⏩ The Gloucester Start: Friday January 31st
Uni 'bad neighbours' | PETA's provocative promo | Things to do this weekend
Good morning and happy Friday to you. I’m really pleased to begin this morning’s Start with two stories from fully independent Gloucestershire-based journalists who, like me, are giving Substack a go to try and bring you clear, unfiltered, relevant news about where you live. If you’re not already, please give Will Luker and Andy Merrell a follow and do spread the word.
😠 The University of Gloucestershire is ‘being a bad neighbour’ by erecting fencing hard up against residents’ boundaries on a field it owns in Longlevens. ‘No warning or consultation’ was given before the old Debenhams Sports and Social Club land was blocked for access. - Call Me Will
🗳️ Devolution is a topic generating much opinion at the moment as the future of Gloucestershire’s local government structure is pored over. This explainer from Raikes Journal editor Andy Merrell helps break down who stands where on the various proposals being touted. - Raikes Journal
☁️ Today’s weather: Overcast and fairly mild, 9C through the middle of the day.
↪️ Saturday-Sunday: Similar, with brighter spells on Saturday, and forecast to stay dry for the weekend.
🚧 Alfred Street in Tredworth is one of five county roads added to a list being resurfaced before the end of the financial year. An extra £1million has been allocated to the highways budget for the period. - Gloucester News Centre
🐄 Animal rights activists PETA have used billboard advertising in Gloucester to weigh in to a row between dairy farmers and the county council. The advert tells farmers to ‘moove on’ and is a direct reference to the council backtracking on a campaign which encouraged people, among other things, to switch to oat milk. - Punchline Gloucester
👮 Police arrested a man after a woman was allegedly punched in the face when challenging someone who had been hitting and kicking cars in Barton. - Gloucester News Centre
🔍 Adult social care services in Gloucestershire have been rated ‘requires improvement’ by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission with missed opportunities to help people live independently and varying waiting times causes for concern. Despite that, they also found good progress has been made. - BBC Gloucestershire
✅ An entertainment venue is your preferred option to open in the old Wilko building. Yesterday’s Start carried a poll after news that the Northgate Street site has been sold - 36% of you want to see it converted into something with entertaining in mind 👇
❓ But what kind of entertainment venue and why? Submit your suggestions to me by hitting reply to this email and I’ll pull out the best.
📌 Community Noticeboard
Add your community events, news and announcements for this section of the Start via this form
📌 Kids Club for Primary School age children. Southgate Evangelical Church, 146 Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2EX. Tuesday 18th February, 9.50am - 11.30am. Free entry and snacks. Booking required - cathrjones50@gmail.com. More details. - Big thanks to subscriber Cath for this submission.
📌 Twist and shape glowing light sculptures in Kings Square. Twist and Shine by Kaleider is a beautiful landscape of interactive light sculptures. They are made out of interconnected prisms that can be twisted into thousands of different shapes. Come and move the light sculptures to create your own shapes. From February 13th-19th - more details. - Thanks to subscriber Em for this submission.
Things to do this weekend
📽️ Moana 2, Sonic 3, Mufasa: The Lion King, Maria, A Complete Unknown, Paddington in Peru all showing at Sherborne Cinema, Kingsholm | All weekend, various times | Tickets £6/£7 | Details
🎲 What’s Your Game LARP Kit Fair for gamers at Gloucester Prison | From 10am Saturday and Sunday | Tickets from £3 | Details
⚽ Gloucester City AFC vs Totton, Tiger Turf Stadium | Saturday, 3pm | Tickets from £6 | Details
🎧 Paul Chuckle live DJ set at Fever & Boutique, Eastgate Street | Saturday from 8.30pm | Details
🎭 Murder Most Wilde, St Mary de Crypt Church | Sunday, 7pm | Tickets from £8 | Details
The top posts from Thursday’s Start:
🚆 Train fare dodger lands £500 bill from court - Stroud News & Journal
❌ City centre’s shoddy paving called out - Instagram
🔨 Wilko site sold at auction - BBC Gloucestershire