Some very local news

As schools return it looks like we might get some better summer weather - can't quite believe how quickly the summer has passed - and with a couple of weeks ill and the floods I feel I haven't managed to get out as much as usual - missed both 'Sense and Sensibility' and 'Peter Pan' local shows although my partner saw Peter Pan - anyhow heres a few bits of news....

Photo: another view of Randwick woods

- Bus shelter at Tesco, Stratford Park Road - click on 'Bus shelter' label below for background and photos of folk waiting at that bus stop - I had a phone call from Robert Miller, Manager of Tesco yesterday in response to yet another of my emails about the possibility of a bus shelter outside the store. He was very receptive to my passionate pleas for a shelter. I fully accept it is not the responsibility for the store to provide a shelter but it is great they are now considering provision as a goodwill gesture to the community. We should hear more in autumn - in the meantime I phoned to update the 82 year old woman - she says she is now 83 - who along with an anonymous message writer on this blog set the ball rolling on this.

- Whiteshill Coracle maker - Harry Pizzey, 12, from Whiteshill, has rediscovered the ancient craft of coracle building - he made his own one-man boat to the 1,000-year-old design after going on a two-day workshop in Somerset. Read article in The Citizen here.

- Traffic calming measures - Randwick Parish Council are appealing for residents views on calming and road safety - send to John Taylor while Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish have a coffee morning to seek residents views on traffic on Saturday 22nd September (I'll be there).

- Cream Tea in Randwick - missed it due to other commitments but 75 people enjoyed themselves and it raised £140 for church.

- Randwick school trees to be felled - several trees on the bank area of the playground are to be removed - the poplar is diseased and an ash has grown through the wall. The walk through the playground will be closed on 7th, 8th and 9th Sept - chippings will be available for folk to collect with a donation to the school.

- Randwick Directory - the new one is being produced - call Pam Thorne on 751915 if you want an entry - or for an advert Brian Stanley on 750207.

- A46 closure - see previous posts on this - not so many comments as I would have expected from this week so far with schools going back - although journey times are clearly much longer and one Whiteshill resident reported last week: "Just to say that this morning at 9.15, the traffic was queuing all the way up the hill, and it took 15 mins to turn out of our house and get as far as the Woodcutters on our way into Gloucester. Just sheer volume of traffic."