Cheltenham Taxi Drivers on High Alert!

Hotels, restaurants and taxi drivers in Cheltenham are anticipating a bumper weekend as hundreds of Tories head to the town.

The Conservative Party’s Spring Forum gets under way tomorrow and the town’s hotels are already filling up in advance of the big event.

The forum is taking place at The Centaur conference building at Cheltenham racecourse and is expected to give a £1 million lift to the town’s economy.

Many hotels in the centre are full, with 2,000 people descending on the town for the party’s biggest event outside its annual conference.

Delegates will hear speeches from Conservative leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson will also host a convention dinner tomorrow night.

Mr Cameron, who will deliver his speech on Sunday, is expected to heavily criticise Chancellor Alistair Darling’s Budget and again call for a General Election.

Mark Coote, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Cheltenham, said: “This is a big coup for Cheltenham. We are already known as a festival town, this can help get us on the map as a conference venue.

“Many of the hotels in the town are full, which will deliver an extra boost to the hospitality industry.

“On a political level it will be fantastic to see the national news agenda being dictated from Cheltenham.”

Mr Coote said that the cost of policing the event was being picked up by the Tory Party, meaning there would be no cost to taxpayers for policing the event.

Sue Adie, from Cheltenham Tourism, said: “Politics aside, it is great news for the town to have so many visitors over a weekend. The hotels are bustling.”

Martin Quantock, town centre manager, said: “This forum is a big boost to the town and is great for all different types of businesses.”

Nick Fisher, vice-chairman of the Cheltenham Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association, said: “With so many visitors to the town we are very hopeful that we will see an increase in trade over the course of the weekend .”

Other top Tories expected to attend the event include former party leader William Hague and former Chancellor Ken Clarke.

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