I think the artworks on BT and electrical boxes in the city centre are imaginative and fun.
They were done as part of a project by Gloucester BID, with joint funding from the BID and the government Welcome Back fund, administered by the council. Tired street furniture was painted with a base coat and then artists did their work on them.
The artworks encourage people to look for them, and to learn a little about the historical figures portrayed or the nature depicted.
The Liberal Democrats proposed a motion at full council this week looking at ways to expand this scheme in the future, maybe doing more boxes in the city centre, or taking it out further into other parts of the city.
The scheme would have been cost neutral, as it would have involved applying for suitable funding or encouraging local communities and businesses to get involved.
Sadly the Conservative administration chose to amend the motion to the point where it only proposed promoting the existing artworks, and no further work.
It’s disappointing that there isn’t more vision for imaginative public art in the city. Other towns and cities do it very well and it draws people in.
After all – it’s only paint – it can always be painted over later.
I reported the fly-tipping and graffiti on Keats Avenue green space to Gloucester City Homes, the city council and the police. The land is owned by Gloucester City Homes.
If you spot any more graffiti or fly-tipping in our area please let me know.
The 30 mph limit and 7.5 tonne weight limit sign on Cole Avenue is faded and no longer reflective. I have urged Highways to refresh the sign to ensure safe use of Podsmead Road.
If you know of any other faded or damaged road signs in our area please let me know.
Council tax letters have been sent out to all households in Gloucester. They included information about the £150 council tax rebate, towards energy costs.
The council will automatically distribute the rebate to anyone paying their council tax (band A-D and some band E households) by direct debit. If you don’t currently pay by DD, this would be an ideal opportunity to take it up. The council will make its best endeavours to pay the rebate to all other households.
Below is a recent statement from a council officer:
We are keeping our website up to date with details about the energy rebate scheme. Once we have more information to share about the administration of the scheme, we will ensure the website is updated, along with the council’s social media platforms.
More support is being given to people who live and work around the B4063 between Gloucester and Cheltenham to encourage them to walk or cycle under a new Gloucestershire County Council initiative.
Using funds allocated from the Department for Transport’s Capability Fund, the county council’s Thinktravel team will be encouraging residents and commuters to get in their daily step count and dust off their bikes using new cycle paths and pedestrian crossings being built by the council.
The campaign aims to encourage people who go to work or school in West Cheltenham, Staverton, Churchdown and Longlevens to travel by foot or bike. It began in January with the launch of the Active Business Gloucestershire Network, which aims to get organisations working closely together to promote active travel.
Grants of £2,500 are being made available to businesses with match funding to help support their active travel plans.
A travel survey is being conducted with residents and businesses in spring/early summer to find out their travel patterns and if they face any barriers to active travel. Other events planned include cycling activities, organised walks and cycle training sessions.
The initiative comes as a new flagship walking and cycling route is being built along the B4063 between Gloucester and Cheltenham, and as the council completes a new off-road cycle route along the A40 as part of the West Cheltenham Transport Improvement Scheme.
Walking and cycling help to improve air quality in the area, reduce traffic congestion and have mental and physical health benefits.
To encourage people to give walking or cycling a go, some events are taking place for people to take part in, including the Big Walk and Wheel. It is being run by walking and cycling charity Sustrans from 21 March to 1 April 2022and aims to encourage more families to travel to school actively.
There are prizes to be won and schools in Gloucestershire are being encouraged to take part by signing up at https://bigwalkandwheel.org.uk/
Another event being launched by cycling group Love to Ride, called ‘Ride Anywhere Week’, is being held this week (21 – 27 March). Riders are challenged to pick a pledge and complete it within a week. More details are available at www.lovetoride.net/gloucestershire
The Liberal Democrat group on Gloucester City Council are proposing a motion on Thursday, praising the #bouncingback project which painted 75 electrical and BT boxes in the city centre. Jointly funded by the Gloucester Business Improvement District and the City Council, it successfully brightened up drab looking street furniture and celebrates aspects of our story.
Liberal Democrats would like to see more of this brightening up, including in the wider city. Hopefully all councillors will support our motion, which won’t commit the council to any extra spending.
The full motion reads:
Council notes the recent #bouncingback project, which was jointly funded by Gloucester BID and the City Council.
Council notes that this project sought to enhance the street scene by ‘converting often unkempt street furniture into bright points of interest’. 5 local artists were involved in painting a total of 75 boxes, including electric and BT boxes, with the agreement of the owners.
Council commends this project which has delivered some excellent public art,
commemorated aspects of Gloucester history, and provided a talking point.
Council records its thanks to those who organised and took part in the project.
Council resolves to examine ways to expand the project in the future, such as encouraging members, residents and community groups to identify street furniture or appropriate sites in their wards to be brightened through painting, cleaning or planting, and inviting submissions of historical figures, events and logos to be commemorated.
Council further resolves to apply for any suitable funding from government or other sources to expand this work, and to work with the BID and other local partners to ensure that this project is fully publicised, promoted and celebrated in the future.
Photo of Sebastian Field and Crypt Head Nick Dyer, taken in 2019
There is some good news that the Crypt School are supporting the Poet’s Pantry with a donation of £500. This will help to pay for a dishwasher, and to support the ongoing food provision.
I asked Headmaster Nick Dyer a few weeks ago if the school could help out and I am delighted that they have been able to.
Podsmead Big Local will be writing to thank the school, and I add my thanks here.
Museum of Gloucester has been awarded almost £400,000 to help carry out repairs and improvements to the Grade II listed building.
The museum is set to receive £387,500 to protect the building and its collections through the Government’s £18.8 million Museums Estate and Development Fund (MEND) which is being given to museums to undertake vital infrastructure and maintenance work.
MEND which is administered by Arts Council England is part of the Government’s £48 million Cultural Investment Fund.
Work will include repairs and improvements to the roof and drainage as well as the installation of LED lighting to reduce the building’s energy usage and reinforce the city’s commitment to its environmental responsibilities.
The heating system will also be upgraded as well as equipment allowing staff to control the humidity to protect the museum’s extension collection, which includes paintings by Thomas Gainsborough, John Atkinson Grimshaw and Thomas Dibdin.
Other improvements will see upgrades to the passenger lift to help visitors who use wheelchairs visitors or families with prams.
The Victorian building which sits in the heart of the city centre, was originally the Price Memorial Hall of the Gloucester Science and Art Society, before becoming the City Museum and Art Gallery when it was taken on by the local authority in 1902.
It was built in 1893 for Margaret Price as a memorial to her husband William Edwin Price and saw a first floor added in 1958.
Gloucestershire County Council have waived its usual fees for street parties for Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.
Special events, including street parties, that involve closing a road require a legal order to be in place, which requires a fee to be paid to the council.
However, for the Platinum Jubilee weekend of celebrations fees will not apply and licenses can be obtained free of charge.
The Platinum Jubilee will mark the 70th anniversary of the Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. She is the first UK monarch to celebrate this milestone.
Events will take place throughout the year and a four-day Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend will take place from Thursday, 2 June, to Sunday, 5 June.
Applications take a minimum of 12 weeks to process. Anyone looking to host a street party should contact streetworks@gloucestershire.gov.uk with the street(s) affected, the date of the event, and a brief description.
