'Fresh start' Roads and services are priorities for group

FIXING Gloucestershire's "crumbling roads and broken services" are among the top priorities of the Liberal Democrats after their victory in the County Council elections on May 1.

- Carmelo GARCIA Local Democracy Reporter

The Lib Dems are the largest group now at Gloucestershire County Council and have already formally elected Lisa Spivey as their leader - and are expected to run the council having fallen just one short of an overall majority.

All 27 of the Lib Dem councillors met at Shire Hall on Saturday to "begin the vital work of restoring Gloucestershire". At their first group meeting, Councillor Spivey was elected as Lib Dem group leader with Councillor Colin Hay appointed as her deputy.

They say their immediate priority will be forming a new cabinet to lead the authority into a "new era of responsible leadership, community focus, and real action".

"For too long, Gloucestershire has been held back by crumbling roads, broken services, and financial mismanagement," Cllr Spivey said.

"We are determined to put that right from day one. Residents voted for change - and that's exactly what we intend to deliver."