THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER! - Tewkesbury Borough Council
Transcription
THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER! - Tewkesbury Borough Council
THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER! Find out more on pages 6 and 7 Summer 2015 Produced by Tewkesbury Borough Council www.tewkesbury.gov.uk Council services now available online Did you know you can now pay, report and apply for a range of council services online at a time and in a place that suits you? INSIDE AS MORE AND more people carry out transactions and interactions online, Tewkesbury Borough Council is encouraging its residents to go digital when it comes to using its council services. Currently, residents can use a whole host of services at www.tewkesbury.gov.uk including paying for services such as garden waste, bulky waste and council tax online, as well as reporting issues such as noise, fly-tipping and missed bins. Using the council’s online services makes life just that little bit easier – particularly for residents with busy lives or from rural communities – as they can be used at a time and place that suits them. Of course, the council understands that not all customers are able to use online services and face-to-face, over the phone and written communication remains available for those who need it. The borough council is also encouraging anyone visiting its council offices to use its dedicated self-service portals. Two areas have been set up so that anyone wishing to can report, apply for or pay for council services there and then. There will always be What can you do online already? Report it: Noise problem Missed bins Anti-social behaviour Planning infringement Abandoned vehicle Fly-tipping or littering Stray dog/problem dog A dangerous building or structure A food safety problem including A dead animal in the street Street cleansing problem A damaged litter bin someone on hand to offer advice or assistance, and there will also be support for those people who haven’t used online services before. The council’s customer service team remains in place, so anyone who isn’t able to use online services, can speak to the team either in person or over the phone. To find out more about the council’s online services, please visit www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/doitonline. Bulky item collection service Graffiti, fly-posting or vandalism Council tax – make a payment/ A damaged dog waste bin Business rates direct debit A problem with a street name place Dog mess problem Council tax - Change of address Garden waste Apply for it: food Pay for it: Pollution Council tax Temporary event notices Registration of food premises Self Service Portal Last month 60% of the council’s website transactions were done through its Self-Service Portal. Have you tried it? Sign up for an account so you can manage all your service requests with Tewkesbury Borough Council. Creating an account is really easy and will save you time because you won’t have to fill in your personal details each time you visit. Go to Tewkesbury.gov.uk/self. Housing benefit debt Mortgage payment Land searches Planning application Invoice payment What’s? missoroinuggh Council is bury B nge of Tewkes d the ra n a p x e to nline. looking has available o e, it e servic services an onlin t s e g g To su mail please e ov.uk esbury.g k w e t @ s ea onlineid New council Community Get Real! Meet your new borough councillors Updates from across the borough Offers available on real nappies >> Pages 6 & 7 >> Page 8 >> Page 9 The Boathouse Upton Tapas restaurant and bar Beautiful river views and alfresco dining areas, Mediterranean and British Tapas www.theboathouseupton.co.uk Open Lunch 12 - 3 Tuesday - Sunday Evening 6 - 10 Wednesday - Sunday Enjoy 15% with your voucher on the back page Waterside, Upton on Severn, WR8 0HG | 01684 438161 02 TewkesburyBoroughNews CONTACT US Tewkesbury Borough welcomes new mayor Gloucester Road Tewkesbury GL20 5TT For all general council enquiries, phone 01684 295 010 or email enquiries@tewkesbury.gov.uk Out of Hours Emergency Number 01684 293 445 Brockworth Advice & Information Centre 01452 865 785 Churchdown Information & Advice Centre 01452 550 644 Thursday 9.15am to 1pm Winchcombe Information & Advice Centre 01242 609 238 Wednesdays 9am to 1pm Bishop’s Cleeve Advice & Information Centre Fridays 9am to 12noon 01242 674 440 Tewkesbury Tourist Information Centre 01684 855 040 Winchcombe Tourist Information Centre 01242 602 925 COUNCILLOR RON ALLEN was invested as the new Mayor of the Borough of Tewkesbury at a ceremony held at Winchcombe School in May. More than 120 guests welcomed the new mayor at the event, including family and friends and local dignitaries. Ron’s borough colleague, Cllr Mrs Elaine MacTiernan, is his mayoress, and his Chaplain is the Reverend Wendy Ruffle, the Minister for Prior’s Park, in the benefice of Tewkesbury Abbey. Ron has lived in Gretton for 41 years, in the Winchcombe area he represents as a borough councillor. Ron, who has been a councillor for 20 years, said: “I am honoured to be elected as mayor of the borough of Tewkesbury for 2015/16, and look forward to an eventful and exciting year ahead. “My aim will be to raise the profile of the borough where possible, and to encourage publicity and support for my chosen charities through the events and occasions I shall attend during my year as mayor.” During his year, the mayor will be supporting two charities - the local branch of the Trussell Trust and also Lupus UK. At the ceremony, Cllr Gill Blackwell was also invested as Deputy Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough. Cascades Leisure Centre 01684 293 740 Tewkesbury Borough News has a circulation of 38,000 and is distributed to all households in the Borough. The majority of the papers are delivered by Royal Mail’s Door to Door service although where coverage is available, the paper is delivered via normal post. If you have any comments about Tewkesbury Borough News please contact Clare Evans at Tewkesbury Borough Council on 01684 272 291 or email clare.evans@tewkesbury.gov.uk Tewkesbury Borough News is published by Tewkesbury Borough Council, and produced/printed by Artwork Creative Ltd. No part of this publication may be re-produced without express permission of the publishers. Manuscripts, photographs and other materials submitted to the newspaper are sent at the owner’s risk. Advertising is accepted and published under the strict guidelines of the CAP code as formulated by the Advertising Standards Authority (www.asa.org.uk). It is sold on behalf of Tewkesbury Borough Council by Artwork Creative Ltd. If you have any comment/concern about any of the advertising carried within Tewkesbury Borough News, or would like to advertise in future editions, please contact Artwork Creative Ltd on 01684 540 809. Products and services advertised in this newspaper by external organisations or companies do not carry the endorsement of Tewkesbury Borough Council. A version of this newspaper is available in large print. Call 01684 295 010 Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough Cllr Ron Allen www.tewkesbury.gov.uk Summer 2015 Dispose of needles safely to reduce risk to the public and workers Tewkesbury Borough Council and Turning Point are joining forces to raise awareness about the importance of safe needle disposal. THE CAMPAIGN FOLLOWS the discovery of needles in the borough council’s contracted Materials Recycling Facility - where the borough’s blue bin recycling is sent to be sorted. Each time needles are discovered at the site, it has to be shut down at a cost to taxpayers of around £1000. Anyone using needles - including diabetics, steroid users and users of other drugs - are encouraged to dispose of their needles using a needle exchange service, which is currently offered by four chemists across the borough and by Turning Point. Turning Point is a leading health and social care organisation and provides services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drugs and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and those with learning disabilities. It has a hub in Tewkesbury and it is working with the borough council to promote the message of safe needle use to those they support. The aim is to reduce the risk of harm to the community Turning Point Tewkesbury Hub Manager Chris Tarren said: “Turning Point is a confidential and non-judgemental service, and we are here to help and support in any way we can. Promoting needle safety is hugely important - we want to make sure we reduce the risk of harm to the community and to needle users, and to push the message that individuals must take responsibility for the safe disposal of needles.” Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Group Manager for Environment and Housing Val Garside said: “We want to do what we can to encourage needle users not to dispose of their needles in their blue recycling bins the health and safety risk to workers at the Materials Recycling Facility is significant, particularly as they are sorting the recycling by hand as part of the process. By working with Turning Point we are promoting how to safely dispose of needles, and we are encouraging anyone who has any concerns or questions about this issue to get in touch with their local pharmacy.” Grundon Waste Management Ltd, which before the application goes to committee by phoning 01242 272021. A leaflet explaining the public speaking scheme is available at www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/publicparticipation. The council has also changed its scheme of delegation to officers so that the Planning Committee operates in the most effective and efficient way. The new rules mean that routine applications will be dealt with by planning officers rather than the committee. Bigger, more controversial applications will still be considered by the committee as www.tewkesbury.gov.uk The service Turning Point provides is simple and practical “These shutdowns are a necessary requirement and cost the local taxpayer a significant amount of money. The service offered by Turning Point provides a simple and practical solution for the safe disposal of needles and we would encourage anyone looking to dispose of needles to contact the Turning Point Tewkesbury Hub and avoid disposing of their needles in with their household waste.” Anyone who witnesses needles being dumped are encouraged to contact Tewkesbury Borough Council in the first instance, and in the event of being pricked by a needle to seek emergency medical help. well as those where an objection has been made by the town or parish council, or where a borough councillor asks for an application to be heard by the committee. The new changes mean that councillors on the committee will be able to focus on major and more controversial applications, whilst retaining the option of asking for applications to be decided by the committee where necessary. The introduction of public speaking also means that the committee will be able to hear from those people most affected by proposed developments. TewkesburyBoroughNews 03 New leisure centre build on time and in budget Tewkesbury’s new leisure centre is progressing well - with the build work developing on time and within budget. THE WORK IS being carried out by Willmott Dixon, and the team on site is working to a schedule which will see the main structure constructed during the summer and the building made water tight before the winter. The facility is set to open in July 2016 and it will be managed and operated by Places for People, a company with multiple awards for swimming pool and leisure facility management, and which manages more than 120 leisure facilities nationwide. The new facility will include a 25-metre main pool and 20-metre training pool with fun features, operates the Materials Recycling Facility, fully supports the service offered by Turning Point. Steve Fisher, Group Materials Recovery Facility Manager for Grundons said: “We have a duty of care to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our operatives and as such we would urge needle users to dispose of their needles in a responsible manner, and not in their blue recycling bins. “Part of the process of sorting the recycled waste at our Materials Recovery Facility is done manually. Needles that are disposed of incorrectly and that are taken to our facility pose a significant health risk to our operatives, and if a needle is spotted then we have a duty of care to close our operations down in order to ensure the correct disposal of the needle and to assess the possibility of further risk to our people. Changes to council’s planning process TEWKESBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL has changed some of its procedures for dealing with planning applications at its Planning Committee. For the first time, members of the public can speak at its Planning Committee, for a 12-month trial period. Under the new scheme, the local town or parish council, as well as a representative of those in support of and those objecting to an application, now have the opportunity to speak directly to the committee. If you wish to take advantage of the new process, you must register by 10am the day Summer 2015 as well as a 60 station gym and two multi-functional studios. Tewkesbury Borough Council will be working in partnership with Places for People in early 2016 setting the centre’s timetable and prices. During the construction of the new facility, Cascades Leisure Centre is continuing to open as normal offering an extensive learn-to-swim programme with classes ranging from babies aged from four months old to adults. For more information on the new leisure centre, visit www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/newleisurecentre. For more information on the council’s existing leisure centre - Cascades – please visit www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/cascades or phone 01684 290833. Development plan under scrutiny THE JOINT CORE Strategy, a major planning document for Cheltenham , Gloucester and Tewkesbury Borough, is currently the subject of close scrutiny. The document is being examined by an independent examiner to consider whether the plan is sound, effective, justified and has been prepared in accordance with legal tests. The Joint Core Strategy, which has been developed by Gloucester City and Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough Councils, guides housing and employment development across the three areas up to 2031. The independent examiner, Elizabeth Ord, is chairing a series of hearing sessions over the summer/autumn to explore a range of issues at the very heart of the plan. Her role is to explore the representations made in respect of the plan and the points from the council, the public and developers, and draw conclusions on the plan’s contents and the way in which it has been produced. The examination has been divided into Stage One, Stage Two and Stage Three sessions as follows: Stage One has now finished and during the process, the inspector heard from all parties on matters such as housing numbers, employment forecasts, whether or not the plan has met the legal and procedural requirements, its vision and objectives, and Gypsies and Travellers. Stage Two is due to be heard in July onwards and will cover issues including the green belt and the allocations of sites. Stage Three will happen in the autumn and it will cover issues such as sites which have been omitted, the infrastructure, other plan policies and monitoring. This stage will also pick up on any additional information that the inspector has asked for following Stage 1. Dependent on the inspector’s findings into the Joint Core Strategy, the three councils will be looking to adopt the plan at the end of the year. For more information on the Joint Core Strategy, please visit www.gct-jcs.org For a local and independent Estate Agency service that buyers and sellers alike are proud to be associated with. Contact us: 01684 293 246 155 High Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5JP www.engallcastle.com 04 TewkesburyBoroughNews www.tewkesbury.gov.uk Summer 2015 Summer 2015 TewkesburyBoroughNews www.tewkesbury.gov.uk Communities put at the heart of council agenda TEWKESBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL is piloting a new programme which puts communities firmly at the heart of what it does. The programme is called the Place Approach and the aim is to use council resources more effectively to help communities to help themselves – staff will concentrate on the whole community in which residents live rather than focusing solely on delivering its services. By building on the council’s existing community development approach, which splits the borough into three areas (east, south and north-west), the Place Approach will enable parish councils, councillors and community organisations to work better together. Staff will concentrate on what makes an area tick and encourage active citizens, community action and dynamic communities. Ways in which the Place Approach could be used effectively include large projects, significant planning applications, major complaints, issues affecting a particular area and community initiatives. The council has been working with councillors to pilot this way of working in the east of the borough – with the aim of extending it across the whole of the borough in the near future. Within the east area – which includes Bishop’s Cleeve, Winchcombe and the surrounding villages – councillors have identified broadband speed as a key issue for residents and businesses. As a result, the council is looking at solutions which include the government’s Broadband Voucher Scheme. Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Economic Development and Community Manager Andy Sanders said: “Sometimes it isn’t easy for our communities to navigate around and understand who does what in the council. By putting the place first, we hope to work with our communities to understand and address issues and concerns more quickly. We want to be able to reflect the context of the place, understand local difference, and connect to the movers and shakers to enable better outcomes for the people who live here’. THE INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED PARKRUN is coming to Tewkesbury. The event will be held every Saturday morning from July on the beautiful setting of The Vineyards overlooked by the magnificent Tewkesbury Abbey. This popular 5km fun run is a free to enter, weekly event where all runners receive weekly updates from parkrun HQ regarding their running times, progress and past performances. The events take place in pleasant parkland surroundings throughout the world and runners of all abilities are encouraged to take part; from those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience; all are welcome The initial set up costs for the event have been met by Tewkesbury Borough Council but from this point onwards, the event continues thanks to a team of enthusiastic volunteers led by the Race Director, Kerry Newell, of the Tewkesbury Ladies Running Club. With the support of Tewksbury Rugby Club, which has kindly offered its facilities, the Sports Development team at Tewkesbury Borough Council and a parkrun team of dedicated volunteers, it is expected the Tewkesbury Parkrun to be amongst the best in the country. For more information on the Place Programme, please contact communitydevelopment@tewkesbury.gov.uk THE SUPERFAST BRITAIN initiative is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It has already been rolled out in 22 cities and has now been extended to a further 28 areas. Gloucester City Council is one of the new locations and under the new guidelines it is able to partner with Stroud District Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council to support a number of postcodes in these areas. Companies and organisations in parts of these districts will be eligible to apply for vouchers to cover connection costs of between £100 and £3,000. The scheme will help businesses, charities and voluntary organisations in eligible parts of Tewkesbury Borough which struggle with inadequate broadband provision in their offices. The grant ing date The clos s is n io will pay towards the installation of a superfast system, to improve t a c li for app 6. 1 0 2 connectivity, reduce downtime, increase speed and help improve h c r 31 Ma staff productivity. It can also fund connection at home if this is the main place of work. Businesses and organisations interested in finding out more can check if their postcode is eligible on the Connection Voucher website www.connectionvouchers.co.uk. If you are interested in taking part please either register on the parkrun website www.parkrun.org.uk or contact Neil Meynell, Sports Development Officer at Tewkesbury Borough Council on 01684 272092 or neil.meynell@tewkesbury.gov.uk. To find out more, email BCVcustomer@gloucester.gov.uk or phone 01452 396986. Flood-affected businesses based in Tewkesbury and along the Rivers Severn and Avon are set to benefit from £225,000 of funding. Tewkesbury Borough Council secured the pot of money as part of its £475,000 share of the government’s Business Support Flood Grant. A proposal was developed, in liaison with local business organisations and the government, to deliver an extensive programme of business flood support and build resilience in affected areas. This proposal includes the following work areas: Gloucestershire Enterprise leads Business Continuity Training Programme The world is changing fast – are you changing too? As part of this work a programme of business training will be delivered by local company, Gloucestershire Enterprise Ltd, which is based at Twigworth Business Centre. This work will help support businesses to continue trading, honour contracts in difficult times and help ensure businesses are geared up for any future impact, with robust business and continuity plans in place. Work will include the delivery of 1:1 mentoring support, the creation of business continuity plans, training courses to help businesses carry on trading during incidents, and the development of new communication channels with customers. To succeed in the Digital Age people and organisations need a new set of competencies and a 21st century mind-set. At Red Admiral Learning we provide learning solutions that help you embrace these changes and develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to perform and succeed in the 21st century workplace. Solutions that combine the latest thinking in business, leadership, and management with the latest advances in digital learning and communication. master classes Small businesses, charities and community groups in Tewkesbury Borough are being given the chance to apply for grants of up to £3000 as part of a government scheme to speed up access to superfast broadband. Council secures £225,000 to support flood-affected businesses Telephone: +44 (0)1684 252393 Email: enquiries@redadmirallearning.com www.redadmirallearning.com workshops Grants available of up to £3k to speed up broadband for local businesses is coming to Tewkesbury shows This map ugh is boro how the the three for o t in t li sp proach Place Ap 05 coaching e-learning mobile learning Businesses interested in this area of support should contact Gloucestershire Enterprise on 01452 733546 or email: info@glosenterprise.co.uk Mosaique and Vivid lead marketing campaign programme Two local companies are heading up a series of promotional campaigns to support riverside pubs and tourism businesses along the rivers Severn and Avon, increase promotion of Tewkesbury as ‘open for business’ and to market the town as a destination to visit. Mosaique Creative & Marketing and Vivid PR have been awarded a contract to deliver a range of activities funded by the Government’s Business Support Scheme. The marketing programme includes a new branding for Tewkesbury, which takes inspiration from the town’s heritage and ter kets pos unique location as well as focusing on This mar mple present-day attractions. In addition is an exa k or to new signage, the programme will of the w id n e a d Viv feature a new website, alongside other Mosaiqu g in the marketing materials. There will also be are doin an extensive press and PR campaign to borough attract tourists and support events, as well as a promotional campaign to support riverside pubs and tourism businesses along the rivers Severn and Avon. To encourage inward investment for businesses in the town and surrounding area as well as within the rural communities along the River Severn and Avon, there will be a new website, a video and prospectus with a supporting promotional programme. Tewkesbury HigH sTreeT saTurday 24 OcTOber 9am TO 5pm FurTHer inFOrmaTiOn: 01684 855040 www.visittewkesbury.info 06 TewkesburyBoroughNews Summer 2015 www.tewkesbury.gov.uk Summer 2015 TewkesburyBoroughNews www.tewkesbury.gov.uk MEET YOUR NEW BOROUGH COUNCILLORS THE LOCAL ELECTIONS on 7 May have resulted in the following political groups being formed on the Council: Churchdown Brookfield The Conservative group with 33 seats. The Liberal Democrat group with two seats. The Independents group with two seats. One member has not joined any group and is classed as non-aligned. This makes a total of 38 members. Here, you can find the contact details of your local councillors: Ashchurch with Walton Cardiff Vine Tree Farm Gander Lane Teddington Glos, GL20 8JA Cllr Philip Awford (C) Cllr Melanie Gore (C) Cllr Mike Sztymiak (I) Old Orchard House Parton Road Churchdown Gloucester, GL3 2JG 01452 713502 10 Sedgley Road Bishop’s Cleeve Cheltenham Glos, GL52 8DD 01242 674998 6 Tirley Elm Bungalows Tirley Gloucester GL19 4EU 01452 780979 33 The Lawns Gotherington Cheltenham Glos, GL52 9QT 07970 429832 5 Twixtbears Tewkesbury Glos GL20 5BT 01684 299743 Cllr David Foyle (C) Cllr Andrew Reece (C) Cllr Derek Davies (C) Leader of the Council and Corporate Portfolio Holder Normansbrook Farm Sandy Pluck Lane Bentham Cheltenham, GL51 4UB 01242 862772 11 Vilverie Mead Bishop’s Cleeve Cheltenham Glos, GL52 7YY 01242 673325 Cleeve Grange Cllr Sue Hillier-Richardson (nonaligned) Cllr Ruth Hatton (C) Cllr Harry Turbyfield (C) 19 Court Road Brockworth Gloucester GL3 4EN 01452 864350 Fernleigh Post Office Lane Cleeve Hill Cheltenham, GL52 3PS 01242 678521 Lead Member for Customer Focus Old Vicarage Stanley Pontlarge Cheltenham Glos, GL54 5HD 07973 138043 6 Kaybourne Crescent Churchdown Gloucester GL3 2HL 01452 859388 Innsworth with Down Hatherley Cllr Graham Bocking (C) 5 Aragon Way Churchdown Gloucester GL3 1NN 07719 723792 Coombe Hill Cllr Dave Waters (C) Deputy Leader of the Council Lead Member for Finance and Asset Management Isbourne 2 Chester Close Apperley Gloucester, GL19 4EA 07530 152645 Cllr Mark Williams (C) Brawn Farm Rodway Lane Sandhurst Gloucester, GL2 9NR 01452 731010 Cllr Anna Hollaway (C) Kayte Farm Southam Lane Southam Glos, GL52 3PE 01242 663709 Cllr Philip Workman (I) Shurdington Woodend Farm Shuthonger Tewkesbury Glos, GL20 6EE 01684 290796 Cllr Philip Surman (C) Yew Tree Farm Little Shurdington Cheltenham Glos, GL51 4TX 01242 862880 Twyning Cllr Terence Spencer (C) Tewkesbury Newtown 104A Cotswold Grange Country Park Meadow Lane Twyning Glos, GL20 6DQ 01684 292518 Cllr Vernon Smith (C) Cherrytrees Station Lane Tewkesbury Glos, GL20 5DB 01684 274248 Tewkesbury Prior’s Park Cllr Kevin Cromwell (C) 39 East Street Tewkesbury Glos GL20 5NR 07860 230711 Cllr John Evetts (C) Cllr Julie Greening (C) Wormington Grange Wormington Broadway Worcs, WR12 7NJ 01386 584353 Monks Barn Cottage Church Street Tewkesbury Glos, GL20 5SA 07880 608796 Winchcombe Cllr Ron Allen (C) Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing Touchwood 7 Duglynch Lane Gretton, Cheltenham, GL54 5EX 01242 603064 Cllr Janet Day (C) Manor Farm Greet Cheltenham GL54 5BJ 01242 602423 Cllr Jim Mason (C) Lead Member for Clean and Green Environment Northway Cllr Pauline Godwin (C) Cleeve Hill Cllr Mike Dean (C) Deputy Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough 5 Haycroft Close Bishop’s Cleeve Cheltenham Glos, GL52 8SR 07711 269096 5 Aragon Way Churchdown Gloucester GL3 1NN 07988 687886 Cllr Ron Furolo (C) Cllr Gill Blackwell (C) Lead Member for Economic Development/Promotion Cllr Rob Garnham (C) 14 Pelham Crescent Churchdown Gloucester GL3 2BN 01452 712058 Brockworth Hucclecote Cllr Alex Evans (C) Cllr Pearl Stokes (LD) 12 Woodleigh Field Highnam Gloucester GL2 8LP 01452 501816 Cllr Rob Bird (C) 7 Warren Close Churchdown Gloucester GL3 1JP 01452 856375 Cllr Robert Vines (C) 19 Court Road Brockworth Gloucester GL3 4EN 01452 864350 Cleeve West Lead Member for Community Badgeworth Lead Member for Built Environment 5 Rosehip Way Bishop’s Cleeve Cheltenham Glos, GL52 8WP 01242 672119 Cllr Kay Berry (LD) Daffodil Cottage Deerhurst Gloucester GL19 4BX 07774 570525 Tewkesbury Town with Mitton Oxenton Hill Cllr Bob East (C) Churchdown St John’s Cllr Heather McLain (C) Highnam with Haw Bridge Cllr Richard Bishop (C) Carabel Brookfield Road Churchdown Gloucester, GL3 2PF 01452 712234 Cllr John Hesketh (C) 119 Moorfield Road Brockworth Gloucester GL3 4JQ 01452 864042 Cleeve St Michael’s 23 Oak Drive Northway Tewkesbury Glos, GL20 8QN 01684 275304 Cllr Elaine MacTiernan (C) Lead Member for Organisational Development 35 Oak Drive Northway Tewkesbury Glos, GL20 8QN 01684 291117 Details of your local councillors can also be found at www.tewkesbury.gov.uk 55 Abbots Leys Road Winchcombe Cheltenham Glos, GL54 5QX 01242 604226 Key to political groups on the council: C = Conservative Group LD = Liberal Democrat Group I = Independents Group All Councillor photos: ©Posers Photography Ltd 07 08 TewkesburyBoroughNews www.tewkesbury.gov.uk Summer 2015 Summer 2015 COMMUNITYNEWS Churchdown Community Association celebrates its 50th birthday CHURCHDOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Founded in 1965 from a public meeting calling for the establishment of a community centre in Churchdown, it caught the imagination of local families who went on to raise funds to see their dream start to become a reality when they purchased the necessary land in 1970. The original centre was a partially prefabricated building and the whole venture nearly had to be abandoned when the contractor went bankrupt, having been paid most of his money before the building was delivered to site. It was only with the generosity of a local contractor and through the hard work of volunteers that the centre was officially opened in 1976. The venture, however, was a great success and over the next 20 years the centre New play park in Northway NORTHWAY’S BRAND NEW £130,000 play park is now open to members of the public. One of Northway’s local children (the overall winner of a parish art competition) cut the ribbon to the play park at a grand opening event on 13 June. Runners up were awarded prizes and celebratory balloons were handed out to all at the event. Free refreshments were available and the local Police were on hand to code bicycles alongside their mascot ‘Colin the Crocodile’. If you have not seen the new play park make sure you pay a visit soon. gradually expanded to include a double skittle alley and enlarged lounge bar. By 2000 the prefabricated hall section was causing some problems so designs were put forward to provide a much more substantial and enlarged hall with additional meeting rooms. It was soon evident that the cost of the building works was going to be over £500,000 - well beyond the centre’s resources. Fortunately thanks to a financial grant of £329,000 community grant from Tewkesbury Borough Council, Doug Weldon, and a £100,000 grant from the Churchdown Parish Council, a new hall and additional rooms were ready for use in 2003. Since then the centre’s activities have expanded and we are now host to a wide range of activities - from multicultural events to regular dances, concerts, plays and exhibitions, as well as craft classes for all ages. Woodmancote Village Hall refurbishment completed Wash day restored by grant LAST YEAR WOODMANCOTE Parish Council reluctantly had to dispose of its old village hall, which had been an icon of the area since 1923. However not all was bad news as the proceeds of the sale have been ploughed back into it to create a new village hall, which now benefits from a new highly efficient boiler system that controls and heats the various zones of the building. New metal external security doors have been installed together with a re-laid patio. The bespoke doors were designed to blend in with the original features of the hall. Bow topped fencing encloses the patio area and provides a convenient outside area for the play group children to play safely. The main kitchen has also been totally gutted and re-equipped with new catering units and equipment; the flooring has also been replaced and the whole room redecorated. The main toilets have similarly been gutted, new flooring and modern facilities installed and again total redecoration. The parish council together with the hall’s caretaker have managed the various contractors involved in completing the works, which have been carried out within the time scales agreed from the outset. The facilities were handed back to the Village Hall Management Committee in April, which will now continue to maintain the hall and its refurbished facilities for the benefit of Woodmancote’s residents. Winchcombe summer event THE 66TH ANNUAL WINCHCOMBE Country Show returns to Winchcombe Senior School on Monday, 31 August 2015. At 11.30am a procession featuring Morris dancers, Winchcombe Fire Engine and vintage tractors will lead locals through the town before the show starts at 12noon. There will be a traditional flower show and classes Tickets cost celebrating traditional skills, and a highlight of the day will £3 for adults, be wood carving demonstrations by the Tree Pirate Chain £1 for children Saw Team, alongside a host of other activities. under-16, The schedule for the show is now available on line at and £7.50 for a www.winchcombeshow.org.uk family of two adults There will also be a Charity Music Night in the marquee and up to three on 29 August (5pm) featuring live music. The entrance for children. this event is £5- and children under 14 can enjoy free entry. On the following Sunday, local businesses will be supporting the Run Winchcombe Event at Sudeley Castle featuring a 5k fun run, a 10k hill climb to Belas Knapp, and a 1k run for 10s and under. Entry forms are available on www.winchcombeshow.org.uk. 09 Are you up-to-date with social prescribing? Exercise in the elements MEMBERS OF CHURCHDOWN parish council and local residents recently braved the cold to try out newly installed outdoor exercise equipment at Tudor Mead Field in Churchdown. The seven-piece ‘cardio blast’ circuit includes hurdles, monkey bars, balance beams, parallel bars, a skier, space walker and leg press. The equipment, which cost just over £16,000, was supplied and installed by Wicksteed Leisure. The project was principally funded by the parish council and Tewkesbury Borough Council, together with £1,000 each from Gloucestershire Playing Field Association and Gloucestershire County Council’s Active Together Grant scheme. The parish council hopes that all local residents will take advantage of this free outdoor gym to improve their fitness and wellbeing. It can be used in all weathers and for fitness or fun, by all ages. Churchdown Parish Council’s Chairman, Cllr Bill Whelan said “This shows what can been done by working together with our partners to obtain funding, and helping the whole community to get fit with some gentle exercise and most of all meeting other likeminded people of all ages”. TewkesburyBoroughNews www.tewkesbury.gov.uk What is social prescribing? Two tonnes of litter cleared from Elmstone Hardwicke A RECENT CLEAN-UP of Cursey Lane in Elmstone Hardwicke in March resulted in almost two tonnes of rubbish being collection by a team of volunteers. Philip Smith who runs an agricultural enterprise from Cursey Lane organised the event with the help of Ken Preece, chairman of Elmstone Hardwick Parish Council. Philip said: “We wanted to make a difference to the amount of rubbish in the lane, and we are pleased with the tremendous support from volunteers who gave up their time to help. It is important for people in their community to set an example and take the lead to support the volunteer litter picking scheme” For more information on the borough council’s litter picking scheme, please visit www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/litterpickers Social prescribing is a referral made by your GP for non-medical sources of advice, support and information provided by local groups and organisations. There is increasing evidence to support the use of social interventions for people experiencing a range of problems which impact their overall health and wellbeing. Where is it happening? Social prescribing is actually happening in every GP practice in Tewkesbury Borough. Why might my GP refer me for support in the community? GPs are skilled and experienced at diagnosing and treating medical conditions. They may also identify that you could have a non-medical issue, which may not necessarily be related to your health condition, but could benefit from the services of an organisation or community group which is local to you. How does it work? Get real! – nappies that can save money and the environment Did you know that : • Every day Glouce stershire throws over 86,000 disp • Landfilling disp osable nappies in osable nappies co to landfill. sts Gloucestershire • It is estimated th over £100,000 pe at disposable napp r year ies could take up to 500 years to ro t away. There are lots of groups, organisations and clubs in the borough which can support the health and wellbeing of local people. However, people often don’t know about them, or the support they can provide. Many of these groups and organisations have decided to work more closely with GPs in the borough to help ensure that people know what support and services they could benefit from and how to get in touch. Your GP will talk to you about what kind of support or help you need, and will put you in touch with someone who can talk you through the options available. What kind of support is available? Depending on your individual situation, you might benefit from help in some of the following areas: Healthy living, including weight management and exercise Building networks and making friends in your community Caring for someone in your own home or elsewhere Housing-related issues Your mental health and wellbeing and more ... So what happens next? Once social prescribing has been identified as the right option for you, and you agree, you will either be referred to a social prescribing co-ordinator, who will call you to talk to you about local activities, services or organisations that might be of interest to you, or, if you are with the GP practices in Bishop’s Cleeve and Winchcombe you will be referred directly to the appropriate activity, service or organisation. Summer In Tewkesbury As The Roses is redeveloped, we offer an exciting programme of events and films at other venues around the town. Why should you choose real nappies? Reduce waste - your family can cut its waste in half by switching to real nappies Kinder to the environment - reusable nappies produce fewer greenhouse gases in their production, use and eventual disposal than disposable nappies Save money - During the time a baby is in nappies, parents could spend over £1,000 on disposables. As an alternative, you would only need 15 to 20 reusable nappies, depending on the type you choose and how often you do washloads. These will typically cost around £150 to £200. EXTRA FACILITIES WILL be available for Chaceley residents in times of flood, thanks to a grant of £1900 from Gloucestershire Community Foundation. Chaceley Village Hall already provided toilet and cooking facilities for residents affected by flood – as they were last year for almost five months. The £1900 grant has enabled the village hall committee to add to this and purchase a washing machine, new fridge and extra cupboard space so the small kitchen can work more efficiently. Chairman, Nicholas Mullane said “We are very grateful to Gloucestershire Community Foundation. The washing machine had been particularly asked for by residents in a village survey but the committee had been unable to spare the funds to purchase one. The money has bought items that will help those affected to carry on a little more normally in these difficult circumstances”. Queen And Country 15 Artisan Fri 31 July 7.30pm From Fri 31 July The Watson Hall A Midsummer Mr Holmes PG Night’s Dream From Fri 7 Aug Sun 2 Aug 3pm The Watson Hall Victoria Gardens The Watson Hall Discount vouchers and special offers for real nappies Discount vouchers, special offer packs, loan kits and talks are offered through the Gloucestershire Real Nappy Project (GRNP). Andrea and Kirstie, the Real Nappy project officers, can be contacted by emailing glosnappies@resourcefutures.co.uk. How to claim your nappy voucher The GRNP scheme offers a £30 voucher which can be used against the purchase of real nappies. To be eligible for the voucher you must: Be a Gloucestershire resident Be expecting or have a child under 24 months Spend at least £50 on new real nappies at one time, and Provide an itemised receipt You can only make one application per household unless you have twins. There are three ways you can use your real nappy voucher: Apply for your voucher, then use it to order the discount pack ; or Buy your nappies and claim your £30 back; or Apply for your voucher and then purchase real nappies. For more information, visit www.recycleforgloucestershire.com/discountpacks The Wind In The Willows Twelfth Night Minions U Tues 11 Aug 7pm From Fri 14 Aug Tues 11 Aug 2.30pm Victoria Gardens The Urban Folk Quartet Tues 25 Aug 7.30pm Victoria Gardens The Watson Hall The Watson Hall Over the summer The Roses’ Box Office phone line will be manned between 10.30am - 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 1.30pm Saturdays. For those wishing to book in person, a Box Office will be located at The Roses Charity Shop, 149 High Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5AL between 9.30am - 4.30pm Mon to Sat. There will also be a Box Office open for one hour before all events, for cash sales only. Box Office: 01684 295074 • www.rosestheatre.org Summer 2015 www.tewkesbury.gov.uk AUGUST WHAT’S ON Herefordshire | Shropshire | Mid-Wales 22 - 23 August Richard III Weekend Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe Mondays throughout August* Adventure Monday Sudeley Castle Winchcombe www.sudeleycastle.co.uk (*except Bank Holiday) Tuesdays throughout August Teddy Bears Tuesdays Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway www.gwsr.com Wednesdays throughout August Children’s Wednesday Sudeley Castle Winchcombe e sca pe www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 15 September - 15 November British Wildlife Photography Awards Nature In Art Twigworth 23 August Tewkesbury Classic Vehicle Festival Tewkesbury School 11am-5pm 19 – 20 September Day Out With Thomas and Friends Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway www.gwsr.com 29 August Tewkesbury Hospital Fete 19 September Basket Making Workshop 10am-4pm Tewkesbury Heritage & Visitor Centre 29 August Great Comberton Flower Show 2pm-5.30pm to the holiday home www.theflowershow.org.uk of your dreams www.3-shires-craft-guild.com 24 October Food & Arts Street Market 9am - 5pm Tewkesbury www.visitewkesbury.info 26 - 31 October Halloweek Sudeley Castle Winchcombe www.sudeleycastle.co.uk www.tewkesburyheritage.co.uk 31 October Halloween ‘Steam and Scream’ Special Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway 20 September Vintage Cars Sudeley Castle Winchcombe www.gwsr.com 26 September Fish & Chips & Murder Mystery evening Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Poston Mill received th e top gold honour in th e parks category at May’s Visi tEngland awards cere mony, beating nearly 2000 ot her eligible parks in En gland to the title. 1 – 2 August Vintage Sports Car Club Prescott Hillclimb enjoy www.prescott-hillclimb.com touring holidays in idyllic surroundings! aving rks will be h All pa s d n e k e e w Ope n Come and join us at the Malvern Shows Go West Motorhome show August 14th to 16th Malvern Malvern Caravan and Autumn show Motorhome show Sept 26th to 27th October 2nd to 4th 9th to 31st on August 2 th 24th and 25 and October showcasing e b l il w s rk a when the p r sale owned HH fo re p d n a w ne around our lk a w to e c and a chan parks. 1 - 2 August WW1 Commemoration Tewkesbury T: 01684 855040 6 August Guided Battlefield Walk Tewkesbury 7.30pm Tewkesbury Crescent www.tewkesbury.org.uk 7 August Car Auction Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway www.gwsr.com 7 - 9 August Lakefest Croft Farm Waterpark, nr Tewkesbury www.lakefest.co.uk 8 – 9 August Steam & Real Ale Weekend Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway www.gwsr.com 11 - 31 August Inside Out Exhibition Nature In Art Twigworth arrowbank.co.uk pearllake.co.uk postonmill.co.uk rockbridgepark.co.uk smithypark.co.uk westbrookpark.co.uk 01544 388312 01568 708326 01981 550225 01547 560300 01686 630657 01584 711280 26 - 27 September Malvern Autumn Show www.winchcombeshow.org.uk www.threecounties.co.uk 3 - 20 September Susan Jane Lees – Elephants Nature In Art Twigworth 7 November Tewkesbury Firework & Bonfire Display The Vineyards Tewkesbury www.visittewkesbury.info 13 November Fish & Chips Warwickshire Railway Gloucestershire www.nature-in-art.org.uk 3 September Guided Battlefield Walk, Tewkesbury 7pm Tewkesbury Crescent www.tewkesbury.org.uk 5 September Fish & Chips on the ‘Cheltenham Fryer’ Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway www.gwsr.com 5 - 6 September British & Midland Hillclimb Championship Prescott Hillclimb www.prescott-hillclimb.com 10 - 13 September Heritage Open Days www.visittewkesbury.info 12 September Tewkesbury’s Vintage Fair 11am to 4.30pm Tewkesbury Park Hotel www.tewkesburyvintagefair.co.uk 13 September Classic Vehicle Days Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway www.gwsr.com www.gwsr.com 22 November Tewkesbury Festival of Lights 27 September Crescendo Big Band 7pm Gupshill Manor, Tewkesbury www.visittewkesbury.info www.crescendoband.co.uk 2 - 11 October Cheltenham Literature Festival www.cheltenhamfestivals.com 3 - 4 October American Autumn Classic Prescott Hillclimb Gotherington www.prescott-hillclimb.com 24 November - 3 January Mind the Gap Exhibition Nature In Art Twigworth 4 October Guided Battlefield Walk, Tewkesbury 2.30pm Tewkesbury Crescent www.nature-in-art.org.uk www.tewkesbury.org.uk 5 - 11 October Wool Week Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 6 - 22 October Brunel Cotswold Embroiders Exhibition Nature In Art, Twigworth www.nature-in-art.org.uk www.nature-in-art.org.uk 9 – 10 October Tewkesbury Mop Fair 15 August Fish & Chips on the ‘Cheltenham Fryer’ Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway www.tewkesburyfairsociety.co.uk www.gwsr.com www.tewkesbury.org.uk 10 – 11 October Autumn Diesel Weekend Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway www.gwsr.com Craft in Action Tewkesbury Abbey REGULAR EVENTS 2015 31 August Winchcombe County Show OCTOBER in picturesque countryside with the family SEPTEMBER www.gwsr.com 1 November Guided Battlefield Walk, Tewkesbury 2.30pm Tewkesbury Crescent NOVEMBER www.sudeleycastle.co.uk rela x 11 17 October Craft Fayre Tewkesbury Abbey www.nature-in-art.org.uk www.tewkesburycvf.org T: 01684 855040 www.sudeleycastle.co.uk TewkesburyBoroughNews www.craftinaction73.co.uk 2nd Saturday of every month Farmers and Craft Market Weekly Tuesday 16 June – 18 August Guided Historical Walk of Tewkesbury 7pm meet Abbey Gates opposite the Bell Hotel, Tewkesbury T: 01684 855040 12 TewkesburyBoroughNews www.tewkesbury.gov.uk Summer 2015 Call for volunteers! THE TEWKESBURY TOURIST Information and Heritage Centre is on the look-out for willing volunteers. As part of changes at the heritage centre and due to local demand, the council will now be opening the centre more often. To enable this to happen a team of enthusiastic and interested volunteers is being put together to work in this fascinating building. Volunteers will be involved in meeting the public, keeping exhibitions up-to-date and generally being the friendly faces who welcome tourists. This superbly restored 17th Century building (once a shop selling hats) gives a taste of fascinating local history and beautiful architectural heritage. Visitors experience Tewkesbury’s earliest settlers, through to the Wars of the Roses, the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution and into the present day. Benefits of volunteering include working in a beautiful building, being the first port of call for many visitors to the area and being part of a team who take great pride in the local area. All volunteers will be fully trained, supported and a key part of the team. They won’t be left alone as there will always be a member of staff present. Andy Sanders, Tewkesbury Cleevelands development underway THE LATEST LARGE housing development near Bishop’s Cleeve, called Cleevelands, is now underway and is going to lead to a significant change in the road layout of the A435. The new entrance to the housing development, which will include approximately 500 homes, is starting to take shape and the picture shows how this looks heading north in the direction of Gotherington. The development will include around 500 homes. Support for funding COMMUNITY GROUPS WILL now have extra help in sourcing funding for their projects, as Tewkesbury Borough Council has appointed a community funding officer. Martha Mundy will start in July and will support voluntary and community organisations in identifying funding and supporting them through the application process. More information will be provided in the winter edition of Tewkesbury Borough News. Borough Council’s Community Development and Economic Manager said: “We’re looking for interested and enthusiastic people interested in volunteering in this stunning building in the heart of Tewkesbury. We are anticipating that volunteers will find it a greatly fulfilling and exciting experience. Those who have great pride in living here, or have an interest in the heritage of the area are strongly urged to get in touch.” Please contact: Rachel Thatcher, Manager of the Heritage and Visitor Centre on 01684 855040 or outofthehat@tewkesbury.gov.uk The council is hoping to open the heritage centre more often in the future Tewkesbury in the wild A number of dedicated volunteers have got together to work with Tewkesbury Borough Council to create a nature reserve on land between Jubilee Way and Priors Park. THE VOLUNTEERS FORMED a charitable company, which is called Tewkesbury Nature Reserve Ltd (TNR), and it is now pleased to announce that under the guidance of Tewkesbury Borough Council, it has signed a 30-year lease to develop and manage the reserve. Here, the TNR explains a bit more about the project... Why did we start? Once the idea was established, a number of community consultation events were held and it became obvious from the feedback that there was considerable public support for the idea. The site was conveniently located close to Tewkesbury without being overwhelmed by urban sprawl and it was also a site with low commercial value. What were our objectives? Our main objectives were to provide a managed habitat for the benefit of wildlife, improve water quality and habitat quality, and aid flood alleviation. We also want to encourage active community participation and involvement, as well as encourage nature education in the community. What have we done so far? So far we have planted more trees along the river of different species. We have also increased the size of the reed bed and wetland areas and created more meanders in the river. All of these improvement ideas came out of the public workshops held by the reserve management. Local schools have also helped to plant an orchard. TNR has certain obligations under the Higher Level Stewardship awarded to us by Natural England, as well as fulfilling our commitment to Gloucestershire Environmental Trust for the funding they gave us. We are intent on continuing to work with all the professional individuals and organisations who have encouraged and supported us. When completed, we believe the reserve will serve as an extension of the Gloucestershire Northern Wildlife Corridor and become an even more important area for the protection of our natural environment and give pleasure to the community. Martha Mundy will help to source funding for community groups In the meantime, if you would like help with funding your project please contact funding@tewkesbury.gov.uk The nature reserve is set to become an important area for the protection of our natural environment 15% off your food bill with this voucher valid lunch and evening Book now for one of our live music and entertainment nights. Full details on facebook. www.theboathouseupton.co.uk