News from the Shire - 12th July
Latest weekly roundup of Gloucestershire news including the positive news section
Dear readers - Gloucestershire always has many events taking place yearly so for this week’s roundup I’d like to share four events that might be of interest to you.
First, a pride of lions have taken to the streets of Gloucester and Cheltenham from now until Sunday September 14. Lions at Large is a trail of 32 lion sculptures designed and decorated by artists at a host of stunning landmarks and interesting everyday locations. They will be joined by the Cub Club, 54 little lions lovingly created by local schools, clubs and community groups.
It is a perfect family activity organised by Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity to raise money for The Big Space Cancer Appeal – helping to build a bigger, brighter home for cancer care in Gloucestershire.
The Tewkesbury Medieval Festival returns to the town this weekend where you can see a live re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury, medieval-themed activities, living history displays, a beer tent, food and drink stalls and a medieval market selling everything from crafts to armour.
The Stroud Country Show is taking place today at Stratford Park and The Gloucester Festival of Archaeology returns from the 14th to 26th July, offering an immersive exploration of the city’s hidden past.
Presented in partnership with Gloucester BID, Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester Civic Trust, Museum of Gloucester, Gloucestershire Archaeology, and more, the festival invites residents and visitors alike to delve into centuries of local heritage.
From expert-led talks—covering topics such as Roman Gloucester, the docks, and the top archaeological finds in the region—to hands-on digs, self-guided trails, and family-friendly workshops, the programme brings history to life. Highlights include the 3D artwork, “Archaeologist for a Day” activities, fossil hunts, and the ever-popular Festival Day on Saturday 26th July, with free events across Gloucester Cathedral, the Eastgate Shopping Centre, and throughout historic venues in the city centre.
What has made Gloucestershire news this week?
The devolution question on how we want local government to be structured in Gloucestershire continues after the new Lib Dem County Council administration released a survey this week. It seeks views on a shake-up of councils in Gloucestershire but has been blasted by Conservative group leader Stephen Davies as “unbelievably cynical” and a “waste of public money”.
What option to take is the puzzling question.
There are three proposals being considered across Gloucestershire, one which would involve a single council covering the whole county as they do in Herefordshire and Shropshire. Another, which would see the current footprint of the County Council split into two. The third option involves a Greater Gloucester council with one or two other unitary authorities around it – this has been dubbed the ‘Doughnut’.
Continiuing the theme of Gloucestershire politics, Local Democracy Reporter Carmelo Garcia has also reported this week on Gloucester City Council’s move to hire their own press relation officers sparking concern among the opposition who believe it is not justified at a time of stretched public finances.
Gloucester City Council leaders decided to take their communications service in-house and be directly employed by the authority. The council previously bought in the services from Gloucestershire County Council.
However, since the Liberal Democrats took over the administration at North Warehosue they have moved to employ press officers directly.
Conservative group leader Stephanie Chambers said the Lib Dems in Gloucester were showing a “reckless disregard for taxpayers’ money” but council leader Jeremy Hilton said “it is entirely legitimate for a local authority to maintain a modern, responsive, and professional communications function.”
The city council also confirmed this week that a £107m flagship regeneration project with a new hotel will not open until 2026.
Gloucester City Council has not explained the reasons behind the latest hold up to the King's Quarter, but a spokesperson said the opening of Hotel Indigo has been pushed back from November to next year.
Three topics that certainly get readers talking have also been in the headlines this week.
Planning permission for a solar farm bigger than 130 football pitches was refused this week due to fears Gloucestershire would become “Solarshire.” Forest of Dean District Council rejected Elgin Energy’s application to install solar panels on 162 acres of land at Moat Farm in Kent's Green, near Newent.
Highways chiefs fear they will be overwhelmed by a “tsunami” of bids to reduce the speed limit to 20mph in towns and villages across the county. There is concern over the extra workload it would entail and council officers have said their teams are already struggling to keep their heads above water. Shire Hall is not looking to introduce a blanket speed reduction but instead it is up to communities to request the speed limit if they want it.
There are concerns over electric vehicle owners being hit with parking charges while waiting for their car to be charged. More than 120 charge points have been installed across 33 locations in the county as part of Shire Hall’s on-street residential charge point scheme. But questions were asked at the environment scrutiny committee this week on what was being done to ensure motorists are not inadvertently given a parking charge while waiting for their vehicle to charge up.
And to cap off quite a busy week of news, Gloucestershire Aiport now has new buyers who want to unlock the site’s “full potential while aligning with the goals of the community”.
Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council, which jointly owned the site, announced this week that Horizon Aero Group will take over control of the 375-acre (142-hectare) Staverton airport.
News from Gloucester, Stroud and Forest of Dean
🗑️ Gloucestershire residents are “resorting to subterfuge” in order to use their nearest tips by “borrowing the cars and number plates of other people from a neighbouring county”. The issues of county borders blocking residents from using their nearest household recycling centre was brought up at a Gloucestershire County Council meeting this week. People living in the Newent division are currently prevented from using the tips in Ledbury and Ross and instead are faced with 34-mile round trips to use their nearest household recycling centre. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
☕ A much-loved Stroud town centre cafe has announced it will close today. Little Ginger Deli and Cafe, based in Kendrick Street, will continue to serve their cafe offering in Miserden plus catering for local businesses, events and functions. The owners have described it as “a tough and heart-wrenching decision.” James Felton, Stroud News & Journal
🪦 Changes have been made to ensure nobody is buried in the wrong grave again at Gloucester Cemetery. Gloucester City Council chiefs apologised earlier this year after mistakes led to two people being buried in the wrong places at Coney Hill Cemetery and Crematorium. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
➡️ Dale Vince has revealed Stroud District Council planning officials have asked him to apply for planning permission to fly the Palestinian flag at his Ecotricity HQ. Mr Vince’s Stroud-based green energy company raised the flag last week and have been flying the flag at the home of Forest Green Rovers since 2022. Ash Loveridge, Stroud Times
🚌 A new project has been launched to make bus stops in Stroud more accessible, welcoming and enjoyable. Nine bus shelters, recently adopted by Stroud Town Council from Stroud District Council, have already been cleaned and assessed for initial improvements, such as accessible seating. The town council is now announcing the launch of its Better Bus Stops Stroud project, aimed at making bus stop use more accessible, welcoming and enjoyable for everyone. James Felton, Stroud News & Journal
🗣️ There has been a mixed reaction over initial plans to introduce a new 20mph limit in Dursley town centre. Some people have called the idea ‘excellent’, others have labelled it ‘a total waste of council time’. The proposal by Gloucestershire County Council aims to reduce collisions in the area, with 12 recorded since 2020. Alice Knight, Gloucestershire Gazette
🏗️ Images have been revealed for plans to build a six-storey apartment development at Gloucester Docks. The car-free West Quay would have 141 one-and-two bedroom homes for rent. H20 Urban partnership are now seeking views from the public before a planning application is put in to Gloucester City Council. Phil Norris, Gloucestershire Live
🛍️ Staff and shoppers with stories of Gloucester’s first department store are being asked to share them for a new exhibition. Work is under way to transform Gloucester's former Debenhams into a university campus. To honour the building's legacy, the University of Gloucestershire is collecting photographs and memories, which it will share at an event in autumn. Steve Knibbs, BBC Gloucestershire
🏆 The Forest Community Shed has been honoured for bringing people together through activities such as woodwork. The Shed was named community group of the year in the Gloucestershire Volunteer Awards. The group, which is based on the seven-acre The Orchard Trust site in Lydbrook, was also a finalist in the best practice category. Mark Elson, The Forester
News from Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds
🗳️ Concerns over a new 10,000-home garden town near Tewkesbury, road congestion and flooding are said to be the main issues which led to the election of the Borough Council’s first Reform UK councillor. That is the view of Northway Councillor Graham Bocking who was elected in a by-election this week. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
😠 A storm of protest is gathering against proposals to replace the Dowty Sports & Social site at Staverton, including its popular clubhouse and five football pitches, with a business park promised to deliver up to 1,000 new jobs. However, sports teams and clubhouse users have lodged a torrent of objections, lambasting developer Ashville for attempting to obliterate 16 acres of sports and leisure space, paving over greenbelt and destroying a vital community hub. David Wood, Punchline
❤️ South Cotswolds MP Dr Roz Savage has said that the death of a D-Day veteran from Kemble ‘leaves a real gap in our community’. Alan “Mac” McQuillin, who has died aged 102, ‘represented the very best of his generation’. Mr McQuillin was 21 at the time of D-Day on June 6, 1944 and part of the RAF Servicing Commando 3210. Kate Jones, Wilts & Glos Standard
⛵ Eight South Cerney Sailing Club cadet sailors have made it into Team GB for the Cadet World Championships in August. Monty Hampton, Henry Yates, Jemima McMorris, Islay Bromhead, Will Hancock, Noah Sauven, Polly Kornicki and Alex Nailer are the names heading to lake Lipno in Czechia. The club held a special presentation as part of the cadet open weekend and celebrated the achievement before the sailors head to Czechia. James Felton, Wilts & Glos Standard
📖 The Misdeeds and crimes of Victorian era Northleach have been brought to life in a new book. Resident Deri Marshall began researching his town’s past out of curiosity but quickly found himself immersed in a darker side of history, leading to the publication of a new book, Northleach Crime and Punishment. Matty Airey, Wilts & Glos Standard
The positive news section
➡️ Major conservation of Gloucester Cathedral’s stonework has been completed after five years. Decades of weathering had left the northern side of Gloucester Cathedral in need of repair, prompting a project to integrate new stone to protect the structure. Visitors will now be able to see a refreshed view of the building's silhouette from the cathedral grounds. Carys Nally, BBC Gloucestershire
🏥 A former nurse says she looks back at her career with "very fond memories" as Stroud General Hospital celebrates its 150th anniversary. Wendy Phillips, who trained in the late 1960s, said while the hospital was now "indescribably different", it was a "lovely" and "friendly" place to work at. It comes as former and current hospital employees came together to celebrate the milestone at a number of events, the first being a service at Holy Trinity Church. Kathryn Emerson & Sammy Jenkins, BBC Gloucestershire
🙌 A Dursley Town councillor is raising money to buy an air conditioning unit at the Medical Day Unit at Cheltenham General Hospital. Tyler White, who is also a patient at the MDU, is hoping to raise £600. He has been visting for more than four years for Crohn’s disease treatment. Alice Knight, Gloucestershire Gazette
🚶 A Cheltenham man has raised a staggering £27,000 conquering the 630-Mile South West Coast Path in tribute to his beloved wife. Phil Brown, 65, completed his epic feat in just one month. He raised the huge sum for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice which was where his wife, Anna, died in January following a short illness. Kim Horton, Gloucestershire Live
🚂 A Cirencester railway station lost to time will be brought back to life this autumn with a special event - and the public are invited to submit memories, photos and items to form part of it. Cirencester History Festival will bring history alive once again this October half term with an event celebrating the lost railway in the town. Matty Airey, Wilts & Glos Standard
🎨 A new mural, designed by county artist Murmur to create a more calming and inclusive environment, has been unveiled inside a Gloucestershire custody suite. The mural, along with other changes to custody, marks a pioneering step in improving the experience of detainees with neurodiverse conditions. Emma Luther, SoGlos