Saturday roundup of Gloucestershire news - 23rd May
Including a new leader at County Council, plenty of planning stories and a Gloucester royal tradition unveiled for The King
Dear readers - it is all change at Gloucestershire County Council as Shire Hall now has a new leader and a new direction under the Liberal Democrats.
This week saw Lisa Spivey voted in as the first female leader of the council and the new administration has outlined not just a new cabinet but also their three main priorities - clearing up highway signs, commitment to children in care and making roads safer.
A reminder that following the local elections earlier this month, the makeup of Gloucestershire County Council is now 27 Liberal Democrats, 11 Reform UK, nine Greens, six Conservatives, one Labour councillor and one Independent.
Elsewhere in the political world locally, Gloucester City Council have a new mayor. Councillor Ashley Bowkett is the 545th Mayor of Gloucester and was “deeply honoured” to accept the role. Mr Bowkett represents Barnwood, and Longlevens councillor Linda Castle has been given the honour as the 895th sheriff of Gloucester. The mayor’s charities for the civic year will be the Cheltenham & Gloucester Hospitals Charity and the James Hopkins Trust.
This is also the end of May bank holiday which means cheese rolling returns to the county. The annual event on Cooper’s Hill always comes with its yearly health check and now the race for a Double Gloucester even has its own Facebook page! Late champions Izzy John and Steve Brain will be remembered at this year’s event.
In other quirky news this week, Gloucester town crier Alan Myatt got the honour to proclaim the birth of Evie Pig, the sister of children’s TV programme Peppa Pig. Mummy Pig gave birth at 5:34am on Tuesday May 20 at the Lindo Wing of London’s St Mary’s Hospital.
Gloucester, Stroud and Forest of Dean
🚗 There are calls for a “thorough investigation” into the process of awarding the lease for Gloucester car boot. Gloucester City Council announced the new operator for the Hempsted Meadows site last week amid hopes it could become “the most significant in the country”. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
⚽ Forest Green Rovers lost in agonising fashion as Southend booked their Wembley trip for a chance to play in the football league. The Shrimpers’ Jack Bridge swept home four minutes from the end to cancel out Emmanuel Osadebe’s extra-time header to make it 2-2 and force a penalty shoot-out, with Gus Scott-Morris scoring the spot-kick which secured victory. James Felton, Stroud News & Journal
➡️ Parents are calling for temporary measures to reopen a damaged bridge amid school run issues. Lower Hempsted Bridge, which previously provided pedestrian access over the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, was closed by Gloucestershire Highways on April 22 due to safety concerns. Carys Nally, BBC Gloucestershire
🗳️ Tributes have been paid by two Stroud councils to a long-standing and former town mayor who died aged 86. John Marjoram was elected in 1986, a year after the Green Party had been formed, and was a councillor at town and district level for 35 years until he stepped down in 2021. James Felton, Stroud News & Journal
🏗️ The construction hoarding around the former Debenhams in Gloucester is being removed. The University of Gloucestershire’s City Campus at the 20,000sqm former department store in Kings Square is due to open later this year. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🏠 More deaths are being predicted on a ‘dangerous’ road in the Dursley area if plans are approved for new homes. More than 60 residents have objected to ‘ridiculous’ proposals to construct up to 73 homes in a development off Taits Hill Road between Cam and Stinchcombe. An outline planning application has been submitted to Stroud District Council by Clifton Homes. Alice Knight, Gloucestershire Gazette
Photo of the Week
Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds
🎭 Bosses of a Grade-II listed theatre have warned there is a "high risk" it will close because its finances are in a "critical" state. The Cheltenham Playhouse trustees say they do not currently have the "depth of funds" to survive. Chris Kelly, BBC Gloucestershire
🗳️ The new leader of Cotswold District Council has unveiled his top team. Councillor Mike Evemy was formally appointed as the new leader of the council at the annual meeting on Wednesday (May 21). Nathan Russell, Cotswold Journal
🍟 Plans for a third McDonald’s to open in Cheltenham have caused concerns that it will lead to increased "traffic, loitering and crime". Cheltenham mayor and county councillor David Willingham objected to the scheme saying residents were concerned it would increase crime and disorder. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
☀️ A solar farm on the Gloucestershire/ Worcestershire border has been given planning permission. The 66.66 hectare site is at Home Farm, Twyning Road in Strensham - with approximately two-thirds of the site within Tewkesbury Borough Council area and a third within Wychavon District Council in Worcestershire. Sarah Wood, Punchline
🏠 Major plans to build 4,115 homes near Cheltenham have sparked a strong backlash from more than 110 people along with seven villages amid fears it will have a “disastrous effect” on the area. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🏗️ A decision has been reached regarding plans to demolish the vacant Tesco Superstore in Cirencester and build a new four-storey retirement complex. The supermarket closed two years ago - with a nearby Tesco Express store opening in its place in Cricklade Street. James Felton, Wilts & Glos Standard
🏫 A Cheltenham school’s ‘ugly’ plans for a new classroom block and gym have been approved despite fears the “abominating” structure will loom over nearby homes. Alpha Schools’ plans for St Edwards School in Charlton Kings were debated by Borough planners this week. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🛣️ Highways chiefs are reviewing the road safety of a busy Cheltenham road which residents say sees near-miss accidents on a weekly basis. People living in Leckhampton are concerned about the dangers of crossing Church Road and the bottleneck the street has become for commuters. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🏗️ The Municipal Offices on Cheltenham Promenade look set to become a luxury spa hotel, with Cheltenham Borough Council revealing its preferred bidder in the process of selling the flagship building. Jake Chown, SoGlos
🏠 Outline plans have been submitted for a 30-home residential development in Chipping Campden. WR Haines has applied to Cotswold District Council for permission for the scheme on a parcel of land north of Olimpick Drive, on the edge of the town, off Dyers Lane. David Wood, Punchline
🚌 A Cotswold civic chief has quit in protest over the way a controversial coach parking scheme debate in Bourton-on-the-Water was handled. 🚌Councillor Jon Wareing has resigned amid concerns "legitimate public health and safety” anxieties over the stop gap solution for Meadow Way were ignored during a recent special Bourton Parish Council. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
➡️ In similar news, Gloucestershire County Council, in collaboration with coach operators, businesses and community stakeholders, is launching a temporary traffic management trial in Bibury, starting on Friday, May 23, to prioritise public safety during the bank holiday weekend. Coach bays in the middle of the village will be temporarily shut, with bus stops to be installed ‘for safer passenger drop-off and pick-up’. Kate Jones, Wilts & Glos Standard
Positive News Section…
🥧 Gloucester’s historic lamprey pie tradition has been celebrated with a new sculpture in the gardens of The King’s Cotswold home at Highgrove House near Tetbury. Gloucester has been presenting a Lamprey Pie to the reigning monarch since the medieval era. Gloucester News Centre
💐 Inspired by high-fashion window displays, theatrical set design and the fantastical imagery of the recent Wicked film; an imaginative trade stand designed in Nailsworth has won a four gold star award at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. Dreamt up by Rachael Austin, co-founder of Austin Design Works, the design has captured the attention of RHS judges. Emma Luther, SoGlos
😯 A small team of cavers has uncovered one of the largest cave systems discovered in Britain for decades and it lies beneath a quiet sheep field near English Bicknor in the Forest of Dean. The system, which now stretches over 10km and is still growing, was uncovered thanks to decades of dedication by amateur enthusiasts, beginning with Gloucester-based caver Paul Taylor in the 1990s. Luke Davis, The Forester
🏃 A great day lies in wait as Tetbury Woolsack Races return on bank holiday Monday. It dates back to the 1600's and crowds from across the globe travel to watch the event which has continued to be highlight for many and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever. Kim Horton, Gloucestershire Live