Following the previous update, National Grid and its main contractor VHE are progressing well with work onsite on Bristol Road to remove materials associated with its former use as a gasworks.

As a reminder, in May/June 2021, National Grid undertook some initial routine site investigation works to assess the ground conditions. The findings from these works informed the planning application which Gloucester City Council approved earlier this year. This means that the unused land can be brought back into beneficial use.

At this stage in the remediation work, most of the materials associated with the site’s former use as a gasworks have been removed. This stage is expected to be completed over the next couple of weeks. The team will then reinstate the site to the original ground level. This is done by breaking up the hard materials onsite already to form compacted stone at an even level across the site. The photograph shows the concrete crusher onsite as this work starts. 

The works started at the end of June and are now due for completion in October/November 2022.

The friends of Tuffley Park group on Facebook has been revived and some local projects are being planned.

This is what local resident Sarah put on the page:

Hi folks, I’m looking to kick start this group again! ? I’m a local resident and keen supporter of Tuffley Park looking to inject some community spirit, funding and events into the area. I’ll be working with our local councillors and businesses on improvement ideas such as:
?bench installations,
?flower beds / trees / insect hotels,
?accessible features,
?‍♀️gym equipment,
?‍?‍?‍?community litter pick days,
?summer/autumn community fates,
?‍♂️park improvements,
?general welfare and improvement of our facilities using government funding.
?…and importantly… push forward local suggestions!! (Please post and suggest!!)

Please keep an eye out for updates and share with locals in the area ? Feel free to share local notices and events.

I want this page to be a place of positivity and community spirit, preserving and improving our local green space which is loved by many?

Have a lovely day!

Sarah

I am all for this and will be supporting the group as much as possible. We have already been speaking to other community partners about how we can work together.

If you would like to join the group on Facebook just search ‘Friends of Tuffley Park’.

After contact from a resident a few weeks ago I reported the overhanging tree at the Byron Avenue end of Scott Avenue to the council. A branch was overhanging the pavement and some other boughs looked loose.

Since then some of the material has come down and been cleared away but I have asked for the tree to be inspected to ensure it is safe. I understand that the council have appointed or are about to appoint a new tree officer. There are lots of tree maintenance and planting issues in Podsmead that I would like them to take a look at.

If you know of any tree issues in our area please let me know.

The Right Worshipful Mayor of Gloucester, Cllr Howard Hyman, and leader of the city council, Richard Cook, have today expressed great sadness following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty The Queen:

“On behalf of all councillors and staff of Gloucester City Council, and all the residents of the City of Gloucester, we would like to express how very sad we all are at the news of Her Majesty The Queen’s death. We send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family.

“Gloucester’s connection to the Royal Family is very special and historic, and Her Majesty visited the city a number of times during her reign. On each occasion her warmth toward the people of Gloucester, and vice versa, was clear and wholly felt.

“Her Majesty’s commitment to her role and to the people of the Commonwealth will be unrivalled in our lifetime.  She was a tremendous ambassador for Britain and an example to everyone. 

“We know people in Gloucester will want to pay their respects to a sovereign who has left an indelible mark on the fabric of our country. A book of condolence will be opened at the Museum of Gloucester, Brunswick Road and will be available through our website. For those unable to attend the Museum, a link to an e-book of condolence will be available on our website.

“As a mark of respect for Her Majesty the Queen, flags on all city council buildings are being flown at half mast.”

Details of the books of condolence and location for floral tributes can be found on the city council’s website www.gloucester.gov.uk. 

We are currently reviewing planned formal council meetings and other corporate events scheduled during the official period of mourning.

Due to road closures bin collections on Friday will start at 5am. Please put out bins due to be collected, on Thursday evening to avoid missed collections.

The closures are to allow the Tour of Britain cycle race to take place. More information about the event and road closures are available here.

A couple of years ago the phone box on Podsmead Road was earmarked for removal. There were no objections that I was aware of and the police were quite keen for it be taken away, because it was often used for nuisance 999 calls, which by law they have to waste time and resources attending.

I wrote to BT and they told me that the box would be removed. Clearly, it is still there, although recently it was smashed up and the glass has still not been replaced.

Generally, in an emergency people have either got a mobile phone or could get to a nearby house with a phone. The usage figures on this, and to be honest most, call boxes were very low.

I will be contacting BT again and asking what the latest is. Either it needs to be removed, to prevent any more vandalism, or we keep it for its current purpose. Or we could turn it into something like a community library. Do let me know your views!

I was pleased to see the broken fence rail on Byron Avenue, which I had reported to Gloucester City Homes, has been fixed. My thanks to GCH for getting this work done.

Did you know that the city council will supply you with bags, pickers and other equipment if you want to volunteer as a litter picker or set up a litter picking group in your community?

Information about how to sign up and get equipment, training and safety briefings is on the city council website here.

The council’s register to vote service is available again following the cyber incident in December last year and all waiting applications have already been dealt with. The city’s postal voters are now being asked to reapply to ensure that they can continue to vote by post. 

Following the cyber incident the electoral register has been recovered, but the council has not been able to recover postal vote applications that were previously submitted by voters. 

The council is now writing to every postal voter asking them to fill in an application form included with the letter and return it in the pre-paid envelope. Any queries should be sent to elections@gloucester.gov.uk.

Since the cyber incident the majority of the council’s services that were affected have been restored including the ‘Report It’ service that allows issues to be reported like fly-tipping or overgrown vegetation.

The Local Land Charge system that is used to carry out searches for prospective homeowners was restored in June.  

Jon McGinty, Returning Officer for Gloucester City Council, said: “We apologise for the inconvenience to voters but we would urge them not to delay in returning their new postal vote application form so that we can make sure they can continue to vote by post at future elections.”

Gloucester City Council has announced a bid for £12.5 million of Levelling Up Funding for an ambitious new scheme to transform the area around the Eastgate Shopping Centre into a vibrant new garden quarter.

The plans for the Greyfriars Quarter will see part of the shopping centre including the market hall refurbished ​and repurposed and spaces constructed for community activities, a new market and foodhall, as well as a park and gardens, all set within the grounds of the 13th century Greyfriars monastery.

If successful, the bid would enable the market hall to be ​relocated to another part of the Eastgate Shopping centre, with a contemporary new design that would see it open up onto a landscaped courtyard garden

The current market hall would be revamped to house a multi-purpose performance space for dance, music, fitness, cinema, community and leisure events.

It would be linked to a unique covered outdoor space with an orangery and outdoor dining area within the remains of the beautiful Greyfriars Monastery.

The plan also includes a proposal to create serviced apartments, providing a unique place to stay and the creation of flexible workspaces within the refurbished 18th century house adjacent to the friary. 

The exciting new scheme would also see the construction of a new urban park, outdoor gym, play area and cycle hub.

The bid follows the council’s previous successful bid to the Government’s Levelling Up fund last year, which saw it successfully granted £20 million. 

It will enable the redevelopment of the University of Gloucestershire City Centre Campus in the former Debenhams, the renovation of the Fleece Hotel and creation of The Forge, a digital hub aimed at the cyber and knowledge economy as part of the £107 Forum development. 

The bid is also in addition to the £1.5m UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation to the city, which will be primarily used to support communities and place around the wider city area.