News from the Shire - Wednesday 16th April

Your latest roundup of Gloucestershire news from rural communities including Tewkesbury, Stroud, the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean

Dear readers - welcome to another roundup of news away from Gloucestershire’s two main urban centres, namely Gloucester and Cheltenham.

A bumper Easter Saturday news roundup is on its way to your inboxes soon but for now, below is this week’s News from the Shire featuring as much news as I can find from Tewkesbury, Stroud, the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean.

You should be familiar by now, all the links are attached to the hard dedicated work journalists in Gloucestershire do, while I have my own pieces ready and waiting to share very soon.

In case you may have missed it, I am conducting leader interviews for the upcoming Gloucestershire County Council elections. My first interview with Chloe Turner for the Green Party is available to read (link below) and more interviews with the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, an independent and Labour are all incoming…

I have no intention to make my newsletter constantly focus on local politics as we do need Gloucestershire news that focuses on human interest and positivity. I did read an interesting piece today on why journalism can be ‘loved again’ in the words of Joshi Hermann, founder of the Manchester Mill.

Tewkesbury

🚨 A former councillor has been jailed after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a child. Paul Ockelton, of Innsworth, had denied a charge of sexually assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, but was found guilty by a jury in March following a four-day trial. At Gloucester Crown Court on Monday, Ockelton, who represented Innsworth on Tewkesbury Borough Council, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and was given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. Maisie Lilywhite, BBC Gloucestershire

🍺 A riverside pub is looking for new tenants. The Red Lion beside the River Severn at Wainlode Hill between Tewkesbury and Gloucester, is being offered under a furnished tenancy with no upfront premium, presenting a rare opportunity for those eager to step behind the bar of one of the most recognisable pubs along the river. Lewis Clarke, Gloucestershire Live

🏠 Plans to build more than 130 homes have been approved by Tewkesbury Borough Council. Developer Taylor Wimpey plans to build the homes on land north of Innsworth Lane in Innsworth, as part of the wider Whittle Gardens development. The new housing estate will be made up of 136 homes, of which 46 will be designated as affordable housing. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter

🏫 A school which is ‘an aspirational school for its pupils’ where ‘expectations are high’ has been praised by Ofsted. Inspectors were impressed following their visit to Cleeve School in its latest inspection, which took place on 14 and 15 January 2025. Lewis Clarke, Gloucestershire Live

🪖 The £250m redevelopment of a Ministry of Defence (MoD) site will play a "key part" in the modernisation of the British Army. Storage facilities to house Army vehicles are being built at MoD Ashchurch, near Tewkesbury, as part of an infrastructure programme. By 2027, the site will have capacity to store 4,000 vehicles, including tanks and Land Rovers, in a controlled humidity environment to prevent deterioration and ensure they are ready for deployment. Maisie Lilywhite & Steve Knibbs, BBC Gloucestershire

🎭 An arts venue in a former Methodist church will have its application for a premises licence decided next week. Isbourne Arts in Winchcombe has applied for a licence for performance of plays, exhibition of films, performance of live music, performance of recorded music, performance of dance, other similar forms of entertainment and sale by retail of alcohol. The venue has applied for the licence to run from 9am to 11pm, seven days a week. Sarah Wood, Punchline

The old Winchcombe Methodist Church (Image credit: Isbourne Arts)

Stroud

➡️ Tributes have been paid to a loyal and fun district councillor who died suddenly last week. Labour’s Richard Maisey, who was elected to Stroud District Council last year for the Severn ward, also served on the environment and development control committee. Stroud MP Simon Opher has described Richard as one of his best friends in the Labour Party. James Felton, Stroud News & Journal

🎶 Stroud’s two bricks-and-mortar record stores celebrated a successful Record Store Day (RSD) on Saturday. Sound Records, run by Tom Berry, was one of only two record stores in the county (along with Badlands in Cheltenham) to be part of the event, whilst Sean Roe’s Klang Tone Records in Lansdown staged special events to mark the day whilst not officially being part of it. Matt Bigwood, Stroud Times

📫 Concerns have been raised about the future of the Post Office in Stroud while urgent calls have been made for more safeguards to secure it. The Post Office plans to hand over its 108 remaining directly-owned branches to franchisees by the autumn, including Stroud’s Russell Street. James Felton, Stroud News & Journal

🏃‍♂️ Following an epic marathon challenge, more than £2,200 was raised for Eastcombe Primary School. Teacher Jon King and teaching assistant Nikki Fowles took on 18 loops of a hilly route around Eastcombe to run an incredible 26.2 miles. Money raised will go to school playground equipment. Ash Loveridge, Stroud Times

💇 A mum-of-two has opened her own business after putting herself through barber school as a single parent. Chloe Breen, 27, from Great Oldbury near Stonehouse, started her career in the hair industry when she was 16 years old by enrolling onto a two year hair apprenticeship with Reflections in Bristol, along with completing a work placement at a hair salon in Wotton-under-Edge. Kim Horton, Gloucestershire Live

Cotswolds

🏠 Householders in Cirencester have voiced their opinions after adverts for retirement apartments in the town were put up before planning permission was granted for them. The planning portal for the district shows that a decision has not yet been given on an application for 69 retirement apartments at the old Tesco store at 4 Farrell Close in Cirencester. However, signs advertising the properties have been put up on and near the building. Kate Jones, Wilts & Glos Standard

➡️ Members of a Cirencester group have paid tribute to two trustees stepping down from their roles after more than ten years of service. People from Cirencester Civic Society said farewell to Carole Hudson and William Cooper. It was a poignant moment for the society at the end of its annual general meeting. Kate Jones, Wilts & Glos Standard

Forest of Dean

🚧 Eight months after Lydney’s Newerne Street Bridge was battered by floodwaters and further damaged in a car crash, repair work is finally set to begin this summer. The bridge, which crosses the River Lyd just a short walk from the town centre, was left in a fragile state after Storm Bert hit in November 2024. Luke Davis, The Forester

⛪ A bid to convert a redundant Gloucestershire church into twelve homes is a step closer to approval despite fears lack of parking are a “recipe for gridlock”. Forest of Dean District planners have voted to grant officers the authority to approve plans to go ahead with the works at the Church of St John in Coleford. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter

🏠 Plans to build a new bungalow in a village have been given the go-ahead. Abigail Smith and Gary McCreery have been granted permission to build the new home on land next to Rosemary Cottage in Hartpury. Despite the plans being in open countryside, the layout has been designed to meet the specific living requirements of Mr McCreery, who suffers from progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter

🍺 A rural pub has swapped pints for purpose, transforming into a community lifeline to combat social isolation. The George in Newnham on Severn is serving up more than drinks — offering education, culture and conversation to bring locals together. Lewis Clarke, Gloucestershire Live

🍔 The Farmers Boy Inn in Longhope has become famous for its iconic Big Ugly Burger, a challenge that has drawn food lovers and daredevils from across the region for almost 14 years. The burger, which features a whopping 2-pound patty, sits proudly between a bun of massive proportions, accompanied by a mountain of chips, salad, and crispy onion rings. Owner Philip Kiernan came up with the challenge inspired by Man vs. Food, and it’s since become a local legend, attracting food enthusiasts from across the region. Luke Davis, The Forester