⏩ The Gloucester Start: Wednesday February 19th
'Ghost town' concerns | £50m plan blame game | New NHS boss
Good morning, welcome to Wednesday’s Start. Here’s everything I’ve been able to find for today’s round-up - remember you can drop submissions for news, events and community announcements to me via this form. We’re also on Instagram if you want to follow along.
🏘️ Gloucester City Homes and Gloucester City Council are blaming each other as a £50million regeneration scheme for Podsmead hangs in the balance. The housing association is frustrated by the council’s requests for more information ahead of a planning decision being made, which could jeopardise £20million of funding. - Gloucester News Centre, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
↪️ Gloucester’s MP Alex McIntyre is attempting to intervene, inviting both parties to a meeting this week. - Alex McIntyre on Facebook
👻 Northgate Street is becoming a ‘ghost town’, according to some, after shop closures. The city council has been called on to ‘brighten things up’ at that end of the city centre. - BBC Gloucestershire
☁️ Today’s weather: A higher chance of rain later on after milder temperatures through the day.
🚰 Severn Trent Water is investing £2billion into reducing sewage spills. The company was fined £327,000 last year for a spillage in Dimore Brook at Quedgeley, among others. - BBC Gloucestershire
✉️ Letters sent to private householders from Gloucester City Homes outlining the potential introduction of service charges have left residents surprised. A community meeting has been arranged for tonight to hear concerns. - Gloucester News Centre
🫶 Last night marked 11 years since the death of Hollie Gazzard, with people asked to light a candle in her memory and to show support for the charity set up in her name to safeguard and campaign for people at risk of domestic abuse. - Hollie Gazzard Trust
👩⚕️ ‘Huge service and financial challenges’ face the new chief executive of NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board. Sarah Truelove takes over from Mary Hutton when she retires in the summer. - Gloucestershire Live
📷 New drone footage has been released of The Forum development as it approaches completion. It will include a hotel with rooftop bar and a media wall among much more when it’s finished. - The Forum on LinkedIn
🚨 Crime alerts
Thefts from cars and shed break-ins make up the latest crimes made public by police through the Your Community Alerts service.
Thefts from cars:
A Range Rover Evoque was entered in Stroud Road. A purse containing bank cards and a bag were taken between February 12th and 13th
A Toyota Yaris was entered in Frampton Road. A Samsung tablet was taken between February 16th and 17th
A Jaguar was entered in Richmond Avenue. Cash and a bank card were taken between February 15th and 16th
A Mercedes was entered in Lewisham Road. Sports clothing and a pair of Ray-ban sunglasses were taken between February 12th and 13th
A Vauxhall Grandland was entered in The Oval. A sports bag and clothing was taken between February 11th and 12th
A Vauxhall Insignia was entered in The Oval. A small purse and clothing was taken between February 12th and 13th
Shed break-ins:
A garden shed was entered in Friars Orchard. A Specialized mountain bike was stolen overnight on February 13th
A garden shed was entered in Seymour Road. A Carrera Vengence bike was stolen in the early hours of February 12th
The top posts from Tuesday’s Start:
👮 Vulnerable man missing from Gloucester for a week - Gloucestershire Live
🗳️ County council leaders ‘have head in the sand’, say critics - Gloucester News Centre
⚖️ Woman jailed for stealing £290k from elderly neighbour - BBC Gloucestershire