I’ve reported this pothole on Masefield Avenue to Highways for filling.

Thanks to the resident who reminded me about this one.

After residents alerted me to the problem, I asked the council to remove the weeds in the alleyway between Thornhill Close and Podsmead Road.

I’ve also asked for the weed removal schedule for Podsmead.

The council are making moves to use a mechanical removal method in future. I believe that they still spray weeds, so I and other councillors are encouraging them to move away from this method.

It’s taken a long time and a lot of reminding, but I’m delighted to see the old, rusty dog waste bin at Milton Avenue has been replaced with this shiny new one.

It is the newer type dual-use bin which you can use for both litter and dog waste (bagged up of course).

If you know of any more bins in our area that are damaged or need replacing, please let me know.

I continue to press Matthew Homes to bring the play parks on Earls Park, Podsmead up to adoptable standard.

This means so they are of a standard where the city council can adopt the parks, and take on the maintenance, emptying of bins etc. Until this happens, responsibility will rest with the developer. It’s therefore in the interest of Matthew Homes to get the site up to standard sooner, and I have urged them to do this.

I have also asked several questions on this issue at full council, including the most recent meeting.

Since then I’ve made contact with the city council’s new Section 106 officer, and we will be meeting soon to try to progress sites like this in Podsmead.

There are ‘Rikashake’ sessions going on in Podsmead on Monday 14th and 21st August.
This is a healthy and fun way to try some fitness activity. See the poster for more information.

I regularly take the bus into Gloucester and back home, and I was confused to hear the announcement on the number 10 ‘the next stop is Podsmead Avenue South’. There is no such road in Podsmead, of course, only Tuffley Avenue and Podsmead Road, which intersect and where the bus stop Stagecoach are referring to is located.

I don’t use Twitter very much but I thought I would tweet Stagecoach and ask for it to be changed. They responded that ‘the bus stop is correct’. Another Twitter user has pointed out that this is what the stop has been named by Stagecoach, but in my view it’s incorrect.

What do my readers think?

There will be highway safety works taking place on Tuffley Avenue, between 7th to 11th August, to allow for safety improvements to signing and lining.

Diversions will be in place and there will be no through traffic.

Details of the scheme can be found here.

Prior to this there will be safety works taking place from Tuffley Avenue junction to Bristol Road, between 31st July to 4th August, to allow for improvements to signing and lining.

Again, diversions will be in place and there will be no through traffic.

Please let me know if you have any questions about either of the works, via email to Sebastian.Field@Gloucester.gov.uk.

The traffic lights on the Tuffley Avenue/Podsmead Avenue junction have been partially obscured by vegetation.

I have written to Highways to ask for it to be cut back. Many thanks to the resident who reported it to me.

There are some great events for the family at the One Church, Podsmead, over the summer. All the events are free. The church meets at The Ramblers on Milton Avenue. I am pleased to support these events from the Podsmead ward councillor fund.

I met with the city council parks and open spaces manager recently in Tuffley Park, to look at various issues in the vicinity.

🔐 We checked out the gate the travellers got in. An extra padlock has been installed but bollards are not the answer here as travellers can just remove them. This council focuses on speed of eviction. More on this soon.

🛝 the swing has been replaced in the park

🌳 there are some dead trees which the council are aware of

🪵 the benches are looking good (thanks Friends of Tuffley Park 🌳)

🌺 the wildflowers are starting to go over now but have looked great

🌱 the grass verges have been strimmed