Opposition councillors in the Cotswolds are calling for a three-day celebration to mark the removal of lockdown restrictions later this month.
Conservative councillors are proposing that Cotswold District Council should host a number of small-scale “Freedom Day” themed events to encourage residents to support their local shops, bars and restaurants.
They are proposing that the council offers free parking for three days in town centre car parks, while also booking several local musicians, street performers and children’s entertainers to do small scale, modest pop-up shows.
Assuming the first three-day event is a success, the Conservatives would like to see the events repeated once a month for a further three months to help support the high street until people start Christmas shopping.
Tory group leader Richard Morgan said: “We all know how hard our high streets have been hit by the pandemic, so if Freedom Day goes ahead on 19 July, it would be wonderful if the council could do something during the following weeks and months to encourage people back to the high street.
“It would be amazing if for three days a month people could visit their local town centre for free, bring their friends and family and enjoy some free local street entertainment, whilst also shopping locally and supporting their local high street and supporting local business owners.
“We are proposing small, low key, subtle events.
“We are not suggesting that these need to be large scale events that are complex and expensive to organise.
“Our proposal is something simple, quick and easy for Cotswold District Council to do which will give an immediate boost to local business owners.”
Their motion will be debated at a full meeting of Cotswold District Council next Wednesday (July 14).
