⏩ The Gloucester Start: Wednesday December 11th
Ex-Glaws star missing | Flood warnings | MP's drugs block
Good morning and happy mid-week to you. How’s that Christmas prep coming along? We’re at well over 100 Start subscribers now and I’m really pleased too to be getting some reader submissions coming through for inclusion. If you’ve got something to flag up, drop it through via this quick form.
💔 Former Gloucester Rugby player Tom Voyce is missing, feared dead, after disappearing in a flood-hit area near his home in Northumberland during Storm Darragh. Police believe he tried to drive through a ford in his car, which was then swept into a river. Tom played 38 times for Gloucester from 2009-2012. The club said it is ‘desperately sad’ as further tributes were paid. - Gloucestershire Live
📣 Updated flood warnings and alerts remain in place along the River Severn in and around Gloucester after recent rainfall. - Gloucestershire Live
↪️ See the live flood warnings map here
⛔ Efforts by Gloucester’s Labour MP Alex McIntyre to give police more power to remove dangerous drugs from the streets have been blocked, for now, by objections from Conservatives. His bid to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 will be revisited in March. - Gloucester News Centre
☁️ Today’s weather: More grey skies, but should stay dry and relatively settled. Temperatures around 7C.
🚦 Temporary traffic lights causing huge rush hour delays for months have reportedly, finally, gone. The Oxstalls Lane junction with Cheltenham Road has been gridlocked daily as delays hit work on the new cycle spine, but was cleared yesterday, with a new mini-roundabout at the entrance to the university campus. Work continues further along Cheltenham Road, though. - Longlevens Noticeboard
🚜 Full timings for the Gloucester Christmas Road Run - a festive convoy of tractors that’s become a must-see spectacle - have been released. It arrives in St Oswald’s retail park from about 7pm this Sunday after visiting villages on the way from Redmarley. The full route and schedule is on the When Farmers Do Christmas Facebook page.
🌱 Educational charity The Ernest Cook Trust is piloting a new grant scheme, to help organisations provide opportunities for young people to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. The Communities Grant is currently only being offered to organisations in the Trust’s Gloucestershire hub area. The goal is to encourage young people aged 11-19 (or up to 25 years old for special educational needs and disabilities), from underserved communities to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. - Ernest Cook Trust
🎄 ‘Pay what you can’ Christmas meals are being held at venues in Podsmead to help bring the community together. The Podsfeed initiative, supported by Podsmead Big Local, is coming to The Ramblers today at 11.30am. There are more dates next week. - Gloucester City Homes