The blackberries are ripening now. I took this photo of some blackberries at Milton Avenue the other day.

I reported the damage to the glass in the bus shelter on Podsmead Road.

The team have already attended and made it safe, pending a full repair.

We had a site meeting at Milton Avenue with council officers, myself and Lisa Jevins (Podsmead Big Local lead).

We looked at the work that’s started on site with the European funding, and made lists of actions that we think can be achieved in the next few months and years.

These will include:

? replacing/upgrading the play equipment

⬆️ making pathways

? planting sympathetically to enhance the area

? removing the damaged bollards

? planting trees where possible

This will be an important project for Milton Avenue and I look forward to helping it to come to fruition.

The dangerous sink hole on Podsmead Road has been repaired this week after I and residents reported the problem and urged action.

If you see any other highways issues in Podsmead do let me know.

I have received confirmation from Gloucestershire Highways that the patch I reported outside Poet’s Pantry will be repaired soon.

Part of their email reads:

‘Arrangements have been made to repair the identified issue and work will commence within the required fault repair time – please see the Highways Policy for further details.

We will keep you up to date with progress. 

Thank you again for taking the time to report the above issue. ‘

I will report back to residents once this defect has been repaired. If you know of any other defects in the pavements or roads around Podsmead, please let me know.

A drone video has captured the £5m transformation of Kings Square in action, with a film of the site showing the progress made by local building firm E G Carter.

The video was commissioned by the Gloucester based firm which was appointed by Gloucester City Council in autumn 2020 to take forward the plan to totally transform the city centre square.

Features in the new square will include sweeping granite seating areas, which can already be seen taking shape in the video, alongside fountains, trees, and atmospheric coloured lighting. The design concept takes inspiration from the Severn Bore – a spectacular tidal surge that occurs along the River Severn.

The vision is to transform Kings Square into an inspiring and enjoyable destination for city residents and visitors which can be used for events and entertainment, as well as for outdoor dining, and markets. 

It is intended that a full programme of events and activities will be planned for the square to attract visitors throughout the year.

Kings Square forms the centrepiece of a wider £85million scheme by the council, working in partnership with developer Reef Group, to regenerate the Kings Quarter area to create The Forum – a new social and digital campus for the South West, designed to act as a catalyst for the emerging digital and cyber sector. Work to construct Phase One of The Forum is currently on site.

Completion of the Kings Square project is expected in late 2021. Watch the video here: https://egcarter.co.uk/news/kings-square-drone-footage-construction-progress.

A new project backed by Gloucester City Council and Gloucester BID is set to turn local shop windows into an open air gallery.

The Gate Streets Gallery, which launches on Friday, August 6, will feature work by Gloucester artist Russell Haines, who discovered painting after art therapy helped him through a period of ill health.

 

Russell who started painting after suffering a brain stem stroke at the age of 44 was commissioned to create the artworks for the project organised by Gloucester City Council.

 

The artworks will decorate the windows of ten empty shops on Gloucester’s gate streets and in the East Gate Shopping Centre, and will depict people who have played a part in the life of the city.

 

The project is also supported by the Cathedral Quarter High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) with Historic England, and the European Regional Development Fund.

 

It’s aimed at helping to revitalise the high street following the difficulties retailers suffered during the pandemic and to encourage more people into the city through cultural activities.

 

It hoped that it will encourage people to explore Gloucester and show how walkable the city is as well as supporting local retailers.

After a one-year hiatus, the vintage car, fashion, and music festival will return this summer. One of the highlights of the city’s vibrant festival calendar, Gloucester Goes Retro organised by the city council, features over 500 classic vehicles filling the historic Gate Streets and Gloucester Docks.  

 

The four gate streets will once again be transported back in time: Westgate to 1900 -1949, Northgate to the 1950s, Eastgate, the 1960s and Southgate representing 1970 to modern-day times. 

 

The streets will be lined with historic and classic cars, and vehicles from all over the country, and themed with memories of times past, with music, fashion, food, businesses, banks, shops and re-enactors all playing their part. 

 

Star Wars characters, army Personnel, Tank and Military Vehicles, Superhero Cosplayers, buses, motorbikes, ladies and gents in fashion, Hippies, Rock and Rollers, TV Personalities, representatives of the council and other VIPs will all be in attendance.

 

Visitors will find famous car brands from yesteryear including Aston Martin, Jensen, Bentley, Triumph, Morris, and Alvis to name just a few. 

 

There are time-honoured vehicles from the turn of the last century through to the roaring twenties, from the war years to the gleaming chrome of the fifties, along with the iconic designs of the swinging sixties, and classic sports cars from the eighties. 

 

For music and dance enthusiasts, the Gloucester Goes Retro stage sees vintage acts, and you can even and join in with swing dancing. 

 

Shops, attractions, restaurants and pubs will all join in the fun by creating a retro feel, with shopfront displays and staff dressed in costume, the event brings the whole city together in celebration of our retro past.

Many of us had sort-outs during the various lockdowns, and charity shops can be the beneficiary of these.

There are lots of clothing and shoe banks dotted around the city – often in supermarket car parks so you can drop off your bags of clothes when you do your shopping. There are different banks for different charities so you can even decide which one to support – or just take to your nearest.

You can also donate textiles such as old sheets or towels. It really helps the charity workers if you can bag the clothes (even a bin bag will do) before putting them in the clothes banks.

This week culture has been on my mind, as I’ve been at the Three Choirs Festival in my work as a singer and Gloucester Cathedral lay clerk. I was very taken by the music, of course, as I always am, but also was impressed by the elephant trail in the city of Worcester.

I also had a briefing with the city council’s Director of Culture, in my role as cultural spokesperson for the Lib Dem group. I heard about some of the challenges and opportunities for the city as we emerge from the pandemic.

We need to build on and celebrate our history but also look to the new and innovative. Music would be a must, but other things like dance, theatre and literature have a part to play. But these are my thoughts – what are yours?

I’d like to know what residents think, about what more could be done for culture in Gloucester. You can send me your views by email to seb4podsmead@gmail.com, or via any of the other channels on my website.