⏩ The Gloucester Start: Thursday July 10th
Airport owners revealed | Questions over Forum delays | Debenhams exhibition
Good morning, welcome to Thursday’s Start. Here’s today’s edition.
🥵 Today’s weather: Hot.
🛩️ The new owners of Gloucestershire Airport have been revealed as Horizon Aero Group, who have bought the site from previous co-owners Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough councils. They say their vision is to ‘invest in the airport's infrastructure, enhance its aviation services, and support sustainable growth’. - Punchline Gloucester
↪️ But Gloucester City Council felt compelled to respond to several public comments pointing out that Horizon had only formed as a business in January. 👇
⚒️ Five years of restoration work to Gloucester Cathedral’s most intricate pinnacle has been completed. New stonework including grotesques carved by the on-site stonemasonry team, has been installed. Work to restore parts of the famous cloister will now begin soon. - Gloucestershire Live
⚖️ A drug dealer will serve five years in jail after coercing a vulnerable man into handing over his Kingsholm home. Victor Asamoah befriended, and even became the registered carer to the man. - Gloucestershire Live
🏗️ The full details causing delays to completion of The Forum are being kept under wraps, with the new Hotel Indigo there now not set to open until next year. ‘Snagging’ has been blamed, but it’s reported that weight bearing issues have had to be addressed at a late stage too. - Gloucester News Centre, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
🗣️ City council leaders have been accused of showing ‘reckless disregard for taxpayers’ money’ in hiring an in-house communications team to replace the previously bought-in service. But leader Jeremy Hilton said the £116,000 budget for the team is the same as was being paid for it anyway. - Gloucester News Centre, via LDRS
🛍️ People are being incentivised to support Gloucester’s city centre charity shops through the returning Second Hand Summer Challenge. Gift cards are on offer as prizes to those who collect a series of stamps from the shops involved. - Punchline Gloucester
🖌️ Gloucestershire police have unveiled a new ‘calming’ mural at their Quedgeley custody suite. It’s aim is to reduce ‘anxiety and overstimulation’ and has targets ‘detainees can use to distract themselves with when playing ball games’. - Gloucestershire Live
📷 Stories and memorabilia from Gloucester’s first department store are being collected by the University of Gloucestershire for a new exhibition. It will open in September, focusing on life at the former Bon Marche and Debenhams store currently being turned into a new university campus. - BBC Gloucestershire
🏡 A new early intervention service will aim to help people before they are made homeless. The ‘Gloucester Offer’ by the city council looks to build a new Tenancy Relations Service to provide private tenants and landlords with resources and advice. - Gloucester City Council
📌 Community Noticeboard
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📌 Churchdown repair cafe bike tutorial will run 10am-12pm on Saturday July 12th at St John’s Church Hall. Booking is preferred. The bike registration and repairs will be in gazebos, outside the church on the grass to the left by the car park and will be on a first come first served basis. More details here. - Thanks to subscriber John for this submission
📌 Join us at St Mary de Crypt on Friday evening for a joyful singalong evening of well-known songs, from folk and pop to show tunes and classic anthems. No experience needed – just bring your voice and join the fun! Free entry with donations invited. Details here.
📌 The Proteus Ensemble – Elgar Part Songs and Readings, Saturday 12th July, 11:30am at St Mary de Crypt. A rare chance to hear Elgar’s exquisite part songs sung one to a part, as intended. Performed by the Proteus Ensemble, directed by Stephen Shellard, with readings between pieces. Free entry, coffee and cake from 11am. Details: creativefield.uk - Thanks to subscriber Seb for these details, and those in the entry above too
📅 Things to do
Got an event or regular activity coming up you want to shout about? Send listings through at least a couple of days in advance if possible, via this form. It’s completely free.
📽️ How to Train Your Dragon, Elio, 28 Years Later, F1: The Movie at Sherborne Cinema | Various days/times | £6/£7 | Details
🧀 Gloucester Farmers Market at The Cross | Friday, 9am-3pm | Free | Details
🦁 Lions at Large Trail Launch in Gloucester city centre | Friday, timings TBA | Free | Details
⚒️ Crafts that Built the Cathedral Exhibition at Gloucester Cathedral | Saturday until September 7th | Free | Details
🎙️ Si Cranstoun and His Band at Gloucester Guildhall | Saturday, 7pm | £22.50 | Details
🛍️ Discount Weekend Bonanza at Gloucester Quays | Saturday-Sunday | Free | Details
Top posts from Wednesday’s Start:
🏗️ Consultation on plans for six-storey ‘missing piece’ building at Docks
🚲 Updates on Cycle Spine work include Northgate Street delay
📦 Amazon almost ready to open new Barnwood warehouse