Tuesday 27 January 2009
CHELTENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL - BACKGROUND
Cheltenham
Cheltenham, situated in the county of Gloucestershireon the edge of the Cotswolds, is unique for having the most complete Regency town centre in England. It has been a health and holiday resort since the early eighteenth century, after the discovery of mineral springs in 1716.
With its race course within walking distance of the town centre, Cheltenham is the home of steeple chasing in the United Kingdom, world-renowned for its National Hunt Racing Festival which takes place every March and which is famous for attracting the world’s best steeplechasers and hurdlers, including Desert Orchid and Arkle.
Known for its restaurants – including the two-star Michelin Le Champignon Sauvage - café culture,leading high street retailers and independent boutiques, Cheltenham is ranked 33 in the CACI retail footprint (2008), with an annual retail spend of £690 million.
Cheltenham’s cosmopolitan atmosphere is evident with over 100 stylish restaurants, wine bars, bistros and coffee bars available to tempt the visitor. The town has the biggest and best nightlife scene between Bristol and Birmingham with 87 bars and 15 nightclubs. Cheltenham has the third largest night time economy in the south west, with an estimated 20,000 ‘pubbers and clubbers’ visiting the town every weekend.
It has three theatres, The Everyman, The Playhouse and The Bacon as well as a multi-screen cinema at the Brewery for film lovers.
Cheltenham is also a cultural centre hosting an impressive calendar of international festivals and special events. The festival season begins this year with Budvar Jazz Festival (28 April – 4 May), followed by the Science Festival (3-7 June), Music Festival (3-18 July) and The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival (9-18 October). Cheltenham also hosts many the Wychwood music festival and Greenbelt – a Christian arts and music festival – held at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Following a Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA) competition to appoint an architect, Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum is currently undergoing a major extension. This will create spacious new galleries for national touring shows, for exhibitions from the museum’s own collections and improve visitor facilities.
A major regeneration scheme to transform the heart of Cheltenham is soon to be turned into a reality after years of discussion, and the council has strong working relationships with neighbouring authorities and with Gloucestershire County Council.
Education
The town has an excellent reputation for its schools, both within the state and private
sectors, resulting in performance levels well above the national average and the very
high standard of the county. There are six local education authority maintained
secondary schools in Cheltenham, along with four independent schools, including the famous Cheltenham Ladies’ College and CheltenhamCollege. The county’s largest further education college (GloucestershireCollege) and the University of Gloucestershire have three campuses including The Gloucestershire Business School, all based in the town.