Community News

Message from Gloucestershire Highways:

West End letter

Location: West End, Northleach
Date: 7th October 2024
Between 09:30 – 15:30

We will be carrying out essential work on 7th October with the intention of undertaking works:

• To clean the drainage gullies.
• To enable Cotswold District Council to utilise a road sweeper to pass through unhindered.

Please would you ensure that no vehicles are parked in the area indicated on the attached map from 09:30 until 15:30 on 7th October.

Failure to remove your vehicle will result in us not being able to carry out the work.

Thank you in anticipation of your assistance.

⛈️ We hope everyone is OK after the recent flooding. A huge thank you to Rob from Drain Doctor who unblocked many drains last Friday. Thanks to everyone who mucked in to clear drains, put out barriers, and assist with the clean-up.

The Town Council is gathering information to pass on to Highways to help them tackle drainage problems. Highways has asked for any videos we could share that show the water flow in the Market Place. If you have any footage please send to clerk@northleach.gov.uk.

Reporting flooding

If your property has been/is affected by flooding, please report 👉 using the Flood Online Reporting System (FORT).

Reporting helps local authorities to understand flood risk across the county and prioritise resources. Please be aware reporting on FORT will not lead to an emergency response.

Check out the flood guide for information about what to do before, during and after flooding 👉 https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/flood-guide

Where can I go for support?

• If you’ve been flooded, contact your insurance company and follow their advice. If you aren’t insured, the National Flood Forum can offer help and support on 01299 403055.
• The National Flood Forum is a charity set up to help, support and represents people at risk of flooding. https://nationalfloodforum.org.uk
• Flood Re – the not-for-profit, government-backed flood re-insurance scheme gives people living in flood-risk areas access to affordable home insurance. https://www.floodre.co.uk

Cotswold residents are invited to give their views on parking provision.

Take the Survey

This is Cotswold District Council’s second consultation on parking provision across the district. The first consultation which ran in January 2024 helped to establish baseline data for how the public uses and perceives parking provision in the district. The second , which begins on 18 September and runs until 17 October 2024, will take into account the changes in parking behaviour in the summer and autumn months, when tourism and summer holidays are at their peak.

The consultation will inform the district council’s parking strategy which was last updated in 2016. Since 2016 several factors have influenced transport and parking behaviours, such as the climate agenda, the coronavirus pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the wider economy.

Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Parking said: “We are delivering a second consultation so that we can get a total view of parking across the year. We know that parking demand fluctuates with the seasons, and a second consultation will give us a robust set of data to work with. Your views will enable us to develop a parking strategy that is fit for our car park users.

“We want to know where you park, the purpose of your visit and what could be improved about specific car parks, among other things. It’s important we hear from those who know the car parks best and we’d appreciate any further feedback you have, particularly if you took part the first time.

“The first consultation received a brilliant response, and I hope you can find a few minutes to help us again, so we can make sure our parking provision is right for you.”

The Council’s car parking strategy looks at what car parking is needed across the district based on the number of people parking, what the needs of those people are and what might be required in future.

Once complete, the new strategy will set out how parking can be improved across the district that the Council will then look to deliver in partnership with the County Council, local parish councils, and other organisations where possible.

Take the Survey

Do you have some time that you could give to support the community? We’re advertising for part-time paid help to look after the Westwoods Centre.

The role is Westwoods Supervisor; responsibilities include, managing the bookings, working with customers, and generally looking after the building to ensure we can continue to offer a great facility for the community. The hours could be from 6 to 10 hours a week depending on your schedule and how you’d like to help, paid at a local government rate. We’d also look favourably on a job share.

We are also looking for a cleaner on an employed or self-employed basis to clean the centre for a couple of hours each week.

If you’re interested in helping the Town and the community and have some time available, please contact Pauline on 01451 861499 or clerk@northleach.gov.uk and she’ll talk through the options with you.

Local charity Friends of the Cotswolds has launched a Heritage and Environment Fund.

Up to £2,000 is now available for projects that come under any of the following themes:

• heritage
• environment – both built and natural
• culture
• access
• social wellbeing

For any of the following organisations:

• Registered Charities
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
• Charitable Community Benefit Societies
• Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Parish and Town Councils

To find out more and to apply visit: https://friendsofthecotswolds.org/grant-application/