“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” So said Winston Churchill. How right he was. For all its imperfections, democracy is the only show in town. And Cheltenham is going to the polls this week. “What, again?” I hear you cry. It’s true that local elections take place with numbing regularity. I’ve always thought it was a bit daft. It would be far more of a democratic occasion to have the whole borough council up for election on the same date. It would also save a small fortune in administration which could be ploughed back into local services. Be that as it may. Let’s shake off election fatigue, however understandable, and participate in an election that is vital for our town. Because whoever prevails, one thing is clear – Cheltenham is at a crossroads. After a lost decade, during which our competitors forged ahead, there is now an opportunity to turn things around. There are signs for optimism. The decision of John Lewis to come to Cheltenham was a fantastic coup for the town. So too was George Osborne’s decision (after a vast amount of lobbying I might add!) to make Cheltenham one of just two national Cyber Innovation Centres. Both will bring jobs and opportunity to Cheltenham. But they must not be the end. They must be just the beginning. They must be the green shoots of a better future for our town – a future where opportunities for our young people percolate throughout Cheltenham, from the affluent areas to the most deprived, creating jobs and changing lives. We want a town that boosts life chances and offers true social mobility. So, to forge ahead I believe we need a parking system that is cheaper for local residents and doesn’t put off visitors. We need a strategy to tackle eyesores like graffiti which fail to do justice to Cheltenham’s architectural magnificence. We need a tourism strategy which believes in our town and takes the fight to competitors like Bath. And we need a cycling strategy that promotes green travel and boosts air quality. It’s all achievable. I passionately believe that Cheltenham has a fantastic future. We have extraordinary natural assets in our people and our environment. But it won’t fall into our lap. Achieving our potential will require vision, energy, courage and ambition. There is a great deal at stake.