⏩ The Gloucester Start: Friday February 21st
Sula Lightship stuck | Hoardings removal call | Things to do this weekend
Good morning, welcome to Friday’s Start which features a bumper round-up of things to do for today and the weekend. A reminder that I’m looking for community submissions to include as much as possible in these bulletins - if you’ve got something you want our growing subscriber base to know about and share, drop it through via this form. Onto today’s edition.
❌ The A417 from the Brockworth junction to the Air Balloon roundabout shuts tonight for the full weekend ahead so essential drainage work can be done. Another full weekend closure follows from March 7th. - BBC Gloucestershire
🌧️ Today’s weather: Heavy rain due over lunchtime, mild temperatures throughout.
⚠️ A weather warning for wind comes into force for most of Sunday. - Met Office
⚓ The Sula Lightship’s planned move into Gloucester Docks’ Main Basin for a repaint and maintenance won’t now happen before the autumn. It remains stuck in the mud in its current location on the canal after unsuccessful dredging efforts. It was initially due to make the short trip last year. - Sula Lightship staff on Facebook
🌊 River and waterways expert Chris Witts has also produced a new YouTube video about the issue 👇
🚧 ‘Diabolical’ and ‘eyesore’ hoardings covering the entrance to Shire Hall should be removed or painted, councillors have demanded. The wooden boards have been up at the front of the Westgate Street headquarters of Gloucestershire County Council for several months while building work takes place. - Gloucester News Centre, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
🗳️ Two senior county councillors returned from official time off to vote through the authority’s 4.99% rise in its portion of the council tax bill this week. - Gloucester News Centre, via LDRS
↪️ The budget, which is a real terms rise of almost £80 a year for a band D household, prompted a strong public reaction, including a message to the council to ‘get lost’. - Gloucestershire Live
👮 A 38-year-old man reported missing after last being seen in Gloucester Docks has been found safe and well. - Gloucester News Centre
🍽️ More on the impending closure of Cote Brasserie, as covered in yesterday’s Start - a staff member at the Gloucester Quays restaurant, which is shutting for the final time this Sunday, has revealed it’s been running at a loss for some time. - Punchline Gloucester
🏟️ Gloucester Rugby is stepping up its efforts to market Kingsholm Stadium as much more than just a sporting arena. A new website and dedicated logo showcases what it can do as a venue for everything from corporate meetings to wedding receptions. - Gloucestershire Live
📌 Community Noticeboard
📌 Gloucestershire’s libraries are running a costume swap in the run-up to World Book Day on March 6th. You can donate costumes and/or pick out something new - for adults and children - for the day. More here.
📌 A clothes swap shop event is running at the Advice and Resource Centre in Norbury Avenue until Sunday. Bring your gently used clothes and swap them for something new-to-you. More here.
📌 A welcome sessions for would-be volunteers at the National Waterways Museum takes place tomorrow from 11am. Opportunities for explorers volunteers, museum guides and walk leaders, among others, are available. More here.
Things to do this weekend
Kids, family and daytime activities:
🦔 Hamley’s Prickly Problem puppet show at The Folk | Saturday 11am | Free | Details
🎭 Robin Hood pantomime at St Barnabas Church | Friday and Saturday, various times | Tickets from £4-£12 | Details
🪖 Military model display at Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum | Saturday from 10am | Free with museum entry | Details
🐭 The Tale of Two Bad Mice, family trail at the Museum of Gloucester | Anytime until March 3rd | £2 | Details
Live music and film:
📽️ Paddington in Peru, Dogman, Wicked, The Brutalist, Moana 2 and A Complete Unknown at Sherborne Cinema | All weekend, various times | £6/£7 | Details
🎵 A Celebration of Gloucestershire concert at Gloucester Cathedral | Friday, 7pm | Free but booking advised | Details
🎹 Piano request show at Our House in the Food Dock | Friday, 7pm | Free but booking advised | Details
🪩 Motown and Soul Night at Wotton Hall Social Club | Saturday from 7.30pm | £8 | Details
🎤 Sol Sessions - music, food and community - at Roots | Saturday from 5.30pm | Free | Details
🎸 Sounds of Seattle at Gloucester Guildhall | Saturday, 7.30pm | £17.50 | Details
🤘 Classic Rock Experience pre-tour preview event at The King’s Theatre | Saturday, 7.30pm | £17.50 | Details
🎞️ Unreflected Reflections: The Trilogy - an immersive storytelling experience with three documentaries - at The Friendship Cafe | Sunday, 6pm | £9.92 | Details
The top posts from Thursday’s Start:
🏘️ Gloucester City Homes pauses estate service charge plans after backlash - Gloucester News Centre
💰 Crucial funding for £50million Podsmead development could still be secured - Punchline Gloucester
🫶 Carers’ charter announced by NHS Gloucestershire - NHS Gloucestershire