⏩ The Gloucester Start: Friday May 16th
Water burst latest | Hempsted Bridge delays | Eight weekend things to do
Good morning, welcome to Friday’s Start. There’s plenty of ideas for a full weekend in the city below as well as your usual bitesize round-up of what’s making the news. I’ll be back on Monday, enjoy your weekend!
☀️ Weekend weather: Warm, sunny and clear throughout.
🌊 Severn Trent engineers worked through the night on Wednesday, and continue today, to fix the major burst that hit one of the largest pipes in its network in Matson. It left one house with severe damage and several properties with low pressure, discoloured or interrupted water supplies. - Gloucestershire Live
↪️ Severn Trent’s latest statement, from 6am today, says the priority is to keep the supply on and that residents might see tankers in the area to move water around the network. - Severn Trent
↪️ It never rains… Another, separate, water main leak on the A417 Westgate Bridge caused rush hour gridlock as a lane had to close to allow repairs yesterday. Severn Trent apologised for the delays, which happened just a short distance from where a major road closure brought much of the city to standstill last month while another water leak was fixed. - BBC Gloucestershire
👶 Gloucester Cathedral was the setting for a stunt to draw attention to what a county mum says is the inadequate state of statutory paternity leave. Babygrows spelling out ‘two weeks isn’t enough’ were hung above the entrance by Charlie Hutton from Stonehouse. It was one of several co-ordinated efforts across the country. - Gloucester News Centre
🚕 A private hire driver has been prosecuted for driving without a valid licence and insurance. Moosa Varachhia of Millbrook Close, Gloucester, pleaded guilty after undertaking ‘home to school’ journeys for an operator. - Punchline Gloucester
🚫 Hucclecote residents concerned about speeding are being encouraged to join a parish Speedwatch scheme where volunteers can help monitor dangerous driving. One in seven vehicles using some roads there has been recorded speeding in recent surveys. - Gloucestershire Live, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
🚨 Thieves wearing balaclavas robbed a teenager of his e-bike in Tuffley. It happened in April and police are investigating. - Gloucestershire Live
🚧 Repairs to enable Hempsted Bridge to reopen to pedestrians won’t get started until mid-July. The footbridge was closed to walkers and cyclists on April 22nd after falling into a dangerous state of repair. Lead times for securing the ‘specialist material’ needed for fixing it mean it will stay closed for at least another two months. - Gloucestershire County Council
🏗️ Roadworks are coming to the A38 to modify the Hunts Grove junction and ease congestion for residents there. A new entrance will connect the residents to the A38 and B4008. - Gloucestershire Live
🧀 Cheese rolling returns to Coopers Hill on the May 26th bank holiday. Races start from midday and thousands of spectators are expected. - BBC Gloucestershire
🔵 As covered in yesterday’s Start, the University of Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls Campus was turned into a mock protest for students to practice their response to an unfolding major emergency. They went all-in, as the footage below shows 👇
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📌 Gloucester Civic Trust relies on support from its volunteers to deliver its various events and needs more. There are several opportunities to volunteer for the Trust’s activities and events, including training to be one of the City Guides, working in St Michael’s Tower to share the City’s heritage with visitors, stewarding in the various venues that are opened for visitors during Heritage Open Days, helping at The Folk by Meeting and Greeting visitors, in the Café or running events. Find out more and apply here.
📅 Things to do this weekend
🖊️ Stacey’s Scribbles creative time at The Chamwell Centre, Longlevens | Fridays, 11am-1pm | Free | Details
🏉 Army vs RAF rugby matches at Kingsholm Stadium | Friday, 7pm and Saturday, 11am | From £5 juniors, £17 adults | Details
🎻 Radiohead Reimagined by Candlelight at Gloucester Cathedral | Friday, 7.30pm | From £25 | Details
🇺🇦 Ukraine Festival activities including craft fair, storytelling, concert and more at The Folk | All weekend | Donations | Details
💿 Record and CD Fair at St Mary de Crypt Church | Saturday, 10am-3pm | £1 admission | Details
🎶 Celebrating 60 Years of Churchdown Male Voice Choir at Gloucester Guildhall | Saturday, 7pm | £15 | Details
🧱 Gloucester Lego Brick Festival at GL1 Leisure Centre | Sunday, 10am-4pm | From £5 children, £7 adults | Details
🚣♂️ Dragonboat Racing at Gloucester Docks | Sunday, 10am-5pm | Donations | Details
Top posts from Thursday’s Start:
🌊 Investigations and repairs after huge Matson water leak
⚽ Gloucester City AFC unveils changes to club badge
🍺 Hopes rising to bring back Chambers as pub and restaurant