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.

I am pleased that Gloucester City Homes acted quickly to repair the broken bollard outside 49 Shakespeare Avenue.

If you know of any more broken bollards in our area please let me know.

I have reported this pothole to Highways for their attention.

If you know of any more potholes or defects in Podsmead please let me know.

I have contacted CityFibre with regard to them servicing the Earls Park development.

I received this message which I have permission to share with residents:

‘I’m optimistic that Earl’s Park can be serviced. I know we are already cabling part of it, some sections are yet to be planned on our designs, and we’re looking into the process of getting the remainder designed with use of existing infrastructure (OpenReach ducts, chambers, poles etc.).’

One issue that may arise will be the wayleaves for the placement of cabinets.

Therefore I would encourage residents of Earls Park to contact the developers Matthew Homes to encourage them to engage with CityFibre on this.

I have asked the council to remove this graffiti and will report back when it has been done.

If you know of any more graffiti in our area please let me know.

I reported this dangerous open manhole cover over a week ago, providing the council with as much detail as I could see so that they could identify the utility company who owns it.

I have been informed that my reports are with the safety inspector and that this is being attended to.

In the meantime I would ask that members of the public do not attempt to move this cover as it is a job for the professionals.

If you know of any safety hazards around Podsmead please let me know.

I called for the knocked over streetlight on Byron/Scott Avenue to be replaced after I saw it damaged and reported it to the council.

The team attended promptly and it has been reinstated.

If you know of any other damaged or missing streetlights please let me know.

I reported this overflowing bin and the litter round it earlier this week as a matter of urgency.

One problem with the current litter clearance regime in Gloucester is that councillors and members of the public do not get always get acknowledgments of our reports in a timely way.

A resident has just complained to me in an email about the fact that they’ve only just had an acknowledgment of a report of litter from last week.

The council and their streetcare partner Urbaser need to be faster on clearing litter, and in letting residents and councillors know it’s been done.

Liberal Democrats called for an enhanced, reactive service at the last full council meeting, but this suggestion was unfortunately rejected by the Conservatives.