It was good to have a walkabout with PCSO Sexton and PCSO White in Podsmead.
We looked at issues around parking, community safety and fly-tipping, around Oakland’s Park, Earls Park,Tuffley Crescent and Avenue and Podsmead Road. More walkabouts are planned in the coming weeks.
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I am pleased to see that work is going on to repair and restore the area in the corner of the green space at Earls Park.
This has been being used as a storage area up till now, to the frustration of residents and me. Now that some more houses and flats have been finished, the storage area has been removed by the developer.
If the park can be repaired and enhanced up to an adoptable standard, it should then be able to be adopted by the city council as an additional area of green space, and they can then service it along with other parks in the city.
I have been pushing for this for some time so I am delighted to see progress.
The whole estate is due for completion by the end of 2024. Hopefully this date won’t slip but there is much uncertainty in the world of construction currently.
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The school crossing light by the Crypt School is flashing on and off continuously, according to residents.
I have reported this to the county council streetlight team.
If you know of any damaged or faulty lights in our area do let me know:
Update 11.3.24 – this is now being fixed after my report
There will be elections to the city council and for Police and Crime Commissioner, on May 2nd 2024.
I am standing for reelection to the city council. You can register to vote here.
This will be the first election in Gloucester since the new rules came in, so you now need some form of ID to vote. You can apply for a free ID by following this link. Gloucester Liberal Democrats have produced a handy advice page on their website, explaining the new rules.
I am currently knocking on doors in Podsmead, as I do all year round. The other parties only appear at election time when they want your vote. It’s been great to hear residents’ views on what matters to them in Podsmead. I hope to see many more people during the course of the campaign.
I am currently delivering letters in Podsmead asking for views and examples of poor roads and pavements in our area.
Whilst we’ve had some successes due to persistent requests for action, such as Scott Avenue and Podsmead Road, many more roads remain in a poor state due to Conservative inaction and underinvestment at the county council.
It occurred to me that I have been pressing for Laburnum Road to be repaired since 2019, when I was first elected to Podsmead. The road surface is still bad.
I have reported the potholes once again, and have asked for it to be added to the resurfacing schedule. The highways manager hopes this will be done in 2025/6. In the meantime we will keep vigilant and report the potholes for patching as and when we see them.
I’m delighted to see that graffiti has been removed from the post box on Tuffley Avenue, at my urging.
Royal Mail obviously saw my report and have actioned this.
Elsewhere in the Podsmead ward I have reported graffiti and am campaigning for its removal. It doesn’t help that the council will only remove it from council land or buildings.
So if, for example there is an electricity box or a phone box, the council will reply to say I need to contact the owner. On some of the boxes there is no information about who owns them, only a warning about voltages.
Needless to say, I will not be opening these up or looking too closely. I will leave it to the professionals.
I have reported graffiti in Tuffley Avenue, Podsmead Place and at Blackbridge. If you know of other instances in our area, please let me know.
Gas Projects have been working with communities and organisations to commission ten unique artworks that tell the stories of local people past and present. The artworks have been inspired by a combination of conversations and workshops with local people, as well as archive research about specific locations.
The trail also showcases the work of some of Gloucester’s most valuable and well-loved community organisations including the Podsmead Hub, The Venture, the Friendship Café and the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub.
Starting at Podsmead Hub at 10am, we will walk to visit the ten artworks that loosely follow the trainline into Gloucester.
We will be stopping for a free lunch at The Venture, White City at 12:15pm, and finish at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub at 3pm for refreshments and a chance to speak to the artists and take part in a creative workshop.
You need not embark upon the whole walk – feel free to join us along the way.
Many of the artworks have an accompanying audio element, so bring a smart device and headphones to enjoy the full experience!
Book your space here, or just turn up on the day.
Here are all the locations you can find Word Walk art …
Podsmead Hub – Luke Smile – 15a Scott Ave, Podsmead, Gloucester GL2 5BD
Tuffley Park playground – Ery Burns – Find artwork at the Laburnum Road entrance
Blackbridge – Eleanor Harper – Back entrance to Crypt School, next to the Blackbridge
Near Robinswood Hill – Daisy May Chapman – On the footpath opposite The Hill Stores
The Venture, White City – Daisy May Chapman – Northfield Rd, Gloucester GL4 6TX
Friendship Café @ Chequers – Daisy May Chapman – Barton St, Gloucester GL4 6PR
Ayland Gardens – Daisy May Chapman – Bishopstone Rd, Gloucester GL1 4BZ
Gloucester Train Station – Trix
Kings Square – Jussara Nazaré
Gloucestershire Heritage Hub – Hope Hanni Eva – Clarence Row, Alvin St, Gloucester GL1 3DW
The Word Walk has been generously funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Blackbridge CCBS and Voices, and is part of the wider Gloucester Art Weekend & Platform (GAWP!) which was funded by Arts Council England, Gloucester City Council, Gloucester City Homes and Create Gloucestershire
More information at https://www.gasprojects.org.uk
The wall that runs along the bridge at the back of Crypt School, off Cole Avenue, has been damaged and graffitied.
I’ve reported it to both councils and also made the school and Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society aware.
This area falls outside the land that Blackbridge will manage but I am hopeful that local partners can still meet up to do something with this land, as it has been unloved and subject to ASB for some time.
There could be a good opportunity for more planting and encouraging wildlife.