Published

05.02.2026

Gloucestershire councils are encouraging residents and communities to take part in a new government consultation on how local government in the county could be  organised  in the future. 

This is an important chance for people to have their say as the government considers  a once-in-a-generation shake-up  to how  local services  are run.

Reorganisation  will involve  replacing Gloucestershire’s existing county council and six  borough  and district councils with one or  two new councils.

Three  proposals  were  put forward by Gloucestershire’s councils  in November, and the government will  decide  on its preferred  option  this summer.

The  options  are:  

One countywide unitary council

A single council responsible for all services across Gloucestershire.  

Two unitary councils (east/west split), each responsible for all services in that area:

• West: Gloucester  City, Forest of Dean  District, Stroud  District   
• East: Cheltenham  Borough, Tewkesbury  Borough, Cotswold  District  

Two unitary councils (Greater Gloucester and Gloucestershire Unitary), each responsible for all services in that area:

• Greater Gloucester:  an area  slightly  expanded  beyond Gloucester  city   
• Gloucestershire Unitary: the rest of the county  

 What is the consultation  asking?  

The government is asking  to what extent  the proposals:  

• are based on sensible geographies and economic areas   
• will deliver the outcomes described in the proposals   
• are the right size to be efficient, improve capacity, and withstand financial shocks   
• will  deliver high quality, sustainable public services   
• have  been informed by local views and will meet local needs   
• will  support devolution arrangements   
• will enable  stronger community engagement and  give  the opportunity for  neighbourhood  empowerment  

What happens next?  

Responses will help the government assess which  option  best meets its criteria.  

A decision is expected in summer 2026, with elections planned for May 2027. Any new structure would be  established  no earlier than April 2028.  

How to take part  

The consultation  opened on  Thursday 5 February, and will be  open  for seven weeks.  Take part on the government’s website: Local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire – GOV.UK

For more information about the proposals and  additional  background information on local government  reorganisation  in Gloucestershire, please visit the  Future Gloucestershire  website.

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As some residents will know, there has been a lot of activity taking place around Twigworth Green and the field adjacent to the Hatherley Brook in the last few days and the Parish Council asked Vistry, the developer at Twigworth Green if they could advise on this.

Background

Vistry’s contractors are currently carrying out some emergency works on the new pipeline from Twigworth Green to Longford.

Local residents have commented on the stench, the pipes running across the stream and public footpaths, and also the prospect of further works, tankers etc.

Response from a Vistry spokesperson – 3 Feb 2026

“By way of a brief summary, Vistry (Twigworth Green Developer)  were made aware of an issue initially in the location roughly in the location where Vistry and Taylor Wimpey (Innsworth Developer) sewers meet and the Severn Trent Water (STW) requisition sewer then takes flows to the Longford Pumping Station. 

Vistry walked the whole length of off site sewer to check for any other issues and also to verify the initial report which originated from the Longford development.

Vistry found the initial report to be correct and also identified a couple of other locations of concern, which are currently being addressed by their contractor whilst further investigations are ongoing with all parties involved – Vistry, Taylor Wimpey, RHL, Severn Trent Water and the Environment Agency. 

Vistry are aware that our current activities will no doubt attract attention and would ask for your support in this whilst the works are carried out. The pump and pipework is associated with the 2no. areas previously bunded / contained as traditional vehicular access was not feasible.

We have also fenced these areas temporarily to ensure access is restricted at this time”

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Vistry are dealing with what is in front of them at present…. and they have a logistical problem accessing the site with heavy machinery and pipe, on what is saturated ground…. apart the pumps and pipes on the footpaths and fields… there will at some point be a convoy of tankers hitting Ironbridge Road, Twigworth Green to carry the pumped waste away.

The Parish Council are not aware of any Twigworth Green residents experiencing sewage/drainage problems due to this incident but should anyone be affected by this, please do report the problem to your developer(Vistry), however, we too would also like to hear from you, should this be the case.

Dog walkers and others, should avoid this area while these works are progressing (likely to be sometime)… apart from the possible sewage contamination in the fields, there is also heavy plant.

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Please find attached a report on Gloucestershire County Council for January, received from our Gloucestershire County Councillor Sarah Hands, Member for Highnam Division (Includes Twigworth Parish)

Chair: Environment Scrutiny Committee & Armed Forces Champion

Please find attached a letter and map providing details of the upcoming works on A38 Tewkesbury Road Gloucester, starting 16^th February 2026 – Night Works

We aim to complete the works as safely and timely as possible.

This Traffic Order affects the roads within the Parishes of Twigworth, Down Hatherley, Norton and Leigh and comes into operation on the 6th February 2026

The above Order has now been confirmed, see documents below :-

1. Statement of Reasons
2. Consultation Plan
3. Signed Notice of Making
4. Sealed Order
5. Order to be revoked x 1

For more information on Traffic Regulation Orders please visit: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/tros/

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Reducing the prevalence of private estate management arrangements

Published 18 December 2025

Scope of this consultation

The consultation focuses on tackling the growing issue of unadopted amenities on privately managed housing estates in England, where roads, drainage systems, green spaces, and other communal infrastructure are maintained by private estate management companies rather than public authorities. This trend has led to unfair charges, poor transparency, and limited homeowner rights, creating significant consumer detriment.

Twigworth Green and Fallow Fields have their estates managed for which residents are charged a fee.

Topic of this consultation

The government recognises the importance of new housing supply to meet national demand, and we must deliver reform in parallel with our wider housing ambitions, including building a record number of desperately needed new homes, while making sure that public services are sustainable.

The government aims to:

• reduce reliance on private estate management and increase adoption of amenities by public authorities
• implement common standards for adoptable amenities to improve quality and consistency
• explore mandatory adoption for certain public amenities, while considering exceptions for premium or exclusive features
• remove perverse incentives that make non-adoption attractive to developers
• improve data transparency, homeowner protections, and dispute resolution mechanisms
• consider prohibiting embedded management arrangements and promoting resident-controlled management
• assess financial sustainability of estate management charges and introduce affordability safeguards
• seek evidence on impacts for homeowners, developers, local authorities, and management companies

Geographical scope

The proposals relate to England, but we are inviting perspectives from across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Following consultation, we intend to work closely with the devolved administrations as future policy develops, in case there are opportunities for a joined-up approach.

Impact Assessment

The UK government is mindful of its responsibilities, including those under the Public Sector Equality Duty to have due regard to the potential impact of their proposals on people with protected characteristics, and their responsibilities to consider environmental principles in any proposals, including, in relation to England, as set out in the Environment Act 2021. We welcome evidence and views on the impact of this policy as part of this consultation. All regulations bought forward as a result of this consultation will be subject to appropriate assessment.

Body responsible for the consultation

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Duration

This consultation will last for 12 weeks from 18 December 2025 to 12 March 2026.

Enquiries

Further details and the consultation document can be found on the government website

For any enquiries about the consultation please contact reducingprevalence@communities.gov.uk

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Published

23.01.2026

Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet is set to recommend that the ambitious budget plan for the next few years is put forward to Full Council for debate and approval at its February meeting.

This follows a period of public consultation on draft proposals which saw more than 350 responses. The  proposed spending plans for 2026/27  will see spending rise by £32.7  million on 2025/26  levels, to almost £700  million.  

The £697.8 million proposed budget includes significant investment by the council to improve road safety, education for young people, and continued support  for  the most vulnerable people in the county. 

An  additional £15 million is proposed to be spent over the next three years on improving the quality and safety of the county’s roads. In addition, £2 million will be spent on improving road safety through introducing 20mph speed limits over the next two years.   

A total of £21.1 million will be spent on delivering the new special schools in Gloucester and Cheltenham,  allowing more young people to be educated closer to home. A further £2.7 million will be invested in the Special Educational  Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services.  

Towards a total investment of £57 million, there will be £6.55 million committed next year towards the building of three new care homes in the county.  

Household Waste Recycling Centres across the county will  benefit  from improvements with £3.9 million set to be invested over the next four years.  

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service will see £2.5 million spent on new frontline vehicles, £1.5 million towards a new training facility, and £1.3 million to make improvements to Cinderford Fire Station.  

The Cabinet meeting follows a public consultation which ran from 4 December until 9 January. 

This consultation saw 44 per cent of respondents support the proposals to increase Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept. The proposed increase reflects unavoidable pressures on the council and supports the continued delivery of essential services. 

There was broad support from the consultation responses for the budget’s revenue proposals across most service areas. This investment will ensure we can enable effective delivery across the organisation, including digital infrastructure, financial controls and workforce support. These functions ensure frontline services remain safe, modern and efficient. 

The budget proposes raising an  additional  £27.4 million to help fund services through a council tax increase of 2.99% and a further 2% increase in the adult social care precept, which will specifically support work with the most vulnerable adults in the county.  

Based on a band D property, residents would pay an  additional  £1.61  each  week.  

The council is also looking at the way it works to generate more income, reduce costs and make its money go further. This will create £32.3 million in savings for the council’s budget in 2026/27. 

Cllr Lisa Spivey, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in our budget consultation. Your views give us a valuable insight into where our communities want money to be spent. 

 “The financial settlement from Government for the coming years has not been what we had hoped and leaves us in an extremely challenging position. 

“Despite these challenges, I am delighted that we have been able to propose a budget that protects frontline services and invests in what our residents need and rely on. This is part of our commitment to delivering on the priorities we set out in our Council Plan last year.” 

Apologies for resend – this was due to server problems.

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Flood alert in force: River Severn in Gloucestershire 

Flooding is possible for: River Severn from Tewkesbury to Gloucester 

High river levels today may lead to flooding.  

Flooding is possible on 22 January 2026.  

River levels are rising slowly due to persistent rainfall. Flooding may affect low lying land and roads adjacent the River Severn from Tewkesbury to Gloucester. Locations that may be affected include Apperley, Maisemore, Hempstead, Minsterworth Ham and Quedgley. Severn Ham, Tewkesbury may fill. Predicted peaks:- Mythe 3.3m to 3.7m on 24 01 AM.  

We are closely monitoring the situation.  

Avoid using low lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses Avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded  
 
This message will be updated by 10:00AM on 23 January 2026 or as the situation changes. 

Be prepared 

You should: 

go to Check for flooding to see a map of the area and monitor up-to-date local flood informationget ready to act on your personal flood plan if you have onefollow the guidance in what to do before or during a flood

You can also read more about what flood alerts are. 

Stay up to date 

To get the latest flood information, you can: 

go to Check for floodingmonitor local weather, news and travel updatescall Floodline on 0345 988 1188, using quick dial code 209024

The following roadworks are planned to take place from 26 January – 2 February 2026 and will undoubtedly cause some disruption for all road users.