News

Winner of Northleach Community Awards 2026

Posted on By Town Clerk

We are delighted to announce that the very first Northleach Community Volunteer Award has been presented to Kelly Mustoe in recognition of the time and effort she has given to supporting our community.

Kelly was nominated for her role in Northleach Teen Space, which provides a safe and inclusive space for young people to socialise. Through her time and commitment as a committee member, Kelly has helped Teen Space achieve its aims of supporting young people in the local area and preventing social isolation.

The award was presented at Northleach with Eastington Annual Town Meeting on Weds 27 May 2027, where the council also took the opportunity to recognise the many volunteers who give their time throughout the year.

From supporting local events to gardening and other maintenance tasks, volunteers play an essential role in our community and help to ensure it is a fantastic place to live. Special thanks went to:

  • Volunteer painters who redecorated the interior of Northleach Pavilion.
  • Volunteer gardener Carole who organised the planting of thousands of daffodil bulbs in the churchyard earlier this year, and continues to tend to the flower beds in the Market Place.
  • Jan who is now in the third year of surveying our local wildflower verges.
  • Northleach Drain Guardians who rally around to help prevent flooding in the town, and
  • Northleach Wardens help to resolve all kinds of maintenance issues across the town.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to every volunteer who contributes, often quietly and behind the scenes, to support local activities and initiatives. Your efforts are appreciated and do not go unnoticed.

Congratulations once again to Kelly, and thank you to everyone who continues to volunteer and support our community.

Notice of Public Rights To Inspect the Accounts 2026

Posted on By Town Clerk

Northleach with Eastington Town Council approved its Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for the year ending 31 March 2026 at a meeting on 20 May 2026. These documents have been submitted to the external auditor and are now available to review.

Any resident has the right to inspect the accounting records and associated document for a 30 day period commencing on Weds 3rd June. Please see the attached notice for details.

Notice of Public Rights 2026

Statement by the Responsible Financial Officer

I confirm that the Accounting Statements contained within the current version of the AGAR and accompanying documents are unaudited and subject to change.

Pauline Rigby, Town Clerk & RFO
02 June 2026

Northleach AnnualReturnForm3_2025-26_e-Final (Unaudited)

NORTHLEACH – AGAR explanations

Bank-reconciliation-proforma-2025-26

Explanation-of-Variances-2025-26

Document accessibility

We regret that these documents are not available in an accessible format. If you would like to receive the information in an alternative format then please contact us.

Consultation on Proposed 20mph Speed Limit For Northleach

Posted on By Town Clerk

Northleach with Eastington Town Council is seeking residents’ views on a proposal to reduce the speed limits across the town from 30mph to 20mph.

A draft scheme has been prepared by the Highway Authority. Before any formal legal process can begin, they have requested evidence of community consultation. Details of the proposed scheme are in the documents below.

Northleach Proposed TRO Plan

Y-02401-PD-100-002_A Northleach Scheme Plan

A short survey has been prepared to gather residents’ views on the proposal. The results will be considered by the Council and shared with the Highway Authority to help inform next steps.

The deadline for responses is Weds 10 June 2026.

give your feedback

Please note that this survey is for consultation purposes only and does not in itself determine whether the scheme will proceed. Thank you for your time in providing your views.

Keeping your data safe: Participation in this survey is optional. Responses are anonymous unless you choose to provide personal details. Data will be handled lawfully and in accordance with our privacy policy: https://www.northleach.gov.uk/privacy-policy/.

Information About Northleach Traffic Light Upgrade

Posted on By Town Clerk

Gloucestershire County Council and its contractor, Telent, are currently upgrading the traffic lights at the Northleach Prison Crossroads on the A429. The work is due to be completed by 3 July.

We have been receiving questions about why the work will take this long and would like to share information received from the traffic signals team.

During the early stages of the project, engineers found a number of unexpected problems, including damaged underground ducting, worn-out pedestrian paving, and the need to move and replace most of the signal poles to meet current safety and design standards.

Because of this additional work, the refurbishment is taking longer than first planned and the permanent traffic lights will be out of use for a longer period.

To help reduce disruption for residents and road users, temporary traffic lights have been put in place while the work continues.

The traffic signals team has also provided the following technical information:

The current signal system is outdated and needs full replacement to bring it up to current specification.

Method of control upgraded to MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation):

As part of the signal refurbishment works, MOVA control will be introduced. The benefits of this method of control include real-time optimisation of signal timings, which improves junction capacity, reduces delays, and provides a more balanced and efficient operation when compared to fixed-time or standard vehicle actuation (VA) control. (Key points listed below).

  • Reduced Delays
  • Improved Traffic Efficiency
  • Balanced Approach Operation
  • Adaptive Cycle Time
  • Reduced Queue Lengths
  • Environmental Benefits
  • Fault-Tolerant & Robust Operation
  • Better Performance Than Standard VA

New signals Stage/Phase control:

In summary, the signals will operate as a three-stage, five-phase junction. It should be noted that the pedestrian phase within Stage 3 will only operate on demand. This functionality is supported by kerbside detection, which helps to prevent false pedestrian calls and therefore supports optimal traffic flow at all times.

Upgrade of sites pedestrian facilities:

As part of the signal refurbishment works, advanced pedestrian detection will be introduced. This includes kerbside and on-crossing detection, which enhance pedestrian crossings by making them safer, smarter, and more efficient. These systems ensure that pedestrian demand is met while minimising unnecessary delays to vehicular traffic. (Key points listed below).

  • Demand-Responsive Operation
  • Reduction in False Calls
  • Improved Traffic Flow
  • Adaptive Crossing Time
  • Enhanced Safety
  • Balanced Network Performance
  • Environmental Benefits

Addition of live data CCTV for traffic flow monitoring:

As part of the signal refurbishment works, GCC will be installing live-data CCTV cameras to support traffic flow monitoring at the location. It should be noted that these cameras provide live streaming only, with no recording capability, and cannot be used for enforcement purposes.

 Addition of signals Remote Monitoring facilities:

As part of the signal refurbishment works, remote monitoring (RM) facilities will be installed within the controller. These systems provide proactive, real-time management of traffic signal assets, improving reliability, safety, and operational efficiency, while supporting smarter maintenance and enhanced network performance.

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

Posted on By Town Clerk

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.

‘Hidden HardShip’ Exhibition Explores Rural Poverty, On 13-19 June

Posted on By Town Clerk

PRESS RELEASE

Cirencester Ashcroft Church & Centre are pleased to announce that we are hosting an exhibition called ‘Hidden Hardship’ based on research by Dr Stephanie Denning of Coventry University.  The exhibition features a number of panels highlighting findings from the research and illustrated by Beth Waters.

Dr Denning’s research aim is to understand the experiences of people in hardship in the rural North Cotswolds.  Research into hardship has tended to focus more on urban areas than rural areas.  This is a problem because we cannot assume that what happens in urban areas is the case in rural areas

The exhibition will run from Saturday 13th June to Friday 19th June 2026, and will be open to the public without charge between 12 noon and 2pm each day.  It will coincide with the 2026 South Cotswolds Foodbank Food Poverty report launch on Wednesday 17th June, and a special act of worship on Sunday 14th June.   Resources are available at the exhibition or can be obtained from the Hidden Hardship website (https://hiddenhardship.coventry.ac.uk/) and include:

Hidden Hardship Short Storybook;

Hidden Hardship briefing and full report for Policymakers and Community Leaders;

Hidden Hardship Devotional Study Guide.

We hope that the Exhibition will provide a timely and informative stimulus to policy makers and agencies across the Cotswolds, as well as those who share a concern for addressing the many hidden needs across our communities.

For further information please contact Andy Rickell, Chair of Trustees of Cirencester Ashcroft Church at andyrickell@sky.com.

Cirencester Ashcroft Church is a Methodist/URC joint church, located at 21 Ashcroft Road, Cirencester, GL7 1RA, phone 01285 651145.   We have a distinct emphasis on being inclusive and supporting those facing poverty, exclusion and loneliness; and host a wide range of local community and social action groups.