Free Winter Fun for Families this Holiday Season

Posted on By Town Clerk

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is back this winter to help keep children in Gloucestershire happy, healthy, and entertained with free activities and nutritious food.

Families eligible for benefits-related free school meals can register now for the winter HAF. Thanks to grant funding, the county council is extending these fun, enriching holiday activities to all children and young people through the Holiday Activities Programme (HAP).

Most activities will be taking place between Saturday 20 December and Sunday 4 January.

Booking is now open via the new Family Hubs system: https://familyhubs.gloucestershire.gov.uk/haf.

Families are encouraged to visit the website to create an account, add a profile for each child taking part in activities, and make sure emergency contact details are up to date. 

This winter, in addition to ticketed attractions, 41 providers will be providing activity sessions for children and young people across the county, helping to create memorable experiences for thousands of families who greatly value the opportunities it offers. 

This winter there are lots of great options to choose from including drama and science workshops, sports and games, art and crafts, music and dance, indoor and outdoor activities. In addition, popular ticketed attractions include ice skating and pantomimes. More information about the programme is available at: https://familyhubs.gloucestershire.gov.uk/haf.

Families needing extra support to choose, book, or attend HAF activities can get help from six HAF Community Connectors, one for each district. This winter, there’s also a Specialist SEND Community Connector to improve support for children and young people with additional needs: https://familyhubs.gloucestershire.gov.uk/haf-send.

B4425 Cirencester to Arlington – Road Closure 12-23 January 2026

Posted on By Town Clerk

Letter from Gloucestershire Highways:

Ref: 43107051

Monday, December 01, 2025

Ash Dieback

Dear Sir/Madam

  • What: Temporary Traffic Order to close the road for essential Ash Dieback tree work.
  • Where: B4425 – Cirencester to Arlington (see letter and map for the exact location)
  • When: 12-23 January 2026 inclusive (excluding weekends) from 09.30 to 15.30 daily.

On behalf of Gloucestershire County Council, we advise you that we are due to be conducting essential work at the above location to remove unsafe trees infected with Ash Dieback.

***During this period, 12-23rd January 2026 inclusive, excluding weekends, there will be NO through access from Cirencester to Arlington / Bibury using B4425. Essential Ash Dieback work is to be completed between 1. Cirencester & Sheephouse Lane and 2. Sheephouse Lane and C154 Akeman Street. A rolling closure will be in place with only one cutting area being closed at any one time.

Letter (B) – B4425 – Cirencester to Arlington

Emergency Closure of Public Footpaths For Urgent Tree Work

Posted on By Town Clerk

Update 01 December 2025:

Please note that this footpath closure has been extended for a further 21 days:

Draft Emergency First Notice PROW further 21 days – 86944

Original announcement of 10 November 2025:

EMERGENCY CLOSURE OF PUBLIC FOOTPATHS KNE 2 -KNE 4- KNE 5
(NORTHLEACH WITH EASTINGTON PARISH)
COTSWOLD DISTRICT

Gloucestershire County Council has by this emergency notice closed temporarily under Sections 14, 15 and 16 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) part of public footpaths KNE 2 – KNE 4 and KNE 5 as defined in the schedules below;

Schedule

Part of Public Footpath KNE 2 from its junction with KNE 3 at Ordnance Survey Grid Reference (OSGR) SO 11600/15329 extending in a generally South Westerly direction for approximately 410 metres to its junction with KNE 4 at OSGR SO 11371/14991 as indicated on the plan by a solid black line marked A to B.

Public Footpath KNE 4 from its junction with KNE 2 at OSGR SO 11371/14991 extending in a generally North Westerly direction for approximately 350 metres to its junction A429 at OSGR SO 11251/15305 as indicated on the plan by a solid black line marked B to D to E.

Part of Public Footpath KNE 5 from its junction with Graveney Road at OSGR SO 11274/14982 extending in a generally northerly direction for approximately 105 meters to its junction with KNE 4 at OSGR SO 11295/15086 as indicated on the plan by a solid black line marked C to D.
The Public Footpaths fall in Northleach with Eastington Parish in the Cotswold District and in the County of Gloucestershire;

The closure is necessary to protect the public whilst urgent tree works take place.

This Notice came into force on the 10th November 2025 and will continue for up to 21 days.

However, if the works to remedy the problem have not been completed during this time scale it will be necessary to either extend the closure by Notice for a further 21 days or make an Order.

This legal Order, if made, will authorise the closure of the public footpath for up to six months from the date of this Notice. However, if the problem continues after this time then it will be necessary to make an application to the Secretary of State for an extension to the closure.

Alternative Routes – There are no alternative routes.

Emergency and Pedestrian access to adjoining premises is to be maintained.

DATE: 10th November 2025
For Assistant Director Legal Services
Public Rights of Way GT/86944
08000 514514 Legal Services
Shire Hall
Westgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 2TG

Signed Emergency Notice

Cotswold District Local Plan: Have Your Say On Future Development

Posted on By Town Clerk

News from Cotswold District Council:

Cotswold District Council is updating its adopted Local Plan in light of the new mandatory housing targets. The Government now requires the district to provide more than twice the number of homes it was previously planning for. This currently equates to a total target of 18,650 additional new homes for the new Local Plan over the period up to 2043.

The consultation period will run from:
14 November
until
2 January 2026 (11:59pm).

This is a Local Plan Regulation 18 consultation, which looks at different development strategy options to deliver this target and provides a preferred strategy option. Each option provides indicative housing figures based on high level proposals for each settlement or area.

The main consultation document that looks at a series of development scenarios to address the district’s development needs up to 2043, and proposes the Council’s preferred scenario. (Please note, several of the scenarios – including the preferred scenario – include strategic sites of 500 or more homes whose construction may continue after 2043). The consultation document also considers development needs other than housing and includes an updated Vision and Objectives for the Local Plan.

A Call for Sites has also been issued, inviting people to propose sites that can help deliver development needs up to 2043. This can include land for housing, employment, renewable energy etc.

To view and respond to the consultation documents online, visit https://your.cotswold.gov.uk.

(Select ‘Preferred Options Consultation 2025‘)

Drop-in exhibitions will also be held across the district, giving you the chance to speak to planning officers and ask questions about the process:

  • 28 November: King George’s Hall, Mickleton (2–7pm)
  • 5 December: St David’s Centre, Moreton-in-Marsh (2–7pm)
  • 11 December: Fairford Community Centre (2–7pm)
  • 18 December: Corinium Museum, Cirencester (2–7pm)

For any questions about the emerging Local Plan or the consultation, please contact Cotswold District Council.

 

 

 

Public Consultation: Land To East Of Nostle Road, Northleach

Posted on By Town Clerk

About the Proposals

The Farmington Trust are currently preparing an outline application for up to 48 dwellings (all matters reserved except access) on land east of Nostle Road and north of East End, Northleach. This is an allocated site in the Cotswolds Local Plan (2018).

A two-week public consultation is being held on the proposals between Monday 10th November and Monday 24th November 2025 to obtain feedback from the local community before the application is submitted to Cotswold District Council.

A public exhibition is being held on Wednesday 12th November, 3:30pm to 7:30pm at the Westwoods Centre.

Starting on Monday 10 November, details of the consultation can be found at: www.corylus-ltd.co.uk/nostle-road-consultation.

Feedback can be sent by email to: nostleroad@corylus-ltd.co.uk.

 

Northleach Grounds Maintenance Contract 2026-28 – Invitation to Tender

Posted on By Town Clerk

Northleach with Eastington Town Council is inviting tenders for the provision of grass cutting and grounds maintenance services. The contract has been divided into separate lots to allow participation from both larger firms and smaller local contractors.

You may tender for one, several, or all lots. If you prefer to take on the entire contract, you can submit a combined price covering all lots. The Council will compare both individual and combined bids to achieve best overall value.

Summary for contractors

What’s involved:

  1. Regular mowing of playing fields, playgrounds, cemeteries, open spaces, and verges (frequency varies by site).
  2. Strimming around equipment, fences, and trees.
  3. Maintaining tidy hedges and boundaries.
  4. Weed killing on selected areas around the car park.
  5. Removal and disposal of green waste.

Contract period

Two years starting in March 2026, with an option to extend for a third year.

How to apply

Full tender documents, maps, and specifications are available from:

Invitation to Tender:
Grass Cutting & Grounds Maintenance 2026-28

Digital map of service areas:
https://shared.xmap.cloud/?map=38b3bc6b-f8f7-4212-8f37-0aeeb6b1d264

Site visits can be arranged on request. Please contact the Clerk to arrange.

Important Notice Regarding Representation

Please be advised that Northleach with Eastington Town Council does not work through any third-party agents, brokers, or intermediaries in relation to this procurement opportunity. Any individual or company claiming to represent or act on behalf of the Council in this matter should be regarded as unauthorised and their claims dismissed. All official communications and documentation relating to this tender will be issued directly by the Council through the FindATender procurement portal. If you receive any approach or communication that appears to be from a third party claiming Council affiliation, please report it immediately to clerk@northleach.gov.uk.

Updated 10 Nov 2025