Stroud Street’s heat discourages walking and outdoor activity. Residents strongly support more tree canopy, including larger shade trees for continuous street and roadway coverage. Priorities include filling gaps in street planting, replacing grassed verges with native, water-wise plants, adding rain/verge gardens, and improving watering and maintenance. Recent rail corridor planting was positively noted.

Traffic speed and driver behaviour were key concerns. Residents reported frequent speeding, especially on Stroud Street South posing risks to children, families, and pedestrians. The 40 km/h limit is often ignored, with some confusion about limits overall. Views on calming measures varied, but there was strong support for improving intersection visibility through extended yellow lines and better parking management near corners.

Footpaths, especially on Stroud Street North, were widely seen as poor, with uneven surfaces and trip hazards. Residents support upgrades using consistent paving while retaining verge widths. Key accessibility issues include missing kerb ramps, unsafe rail crossings, and difficulty for wheelchairs, prams, and mobility aids. There is strong support to improve safety and access without widening roads or reducing green space.

Residents want safer, more pedestrian crossings: a mid-block crossing on Stroud St North, one near the café on Stroud St South, upgrades at Port Rd/Old Port Rd, and safer crossings near the railway. They also requested seating near the café. Some feel the north and south are divided, highlighting the need for better walking and cycling links to improve community connection.

Parking feedback was mixed: some cited insufficient space for the community centre and train station, while others raised concerns about long‑term parking, noise, and proximity to intersections. Key themes included support for retaining Stroud St parking, improved management near corners, impacts from nearby businesses and Port Rd growth, and space for caravans, trailers, and boats.

Safety and amenity at the Cheltenham Train Station were raised, including:

• Poor lighting and lack of shelter
• Desire for improved security and surveillance
• Accessibility challenges when crossing the railway tracks
• The rail corridor planting was viewed very positively, with residents acknowledging the benefits of council maintenance

Residents felt local social amenity is limited, though the café was a valued addition. There was strong interest in attracting small local businesses (especially corner shops), creating green spaces for families and dogs, expanding community gardens and shaded play areas, and upgrading the community hall. Residents also supported celebrating local history through streetscape features like painted stobie poles and interpretive elements.

Residents want improvements to enhance Stroud Street’s visual appeal while respecting its heritage. Suggestions included painted stobie poles reflecting local history, adding street name signage to poles, and reducing visual clutter (e.g. overhead powerlines). Concerns were also raised about weed spraying practices and ongoing maintenance costs of materials.

Some participants clearly expressed a preference for minimal intervention, focusing on repairing footpaths and maintaining current street widths and parking.

Questions were raised about:

• The overall project budget
• Long-term maintenance and operational costs
• Avoiding unnecessary expenditure