Home > News By Simon Hacker | 1st May 2025 It's being billed as an early verdict on the first year of Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government as well as a crucial sounding of our appetite for several political alternatives voting is now open until 10.00pm tonight as Gloucestershire decides on the makeup of our upper-tier authority With polling day coinciding with yet another upward swing on the barometer polling station staff are breaking out the sun cream and ensuring they're hydrated for the 15-hour haul to 10pm tonight Reported early voting activity in many polling stations appeared to be defying any predictions of a low turnout one administrator told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "It's always a long day but the lovely weather should encourage a good turnout and hopefully helps to ensure people exercise their democratic rights." today's focus at the ballot box is purely on who runs Shire Hall and all seats are up for grabs as the culmination of the current administration's four-year tenure A total of 55 seats are in fact now being contested given an addition of two new divisions for this vote the Conservatives have been running the authority for the last 20 years with the makeup of the last poll in 2021 returning 28 Conservatives The biggest vote share rise at that poll was for Green candidates and that party has fielded 11 candidates across all the divisions in what is seen as its stronghold around Stroud All parties have reasons to rehearse face-saving speeches once sufficient midnight oil has been burned to know the final tallies.  fighting criticism that their leader Kemi Badenoch has not bitten large enough chunks out of Keir Starmer's government a rear-guard defence will also need to be mounted against Nigel Farage's Reform UK who are fielding candidates in all divisions and seeking to position themselves – as some psephologists have suggested – as a party with potential to overtake the official Westminster opposition Labour candidates seeking a seat at Shire Hall's table have meanwhile faced criticism over what much of the business community has judged to be an assault on its potential for growth: minimum wage increases rises in employers' national insurance contributions and approaching employment rights legislation which will tie their hands in the quest to make profit and subsequently provide jobs The key ultimate question from today may well consequently be how effectively the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party are able to exploit the crossfire between the two main parties while Reform waits for its first potential opportunity to build upon the Westminster breakthrough we saw last summer the only certainty is that there will be surprises but ahead of whatever headlines Punchline brings you tomorrow the only important news today is that this is a sunny opportunity to have your say 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/ To help us give you the best experience possible, please accept all cookies National Lottery Open Week 2025 is now over and will be back in 2026 Dates will be announced in the coming months National Lottery Open Week is a way for National Lottery funded venues to say thank you to the players for the £30 million raised for Good Causes every week Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services See strictly necessary cookies These allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it This helps us to improve the way our website works by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily See analytical or performance cookies These cookies record your visit to our website the pages you have visited and the links you have followed We will use this information to make our website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests [We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.] See targeting cookies Four restaurants in Wotton-under-Edge have joined forces to create a unique loyalty card that rewards diners for eating locally in February and March The Falcon Steakhouse and The Wine Shack are incentivising customers to eat out during what can be a quieter time of year Dine Wotton states that participants must eat lunch and dinner once per month as an individual couple or group to receive rewards for your table a party must have eaten lunch at The Falcon Steakhouse and The Edge Coffee Shop and dinner at The Wine Shack and Good Food Kitchen Once a table has dined at all four establishments the entire party will be rewarded with one of the following offerings (which must be redeemed by 31st May 2025): Coffee and pastry at The Edge Coffee Shop or beer and nuts at The Falcon Steakhouse or cocktails and nibbles at Good Food Kitchen or wine and olives at The Wine Shack “There’s a real sense of community in Wotton and even us competing businesses want to collaborate to keep contributing towards the town’s success,” said Fred Hulls “We all want more people to be tempted to come and try some of the High Street’s brilliant restaurants as they will inevitably keep coming back after they are turned on to the town’s charm “This initiative will help to ensure all of us independent restaurants are getting an equal share of the pie and help continue to shape 2025 to be a fantastic year for Wotton Dine Wotton starts on 1st Feb and finishes on 31st March. For more information, please visit: https://www.goodfoodkitchenandbar.com/dine-wotton-2025 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 By Simon Hacker | 30th April 2025 A Wotton-under-Edge man's mission to put the last battle in Britain between private armies more firmly on the county map will see triumph this weekend when a memorial is officially unveiled to remember the grim events of 1470 Keen historian Adam Dolling is set to lead a guided walk this Saturday (May 3) from North Nibley to the location of the last recorded private skirmish which took place on ancient common land in the shadow of a still-standing oak will last up to three hours and will culminate in the unveiling of a new interpretation board back in North Nibley the honours being carried out by John Berkeley as a direct descendant from the Berkeley side of the original battle the location for the gruesome fight was logical because the battle marked the culmination of a decades-long-fued between the Berkeley dynasty and the Talbots who held their seat of power just up the road Adam said: "I was always fascinated by what happened on that fateful day and I originally wrote a piece for the Battlefield Trust's magazine they were asking me to lead people on a step-by-step guide to what happened," said Adam who since the Pandemic has been organising an annual pilgrimage to raise awareness of the forgotten skirmish militarily wiser William (Lord) Berkeley in the culmination of the longest running legal dispute in English history Adam explained: "Talbot was a hothead and had recently bungled a sly attempt to sneak into Berkeley Castle after which he challenged Berkeley to a fight in a fit of pique: he suggested they met the next day on the common both parties knowing the chaos of the ongoing Wars of the Roses would ensure little chance of state intervention." Talbot called on all his local supporters to assemble a force which included subjects from his Wotton power base who'd have little choice but to obey his orders Adam explains that he probably mustered some 300-400 men.  sons of the soil made up a good part of his contingent "the kind of men who knew how to fire arrows at a rate of ten a minute" With 1,000 mercenaries rising to the challenge the odds did not look good for the Wotton contingent Adam's walk literally leads visitors through the known – and often chilling – details of the fateful day not least (spoiler alert) the early demise of Thomas Talbot who took a lethal arrow through his throat when he naively dropped his neck guard for a literal breather that moment set in train a chain of events which led to the killing field spreading back to North Nibley itself with no mercy shown by the Berkeley side as it sought to reinforce its victory by exacting maximum economic damage on its opponent: ""The red mist would set in in such moments," Adam told Punchline "especially when the opposition is on the run with their backs turned Killing them spelled an irreversible advantage." the fact-packed walk culminates at North Nibley's St Martin's Church where walkers find out more about an 1864 discovery by workmen of a mass grave of the battle's victims The event will then see the official unveiling of the new plaque at the nearby junction of The Street and Lower House Lane in North Nibley ● Walkers meet for the event at 10:30am on Saturday May 3 at St with a suggested £5 donation to the Battlefields Trust contact asdolling@hotmail.com or on 07968 722973 The General Election on July 4 will see people in Wotton-under-Edge voting for a Stroud MP for the first time  Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Stroud has welcomed new voters from Wotton-under-Edge to the constituency.   “Wotton-under-Edge is a vibrant market town with a really strong community and it’s great to be able to welcome Wotton voters to be part of the revised Stroud constituency “I’ve been talking to people in Wotton-under-Edge this weekend I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them and the issues they care about There have been lots of conversations about the need for a greener economy and support for our high streets.   “We’re blessed with fantastic towns in the constituency; Nailsworth Dursley and Cam and Berkeley and it’s great to have Wotton-under-Edge as part of that family I’m campaigning to revive and protect our high streets – thriving market towns are such an important part of Gloucestershire life.  “If I’m elected I’ll be working hard to represent the people of Wotton along with all the parts of our diverse Stroud constituency.”  The Stroud parliamentary constituency has been revised following a national review by the Boundary Commission With a strong commitment to social justice Dr Opher is dedicated to representing the diverse voices of Stroud and working towards a brighter future for all constituents.  Dr Opher is also urging everyone to make sure they make their voices heard in the General Election.  With the General Election fast approaching he is concerned that some may miss their chance to make their vote count.  Here are the important dates to keep in mind:  By Simon Hacker | 25th February 2025 Montel Civil Engineering, the construction firm assigned by Shire Hall to carry out the controversial £2.5m geotechnical repair to the B4058 at Wotton-under-Edge has issued a stern warning to frustrated drivers who flout the firm's road closure signage: stop driving past the site or we'll give your details to the police Following Punchline-Gloucester.com's report on HGVs attempting to use short cuts to avoid the six-month diversion on the B4058 immediately north of Wotton-under-Edge local business owners and commuters have been taking to social media to voice their frustration And while official diversions direct traffic through Dursley inquisitive drivers seeking access to and from the town by simply bypassing the work site have reported being able to skirt the work zone by using the adjacent Old London Road a single-carriageway lane which parallels the B4058 The lane emerges on the town's northern side with close access to Charfield and Kingswood Despite repeat positioning of three "Road Closed' signage stages on Old London Road the route has no physical barrier once drivers reach Montel's work site allowing them to continue their route on the B4058 unhindered Social Value Co-Ordinator for Worcester-based Montel told Punchline: "We want to remind the local community that a full road closure is in place at all times and all road users must follow the signed diversion route." She added: "CCTV is in operation and any vehicles or cyclists attempting to pass through the closure or move barriers and fencing will have their details reported to the Police and the road closure is in place for your safety and the safety of our workforce." Montel said cars were also observed parking along Old London Road and effectively blocking access to the site "Parking along the Old London Road is strictly prohibited This access must remain clear for emergency services at all times Please note that vehicle registration numbers of those violating these rules will be reported to the Police." The financial impact of the official diversion for businesses has become an issue in the local community who is Green councillor for the ward on Stroud District Council and the owner of the Cookability kitchen supply shop on Wotton's Long Street said anecdotal evidence was emerging among shopkeepers that the closure was tightening their income.  He said: "Just travelling to work (Stroud to Wotton and back) over the duration of the works I'll spend an additional 32 hours in my car travelling an additional 780 miles which at 45p a mile (which takes wear and tear into account) will cost an extra £351." many continue to question the timespan for the work Mike Cromie wrote: "Japan can have an earthquake and tsunami and have their basic infrastructure back working in three weeks and Rushmire Hill works are forecast to last six months." Marc Jenkins added: "Seven weeks to cut some trees down," while Ali Hodson said: "I can't bear the detour to Stroud for another four months." Montel issues regular updates to progress on the geotechnical repairs ● Established "permanent site offices and welfare units" including "careful removal of trees and overhanging limbs along the planned sheet pile line which will be carefully dismantled and removed ● Begun trial hole investigations to confirm the location of existing utilities as an essential step to clear the way for the piling works to stabilise the highway Ignoring a Traffic Regulation Order typically results in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued by the local authority with the amount depending on the specific violation and the local area it could lead to a court appearance with potential for a larger fine and even a driving ban depending on the severity of the offence to close a road with the full force of the law a local authority must formally implement a temporary or full TRO which outlines the duration and reasons for the closure Should subsequent road signage be merely a 'Road Closed' notice with only circular NO ENTRY signs carrying the force of law as applied through either a temporary or permanent TRO No circular NO ENTRY signs appear to be used around approach roads to the work but a temporary TRO is in existence for the site and affected roads By Simon Hacker | 9th September 2024 Amid an ongoing impasse over an unfinished car park which was promised for a Cotswold town it has emerged that the housing development which was attached to the deal found itself nameless after planners threw out a suggestion from the parish – more than three years ago The spat comes in what's being seen as a festering issue in Wotton-under-Edge which dates back to 2018: in return for the narrowly-agreed permission to build an exclusive development of million-pound mansions outside the development boundary in on AONB undertook to also build an adjacent 80 space car park for the town complete with coach bays to boost tourism.  Colburn Homes' initial publicised the outline development under the banner of The Chippings but Rural estate agents David James subsequently marketed eight detached homes on the former meadow off Symn Lane as The Hawthorns emphasising their commanding views over the Severn Vale on the town's west side But after the project for construction was passed to a third party building firm from Wales the sign off on the promised car park remains incomplete One executive property remains unsold at £840,000 while three of the four shared ownership homes also marketed as part of the scheme are as yet unoccupied Amid no progress on a promised installation of EV charging facilities for car parking close to the adjacent Chipping Surgery the developer claiming that the sloping location for the work cannot be stabilised within reasonable costs frustrated residents fashioned their own handmade street sign for the new development and collectively agreed to call their new postcode Chestnut Drive while visitors and locals took to using the unfinished car park – until barriers were in put a few weeks ago to clear the site But it has now emerged that a blog post made in 2021 from Gareth Kitchen who was elected this summer as an SDC Green councillor for the Wotton ward claimed efforts from Wotton Town Council to get the development's street address registered were thrown out by Stroud District Council – for a surprising reason Mr Kitchen said: "SDC refuses to name the new development off Symn Lane as 'Haw Park' A hat tip to the hard-working town councillors who must have researched this Haw Park appears to be an area in the parish dating back to the time of Henry VIII but has fallen out of use in recent times." He added that the new development was close to Haw Street and overlooked Haw Park Farm making the choice was relevant to the town's history were less than impressed with the town's choice They suggest that it could be interpreted in other ways!" said any objection to the town council's suggestion was "ludicrous".  Mr Dye said: "You get asked to spell the name out sometimes I'm told the name of the Synwell part of Wotton the pain of a standoff on finishing the project just keeps running with traffic chaos for school kids around Symn Lane because the promised car park Maybe it's time for less haw-haw and more jaw-jaw." a retired GP who purchased one of the new houses with his wife In this day and age I'm unsure anyone under 92 would know what 'whore' means!" He added: "Hopefully this moves on now and the car park issue is sorted The real issue for us is that the roads remain unfinished two years on from when they were supposed to be completed." A statement on street naming guidelines issued by SDC said that it rules out: "Aesthetically unsuitable names or names capable of deliberate misinterpretation." ● SDC has now responded to a statement request from Punchline: "SDC did not refuse the name Haw Park for the development Wotton-under-Edge Town Council rejected the developer's proposal to name the development Hawthorn Meadow and instead proposed the name Haw Park The Town Council voted to propose to SDC (as the statutory street naming authority) that the development be named Chestnut Drive SDC agreed with this name as it aligned with its street naming criteria By Simon Hacker | 4th April 2025 With plans now coming into focus for demolition and new homes to replace them the days for most of Gloucestershire's remaining "flat-pack" Swedish timber houses as testimony to a fading era of postwar life which owns 21 of the iconic timber homes in towns and villages across its district is currently moving ahead with plans which will see the buildings replaced by a greater density of housing in line with the authority's quest to meet targets for increased housing provision it is anticipated that two pairs of semi-detached examples on the edge of the village will be replaced with 16 homes the Baltic pine homes imported immediately from Scandinavia after World War Two were destined largely to be built on the edge of communities and within relatively large areas of space – a factor which now makes them often prime estate for higher density redevelopment But it does not look as though local communities in Wotton-under-Edge where the clock is now ticking for surviving examples will meekly accept planning proposals once they are laid out In an update on the work of SDC's New Homes and Regeneration Programme Wotton-under-Edge) said progress with these three sites was "advancing" with full design teams now appointed Surveys and investigations are still underway at The Knoll Discussions have continued with those tenants and private owners affected by these proposals a recent report from Stinchcombe History Society reveals how it is "desperate" to preserve the buildings - and calls upon residents to support its campaign to protect them by objecting to the plans The report said: "Stroud District Council's Housing Department wants to demolish both pairs of Swedish Houses in Stinchcombe and redevelop the site They plan about 16 dwellings and associated parking." It added that Historic England urgently needed to class Swedish prefabricated houses as a rare building type "Attempts to get the houses in Uley listed in 2018 and the unoccupied houses in Stinchcombe have come to nothing Historic England suggest that we pursue local designation SDC published a Heritage Strategy in 2018 and updated it in 2020 it has still not produced the promised Action Plan part of the strategy which makes it difficult to know how to proceed And in Wotton-under-Edge's Mount Pleasant site where the first plans are likely to be lodged nearby resident Bob Smith told Punchline-Gloucester.com that the homes needed to be "treasured" out of respect for the difficulties people faced after the war: "I know people in building or planning will come up with all sorts of excuses about not meeting modern building regs etc," he said then let's start pulling down some stately homes and old churches." these youngsters in planning or building departments have no concept of what their parents or grandparents went through to give them and countries around Europe the lifestyle they have today It's a total disrespect to even consider or think about this." SDC's estate of timber properties can also be found in Bisley Amid a rush that saw 156,623 prefab homes pop up in Britain between 1945 and 1949 the Swedish timber model was welcomed by many as the Rolls Royce of its time being equipped with a fitted kitchen and full indoor bathroom facilities at a time when many rural homes contended with outside lavatories and tin baths Punchline understands that in the wake of an SDC Housing Committee report in February 2024 the market values of the homes had been assessed with a view to potential sale but that the idea was "the least favoured of the options as it reduces social housing stock some of which are in small hamlets/villages and will not address the poor thermal efficiency of the properties effectively leaving this to the potential private owners to address if they can." historical sources show that at the time of their arrival in Britain perhaps not surprisingly given their origin Trade magazine The Builder noted that the timber houses had excellent insulation "about twice that of brick" they promised solid durability while delivering some 33% more floorspace than standard prefabs some 5,000 Swedish timber homes were put up in Britain often by prisoners of war or local agricultural workers and their gradual disappearance is seen as being in step with standard prefabs A total of 156,623 prefab homes sprang up in that period but it is now thought that only around 8,000 remain Amid a UK-wide threat to their future, the 20th Century Society is urging Historic England to undertake an urgent assessment of the homes' status and, in response to Punchline-Gloucester.com's report in February last year has voiced objection to any plans for demolition - arguing that the buildings can and should be retrofitted to modern standards said: "These [planning] applications have drawn our attention to a building type that has largely been overlooked Despite the efforts of the [London-based] Prefab Museum in compiling a list it is still unknown how many survive close to their original condition." She added: "The few that do are very vulnerable...we are at risk of losing a fascinating part of our post-war heritage." As for the Cotswold homes now closest to potential demolition Stinchcombe Historical Society's research shows how central they were to the narrative of postwar recovery Minister of Health and the architect of the NHS explained how 16 kits for the houses had been delivered to Dursley Rural Council Mr Bevan told parliament how 16 houses had been allocated and all the timber sections had been delivered between March 4 and April 6 the Gloucester Citizen posted an advert to invite tenders for the electrical installations to sixteen Swedish houses (four each in Stinchcombe Though their original specification promised a lifespan of "no less than 60 years" ● Punchline-Gloucester.com has requested an update on the status of all Swedish houses in SDC's remit. A list of these prefabricated homes in Britain, and their status, can be found here Another imminent raft of road closures is set to cause traffic misery for motorists this week which runs in and out of Wotton-under-Edge will be closed for six months as Gloucestershire Highways commence carriageway stabilisation on Rushmire Hill January 6 and is set to be completed by Friday Old London Road and Coombe Road will also be shut The work will rectify long term subsidence where the B4058 meets Old London Road A reader told Stroud Times: “This is going to be a nightmare for people who need to get to Wotton from Stroud as they’ll have to go via Dursley which will add nine miles and extra time to the journey – six months is a crazy amount of time.” a major Nailsworth road will be closed for the third time in as many months The Old Bristol Road towards Horsley will be shut on Monday By Simon Hacker | 17th March 2025 An historic Cotswold pub with a list of landlords dating back to the 1750s has thrown in the towel and is now on the market again for a new potential tenant After a series of turbulent years in business which reflect sector challenges landlady Gail Hickling stepped in take on the lease as a temporary holding company for the Stonegate-owned Royal Oak Ms Hickling was forced to quit the tenancy in the autumn of 2023 after police officers acting on reports of after-hours drinking and drug taking moved in liaison with Stroud District Council's Licensing Committee to issue an ultimatum to Stonegate: immediately replace the tenant or the business would be closed down the pub was managed by another couple on the basis of a one-year contract while Punchline-Gloucester.com understands that a new intermediary holding company is now in the wings to take on the pub imminently on the basis of a nominal rent Stonegate has marketed the lease for takeover on a forecast annual turnover of £530,346 with a required weekly rent of £567 while some £600 per week in rates are also payable on the business Despite punter feedback on line which suggested that the pub had credibly energised its recent retail offer, with a refurbishment of the dining area and initiatives that included free pool sessions, a lively music calendar and hosting of west-country biker days as well as new eat in and takeaway options the pub was sadly shuttered early in March said: "They made great efforts and it is sad to see this happen yet again We'll see a holding company there imminently though – they might even pay zero rent because Stonegate will know that standing empty spells the kiss of death when seeking a new deal." A far cry from a reported heyday of pubs in the town which tallied 33 in pre-Victorian times the loss of Wotton's drinking stop on Haw Street reduces its 'pure' pub count to one: the wet-led Star Inn on nearby Market Street being joined by the adjacent Swan Hotel while the Falcon Steakhouse desitnation dining pub make up the trio as the town's sole remaining food and drink options.  the Wine Shack and Good Food Kitchen and Bar are dining alternatives on Long Street which enjoy brisk weekend trade Perhaps as a measure of that fluctuation in demand Punchline understands that the Swan Hotel is not currently offering a dining menu on Tuesdays the Royal Oak belongs to the largest pub company in the UK; Stonegate which is registered in the Cayman Islands and has head offices in Solihull leased and tenanted pubs and is owned by private equity venture TDR Capital Stonegate said in its bid for new interest: "The Royal Oak Inn sits in the market town of Wotton-Under-Edge surrounded by the beautiful South Gloucestershire countryside yet only a 20-minute drive to both Gloucester and Bristol "Well-known for its good pub food and cask ale the Oak is a great opportunity for someone looking to run a traditional market town pub The pub comprises two separate trading areas one consists of a bar area which seats 20 and includes a pool table darts and televisions showing Sky and BT sports "To the left is the lounge area which flows into a dining area The bar servery hosts an array of cask ales and international brands popular amongst the locals." According to the archive pub website Gloucestershirepubs.co.uk while the Royal Oak can be traced back in its business lineage to William Harrald at the junction of the High Street and Bradley Street the drinking venue saw a license transfer to the current premises while the original pub became the town's police station Speculation to suggest the pub in Wotton-under-Edge may be taken over by an existing local restaurant is now rife One source said: "Other republicans want it to succeed and it has great potential ● Alongside the Royal Oak on Stonegate's lists for new managers sit two nearby pubs: the Britannia Inn in Nailsworth and the Woolpack in Stonehouse By Simon Hacker | 15th January 2025 A dream to create an outdoor community space at a former primary school in the Cotswolds is rapidly moving towards reality after its funding target broke the 80% barrier thanks to Stroud District Council and central government cash backing the scheme a small village of some 500 residents between Dursley and Wotton-under-Edge received an initial bump-start of £8,819 for their £32,000 goal through the government's Build Back Better funding scheme also stepped up in recent months to help push the project towards the finish line who lives in the village and formerly taught at Katharine Lady Berkeley's School conceived the idea for Stinchcombe Playground and Community Space after he was commissioned to create Leaf and Ground garden centre and recreation venue on the edge of Dursley John told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "The villagers have done so much to help make our dream become a reality and it has been really inspiring – not least to see an eight year-old stepping up to the challenge.  Seb has taken up the challenge of crafting decorative steel coat hooks and Harry Potter wands (fire pokers) to sell with all proceeds going towards the project." the village currently lacks any central outside meeting place or a safe area for children to play but a lease on the redundant site offered a chance to create a space that was inclusive and welcoming for all ages and foster a greater sense of togetherness." and the community is appealing for additional donations to help reach the fundraising target John added: "Every contribution brings Stinchcombe closer to realising its vision of a more connected and thriving village" ● To see progress on the scheme and support it, go to this link By Simon Hacker | 11th November 2024 but a £2.5m project to stop the slide of a section of the Cotswold escarpment above a Cotswold town will go ahead as of January – and will trigger commuter and business headaches with a key road being blocked until the summer Amid mounting concern for delays and added travel costs highways officials at Shire Hall have issued a report to clarify what will need to be done to tackle disturbing cracks in the B4058 on Rushmire Hill the HGV-pounded road that connects traffic north from Wotton to Dursley Tetbury via the A4135 and the M4 via the A46 has been blighted by uneven and cracked camber for decades As a double blow though, the adjacent and connecting Old London Road, popular as a rat-run to avoid the town centre, is also revealed in the report to be unstable and will be simultaneously closed. In line with the hopes of local county councillor Linda Cohen, as reported in July regular users had been hopeful that the closures would not be concurrent the new report reveals that the scale of work is greater than previously anticipated and will necessitate the construction of a retaining wall measuring 255 metres in length (836 feet) and nine metres tall (just under 30 feet) to determine the extent of instability in the terrain their subsequent report indicating that the issue may lie deeper still The report said: "From the collected data a report was compiled giving an engineering assessment and options for repair Whilst the monitoring to date has not fully confirmed any deeper-seated failure mechanism a conclusive assessment would require significant further ground investigation beyond the 17.5m depth of the existing boreholes with any remediation options exceeding the budgetary resources available." That premininary section of the repair cost £600,000 and with a budget of £1.9m remaining the report said a "medium-term solution" is now being pursued Total costs are shared between Shire Hall and Department for Transport This will entail a sheet pile wall "255 metres long and nine metres deep that will support the road and stabilise the slope in the medium term" the fix having been assesses as "the most practical remediation option" The report added: "The natural topography underlying many of our roads in Gloucestershire is such that we manage similar risks across our entire network We will continue to monitor the road for further ground movements following construction." no announcement has been made on who will carry out the job but in the meanwhile a public meeting is planned on December 10 at the Baptist Hall in Wotton's Rope Walk by which time Gloucestershire Highways said that an appointed contractor would be able to meet residents and businesses to give more detail and discuss their concerns These are mounting: with the diversion planned via North Nibley and Dursley – a route that ads some 10 minutes and several miles to any trip to Stroud – residents have taken to social media to question the closure of both roads and the timescale Rhona Crew said: "I can't see how this is allowed to be closed for six months.. The impact to businesses and travel will be devastating." Steve Edwards said: "They need to stop the road from literally sliding sideways down the hill and unfortunately such projects take a great deal of time we'll soon be sadly faced with no road at all." He added: "It's going to be terribly inconvenient and have a significant impact on business." Calls are meanwhile being made to restrict anticipated alternative use of Black Quarries hill eventually connecting with the A4135 Dursley-Tetbury road.  the hill is notoriously steep and has few passing places Highways officials are being urged by some residents to restrict the road to one-way use during the repair project By Simon Hacker | 28th February 2025 Businesses and community leaders in Wotton-under-Edge have warned that their town is being hit by a 'perfect storm' which threatens to sabotage both today's trade and the community's future economic prospects And after a year of high-profile campaigning protestors are now pressing Shire Hall for answers in a crunch-time cabinet meeting next week – amid evidence that suggests their town has been removed from the county's future transport plans After a high-profile campaign in 2024 and despite intervention from local MP Dr Simon Opher Wotton-under-Edge lost its 84/85 bus service last September just across the county border in South Gloucestershire and onward for Bristol and Bath travel links As the town contemplates this amputation for those without personal transport, Shire Hall was then forced in January to close the main route north from Wotton with the commissioning of a six-month road closure of the B4058 to enable a £2.5m geotechnical repair Campaigners say hospital appointments are being missed and neighbouring villagers can't get to the town's GPs for appointments who relied upon the Yate bus five days a week a member of the bus route campaign and Vice-Chair of Wotton-under-Edge's PTA group for Katharine Lady Berkeley's has consequently framed a series of questions for Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet in a letter to Council Leader Stephen Davies - which she has shared with Punchline in advance of next week's meeting Janet told Punchline: "I was trying to get someone Both primary routes from Wotton were closed due to road works and there is no way to reach the test centre frmo here by public transport It's great to see the improved budget for the bus service improvements and the aspiration for a more comprehensive bus network omitted from your bus strategy improvement plan (BSIP) The background map showing the bus network strategy in the BSIP seems to show only selected market towns I wonder how the ones chosen were selected "It seems to me that there has been an attempt to airbrush inconveniently placed market towns from the background map of the Gloucestershire bus network strategy thus areas with poor public transport are less evident by the data in the 2021 and 2011 census it has a larger population than other towns included on the map What criteria has been used to select the towns that are included "By omitting the towns from the background map the woeful public service provision in Wotton Under Edge is hidden Wotton is a significant town in a rural area that now It also has inadequate provision for cars (see discussions elsewhere surrounding adequacy of M5 J14)." she added that Wotton has become isolated: "No longer are we able to connect to the national rail network Whilst the long promised Charfield Station provides 'jam tomorrow' we had a connection to Yate station that enabled Barcelona to be reached by public transport in less than 6hrs door to door there is no public transport connection to any station for the 5,000+ residents (although we are told there are e-bikes available to hire in Stroud Pointing out that jobs have been lost as well as apprenticeships the 84/85 bus route served 11 communities and encouraged community and business activity between them The letter adds specific questions for the cabinet to consider: ● "Will the strategy plan map be updated to show the missing market Towns like Nailsworth and Wotton ● "We were told that Glos have found funding for the 84/85 but that WECA [West of England Combined Authority] won't consent to supporting a bus route over the county border (ie it's a procedural problem) Equivalent boundary crossing scenarios exists to the South of WECA (eg routes 20 and 126 that cross boundaries from North Somerset) ● "We are told that devolution in Gloucestershire (and specifically splitting the council region North and South) is absolutely necessary before the 84/85 route is restored or is the loss of our bus service being used politically to sway support for a particular devolution option ● "Will the presence of new funding allow the reconnection of the Wotton to Yate link a town of over 5,000 residents has no direct connection by bus to rail hubs and no weekend or late evening bus services Please bring us back onto the strategic map and restore the 84/85 connection to Yate." ● The cabinet will meet at 10.00am on Wednesday March 5; Punchline-Gloucester.com has approached the county council for comment By Simon Hacker | 4th October 2024 Public pressure to hold a developer's feet to the fire over its promise to finish building a car park could finally be coming to a head - SEVEN years after Stroud District Council permitted the original project acting for developer GHR Developments Ltd (also based in in the Welsh capital) asked SDC for permission to remove 12 parking bays from the original 2017-launched scheme.  The project saw a mix of 12 executive and shared ownership homes built on the greenfield site in an AONB and beyond the historic boundary of Wotton-under-Edge the car park element of the deal being set as a 'sweetener' Section 106 agreement At the time of SDC's full backing in 2020 from its planning committee the scheme saw a whittling down from 96 to 80 car park spaces but any perceived impact was judged to be outweighed by the benefit of a sorely-needed car park for the town as vociferously campaigned for by both traders and then local MP The scheme was voted for approval by a majority of one councillor despite concerted opposition among many residents who formed the Save Symn Lane Action Group Work on the project was then interrupted by the Pandemic subsequently passed the job over to a Cardiff-based contractor who then took on the work to build the houses the 80-space car park on both sides of the access road and two coach bays to delete a specified section of 12 spaces closest to the Chipping Surgery (which were enthusiastically anticipated for ease of patient access) was made last October These remain unbuilt amid the dispute - with the consequences that the car park remains in the ownership of the developer and cannot be offered to Wotton Town Council with supporting structural survey evidence that the proposed area is too sloping to be safely developed and would be better left landscaped before the entire scheme is handed over But in a succession of meetings which have excluded the press and public Wotton Town Council has fought against this request with the subsequent standoff resulting to parking chaos along the adjacent Symn Lane It is understood that the developer suggested moving the 12 spaces to landscaped space within the main car park but fears over the implications for trees at the site ensured the compromise was not accepted Traffic and parking issues were temporarily alleviated when the existing began to be used by parents for the nearby Blue Coat primary school as well as patients visiting the adjacent Chipping Surgery the area has been fenced off - with congestion levels again rising Local discussions suggest that some drivers who had used the unfinished car park had subsequently tripped and been injured by drain covers and uneven kerbs One resident told Punchine-Gloucester.com: "Drivers sometimes park on the apron of the town's fire station next door or right on the junction of Haw Street and New Road; they park indiscriminately on junctions and don't seem to care With this being the walking route to Katharine Lady Berkeley's school we are seriously fearful for people's safety." elected as a Green SDC ward councillor in May has now indicated that a decision on the request to ditch the 12 spaces will shortly go before the council's Development Control Committee who was elected on the back of a pledge to resolve the standoff said: "This planning application has been 'stuck' for over a year now," but added "I have heard through the grapevine that Town Councillors are meeting to conclude the matter with SDC on the 10th Oct." He confirmed the problem was discussed earlier this week at an extraordinary Town Council meeting stating: "These are the 12 spaces on the bank next to the new build house It is the only level area on the site suitable area for disabled parking and in close proximity to the doctors' surgery that there is no feasible or viable engineering solution to stabilise the bank to provide these spaces they were originally granted planning permission based on the provision of 80 spaces and have built houses on the same bank Cllr Kitchen said he he had begun a petition last December at his Long Street kitchen supply business which urged SDC to ensure the 12 spaces remain as per the original deal He added there were now some 327 signatures and he urged more people to sign stating: "I fully intend to deliver on the promise I made nearly a year ago." Stargazers in Wotton-under-Edge were treated to an incredible spectacle on the night of the April 17th Whilst many mistook this beautiful wonder as the Aurora Borealis These beautiful beams are known as ‘light pillars’ – an atmospheric optical phenomenon caused by the refraction of light in tiny ice crystals falling towards the earth terrestrial lights (most likely from Bristol’s skyline) are caught in the hexagonal crystals This stunning display is much less common than the Northern Lights requiring very specific atmospheric conditions in order to manifest The lights are most likely to appear on cold where crystals are able to form closer to the ground rather than higher in the atmosphere.  Wotton resident Bella Richardson spotted the lights whilst walking home from work at around 11.45pm on Thursday night “I was almost home and out of the corner of my eye I saw what looked like white streaks in the sky “I was lucky enough to see the Northern Lights last year What was amazing is that I could see it so clearly and it was so bright With the lack of light pollution in the area it was so incredible!” Bella posted her image of the lights on Facebook where many agreed that it was the Aurora complete with striking images of a purely white Aurora.  A Russian photographer with the username ‘NeverSmile’ posted the images on the site Yaklapal.com complete with a caption explaining that the images were created with fluorescent lights using a long exposure technique They have since been reshared consistently purporting to show the Northern Lights in a previously unseen colour.  With the increasing impact of climate change on our planet we are likely to experience more regular sightings of Aurora Borealis in more southerly locations But – if it’s white – you are likely seeing light pillars Picture by Bella Richardson: Instagram @cotswold.copy By Simon Hacker | 14th February 2025 Businesses and residents in a Cotswold town say they're braced for impending tragedy after the closure of a major access route for a six-month geotechnical repair has lead to drivers using a tiny lane as an alternative route Blackquarries Hill connects the Synwell district of Wotton-under-Edge with the A4135 Dursley to Tetbury Road. After a six-month repair began in January and forced the closure of the B4058 as the town's arterial route north drivers were advised to stick to an eight-mile diversion via Dursley – but many are ignoring the clear signage and following sat nav instructions for the unclassified route who lives at the bottom of Blackquarries Hill lane photographed an HGV from German horticulture distributor Volmary after it emerged from the 25% gradient lane having used the route as a short-cut to avoid the Dursley diversion Sally told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "We've seen large HGVs who clearly don't know what's ahead come through - it's an accident waiting to happen." Meanwhile the high street is counting the cost of potential lost revenue from easy access for visitors from the north.  said: "It's certainly dampened footfall when we look at weekend visits the timing being not exactly helpful as we start the year Many people are scratching their heads over why the repair work forces the closure for such a long stretch of time." Beyond dramatic images of wedged lorries and overturned cars who represents the town on Stroud District Council and commutes every day from Stroud to run the Cookability shop on Long Street said he was experiencing fewer complaints about the diversion as residents grow to accept the road block Cllr Kitchen attended an incident on Blackquarries Hill where a Mini overturned after it collided with a bank on the steep gradient After updating Wotton Town Council at its most recent meeting he said: "The signage is being reviewed and the situation is being constantly monitored we just need to keep reminding people that the official diversion via Dursley is the only practical solution and the only viable route." He added: "There was another accident earlier where a car rolled on Blackquarries was unfamiliar with the road and clipped the bank rolling the car The police told me that this can happened at just 20mph." Blackquarries Hill is also part of the Cotswold Way and National Trails have advised walkers to be cautious of the new traffic risk: "Please be aware when walking this route that there could be increased traffic and to take extra care," the group said adding: "Highways have been informed and are looking into this." Gloucestershire Highways said: "The diversionary route has been selected as the safest alternative to Rushmire Hill in terms of the condition and handling of the flow of traffic We also stress the importance of not using the more unsuitable "shortcuts" or "rat runs" that have been highlighted as being used already These routes can be unsafe for large amounts of traffic or certain vehicles It added: "We understand people's frustrations and ask for patience whilst these necessary works are completed." ● The B4058 at Rushmire is now the site of an ongoing £2.5m piling and reconstruction job which is planned for completion in July Hundreds of people attended the annual Wotton-under-Edge Remembrance Day parade and joined the rest of the nation for a minute’s silence at 11am The service was conducted by Rev Lesley Hewish Priest in Charge of the Tyndale Benefice which includes St Mary’s Church in Wotton Wreaths were laid at the War Memorial in Old Town by representatives of groups and organisations including Wotton-under-Edge Town Council; Stroud District Council; The Royal British Legion; the Beaumont-le-Roger Society; Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and Gloucestershire Constabulary The memorial carries the names of the town’s 114 men killed in the First World War and 15 who never returned from the Second World War Following the ceremony a Remembrance Day service was held at St Mary’s Church On a rainy valentine’s night I headed off with my partner to palette the dishes at Good Food Kitchen & Bar in the pretty market town of Wotton-under-Edge Chefs and co-owners Fred Hulls and Jeremy McGovern are a very impressive partnership Refining their culinary skills in Los Angeles we were eagerly anticipating what they had to offer We were welcomed with a bustling restaurant filled with charm Fred and Jeremy clearly love what they do and are great hosts to everyone Locally sourced food with a world cuisine twist on traditional stews Keeping customers curious and the quality in check Fred tells us that they travel and learn about other cultures and cuisine so obviously judging from the West African peanut soup choice to be enthused about with this chef partnership My partner and I both ordered the crispy brussels sprouts with bacon parmesan and balsamic – it was just stunning I don’t think I ever will think of brussels sprouts in the same way again Crispy and light all dusted with parmesan and balsamic in equal measure my partner ordered a steak and stout stobhach with colcannon and rutabaga rosti A posh stew but one of the most delicious dishes of the night Fluffy colcannon with an incredibly tender steak  and carrot topping My choice was cider braised pork and fennel in a miso broth with spinach and rice A mixture of flavours were perfectly combined without overstatement It’s easy to see how much passion Fred and Jeremy have put into their cooking So much of their love for culture and food is in every single dish they present My partner said: “I don’t want it to end.” I thought she meant her date with me my partner ordered orange and bourbon croissant bread and butter pudding with vanilla ice cream Puffy croissant pudding …adorned with lots of ice cream I had chocolate mousse cake which was delicious We were gobsmacked when Fred told us it had two ingredients butternut squash and dark chocolate Even now I’m thinking about he next time I can try it LA’s loss is Wotton-under-Edge’s gain – outstanding culinary talents on your doorstep For more information on Good Food Kitchen & Bar, click HERE By Simon Hacker | 4th March 2025 A standoff in a Cotswold town between a housebuilder and planners over a commitment to build an extensive car park in return for an estate of eight executive and four terraced homes outside the town's boundary may be crawling towards agreement – EIGHT years after the project was first proposed In a key update on the protracted wrangle between Wotton-under-Edge Town Council Shire Hall and Cardiff-based builder GHR Developments Ltd the town's mayor has told residents that the developer's contention which was seen as a pivotal element to the original proposal for the new housing and which was already a whittling down of the original 96 space proposal will shrink to an allocation of just 69 spaces Any move to finish the car park will be seen as a relief among local residents: with the half-finished car park blocked by barriers overflow parking for the town's Chipping Surgery and nearby Bluecoat Primary School has spilled into Symn Lane - prompting calls for urgent safety intervention One resident overlooking the earmarked car park told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "We have to have the heaviest pedestrian footfall here for both Bluecoat and Katharine Lady Berkeley's It's also the home of the town's fire brigade It is parking mayhem and a recipe for tragedy There was a business argument that the car park will bring trade to the town but we warned repeatedly that it was a cynical sweetener and the woeful commitment to finishing it has cost us in terms of safety It's been a fiaco from start to finish - jam tomorrow and traffic jams today." an energy consultant who lives opposite the development told Punchline: "I am not surprised by any decision to drop the enforcement of additional car park spaces Key aspects of the original car park plan have not been implemented including proper rear access for the fire station and adequate reinforcement of the bank While this could be seen as an "I told you so" moment it is overshadowed by the increasingly hazardous on-road parking situation at Symn Lane." He added: "Current parking practices pose a serious risk to children on their way to school and to drivers exiting Chipping Gardens and the Chipping car park off Symn Lane and at the town's southern edge was completed in the tail end of the Pandemic with many of the subsequent 12 properties which was dubbed a bribe in a vociferous opposition campaign at the time saw agreement only after Stroud District Council's planning committee voted the scheme through on a majority of one vote said the town council had been acting as the negotiator between GHR and and a specialist car park consultant He said: "This has been a lengthy process and.. the Town Council is waiting for agreement from the developer on the outstanding items to be accepted and completed the specialist consultant will work with the developer to ensure the car park is completed to standard and fit for purpose." Cllr Smith added: "The planning approval was for 80 spaces but with the current layout The Town Council has taken the pragmatic view that to enforce 80 spaces would not be acceptable by the developer and if the bank is not usable to construct 12 spaces as per the planning agreement the Council will follow the consultant's proposal of redesigning the layout where possible resulting in 69 spaces including disabled parking and two coach bays." WTC is now hoping that this will be sorted "quickly and to standard and that Gloucestershire County Council and the Town Council can carry out the necessary audits when completed and find that all is to standard and legal compliance so the car park can be considered for a handover from the developer to the Town Council." the Chief Executive of the District Council said: "I'm pleased that there has been final agreement to the reduced number of car parking spaces which will allow the car park to be completed "I know some will be disappointed that the original number was not achieved but it's time for pragmatism to allow the car park to open (officially) residents to resume their lives and vitally for me to be able to work with highways to carry out road works safety markings and provide safer access for children attending Blue Coat school.  "We need to reduce the traffic on Symn Lane and remove the confusion which makes school pick up and drop off times challenging and less safe than they should be I'm hoping that the car park will deliver what was always intended increased capacity for residents and for visitors and to allow our very important local retailers and businesses to prosper." ● Wotton Town council has also indicated that it has formulated a schedule of works with an expert consultant on car park design the 12-space allocation on ground opposite the main car park By Simon Hacker | 29th August 2024 Campaigners at their "wits' end" to try and save a bus route that acts as an economic and social lifeline for their town have piled intense last-minute pressure on Shire Hall to step in and force a reprieve for the service But with the last bus scheduled to leave the town at midnight on Saturday (August 31) the council appears to be resigned to the loss of the service – and is suggesting travellers hop on a new on-demand service that stops short of the current route Wotton-under-Edge's 84 and 85 bus route runs to and from the town to connect residents without personal transport to nearby Yate across the county border in South Gloucestershire The doomed service is scheduled to be replaced with a new WESTlocal Y8 two-hourly flexible service – which is of no use because it will run from Yate but stretch only as far as the nearby villages of Wickwar and Hawkesbury Upton – turning back at the county boundary In a new statement to Punchline-Gloucester.com made this morning Cllr Philip Robinson said: "Gloucestershire County Council partially funds a small proportion of this [84/5] service as only a minimal section of the route lies within our county.  "When we were made aware it was under threat we worked frequently with WECA and South Gloucestershire Council and offered more money in an attempt to secure the route while we tried everything to save it this was not the final outcome." who is the cabinet member responsible for bus transport added: "We fully understand how important these services are to our residents who need to get around be it to work We recently launched a new Robin demand-responsive bus service in the area and continue to subsidise a number of other bus services in the vicinity." campaign spokeswoman Barbara Laurence said she was dismayed at a suggestion to use the Robin: "What use is it if you work have further education and any other need in Yate The loss of the service  means Wotton along with a sizeable community in Kingswood and Hillesley villages is cut loose and campaigners say one job has already been lost with many more in the balance because residents will be unable to reach work and rail connections Interim service provider, The Big Lemon CIC, stepped in to save the service with a Shire Hall contract in June 2023, but despite telling Punchline-Gloucester.com it was keen to provide more services in the county its future provision being confined to the WESTlocal route The Brighton-based operator has since told residents: "We are sorry to inform you that the 84/85 Yate - Wotton-under-Edge bus service will end after operation on Saturday August 31 the Save the Wotton to Yate Bus Route group has mobilised strong media campaign to keep the route including a walk in blistering July heat where residents pushed a giant wooden model of a bus along the entire Wotton to Yate route The campaign has also been underpinned by lobbying at Shire Hall from local Lib Dem Councillor Linda Cohen who has been intrumental in achieving extensions for the service Speaking earlier this month at a protest meeting Stroud) said he believed the route had effectively fallen between the boundaries of local authority responsibility Measures were imminent from the government to implement devolved powers to communities next year which would ensure such losses were prevented but he called for an interim plan to save this route Dr Opher said: "It's not just Wotton people who suffer there are more than 5,000 patients registered with Wotton GP surgeries who are in South Gloucestershire and face no bus option." It has also been supported by efforts from Wotton Town Council which said today in a statement to Punchline-Gloucester.com: "It is beyond frustrating and incomprehensible how these essential buses are being stopped this weekend But despite South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) saying in June that it has worked with Gloucestershire County Council to keep the 84/85 route going and seek a longer-term solution the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) which holds ultimate responsibility for buses in South Gloucestershire has now written an open letter to Shire Hall's Cllr Philip Robinson the cabinet member whose portfolio includes buses The letter pointed out that amid a series of temporary reprives in the last 18 months Gloucestershire County Council "had assured residents that they were determined to work toward a final solution" It added: "You are aware that losing connectivity with our close neighbours in South Glos with whom we have many shared amenities and services "Despite knowing the consequences that axing this vital lifeline to many people GCC has failed to collaborate with WECA and SGC have consistently refused to sit around the table and therefore failed in their responsibility as Local Transport Authority to the South Glos region "I attended the WECA meeting at BAWA on the 26th July and in my statement put these points to Metro Mayor Dan Norris I have emailed Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh MP regarding this matter only to receive an acknowledgement in return "You will be aware what the outcome is and you will also know that people in Hillesley Wotton under Edge and Kingswood are left paying the price for this failure of public service." Ms Laurance also asked why Shire Hall had not referred the issue to a higher authority so as to "ensure that WECA entered into talks in order to avoid this catastrophe Louise Haigh MP would have had to intervene." The letter urged Cllr Robinson to attend a public meeting in Wotton "to discuss the damage to our community and the way forward," where "present and future can be discussed with clarity and transparency" By Simon Hacker | 26th September 2024 A historic hotel that has become a firm favourite on the Cotswold Way and which boasts a long list of famous visitors is celebrating a quick 48-hour turnaround and return to full business after fire swept through its kitchens and forced the inn to close called the town's fire crew out on Monday evening just as the venue was celebrating the conclusion of the town's annual Blues Festival landlord for the Grade II-listed coaching inn said: "I'm afraid our kitchen will be closed for a day or two until further notice I would like to thank all the team on tonight for remaining calm and helping control the safety of our customers guests and themselves during the evacuation." He also thanked the town's fire brigade for its swift response from its base in nearby Symn Lane and said it was working to contact restaurant bookings which it would be unable to fulfill over the following 48 hours yesterday evening the hotel told followers on social media: "After a day of deep cleaning we have passed all safety checks and we are pleased to say we are open Thank you to the staff that worked so hard to get the kitchen back to the high standard we are proud of The hotel added that it would operate a reduced menu while the kitchen gets back up to speed but that it could still cater with "an amazing selection of home cooked food for all dietary requirements" Mr Harrison has been investing in a refurbishment for the Swan which has seen an upgrade to existing rooms with additional accommodation added the hotel now offers 15 rooms and TripAdvisor's summary of feedback states: "The Swan Hotel garners praise for its immaculately clean rooms and charming atmosphere with many guests appreciating the quirky decor and welcoming vibe." As a hotel and a destination restaurant the address can lay claim to many illustrious names in its guest book David Niven and Vincent Price as well as British TV celebrities Dick Emery who played Coronation Street's legendary Hilda Ogden The history website Gloucestershire Pubs states: "When the BBC were recording the radio programme Any Questions in Wotton-under-Edge David Jacobs and his guests Margaret Thatcher and Sheila Hancock enjoyed a meal in The Swan as did the Two Ronnies when they were recording their Two Old Men sketch at Berkeley Castle" ● The Swan's age-old reputation was built by the arrival of train passengers at nearby Charfield railway station in the 1900s; as with many Wotton businesses, its future viability could be boosted by the re-opening of the station on the Bristol-Gloucester line By Simon Hacker | 12th November 2024 More than a year on from Lloyds Bank's exit from a Cotswold town residents and adjacent businesses have expressed their dismay over an apparent stalemate at the vacant spot in the heart of the community's retail area – sentiment in the town contrasting with an upbeat report on new life for empty banking premises As exclusively reported by Punchline-Gloucester.com last August Lloyds cashed out of its Wotton-under-Edge operation at 23 Long Street after 123 years of continuous business leaving the town with no active bank facility Despite a new report from Stroud and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce this August which revealed that the town enjoyed a 89% occupancy rate for shops (beating the national average by 2.8%) no taker has as yet been indicated for the 3,994sq ft site which is being marketed by rural agents David James for £40,000pa Punchline has approached the agents and vendor for comment the building was taken over by Lloyds in 1897 when it occupied the premises directly opposite the ex-bank has been owned since 2000 by Kent-based businessman Martin Mitchell with rental and management run by USA investment managers CBRE The building's handsome cut-stone classic facade is a signature of architectural design seen as typical for the Lloyds banking group nearby businesses are now voicing frustration at the ongoing vacancy who runs the next door art and gift gallery Fish Out of Water with his partner Mo It's a big focal point in the heart of the town and the garden is out of control We used to have five banks and they have all been reutilised except this one Our fear is that it if doesn't secure office use it is turned into flats We don't want that not least because there is the question of where all the occupants park who runs the Cotswold Book Room with her husband Gideon said the view was saddening: "It's such a huge building in the street I was lucky to get a look inside and it's fairly much wrecked We have business friends who would love the site for an import-export business but it looks like it needs a £0.5m investment to sort everything out and nobody will do that unless they can buy it – how can you make a profit with a rent of more than £3,300 a month?" She added: "What's ironic about this is that the street is actually really buzzing; this is a vibrant town with so many great retail initiatives so it's really time for this key building to get on board." Wotton's predicament at 21 Long Street comes when a new report from Savills praises the initiatives taken on finding new life for premises surrendered by the ongoing digitisation of banking Depicting drastic change to the UK banking landscape the report says data from 2014 and 2023 maps the rural decline of banking facilities: "The years following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis saw several notable banks and building societies collapse and store closures due to mergers and cost cutting measures," the report said the banking sector had already shrunk from 13,600 high street locations to 11,200 the most significant change to retail banking would happen over the following years Savills said the net decline of banks is almost 50% due to the addition of 565 new sites that opened or relocated the report shows that while 21% remain vacant over a third (4,150) have been re-purposed to provide alternative retail Noting more flexibility in planning since 2020 (due to the introduction of the E-class designation) innovative new use was noted: "The food & beverage sector has arguably benefited most Over half of these banks are now cafés or bakeries and a quarter are restaurants such as Cote we have tracked 650 different F&B brands which shows it has also been an opportunity for independent businesses to take space in prominent locations that a few years ago would have been unaffordable Other new sectors include 650 comparison goods shops such as Specsavers and Card Factory; 420 hair and health and beauty salons; and 200 fashion stores such as Seasalt and Alpkit - all of which add a different value to consumers and communities in those locations Savills concluded that unoccupied banks "only serves to reduce high street vitality" and added: "Vibrant high streets need active retail frontages - that means people The conversion of an empty high street bank unit to a bakery or a hair salon or vets where people visit throughout the day can be transformational to consumer and market perception so long as appropriate banking facilities are still accessible elsewhere for those that need them." a former NatWest bank is now seeing brisk business through online platforms as a large holiday rental managed since 2021 by Chipping Sodbury agents Farrington Property Services as a deluxe 10-bedroom sleepover for prices averaging around £500 per night having been quiet over the summer but we are now already seeing good demand for next year banks can be a great proposition for bringing people to the town as a holiday venue – and that's always a bonus for local trade." Campaigners have walked an entire bus route with a cardboard cut out of a bus to protest their "lifeline" service being axed The 84/85 service from Yate to Chipping Sodbury and Wotton-under-Edge - which stops at Yate Shopping Centre and Chipping Sodbury School - will no longer run from 1 September It is not the first time the route has been under threat It was due to stop operating from 3 June but was extended for three months no long-term funding options have been found by South Gloucestershire Council and so the route is once again due to stop running in six weeks time around 50 people gathered in Wotton-under-Edge with those who were able then walking the entire route in protest The group hope fresh funding will be found to keep the route running Barbara Lawrence was one of those protesting She described the route as a "lifeline" saying: "It's so important to so many people - the young It's well used considering it's a rural route." She said losing the service will mean people can't get to work She's an apprentice mechanic in Chipping Sodbury - come September she won't get to work," said Barbara "We've got elderly people who won't get to their GP appointments We've got a young man at Renashaw who is working - he lives in Yate - he won't get to his engineering job South Gloucestershire Council says it has been doing all it can to keep the 84/85 bus service in operation The authority said it worked with Gloucestershire County Council to find the funding that temporarily saved the route so "longer-term solutions" could be explored - but none have been found The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) will instead launch a new 'WESTlocal' bus service for the Cotswold Edge from 1 September twice-hourly service covering Hawkesbury Upton Chipping Sodbury and Yate from Monday to Saturday South Gloucestershire Council's cabinet member for planning and infrastructure Cllr Chris Willmore said: “We have heard loud and clear the voices of residents particularly those living in our rural communities about the fact that without reliable local bus services He said WECA "ultimately has responsibility" for bus services adding: "We want to see long-term solutions to these issues and not just the patchwork of short-term fixes that we too often find ourselves left with We will only find long-term solutions if long-term funding is committed by the transport authority." He described the WESTlocal bus as a "short-term fix" but said South Gloucestershire Council "will leave no stone unturned" while finding a "reliable affordable and fit-for-purpose bus network for the long-term" A West of England Combined Authority spokesperson said: “The 84/85 is funded by South Gloucestershire Council “The Mayor’s number one priority on buses has been increasing passenger numbers through new and innovative services like Birthday Buses passenger numbers have grown by 13% in 12 months.” Persimmon Homes welcomed parish councillors to a groundbreaking at its new site in Kingswood Parish councillors Marilyn Basketter and Jean Simmons joined the five-star housebuilder at its forthcoming Cloverlea Gardens last week to mark the groundworks that are now underway The roads for the 54-unit estate are expected to be completed by the end of the month with the showhome launching later this summer The homes will be equipped with solar panels and electric vehicle charging points while the development will see £218,000 and £10,600 go towards secondary education and libraries in the area as part of the developer's community financial contributions Persimmon recently donated to Stroud Foodbank as part of its Community Champions scheme which sees £700,000 spent on good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain each year Persimmon Homes Severn Valley's managing director said: "We're really excited to have made a good start at Cloverlea Gardens and to welcome members of Kingswood Parish Council to have a look around at the groundworks "It really matters to us that in delivering much-needed homes for local people across communities in the Severn Valley we do so in a way that includes and informs those very communities so we were delighted to welcome Cllrs Basketter and Simmons to site "Persimmon looks forward to launching our showhome on site and opening up to customers later this year." Kingswood parish councillor Jean Simmons added: "We want to thank Persimmon for reaching out and inviting us to mark the groundbreaking of their new site Their activity so far has been working alongside the community very well and we hope to continue seeing that over the months ahead as they build new homes for the village."