City council update on Tier 3 restrictions

GLOUCESTER MOVES INTO COVID TIER 3 – VERY HIGH ALERT

The Government announced yesterday that Gloucestershire would move into Covid Tier 3 (Very High Alert). Tier 3 rules will start at one minute past midnight on 26 December 2020.

WORKING FROM HOME – the rules on working from home remain unchanged.  Anyone who can work from home should continue to work from home.

CULTURAL VENUES – Indoor cultural venues and indoor places of entertainment will be closed.  The Guildhall, Blackfriars and the Museum of Gloucester will remain closed after the Christmas break until further notice

EVENTS – Outdoor venues and events can remain open (e.g. funfairs) Large events will be cancelled.

CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM –  The Cemetery and Crematorium at Coney Hill will remain open.  Socially distanced funerals attended by up to 30 people will continue but associated wakes and receptions at the Arbor will be limited to no more than 15 people.  The Mulberry Tea Room will be closed except for a takeway service and the Crematorium office will be open for appointments only.

GL1 LEISURE CENTRE – the leisure centre will remain open for individual exercise but group activities indoors will not take place after the Christmas break. Check the Aspire website for further details https://aspiretrust.org.uk/centres/opening-times

RETAIL – Shops, including non-essential shops, can remain open.  The Indoor Market and Friday Farmers Markets will remain open and operational.

SHOPMOBILITY The Gloucester Shopmobility Service will remain open.  

PERSONAL CARE (and close contact services)  – Hairdressers, barbers, nail/beauty salons, spas etc can remain open.

HOSPITALITY BUSINESES – Bars, pubs, nightclubs, cafes, restaurants and social clubs must close except for takeaway, delivery and click & collect services.  Hotels, B&Bs, campsites, holiday lets and guest houses must close except where accommodation is needed in a very restricted range of circumstances.

COMMUNITY CENTRES AND LIBRARIES – can remain open but indoor group activities should not take place.

HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING & WASTE CENTRES, CAR PARKS AND PUBLIC TOILETS  – can remain open and the City Council’s car parks and public toilets will remain open.

PARKS AND OPEN SPACES – Will remain open

GRANTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT – The change in tiers will trigger changes to the level of grants and other financial support available – work is underway to put these changes in place.

Full details of the Tier 3 Guidance is available here FULL guidance/tier-3-very-high-alert

Free WEA activities on Christmas Day

WEA staff are providing FREE online activities on Christmas Day for everyone. Our short activities run throughout the day and provide fun and a chance to chat. So whether you are feeling lonely, or are just needing a moment away from the busy family, the WEA will be here for you this Christmas.

Activities take place on Zoom, meaning you can engage in a safe space with friendly faces from the comfort of your own home.

Click on the button at any point during Christmas Day to join:

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09:00-10:00 – Christmas (virtual) Walk in Dorset/Sussex

10:30-11.30 – Christmas carols – join in with some of your favourite Christmas carols

11.30-12:30 – Christmas Games – participate in a variety of fun games

13:00-14:00 – Christmas cooking through the ages – a discussion

14:30-15:30 – The Queen’s Speech – watch and discuss with a drink and mince pie

16:00-17:00 – Funny poems – share your funny poems or listen to others

17:30-18:30 – Festive Crafts – learn how to make a festive wreath

19:00-20:00 – Christmas quiz – participate in a fun festive quiz

20:30-21:30 – Christmas songs sing-a-long and guess– join in to some of your favourite Christmas tunes
 

https://the-wea.zoom.us/j/98837998348?pwd=dFNRWWduWTVPZW1ydldCd2JrWFlvUT09
Meeting ID: 988 3799 8348
Passcode: 248931

Flooding on Podsmead Road

There is flooding on the corner of Podsmead Road and Tuffley Avenue.

It has been reported to Highways and I will continue to monitor the situation.

If you know of any flooding issues or blocked drains please let me know.

Below is the advice from Highways for emergency matters:

‘If your enquiry is an emergency highways matter and needs immediate attention, please call our emergency line 08000 514514.’

Scott Avenue grass

There has been some damage done to the grass in various parts of Scott Avenue open space. I met on-site with the council officer responsible and looked at solutions.

At the Shakespeare Avenue end, there has been some work carried out recently and there has been some soil put on top of the grass. This is being looked into.

Outside Podsmead Hub there has been some damage caused by cars parking/driving on the grass.

The council are looking the possibility of putting some bollards on the field to prevent this. At it is city council land they can do this, but we would need to be careful not to interfere with utility connections. The officer is also investigating this and will get back to me.

Damage to grass verge on Tuffley Avenue

There has been some damage done to the grass verge on Tuffley Avenue. Cars have been churning up the grass in front of the wall along Tuffley Park.

I would like to see some bollards installed to prevent further damage and help the grass recover. The county council own the land and so a request was made to them.

Unfortunately Highways have not agreed to this request (it is generally their policy not to install bollards to prevent parking/driving on grass).

This is a shame because residents are worried about the grass being damaged.

Long-term, there is an aspiration to do something more imaginative with the wall at this location. In the meantime I would discourage people from parking on this grass and damaging it.

Poplar trees by the red bridge

I was in touch with the city council’s tree officer over the summer over the safety issue at Cole Avenue during the storms, and also over the overhanging trees on the red bridge which were cut back on my request a couple of months back – see my story here.

I am informed that work will be carried out to two poplar trees at the back of the bungalows on the other side of the bridge this week. In general, only urgent/safety works are being carried out to trees in Gloucester, due to budgetary concerns. A Lib Dem council would look to allocate more money to tree works.