Milton Avenue update April 2022

I am pleased to see at long last that the fly-tipping at Milton Avenue has been removed. Part of the issue seemed to be that despite giving detailed directions, the collection team couldn’t locate it. In the end PCSO Sexton and I submitted a map to them and now it has gone.

In other news, Milton Avenue play area is open and being enjoyed by local children. One piece of equipment was broken recently and we got that reported for repair – thanks to Les and Lisa Jevins for alerting me to this.

I had a note from council officers regarding the pond:

‘The work for the pond was put out to tender to three competent and approved contractors, but unfortunately no bids were submitted.

It has been decided that, from an ecological perspective, we should now wait until October before disturbing the pond. We will therefore include these works in a broader tender package going out in the next few months.

We also intend to include some additional tree and shrub planting along the linear strip to break it up a bit.

It’s a shame we could not crack on with the pond works, but it is important we do it right.’

It was also noted that sewage is entering the pond, and this is something that has been observed before. I have written to Severn Trent and they have replied, and we are looking at holding a multi-agency site meeting to try to resolve this problem once and for all.

If you have any questions about the Milton Avenue area please let me know.

Free fraud safety webinar

The Regional Fraud PROTECT Advisor – Mr Ash Jones – will be conducting a free one-hour fraud safety webinar on TUESDAY 26 APRIL at 2:00PM. Ash will brief you on the most common frauds affecting the UK today, and will offer advice and resources to help prevent you from becoming the fraudsters’ next victim.

For more details and to book your FREE place on the webinar: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/215697405747

Liberal Democrats would roll out more artworks in the city

I think the artworks on BT and electrical boxes in the city centre are imaginative and fun.

They were done as part of a project by Gloucester BID, with joint funding from the BID and the government Welcome Back fund, administered by the council. Tired street furniture was painted with a base coat and then artists did their work on them.

The artworks encourage people to look for them, and to learn a little about the historical figures portrayed or the nature depicted.

The Liberal Democrats proposed a motion at full council this week looking at ways to expand this scheme in the future, maybe doing more boxes in the city centre, or taking it out further into other parts of the city.

The scheme would have been cost neutral, as it would have involved applying for suitable funding or encouraging local communities and businesses to get involved.

Sadly the Conservative administration chose to amend the motion to the point where it only proposed promoting the existing artworks, and no further work.

It’s disappointing that there isn’t more vision for imaginative public art in the city. Other towns and cities do it very well and it draws people in.

After all – it’s only paint – it can always be painted over later.

Keeping up to date with the council tax energy rebate

Council tax letters have been sent out to all households in Gloucester. They included information about the £150 council tax rebate, towards energy costs.

The council will automatically distribute the rebate to anyone paying their council tax (band A-D and some band E households) by direct debit. If you don’t currently pay by DD, this would be an ideal opportunity to take it up. The council will make its best endeavours to pay the rebate to all other households.

Below is a recent statement from a council officer:

We are keeping our website up to date with details about the energy rebate scheme. Once we have more information to share about the administration of the scheme, we will ensure the website is updated, along with the council’s social media platforms.

Council Tax Energy Rebate – Gloucester City Council