Back in 2020 I was contacted about the possible removal of some phone boxes in Podsmead.

Several were removed but this one on Podsmead Road was given a stay, due to the pandemic.

I was told that it would be being removed in 2021/22, then that it would be kept after all, but repaired.

It has been vandalised a couple of times and I’ve had to get BT to fix it each time.

I recently contacted BT for another update, and I have now heard back from them that the phone box is being kept. They also told me that their engineer has attended and repaired the phone and phone box.

I hope very much that it continues to be in working order.

Seymour Road will be closed as per the attached map from 4th – 22nd March 2024 to allow for carriageway works by Gloucestershire Highways.

If you should require further information please contact highways@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Although not in Podsmead ward, this will affect Podsmead residents as the number 10 bus runs along this road, and goes to and from Podsmead.

I have previously advertised Severn Trent water works taking place from the 26th to 29th March on this road.

I will try to ascertain if these two sets of works are being carried out separately or are now being combined.

You can now watch meetings of Gloucester city council, including its committees, live-streamed on the council’s YouTube channel. The meetings are also recorded and uploaded to the site.

Liberal Democrat councillors have been pressing for this for several years, as a move towards greater transparency and engagement with the public.

You can find the meetings on the council YouTube channel here.

I chatted to the team in Tuffley Park out removing the dead trees, reported in recent months, and the tree that was downed by the recent storms.

I understand from the city council tree officer that the damaged and dead trees will be replaced, but I am not sure if they will be in the same location or elsewhere in the park.

I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues would like to see many more trees planted across the city. The Blackbridge project will see a net increase of over 100 trees.

Two pieces of good news for the residents of Millstone Way, Earls Park.

Firstly, work has started on the link to provide access for the refuse collectors, from Manu Marble Way.

This will enable the trucks to go directly to Millstone Way and not require residents to place their refuse and recycling at the far end of the street, as up to now the refuse collectors have not been able to go as far as the top end of Millstone Way due to the narrow road and nowhere to turn.

I have confirmed with Matthew Homes that access will be via two lockable bollards which the refuse collectors will have access to, but there will not be a general cut-through.

This is great news as it comes after months of campaigning from me, and lots of wrangling between Matthew Homes, city council as the collecting authority, and county council Highways.

The second piece of good news is that I secured a proper sign on the front of 33 Millstone Way, after residents raised it with me. I wrote to the housing association that owns the block and it was installed recently.

I hope to have more news soon on other matters around Earls Park, and the Podsmead ward.

If I can help with anything, do let me know:

How to contact me

Seymour Road will be closed as per the attached map, from 26th – 29th March 2024, to allow for works by Severn Trent Water.

Although not in Podsmead, it does affect residents because the number 10 bus runs to and from Podsmead along Seymour Road.

If you should require further information please let me know, or contact streetworks@gloucestershire.gov.uk

A very happy new year to all Podsmead residents. I hope you all had a nice Christmas break.

One of the first things I’m dealing with is the damage to local trees caused by the recent windy weather.

I have reported the uprooted or damaged trees on Scott Avenue open space, Tuffley Park and in Newark Road to the council for action. I hope they all can be replaced.

If you know of any more uprooted or damaged trees in our area, please let me know:

How to contact me

Two early wins for the new year: street signs I’ve reported for repair in Byron Avenue and Keats Avenue have been attended to and fixed, according to the council.

I will go and check them soon.

If you spot any more damaged or missing signs in our area please let me know.

It was great to be out carol singing in Podsmead on Wednesday 20th December.

Working with the local PCSOs from Gloucestershire Constabulary and the Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society, we were able once again to hold an event in Earls Park, and then later on in Scott Avenue.

For the first event we had The Salvation Army Gloucester band, and many thanks to Phil Webb and his colleagues for leading the music.

For choirs we had members of the Ecclesiastical Insurance Gloucester staff choir, which my wife Vicki runs, and the City of Gloucester Community Choir which we co-run, and the community sang along heartily. There was a brilliant turn out at both events and at Earls Park we had some lovely singing from young and old. We also had appearances from Santa 🎅

Ecclesiastical have generously offered to double any donations made on the night to the Salvation Army, which is fantastic news.

There were refreshments and more singing at Scott Avenue and my thanks go to Debbie, Debbie, Jim and Kelly-Marie for all they did to organise the events.

Truly the community spirit in Podsmead is alive and well.

There will be two days of football camps for children aged 8-14 years, on 4th and 5th January 2024. The camps are being held in Glevum Park in Podsmead, where Tuffley Rovers play their home games.

Details of how to register are on the poster.