During the pandemic, Gloucestershire Highways have been prioritising urgent safety repairs.

I reported this dangerous broken manhole cover in Empire Way, Podsmead, and was pleased to see such prompt action.

Recently I met up with PC Lea and Sgt Kear of Gloucestershire Constabulary.

We discussed issues such as the recent vandalism at Milton Avenue, and criminal incidents in the Earls Park estate.

We will be following up what we discussed in the next few days & reporting back to residents.

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The A38 Cole Avenue in Gloucester is being resurfaced overnight from Tuesday 16 June onwards.

The resurfacing work will take 24 nights to complete, from 7pm to 7am each night (excluding weekends), and will be carried out in two phases.

Phase 1: the road will be closed between 16 June to 29 June from the junction at Bristol Road to the junction at Podsmead Road and Epney Road.

Phase 2: the road will be closed between 30 June to 17 July from the junction at Bristol Road to the St Barnabus Roundabout.

I am pleased to see this work being carried out but it is a shame that it was not started during lockdown, as this could have further minimized disruption. I will keep pressing the Conservative administration at Shire Hall to invest more in our roads.

In recent months, with the exception of during the lockdown, much good work has been done by volunteers, especially Lisa Jevins and the Podsmead Clearance Team, to clear back the bramble and remove the rubbish from around the Milton Avenue area. It has been good to see the path from Milton open, and able to be accessed by wheelchairs and walkers.

We are now looking at the future plans for the area, and how to spend the European funding that will be put into the Gloucester Urban Greening Project. Much will be done to plant flowers, reeds and make other improvements.

The first step will be to get the stubborn bramble cut back, then to clear out the rubbish and think about how we can use the space more effectively. The council has commissioned a contractor to investigate and start cutting back the bramble. I look forward to seeing the changes and helping out where and when I can.

I was disappointed to see vandalism at Milton Avenue play park. Thanks to Jordan of the Podsmead Clearance Team for letting me know about it and putting the wood back in place.
I am writing to the council & police to inform them. Unfortunately it means more council resources to repair it.

It was lovely to see the poppy and flower display at Plock Court, Gloucester. The flowers were planted as part of the Gloucester Urban Greening Project, which is funded by the European Structural Investment Fund.

On Tuesday 9th June a group of people dressed in orange, decorated Tuffley Avenue and The Club at Tuffley Park orange and hosted an event to raise awareness of Batten’s Disease, on International Batten Awareness Day.

We were helping the amazing Josh and his family. Josh is battling with this disease, for which sadly there is no cure yet.

The new Mayor of Gloucester, The Right Worshipful Cllr Kate Haigh, was kind enough to attend and speak at the event in support of Batten awareness.

I would like to thank Josh’s family and friends for making the day happen, Ross at the club for hosting us and the Mayor for supporting.

Incredibly, the fundraiser Josh’s family have set up has already made over £6000 at the time of writing.

Please donate if you feel able to, and share the link: https://gf.me/u/x78bkk

The regeneration plans for Podsmead and Matson have continued during recent months, and councillors and officers have met regularly online during the lockdown.

Residents are being updated via a newsletter from Gloucester City Homes who are managing the project. The newsletter and update can be viewed here.

If any residents have questions for me about the regeneration plans, please get in touch.

A section of the wall along Tuffley Avenue that encloses Tuffley Park was damaged recently after a car crashed into it.

The city council were informed and have inspected the damage.

However, it could be an opportunity to do something more imaginative with the boundary.

The wall is not in the best shape, even the undamaged sections. It might be time to look at fencing or rows of trees. This would also help people to see the site.

At the moment not enough people know that the Club at Tuffley Park or the park itself are there. I’m keen to hear people’s views. Obviously cost will be a factor in what we can do but I am told that the council are looking at their options.