Community News

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/

At its June meeting, the Town Council passed a motion supporting the 20’s Plenty for Gloucestershire Campaign.

The Town Council has written to Gloucestershire County Council calling upon them to provide a 20mph speed limits throughout Gloucestershire on streets where people live, work, shop, play or learn, with 30mph as the exception.

This follows a request by the Town Council to introduce a 20mph speed limit across the whole of Northleach. We understand that the request is now with the Gloucestershire Road Safety Team for review.

Separately the Town Council supported a request by residents to review the 40mph speed limit on the Fosse Way by the Old Prison. Unfortunately, the highways department has said there is “no justification” for a reduction in the speed limit in this location. We are making further enquiries to help understand the basis of this response.

On Thursday 6th June 2024, the people of Northleach came together to remember those who fought for our freedom on D-Day.

It was 80 years ago since the largest seaborne invasion in history took place. The battle for Normandy that followed would turn the tide of World War Two, and lead ultimately to the defeat of Germany and victory for the allies just under a year later, in May 1945.

The commemoration event at the War Memorial included the reading of the International Tribute by the Mayor and laying of a wreath by members of the Royal British Legion.

A local resident whose father had taken part in the Normandy landings lit the peace lantern. The lantern was then carried to the churchyard and used to light a beacon for Northleach, which had been kindly donated to the town by an anonymous benefactor.

We hope you enjoy the images below of this historic occasion.

Images below shared with kind permission of members of Northleach Photographic Group.