⏩ The Gloucester Start: Wednesday December 18th
Bus strikes vote | Gloucester Academy's 'good' Ofsted | Wide load
Good morning and welcome to Wednesday’s Start. It’s windy out there this morning so take care if you’re heading out. We’ve got news below of potential bus strikes, a landmark Ofsted report, the devolution latest and more. Enjoy!
🚍 Chaos could hit bus routes if drivers vote to strike over pay, union officials have said. More than 250 drivers in the county, based at four different Stagecoach West depots including Gloucester’s, are being balloted on taking industrial action. The ballot opened yesterday and closes on January 9th. - Unite the Union
🚉 Trains between the West Country and London could run permanently slower after HS2’s completion, a government minister has warned. Track realignment, and the possibility that every train from the region to the capital will stop at the new Old Oak Common station, could increase journey times. - Gloucestershire Live
↪️ More immediately, passengers wanting help from Great Western Rail’s social media channels won’t get any after 7pm for the rest of the year because of staff sickness. - GWR
↔️ Police will escort a large abnormal load through the county tomorrow. The 4.7metre wide load will come off the M5 at Brockworth and head around the A40 towards Huntley. - Gloucestershire Live
🌧️ Today’s weather: Windy to begin with, with gusts touching 40mph, with heavy rain on its way through much of the evening. Mild, with temperatures hitting 13C.
👩🏫 Gloucester Academy is officially a ‘good’ school. Ofsted inspectors visited in November and have just released their results, praising its ambition, personal development, accuracy in identifying SEND pupils, and the positive behaviour and attitudes seen. The school was last rated ‘inadequate’ before joining the Greenshaw Learning Trust in 2020. - Gloucester Academy
🏃♂️ Keeley Hodgkinson might have taken the plaudits at Sports Personality of the Year last night, but an unsung running hero has also been getting some much-deserved recognition in Gloucester. Bob Purcell has devoted himself to supporting grassroots athletics in the city since 1991 and was picked as the Sports Unsung Hero of the Year by BBC West. - BBC
❤️ Fans heading to Gloucester Rugby’s home game on Friday evening will have the chance to add their tributes to former player Tom Voyce on a memorial wall. It will be in place in the Fan Zone and the messages will be turned into a book of remembrance. Tom, 43, died last week after being swept away in floodwater. - Gloucester Rugby
🗳️ It is ‘inconceivable’ that Gloucester City Council will be abolished as part of government devolution plans, says its leader Jeremy Hilton. Labour wants a uniform approach to local government that would see second-tier city and district councils folded into the bigger county councils. Mr Hilton will oppose the plans. - Gloucestershire Live, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
↪️ Next year’s county council elections could be postponed because of the devolution plans. - Gloucestershire Live (LDRS)
🎓 The University of Gloucestershire’s redevelopment of the old Debenhams has delivered a social value of almost £23million for the city’s economy. That’s in the form of jobs created, connections built with businesses and good causes, and environmental impact. It’s due to open in phases next year. - The Business Magazine
🚨 Crime alerts
The latest crimes added to the Your Community Alerts service:
Burglars smashed through the patio doors of a house in Brockworth on Saturday, rifled through property and stole jewellery including a wedding ring, car keys, paperwork and more. Three men were seen running away on CCTV.
A set of drills was stolen from a premises in Charles Street, Barton, overnight on Saturday.
A Honda Jazz was stolen from outside a take away shop in Barton Street on Friday night.