Many residents will be aware that there is an application from the city council for planning permission to remove the wall along Tuffley Park.

They want to replace the wall with a 1.8M hoop-top fence.

I understand that this project will be paid for mostly from the insurance money and topped up with money from the open spaces fund. I have asked to see any options appraisal that was carried out to ascertain the cost of maintaining and repairing the wall.

Last year part of the wall was damaged when it was hit by a car. The council have been dealing with insurers since then, and I have been checking in frequently to see what progress is being made.

The wall is cracked in many places and is unsafe in the opinion of many.

I consulted residents in my ward last year on an informal basis, in letters, emails and on social media, to ask for views, and the majority came down on the side of removal of the wall. This week after the application was made, I have again posted on social media to make residents aware.

There has been a good debate, and there is clearly a lot of passion on both sides of the argument. Whilst I have my personal view, I also am elected to listen to all concerns from residents. I suspect that this issue will come to planning committee for determination, in view of the range of comments that will be received.

Letters have been sent by the council to all the affected houses on the Moreland side of the road, opposite the wall, and I have now asked for that letter to be sent to the affected houses in Podsmead too.

I will also be continuing to consult and encourage residents to have their say, whatever their views. It will be a great help to me to have thoughts from local people on this subject. Please get in touch.

You can make comments on the application via https://glcstrplnng12.co.uk, searching for 21/00498/FUL (you will need to register if not already).

You can also contact Gloucester City Council via:

Email: heretohelp@gloucester.gov.uk

Post: Gloucester City Council, PO Box 3252, Gloucester, GL1 9FW

Phone: 01452 396 396

This week I have had a flurry of emails from the county council, advising me of repair works that will be carried out as a result of reports I have made.

These include patches in Byron Avenue, Newark Road and Shakespeare Avenue – all streets I have been campaigning on to get the pavements sorted.

Unfortunately Highways disagree with my assessment that the cul-de-sac at Milton Avenue needs a resurface. They have issued a ‘no fault found’ verdict.

I will continue to monitor this road surface and the others in need of repair. If you believe your road needs attention please get in touch.

Some great info just released from Gloucestershire NHS:

✅ All 38 and 39 year olds are getting a text inviting them to book their first jab online (if you don’t hear, your GP will be in touch)

✅ Most 40-49 year olds have now had their first jab

✅ An incredible 550,000 people in our county have had a covid vaccination (including 200,000 2nd doses).

Thanks again to the NHS for an amazing job done!

Artists of all ages are being asked to take part in a national arts and crafts competition to help raise awareness of the UK’s diminishing floodplain meadows.

The OU and the Floodplain Meadows Partnership have launched the competition encouraging people to visit a local floodplain and create a piece of art that represents the importance and beauty of these natural habitats.

Please see the website for more information.

I have been informed by the county council that the road defects I reported on Scott Avenue have been repaired.

I still believe that Scott Avenue requires a full resurface.

I will keep pressing to get improvements to Podsmead’s roads and pavements.

If you know of any potholes or road defects in Podsmead do let me know.

I have urged the council to remove the graffiti from this green utility box in Podsmead.

I will update residents when it has been removed.

If you spot any more graffiti in Podsmead please let me know.

I have called for this fallen-down fence in Mansell Close to be repaired.

I am finding out who owns it from the council and will then contact the relevant agency.

If you know of any issues that need action please let me know.

Tory county council bosses are planning on cutting £20m from the budget to fix Gloucestershire’s roads.

The Tories have been in charge at Shire Hall for 16 years and there is an £80million backlog in road and pavement repairs.

But now they are planning to spend even less money on the roads – just at the time when it is desperately needed.

• In 2016 the Conservatives pledged to spend £150m over five years = £30m a year on the roads
• In 2021 the Conservatives are pledging to spend £100m over five years = £25m a year on the roads

This equals £5m a year less on the Gloucestershire’s roads or £20m over the next four years.

Make sure you back your Lib Dem county council candidate on May 6th, to get a better deal for the roads in your area.

I have campaigned successfully for the installation of street signs at Earls Park, the new development off Tuffley Crescent/Bristol Road.

One area that seemed to be missed off when the developers installed signs was at the higher number end of Neven Place, where enterprising residents have taken matters into their own hands and made a makeshift sign!

I think the residents deserve a proper sign, especially in our current circumstances where delivery services are more frequently used.

I wrote to Matthew Homes about this and several other issues and am going to keep pressing on these matters.

If you live in Earls Park and have an issue you would like me to raise with the developer, please let me know.

Any snagging issues with individual properties should be emailed to the developer at the aftersales address, which I am happy to supply for any residents who don’t have it.

I am grateful to Gloucester City Homes staff for carrying out the repainting of the gas boxes in Halford House at my request.

In recent days and weeks I have also reported issues with staircases, incorrect signage, refuse and bin stores at other GCH properties in Podsmead and many have already been fixed.

If you spot an issue that needs fixing in Podsmead please let me know.