News from the Shire - 7th May 2025
After a break, I have made a personal decision about my Substack
Dear readers - after a week’s break I am back with my Gloucestershire news roundups, but you will notice a few changes.
The post I send to your inboxes every Saturday at 8am is now called News from the Shire named after the Wednesday roundup of news I send out, which only focuses on news away from Gloucester and Cheltenham.
I’ve been having a long think about what is best for me and my mental health because I do need to take breaks away from reading and writing about news. It does mean that my Wednesday roundup has been scrapped.
I appreciate that some of you wanted more focus on news away from Gloucestershire’s two main urban communities, but because of my main job at the Hereford Times and putting my mental wellbeing first, I hope you can understand why I’ve taken this decision.
My Substack remains my own work in my spare time. Every Saturday I roundup the week’s news from across Gloucestershire as well as my own pieces. In the meantime do get in touch, take a look at my Notes tab (Substack’s equivalent of social media posts), my Facebook page is always contactable and do take a look at What’s On Gloucestershire.
I would also like to share a video credited to the now former Mayor of Gloucester, Cllr Lorraine Campbell. As the 61st anniversary of the D-Day landings was marked this week, the video is a reflection on the VE Day events that took place in the city last month, including the lighting of the beacon atop Robinswood Hill. To mark the occasion I wrote a reflective piece.
⛅ Weekend weather: A yellow warning for thunderstorms and showers on Saturday but Sunday should be the better day with sunny intervals.
What has made the news this week?
I suppose I could start with the government granting development consent for the M5 junction 10 improvements or as reported by Carmelo Garcia, the managing director of Gloucestershire Airport, Jason Ivey, has denied concerns that small operators are being “pushed away” and “the site will be sold for housing.”
Pubs always intrigue readers, so this week saw a Wye Valley community share its hopes to raise money and refurbish the 16th century Brockweir Inn, plus one recent story you may have missed is Cotswold District Council denying Jeremy Clarkson’s claims they “had nothing positive to say” about this plans to buy the Coach and Horses Inn, in Bourton-on-the-Water.
New small businesses are also worth shouting about, including one in Cirencester. As reported by Kate Jones, Bite based at 61A Cricklade Street, is a new family-run sandwich bar and deli serving hot and cold food.
News roundup from Gloucester, Stroud and Forest of Dean
🍺 A much-loved landlord in Stroud has handed over the keys to his pub after more than 20 years. Harry Counsell, the outgoing landlord of the Clothiers Arms in Bath Road, has thanked the community for the last two decades. James Felton, Stroud News & Journal
🌿 Gloucester City Council are planning to increase the amount of greenery in the city and phase out a controversial weed killer. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🧵 A Stroud shopping institution is closing after more than 55 years of business in Stroud. Sew & Sew on Lansdown was established as a haberdashery and fabrics shop in 1968. Stroud Times
🛍️ Gloucester residents could soon be asked for their views on whether shops within the city’s conservation area should reflect the city’s history and heritage. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🐎 An equine therapy centre in Stroud is urgently seeking a new home. The Red Horse Foundation, based in Thrupp for the past 15 years, must relocate after the site it currently rents was put up for sale. Matty Airey, Stroud News & Journal
👑 A Coleford mum who was rejected by Miss GB because of her work as a cam girl has become the first to win a major beauty pageant title. Emily Kathleen Udell has been crowned Ms Glamour UK. The Forester
Photo of the Week
News roundup from Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds
🏠 Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson has criticised Cheltenham and Tewkesbury borough councils for “caring more about bats than the police” in a recent planning decision to bring 4,000 new homes without funding for the constabulary. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🚘 Parents who drop their children off at Gotherington Jaguars football club say it is “frustrating” they are unable to use a Bishop’s Cleeve car park a year after it was built. A coach has claimed that children are in danger as they’re being forced to “dodge cars”. Maisie Lilywhite & Edward Rowe, BBC Gloucestershire
🎸 Plans for a popular three day charity music festival near Churchdown have been given the go-ahead amid fears “gatecrashers will risk their lives walking across the M5” to get in. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
☕ Cheltenham coffee shop, The Find, announced its shock closure this week. Based on Regent Street, the shop opened in 2017 and wrote on Facebook: “we are not sure at this time when the cafe might open again.” Sarah Wood, Punchline
🏗️ An “ironic” precedent set by Cheltenham planners in approving plans for a pergola outside 131 The Promenade is now being used for another development outside what is possibly the spa town’s most iconic building, that’s according to the town’s civic society. Gloucester News Centre
⛔ A well-known Cirencester store has praised its 'incredible customers and community' after closing for good. Homeware shop Gardiner Haskins, located in Dyer Street in the town, announced its closure back in January. Kate Jones, Wilts & Glos Standard
The positive news section
Some really good news this week has seen the Cheltenham Playhouse annouce that following an urgent fundraising campaign to safeguard its future, the borough council has stepped in with a £25,000 grant to make sure the treasured venue gets through immediate financial pressures.
Cheese rolling on Cooper’s Hill took place recently but did you see this lovely story? A wheel of Double Gloucester won in the annual traditional event is to be served up to rough sleepers in north London. First-timer Ava Sender Logan, 20, managed to bag the 7lb (3kg) cheese in the women's race last month by tumbling down the almost vertical Cooper's Hill in Brockworth.
A team of 147 from The Dean Trail Volunteers were awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service this week. As Tomos Evans reports, it is a celebration of their outstanding contributions to the Forest of Dean’s vibrant mountain biking community.
A vet took part in a charity wing walk in Cirencester, dressed as a cat. Raising money for PetSavers, Julian Hoad is president of the British Small Animal Veterinary Assoiciation.
For football fans, did you know that a 16-year-old girl and her dad have made history? Richard Mansell and daughter Imogen Mansell are the first father-daughter duo to play for Gloucester City AFC men’s senior team and women’s under-16s squad.
Hundreds gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stratford Park Leisure Centre with a safety event. The first Safer Stroud Community Event, sponsored by Stroud District Council, took place around the leisure centre on Sunday, June 2, to mark the opening of the purpose-built facility on June 1, 1974.
Love this so much! 🥰🙌🇨🇦❤️