Category Archives: Gloucestershire County Council

Gloucestershire County Council

Street Lighting Improvement Works To Take Place in August

Gloucestershire County Council has been undertaking a major project to upgrade streetlighting, with the main aim being to meet its carbon reduction target of 60% by 2020.

Skanska UK PLC has been engaged to carry out these works.
Work to upgrade the lighting in residential areas has been taking place during the last 24 months . Skanska is now returning to the local area to complete these conversions along with traffic route lighting. This remaining work will include wall brackets and wooden pole-mounted units as well as heritage lanterns in some areas.

Work in Upper Rissington is expected to take place during August.

This work may necessitate the need to temporarily reduce the pavement width and to use barriers to ensure work can be carried out safely. Where wall-mounted units on private properties are to be converted, we will inform the individual owners of the necessary works, prior to starting.

During this period, on-street parking may be affected. Residents and pedestrians are asked to be patient and Skanska will do their best to minimise any inconvenience to you.

For more information about Gloucestershire’s LED street lighting programme, please visit: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-rights-of-way/major-projects/led-street-lighting/

Gloucestershire County Council

Have Your Say On Expansion Of The Rissington School

Gloucestershire County Council and The Rissington School are consulting on plans to expand their intake of pupils from the 2019/20 school year.

The school currently has one form of entry, which provides places for 210 pupils. Adding another half form of entry would see that increase to 315 over the course of six years until 2025.

As part of the county council’s statutory duties, the council must make sure that there are enough primary school places to meet demand.

The new housing development in The Rissington School’s catchment area has meant there are now more under-fives living nearby. To help meet this demand in the short term, an extra 15 places were created in Reception for September 2018 on a temporary basis but the growth is expected to continue.

Now, the county council in agreement with the headteacher and governors of The Rissington Primary School, is consulting on proposals to permanently expand the school from September 2019.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, cabinet member for growth, skills and the economy at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “It’s important that we have enough good and outstanding school places available, and by expanding popular schools we can help to meet the demand. These proposals would help us to do that.

“We want to hear from as many people as possible. Whether you’re the parent of a current pupil of the school, or if you have children that would be starting school in the coming years – have your say.”

Cllr Nigel Moor, county councillor for Stow-on-the-Wold, said: “This is exciting news for The Rissington School, and I’m pleased expansion is being looked into. This is the chance for local people to have their say on the proposals. You can do it online or get hold of a paper copy from the school.”

The consultation launch runs until Friday 22nd June 2018.

You can leave your views here:  www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/rissington/.

The Rissington Primary school will be holding a drop in session for anyone who would like more information on Tuesday 5th June 2018 from 3pm – 6pm.

A final decision on the proposals will be made in the autumn.

Via press release from Gloucestershire County Council, 21 May 2018

Gloucestershire County Council

Primary School Places Allocated for September 2018

This year a total of 6859 Gloucestershire children have been offered a primary school place for September, with 88 per cent of pupils receiving a place at their first preference school.

On Monday 16th April, all parents of pupils going to primary school in September 2018 received an email or letter from Gloucestershire County Council, offering them one school place for their child.

Parents and carers who applied online received an email confirming their school place and they will be able to accept the place online.  Those parents who did not apply online received a letter including the place on offer and the reasons why. This letter is specific to each pupil and contains an explanation for the decision made.

Parents now have until 30th April to accept their school place or request an alternative school. Parents are encouraged to accept their place online or return their reply forms as soon as possible.

If parents ask for their child’s school place to be reconsidered, they will be placed on the waiting list for their preferred schools. If places then become available, they will be offered a place in line with the schools admission policy. Some places are likely to become available over the next few months as parents change their preferences.

Parents unhappy with their initial offer are encouraged to keep their place as this will ensure that, whatever the outcome of the reconsideration, their child will have a place at a school in September.

The county council will write to parents with the result of the reconsideration after 15th May, and parents will have until the 29th May to reply. Parents who are still not satisfied with their given school will be advised of the appeals procedure.

Cllr Richard Boyles, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “It’s that exciting time of year again when our young people find out where the next stage of their education will be. Starting primary school is a big step and I wish all pupils well for this next stage of their journey. It’s great to see such a high proportion of young people have been offered a school of their choice.”

The admission criteria and more information about waiting lists for every school is available at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schooladmissions.

Via press release from GCC on 17 April 2018.

Gloucestershire County Council

Half a Million More To Mend Potholes in Gloucestershire

The Department for Transport (DfT) has committed extra funding to Gloucestershire.

Following the announcement on Monday 26th March, Gloucestershire County Council will receive an additional £512,339 as part of pothole and flood resilience funding.

This is in addition to a £1,485,781 commitment paid in March 2018 and allocated as part of the council’s February budget meeting.

The money is designed to support the council’s plans to repair potholes and works have already been scheduled in to continue improving the county’s roads.

Gloucestershire County Council is driving forward with ‘Operation Road Rescue’ to keep the county moving following the adverse winter weather. ‘Operation Road Rescue’ will concentrate on fixing the worst potholes first, then patching larger clusters of defects and resurfacing routes that have suffered major damage.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for Highways at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “This is peak pothole season and our roads have taken a real battering after the recent severe weather we’ve seen this winter. Any extra funding to help tackle potholes is much appreciated, and I’m grateful to the DfT.

“We spend £3m to £4m each year on repairing safety defects and around £3m each year towards patching works to reduce potholes forming, so this funding will go a long way.

“At the same time we’re investing £150 million into our roads, effectively doubling the resurfacing programme over the next four years – our biggest ever investment in Gloucestershire’s roads.”

You can follow @GlosRoads on Twitter for daily updates on the work our crews are doing as part of #OperationRoadRescue.

Via press release from Gloucestershire County Council on 4 April.