Bird Flu detected in this area
Sadly, a swan died recently on the Severn Ham and the cause of death has now been confirmed as H5N1 avian flu.
Visitors to the Severn Ham are asked to follow this guidance to reduce the risk of other birds becoming infected.
- Please do not touch any sick or dead wild birds – including swans, Canada geese, ducks and birds of prey
- Please do not feed the swans/ducks/gulls (or pigeons) ; when they crowd together this increases risk of infection
- Do not touch wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with bird droppings
- Please keep to the footpath
- Keep dogs on a lead and don’t let them touch dead or sick wild birds
- Garden birds seem less likely to be infected (see links below)
The Town Council’s Conservation Adviser is regularly monitoring the bird population on the Severn Ham. Signs warning that Bird Flu has been detected in the area have been erected at entrance points to the Severn Ham. Should any further birds become very unwell or die, the Town Council has plans in place to cordon off the area and arrange for safe removal.
For more information / Government Updates :
Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England – GOV.UK
All bird flu cases and disease control zones.
The first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N5 of the current outbreak was confirmed in England on the 5 November 2024.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-us
Call the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77) if you find any dead wild birds.
Gloucestershire County Council celebrates positive outcomes from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations
Following the decision by the CIL Joint Committee, GCC is pleased to have received the successful allocation of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Infrastructure Fund, collected over the joint charging authority areas of Cheltenham Borough, Gloucester City, and Tewkesbury Borough Councils.
Since its adoption in 2018 and coming into effect on January 1, 2019, CIL has enabled significant progress in local infrastructure development.
At its meeting on 4 March the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Joint Committee approved a total of 12 high-performing schemes which were submitted for consideration in the current round of CIL Infrastructure Fund allocation. These proposals, assessed against strict framework, have demonstrated their value and importance to Gloucestershire.
The joint committee sought to adopt a flexible approach to the allocation of CIL, ensuring that the most impactful projects receive the necessary funding.
The Joint Committee has agreed to allocate 75% of the current Infrastructure Fund, amounting to £13,763,280, to the following key projects:
- M5 Junction 10 Scheme – up to £10,000,000
- M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme – £1,000,000
- Mass Rapid Transport – £1,000,000
- Cheltenham Spa Railway Enhancements (Honeybourne Line cycle path extension) – £770,424
- Cheltenham Cycle Spine (Extension to Bishops Cleeve) – £592,856
- Gloucester to Haresfield Cycle Spine Design – £400,000
Cllr David Gray, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning for Gloucestershire County Council, said: “This is a fantastic step forward for Gloucestershire. The funding allocated through the CIL Infrastructure Fund will significantly enhance our transport infrastructure, making it safer and more efficient for our residents. These projects will not only improve connectivity but also support sustainable development across the county. We are committed to continuing our collaborative efforts with Cheltenham Borough, Gloucester City, and Tewkesbury Borough Councils to ensure the successful delivery of these vital schemes.”
The remaining 25% of the Infrastructure Fund, totalling £4,587,760, will be ringfenced for future projects of local strategic significance. These schemes will be brought back to the CIL Joint Committee for consideration at a later date.
Gloucestershire County Council looks forward to the positive impact these projects will have on the community and remains dedicated to fostering growth and development through strategic infrastructure investments.
Leveraging geospatial technologies in response to flooding
Tewkesbury Borough has a rich history and the town itself is known for the Battle of Tewkesbury, the Abbey and lots of other beautiful historic buildings – even the oldest pub in Gloucestershire!
When I mention living in Tewkesbury to someone who isn’t local however, they quite often say “that’s the place that floods!”. They’re not wrong – Tewkesbury town is situated right between both the Severn and Avon rivers, and flooding here has been a common occurrence for hundreds of years, with records dating all the way back to the 15th century.
We’re continuously reviewing and looking at how we can improve our approach to emergencies, especially the more frequent occurrence of flooding – no flooding event is ever quite the same, although the affected areas in the borough normally are.
Click here to read the full article on the Tewkesbury Borough Council website
Joe Cole
Associate Director – Cyber, Digital and IT
Tewkesbury Borough Council sets 2025-26 Budget to secure continuation of-services
Tewkesbury Borough Council has approved a budget for 2025/26, which sees its council tax rate remaining as one of the lowest in the country.
On Tuesday 25 February, the council agreed a balanced budget of £13,450,226. This includes an increase in council tax for a band D property of £5 per year, from £144.36 to £149.36.
Councillor Stewart Dove, Lead Member for Finance and Asset Management, said: “It is pleasing that this budget has been approved by the Council with cross-party support; this means that across the 2025/2026 financial year, the Tewkesbury Borough average householder will pay the council less than £2.90 per week to have bins emptied, food premises inspected, fly tips cleared and all our other vital services delivered.
“Less than 8% of the total council tax that householders pay goes towards covering the cost of services provided by the borough council – as the whole bill also supports the county council, local parish and town councils, and the county’s police and crime commissioner – but we will nevertheless be seeking to provide excellent value for money as always and deliver on our council ambitions. I’m especially pleased that this budget will support this administration’s commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency including our investment in hydrated vegetable oil will see an 80-90% reduction in vehicle emissions where it is used by our waste and recycling crews.
“Despite the financial challenges facing the council due to further cuts in central government financial support for local councils after more than a decade of austerity, and with the borough rapidly expanding, it is pleasing to note that this budget has not required any reductions to services currently provided by the council and has allowed for some further investment in some of our key services such as Environmental Health and Planning, as well as our flood response.”
The budget is based on continuing current council services and the Council Plan. As the council continues to work with neighbouring councils in light of the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation, the budget will be reviewed, ensuring resources and funding meet its needs and prepare for the formation of a new unitary authority.
To view the full budget visit tewkesbury.gov.uk
A Flood Alert has been issued by the Environment Agency.
Flood Alert in force: River Severn in Gloucestershire.
Flooding is possible for: River Severn from Tewkesbury to Gloucester.
Be prepared.
River levels are rising at the Upper Pound Gauge, Tewkesbury as a result of heavy rainfall. Consequently, flooding of roads and farmland is possible from 12:00 onwards today, 24/02/2025. We expect flooding to affect low lying land and roads adjacent to the River Severn from Tewkesbury to Gloucester. Predicted peaks:- Upper Pound, Tewkesbury 2.8 – 3.1m on Tuesday afternoon, 25/02/2025.
Further isolated showers are forecast over the next 48 hours. We expect river levels to remain high for the next few days.
We are closely monitoring the situation.
Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.
This message will be updated by 10:00 on 25/02/25, or as the situation changes.
To check the latest information for your area
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* Visit the GOV.UK website to see the current flood warnings, view river and sea levels or check the 5-day flood risk forecast: https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/target-area/031WAF214
* Or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 using quickdial code: 209024.
* Follow @EnvAgency and #floodaware on Twitter.
* Tune into weather, news and travel bulletins on local television and radio.
What you should consider doing now
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* Monitor local water levels and weather conditions.
* Get ready to act on your flood plan if you have one.
* Move your car or other vehicles to higher ground, if it is safe to do so.
* Prepare a flood kit of essential items including a torch with spare batteries, mobile phone and charger, warm clothes, insurance documents, water, food, first aid kit and any prescription medicines or baby care items you may need.
* Businesses should inform staff and customers about the situation.
* Check that you know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water mains supplies.
* In rural locations, farmers should consider moving livestock and equipment away from areas likely to flood.
* Avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water. 30 cm of fast-flowing water can move a car and 6 inches can knock an adult off their feet.
* Flood water is dangerous and may be polluted. Wash your hands thoroughly if you’ve been in contact with it.
Council approves ambitious budget for 2025/26
Gloucestershire County Council has approved its ambitious £665 million budget for 2025/26.
At a meeting of council on Wednesday, February 19, the budget was approved by members.
The council is in a good financial position meaning it is able to continue support for existing services as well as make significant investments across the county.
The spending plans for 2025/26 will see spending rise by more than £48.2 million on 2024/25 levels, to over £665 million.
The budget includes significant investment into the council’s priority areas of Highways, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Adult Services, Infrastructure, and the Environment.
- An ongoing £10 million towards delivering on the council’s £100 million four-year commitment to go on improving Gloucestershire roads, with a greater focus in 2025/26 on tackling rural roads.
- A total £22.2 million towards increasing capacity and improving school buildings and facilities of schools across the county, including £12.8 million towards a new 200 place special school.
- Young people with SEND and their families will be supported with an extra £2.1 million.
- £7.5 million towards the future construction of three new adult care homes is being set aside in 2025/26, with further investment planned in future years.
- Household Waste Recycling Centres in the county will see improvements with a £1.3 million injection.
The budget will raise £20.3 million to help fund services through a council tax increase of 2.99 per cent. It would also see £7.9 million raised specifically to support work with the most vulnerable adults in the county through a further 2 per cent increase in the adult social care precept.
Despite this increase the council still expects to have one of the lowest council tax levels of any county council. Based on a band D property, residents would pay an additional £6.65 each month.
The council continues to challenge itself to work more effectively and as a result has identified £24.5 million in savings, additional income and efficiencies for next year.
A number of amendments to the budget were proposed, with those below being agreed and therefore adopted as part of the council’s spending plans for 2025/26.
The approved one-off budget amendments were as follows:
- £100,000 to support the expansion of the successful waterscapes natural flood management project, through a grant to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (Green)
- £60,000 as funding to the eight Community Libraries (£7,500 per library) towards repair, maintenance and energy efficiency upgrades in their buildings e.g. LED lighting (Green)
- £50,000 to increase the council’s budgeted contribution to the Greener Gloucestershire Climate Action Fund, which has just opened to applications from community climate projects that promote behaviour change, doubling the money that can be funded in this round (Green)
- £50,000 to set up one or two Libraries of Things within Gloucestershire, following the successful example of Charlton Kings Library (Green)
- £50,000 to extend the term of the popular free bus pass initiative for veterans (Green)
- £60,000 to engage a part-time coordinator to manage the master composter volunteers and promote community composting initiatives (Green)
- £50,000 to support a feasibility study considering the implementation of community car clubs in the county, following the successful rollout across Oxfordshire (Green)
- £500,000 towards a flood alleviation fund (Conservative)
- £430,000 towards targeted youth services (Conservative)
Twigworth News – March 2025
Click on image below to open Newsletter
Chestnut Tree Farm – Planning Ref. 24/00457/FUL
With regard to the proposed Chestnut Tree Farm development of 85 new homes, last year, the Planning Inspector ruled in favour to permit the planning application on appeal but with certain conditions, specifically, “Condition 12” which stated that “no dwelling was to connect to the public sewer until upgrades have been carried out to the public sewerage system”.
The Developer wanted to remove this condition and instead, make the connection subject to drainage plans approval by the Tewkesbury Borough Council (TBC) Planning authority, on the basis that by the time the connection will fall due, Severn Trent Water (STW) will have upgraded anyway!
All the residential areas in this map frequently experience foul water flooding.
Arrows show the direction of sewage, arriving from Sandhurst, and then on to Innsworth.
Heavy or persistent rain infiltrates the crumbling network of pipes and pumps, and both villages frequently suffer faeces swilling about on pavements and in people’s properties, forced up by surface floodwater – which shouldn’t be entering the system.
- Twigworth lay-by Pumping Station – People in the area experience human waste backing up in their toilets.
- Pumping Station by entrance to Wallsworth Lane – Human waste mixed with floodwater comes up through manholes as a matter of routine. One resident has negotiated a reduction in their bill from STW, which should be available more widely.
- Ash Lane Pumping Station – Pumps break down when floodwater enters the system, causing widespread backing up and foul flooding of public areas and private properties.
- New pipeline from Twigworth Green to Innsworth – Clogged pipes have caused manholes to burst at least twice in the past two years. Drains are frequently blocked.
TBC Planning Officers were recommending that a variation to Condition 12 be accepted by the Planning Committee; however, at the Planning Committee Meeting on 18th February, before a crowded public gallery, Cllr Sharpley challenged this recommendation on behalf of Twigworth and Down Hatherley Parish Councils and their residents.
There were also powerful augments from all the Committee Members present who voted unanimously not to support the Planning Officers recommendation.
Clearly, TBC Planning Officers and the Developer now need to work with STW, to plan and agree a way forward and it will be interesting to see how that pans out given past experience, especially if the Developer chooses to appeal this decision.
Twigworth Parish Council Gloucestershire 