In this area, we will post items of various interest that could be of interest to The Parish.

Information evenings and roadshows in May and June
to discuss changes to subsidised bus services in Gloucestershire:

Over the past few months, Gloucestershire County Council has been reviewing subsidised bus services across Gloucestershire to save 50% (£2 million) from its transport budgets following recent government funding cuts.

The council is carrying out a two stage consultation process. Stage one was completed in January 2011 and stage two begins today, following publication of the proposed changes to subsidised bus services (details are available from the following web address http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/busreview  There will be a series of roadshows and information evenings across the county to discuss individual services and how communities may be affected. Dates for these roadshows and information evenings are shown below. 

Consultation 
Event              Date                            Location                     Time

Roadshow         Thurs 19th May 2011         BISHOPS CLEEVE – outside parish council office 10am-2pm

Roadshow         Sat 21st May 2011           CHELTENHAM - Promenade 10am-2pm
 
Info. evening     Tues 24th May 2011         TEWKESBURY -  George Watson Memorial Hall, Barton Street, (maximum capacity of 100 people)                                                   7pm-8:30pm

Info. evening     Weds 25th May 2011         BISHOPS CLEEVE - St Michael's Hall, School Road, (maximum capacity of 100 people)                                                                 7pm-8:30pm

Info. evening     Fri 3rd June 2011              CHELTENHAM - Fullwood Room, Fullwood House, Park Campus, (maximum capacity of 150 people)                                                   7pm-8:30pm

Roadshow         Weds 15th June 2011       TEWKESBURY - outside post office  10am-2pm

Over the next year, significant efficiency savings will need to be made across the health community in Gloucestershire and this means supporting more efficient working practices in all parts of the NHS. Like elsewhere in England, there needs to be a continuing shift in the way care is provided in Gloucestershire with a greater emphasis on caring for people closer to home (or in their home) where appropriate. That said, where very specialist care is needed in the larger hospitals (i.e. care for people who are seriously unwell), the NHS in Gloucestershire is looking at how best to organise some services for the future to ensure quality, safety of patients and make best use of the money available. The emphasis will be on helping people to receive ongoing care in their local community or return home with support as quickly as it is safe to do so.

Below are the opportunities for you to find out more about the proposals and give your feedback or visit the website http://www.nhsglos.nhs.uk/get-involved/engagement/

Public Drop-ins  

Date          Time            Venue

9th June    1pm – 3pm    Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham
22nd June   4pm -7pm    Town Hall, Tewkesbury

GUiDE & PALS Information Bus (11am – 3pm)

 Date                   Venue

 Monday 27th June  Tewkesbury, Morrison’s car park

If you are planning to buy a new television as the digital switchover takes place don’t forget you can take your old set to your local Household Recycling Centre.

The switchover to digital television for households in Gloucester and Cheltenham will happen from April 6th.

People using televisions that still use the old analogue signal will have to convert or upgrade their existing set to receive digital signals, either by getting a digital set top box (Freeview), a digital ready television or satellite (such as Freesat) or cable.

If you no longer have a use for your old television, then it can be taken to the Wingmoor site or the Swindon Road Household Recycling Centre operated by Cheltenham Borough Council.

About 96 per cent of a relatively modern TV can be recycled.

For more information on the digital switchover, visit www.digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456 505050.

Please read the attachment file press release from Gloucestershire County Council regarding September Secondary School places

Gloucestershire residents are being encouraged to buy a compost bin from £12 (plus £5 delivery charge) before April 1st, when the cost will go up. Currently the price of a 220 litre bin is £12.00 and a 330 litre bin £15.00 (plus £5 delivery charge). If you buy two, you pay half price for the second bin.
You can buy a compost bin by logging on to www.recycleforgloucestershire.com and
follow the composting link or simply call 0844 571 4444.
Residents can seek help on any composting issues by contacting one of the County
Council’s Master Composters. For more details contact Simon Brown, Community
Liaison and PR Officer for Waste Management on 01452 425325.

What would you give for an easier life?
We’re on the hunt for an outgoing, enthusiastic and adventurous family to take part in the ultimate TV home and lifestyle makeover

Would you love a home full of all the latest must have technology and gadgets that could save you time and money while allowing you to live a more energy conscious lifestyle?...

Channel 4 are making a brand new television series and would love to hear from families interested in taking part in a groundbreaking opportunity that could radically change every aspect of the way you work, rest and play.

So if you’re busy parents with an active lifestyle or you’re part of a close-knit extended family with grandparents close at hand or you’re a family that’s just up for a once in a lifetime experience that could totally revolutionise the way you live; get in touch and find out how we could help your family to become the family of the future...

To apply to take part or for more information please call Mark Gregory on 01752 727 619 or Cecilia Shakerley on 01752 727 685 or email us at thefuturefamily@twofour.co.uk.

We want your views !

Already in Britain there are more people over retirement age than children, and people can expect to spend a third of their lives in retirement.  In Gloucestershire by 2025, 1 in 4 people will be aged 65 or over and nearly half the population will be aged 50 or over.  This is both a an opportunity and a challenge.  

On behalf of the Gloucestershire Conference (the collective name for partnership working in Gloucestershire), agencies and organisations in the county working with older people have developed a strategy to make Gloucestershire a good place to grow older and stay healthy and independent. In order to make sure the priorities identified in the strategy are truly reflective of what older people feel is important to them, a short survey has been compiled to gather views and opinions.

This is an opportunity to have a say about what you think the most important issues are about growing older in Gloucestershire

To see the full survey, please follow this link

We have been contacted by Gloucestershire County Council [GCC] to remind us that a consultation process is underway regarding local electoral boundaries. In GCC, we will move from 63 to 53 seats.  If you would like to be part of the process or need more information, then please follow this link and take a look at the poster below

The full Stoke Orchard Parish Plan has been approved and is now ready for viewing. Thanks to many of you in the villages who helped make this an outstanding piece of valuable work and to Cllr Masters for his efforts in coordination.

To see the document, please follow this link

 Looking to improve the Long Term Support available to Stroke Survivors and their Carers the Stroke Association has been commissioned to facilitate the set up of Stroke Clubs across the county as well as providing support for existing clubs, which are located in Gloucester, Cirencester, Lydney and Stroud. The Stroke Association will be working with volunteers, who themselves may have been directly affected by stroke, to assist with the long-term sustainable support of the groups. The Stroke Association will be working closely with organisations across Gloucestershire in order for patients to access the service. Other funding has also been secured to enable the Stroke Association to monitor and evaluate the service and its effect on patients over the next three years.  To find out more about the service please contact the Gloucestershire Stroke Association Stroke Club Coordinator, Caroline Seguro on 01452 520723 or email caroline.seguro@stroke.org.uk