A CONSULTATION has been kickstarted to help boost enjoyment of Stroud district’s heritage sites and landmarks to ensure there is a ‘positive legacy for the future’.

The Heritage Strategy paper consultation is an aim from Stroud District Council to gather the views of the public to help it set priorities.

Members of the public are asked to register any heritage issues they have, areas they feel are at risk and how improvements can be made.

In the consultation paper SDC states: “In Stroud district, our heritage is certainly not invisible.

“Far from it: It is all around us. In fact, it is so much part of the scenery, so much a backdrop to our lives, that perhaps we don’t perceive its value or recognise its impact as much as visitors do.

“Stroud district has a genuinely exceptional collection of assets and a very high quality environment.

“This strategy is really about making sure that we value them, that we don’t take this resource for granted, and that we all manage the district’s assets in such a way that we hand on a positive legacy for the future.

“Not only do we have a great heritage asset within Stroud district, but we are lucky to have an interested and informed community, including some highly active, knowledgeable and committed individuals and organisations.

“The district-wide strategy and the council’s own supporting action plan will help identify opportunities for partnership working, funding, training, education and capacity-building – for our communities as well as for those operating within Stroud District Council.”

There are 3,291 listed buildings in Stroud district – with more than 4,500 protected properties and structures.

The Costsold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers more than 50 per cent of Stroud district.

There are 68 scheduled ancient monuments in the district alongside 41 Conservation Areas which includes all the town centres.

Consultation on the strategy started on Thursday, July 13 and finishes on Friday, September, 15.

To lend your views click here, email local.plan@stroud.gov.uk with the subject line ‘Heritage Strategy consultation’ or send a letter to Heritage Strategy Consultation, The Planning Strategy team, Stroud District Council, Ebley Mill, Stroud, GL5 4UB.