Government Announces A Single Unitary Council To Be Created in Gloucestershire

Announcement from Future Gloucestershire:

The Government has today announced its decision on the future structure of local government in Gloucestershire.

The decision is to create a single unitary council, which will replace existing county, city, district and borough councils on 1 April 2028.

The Government has said that the single unitary option best met the criteria. This was particularly the case in three respects: it provides a sensible geography for economic growth and housing, it is easier to deliver joined up public services, and a good platform for community empowerment.

More detail on the rationale will be available shortly in this letter from the Secretary of State, who made the announcement in the House of Commons on 16 July 2026.

At this stage, there will be no changes to council services which will be delivered as normal. Residents should continue to access these services in the way they normally would.

In recent months, our councils have been working very well together, preparing to deliver on the government’s decision. That work will continue while we get into the detail of the decision and exactly how it will be implemented, with full focus on ensuring the best outcomes for our local communities.

While our councils adopted their own position regarding the best future structure of local government in Gloucestershire, we are united in our commitment to the people and communities we serve. Our shared priority has always been to ensure that residents and businesses continue to receive the services they rely on, and that those services are delivered to the very highest standard.

We recognise that while this decision brings a degree of clarity about the future of local government in Gloucestershire, it will also raise further questions that we are not yet able to answer.

We are still at an early stage in this process. The new council needs to be created legally. Then there will be elections to a shadow authority on 6 May 2027 which will make the key decisions related to the creation of the new council. The new council will be effective from 1 April 2028.

Throughout this process, our seven councils remain committed to keeping residents, staff and partners fully informed and will share more information as it becomes available.

Ash Dieback Works A429 Cirencester to Northleach, 20-31 July 2026

Residents letter-(b)-a429-cirencester-to-northleach

Ref: 43116321
Friday, June 19, 2026

Ash Dieback – in collaboration with National Grid

Dear Sir/Madam

What: Temporary Traffic Order to close the road for essential Ash Dieback tree work.
Where: A429 – Cirencester to Northleach (see overleaf for details of the exact location)
When: 20-31 July 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.

Ash Dieback disease causes Ash trees to become unsafe; trees could shed limbs or collapse on to the road causing harm and injury. This work must take place for health and safety reasons, to protect road users and pedestrians, and make sure the carriageway remains clear of debris.

ROAD CLOSURE – As part of our Ash Dieback project, we will be conducting essential tree works at the above location for health and safety reasons, to protect users of our Highways and County Council land. To ensure the safety of you and of our workforce, we have, under Sections 14, 15 & 16 of the Road Traffic Act 1984 as amended, made a Temporary Traffic Order to close the road.

Due to the type of activities required with tree felling and maintenance works, road closures can cover an area greater than where work is taking place. This is to allow safe movement and placement of machinery and material.

We appreciate road closures are inconvenient, but it is necessary to keep you and the team working on the road safe. We have planned the work so we can be in and out as quickly as possible and have tried to do it within a period that will minimise any inconvenience.

ACCESS – In accordance with the Temporary Traffic Order, we are not permitted to allow any person or vehicle to proceed along the closed roads; the exception being emergency vehicles or statutory undertakers responding to an emergency. We will endeavor to always keep the public foot path open, if it is necessary to close it at any point it will be for a limited time and fully supervised by our trained banks man.

******During this period, 20-31st July 2026 inclusive, there will be NO THROUGH ACCESS from Cirencester to Northleach using A429. Essential Ash Dieback work is to be completed between Cirencester and C155 Jct – road from Fosse Cross to Calmsden.

The closure points are continually supervised by our fully trained banks man. Once on site, our workforce Supervisor will communicate with residents who are directly affected by the essential Ash Dieback works, living within the designated cutting areas/hard closure, as indicated in black on the map. NO though traffic will be given access at this point. Access for residents, deliveries and for access to frontages will only be permitted where it does NOT impact on our ability to conduct the work as required and only where it is safe to do so. Any access during this time would be at the driver’s own risk as it is a works site. Therefore, if you normally drive into or out of this area during the hours when the road closure is in place, we ask you to please make alternative arrangements. Access is permissible into the ‘soft closure’ area for accessing frontages and businesses. This is the road leading up to the actual cutting area as indicated in red on the map. Closure times are between
09:30 – 15:30 daily.

DIVERSIONS – We have created an official diversion route which will be signposted and is suitable for all vehicles that would normally use the closed ‘class A’ road. This is indicated in blue on the map. We appreciate you may know an alternative route, however, please be aware that alternative routes which are outside of the road closure area are used at driver’s discretion and own risk. Below is the map showing the extents of road closure.

Old A40 Resurfacing Works: Now Expected 17-23 July

Update 26/06/26: Owing to the extreme heat, the work has been rescheduled to 17-23 July.

Information from Gloucestershire Highways:

918863-hangmans-stone-to-countryside-museum-residents-letter

Our Ref: 70012720 – 918863

Date: 8th June 2026

Dear Sir/Madam

What: Temporary Traffic Order to close the road for carriageway resurfacing.

Where: 3/332 Hangmans Stone to Countryside Museum Hampnett. See overleaf for details of road closure.

When: For approximately 5 Days (excl. weekends) between the hours of 07:00 to 19:00.

The PROPOSED start and end dates are currently Friday 26th June 2026 until Thursday 2nd July 2026, however, keep an eye on the web page detailed below or the signs on site for any short notice changes.

Our resurfacing programme is dependent on several factors. It can be affected by things like; heavy rain, changes in temperatures and other weather events as well as plant breakdown and unforeseen technical issues that arise once work has begun. All this means scheme dates and details can change at short notice. We appreciate this is inconvenient, and we will keep our online schedule and our social media feeds updated with more details if changes happen.

Find the most up to date scheme start and end dates and more information about this scheme via our:

Report issues with FixMyStreet: https://fixmystreet.gloucestershire.gov.uk/

Diversion route for 3/332 Hangmans Stone to Countryside Museum Hampnett. 

Diversion map

It is understood that there may be other, shorter, alternative routes available, however this approved diversion shows the most suitable route for vehicles that need to keep to the same or a similar class of road.

Temporary Road Closure for Ash Dieback Tree Work B4425 Aldsworth to A40

Ref: 43116328, Friday, May 08, 2026

Letter (B) – B4425 at Jct with C138

Ash Dieback

Dear Sir/Madam

What: Temporary Traffic Order to close the road for essential Ash Dieback tree work.

Where: B4425 Aldsworth to A40 – at Jct of C138 (see overleaf for details of the exact location)

When: 1-5th June 2026 inclusive 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, 1-5th June 2026 inclusive, there will be a 4-point closure in place at the crossroads of B4425 and C138 where essential Ash Dieback work is to be completed. There will be NO THROUGH ACCESS from Aldsworth to A40 using B4425, from B4425 to A40 using C138 or from B4425 to A361 using C138. ***

DIVERSIONS – We have created an official diversion route which will be signposted and is suitable for all vehicles that would normally use the closed ‘class A’ road. This is indicated in blue on the map.

Ash Dieback disease causes Ash trees to become unsafe; trees could shed limbs or collapse on to the road causing harm and injury. This work must take place for health and safety reasons, to protect road users and pedestrians, and make sure the carriageway remains clear of debris.

If you have any queries, please refer to the letter attached to this email, the ‘Frequently Asked Questions‘ on our website; or contact us on 08000 514514 or email AshDieback@gloucestershire.gov.uk.

Thank you in advance for your patience and co-operation.

Consultation on Future of Councils in Gloucestershire

Based on a press release from Gloucestershire County Council:

Gloucestershire councils are encouraging residents and communities to take part in a new government consultation on how local government in the county could be organised in future. 

This is an important chance for people to have their say as the government considers a once-in-a-generation shake-up to how local services are run.

Respond Online

Reorganisation will replace Gloucestershire’s existing county council and six borough and district councils with one or two new councils. Three proposals were put forward by Gloucestershire’s councils in November, and the government will decide on its preferred option this summer.

The options are:

1. Single unitary authority

A single council responsible for all services across Gloucestershire.

2. Two unitary authorities (east/west split)

each responsible for all services in that area:

  • East Gloucestershire: Cheltenham Borough, Tewkesbury Borough, Cotswold District
  • West Gloucestershire: Forest of Dean, Gloucester City and Stroud District

3. Two unitary councils (Greater Gloucester and Gloucestershire Unitary)

each responsible for all services in that area:

  • Greater Gloucester, covering the existing city council area and some neighbouring parishes,
  • Rest of the county, including Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, and the remainder of Tewkesbury, the Forest of Dean, and Stroud

What is the consultation asking?

The government is asking to what extent the proposals:

  • are based on sensible geographies and economic areas
  • will deliver the outcomes described in the proposals
  • are the right size to be efficient, improve capacity, and withstand financial shocks
  • will deliver high quality, sustainable public services
  • have been informed by local views and will meet local needs
  • will support devolution arrangements
  • will enable stronger community engagement and give the opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.

What happens next?

Responses will help the government assess which option best meets its criteria.

A decision is expected in summer 2026, with elections planned for May 2027.

Any new unitary councils would be established no earlier than April 2028.

How to take part

The consultation is for seven weeks, closing on 26 March 2026.

Respond Online

Take part on the government’s website: Local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire – GOV.UK

For background information about the proposals for local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire, please visit the Future Gloucestershire website.

Road Closure A40 Shipton to Northleach 26-30 January 2026

Information from Gloucestershire Highways:

Please be advised of the following closures:

These roads will be closed (as per the attached plans) between 20:15 and 06:00 from 26/01/2026 to 30/01/2026 to allow for cats eye replacement work by Gloucestershire Highways.

Emergency and pedestrian access will be maintained.

If you should require further information please email streetworks@gloucestershire.gov.uk