There has been good take-up from Podsmead residents of the council free trees.

Do send in your photos of them planted!

GLOUCESTER MOVES INTO COVID TIER 4 – STAY AT HOME

The Government announced today that Gloucestershire would move into Covid Tier 4 (Stay at Home). Tier 4 rules will apply from the beginning of 31 December 2021and will start at one minute past midnight tonight. Attached is a headline guide to the new rules.

WORKING FROM HOME – the rules on working from home remain largely unchanged but the emphasis is stronger that staff living in a Tier 4 area must not leave or be outside their home or garden unless they need to go to work because they cannot work from home.  Anyone who can work from home should work from home.

Other justifiable non-work-related reasons for leaving home include acting as a volunteer or job-seeking, essential local shopping and click & collect/takeaway, access to essential services, to fulfil legal obligations, sell or buy a house or vote, for education or training, childcare, under 18 sport and physical activity, to visit your support bubble, care for vulnerable people, provide emergency assistance and for respite care, exercise outdoors, for medical reasons and for communal worship, a funeral or wedding. 

HOUSING SERVICES – the current approach to working with individual homeless and street homeless households will continue unchanged.

CULTURAL VENUES – Were closed under Tier 3 guidance and will remain closed until further notice. 

EVENTS – Outdoor venues and events that were able to remain open under Tier 3 must close under Tier 4. 

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 no longer take place. The Mulberry Tea Room will be closed except for takeaways.

GL1 LEISURE CENTRE – Indoor Gyms and sports facilities will close under Tier 4.

RETAIL – Only essential retail establishments will remain open (including food shops, supermarkets, market stalls selling essential goods, banks and post offices, pharmacies, garden centres, filling stations, bicycle shops, vehicle repair, taxi and vehicle hire businesses and builders’ merchants).  The Indoor Market and Friday Farmers Markets will close but officers are working with stallholders selling essential items to continue to trade from other locations.   All other retail must close.

SHOPMOBILITY The Gloucester Shopmobility Service will remain open to support those needing access to essential shops and businesses. This will be kept under regular review.

PERSONAL CARE (and close contact services)  – Hairdressers, barbers, nail/beauty salons, spas etc will be required to close and these services cannot be provided in other people’s homes.

HOSPITALITY BUSINESES – Bars, pubs, nightclubs, cafes, restaurants and social clubs were closed under Tier 3 and must remain closed under Tier 4 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 – Community Centres must close except for a very restricted range of activities.  Libraries may open to provide access to IT and digital services or for click and collect only.

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.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT – is available to individuals and businesses affected by the Tier 4 restrictions and work is underway to clarify and provide access to this support. Further details are available in the full guidance (see below). The City Council’s information on financial support is being updated following today’s announcements and is subject to publication of further guidance. For the latest information go to Financial Support (Glos City Council)  or  

https://www.gloucester.gov.uk/community-living/advice-on-covid-19/what-you-need-to-know/business-support/

Full details of the Tier 4 Guidance is available here Tier 4 (stay at Home) Guidance Full

NB please note there may be an update on the Farmer’s Market in the next few days.

After contact on my Facebook page I raised with Highways the issue of the regular flooding at this crossing over Cole Avenue to Lower Tuffley Lane.

This was part of the response:

‘I have been advised that the slot drain installed at the foot of the crossing is served by a soakaway in the verge. With the increase in rainfall over the last few years this is no longer adequate. In order to improve the drainage and eliminate ponding it will be necessary to form a connection to the nearest gully.’

The response goes on to say that Highways do not have the budget for this in the current financial year, but that they will ‘raise an estimate for the works with the intention of getting it programmed into the early part of the new financial year’.

This is a promising response and I will be sure to follow this up and report back.

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.’

The Not So Secret Book Club returns next week with events in Podsmead (am) and Matson (pm).

The events are free, and will be Covid-secure with all precautions taken. If you have questions please contact me or Read with Me.

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.

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.

I reported this fly-tipping near Duke of Beaufort Court to the council last week and I am pleased to see it was swiftly removed.

If you spot any fly-tipping around Podsmead please let me know.