⏩ The Gloucester Start: Thursday March 20th
VE Day plans | More strikes coming | Motorbikes stolen
Good morning, welcome to Thursday’s Start. We’ll get onto today’s bulletin shortly but first some advance warning that next week I need to reduce the Start’s schedule due to some work commitments. Monday, Tuesday and Friday will be as normal, but there’ll be no editions on Wednesday and Thursday. Here’s today’s round-up.
🎉 The usual fees to hold a street party will be waived by Gloucestershire County Council to encourage VE Day celebrations. In Gloucester, plans already include a reading of the official proclamation at the Cross by town crier Alan Myatt and lighting the beacon on Robinswood Hill. The Sula Lightship will also be illuminated. - BBC West
🌞 Today’s weather: Sunglasses at the ready, it’s set to be a belter. Sunny and temperatures tipping 20C.
🩸 Phlebotomists - healthcare specialists in blood sampling - are escalating strike action in their campaign for fair pay. A three-day walkout took place this week and with no end to the dispute in sight, two further three-day strikes are planned for next week and the week after. - Gloucestershire Live
🏗️ The Southgate Street offices vacated by Fasthosts when they moved into The Forum (see December 20th’s Start) will be turned into flats. The four-storey Discovery House will become 21 new homes in the conversion plans. - Punchline Gloucester
↪️ More new houses will be delivered by Gloucester City Homes, which has pledged to build 350 extra by the year 2030. - Punchline Gloucester
🎲 There’s soon to be a new shop in Westgate Street. Firestorm Games is opening in the former Cotters Shoes unit. It’s a gaming centre and hobby store, selling everything from trading cards to figurines. - Gloucester BID
🎶 Research by students at the University of Gloucestershire has underscored the need for urgent action to protect the music industry, locally and nationally. Their report, The Music Economy of Gloucestershire, identifies issues around finances, pricing and regional festivals. - University of Gloucestershire
🚨 Police and crime updates
🚨 Two men were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B drugs after a member of the public reported a car to police in St Oswalds. - Your Community Alerts
🚨 A man riding a BMX bike was seen trying to open car doors in Tredworth in the early hours of yesterday. - Your Community Alerts
🚨 Two classic motorcycles were stolen from a garage in The Lawns, Abbeydale. They were a Triumph Tiger 650 and a Triumph Tiger Cub, taken on Tuesday. - Your Community Alerts
🚨 Tools were stolen from a Ford Transit in Meadowleaze, Longlevens, between March 14th and 17th. - Your Community Alerts
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📌 Hucclecote Surgery could be on the move. Residents are invited to a public consultation on March 26th from 4.30pm-7pm at Hucclecote Community Centre to view and discuss plans regarding the proposed relocation of Hucclecote Surgery and wider site development strategy at North Upton Lane, Barnwood. More details here.
The top posts from Wednesday’s Start:
🚨 Man who contaminated Gloucester supermarkets in 2008 found dead
👮 Burglary map reveals where most and least crimes go unpunished
🛏️ Historic city building now Gloucester’s highest-rated accommodation after luxury conversion
And the results of yesterday’s poll, which asked you what you think is the best devolution plan for the county:
