I recently received the following email from the environment and flood officer at Gloucester City Council:

‘I am writing to you to provide a quick update on the on-going City wide European Union funded Urban Greening works that are planned for your area. Gloucester City Council has secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to protect and enhance the environment. The project’s benefits include more diverse natural habitats, improved connectivity between green open spaces that boost our wellbeing and wildlife as well as flood management.

Part of the funding has been designated to create wildflower meadows across the city.  In order to establish these meadows, the existing grass must be treated and prepared to accept the special seed mix.

In anticipation of meeting the timings for sowing this autumn, during September our Contractors will carry out ground preparation to several areas within the public open spaces at Tuffley Park and Milton Avenue.  The purpose is to create open structure in the existing grass sward that will allow the wildlife seed to make contact with the soil and germinate. The process will help reduce competition from common grasses and weeds during the establishment of the meadow.

Preparation of the areas is to be done by herbicidal (Glyphosate) treatment and rotavating which will cause the area to look very bare until the seed is established.  The proposals include for bulbs and a number of new trees to be planted.   

During this time and given the potential for seasonal weather the bare earth may become unsightly and muddy under the normal wetting and drying.  This is normal and will be made good during the works. 

 

Once the meadow has been seeded and established it will be managed on a cut and collect basis.  This involves cutting the meadows once in late summer and the arisings removed from the surface.  Paths and the wider amenity areas are anticipated to be cut on the regular mowing regime.

I’ve attached basic plans showing the proposed new areas. These are not 100% set in stone and may be adjusted during the works. ‘

*****

There may well be a need for volunteers so do please get in touch with me if you would like to help. It is exciting to see the potential for these areas.

There will be a Picnic in the Park this Saturday, from 12 till 4pm at Milton Avenue.

There will be live music, hot food and an art party for the kids. The event is free to attend including the food.

Podsmead Big Local are sponsoring the event and I have allocated some money towards it from my ward councillor budget.

There will also be a chance to give your views on the Podsmead Regeneration plans and the Milton Avenue play park proposals.

There is an athletics event taking place at the Blackbridge track this weekend.

The track is hosting ultra-distance races over 24 and 48 hours, events at which the Gloucester Athletic Club has a proud tradition, having produced world and British record holders!

The full programme can be viewed via the link below:

Program (flippingbook.com)

King Richard III of England was killed on 22nd August 1485. Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth, where Henry Tudor became King Henry VII. Allegiances and loyalties are still at issue even today!

In Gloucester we have a strong connection to King Richard. As Duke of Gloucester and then King of England, Richard was a friend to the City of Gloucester.

The Charter of Incorporation later in the year 1483 set out the way our Mayor was elected.

The picture above is an illumination of Richard’s coat of arms, from the Gloucester Charter. The photo below shows the arms and plaque on St Michael’s Tower in Gloucester city centre, put there to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Charter in 1983.

Like many in Gloucester, the Liberal Democrat group on Gloucester City Council are concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and what the city council are doing to support refugees.

Members of the council are shortly to receive a briefing on what action the city council is taking, and I will update residents as and when I can.

We stopped in on Thursday to drop off some donations of children’s books to Read with me, and to see the activities the children were doing.

Read with me have been at events in Gloucestershire all summer. In Podsmead they have been at The Club at Tuffley Park.

The Club are taking part in the family food packs, as are Podsmead Big Local who have activity days and food available on Scott Avenue. Check the various Facebook pages for full details. The initiatives are funded by the county council and it is great to see the work being done to keep families entertained and fed over the summer holidays. My thanks to everyone giving up their time for these worthwhile causes.

Following the success of last year’s first-ever Neighbourhood Watch Impact Report, we are delighted to share this year’s Impact Report for 2020/21.

This report builds on last year with data and case studies demonstrating the continued hard work and dedication, and impact of our 90,000 volunteers and 2.3 million household members.

The report demonstrates how we are achieving each of our three ambitions within our 5-year strategy, which we embarked upon last year, namely being:

• the authoritative voice on community-based crime prevention
• the most popular gateway for citizens to engage in their locality
• a recognised contributor to community health and wellbeing.

In addition to preventing crime and the fear of crime, we have made a significant impact in supporting communities, especially through the Covid-19 challenges. 

As many charities have experienced, we have adapted the way we work and learned new ways to improve our services to serve our communities better. Whilst the restrictions have been relaxed over the Summer, we know we are not yet through these difficult times, and our role within communities is still just as much in demand as it was at the start of the pandemic.

None of the work we do would have been possible without people like you who support the work we do and the values we stand for. We want to thank you for your ongoing, unwavering support.

Visit ourwatch.org.uk/impact to download the report.

Let’s stay connected!

Yours sincerely,

John Hayward-Cripps, CEO Neighbourhood Watch Network
Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn

After residents raised with me the new unofficial cut-through from Manu Marble Way to the Bristol Road side of Earls Park, I contacted site management who have today erected this temporary barrier.

Long-term we will need access for the houses nearest to this barrier (marked red), but with the middle blocked off (marked black).

Residents have also suggested signs saying ‘no through access’, and reminding drivers of the 20mph speed limit on the estate. This is especially important with the imminent (I hope!) opening of the play areas.

My thanks to Matthew Homes for their quick action on this. Please let me know any other issues in Earls Park or Podsmead.

Here’s a great tip to recycle rubber bands. Royal Mail will reuse any rubber bands posted into their postboxes. No address or postage is required.

I already recycle rubber bands for use in bundling up my leaflets and letters to Podsmead residents, but if you have spares that you want to recycle this is a great way to do it.

Having got the developers to block off the cut-through further up the road in Manu Marble Way, it’s disappointing to hear from residents that drivers are accessing the Bristol Road side of the Earls Park development from another cut-through further down Manu Marble Way, towards Neven Place end.

There is a dropped kerb (circled red) to allow access to the five properties nearest to it, but with the area circled black blocked off, to prevent it being used as a cut-through to the other side.

What we could do with is blocking off the area circled with a bollard or barrier. I have suggested this to management, and also a very sensible resident suggestion to reduce the chance of this happening in future: putting up a sign at the entrance to Manu Marble Way saying ‘cul de sac’ or ‘no cut-through’ or similar.

Lots of traffic goes down that way thinking that they can access the Bristol Road side of the development, but they can’t (or shouldn’t). I will feedback to residents when I hear more.