News from the Shire - Wednesday 12th March
The latest roundup of news away from Gloucester and Cheltenham…
Dear readers - In case you missed my latest in-depth piece on Cheltenham parkrun being taken over for the day by Gloucestershire Support Group for Endometriosis UK, I leave the link for you below.
Cheltenham parkrun raises awareness of Endometriosis
Gloucestershire Support Group for Endometriosis UK have raised vital awareness of the condition thanks to participation at Cheltenham parkrun.
Before this week’s News from the Shire roundup, some feedback from a reader this week: “Signed up a couple of weeks ago, really useful and well put together, thanks.”
This reader is happy with the roundups I’m doing and that’s all I could possibly ask for. Rounding up news from across Gloucestershire, especially news written by hardworking journalists in the county, is why I write this Substack.
From reporters at Gloucestershire Live, BBC Gloucestershire, The Forester, Stroud Times, Stroud News & Journal, Gloucester News Centre, Punchline, Wilts & Glos Standard and the Cotswold Journal - the local stories they write deserve to be shared.
Why volunteers are planting trees on a Gloucestershire hillside
When we think of flooding in Gloucestershire, sometimes the instant thought is low-lying land along the River Severn at Tewkesbury or the River Thames at Lechlade. But frequent heavy rainfall on high ground can lead to serious storm runoff down the sides of hills, including Cleeve Hill.
In the village of Woodmancote, residents conscious of frequent extreme weather due to climate change are taking action. A third tree planting session in the space of around three years has taken place on the hillside as you drive away from the village and up towards the Cotswolds’ highest summit.
Landowner Rob Tucker got in touch to see if trees could be planted, mainly down to the fact that Rob and wife Annette have experienced storm runoff down into Woodmancote over the years. In 2007, he had floodwater in his front room which then flowed further onto and down Stockwell Lane, and in 2016 a landslide happened.
A simple action, planting a tree is in Rob’s view a good activity to do because “we have lost a lot of trees, he says. The ground is moving here, the hill stays saturated for a while after any heavy rain. Planting the trees will stabilise the ground, it’s great for wildlife and I like trees!”
What is not to like! 1,140 trees, all provided by Gloucestershire County Council, are being planted including species such as hazel and thorn. By putting spades into the ground and making sure trees are planted, this is a positive step help wildlife as well as a natural solution to combat flooding.
Nigel Adcock as Woodmancote resident and Tewkesbury Borough councillor for the Cleeve Hill ward says planting trees increases biodiversity, creates habitat as well as helping flood defences.
As a flood warden too, Nigel said: “This part of the hill is very wet so this is natural flood management. I do get a little frightened when I see the hill in wet weather. This is not a silver bullet but storm runoff does come down very quickly, so tree planting is a fluid way to help slow the water.”
More news from Tewkesbury Borough…
➡️ Tewkesbury’s Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas has travelled to Ukraine to deliver aid to the front line. Mr Thomas, who was in the RAF before being elected at the general election last year, has spoken about “the resilience and resolve of the Ukrainian people.” Edward Rowe & Jon Smith, BBC Gloucestershire
🏗️ Plans to close a restaurant and convert it into a hotel have been given the go-ahead. Premier Inn Hotels Ltd applied to Tewkesbury Borough Council for permission to convert Elmbury Lodge Brewers Fayre into 20 hotel rooms, plus a restaurant for hotel guests only. Sarah Wood, Punchline
🪖 An advanced storage facility with capacity to house over 900 Army vehicles has been delivered at MOD Ashchurch under the Vehicle Storage and Support Programme (VSSP). Gloucester News Centre
🚨 A young Gloucestershire man who pleaded guilty to engaging a 14-year-old girl in sexual activity has walked free from court. Kane Pearson, aged 21 and of Brockworth, had previously admitted to three counts of causing a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child. Katie Oborn, Gloucestershire Live
Stroud District
🏠 There are concerns more than £1.4 million has been spent to date on a flawed blueprint for 12,000-homes. Stroud District Council was asked last month by planning inspectors to withdraw their local plan amid concerns over M5 junction capacity. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
Vogue Haircare is celebrating 60 years in business at 10 Gloucester Street. The long-standing Stroud hair business was founded by Sue Hickman in March 1965 and later purchased in 2000, by Louise Price, Sue’s former apprentice and long-time hair stylist at the salon. Ash Loveridge, Stroud Times
🚆 A decision is due imminently on a battle between Bristol-based developer Wain Homes West England and local authorities over whether an original agreement to provide overflow car parking at Cam and Dursley railway station can instead be turned into space for five new homes. Simon Hacker, Punchline
📅 The GL11 Community Hub in Cam and Dursley will open its doors on Saturday, March 15th for a day of free activities as part of the National Lottery's open week. Matty Airey, Gloucestershire Gazette
❤️ A Stroud woman who lost her hair following chemotherapy is offering others going through the same thing a chance to make hats using their own hair. When Joy Roodenburg-Vermaat was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, she said she found the prospect of losing her hair "terrifying". She tried wearing wigs, but did not feel comfortable in them. Chloe Harcombe & Liz Beacon, BBC Gloucestershire
Cotswolds
🚌 Residents and businesses in Bourton-on-the-Water have had their say on controversial plans to launch a street drop-off and pick-up point for buses. The parish council approved plans to allow buses to stop in a designated on-street parking bay, which would allow people to get off and on their transport for up to 10 minutes. Kieran Williams, Cotswold Journal
💷 Landlords of the Horse and Groom in Bourton-on-the-Hill and The Halfway at Kineton have warned ‘price hikes’ during the Cheltenham Festival has a ‘massive’ negative impact on the Cotswold economy. Daniel Kelly, Cotswold Journal
🍺 The Hollow Bottom pub in Guiting Power is seeking new tenants. Long described as the ‘Festival pub’ due to its popularity during the Cheltenham Festival, the country inn was previously leased by the Lucky Onion Group and more recently by Youngs Pubs. Sarah Kent, SoGlos
Forest of Dean
🛍️ “Remarkable” plans to restore and enhance historic farm buildings next to Flaxley Abbey and create a new restaurant, farm shop, winery, wine tasting and events venue have been approved. Carmelo Garcia, Gloucestershire Live
➡️ Residents are being asked to share their views on a proposed Public Space Protection Order for Steam Mills Lake in Cinderford following concerns over rising anti-social behaviour in the area. Luke Davis, The Forester
🍺 A pub in Newnham has transformed into a vital community hub, offering a safe and welcoming space where local residents can come together, build friendships, and combat social isolation. Luke Davis, The Forester
🗳️ A former leader of the District Council has criticised the authority's decision to spend £50,000 on hiring an ecologist "responsible for the ocean". Forest of Dean District Council plans to recruit an "oceans officer", with the Green leadership saying the post will help protect the "precious" environment in the Severn and Wye rivers. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
❌ A long-fought scheme to build 12 tourism chalets on 3.7 acres of land close to the A48 near Lydney looks to be dead in the water after planners refused the idea. Simon Hacker, Punchline
🏕️ A bid has been made to buy an outdoor education centre at Mitcheldean for the community. The Wilderness Centre was sold by Gloucestershire County Council in 2014 but has come back up for sale. Mark Elson, The Forester