Saturday roundup of Gloucestershire news - 8th March
Weekly news including International Women's Day, build-up to the Cheltenham Festival and pancake racing in Dursley
Dear readers - this week I hope you have already seen my latest News from the Shire roundup. More pieces are on their way to your inbox and as you know this newsletter is also about my personal interests.
I’d like to wish women in Gloucestershire a happy and safe International Women’s Day. Organisations such as Safe Space work incredibly hard keeping not just women but vulnerable people safe and SoGlos have written a tremendous piece on 13 businesses in the county all female-led - a list including women in construction, farming, baking and much more.
This morning (Saturday March 8th) Cheltenham Park Run is being taken over for charity. Marking Endometriosis Awareness Month as well as IWD, Gloucestershire Endometriosis Support Group are marshalling and running the Pittville Park event to raise awareness of the condition.
The Cheltenham Festival is fast approaching. BBC Gloucestershire have written a handy guide and as Gloucestershire Live editor Phil Norris reports, a collection of campaigns titled the “War on Wee”, “Keep it Clean” and “Love Our Turf” all aim to make sure the town is safe and enjoyable for residents and racegoers.
During the Festival some women do feel anxious in the town and I know this thanks to work I did last year with University of Gloucestershire journalism students. Working alongside me, Cheltenham resident Daisy Bodkin wrote her own personal piece on the Festival coming to town.
News from the Shire - Wednesday 5th March
Dear readers - To start my latest Substack delivered to your inbox, there is a scheduling order to when you’ll receive certain pieces.
Headlines you may have missed this week…
🏥 NHS workers at both Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital are to strike for three days. Starting on March 17th, the dispute is about “pay and grading” with Chris Roche from the union Unison saying the NHS Trust has had “over 12 months to resolve this issue but has repeatedly missed deadlines." Maisie Lilywhite, BBC Gloucestershire
🛩️ Part of the income from the sale of £25m for Gloucestershire Airport will be used to pay off any outstanding debts to both Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough councils from a recent refurbishment of the site. Both councils jointly own the site as it was put up for sale in October last year. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
➡️ Gloucestershire has reiterated its commitment to helping Ukrainians who have fled after Russia’s illegal invasion of their homeland. Shire Hall chiefs agreed this week to set aside more than £1.7 million to continue top-up payments for hosts who take in Ukrainian refugees. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🗳️ Reform UK say they will be fielding a candidate in all 55 seats in the upcoming Gloucestershire County Council elections. The right-wing populist political party and limited company led by Nigel Farage will be hoping to build on its national election results last year. The party came third in the Gloucester, Forest of Dean, South Cotswolds, Stroud and Tewkesbury constituencies. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
Closure of Gloucester charity shop met with sadness
According to a Facebook post on February 21st, the YMCA Gloucester charity shop has closed its doors due to the “building being sold”. The closure of the shop on Northgate Street has seen a reader get in touch.
To many in Gloucester, a charity shop closing might not seem the biggest issue in the city. There may be the view that too many charity shops kill a high street, but on this occasion the reader who got in touch is desperately sad as the shop did wonders “for my mental health.”
Volunteering at the shop for around six months, the reader says it is “an essential place for low income families, the homeless and people who just want to get out. This is an absolute lifeline.”
The volunteer adds there should be a desperate need to try and make sure YMCA can move to a new space.
More news from Gloucester, Stroud and Forest of Dean…
🌊 Farmers have celebrated this week as a “completely bonkers” plan to turn hundreds of hectares of farmland along the Severn into salt marshes has been put on pause. EDF had planned to create 340 hectares of salt marsh at four villages in Gloucestershire (Arlingham and Rodley) and Somerset to compensate for the fish that would die at Hinkley Point C. John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
❤️ Gloucester will mark the National Day of Reflection, honouring those who lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic by officially unveiling its Covid-19 Memorial in Gloucester Park this Sunday, March 9th. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🏫 Parents and community leaders have spoken of their concerns following the announcement of the merger of two primary schools in Gloucester. It was announced last week that Moat Primary Academy and Robinswood Primary Academy, both in Matson, are to merge with one of the schools closing by September. Kim Horton, Gloucestershire Live
🍒 The fight is on to save a much-loved cherry tree in Dursley that could be cut down to build new homes. An urgent plea has been issued by the town’s deputy mayor Loraine Patrick to save the tree - which is located at the junction of Cambridge Avenue and Woodmancote. Alice Knight, Stroud News & Journal
🗳️ There are fears “there will be tanks on the streets” due to protests in villages near Gloucester if controversial plans for the City Council to absorb nearby parishes go ahead. Work is underway to reorganise local government in Gloucestershire and one of the proposals being floated could see the creation of a Greater Gloucester council. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🐦⬛ A crow stuck in netting on a building in Gloucester Quays had to be put to sleep. The creature was seen flapping about in the netting during the day, however it was not until around eight hours later the bird was released by emergency services. Kim Horton, Gloucestershire Live
🌍 Singers from the Forest of Dean Climate Choir participated in a powerful flash mob protest at St Paul’s Cathedral calling on the Church of England to commit to rewilding more of its land. Luke Davis, The Forester
🍞 An event dedicated to the future of 'real bread' is set to take place in Stroud. Entitled The Batch, it is being held on Tuesday, March 18th, from 10.15am to 5pm at The Long Table in Brimscombe. It will bring together farmers, millers, bakers, and enthusiasts to discuss the current state of better-bred bread and its future. Matty Airey, Stroud News & Journal
Photo of the Week
Latest crime news…
A 78-year-old man who killed his wife after suffering "years" of abuse at her hands has been jailed for three years. Charles Graham, 78, strangled his wife of nearly 50 years, Davinia, 67, in their home in Cheltenham in August last year after she threatened to stab him.
Police are appealing for information after a memorial bench commemorating the Second World War was vandalised in Stroud.
Two men have been jailed for five years each after being found guilty of providing a third man with a sawn-off shotgun. Michael Connors, aged 33 and of Raleigh Avenue in Walcot, and his younger brother Johnny Connors, aged 22 and of Purlieu in Lydney, were sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday February 28th.
Number plates have been stolen from a car in Great Rissington. The plates were stolen from a Skoda Octavia. Police have reminded the public to secure their plates with anti-theft screws.
News from Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds…
🚌 A temporary solution to Bourton-on-the-Water’s coach parking “hell” has been blasted as “insane” amid concerns from a nearby care home it will put lives at risk. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🛣️ Almost £14million has been allocated to motorway improvements and other major transport schemes in Gloucestershire, including junctions 9 and 10 of the M5. Council leaders from Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury Borough have agreed to allocate funding from fees earned from developments. Carmelo Garcia, Local Democracy Reporter
🌊 Cotswold Water Park has changed its name - to avoid confusion with swimming pools and slides. The area on the Gloucestershire-Wiltshire border will now be known as Cotswold Lakes, which better reflects its wetland landscape. The change will coincide with the first-ever Cotswold Lakes Day on Saturday, March 29th. Sarah Wood, Punchline
🙌 An independent business in Cirencester is celebrating reaching an important milestone. Lifestyle store La Mesa, situated at 85 Cricklade Street in the town, will soon mark six months of trading. Kate Jones, Wilts & Glos Standard
🎶 The Guiting Music Festival based is returning once again this year and will be running from July 25th to August 3rd featuring some big names including 'influential and popular' folk-rock band, Steeleye Span. Daniel Kelly, Cotswold Journal
Positive News…
🙂 ITV News West Country presenter Alex Lovell has become an official ambassador for the Cotswolds Dogs & Cats Home. Gloucester News Centre
📖 A primary school in Cinderford has dedicated its library to a local war hero, thanks to a generous donation from an American charity. Forest View Primary School officially named its library after Roy Mills, the last surviving member of the Glorious Glosters, following his passing in October 2024. Luke Davis, The Forester
🫏 Charlie Cooper, well known for playing Kurtan Mucklowe in the BBC ‘mockumentary’ This Country, has backed Nailsworth Donkey Sanctuary. Matt Bigwood, Stroud Times
🥤 A former voice actor from Cheltenham, who voiced Chase from the kids’ TV show Paw Patrol, has launched his own range of alcoholic iced tea. Hayden Hunter has launched the product after researching the drinks market for lighter and lower alcohol options. Sarah Kent, SoGlos
🏊♂️ A former Upper Lydbrook resident who swam at Cinderford in his younger years has set multiple British swimming records at the age of 86. Don Leatherbarrow, who now lives in Ross-on-Wye and competes for Gloucester Masters Swimming Club, recently took part in the National Long Course Masters Championships at Swansea International Sports Centre. Luke Davis, The Forester
😋 Bourton Kebab Van has won a Highley Commended accolade in the Kebab Van of the Year category. The British Kebab Awards 2025, saw the van chosen for the award out of 11 finalists, including Tetbury Kebab Van too! Kate Jones, Wilts & Glos Standard
🥞 Shrove Tuesday took place this week, so how about some great images of the annual Dursley Pancake race held on Parsonage Street. Runners, including some in fancy dress, had to flip a pancake as they ran down the street! Ash Loveridge and Matt Bigwood, Stroud Times