Cllr Gareth Kitchen
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gkitchen.bsky.social
Cllr Gareth Kitchen
@gkitchen.bsky.social
150 followers 150 following 400 posts
Stroud District Green Party. Stroud District Councillor. Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley & Stinchcombe.
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gkitchen.bsky.social
I haven't been down the Stroud - Nailsworth old railway track walk in a while. Some cracking street art down there!

#Stroud #Nailsworth

Check the link out for more and matching ALT text.
stroud.social/notice/AzqE5...
November 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Sadly, we do. Given a platform, standards mean nothing to Reform's councillors. These are the depths to which standards in public life have fallen. I'm reluctant to share the evidence, but here is a tiny fragment of the Reform 'motion' which was supposedly about planning.
October 26, 2025 at 7:19 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Oh, my other half has ILR. I guess she's not going to be happy. I wonder what 'certain persons' means on the front page of the bill? Of a certain political party or a certain profession maybe? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
October 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
A very disappointing reply from AJ Bell in response to my casework enquiry to them. Casework generated by the campaigns of @goodlawproject.bsky.social and @stopfundinghate.bsky.social
Dear Councillor Kitchen Thank you for your email. We’re sorry to hear that you’re unhappy to find out that our advert is shown on GB news. We certainly value your feedback, and your comments are always appreciated. I have received our viewpoint on the matter from our PR team, who have confirmed that the advert is shown on GB news alongside advertising across a wide range of broadcasters with varying editorial positions. We advertise across print & online media, as well as social media platforms, all of which have their own editorial style and political bias. We do not feel that advertising with any outlet is an endorsement of their editorial position or reporting style. As an investment platform, AJ Bell is politically neutral and won’t seek to influence independent journalism by directing or withholding advertising based on a publication’s editorial positions. If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us. Yours sincerely XXXX XXXXX Senior Customer Service Agent
October 23, 2025 at 9:55 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
An uplifting skeet courtesy of Gen Z. :)

Just as my local party @stroudgreens.bsky.social gets going with Bluesky too. :)

Give them a follow. ;)

#ukpol #GreenParty #Stroud
Polling on 18-25 year old voting intentions. Greens well ahead and Reform are last.
October 18, 2025 at 5:24 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Wotton-Under-Edge Town Council Meeting - 15th September 2025

Informal meeting notes.

listed.to/@eco_g/65395...

#Stroud #SDC #WottonUnderEdge #ukpol
September 19, 2025 at 2:45 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Gloucestershire Police & Crime Panel - September 2025

• Independent Custody Visitors Report
• Youth Detentions
• OPCC uses ONS and police data to flag breaches and trends
• Operation Shield deployed
• Budget & Savings
• Institutional Racism & dis-proportionality

listed.to/@eco_g/65196...
DPCC, PCC and the OPCC's data analyst sat at the Panel meeting.
September 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Delivered in partnership with Spacehive, the UK’s leading civic crowdfunding platform, Stroud Funding helps bring community-led ideas to life. So far, 27 projects have raised over £385,000, supporting youth clubs, green spaces, creative initiatives and more.

#Stroud #Community #CrowdFunding #Glos
Projects must: Benefit people within the Stroud district Align with one or more of the council’s priorities: Environment Communities and Wellbeing Local Economy Housing Be time-bound with a clear delivery date and contingency plans.
September 6, 2025 at 11:37 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
I reported these shoddy highway repairs at the western end of Wallbridge to Stroud Town Council.

I'm really pleased that the utility company has now been served with a statutory notice and Highways will monitor until it's resolved.

#Stroud #GCC #Highways
Poor quality tarmac repair where brickwork should be. Poor quality tarmac repair where brickwork should be.
September 2, 2025 at 11:27 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
stroud.social/notice/AxfFi...
The car park looking a bit overgrown. Weeds in the foreground. Fallen fencing and traffic bollards.
August 29, 2025 at 2:18 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
My Cllr. notes from the Town Council meeting on Monday.

Please subscribe on the blog for e-mail notifications. RSS supported too.

#Wotton #NorthNibley #Stinchcombe #Stroud

listed.to/@eco_g/64469...
Sad bears hanging by the neck from a local street sign. The bears are looking the worse for wear.
August 19, 2025 at 11:45 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Roughly 550 people (mainly) dressed in red lines Stroud High Street today to state what their red line for Gaza is.

We had the support of the Red band and the Red Rebels. Who gave very powerful performances.

#RedLineForGaza #Stroud #Gloucestershire
The Red Rebels, ressed in red flowing attire, outside the Labour Party HQ in Stroud. Palestinian flag being waved. Shrug gesture.
August 16, 2025 at 5:17 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Can you spare and hour to hear a child read?

readwithme.org.uk

#gloucestershire
A child looking at a reading book. Caption:Can you spare and hour to hear a child read?
July 26, 2025 at 9:30 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Uh ho, I guess the Thinkpad needs to be in incognito mode for full council tomorrow.
Thinkpad sporting a white and green stripe and red triangle.
July 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel - 11th July 2025

A meeting summary and some personal notes authored by Cllr. Gareth Kitchen, Stroud District Council.

listed.to/@eco_g/63436...

#police #SDC #crime #gloucestershire
DCC Katy Barrow-Grint, T/CC Maggie Blyth both in police uniform and PCC Chris Nelson.
July 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Every day in Stroud you bump into inspirational people. This was earlier today on my way for a doctors appointment.

#Stroud #Palestine
A gentleman waving a rainbow flag with 'PEACE' written across it. In the background is Ecotricity's HQ draped in the Palestinian flag.
July 7, 2025 at 10:26 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Yhea, it's a tough one. I really don't know where all this cynicism comes from.
My promise to you is that | will maintain our radical values and work tirelessly to get Labour in to power - so that we can advance the interests of the people our Party was created to serve. Based on the moral case for socialism, here is where I stand. Increase income tax for the top 5% of earners, reverse the Tories’ cuts in corporation tax and clamp down on tax avoidance, particularly of large corporations. No stepping back from our core principles. Abolish Universal Credit and end the Tories’ cruel sanctions regime. Set a national goal for wellbeing to make health as important as GDP; invest in services that help shift to a preventative approach. Stand up for universal services and defend our NHS. Support the abolition of tuition fees and invest in lifelong learning. Put the Green New Deal at the heart of everything we do. There is no issue more important to our future than the climate emergency. A Clean Air Act to tackle pollution locally. Demand international action on climate rights. No more illegal wars. Introduce a Prevention of Military Intervention Act and put human rights at the heart of foreign policy. Review all UK arms sales and make us a force for international peace and justice. Public services should be in public hands, not making profits for shareholders. Support common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water; end outsourcing out NHS, local government and justice system. Full voting rights for EU nationals. Defend free movement as we leave the EU. An immigration system based on compassion and dignity. End indefinite detention and call for the closure of centres such as Yarl's Wood. Work shoulder to shoulder with trade unions to stand up for working people, tackle insecure work and low pay. Repeal the Trade Union Act. Oppose Tory attacks on the right to take industrial action and the weakening of workplace rights.
July 5, 2025 at 10:52 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Just for lolz.

#TrustInPolitics
My promise to you is that | will maintain our radical values and work tirelessly to get Labour in to power - so that we can advance the interests of the people our Party was created to serve. Based on the moral case for socialism, here is where I stand. Increase income tax for the top 5% of earners, reverse the Tories’ cuts in corporation tax and clamp down on tax avoidance, particularly of large corporations. No stepping back from our core principles. Abolish Universal Credit and end the Tories’ cruel sanctions regime. Set a national goal for wellbeing to make health as important as GDP; invest in services that help shift to a preventative approach. Stand up for universal services and defend our NHS. Support the abolition of tuition fees and invest in lifelong learning. Put the Green New Deal at the heart of everything we do. There is no issue more important to our future than the climate emergency. A Clean Air Act to tackle pollution locally. Demand international action on climate rights. No more illegal wars. Introduce a Prevention of Military Intervention Act and put human rights at the heart of foreign policy. Review all UK arms sales and make us a force for international peace and justice. Public services should be in public hands, not making profits for shareholders. Support common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water; end outsourcing out NHS, local government and justice system. Full voting rights for EU nationals. Defend free movement as we leave the EU. An immigration system based on compassion and dignity. End indefinite detention and call for the closure of centres such as Yarl's Wood. Work shoulder to shoulder with trade unions to stand up for working people, tackle insecure work and low pay. Repeal the Trade Union Act. Oppose Tory attacks on the right to take industrial action and the weakening of workplace rights.
July 5, 2025 at 9:33 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Mum with Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth after filming at her (John Chapel's) house last year. Death Valley.

My old bedroom window top right!
Stone construction 16th century cottage. With the people mentioned in the post standing outside the front door.
June 20, 2025 at 10:59 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Stroud Green Party wins the Severn Ward by-election by 14 votes!

Moya Shannon is the new councillor.

A veritable landslide compared to my 3 vote winning margin!

#GreenParty #SDC #Stroud #ukpol
Graph showing the result was split roughly 25℅ each for Green, Conservative and Reform. Labour, Lib Dem and UKIP sharing the rest.
June 12, 2025 at 3:21 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Blimey, I didn't see this coming!

"The Government recognises the value that town and parish councils offer to their local communities, but they are independent institutions and are not a substitute for meaningful community engagement and neighbourhood working by a local authority.

#LGR #Engagement
reas considering new town or parish councils should think carefully about how they might be funded, to avoid putting further pressure on local authority finances and/or new burdens on the taxpayer. The Government recognises the value that town and parish councils offer to their local communities, but they are independent institutions and are not a substitute for meaningful community engagement and neighbourhood working by a local authority. The Government wants to see every local authority hardwiring local community engagement into their own structures, preferably through neighbourhood Area Committees.
June 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Look what I found in the bin!
Text that won’t fit in the ALT text My promise to you is that I will maintain our radical values and work tirelessly to get Labour in to power - so that we can advance the interests of the people our Party was created to serve. Based on the moral case for socialism, here is where I stand. Increase income tax for the top 5% of earners, reverse the Tories’ cuts in corporation tax and clamp down on tax avoidance, particularly of large corporations. No stepping back from our core principles. Abolish Universal Credit and end the Tories’ cruel sanctions regime. Set a national goal for wellbeing to make health as important as GDP; invest in services that help shift to a preventative approach. Stand up for universal services and defend our NHS. Support the abolition of tuition fees and invest in lifelong learning. Put the Green New Deal at the heart of everything we do. There is no issue more important to our future than the climate emergency. A Clean Air Act to tackle pollution locally. Demand international action on climate rights. No more illegal wars. Introduce a Prevention of Military Intervention Act and put human rights at the heart of foreign policy. Review all UK arms sales and make us a force for international peace and justice. Public services should be in public hands, not making profits for shareholders. Support common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water; end outsourcing out NHS, local government and justice system. Full voting rights for EU nationals. Defend free movement as we leave the EU. An immigration system based on compassion and dignity. End indefinite detention and call for the closure of centres such as Yarl’s Wood. Work shoulder to shoulder with trade unions to stand up for working people, tackle insecure work and low pay. Repeal the Trade Union Act. Oppose Tory attacks on the right to take industrial action and the of weakening of workplace rights. Push power, wealth and opportunity away from Whitehall. A federal system to devolve po…
May 12, 2025 at 8:05 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
With turnout expected to be so low on Thursday and the vote already split four or five ways it's foolish to vote tactically. It really is. Just vote for the best left of centre candidate. That's boils down to a simple choice between Lib Dem or Green, especially in Gloucestershire where I live.
A graphic replicating the opening star wars sequence. A Green Party logo with rays of light eminating from it. Above the logo is 'There is a new hope....' and below the the logo is 'Join the rebellion'
April 28, 2025 at 1:43 PM
gkitchen.bsky.social
So, yet again my small high street cookshop in a Cotswold town has paid more tax than Starbucks entire UK operation.  

Cynically, Starbucks is more than profitable enough to pay £40m of royalties to its US parent company, thereby incurring a loss of £35m.

Global revenue for 2024 was $36billion.
The ubiquitous Starbucks logo.
April 18, 2025 at 3:14 AM
gkitchen.bsky.social
Difficult to gauge precisely but I think 17th April is peak blossom. :)
A crab apple tree covered in white blossom. A Green Party stakeboard is bottom left. The sky is grey and a little overcast.
April 17, 2025 at 5:09 PM