Shire News weekend briefing - 21st February 2026
Including Gloucester pub reopens, plans for 1,700 homes off M5 near Cheltenham and Dursley hosts traditional Pancake Race
Dear readers - I have got to start the latest weekend briefing with what is a little personal milestone. As founder and solo journalist trying hard to provide independent Gloucestershire journalism, I made a commitment to readers that my political reporting would be balanced and hold power and those trying to gain power to account. An in-depth report on the Gloucestershire County Council budget evidenced exactly that, council finances being a topic I never had much time to report on during my Gloucestershire Echo/Gloucester Citizen days.
I am glad that it has been appreciated by some feedback this week on how vital coverage of a council budget is, especially when you consider it is Gloucestershire taxpayers who pay for council services and maintain the upkeep of schools, roads and adult social care. The report is below incase you missed it on Thursday, and do read on for your latest curated weekend briefing.
Many thanks and have a good weekend,
Will Luker - Shire News founder and journalist
What made Gloucestershire news this week?
A motion against the Forest of Dean District Council leader Adrian Birch was defeated by just one vote amid anger over where to build 13,000 homes in the Forest. Independent councillor John Francis (Longhope and Huntley), who called for the vote, claimed in a full council meeting that residents had “no forum” in which to express their views on the houses. Citing government pressure to build homes, Cllr Birch replied: “If we fail to agree a local plan for 1,200 dwellings by the end of this year, the Planning Inspectorate will take over, we will lose control.”
The no confidence vote in the Green Party leadership is related to anger in Redmarley as residents are saying no to 3,500 homes proposed for the Glynchbrook development and villagers turned out in force this week to oppose “absolute madness” plans for a new town at Churcham, already dubbed as a traffic pinch point along the A40 into Gloucester.
In other news this week:
The government has confirmed that it is introducing Jools’ Law to automatically preserve childrens’ social media data following a death – a major victory for Cheltenham mum and social media safety activist, Ellen Roome MBE, who has been campaigning for the law to be debated in parliament. Jools’ Law is an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which demands that social media companies ensure childrens’ online data is preserved before it can be deleted, except in cases where their online activity is clearly not relevant to the death. Named after Ellen’s late son, Jools Sweeney, whose sudden death at the age of 14 in April 2022 remains unexplained, Jools’ Law aims to protect bereaved families from the torment of not knowing what their children were looking at online before their deaths – and hold social media companies accountable for the content children see. Full report by SoGlos
The state of roads in Gloucester, Cheltenham and the Forest of Dean have been described as dangerous as private hire drivers regularly see their vehicles damaged by potholes. Hussain Vorajee, who has been a private hire driver and company owner in Gloucester for around 15 years, has called on county highways chiefs to urgently address the issue. He voiced his frustration over the terrible state of the roads at Gloucestershire County Council this week.
The County Council published Gloucestershire’s first Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) this week at Mitton Manor Primary School in Tewkesbury, setting out an ambitious new plan aimed at restoring wildlife, boosting biodiversity and creating a healthier environment for future generations. The strategy, which comes into force immediately alongside a new interactive online map, outlines 113 suggested measures designed to support nature recovery across Gloucestershire, from river restoration and woodland protection to improving meadows, wetlands and urban green spaces.
And finally it was Shrove Tuesday this week or Pancake Day as we know it best. Hundreds of spectators lined up Dursley’s Parsonage Street for the annual Pancake Race organised by Dursley Town Council. For the first time, residents of Henlow Court took part in a wheelchair race, plus the overall winner was William Curtis running for Spring Villa Sports Bar and Café, who was presented with a shield by Dursley Mayor, Cllr Alex Stennett. A full gallery of excellent images can be found here via the Stroud Times, taken by Matt Bigwood.
The week from Gloucester, Stroud and Forest of Dean
A much-loved Stroud taphouse has announced its impending closure due to “unviable” financial circumstances. The Town Owl Taphouse, which sits halfway up the high street and specialises in craft keg from Gloucestershire, took to social media this week to inform customers that it would close at the end of March. More by Stroud Times
On the subject of hospitality, landlords across the Stroud District have joined forces with local MP Simon Opher in a bid to push for reforms to business rates and other rising costs threatening the survival of pubs. Fred Hulls, owner of The Royal Oak and Good Food Kitchen in Wotton-under-Edge, invited industry leaders to meet Dr Opher at the community pub to discuss sector-specific data and scenarios that could be presented to the Treasury. Report also by Stroud Times
The plight of hospitality was also a focus in the Forest of Dean this week as Hands Off Our Pubs (HOOP) came together for a second summit at Speech House Hotel. The full report is below.
The former partner of a Gloucester woman who died after getting a liquid Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) has backed calls for a ban on the cosmetic procedure. Ben Kingscote shares a teenage daughter with Alice Webb, a mother of five who was 33 when she died in hospital in 2024. She'd been taken there after becoming unwell while undergoing the procedure, which involves large amounts of cosmetic liquid being injected into the buttocks to make them larger. MPs have called on the government to immediately ban liquid Brazilian butt lifts and for a licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Details by ITV News
Gloucester Rugby has announced the return of major concerts to Kingsholm Stadium for the first time since 2019, unveiling the new Kingsholm Summer Series for June 2026. Global icon Sir Tom Jones will headline the stadium on Sunday 28 June, marking a triumphant return after previously selling out the venue in 2012 and performing to more than 17,000 fans in 2017. With a career spanning over six decades and more than 100 million records sold, the Welsh superstar is set to deliver another unforgettable summer evening in Gloucester. More details by Gloucester News Centre
Two Stroud District councillors are backing a campaign to phase out single-use plastic gloves from petrol stations, warning that a “staggering” number are ending up in hedgerows and waterways. Cllr Tricia Watson (G, Chalford) and Cllr Gill Thomas (G, Minchinhampton), members of a cross-party county litter working group, are supporting Stroud-based environmental group Litter Free, which has been highlighting the issue for several years. Read more by Stroud Times
The team running Coal Kitchen in Gloucester has assured its customers, staff and suppliers that it remains open, amid uncertainty surrounding its future.
The bar and restaurant at Gloucester Quays released a statement last week confirming that it continues to operate ‘fully as normal’, in response to reports it was set to close. Story by SoGlos
Workers in Stroud and Cam are continuing to strike over a pay dispute. Employees from WSP Textiles, based in Stroud and Cam, travelled to the Players Championship snooker tournament in Telford this week, to raise awareness about their situation. The workers, who produce high-performance cloth for snooker and tennis, spoke with snooker fans and members of the public outside the event, about their campaign for better pay. Report by Stroud News & Journal
A woman has been praised for an act of bravery after rescuing her dog from the water at Lydney Docks. The dramatic incident happened on Thursday, February 12, during what had begun as a routine walk. Bruno, a 20kg bulldog, fell from the quayside into the docks, dropping a considerable distance into the water below. Bruno’s owner, 67-year-old Jackie Archer, said the situation quickly became terrifying as she realised her dog was in serious danger. Story by The Forester
Bright Gloucester business idea sees city pub reopen
A Gloucester pub has reopened to customers with a brand new father and daughter business idea. Rachel Purchase has become the new landlord at the Coach & Horses in the Kingsholm area, and will be in partnership with On Toast based at Gloucester Docks, owned by her dad ‘Mr Toastie’ David Purchase.
Celebrating 15 years as an independent toastie brand, the pub’s food menu (food was not previously offered) will incorporate a warm toastie with a pint, plus there will be a focus on making sure the Coach & Horses acts as a space for local charities to use. David will still be serving toasties at the docks but the venture to work alongside daughter Rachel and provide warm toasties whilst punters drink pints and play some pool too, it has been dubbed an “exciting new project.”
Rachel, who has over ten years experience in London hospitality, says it “feels amazing and exciting” to reopen the Coach & Horses but also a “little nerve wracking.” The venture has been a long-time plan and an idea to combine her dad’s business with a community pub which wants to be a welcome safe space for everyone in Gloucester.
Ideally situated off Kingsholm Road and near to Gloucester Rugby, David told The Shire News “I’m very proud of Rachel for giving this a real try. Sometimes you have a really good gut feeling to do something right and I have 100% total confidence that we’ll run the pub really well and our clientele has to be the community who have known the Coach & Horses for years as well as new people because the pub will be a safe space for all.”
The pub will serve cocktails and toasties every day, with happy hour from 5pm–7pm (two cocktails for £10). DJ nights, live music, themed events and Saturday morning garden markets are planned as the venue settles in.
Alongside this, the Coach & Horses will actively support women’s sport, giving it consistent space and visibility, and will launch a regular community project working with local charities including Empowering Minds and Queer Futures, creating safe, welcoming sessions for people in the city.
A follow up piece on Rachel and David’s plans for the Coach & Horses will be published soon, the next ‘Meet the Publicans’ series for paid subscribers.
Tewkesbury MP responds to school strike action
Cameron Thomas, MP for Tewkesbury has called for “a fair outcome” following recent strike action at Tewkesbury Academy. In a statement on Facebook, the MP said:
“Since the initiation of strike action at Tewkesbury Academy, I have been clear with both parties and with stakeholders that my primary concern is for affected children. That concern extends to those for whom examinations are imminent, those who attend the school and those who are perceived to be causing disruption.
“Following initial engagements with the SLT and Cabot Learning Foundation, and with the senior union representative, I have continually engaged with parents and concerned residents in Gloucestershire, and am working to explore opportunities through the House of Commons and Department for Education.
“It is imperative in the pursuit of a fair outcome that I do not use my platform to lend weight to either party to this dispute, though I am committed to supporting a swift resolution, and remain deeply concerned for the education and wellbeing of affected children in the immediacy of this dispute.”
The week from Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds
Residents in three communities are angry as sewage has been flooding villages for two weeks. Twigworth, Innsworth and Longford in Gloucestershire have seen significant housing developments in recent years, with hundreds more planned. Villagers are concerned this will put pressure on what they described as a failing sewage network, with George Sharpley, chairman of Twigworth Parish Council, saying: “People are angry and worried.” Severn Trent (STW) said it was working to address the issues and had invested heavily to improve the system. Full story by Local Democracy Reporting Service
Plans are afoot to build 1,700 new homes in a village on the outskirts of Cheltenham. Bloor Homes is seeking views on their proposals for Willowbrook on land near junction 10 of the M5 in Uckington. Developers say it will provide a sustainable new £1bn gateway for North-West Cheltenham on land north of Tewkesbury Road. Full details by Local Democracy Reporting Service
Residents say a “Mexican standoff” between the local council and developers is leading to parking problems. People living in Coopers Edge say a lack of parking on the unadopted road is making their lives a misery. The estate was built two decades ago but many of the roads are still under ownership of the developers, rather than being handed over to the council, due to a row over the standard of street lighting. Report by BBC Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Council has unveiled a package of transport measures designed to reduce congestion and improve safety ahead of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, which takes place from 10 to 13 March 2026 and is expected to attract around a quarter of a million visitors to the county. The council, working alongside partner organisations, says it is taking proactive steps to manage the significant increase in traffic associated with one of the UK’s most prestigious racing events. Central to the plans is an expanded park and ride service operating from Arle Court Transport Hub, delivered in partnership with Cheltenham Racecourse and bus operator Stagecoach Group. Details by Gloucester News Centre
Elsewhere in Cheltenham, motorists can once again use Charlton Kings’ A40 London Road after it was closed for urgent repairs in September 2025. Story by BBC Gloucestershire
A landmark store in Cirencester has been sold for ‘continued commercial use’. The former premises of home store Gardiner Haskins was previously up for sale with land and advisory consultancy CSquared after the shop shut in May. CSquared told the Wilts & Glos Standard that the large building, located in Dyer Street, has been sold for ‘continued commercial use’. Story by Wilts & Glos Standard
Tewkesbury manufacturing company and installer of aluminium windows Joedan celebrated its 40th anniversay this week with a £3m investment drive. Founded by husband-and-wife John and Nicky Purcaro at their home in Cheltenham, the company is setting its sights on doubling annual revenues to £35m by 2030 as it looks to open a second manufacturing facility and increase its retail arm. Full story by Punchline