershire Labour Party’s “deliverable” manifesto ahead of May’s county council elections.

Published today, the manifesto focuses on five areas – road management, housing, transport and the environment, care and youth and education.

The party currently has nine members on the county council, making it the third largest party behind the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Lesley Williams, (Lab, Stonehouse) the Leader of the Labour Group said: “I am very proud to announce this blueprint for what a Labour-run county council would look to achieve.

“I am also proud to announce that these policies were created by speaking to families across the county.

“We asked them what they would like Gloucestershire to look like and, in response, we have created a manifesto that serves their needs. It is based on the principles of equality, opportunity and co-operation.

“Whether it is our policy to bring Gloucestershire’s roads back under public control, our ambition to eliminate holiday hunger for all primary school children, or to create a truly compassionate care service, this manifesto is a roadmap for Gloucestershire.”

The party is promising to establish ‘open contracting’ practices and to launch a review in the controversial incinerator project.

Also in its manifesto is a promise to boost infrastructure spending, including pushing for an extension to broadband services in the county.

Steve Lydon (Lab, Dursley), party finance spokesperson, said: “This manifesto is based on sound local government policies and is deliverable.

“There is nothing in this manifesto that isn’t being delivered by other councils across the country.

“This manifesto offers a thought-through road map to better services under the fiscal constraints that this council has. I am proud to put my name to it.” 

Labour’s five key policies are:

1)To bring back control of Gloucestershire’s roads from highways contractor AMEY.

2)To create a countywide transport body that will be made up of elected members, officers and residents.

3)To re-invest in early years intervention programmes such as children centres.

4)To work with all public bodies to continue to build truly affordable homes on council-owned brownfield land. 

5)To create a county council cooperative care company to deliver outstanding care to every resident, not just a few.