Christmas message from Val Watts, mayor of Berkeley I have just read the piece I wrote for the Gazette last year where I said that in 2007 we would be concentrating on safety. In conjunction with the police and the surrounding parish councils we have, as promised, focused on safety - with, I must admit, mixed results. Due to the terrible floods in the summer the Highways Department has had to delay the works it was due to carry out in Berkeley. except for putting in place the disabled bay in Market Place. I will continue to press for these works to be completed as soon as possible, although I anticipate the works will take several years.

The police are continuing to concentrate on speeding and anti-social behaviour and they have asked us to upgrade the CCTV cameras in Market Place which we are currently doing. We are also going to replace the benches in Market Place and outside the cemetery with new ones which will be sturdier. Once the new benches are in place we will make permanent arrangements for them to be removed during the night hours at weekends.

In 2008 we will continue to concentrate on safety and also hope to put in place the patio and car park at Canon Park Recreation Field.

On behalf of the Town Council and the Town Hall staff I would like to wish all the residents and traders of Berkeley a very happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.