We are having a community volunteer day to clean up a pathway off Stroud Road, on Saturday 26th September from 11.30am.

If you can lend a hand clearing weeds and vegetation or litter picking, please let me know.

Covid safety measures will be in place, and if there are lots of volunteers we will work in small groups and keep our distance.

Meet on the corner of Stroud Road and Tuffley Avenue, opposite the Rose Gardens.

This week two issues were resolved.

Firstly the vandalism at the memorial garden in Scott Avenue was fixed very quickly. I am working with the police and council on this, and have raised the issue of graffiti on the benches with the council for clean-up.

Secondly the pathway from Byron Avenue to Keats Avenue was damaged in several places. I am glad that Highways have carried out this work very quickly at my urging.

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

There will be a meeting of the full council of Gloucester City next Thursday 24th September, at 6.30pm, online on Microsoft Teams.

Details of the meeting can be found at www.gloucester.gov.uk.

I have submitted written questions to cabinet members which have been answered, and I can ask verbal supplementary questions on the night, for any of my written question. I might also get the chance to ask a verbal question on any topic relevant to the council and its business.

The Liberal Democrat group have three notices of motion on the order paper, which can be viewed along with the other motions here.

If you have any questions about the council meetings now or in future, please get in touch.

Some local action in Shelley Avenue where this hedge was overgrown and hanging over the footpath.

It was raised with the city council and given a cut back.

If you know of any other hedges or bushes that need cutting back please let me know.

Good news for the environment in that every city councillor in Gloucester is being given an allocation of up to 300 trees to plant in their wards.

This will be done over the next two planting seasons and is an aspiration not a quota. Clearly, some councillors with limited open space in their wards will struggle to fulfil this – but any extra trees are a bonus.

The planting locations will be supervised and signed off by the city council’s tree officer. Whilst we have lots of open space in Podsmead, we need to be very careful in where we plant to avoid storing up problems for the future.

That’s why I’m keen to hear from residents on where they think the trees should be planted. Residents and residents groups will hopefully be able to help with the planting and watering of the young trees, and I’ve already had a positive response from Podsmead Big Local on this initiative, and some great suggestions from panel members.

Trees are a vital part of the fight against climate change. They provide air quality, shade, and they look great. This scheme, carefully managed, could really help the city and our communities.

If you have ideas for tree planting locations, or if you want to offer to help, do please get in touch.

The leader of Gloucester Liberal Democrats has written to the Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s to urge him to save the Northgate Street store in Gloucester.

Cllr Jeremy Hilton has written to Simon Roberts, urging a solution, and the Gloucester Lib Dems have also set up a petition.

A motion on saving Sainsbury’s in the name of the Lib Dem group will be debated by the city council at the next city council meeting later this month.

You can find more details of this campaign on the Gloucester Liberal Democrat website.

The Northgate Sainsbury’s store is well used by local residents and serves an important need in the city. We must Save our Sainsbury’s!

Here are some recent examples of issues I’ve asked to be fixed in Podsmead.

The sign in Shakespeare Avenue was partially obscured so I asked the city council to clear the foliage.

At the other end of Shakespeare Avenue was a damaged patch of pavement which I requested be repaired by Highways.

The street sign at Caesar Road is part of a batch of signs in poor repair in the business estate off Bristol Road.

I have been in regular communication with the officer at the council who deals with these and am promised more will be replaced very soon.

If you know of an issue that needs fixing in Podsmead please don’t hesitate to get in touch.