No, not a real burglar, but one of the amazing scarecrows on the annual Scarecrow Trail. Debbie and daughter Samantha visited the trail today to support local community projects. They then enjoyed coffee and cakes supplied by Cowan and Browse at Vale House. As well as this burglar there were the Constabulls obviously investigating a series of break ins, the Scarecrow Fairy and Scarecrow of the North. Maps for the trail can be purchased from Vale House each day during the Easter Holidays from 10 am

Debbie said "I normally do a scarecrow, but this year didn't have the opportunity and certainly would have not had the imagination that has been shown around the village. This one is my favourite but there are many amazing contributions"

Debbie attended the first meeting of Waterfront Vision, a group of people looking to take advantage for the community of the canal regeneration. The need is to create a Neighbourhood Plan for two areas in Stroud, Dudbridge and Cheapside to ensure that development meets the needs of local people. Many eminent speakers gave excellent presentations on what needs to be done, why it needs to be done and how to do it.

Debbie said "All the presentations were excellent and identified both potential problems and what the end product could look like. I am very pleased to be part of this vision to take advantage  of the investment in the canal regeneration. It is  important that local people have an input into what will happen rather than rely upon developers to dictate what will happen"

Debbie attended the 5th Birthday Party of Stroud Life on Wednesday evening at The Old Lodge, Minchinhampton. The event was attended by many media, charity and political representatives. As well as a birthday cake and cupcake tree, specially developed sausages and a steak pie by the Cam Butchers were show cased

Debbie said "It was great to meet many old friends, who have all worked hard to ensure that  Stroud Life succeeds. The steak pie and sausages developed for this party by the  Cam Butcher were fantastic and everyone should visit this local butcher"

Debbie with Mark Hawthorne, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council at the Stroud 5th Birthday Party photo courtesy of Stroud Life

Debbie attended a fundraising evening last week for the Uplands Care Service. The Curry evening at Box Village Hall raised over £1000 for the service which helps elderly people throughout Stroud. Debbie was seen here talking to Pamela Towse, the driving force behind the service. Debbie is hoping to  expand services to the elderly through working on a cross party board as part of Stroud District Councils review of services to older people. See what is currently happening http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/10386138.Dispute_erupts_between_council_and_sheltered_housing_representatives_over_service_changes/

"Stroud District Council is currently reviewing its sheltered housing service. It has been apparent since I first reviewed the service 3 years ago that we have more people in need of help who live outside of sheltered housing and this is the first time that we have cross party support to delivering that support"

Conceived of by Neil Carmichael, Gloucestershire goes to Westminster is an extension of Neil's Food Festival which he promoted at Frampton Fete last year. The idea is to take small Gloucestershire producers and businesses to the House of Commons to promote our excellent local produce and encourage local business to use these products for corporate entertaining and in house food outlets. Debbie spent today at Cirencester Farmers Market talking to local producers and telling them about the event. Angel Bakery (pictured) and Paddock House were just two of the local producers eager to take part.

Debbie said "Local provenance is even more important now in the face of the horsemeat scandal and it is really  crucial that we support local producers who provide locally sourced food, personally cooked in a sustainable way"

At the Parish Council meeting on the 7th March, large numbers of parishioners attending to make their views known about the problems of the junction of Old Neighbourhood and the A419. Max Strover, a Parish Councillor proposed that Chalford Parish Counicl write to Gloucestershire Council Highways and ask them to reinstate the traffic lights that were there after the latest accident at the junction when the road need to be closed for repairs. Debbie who was at the meeting agreed that the junction is a real problem, but that there are other issues as well, such as speeding along the A419, and lines of sight to the junction, specifically from the Cirencester direction.

Debbie said " There are several issues here, some of which cannot be changed due to the physical constraints of the road and footpath, but some changes can be made. One of those is driver behaviiour and I have urged the school previously to take part in the Police campaign whereby school children admonish drivers for their poor behaviour, as this has been particularly effective in other areas. There are things that can be done and I am happy to take some of these issues forward"