⏩ The Gloucester Start: Thursday April 17th
Strike action continues | Primary school places announced | Easter things to do
Good morning, welcome to Thursday’s Start. This is the last edition for a few days while I take some time with family - the next bulletin will be with you on Monday April 28th. Thanks as ever for reading and sharing and I hope you have a happy Easter. Here’s today’s Start.
⛅ Today’s weather: Warmer and much more settled than yesterday, a slight chance of rain this morning.
🩸 Strike action at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals is set to enter a sixth week with negotiations still not at a conclusion. Phlebotomists - blood sampling specialists - have taken industrial action over pay and banding. - Gloucester News Centre
😠 A bumpy path in Tuffley is causing a mobility scooter user a raft of problems. Graham Rigby claims the footway has caused three punctures and makes journeys uncomfortable but was told by the county council they ‘didn’t have capacity’ to look into it. - BBC Gloucestershire
🏫 Parents of children across the county starting primary school in September found out yesterday if they got their preferred place. Almost 6,000 youngsters have been offered a primary school place, 91% of them at their first choice. - Gloucester News Centre
🚫 An overnight closure is coming to the A417 Missing Link next Thursday, April 24th from 9pm until 6am the following morning. It’s for resurfacing work. - Gloucestershire Live
⛳ Improvements have been made to the outdoor space at Matson’s Redwell Centre with the help of volunteers. Staff at David Wilson Homes South West’s Winnycroft development took part in a volunteering day and helped refresh the garden and crazy golf course. - Gloucester News Centre
🛍️ Gloucester’s Primark now has the company’s new click and collect service available in store. - Punchline Gloucester
🏉 Gloucester Rugby’s match at Saracens on Saturday will be one of the first to see fans given the option to sit in a designated away area. It’s a trial by rugby bosses but Gloucester head coach George Skivington said he doesn’t want the game to end up like football. - RugbyPass
🚨 Police and crime news
🚨 An alleged sexual assault at an Eastgate Street nightclub on March 29th is being investigated by police, who have released an image of someone they want to talk to. - Gloucestershire Live
🗳️ Election watch
🗳️ Next Wednesday, April 23rd, is your last chance to register for a proxy vote if you’re unable to vote in person at May 1st’s local elections, with the postal vote deadline already past.
A list of candidates and party promises has been compiled by Local Democracy Reporter Carmelo Garcia
What’s at stake in the polls has been covered by BBC Gloucestershire.
See who’s standing where you live using your postcode - Who Can I Vote For
📅 Things to do today and Easter weekend
🪺 Nest Fest! Wild Child Workshop (ages 4-10) at Robinswood Hill | Today, 10am-12pm | £6 | Details
🪿 Easter Open Day and Goose Trail at Llanthony Secunda Priory | Today, 11am-2pm | £2.50 (including a prize) for the Goose Trail | Details
📣 Teen Poetry Slam at Gloucester Library | Today, 4.30pm-6pm | Free | Details
📖 Choose Your Own Adventure Storytime (ages 7+) at Matson Library | Today, 3pm-4pm | Free | Details
⚽ Gloucester City AFC’s Easter ‘Roary’ Trail, city centre to Tiger Turf Stadium | Any time | Free | Details
🗺️ Gloucester Park Easter Trail, starting by the bandstand | Friday, 10am-12pm | Free | Details
🥚 Easter activities at Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum including trail, puzzle craft and egg painting | Various times until April 27th | Free with museum entry | Details
⚽ Gloucester City AFC vs Marlow at Tiger Turf Stadium | Friday, 3pm | £0-£22 | Details
🎨 Easter Craft Workshops at Eastgate shopping centre | Saturday, 10am-3pm | Free | Details
🫅 Tudor Day - At Home with Henry VIII at The Folk | Saturday, 10am-4pm | Free | Details
🪩 Dancing in the Daylight Daytime Disco at Trilogy Nightclub | Saturday, 2pm | £12 | Details
🎸 Mark Chadwick (Levellers) at Gloucester Guildhall | Saturday, 7pm | £22 | Details
🕺 Northern Soul Night at The Thirsty Pine | Saturday, 8pm | Free | Details
The top posts from Wednesday’s Start:
💷 £500 grants available for community initiatives but deadline approaching
🚨 Image released as police investigate reports of man’s inappropriate comments
🚴 Cyclist’s warning after coming ‘close to death’ in crash near home