⏩ The Gloucester Start: Friday December 20th
Inside The Forum | M5 explanation | Weekend what's on
Happy Friday and welcome to what is the last Gloucester Start of the year as I take a break to spend time with friends and family. A couple of things to flag before we return on January 2nd - I’ve written this about the first month of producing these daily bulletins, and we’re now on Instagram, ready to kick on in 2025. Give us a follow there, and a share here if you’re feeling generous.
🏢 Is this the best office in Gloucester? It must be, right? The first tenants in the brand new - so new it’s not even finished yet - Forum development have moved in. Web hosting firm Fasthosts have switched from Southgate Street, with all staff now in situ as of this week. The £107million Forum, including a new hotel with rooftop bar, is due to be completed next year. - Fasthosts / The Forum (and thanks to reader Chelsea for the submission and photos)
👮 Police have explained why their investigations into a serious incident on the M5 meant it had to stay shut for several hours on Wednesday night. Scene mapping and evidence gathering following serious injuries to a teenage girl - who is being cared for at Southmead Hospital - meant motorists were held in queues for up to 9.5 hours. - Gloucestershire Constabulary
🚨 Rape suspect Vernon Steele is the subject of a police manhunt after failing to show up at court. Steele, 59, was due at Gloucester Crown Court on November 22nd on four charges. A wanted appeal has been launched. - Gloucestershire Live
⛅ Today’s weather: Changeable. A bright-ish start turns to showers through the middle of the day. Temperatures around 9C.
🏉 Gloucester Rugby has revealed its season ticket prices for next year. An adult without concessions will pay a minimum £288 and a maximum £747 depending on the ticket type and location in the ground. Tonight’s home game against Harlequins is a sell-out. - Gloucester Rugby
↪️ As reported in Wednesday’s Start, a memorial wall will be in place inside Kingsholm for fans to add messages of remembrance to former player Tom Voyce who died in floods last week.
🎁 The winners of Gloucester’s Best Dressed Christmas Window competition will be announced at 10am this morning. Dozens of businesses entered and judging took place earlier this week. Watch Gloucester BID’s Facebook page for the result.
💰 Tell Gloucester City Council what you think of its plans to spend taxpayers’ money next year. Its budget consultation is open to public views until December 27th. - Gloucester News Centre
🚯 Gloucester City Centre is a little tidier in time for Christmas thanks to McDonald’s staff helping with a litter pick. The gate streets were one of several locations around the county where staff members from eight restaurants help clear up rubbish. - Punchline Gloucester
👷 More than 35,000 reports about things like potholes, road signs falling over and poor quality roadworks have been made by the public across Gloucestershire in a year. The county council’s Fix My Street portal was rolled out 12 months ago and has been very busy since. - Gloucestershire County Council
🚨 Two vehicles have been stolen in separate incidents. A blue Mazda car was pinched from Widden Street in Barton at 2.45pm on Tuesday. A van was taken from the driveway of a home in Bluebell Crescent, Brockworth, overnight on Monday. The thieves took it without needing keys, but the owner had taken their work tools out. - Your Community Alerts
📅 Weekend what’s on
Real life reindeers visit King’s Square - Saturday, 12pm-2pm. Details here
Father Christmas - who’s fluent in British Sign Language - is visiting King’s Walk Shopping Centre - Saturday, 11am-3pm. Details here (thanks to reader Andy for the submission)
See A Christmas Carol performed at St Mary de Crypt Church, the final resting place of Jemmy Wood who’s said to be the real life inspirations for Ebenezer Scrooge. Tickets £20 adults, concessions available - Saturday and Sunday, various times. Details here
Creative Christmas crafting workshop where you can design your own wrapping paper and gift tags at the Museum of Gloucester, entry £5 - Saturday, 2pm-4pm. Details here
Movie Magic comes to The Ramblers in Milton Avenue to raise money for Acorns Children’s Hospice. Tickets £25 including food - Saturday 8pm. Details here
Have breakfast with Santa at the Holiday Inn in Barnwood. Tickets £25 children, £15 adults - Saturday and Sunday 10am-12pm. Details here
Twilight carols in an intimate service and free refreshments at St John’s Church, Northgate Street - Sunday, 4pm. Details here (thanks to reader Daniel for the submission)
This week’s most popular stories
🚧 Man living next to A417 will need bespoke tunnel to get home - BBC Gloucestershire
🚉 West Country trains to and from London likely to take longer post-HS2 - Gloucestershire Live
🍹 Gloucester second-cheapest city in the UK for New Year’s Eve night out - SoGlos
💰 £84million in developer contributions unspent by councils - Punchline Gloucester
😠 Council leader and car boot boss ‘diss’ each other - Gloucestershire Live
That’s it for 2024 - thanks so much for jumping on board in these early days of the Gloucester Start, there’s plenty more to come. Have a wonderful Christmas.