Christmas shoppers in Gloucester can enjoy an early Christmas present with parking for free this December to help support city centre businesses.

Gloucester City Council is helping to encourage shoppers to support local and independent retailers in the run up to Christmas by offering free parking after 3pm on Thursdays.

The offer will apply to the Eastgate Shopping Centre and Kings Walk Shopping Centre car parks which have over 600 spaces between them. The free parking will allow shoppers not to feel rushed and to enjoy late-night shopping too.

Also to celebrate Small Business Saturday and to back Gloucester’s wealth of independent businesses, three car parks will be free all day on Saturday, 2 December – Westgate Street, Station Road and Hare Lane North Car Park. 

Gloucester BID will also launch its Reindeer Trail as part of Small Business Saturday, to help shoppers to get into the festive mood and will also be bringing out a new map showing people where Gloucester’s unique and thriving independent shops can be found.

Please join Gaudeamus on Saturday 11th November in Discover DeCrypt for what will be a very moving concert.

There will be a short silence at 11 o clock and then the concert will begin.

During the concert we will remember loved ones by reading out their names.

Please let us know if you would like a name read out.

As part of the series Gloucester Coffee Concerts at Discover DeCrypt

I have been busy reporting and taking action on a number of issues in Podsmead this week:

🪧reported street signs for repair

📞contacted Crypt School over parking concerns after a recent event

⌨️ reported fly-tipping in Burns Avenue

🌳 met with the council tree officer and section 106 officer to discuss Podsmead

📝met with residents and took note of their concerns, in order to help them with agencies

💡 further pressed a housing company to restore street lighting in a Podsmead street

If I can ever help with an issue, please contact me

How to contact me

Stagecoach have announced in November: As part of an ongoing commitment to recognise our armed forces, we’re offering free travel to veterans, cadets and military personnel on Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday.  You can travel for free on most Stagecoach operated services on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November 2023 if you’re a veteran wearing your medals or veteran’s badge. This offer extends to serving personnel and cadets who are wearing uniform or have proof of military ID.

I have written to the local Highways manager about the condition of Lower Tuffley Lane in Podsmead. Currently this important business route is full of potholes.

Whilst I have been told that the road is not yet on a schedule for resurfacing as it does not score highly (badly) enough to be there, I have reported the potholes which will trigger a fresh inspection.

I will continue to press for this road and others in Podsmead to receive attention.

If you know of any roads that need attention in our area, please let me know.

How to contact me

Halloween and trick or treating are not for everyone so please make use of this poster if you do not want your door to be knocked.

There is a minor sinkhole on Tennyson Avenue.

I have reported it to Highways and they have agreed to fill it.

Nearby, Gloucester City Homes are working on a sinkhole in a garden and this is due to be resolved soon.

Please let me know of any potholes in our area.

How to contact me

I have urged the council to repair this knocked-over bollard on Lower Tuffley Lane.

I spotted it last week on one of my weekly walkabouts.

If you know of any other damaged bollards, roads or pavements, please let me know.

How to contact me

I am pleased to see a number of alleyways I have reported for clean-up have now been done, including

Tennyson Road to Podsmead Road

Burns Avenue to Eliot Close

Thornhill Close to Podsmead Road

However, I am surprised by the amount of chasing required to get simple jobs like this done. We are living in the time of the ‘vanishing council’.

Here are some great deals for free and cheap meals for children over half term.

Residents who are struggling to buy food should feel free to get in touch so I can help refer to people who can help:

How to contact me