⏩ The Gloucester Start: Monday April 7th
Gridlock hits city | New High Sheriff | Things to do
Good morning, welcome to Monday’s Start. My thoughts are with any of you who suffered through traffic misery over the weekend… The latest on that and everything else I’ve been able to find in today’s bulletin below.
☀️ Today’s weather: More bright sun and clear skies, although slightly cooler than the weekend. Hayfever sufferers watch out too - the pollen count is ‘very high’.
🚫 Gridlock hit Gloucester’s streets over the weekend with furious motorists stuck in traffic for hours on even the shortest journeys. Work to repair a water leak, which closed the Over Causeway outbound, was the primary reason. - BBC Gloucestershire
↪️ Severn Trent Water said last night the repairs have been completed but the replacement tarmac on the road surface needs time to set. - Severn Trent
↪️ Gloucestershire Highways last update from yesterday said it was ‘unlikely’ the road would be reopen this morning. - GlosRoads on Twitter, which you can check for the latest
↪️ Staff at B&Q were praised as drivers stuck in St Oswald’s were handed water by shop workers. - Gloucestershire Live
↪️ Footage of the water leak being repaired showed the extent of the work needing to be done. - Wye Independant (sic) Media
🚧 A different set of roadworks in the city centre has been called ‘dangerous’. Work on the Cycle Spine in Southgate Street means the pedestrian crossing between the Docks and Kimbrose Triangle is out of action, leading to safety concerns. - Gloucestershire Live, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
🎉 Many of those who did make it into the city enjoyed a party atmosphere in the Docks where Gloucester-Hartpury’s ‘threepeat’ Premiership Women’s Rugby title success was celebrated 👇
🛬 A woman from Gloucester was met by police off a Ryanair flight from Tenerife over a dispute about paying for a tube of Pringles. Ann-Marie Murray said she wasn’t disruptive after payment failed for the in-flight snack, Ryanair disagreed. - Gloucestershire Live
🪦 Gloucester City Council is ‘working towards a resolution for all families involved’ after a woman was buried in the wrong plot at Coney Hill Cemetery. Sallyann Anderson found the plot next to her parents, which she has reserved for herself, had been freshly dug last month. - BBC Gloucestershire
💷 The city council’s former customer services offices on the corner of Westgate Street and Three Cocks Lane are set to be sold off. The property has been on the market for £600,000-£700,000 and a preferred bid has been identified. - Business Live, via LDRS
🧑🏫 The issues raised in hit Netflix drama Adolescence must be responded to and explored by teachers, says Nick Gazzard. The show is set to be screened in all UK secondary schools and Nick, the father of Hollie Gazzard, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in Gloucester, called for more to happen to combat things like the sometimes toxic influence of social media. - BBC Gloucestershire
🚶♀️ Former Gloucester Rugby player Mark Atkinson will lead the Walk of Hope through the city later this month. The 5km route begins and ends at Glocuester Brewery’s Warehouse 4 on April 25th, raising money for cancer charity Hope for Tomorrow. - Wilts and Glos Standard
🤝 Julie Kent has been officially sworn in as the new High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in a ceremony at Gloucester Cathedral yesterday. She takes over the role from Mark Hurrell 👇
🚨 Police and crime news
🚨 A car’s wing mirror was allegedly smashed off by a man riding a bike ion Hare Lane car park. Police have published a picture of someone they want to talk to. - Gloucestershire Constabulary
🚨 It’s now almost two months since the last sighting of a vulnerable Gloucester man. John, 52, left an address in Horton Road on February 10th and has been found since. - Gloucestershire Live
🚨 A man’s body was found near a children’s playground in Hempsted last week. Police were called to Soren Larsen Way on Wednesday. There are no suspicious circumstances. - Gloucestershire Live
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📌 There's still time to book for Gloucester's Spring History Festival from April 25th to April 27th. There are 18 presentations exploring history not only here in Gloucestershire but around the world. As usual it will feature a galaxy of well known local and national historians. All talks will be live streamed so everyone can choose to watch the speakers live at Blackfriars or via the internet at home. Tickets from gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk or phone 07834 406228. - Thanks to subscriber John for this submission
📌 The Rotary Club of Gloucester were honoured to have The Right Worshipful The Mayor Of Gloucester Cllr Lorraine Campbell visit its meeting on Friday to receive a cheque for £1,500 from the Tree of Lights to support The Mayors Charities. This year they are Alzhiemers Society, The Sue Ryder and Teckels. - My thanks too to the Rotary Club, who invited me to talk to them about the Start and local journalism at Friday’s meeting
📅 Things to do today and tomorrow
I’m trying a different format for things to do in the week, highlighting a smaller number of events over the next 48 hours in each edition.
🏉 Walking rugby at Gloucester Cathedral | Today, 9.30am | Free | Details
🥚 Easter trail at Gloucester Cathedral | Throughout April | Free | Details
📽️ Flow, Twiggy, Black Bag showing at Sherborne Cinema | Today, from 2.30pm | £6/£7 | Details
🕺🏻 Company Class by Nua Dance at Gloucester Guildhall | Tuesday-Saturday, 9.15am-10.15am | Free | Details
⚫ The Black Ball Final - 40 Years On with Steve Davies and Dennis Taylor at GL1 Leisure Centre | Tuesday, 7.30pm-10pm | £30 | Details
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