News

Moreton-in-Marsh Perfect Plates Tuesday 22nd February

Holly — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:18:45 +0000

Free information event for older people in Moreton-in-Marsh looking at healthy eating and getting the most from the food you eat.

Talks and information stands by local experts including Fire Safety in the Kitchen and the environmental department looking at food labelling and sell by dates.

Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Moreton Area Centre

High Street, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0AZ

10.30am-12.30pm

FREE information event with talks by local experts

Free refreshments

For more information call Holly Mills or Barbara Piranty on

01452 528491

Help with transport may be available

Do you hold a regular market in your community building?

Helen Richards — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:33:15 +0000

Do you hold a regular market in your community building or are you interested in starting one?

There are successful markets running from community buildings in villages and towns throughout Gloucestershire. They provide a local service, support local businesses and provide a meeting place. They also have the potential to attract tourists to your village or town.

The GRCC Accelerator Project is organising a free event to provide information and inspiration for current and aspiring village/town market organisers. This visit will allow you to see a market in action, talk to communities who have successfully set up markets in their village or town buildings and find out hints and tips about setting up or improving your market.

The event will take place on Saturday, 3rd March 2012, 9.15am until 2pm

Transport and refreshments will be provided free of charge and an outline of the event can be found below.

We will meet at the GRCC offices (Community House, College Green) location at 9.15am to travel by coach (free) to Toddington village market. We will leave there at approximately 11.30 to return to the GRCC offices for a networking lunch, short talks from market organisers within the county and further information on regulations to bear in mind if you are setting up a market. The event will draw to a close at 2pm.

If you like to attend or require more information please contact Helen Richards by email helenr@grcc.org.uk or telephone 01452 528491. If you would prefer to join us for part of the morning or meet us at Toddington, please get in touch.

Stroud Core Strategy \"Preferred Strategy\" consultation

Holly — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:01:25 +0000

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE "PREFERRED STRATEGY" STAGE OF STROUD DISTRICT’S CORE STRATEGY

Monday 6th February – Monday 19th March 2012

The six week public consultation on the Preferred Strategy for the growth and development of Stroud District up to 2026 is now open. The consultation seeks public views on:

The overall strategy approach An overarching vision for how the District should evolve over the plan period A set of ‘mini visions’ for distinct parts of the District Proposed locations for housing and employment growth; and how the required housing numbers should be distributed between these locations An employment strategy Settlement classification: a ‘hierarchy’ for the District’s settlements

The Council would like the views of as many people as possible, to help it to refine and develop a ‘preferred strategy’ for the District.

There will be six drop-in exhibitions, targeted at the main development locations, where members of the public can look at the plans and ask questions. Times and locations are:

DATE

TIME

LOCATION

Wednesday 15 February

3pm – 8pm

Hardwicke Village Hall

Saturday 18 February

10am – 3pm

Winterbotham Hall, Cam

Wednesday 22 February

3pm – 8pm

Brimscombe & Thrupp Social Centre

Saturday 25 February

10am – 3pm

The Subscription Rooms, Stroud

Thursday 1 March

3pm – 8pm

Sharpness Village Hall

Saturday 3 March

10am – 3pm

Stonehouse Town Council

Display boards, providing information, will also be available at the following locations and times:

FROM

LOCATION

6 February to 26 February

Blooms Garden Centre, Haresfield

11 February to 18 February

Tesco, Cam

6 February to 26 February

Stroud Town Council

20 February to 3 March

Minchinhampton Library

6 February to 16 March

Ebley Mill, Stroud District Council Offices

6 February to 19 March

Stonehouse Town Council

More information can be found online at www.stroud.gov.uk/consult including links to the various consultation documents. Hard copies of the consultation documents are available at:

Public libraries throughout the district (Berkeley, Brockworth, Dursley, Nailsworth, Minchinhampton, Miserden, Quedgeley, Stonehouse, Stroud, Wotton-under-Edge) Town and parish council offices that open to the public (Berkeley, Cainscross, Cam, Chalford, Dursley, Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, Painswick, Rodborough, Stonehouse, Stroud, Upton St Leonards, Wotton-under-Edge) The Tourist Information Centre at Stroud Subscription Rooms The customer service centre at the District Council offices, Ebley Mill, Stroud.

How to make comments

Consultation responses can be made through the online questionnaire at: www.stroud.gov.uk/consult or The Planning Strategy Team can be contacted by email at core@stroud.gov.uk or by telephone on 01453 754143

The district council is encouraging online responses as it will greatly ease the speed and efficiency of processing, acknowledging and analysing the comments received.

If you have any technical problems with the website please contact the planning strategy team on 01453 754143 or core@stroud.gov.uk

Cheltenham Perfect Plates Monday 13th February

Holly — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:22:04 +0000

FREE information event for older people in Cheltenham looking at healthy eating and getting the most from the food you eat.

Talks and information stands by local experts including Fire Safety in the Kitchen, oral health and and a demonstration with kitchen aids.

Monday 13th February 2012

St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4EZ

10.30am-12.30pm

Free refreshments

For more information call Holly Mills or Barbara Piranty on

01452 528491

Help with transport may be available

Joint Core Strategy Consultation events, week beginning 30th January 2012

clare — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:13:34 +0000

Drop-in consultation events about the Joint Core Strategy across Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury continue this week, with events in Dumbleton, Winchcombe, Tewkesbury and Apperley. The aim is to allow communities to find out more about 'Developing the Preferred Options', a consultation document which looks at options for future development across Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough. The options include proposed housing and employment requirements for the area from 2011 to 2031.

The drop-in consultation events will give people an opportunity to discuss the consultation document with planners, consider the implications for their community and give their views through an interactive display.

Dates, times and venues are as below:

Venue

Date

Time

Presentations

Dumbleton Village Hall

Monday 30th January 2012

14.30 – 17.30

15.00 & 16.00

Winchcombe School

Tuesday 31st January 2012

17.30 – 20.30

18.00 & 19.00

Tewkesbury Town Hall

Wednesday 1st February 2012

10.00 - 13.00

Apperley Village Hall

Thursday 2nd February 2012

14.30 – 17.30

15.00 & 16.00

There are also static unmanned exhibitions from 3rd January to 10th February 2012. Click here for the full list.

For Village and Community Hall locations, see the GRCC Village Hall database.

For a GRCC commentary about the Joint Core Strategy Consultation click here.

Note: The Joint Core Strategy is a partnership between Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Councils to set out the councils' long term approach to new development, climate change and the environment.

GRCC is recruiting 3 Trainee Community Organisers to learn and work

Holly — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:47:57 +0000

Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) is recruiting 3 Trainee Community Organisers to learn and work

Click here for more information

Closing date for application: Monday 27th February 2012 at 12 noon

Interviews will be held at GRCC on Tuesday 6th March 2012

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Joint Core Strategy Events w/c 23rd January 2012

Helen Richards — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:37:50 +0000

The following Joint Core Strategy public consultation events will be taking place in the week commencing 23rd January 2012

Thursday, 26th January - St Michael’s Church Hall, Bishops Cleeve, 5.30 to 8.30pm with presentations at 6pm & 7pm

There will also be a static unmanned display in Bishop's Cleeve Library all week.

For more details please contact the JCS team on info@gct-jcs.org

Joint Core Strategy Consultations w/c 16th January 2012

Helen Richards — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:36:52 +0000

The following Joint Core Strategy public consultation events will be taking place in the week commencing 16th January 2012

Tuesday, 17th January - Brockworth Community Centre, 5.30 to 8.30pm with presentations at 6pm & 7pm Wednesday, 18th January - Ashchurch Village Hall, 6pm to 9pm with presentations at 7pm & 8pm. Friday, 20th January - Tewkesbury Town Hall, 10am to 1pm Friday, 20th January - Regents Arcade Cheltenham, 10am to 5pm Saturday, 21st January - Regents Arcade Cheltenham, 10am to 5pm

Please click here for full details on all consultation events.

Perfect Plates - Free Information Event - Monday 13th February

Holly — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:14:29 +0000

Free information event for older people in Cheltenham looking at healthy eating and getting the most from the food you eat.

Talks and information stands by local experts including Fire Safety in the Kitchen, oral health and cooking for one.

Monday 13th February 2012

St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4EZ

10.30am-12.30pm

Free refreshments

For more information call Holly Mills or Barbara Piranty on

01452 528491

Help with transport may be available

FREE Social Media Workshop for parish or town councils

Helen Richards — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:44:04 +0000

For full information click here

Joint Core Strategy Events w/c 9th January 2012

Helen Richards — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:23:02 +0000

The following Joint Core Strategy public consultation events will be taking place in the week commencing 9th January 2012;

Monday, 9th January - Churchdown Community Centre 3pm-6pm, presentations will take place at 3.30pm and 4.30pm Thursday, 12th January - Shurdington Social Centre 2.30pm - 5.30pm, presentation will take place at 3pm and 4pm. Friday, 13th January - Eastgate Shopping Centre, Gloucester 10am to 5pm.

For full details of all events please click here

Consultation response from Neighbourhood Planning events

Helen Richards — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:51:45 +0000

Following the publication of the Localism Act GRCC held three consultation events across the county in November and December 2011 in order to provide information and gather public feedback. We have now compiled the feedback received from attendees and submitted it to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

To view a copy of the consultation response submitted or the handout and presentation used at the events please click on the links below.

Consultation response

Presentation

Handout

New GRCC Cotswold Life Articles now available online

Helen Richards — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:55:15 +0000

Every month GRCC has an article in the Cotswold Life publication under the general heading of Rural Life. Articles are written by members of staff at GRCC on local issues and initiatives.

To view articles from the last 12 months follow this link

Calling all Community Shops!

Helen Richards — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:33:00 +0000

There has been a good deal of interest in visiting some community shops to gain an insight into how they operate and to inspire different ideas.

A visit has been proposed for Wednesday, 25th January 2012 and an outline of the day can be seen below, GRCC will cover the cost of refreshments on the day and provide transport (by bus) from GRCC to and from the shops.

Morning

9.15am Meet at GRCC find us

10.30-11.30 Visit Brockweir & Hewelsfield Community Shop - focus on sourcing local produce with refreshments in the café.

Lunch

12.45-1.45pm GRCC for networking lunch

Afternoon

2pm leave GRCC

3-4pm Visit Blockley Community Shop & Café - focus on business models with refreshments in the café.

Return to GRCC by 5pm

As we know you have other commitments we have set-up the day so that you can choose to either;

Full day Opt in for either the morning or afternoon session (including lunch) Networking lunch only

There will be a maximum of 15 for the shop visits and 20 for lunch at GRCC therefore places are available on a first come first served basis with a maximum of 2 people per shop in order to enable as many community shops as possible to attend.

To book your place please contact Helen Richards on helenr@grcc.org.uk or telephone (01452 528491).

Joint Core Strategy Consultation Events

Clare — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:03:47 +0000

Dates have been announced for drop-in consultation events about the Joint Core Strategy across Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury. The aim is to allow communities to find out more about 'Developing the Preferred Options', a consultation document which looks at options for future development across Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough. The options include proposed housing and employment requirements for the area from 2011 to 2031.

Dates, times and venues are as below:

Venue

Date

Time

Presentations

Uckington & Elmstone Hardwicke Village Hall

Wednesday 4th January 2012

17.30 – 20.30

18.00 & 19.00

Parish Rooms, Highnam

Thursday 5th January 2012

16.30 - 19.30

17.00 & 18.00

Churchdown Community Centre

Monday 9th January 2012

15.00 – 18.00

15.30 & 16.30

Shurdington Social Centre, Century Hall

Thursday 12th January 2012

14.30 – 17.30

15.00 & 16.00

Eastgate Centre, Gloucester

Friday 13th January 2012

10.00 - 17.00

Kings Walk, Gloucester

Saturday 14th January 2012

10.00 - 17.00

Brockworth Community Centre

Tuesday 17th January 2012

17.30 – 20.30

18.00 & 19.00

Ashchurch Village Hall

Wednesday 18th January 2012

18.00 – 21.00

19.00 & 20.00

Tewkesbury Town Hall

Friday 20th January 2012

10.00 - 13.00

Regent Arcade, Cheltenham

Friday 20th January 2012

10.00 - 17.00

Regent Arcade, Cheltenham

Saturday 21st January 2012

10.00 - 17.00

St Michael’s Church Hall, Bishops Cleeve

Thursday 26th January 2012

17.30 – 20.30

18.00 & 19.00

Dumbleton Village Hall

Monday 30th January 2012

14.30 – 17.30

15.00 & 16.00

Winchcombe School

Tuesday 31st January 2012

17.30 – 20.30

18.00 & 19.00

Tewkesbury Town Hall

Wednesday 1st February 2012

10.00 - 13.00

Apperley Village Hall

Thursday 2nd February 2012

14.30 – 17.30

15.00 & 16.00

There are also static unmanned exhibitions from 3rd January to 10th February 2012. Click here for the full list.

For Village and Community Hall locations, see the GRCC Village Hall database.

For a GRCC commentary about the Joint Core Strategy Consultation click here.

Social Media Workshop

Helen Richards — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:44:04 +0000

The first of two Social Media workshops was held on Monday at Community House. Twelve representatives from town and parish councils within Tewkesbury and Stroud spend 2 and a half fruitful hours learning about the features and benefits of Social Media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Follow-up support will be provided by Jonathan Pollinger (the workshop leader) or GRCC for free.

The second session will be held for another group of 12 in the new year and is already fully booked.

Does your village or community hall need its own website?

Helen Richards — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:07:28 +0000

The GRCC can provide you with a domain name, software and training free of charge. All you need is a volunteer to attend two training sessions here at Community House.

The next session is 9th January 2012 from 2pm until 5pm and spaces are still available. Further dates will become available.

If you are interested please contact Barbara Pond on 01452 528491 or bpond@grcc.org.uk

Community Emergency Planning surgeries

Holly — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:16:25 +0000

Community Emergency Planning surgeries for Cotswold parishes are being held at Coates Village Hall on 8th December from 1.30pm -6pm, but they are rapidly filling up.

You are welcome to come to the meeting at 6pm where parishes will be exchanging their experiences and good practice. Cotswold District Council officers will also be there, and can help you with the Riparian Owners toolkit too. Contact marilync@grcc.org.uk or ring 01452 528491 if you want to book.

Social Media Workshop

Helen Richards — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:56:03 +0000

Through the Rural Community Accelerator Project a free workshop on the implementation and use of social media platforms has been offered to town/parish councils including free follow-up support. The aim is to improve two-way communication with their communities. The workshop will be run by Jonathan Pollinger, founder of Cheltenham based Intranet Future.

We have had to arrange two workshops due to demand and both are now fully booked with people on a waiting list.

See our events page for further details.

Neighbourhood Planning Consultation

Helen Richards — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:35:49 +0000

Consultation events were held at the end of November to discuss with communities the implications of new regulations brought in regarding Neighbourhood Planning through the newly adopted Localism Act.

Members of town and parish councils were invited to join us to find out more about the regulations and to talk to others about whether they are workable, their implications for communities and what support will be required to take on these aspects of localism.

Areas discussed were

The process for establishing neighbourhood areas and forums Preparation of neighbourhood plans Preparation of neighbourhood development orders The requirements of Community Right to Build organisations Preparation of Community Right to Build Orders

Both events were well attended and we are now in the process of collating feedback from the evenings in order to formulate a Gloucestershire-wide response to national government.

If you attended one of the events and have further feedback please contact Helen Richards helenr@grcc.org.uk