I was pleased to hear this week that, after contact from residents and at my urging, the council are going to fill some of the defects on Podsmead Place. Unfortunately they do not believe that the potholes at nearby Laburnum Road are big enough to merit action. I disagree and will continue to press for better roads and pavements in Podsmead.
Gloucester has once again taken home the coveted Purple Flag National safety award.
The accolade which celebrates places that provide a diverse, safe and welcoming night out has been awarded to the city for the fifth year in a row.
Like the Blue Flag for beaches or the Green Flag for parks, the award follows a rigorous accreditation process.
The purple flag is awarded to cities or towns that show that they have a safe and welcoming night-time economy, based on the following criteria:
• Wellbeing: successful destinations are all safe and welcoming with all everyone playing their part in delivering high standards of customer care.
• Movement: getting home safely after an evening out is really important, as is the ability to move around the centre with ease.
• Appeal: successful destinations offer a vibrant choice of leisure and entertainment for a diversity of ages, groups, lifestyles and cultures.
• Place: successful areas are alive during the day, as well as in the evening. They contain a blend of overlapping activities that encourage people to mingle and enjoy the place.
The prestigious award is also held by neighbouring Cheltenham and Bristol.
City council officers, the police, City Safe, Ubico, Gloucester LVA and the Gloucester BID all contributed to Gloucester’s application.
You can find out more about purple flag status here.
There are lots of exciting things coming up at Robinswood Hill!
The WEA are organising information sessions online for Ukrainian Refugees about English courses and other qualifications they can gain with the WEA in the South West. All Ukrainian adults and their family members supported through the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme are immediately eligible to join our courses.
The sessions will be delivered in both English and Russian and are free.
Wiltshire and Gloucester
Time: May 23, 2022 02:00 PM London
Meeting ID: 994 8938 3711
Passcode: 184179
Residents are being asked for their feedback on Gloucester’s City Plan, the blueprint for development in the city.
The document, which went before a Planning Inspector in June last year is due to be altered following herfeedback and modifications.
The City Plan aims to ensure that new developments are high quality, provide community infrastructure and open spaces and take into account the city’s commitment to addressing climate change and protecting the environment.
In addition, it will set out where land can be developed to grow the local economy and provide new homes that meet the needs of our communities.
Key issues the Planning Inspector examined included flood risk and water management, sustainable transport, allocations for development, as well as the provision of affordable housing and community infrastructure.
Residents are invited to make their comments on the changes proposed by the Inspector in a consultation that will run from Monday 16 May until Monday 4 July.
To take part in the consultation, please visit https://gloucester.inconsult.uk/MainMods.
Further information about Gloucester’s City Plan is available on the council’s website at www.gloucester.gov.uk/planning-development/planning-policy/gloucester-city-plan-examination-library/
Copies of the main documents are available to view at the council’s offices. Please telephone 01452-396396to book your appointment. You can also view the documents without an appointment at all of the libraries across the city.
Plans are well underway in Gloucester to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee year with almost 4,500 trees joining the Queen’s canopy and the ancient tradition of sending a congratulatory pie to the palace set to return.
A new woodland at Horsbere Brook boasting 3,687 trees dedicated to Her Majesty’s celebratory year has now been planted by the Friends of Horsbere Brook, local volunteers and officers from Gloucester City Council.
The trees will help increase biodiversity and aid flood alleviation and are part of the Queen’s Green Canopy planting initiative set up for the Platinum Jubilee, that encourages everyone from individuals to villages, cities and schools to plant trees during the Jubilee year.
Funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Environment Agency along with donations by local volunteers, the trees are a mixture of native species, chosen for both being attractive to wildlife and being able to cope with local conditions.
They join another 750 donated by The Woodland Trust planted nearby in 2021, in what is known as Cliffs Wood dedicated to the memory of Clifford Griffith, a key member of the Friends of Horsbere. The wood will also be dedicated to the Queen’s Green Canopy project.
Also marking the celebration of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, will be the return of the tradition of Gloucester sending a pie to the palace, which dates back to the Middle Ages.
The council has teamed up with chefs at the city’s Farmer’s Boy pub to come up with a dish fit for a queen based on the traditional Gloucester Pie, usually made with pork or lamb.
It will update the tradition of sending a Lamprey Pie as lampreys are an endangered species.
The pie will be presented to Edward Gillespie OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire by the Mayor of Gloucester at Llanthony Priory on May 30.
And Gloucester will join other towns and cities around the UK by lighting a beacon on June 2. It will be lit on Robinswood Hill and the event will be accompanied by a piper and bugler from the Cadets with an official proclamation being given by Town Crier, Alan Myatt at Gloucester Cross at 2pm.
While over the Jubilee weekend, June 3-5, the city will be abuzz with activity as Gloucester Docks plays host to the Tall Ships Festival held alongside a Sea Shanty festival that will see performers taking to the streets, which will be decorated for the occasion.
There will be a taster day for para-athletics at the Blackbridge Athletics track on Sunday May 29th, from 12-4pm. All are welcome to come along and try out the different types of sporting activities. The event is sponsored by CP Sport.
For many years now, the Podsmead community have been campaigning for a pharmacy in Podsmead. The ward clearly has a need for one, as it comes high in league tables of areas with deprivation, and the percentage of residents without a car or transport is above the national average.
In surveys, Podsmead has emerged as one of only two areas in the county with high needs but no local pharmacy.
Although it is one of the things that residents regularly mention in surveys and in the doorstep, health bosses have up till now denied that there is any special need for a Podsmead pharmacy.
There is renewed hope though, now that a draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment is going out for consultation:
‘The Gloucestershire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022-2025 is now open for consultation and is live until 3rd July 2022.
The Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Board is responsible for producing the local PNA. The PNA is a statutory document which describes pharmacy provision in Gloucestershire and identifies any gaps in provision of services.
The consultation is now open until 5pm on 3rd July 2022. The consultation survey, with a link to the draft PNA and accompanying maps, is available here for your review and comments.’
I will be filling in the survey as the local councillor and arguing strongly for a pharmacy for Podsmead. I would urge residents to take the survey and make comments before July 3rd.
I have made Highways aware of the cracked pavement at Byron Avenue. If you know of any more problems with pavements or roads in our area please let me know.
There will be a Jubilee Fun Day at Podsmead Community Association (The Ramblers) on Friday 3rd June, 12-4pm. There will be lots of activities and all are welcome.