LYDNEY Town Council is celebrating achieving Quality Gold status in the new National Quality Council Award Scheme – one of only three in the UK to achieve such a distinction.

A delighted Mayor Bob Berryman said “Quality Gold shows the professionalism of our council and how seriously we take the development of Lydney.

“Everyone is under immense pressure to deliver more for less – if a pound is wasted it can’t be spent on the community. We deserve no less than the best.”

Council CEO Jayne Smailes said: “Quality Gold is more than just making sure every penny is spent wisely.

“You need to have a convincing strategy for the future development of Lydney.

“The assessors were impressed by both our plan and the dedication of the council to push this forward. This is why Quality Gold is so valuable to the community.”

Along with initiatives such as the Neighbourhood Development Plan, the council is not short of ideas for improving the town.

Deputy Mayor Brian Pearman said: “Lydney’s waited too long and improvements can’t come soon enough. The more we work with the community the faster change will come.”

An ‘official’ presentation of the award is to be made to the Council on September 14.