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September 2nd was charter day.

On this date in 1483 King Richard III granted the city of Gloucester a charter which gave us certain rights, including setting out how Mayors were elected.

Richard III was a friend to Gloucester since his time as Duke of Gloucester, and visited the city during his summer progress in 1483, the year he became King.

In previous years we have celebrated this anniversary as a group of current and former civics, including on the occasion pictured below in 2016 when my immediate successor Neil Hampson was the Mayor.

Obviously we cannot meet this year but hopefully we can commemorate the date and King Richard’s legacy on some future occasion.

Tuffley Rovers play their home games in Podsmead, on Lower Tuffley Lane.

This week saw the excitement of an FA Cup tie, but sadly Rovers bowed out at the first hurdle.

Nevertheless they have big plans and I am going to be working with the club to support and promote them.

See the club website for news.

Gloucester City Homes have extended their virtual pride art competition entry to the 10th September.

You can find the details of how to enter here.

Two thousand years of history faces the axe if the Conservative Government pushes ahead with plans to reorganise local government.

It is expected to publish a White Paper in the autumn on scrapping the two tier system of local government in the county.

It means Gloucester City Council would be axed
and replaced with a huge unitary council with little regard to history, geography and community.

Please join the campaign against abolishing the city council online at www.Gloucester-LibDems.org.uk

I called for these potholes to be filled on the Bristol Road side of Hempsted Lane (part of Podsmead).

I am pleased to hear that they will done soon.

If you know of any roads or pavements that need attention in Podsmead, please let me know.

I was very pleased to take part in the initiative run by Gloucester Community Building Collective, to encourage people to smile.

My ‘Smiles per Hour’ zone is on Podsmead Road.

You can find more information about the project here.

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I was in touch with the council recently after residents contacted me about the brambles overhanging the footpath on Podsmead Road.

The council responded to my report to say they would be done and I’m delighted to see today that they have been trimmed, and the litter has been picked as well.

Congratulations to Ed Davey on becoming the new Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

It has been a well fought contest that has shown the best of our party.

We must now unite behind our new leader and continue our fight to improve the lives of everyone in our country.

Ed’s starting point is that we must listen more to what people want, what their fears and their aspirations are. I agree with this because it’s what Liberal Democrat councillors do week in week out.

If you have a point to raise with me, or that you would like me to try to get passed to Ed and the leadership team, please let me know.

During the recent stormy weather, many trees came down in Gloucester including on Cole Avenue.

I have been in touch with the county council over these poplar trees.

Below is an extract from their response:

‘Thank you for your recent email in regards to the tree on Cole Avenue, our tree officer has advised the following:

I have scheduled works to Gloucester City Amey Contractors. The onus of delivery is now with the City Council and Amey who you may wish to contact regarding this matter.’

I will be pressing the city and county councils to work together on this issue and when I have a walkabout with the city tree officer I will raise the matter again with them.

Residents can always get in touch with me to report tree falls or problems.

The county council Emergency Contact Number 08000 514514 is now prioritised to deal with Highways Emergency Calls ONLY.

All other enquiries can be emailed to Highways@gloucestershire.gov.uk,
or reported via https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/highways/roads/your-highways-report-it/

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It was great to welcome the Mayor and Sheriff of Gloucester to the final Not so Secret Book Club. The Mayor read the children a poem and gave them all a Mayor’s award for their commitment to reading over the summer.

We were also really pleased to see community builders Agnes and Rae from Gloucester Community Building Collective, and Les Jevins from Podsmead Big Local.

We started the literacy scheme in Podsmead before lockdown with a view to helping local children to access reading. As schools start to go back we will look to do more events in Podsmead and the surrounding areas.

I would like to thank Ross Nicholl and The Club at Tuffley Park CiC for the use of the facilities during the summer, my wife Vicki Field for all the help with this project, and Linda Cohen for being the driving force behind the whole Read with Me enterprise. Thank you also to the parents and children who have attended and made it all so worthwhile, and to the many kind residents who donated books.

We will be returning in October half term and at other times before and after so keep checking in for news.