⏩ The Gloucester Start: Monday February 17th
Half-term ideas | £50m plan in balance | Head of Rugby job ad
Good morning, welcome to Monday’s Gloucester Start. It’s half-term holidays this week so there’s a bumper round-up of things to do in today’s bulletin. If you’ve seen something you think I should be including - news, events, community announcements, or otherwise - get in touch via this form.
❓ ‘Once-in-a-generation’ plans to regenerate much of Podsmead hang by a thread as a funding deadline looms. Gloucester City Homes can access £20million from Homes England to help deliver the £50million plan, only if work starts before March 31st - but complications in the planning process mean that’s now unlikely. - Punchline Gloucester
🚒 Firefighters from across the county gathered at Gloucester North Fire Station to protest plans to change their shift patterns. They voted to oppose the county council proposals that would alter their work from nine hour days and 15 hour nights, to 11 hour days and 13 hour nights. - Gloucestershire Live
⛅ Today’s weather: Slightly brighter skies, 6C peaks.
🏉 Fancy taking over as the Head of Rugby at Gloucester-Hartpury? Applications are open after the club posted the job description for the top role, which is being vacated by ‘King of Hartpury’ Sean Lynn at the end of the season. - Gloucester-Hartpury
👮 Almost 250 people were arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse offences across Gloucestershire in January - accounting for nearly a third of all arrests in the month. Police are regularly releasing data on domestic abuse to ‘shine a light’ on the issue. - Gloucestershire Live
🚓 Police are searching for a man with his own name tattooed on his right hand. Thomas Townsley, 34, is wanted on suspicion of assault and burglary. - Gloucester News Centre
⚖️ A 59-year-old man is due to appear in court charged with outraging public decency by upskirting women using cameras hidden in plastic bags in Gloucester last summer. - Wilts & Glos Standard
🎸 The full line-up for this year’s Underground Festival has been announced, taking place across four city venues at the end of March and celebrating the best new music. Gloucester Guildhall, Blackfriars Priory, The Thirsty Pine and Cafe Rene will host the acts on March 29th. - Gloucester News Centre
🚰 Gloucester City Council is being petitioned to turn an historic water tap into a public drinking fountain. The tap in Gloucester Docks dates from 1863. - Call Me Will
💸 The Redwell Centre in Matson, a community and youth hub, needs a new roof. A fundraiser has been launched to try and secure £9,000 towards replacing its old, inefficient and increasingly unsafe tin roof. - JustGiving
🏃♀️ Cancer survivor Gem Hipwood is taking on the London Landmarks half marathon to raise money for her sister’s ME support group after finding a new lease of life through running. - Gloucestershire Live
Half term things to do
🧱 Roots, in Alvin Street, hosts a Lego Club today (Monday) from 1.30pm. - Roots on Facebook
💡 Interactive light show Twist & Shine remains in place in King’s Square until Wednesday. - Bright Nights Gloucester
🐭 The Tale of Two Bad Mice is a new trail in place at the Museum of Gloucester, running until March 3rd. - Visit Gloucester
👑 Make a carnival mask or a May Day crown in a creative workshop at the Museum of Gloucester on Wednesday, from 10am. - Museum of Gloucester on Facebook
🏅 There’s a programme of family activities at Gloucester Cathedral for half-term, including relay races through the cloisters inspired by county traditions like cheese rolling. It starts on Wednesday and is free. - Gloucester Cathedral
🪩 The Haywain in Quedgeley is hosting a free kids disco on Wednesday from 4pm. - The Haywain on Facebook
🎭 Pantomime Robin Hood, produced by Barnwood Amateur Dramatic Company (BADCo), comes to St Barnabas Church from Thursday to Saturday. - BADCo
🤹♂️ A fusion of magic and juggling, Heka comes to Gloucester Guildhall on Thursday evening. - Gloucester Guildhall
The top posts from Friday’s Start:
👮 Arrest made after alleged sexual assault on bus - Gloucestershire Constabulary
👷 Dry stone wall will be key feature of Missing Link roadworks - Gloucestershire Live
❌ Family and children centre to close for two months of maintenance - Gloucester News Centre