Nigel Farage’s Reform Party has won its first-ever seat in Stonehouse Dean Botterill has been elected as a County Councillor for Stonehouse with 825 votes on a turnout of 33.7 per cent He pipped green candidate Tom Jarman by 11 votes The seat was previously held by former Independent councillor Nick Housden Reform seized control of eight authorities from the Conservatives including former strongholds Kent and Staffordshire veteran Nailsworth county councillor Steve Robinson was re-elected for the Labour Party Cllr Robinson polled 1,675 votes but faced a strong challenge from the Green Party’s Gill Thomas The Liberal Democrats are now the largest party on Gloucestershire County Council They took a total of 27 seats – one short of the 28 needed to gain overall control of the council They will have to negotiate with other parties to form a coalition the Green Party defeated Labour in a by-election in Stroud has been elected as a Stroud District Councillor for the Stroud Central Ward She won with 416 votes on a turnout of 40.9 per cent by nearly 300 votes Cllr James-Hodges replaces former Stroud MP David Drew – who resigned in February Your results for GCC elections in the Stroud area Bisley & Painswick – Gary Luff elected for the Green Party Cam Valley – Michael Rees elected for the Reform Party Dursley – Richard Dean elected for the Green Party Hardwicke & Severn – Stephen Davies re-elected for the Conservatives Haresfield & Upton St Leonards (new) – John Patient elected for the Green Party Minchinhampton – Chloe Turner re-elected for the Green Party Nailsworth –  Steve Robinson re-elected for the Labour Party Rodborough – Craig Horrocks elected for the Green Party Stonehouse – Dean Botterill elected for the Reform Party Stroud Central – Natalie Rothwell-Warn elected for the Green Party Wotton-under-Edge – Linda Cohen – re-elected for the Liberal Democrats Cate James-Hodges (Green) – 416 votes Hena Mannan-Rahman (Conservative) – 60 votes Philip Purves (Liberal Democrats) – 27 votes To contact the Stroud Times team, please visit our contact page to find the appropriate email address or send us your story via email on news@stroudtimes.com Website built and managed by Hewlett Photography & Design Stroud District Council’s Stonehouse High Street car park will be closed from Sunday 13 April to Sunday 27 April for resurfacing and landscaping During this period the car park will be unavailable and all vehicles must be removed by midnight Measures will be taken if any vehicles are not removed Alternative short-term parking has been arranged at Park Infant School Alternative long-term parking will be available at the Magpies Social Club based at Moreton Valance will be carrying out the work the car park will feature some wider bays to accommodate larger cars and an additional accessible bay Pedestrian access to the health centre will be maintained and the public toilets will open as usual Stroud District Council owns and maintains 34 public car parks in the district Investing in our car parks is an important part of our plans to support local businesses and to keep our town centres thriving We are grateful to Stonehouse Town Council Stonehouse Park Federation and Wycliffe College for their support during these works If you have any queries about the temporary car park closure, please email estates.admin@stroud.gov.uk or phone 01453 766321 during office hours the SNP’s candidate Katy Loudon has called out the “deafening silence” on Labour’s broken promises by both Anas Sarwar and Labour’s by-election candidate Only this week 14 Labour MSPs voted to support the latest round of Labour cuts which are expected to push 250,000 people into poverty Not only did those Labour MSPs vote to support cuts but eight others failed to vote at all – including Anas Sarwar himself Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election has not spoken out against Labour cuts which will harm countless families in the constituency He’s also been silent on Labour’s record in government which includes: Katy Loudon said that Anas Sarwar’s silence over the Labour Party’s broken promises proves that neither he can be trusted to do right by the people of Hamilton Labour has maintained the awful two child cap taken away vital payments from pensioners and overseen soaring household bills – and all within a matter of months Labour MSPs are in lockstep with their London bosses – with most of their MSPs  backing the £5 billion of Labour cuts to disability support while others Larkhall and Stonehouse deserve better than a Labour candidate who will look the other way and I will be taking that message to doorsteps across Hamilton If you need help, please contact member.care@snp.org or call 0800 633 5432 Don't have an account? Sign up Breakfast is supposed to set you up for the day — and Tasty’s in Stonehouse does exactly that Tucked into the middle of Stonehouse High Street Tasty’s is new — it opened in March — but already feels well established with smart cutlery and potted plants on each table it’s got a bit of a premium feel without being pretentious You won’t find a traditional counter here either — instead the setup is more farmhouse kitchen than high-street café with online ordering available and our server Emily Phillips keeping an attentive eye to make sure everything arrives hot and fast The Stroud Times breakfast team for the day featured Faye Hatcher Ash Loveridge and stand-in photographer Lee Stone joining a steady stream of customers — some dining in others tapping orders on their phones for takeaway egg and bacon — a comforting classic at £5.50 baked beans (you get a choice of beans or tomatoes) A solid plateful for any vegetarian — and even meat-eaters might be tempted Lee ordered the full Tasty’s breakfast — a proper Full English with generous helpings of sausage It was enough to satisfy even the hungriest of visitors — but for those who really want to push the boat out there’s an unlimited Tasty’s breakfast option for £14.99 chatty and efficient without missing a beat who clearly knows how to do justice to a good breakfast — especially the mushrooms which were golden-edged and flavourful rather than the usual watery afterthought Tasty’s is backed by local entrepreneur Ben Guo While it’ll no doubt become a favourite with local shoppers it’s also well worth a stop if you’re passing through Stonehouse Tasty’s, Stonehouse.Stonehouse High Street, opposite public parkingPhone: 01453 701 372Website: tastystonehouse.co.uk@tastyscafe on socials Stroud District Council is investing in its car parks in Stonehouse and Berkeley the High Street car park will undergo preparatory work to enable electric vehicle charging to be installed The resurfacing will mean the car park will close during these works Arrangements will be made for patients and staff of the health centre to have alternative access while the car park is closed and the public toilets will remain accessible Current users will need to find alternative parking during the work; rail commuters may wish to use the Cheapside car park in Stroud which is next to the rail station Anyone wishing to find out more information view the plans or express a view can do so a drop-in information session hosted by Stonehouse Town Council on Tuesday 11 February from 3pm-7-pm at Stonehouse Library on High Street In Berkeley the council plans to create up to 21 additional spaces in the Marybrook Street car park at the request of Berkeley Town Council The extra spaces will be created by demolishing a disused council-owned block of garages chair of Strategy & Resources Committee said: “Investing in our car parks and the infrastructure for electric vehicles is an important part of our plans to support local businesses and the transition to low carbon vehicles Sign up for regular email alerts from Stroud District Council here As part of our commitment to reducing our scope 1 emissions we recently upgraded our Stonehouse Technology Centre in Gloucestershire to become our first low-carbon energy building in the UK Utilizing innovative technology from Celsius Energy this is the third installation of the shallow geothermal system for SLB globally Related: Energy explained: What is geoenergy? The Stonehouse installation marks a significant upgrade from the 20-year-old building’s conventional heating and cooling systems to a renewable geoenergy source This novel technology leverages the temperature below the surface to regulate the building’s climate making it the first SLB facility in the UK to transition from an aging HVAC system to a geoenergy solution The new system replaces both the gas boiler and chillers with a renewable energy source The geoenergy system is projected to save up to 100 tons of CO2 annually — a reduction of 65% — and is just one element of our ongoing initiatives to achieve our environmental and carbon-neutral ambitions This installation uses a ground-source heat pump (GSHP) which meets 100% of the 4,500m2 building’s cooling needs and 84% of its heating requirements The system was installed in just ten months with minimal disruption to the site which accommodates 300 technology development professionals The innovative Celsius Energy solution can be installed in new or existing buildings A distinctive feature of the system is its closed-loop design and a unique pyramid-shaped well design which requires significantly less space than traditional geoenergy installations “The unique design of the Celsius Energy solution allows an installation that maximizes the subsurface energy exchange while requiring a minimal surface footprint,” explains Karen Spenley While conventional systems typically demand an area the size of a football pitch the solution needs only the space of about two parking spots This compact design therefore makes it an ideal choice for urban and space-constrained environments the Celsius Energy solution not only allows a reduction in a building's energy consumption but also reduces CO2 emissions by 90% compared with gas,” continues Spenley digitally controlled system that minimizes energy consumption while managing the temperature control needs of the building Home > News By Simon Hacker | 5th February 2025 It hit the buffers nearly a year ago and its prospects appear have been dented by the autumn statement academia and local government has just offered a bump-start to the long-awaited prospect of reopening Stonehouse's Bristol Road railway station Amid political consensus that what would likely be called Stroudwater Station represents an economic and social open goal some eight miles south of Gloucester on the arterial train route to Bristol and the south west the identified £18m spend for any such project would essentually signal a final removal of the curse that Dr Richard Beeching bequeathed on the busy market town exactly 60 years ago By plugging Stonehouse and the Stroud Valleys back into the southerly rail network is an obvious win-win – not least for the thousand or so commuters who live in the area and head to Bristol every day in their cars fund which looked at underwriting such projects was scrapped by Chancellor Rachel Reeves this October after the move identified an £85m saving in the quest to fill the £22bn black hole identified by the incoming government as its unhappy inheritance the Campaign for Better Transport identified the station in its report 'The absence of transport choice in England's small towns' opportunities and choices in all these areas become more limited and exclusive." All of which set the stage for a new report from the Western Gateway Partnership which regular readers of Punchline's business narrative will be more than aware of as a pan-regional collaboration between South Wales and Western England academia and government from both sides of the England-Wales border to ponder ideas for economic growth improving connectivity and fostering innovation for our region And as part of its focus on sustainability and hitting net zero goals for the 4.4m people within its boundaries reopening rail stations is firmly on its agenda At the late-January launch of WGP's new Rail Deal firm support for Stonehouse to rejoin the Gloucester-Bristol route was made clear.  The report stated that reversal of the 1965 closure was an element of a new push for rail which could add £17bn of economic benefits to the UK" said: "The Western Gateway area is poised to be the fastest-growing region outside of London yet it has not had the critical investment in public transport infrastructure that other areas of the country have seen This Rail Deal is deliverable and proportionate to the extraordinary offer that our economy presents to the UK." Stroud MP Dr Simon Opher added: "Public transport infrastructure is a vital lifeline for so many people in Stroud.Improving connectivity across Stroud and the West is crucial to ensure that people can get to work He added: "As a member of the Western Gateway All-Party Parliamentary Group I am encouraged by the new Rail Deal recognising the importance of smaller railway stations in growing our economy and improving local transport to meet our net-zero commitments "This is a major opportunity to improve the quality of life in and around Stroud It would take cars off the roads and carbon out of the atmosphere and I'm really excited to think that we might be getting somewhere." Dr Opher previously alluded to the significance of the station in context with the plans for nearby Eco Parc while Ecotricity and FGR owner Dale Vince has also stated: "As well as benefitting the 55,000 residents of the Stroud Valleys provide a sustainable mode of travel for fans to visit Eco Park ● Punchline-Gloucester.com Editor Mark Owen says: "We are used to reporting train delays but it's high time we saw the investment for this one restoring a link lost for Gloucestershire 60 years ago The net business benefit is there to see and Stroud needs joined-up status if this part of the county is to flourish Opinion marks early verdict on Labour amid Shire Hall shakeup The project has been more than a decade in the making and could see 620 acres of greenbelt transformed into a new town It has revealed plans to open a branch in town as part of a rapid expansion Forest of Dean venture shares its fears amid new burden Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission We use cookies to help make our website better. For more information on cookies and how to block them, visit https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/ many people presumed that the UK Member of Parliament had drowned while swimming – until he turned up alive and well in Australia on Christmas Eve In History looks at the stranger-than-fiction tale of the man who died twice another infamous fugitive who disappeared around the same time who would inadvertently lead him to get caught in Australia And how did Stonehouse explain his actions The British Member of Parliament insisted to the BBC in January 1975 that he was on "a fact-finding tour not only in terms of geography but in terms of the inner self of a political animal" WATCH: 'I was trying by disappearing to make their lives easier'.To the British public in the late 1960s, he must have seemed like a man who had it all. Postmaster General at the age of 43 he was talked about as a future Labour prime minister He was the man who oversaw the introduction of first- and second-class stamps The rot began to set in when a defector from communist Czechoslovakia claimed in 1969 that the country had recruited the MP as an informer Stonehouse protested his innocence to Prime Minister Harold Wilson Such allegations were rife during the Cold War but Stonehouse's political reputation was damaged When the Labour Party lost the 1970 general election there was no seat for Stonehouse on the opposition front bench he decided to devote more time to his London business interests – mostly export services he had developed through his international connections In 1971, Bangladesh's fight for independence from Pakistan fired Stonehouse with fresh enthusiasm He became emotionally involved in the Bengali cause becoming such a familiar and sympathetic figure there that when the war ended he was made a citizen of the new state as a mark of respect I've heard some extraordinary rumours and they're all so much out of character with my husband's personality that they're just not worth answering – Barbara StonehouseHe was asked to help set up the British Bangladesh Trust a bank that would provide services for Bengali people in Britain But the way the bank was being operated later drew critical comment from a Sunday newspaper and attracted investigators from the Fraud Squad and Department of Trade and Industry in London The bad publicity and these official inquiries frightened away much of the bank's support leaving Stonehouse deeply depressed and feeling he was also losing the respect of fellow MPs he forged a passport application in the name of Joseph Arthur Markham a foundry worker who had recently died in his constituency of Walsall He turned this new identity into a globetrotting export consultant with bank accounts in London He then established another identity in the name of Donald Clive Mildoon Stonehouse transferred large amounts of cash from his businesses into a series of bank accounts There was no trace of the 49-year-old apart from the pile of clothes he left behind on the beach Was he murdered and put inside a concrete block found near Miami Beach His wife Barbara was in no doubt that there had been a tragic accident She told BBC News: "I've heard some extraordinary rumours and they're all so much out of character with my husband's personality that they're just not worth answering or worth thinking about I'm convinced in my mind that it was a drowning accident All the evidence that we've had points to the fact that he was drowned." WATCH: 'It must have been a drowning accident'.In London Stonehouse's 28-year-old secretary and secret girlfriend kept insisting to friends that he was dead but she knew the real story: some of her clothes had been packed in a trunk and shipped to Australia a month before she had transatlantic telephone calls from him and she had also sent him semi-coded letters through one of his two Australian banks It was having those two bank accounts in different names that eventually put Melbourne police on his trail they were on the lookout for the infamous missing peer Lord Lucan who coincidentally vanished on 8 November after murdering his children's nanny the police thought that the debonair Englishman spotted signing dodgy cheques might be him In History is a series which uses the BBC's unique audio and video archive to explore historical events that still resonate today. Subscribe to the accompanying weekly newsletter. While Lucan's disappearance has continued to mystify police for 50 years the Stonehouse mystery lasted just over a month Stonehouse had to confess his true identity he asked whether he could phone his wife in the UK the telephone conversation in which he made his bombshell revelation to her was taped You would realise from all this that I have been deceiving you but in a sense I'm glad it's all over." For a few days Stonehouse was kept in a detention centre before being joined in Australia by his family • How Lady Chatterley's Lover became a bestseller • The bizarre siege behind Stockholm Syndrome • The men who broke out of Alcatraz with a spoon A month after his reappearance, he sat down for an interview with the BBC's Australia correspondent, Bob Friend He blamed his actions on having developed a "divided personality with the new personality providing a release to the old personality which was under stress and strain of considerable proportions" Asked how he could put his wife and family through such anguish he said: "I was trying – by disappearing – to make their lives easier… by taking away some of the tensions that I gave to them from my old personality." but rejected any suggestion that he should give up his parliamentary salary while 12,000 miles away from his constituency He said: "Lots of Members of Parliament go on overseas visits and do fact-finding tours I've been doing a fact-finding tour not only in terms of geography but in terms of the inner self of a political animal Now that tour could be very interesting and I think it fully justifies an MP's salary if I can get the story down of my experience." He added: "I think a Member of Parliament is entitled to some consideration during a period when he has some sort of illness." but he was eventually deported and escorted back home by Scotland Yard detectives after a marathon 68-day trial on charges relating to his failed businesses He left prison three years later while recovering from open heart surgery having suffered three cardiac arrests during his time inside He died for a second time in 1988 – and this time it was for real The 62-year-old had collapsed three weeks earlier just before he was due to appear on a television show about missing people he concluded that Stonehouse had indeed spied for the Czechoslovaks Prof Andrew told the BBC: "The really decisive evidence came in the mid-1990s when the Czechoslovak intelligence service made public some of Stonehouse's file They were pretty disappointed with the quality of the intelligence he passed on as a minister so to the long list of people who John Stonehouse defrauded it is just possible that we can add the name of Czechoslovak intelligence." 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Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on 5th June 2025 I am determined to continue the hard work of our dear friend and colleague Christina was a tireless champion for the community and for Scotland and this by-election is an opportunity to honour her incredible legacy Christina’s commitment to the constituency was unwavering and my promise to you is that I will always put the people of Scotland’s interests first This by-election is more important than ever for the SNP and for Scotland against the backdrop of a recent poll showing a double-digit lead for independence support the Labour government in Westminster is failing us – ramping up cuts Take the issue of rising energy bills: under Labour pensioners are being hit hard with cuts to winter fuel payments The SNP is committed to bringing these payments back We also remain steadfast in our support for Scotland’s NHS While the SNP works every day to improve access to GP services and tackle waiting times we’ll never stop fighting to ensure that Scotland’s NHS is protected for future generations This by-election is an opportunity for you to make your voice heard and get into the swing of things for the Scottish Parliamentary election in 2026 Please join me and my local team for this crucial by-election campaign by contacting me via email or visiting our Campaign Hub at 18 Townhead Street It’s open 10am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday The first campaign session kicks off at 10:30am with additional shifts available at 2pm and 6pm Campaign activities are also available throughout the day so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved You can also help us to reach people across every part of the constituency by donating to the campaign Donate now If you need help, please contact member.care@snp.org or call 0800 633 5432 Subscribe Scotland’s fortnightly political & current affairs magazine Subscribe Larkhall and Stonehouse will head to the polls in June | Iain Masterton / Alamy Stock Photo Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency will take place in the first week of June The vacancy was created following the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie The serving government minister died last month after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer The SNP has already announced that Katy Loudon the deputy lord lieutenant of Lanarkshire Other parties have yet to name their candidates The winner will hold the seat for less than a year before the next election McKelvie had a majority of 4,582 votes over Labour’s Monica Lennon at the last election with the Conservatives’ Meghan Gallacher coming in a distant third Loudon has said she would “work tirelessly to build on Christina’s incredible legacy” She added: “Times are tough for a lot of people right now but this community has so much going for it and I’m determined that we deliver a brighter future for everyone The SNP will continue to show the positive difference we can make when we have the powers to do so.” The byelection will take place on Thursday 5 June with the winner to be declared the following day The new MSP will be sworn in the week after McKelvie’s funeral took place last week tributes poured in from across the political spectrum at the news of her passing in March Holyrood provides comprehensive coverage of Scottish politics, offering award-winning reporting and analysis: Subscribe Read the most recent article written by Staff Reporter - Climate change chief: Scotland still failing to make progress on cutting emissions Get award-winning journalism delivered straight to your inbox © Political Holdings Limited document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); By Sarah Wood | 28th January 2025 A Stonehouse-based company has bought Spinnaker Works in Gloucester Roots Systems has purchased the office and manufacturing facility on a self-contained 4.5-acre site after outgrowing its home at Upper Mills Industrial Estate in Stonehouse The business has been based in Stonehouse since 1974 and has been using space at sister companies to cope with demand The new office and factory premises at Spinnaker will provide Roots with an opportunity to conduct all operations under one roof in an EPC B rated state-of-the-art facility said: "This move represents a substantial financial investment funded from our group's existing cash resources and is a huge vote of confidence in the business and we are excited about the opportunity and increased capacity that it provides with our traditional markets remaining healthy we are now supplying many new and innovative green tech packages because of the transition occurring in the energy "This move shows Roots Systems reinforcing its 'roots' to Gloucestershire It also secures our future as a UK manufacturer and major industrial equipment exporter." said: "This investment underscores our commitment to producing world class bespoke equipment to a growing market and the facility will provide a huge boost to our materials handling and production processes "Retaining 80 existing jobs and securing employment for our local workforce is fabulous news We will be able to offer many new opportunities and probably double our workforce for skilled and technical roles as we continue to grow." The company's origins can be traced back to the 1930s as one of the early manufacturers of rotary-lobe compressors The council-administered fund will allow Friends of Stonehouse Park to restore and refurbish the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Fountain within the park The proposed grant of £49,840 will be funded from Auchrobert windfarm which contributes into the REF Committee member of Friends of Stonehouse Park said: “We are delighted to hear we have been successful in our recent application to raise the necessary funding to restore the memorial fountain in Stonehouse Park “This funding will allow us to retain a historical landmark in the park which recognises the opening of the park “This project will also enable us to bring the community together next year in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the public park being opened “The investment will further improve our efforts to restore facilities within the park and increase our events and activities for all residents using the park for recreational and social pursuits." Chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee said: “I’m delighted that the REF can support restoring the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Fountain to its former glory “It will enhance the experience of anyone visiting the park and provide a real focal point ahead of the centenary celebrations in 2025.” The project is scheduled to commence in March 2025 and be completed by May 2025 Further information on the REF can be found on the council website.  Employment support for care experienced young people Bold course set for health and social care in South Lanarkshire Elmer having a jungle adventure in Lanark next month Award for charity that connects people with jobs New Education director for South Lanarkshire Pupils’ voices heard as school wins award Have your say on future of council buildings Good_sports_are_a_perfect_match_for_each_other Find out more about what's happening in South Lanarkshire People on board a capsized boat were left unharmed after the vessel sank in Stonehouse A statement on the Cotswold Canals Trust Facebook page said: “Unfortunately one of our boats has capsized at the Ocean Jubilee Rail Bridge in Stonehouse those on board at the time were able to get off safely Volunteers are working hard to clean up the area and the spillage is being contained as much as possible Spill kits have been put down to clear areas where oil has leaked “The incident has been reported to the relevant authorities and wildlife in the area is being monitored Recovery plans for the vessel are in progress and this will happen as soon as possible.” Cotswold Canals Connected is a partnership of organisations led by Stroud District Council and the Cotswold Canals Trust which are restoring the canal network A man from Stonehouse will be running the London Marathon in April to raise funds for international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary wanted to honour the memory of his late grandad by supporting a cause that was close to his heart and has chosen to take on the iconic event around the streets of the capital on 27 April but his love of donkeys and his support of The Donkey Sanctuary inspired the Business Development Manager to take on the ultimate running challenge The Donkey Sanctuary relies entirely on donations working tirelessly to improve the lives of donkeys every day and Luke is one of six runners raising funds at the event in just a few months’ time and before starting his marathon training had never run more than a few Parkruns But as part of his preparations for London meaning his training is well on track for April Having two young children and a ‘needy’ Irish terrier named Lenny balancing his work and home life with a busy training schedule can be a challenge but fortunately Luke has tremendous support from his fiancée Beth On visiting the sanctuary in Devon last year Luke said: “Seeing the incredible care and dedication the teams provide every day and I knew I wanted to contribute to such a meaningful cause in my grandad’s memory “My grandad loved donkeys and The Donkey Sanctuary he even adopted Zena and chose the sanctuary as his funeral charity – a reflection of how much he believed in the work of the charity ‘Donkeys deserve to be loved,’ a sentiment that has stayed with our family.” has continued their grandad’s legacy by continuing Zena’s adoption and so the charity can reach more donkeys in need The first London Marathon took place in 1981 and is now one of the most popular marathons in the world more than 50,000 runners take in some of the capital’s most well-known landmarks before finishing on The Mall 26.2 miles later Community Fundraising Officer at The Donkey Sanctuary said: “We’re super proud of Luke for going the extra 26 miles for donkeys by running the London Marathon in April.” Luke added: “The London Marathon has been on my bucket list for years and to finally take part while supporting my grandad’s favourite charity makes this moment even more special ’I’ll be thinking of my grandad and Zena every step of the way on marathon day.” To keep updated on Luke’s progress, and to support him, please visit his Just Giving page HERE. A Gloucestershire manor house hotel has snapped up the original coach house and stables on its historic grounds — reuniting the two for the first time in decades as it transforms the 19th-century building into high-end accommodation opening in spring 2025 A historic Gloucestershire hotel is returning to its roots and injecting a fresh lease of life to its latest acquisition — a Grade ll listed coach house and stables Part of its original estate, Stonehouse Court Hotel has snapped up the 19th-century buildings after they came back on the market decades after being sold to local families The historic buildings will now undergo an extensive refurbishment to transform the four-bedroom spaces into an eight-bedroom quintessential Cotswolds-style retreat Weekly lifestyle and business highlights straight to your inbox Being able to favourite articles is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits Being able to create your own lists is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Police officers have made more than 60 arrests and seized nearly 10 kilos of Class A and B drugs including cocaine ketamine and cannabis after stepping up activity in a Plymouth community troubled with crime Stop searches confiscated 7.2 kg of Class B drugs Since November last year, Devon and Cornwall Police ramped up its presence in Stonehouse as part of a wider Love Stonehouse project to improve safety in the town “Stonehouse is a safe place for residents and visitors with a real sense of community within the neighbourhood which has been fantastic to see," said Police Inspector Greg Bridget who has been working with the initiative we know that crime can happen anywhere and we want to ensure that Stonehouse is a safe place for everyone It’s been positive to see these successful outcomes as a result of our intensified action around high-visibility patrols targeted operations and engagement events in the area." Love Stonehouse was launched alongside Plymouth City Council housing providers and community groups in the region to promote a safer and sustainable change in the neighbourhood Inspector Bridget noted the importance of providing a safe space to live for all Stonehouse residents and how the project's early work has contributed towards this He said: “The overall focus of Love Stonehouse is to work alongside our local community and partners to keep everyone safe with a clear view to build upon the positive impact we’re already seeing on safety within the neighbourhood “Work will continue with our partners to play our part in keeping people safe by deterring offenders disrupting criminal activity and acting on concerns held within the community the work our officers have done has allowed us to build a strong foundation with the community showing our commitment to keeping the public safe “Police officers will continue to be visible on your streets and take robust action in response to reports Please continue to report to us – your information really makes a difference.” Home > Properties By Bethany Winter | 4th February 2025 E2 and E3 and these will be served from the north by a new access road to be constructed off Great Oldbury Drive The nature of the site is such that a number of development plateaus will need to be engineered to create land development plots suitable for small scale employment uses Development will need to be compatible with the adjoining residential development and access to the employment land will be from the residential infrastructure The land has to come forward for development on a build to suit basis whereby buildings are constructed specifically for occupier's requirements Outline planning consent for employment use Available for development on a build to suit basis.  The employment site forms part of the Great Oldbury development scheme The development lies approximately 1 mile west of Stonehouse Great Oldbury Drive is completed and connects to the A419 one mile east of Junction 13 of the M5 Motorway and to Stroudwater Business Park arowley@alderking.com  Detached Grade II* listed building dating to 1806 Refurbished open plan office accommodation situated in a prominent position in Cheltenham town centre with parking Unit 11 is a refurbished detached unit of steel portal frame construction The property forms part of a terrace of new industrial warehouse units A doctors surgery in Stonehouse has issued an update on their medical services Stonehouse has been forced to uproot their Regent Street dispensary unit after the owners put the building up for sale an application to South West Pharmaceutical Services Regulation Committee approved a temporary relocation request for all dispensary services to be available from 31 High Street A statement on the NHS website said: “We believe that moving all services to High Street will offer opportunities for members of the practice team to share enabling patients to benefit from the support and experience of the combined team in one location “We will keep patients up to date with progress through information in the surgery waiting room and regular updates on the surgery website.” Patients are reminded parking is available to the rear of the building but vehicle registration is required at the practice desk Stroud Times was granted behind the scenes access at Stonehouse Town before their 3-0 victory over Hellenic League Division One West rivals Abingdon United on Saturday The Magpies have made great progress in the last few years and Ian Soule’s side are eyeing the play-off places with the Hellenic Premier Division their next stop The club boast A thriving youth section with more than 130 players signed on from U7s up to U15s – leaving the future of the club in rude health Stonehouse boast an army of loyal volunteers and sponsors who share the ambition of chairman Nigel Saunders who has been connected with the club since the age of 14 serving the Magpies previously as a goalkeeper and now the man driving the club onwards and upwards The club has been transformed in the last few years with a new state-of-the-art supporters’ bar and hospitality suite installed at the rejuvenated old stadium which is now known as The Ben’s Takeaway Stadium the current Magpies home at Oldends Lane was officially opened by England legend Billy Wright in 1949 in a friendly against Cheltenham Town During the club’s heydays in the 1950s and 1960s attendances topped more than 1,000 fans In Pictures: Behind the scenes at Stonehouse Town By David Wood | 2nd April 2025 Stroud District Council's Stonehouse High Street car park will be closed from Sunday The council says investing in its car parks is an important part of its plans to support local businesses and to keep town centres thriving The council has expressed its gratitude to Stonehouse Town Council If you have any queries about the temporary car park closure please phone 01453 766321 during office hours Thanks to a grant from the council-administered Renewable Energy Fund (REF) Friends of Stonehouse Park (FOSP) will receive almost £200,000 The grant of £199,500 will be funded from Bank End Rig which contributed to the REF Friends Of Stonehouse Park Secretary Karen Kelly said: “We are delighted to be a recipient of REF funding “Our group has been operating in Stonehouse for the last 10 years creating free to attend events for our community “The pavilion project first came to our minds around six years ago when we hoped to utilise the onsite space for storage of our event equipment however due to equipment within the building this was not a straightforward take over “Our committee has grown and expanded our events throughout the years while managing the Bandstand refurbishment the planned restoration of the paths and fountain and pushing for the Pavilion project “We are delighted that we can now action our plans and create a warm inviting space for all our events; it will streamline all our processes of getting onsite on event days and free up volunteer time to plan and deliver more events.  We are honestly delighted with this award and so grateful to our supporters both within the community and the council itself.”  said: “I am sure the new hub will enhance the visitor experience for everyone visiting Stonehouse Park “FOSP have done a tremendous amount of work over the years to make Stonehouse Park a much-valued visitor attraction for locals and people across South Lanarkshire and I am sure this venture will build on their record of success.”