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26 FEBRUARY 2015 ISSUE 32

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VICKERYSVIEW Phil Vickery MBEshares his thoughts onthe 2015 RBS Six Nations PAGE37

SOME Cheltonians and residentsof Coberley are outraged atCotswold District Councils(CDCs) plans to /nally promotea large gypsy site on Leckhamp-ton Hill bordering the CotswoldWay.

At the site an application waspermitted for stables back in2012; it was then illegally occu-pied by a mobile home andcaravan. Then a retrospective ap-plication was made for occupa-tion by a gypsy family, whichCDC refused.

At the adjacent site anotherstable block was permitted, thena third stable block refused.

Cotswold District Council inDecember 2014, despite over-

TURN TO PAGE TWO >

GYPSY SITEOUTRAGE ATGYPSY SITE

WEARE ALL INTHIS TOGETHER

BAKER CALLSFOR FANSSUPPORTBACK PAGE

2 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 26 FEBRUARY 2015

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whelming opposition and against theprevious ruling of the IndependentGovernment Planning Inspector, gavetemporary permits for two pitches atthe site. This was after opposing appli-cations for stables at the same spot theprevious year were deemed as inappro-priate and harmful to the landscape.Leckhampton Hill RAID chairman

Dan Powell said This is outrageous;Cotswold District Council have com-pletely ignored locals and the hundredsof Cheltenham residents who come upto enjoy the common and theCotswold Way every week. Theyreforcing throughmore than a quarter oftheir gypsy site requirements for thewhole Cotswold district on a green-Geld site in an Area of OutstandingNatural Beauty next to the CotswoldWay. He Gnally added: No ordinarymember of public would stand achance of getting planning permissionon this Geld, as conGrmed by the Gov-ernment Planning Inspector. The sit-uation is set to rumble on.

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

Locals unhappy

PILOT badger culls in theCounty have succeeded inreducing tuberculosis (TB)in cattle, the NationalFarmers' Union (NFU) hassaid.President Meurig

Raymond told the NFU'sannual conference in Birm-ingham that TB had beenreduced in the pilot areas.Environment Secretary

Elizabeth Truss said a Tory-led government would rollout badger culling to moreTB-infected areas.But Humane Society In-

ternational UK called theculls disastrous.Trial culls have been

taking place over the pasttwo years.Mr Raymond said: In

Gloucestershire, vets arealso reporting a reductionin TB in cattle, too.Just two days ago, one

of our Gloucestershiremembers was given thefantastic news that his farmis now clear of TB, for theGrst time in 11 years.He is very clear that the

only thing that's changedon his farm is that we arenow doing something tocontrol the disease inwildlife.Last week Labour said if

it won the upcoming

general election the pilotculls would end.Ms Truss said the Con-

servatives would continuewith their 25-year TB erad-ication strategy, which in-cludes a roll-out of thebadger cull, if they won thegeneral election.It is shameful that

under the previous govern-ment bovine TB increasednine-fold and we ended upwith the highest levels ofthe disease in Europe,she said.It is incredible that they

would like to make thesame mistake again.Claire Bass, from

Humane Society Interna-tional UK, called on thegovernment to reverse itsdisastrous and scientiGcallydiscredited badger cullstrategy.She said: The badger

cull has been a very expen-sive, cruel and ineffectivefarce and Liz Truss cuts anincreasingly lonely Ggurein continuing to defend it.Almost unanimous sci-

entiGc opinion describesthe cull as a failure, includ-ing Sir David Attenbor-ough, Lord Krebs and eventhe chair of NaturalEngland's ScientiGc Advi-sory Committee.

AN ELECTRICIAN whose bid torun the Prom Club endedin dismal failure as he wasjailed earlier this week for defrauding HMRC out of morethan 23K.Paul Regan's business venture

tumbled into debt, he then triedto get out of trouble by claiminghe was due some large VATrefunds over a seven monthperiod.

Regan, a 35-year-old father oftwo, of Solway Road, Spring-bank, Cheltenham, admittedfour charges of defrauding HMRevenue and Customs betweenNovember 9th, 2011 and May17th, 2012. He was subsequentlyjailed for eight months by JudgeEuan Ambrose.The judge said the offences

were too serious for anythingother than an immediate jail

term. He said: It is impossiblefor me to get away from the factthat this was repeated offendinginvolving a high level of calcula-tion with false documentationbeing produced.Interviewed by VAT inspectors

on 18th May 2013 he initiallydenied any offending but Gnallyadmitted what he had beendoing.Prosecutor Mr Douglas-Jones

said the total amount Regan hadtried to obtain in illegal refundswas more than 32,000 but theactual sum he had beneGtedfrom was 23,682. He had sufG-cient assets in the equity of hishome to repay that in full, hesaid.Judge Ambrose ordered him

to pay that sum within sixmonths or face a further12 months in jail.

Local electrician jailed for fraud

Badger cull is working

26 FEBRUARY 2015 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 3

CHELTENHAM Borough Council hassuccessfully prosecuted a private hiredriver from Gloucester who wasfound to be illegally plying for hirein Cheltenham, during last yearsCheltenham Gold Cup week.

Mr Boubacar Diallo was foundguilty at Cheltenham MagistratesCourt on Monday 16th February2015 of the offence of plying for hire.He had been witnessed by council li-censing enforcement ofGcers illegallypicking up two members of thepublic who had earlier been seen un-successfully attempting to Hag downa legitimately licensed taxi.

After entering a plea of not guiltyat an earlier court appearance, thiscase proceeded to trial where MrDiallo was found guilty of plying forhire and was ordered by the Magis-trates to pay Gnes and costs totalling718.50.In law, private hire drivers working

in the town must be licensed byCheltenham Borough Council andcan only ever take advanced bookingwork that has been booked through a

licensed private hire operator. This isdifferent from licensed hackney car-riage drivers and vehicles that canengage in public hire.Councillor Andy McKinlay,

cabinet member for developmentand safety, said: We welcome thedecision of the Court in this case.Drivers and vehicles not licensed bythe council put public protectionand safety at risk.People must make sure they only

get into a Cheltenham BoroughCouncil licensed vehicle and that thejourney is properly booked andrecorded.

Louis Krog, licensing and businesssupport team leader, added: We arepleased with the successful prosecu-tion of the Gloucester driver. Thissuccessful prosecution should sendout a message that the council willdeal with out of town drivers that il-legally ply for hire, not least becauseof the risk this poses to public safetybut also we need to protect the inter-est of the local trade during this verybusy week.

UKIP Public Mee#ng Friday 6th March at 7.30pmAll welcome

The Wheatsheaf func#on room,283 Old Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 9AJ

Come and meet your UKIP parliamentary candidate, local businesswoman Chris%na Simmonds, and hear the real issues and policies which we promote and support we welcome a lively debate!Guest speaker Roger Helmer, MEP East Midlands - Roger is the well- known leader of the 24-strong UKIP delega%on in Brussels, and UKIP spokesman on Energy and Industry.

Formerly a highly experienced businessman, he has led the debate in calling for a ra%onal and sustainable energy policy for Britain.Published & promoted by Mar%n Leonard on behalf of Chris%na Simmonds UK Independence Party (UKIP) all at Courtland, Newcourt Road, Cheltenham GL53 9AZ

TRACY Trigg the AssistantManager at TKMaxx in RegentsArcade is getting to grips withsome mud for Red Nose Day.On March 7th shes participat-

ing in The Major Series (5kmud and assault course organ-ised by the military) in order toraise money for Comic Relief.Tracy is a 40-year-old mum of

four, and apparently less thanactive!She said: I have never

thought about doing anythinglike this before and althoughchallenging I really feel the needto do something different tohelp raise money for ComicRelief.If you want to support this

gung ho mum of four just poponto her giving page.TRACY TRIGG needs your

help to change lives!http://my.rednoseday.com/sponsor/tracytrigg #RND15

TK Maxx Assistant Managergets dirty for red rose day

Council prosecutesGloucester private hire driver

CHELTENHAM is a town ofhandsome houses and Gnesquares but its streets are beingwoefully neglected by theCounty Council resulting inpotholes in the roads, unevenand broken pavements, weedsgrowing in drains and localisedsurface-water Hooding, say theCivic Society.In a tirade of comment they

also went public by furthercommenting: Black tarmac isspreading like ugly moss whereit is used to repair brokenpaving slabs and is even reach-ing the Promenade. Litter andleaves collect in the gutters andchewing gum splatters the

pavements where pedestrianshave to compete with cyclistsbecause of rutted roads. Brokenbollards and crooked postsstand like truncated trees,and railings lie twisted andforlorn.On a Gnal note they added:

The reply will be that LocalAuthorities are struggling toprovide essential services andmaintenance budgets havebeen slashed. However, othertowns and cities, in the SouthWest, maintain their streets toa reasonable standard, whichbegs the question: are limitedpublic funds being used effec-tively in Cheltenham?

Stop RubbishingCheltenham saysthe Civic Society

I READ with some interest and evengreater surprise your story about thenew artwork on the refuse and recy-cling trucks in Cheltenham. In thefront-page splash, you suggest thatCheltenham Borough Councilshould not be spending money onthanking residents for recycling atthe same time as local roads arefalling apart.

Whilst it is undoubtedly the casethat the roads and pavements in ourtown are in a shocking state, respon-sibility for that rests solely withGloucestershire County Council andnot the Borough Council.

As your readers may know, we atCheltenham Borough Council re-cently launched our Thanks AMillion campaign to promote the re-cycling services in the town. In myview, we have a very good recyclingservice and local residents have

worked very hard over the past fewyears to help boost our recycling ratesand keep a huge amount of waste outof landGll. As well as the undoubtedbeneGts that brings to the environ-ment, recycling and composting hassaved Cheltenham residents almost1million in landGll costs.

I take the view that it is well worththanking residents for recycling. Weshould recognise that we have comea long way from the days that allhousehold waste went into onemetal bin with a rubber lid. Manyresidents now sort their food wasteinto food caddies, their recycling intogreen boxes and put only their resid-ual waste into a wheeled bin. Someeven compost a signiGcant portion oftheir waste. That effort is savingmoney and protecting our environ-ment.

Yes, it cost a little under 3000 to

install the thank you signs on the ve-hicles but when youre saying,Thanks A Million to residents forhelping to save 1million then Ithink that is money well spent.

Did you know however that weare still spending 1.4millionburying our waste in the ground? Doyou think that more can be done toavoid this cost? I do. That is why Ialso asked for similar signs to be in-stalled on vehicles collecting wastebound for landGll. Once again, Isuggest that spending less than3000 on trying to encourage peopleto help us save a chunk of that1.4million is a very good invest-ment.

Councillor Chris ColemanCabinet Member for ourClean and Green EnvironmentCheltenham Borough Council

Chris Coleman says

4 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 26 FEBRUARY 2015

Anti-social behaviour injunction issued in town centreLESLIE Michael Cook of no Lxed addresswas given an Injunction by GloucesterCounty Court on Friday 20 February 2015for a period of one year because of his anti-social behaviour in Cheltenham towncentre.The councils public protection team

jointly led the investigation with Glouces-tershire Constabulary, with support fromlocal businesses, the public and Ubico staff.Mr Cook was offered help and support

previously however chose not to take it. Healso signed up to a voluntary Acceptable Be-haviour Contract (ABC) in September 2014which he breached soon after.He was given the Injunction after it was

deemed the most suitable way to secure apositive outcome and give some respite to

the community of Cheltenham.Mr Cook is forbidden (whether by himself

or by instructing or encouraging any otherperson). From being in possession of anyopened alcohol in any public place;from engaging in conduct which causes oris capable of causing nuisance or annoyanceto any person in Cheltenham; fromfailing to have his dog under proper controlat all times when in a public place;from fouling or urinating in the street orother public place; from enteringany private grounds where he has notbeen invited.A breach of the order would mean that he

would be brought back to court and face apenalty of up to two years imprisonment.Lisa Jones, community protection ofLcer

for Cheltenham Borough Council, said: Ihope this sends out a very strong messagethat anti-social behaviour will not be toler-ated in Cheltenham.Councillor Andrew McKinlay, cabinet

member for development and safety, added:It is important that people feel safe andsecure in the town centre, and consideratebehaviour is a key part of this. I am de-lighted that the council has taken this suc-cessful action to minimise anti-socialbehaviour. People and businesses in Chel-tenham can be assured that the council willtake similar appropriate action in thefuture.

If anyone witnesses Mr Cook breachingthese conditions, please contact the policeon their non-emergency number 101.

POLICE are releasing CCTV imagery of aman they wish to identify following aburglary from a social club in Chel-tenham.OnThursday 12th February at 12:30pm,

a male was photographed entering theclub in North Street, Cheltenham.He let himself into an upstairs ofLce

and stole two purses.The male is estimated to be about 29

31, of medium build, wearing a whiteNike long sleeved top with Nike writtenacross the back in large letters and a logo

on the left chest.He was in

company with twoother males and afemale who were es-corted off the prem-ises while theburglary took place.Anyone with infor-

mation is asked tocall 101 quoting crime number CrimeNumber CR/003219/15 and incidentnumber 291 of 12 February.You can also give information anony-

mously by contacting the charityCrimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or viawww.crimestoppers-uk.org and youmayreceive a reward if someone is arrestedand charged.

Purses stolen fromCheltenham social club

AT THE end of last week GCHQ and the USNational Security Agency were under themedia microscope accused of hacking intothe computer system of a SIM cardmanufacturer.The American website, The Intercept,

claims the whistle-blower Edward Snowdenhad supplied documents that suggestGemalto, a company based in the Nether-lands, was targeted by American and Britishintelligence agencies.It is alleged that encryption codes which

are used to keep mobile communications

private were stolen.A GCHQ spokesperson said: It is a long-

standing policy that we do not comment onintelligence matters. The spokespersonwent to add: Furthermore, all of GCHQ'swork is carried out in accordance with a strictlegal and policy framework which ensuresthat our activities are authorised, necessaryand proportionate, and that there is rigorousoversight, including from the Secretary ofState, the Interception and Intelligence Serv-ices Commissioners and the ParliamentaryIntelligence and Security Committee.

GCHQ under *re overalleged SIM hacking

THE British Heart Foundation(BHF) is encouraging smokersin Cheltenham to visit theirlocal stop smoking servicesahead of this years No SmokingDay on 11th March.The charitys latest Lgures show

that around 20% of adults in Cheltenhamstill smoke. The national average is 18%.Studies have found that smokers are fourtimes more likely to succeed in quittingwith help from NHS stop smoking servicesthan if they go it alone.Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Di-

rector at the BHF, said: Smoking increasesthe risk of coronary heart disease, strokeand a variety of cancers. The good news isthat stopping smoking is the single bestthing you can do for your heart health andthe risk to your overall health decreases sig-niLcantly soon after you stop.

Were encouraging smokers to visittheir GP, pharmacist or local stop smokingadvisor to receive resources, information,

and advice on quitting smoking. Gettingprepared for your quit attempt is the Lrststep on the journey towards a smoke-freelife.Join the nearly one million smokers

who will make an attempt this No SmokingDay, and make 11th March the day youstart to stop.Its also no surprise that smoking can put

a strain on a relationship. A smoker with a20-a-day habit will spend an average of255 a month on cigarettes.*To receive information and support

on stopping smoking visit nosmoking-day.org.uk and join the conversationon Twitter using the hashtag#NoSmokingDay.

20%OF ADULTSSTILL SMOKE INCHELTENHAM

26 FEBRUARY 2015 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 5

THE BISTRO, based at the National StarColleges Ullenwood campus won thehonour in the Sustainable RestaurantAwards.StarBistro beat more than 800 entries to

make the shortlist of Gve. It won the na-tional accolade with a public vote which wasannounced last Sunday.This local, ethical and sustainable eatery

also develops skills of people who havelearning or physical disabilities or otherissues such as mental health.Open to the public the bistro serves dishes

made with fresh locally-sourced produce atgreat value for money prices. Irs a partner-ship between National Star Foundation andWiggly Worm.Rob Rees, who founded Wiggly Worm,

said: This award has really touched us andreinforced to us that our work and the wayin which we do it can have a positive impacton individuals in our team, our trainees aswell as our customers.The award assumes quite rightly that

what we offer is as local, ethical, and sus-tainable and value for money as possible.

In addition though it celebrates theabove and beyond and the huge heart thatwe have yes for our work with those whomay Gnd life trickier directly at Star Bistroand in ourWigglyWormworkforce but alsothe thousands of people we have fed exter-nally who may well be in food and workingpoverty.Last year a second eatery, StarBistro at

Pepper Crescent, opened in the Royal Cres-cent in the centre of Cheltenham.StarBistro prides itself on inclusivity by

trying to accommodate any type of specialdietary requirement. Tables occupy only halfof the Hoor space, allowing space for wheel-chairs and other accessibility needs.StarBistro, through Wiggly Worms No

Child Hungry Gloucestershire campaign,also helps feeds those living in poverty inthe local area.StarBistro is open Monday-Friday 11am-

4pm. To book 01242 535984.StarBistro at Pepper Crescent open

Monday-Friday 8am-3.30pm and Saturday9am-3.30pm. To book or Gnd out aboutoutside catering call 01242 572958.

At Carpet Emporium of Cheltenham our aim is to provide our customers witha level of service that exceeds expectations.

With more than 30 years experience in the industry, we guarantee to 1nd2ooring to suit any area in any home at the best possible price.

With over 500 full rolls of carpet and 300 room sized remnants always in stockwe can even offer the same day delivery.

CarpetsandRugs

01242 22 88 55carpetemporium@hotmail.comwww.carpetemporium.co.uk

16-28 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HAOpen 9am-5pm Tues, Weds, Fri & Sat LATE NIGHT OPENING THURSDAYS 9am-6.30pm

250 Room size C

arpet

Remnants must

be cleared

Taylor Wimpey start work onSaxon Quarter development

StarBistro is named PeoplesFavourite in national award

To advertise in theCheltenham Standard

call one of our sales team01242 257019

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after ashop door in Cheltenhamwas smashed anditems of stock were taken.OfGcers received a call around 0530hrs on

Monday 23/02/15 from a member of thepublic who noticed the broken glass door ofa clothing store on The Promenade.It appears the offender(s) smashed one of

the front doors with a metal object, once

inside the suspect(s) have taken a quantityof clothes from a display table and rail. Theoffender(s) then left the store, dropping anumber of items as they left.Police are asking for anyone who saw

anything suspicious in the area, between0430hrs and 0440hrs on Monday 23rd Feb-ruary 2015, to contact them on 101 quotingincident no. 35 of 23/02/15.

Smash and grab in The Promenade

PROPERTY-SEEKERS will soon be offered ahost of fresh opportunities to purchase abrand new Taylor Wimpey home in Chel-tenham.The house builder has now started trans-

forming the former Christ College Schoolsite off Arle Road into a high-quality resi-dential development comprising 90 homes.The Grst new homes are expected to be re-

leased for sale from Andrews Estate Agencythis Saturday 28th February, and would-behomebuyers are urged to register their inter-est today.Charlie Joseph, Regional Sales and Mar-

keting Director for TaylorWimpey, says: Weare delighted to have commenced work onthis wonderful new development, which willprovide a superb selection of new homes inthis popular area of Cheltenham. Property-seekers should register their details with ustoday to ensure they are among the Grst inline to choose from the initial selection offabulous properties when they are releasedfor sale on Saturday 28th February.Home-hunters can register an interest in

the news homes at Saxon Quarter online atwww.taylorwimpey.co.uk or by calling01454 628484.

IF, as both MartinHorwood and AlexChalk have sug-gested, Chel-tenham is tobecome a hi-techhub driving

forward cyber innovation, it will be es-sential that there are reliable and afford-able energy supplies.The U.K. has been committed to a

policy of reducing carbon emissions to60% of the 2007 level by 2050, and withenvironmentalists current concerns re-garding the sustainability of using bio-mass, tidal power is becoming a majorfactor in the U.K. with the potential toproduce 10% of our electricity needs.It was encouraging to see that the pro-

posed Swansea Tidal Lagoon power gen-eration scheme looks like going ahead.Tidal power has the distinct advantageover both wind and solar energy sourcesof producing a predictable volume of elec-tricity at regular intervals, so capacity canbe planned to meet demand. Theseschemes have an expected operating lifeof 120 years, avoiding most of the hugedecommissioning costs associated with

nuclear power stations, and can provideattractive areas for water sports and leisurepotential locally.From a Gloucestershire perspective, its

encouraging to see that plans are in handfor similar and exciting developments forthe Severn Estuary. This should lead toconsiderable beneFts and employmentopportunities in future years for Chel-tenham and theWest, and UKIP supportsthe continuing development of tidalpower wherever it is feasible and viable.Currently the rocketing price of elec-

tricity to pay for renewable technology isparticularly challenging for the low paidand pensioners, and one of the mostcrucial factors in our future energy policymust be affordability, both for industryand the individual consumer.If you would like to talk to Roger

Helmer MEP, UKIPs Spokesman onEnergy and Industry, come along to ourpublic meeting at the Wheatsheaf, OldBath Road at 7.30pm on Friday 6thMarch everyone is welcome!

Christina Simmondswww.ukipcheltenham.org.ukchairman@ukipcheltenham.org.uk.

6 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 26 FEBRUARY 2015

Christina Simmonds Ukip CheltenhamParliamentary candidate for 2015

THE SIMMONDS FILE

THIS is Portland Street Car Park whereyou cant see the parking restrictionsigns due to it being unlit. You will geta ticket after 8pm. Its simply not clearenough to see which means some mo-torists could easily get a ticket throughno fault of their own, said one of ourreaders, Peter Marshall.

Park at your perilALMOST 140 of Gloucestershire CollegesCatering and Hospitality students will gainvaluable work experience at The Festival2015 in Cheltenham, in just two weekstime.From Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th March,

full-time students from the Colleges Chel-tenham and Royal Forest of Dean campuseswill have the chance to work under experi-enced chefs and hospitality staff at The Fes-tival and get that all-important industryexperience employers are looking for.From 7am each morning, the students will

begin setting up boxes, enclosures and thetented village, and prepping food for therestaurants, which include the premierPanoramic Restaurant, popular Gold CupRestaurant, traditional Festival Restaurantand Fne dining Chez Roux, where AlbertRoux and Michel Roux Jnr return for theirsecond anticipated year.Gloucestershire College has enjoyed a

close relationship with the world-famoushorseracing festival for several years now,and each year more and more students at alllevels work in its bars, restaurants and en-closures; developing their skills and honingtheir trades in a real-working environment.Last year, 18-year-old Chris Hetherington-

Phelps, a Level 2 Catering student fromCheltenham, was not only lucky enough todo work experience in Chez Roux, but cameout of it with a coveted apprenticeship withChez Roux at Greywalls in Scotland.

Gareth Crwys-Williams, Head of Schoolfor Catering and Hospitality, said: Im de-lighted that so many of our students willonce again be working at The Festival thisyear. Our partnership provides a tremendousopportunity for them to experience whatworking in industry, at big events, isreally like.Our priority at Gloucestershire College is

to ensure that our students not only gain the

qualiFcations they need for a successfulcareer, but are also equipped with the wideremployability skills and relevant experience and working at The Festival is just oneof many opportunities we can offerthem here.For more information about Catering at

Hospitality at Gloucestershire College, watchGC The Movie at www.gloscol.ac.uk/cateringor call Student Services on 0845 155 2020.

Experience for catering students during Race Week

26 FEBRUARY 2015 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 7

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ONALL BEDS AND MATTRESSES

01242 22 88 55carpetemporium@hotmail.comwww.carpetemporium.co.uk

16-28 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HAOpen 9am-5pm Tues, Weds, Fri & Sat LATE NIGHT OPENING THURSDAYS 9am-6.30pm

RESIDENTS and volunteers from theFriends of Sandford Park were out in forcelast Friday to help council ofCcers plant anew hedge in the park.The hedge will run along the fenced

boundary to help shield the park fromviews over the hospital car park and theplant for the lido.The hedge is made up of 340 Escallonia

shrubs to create a formal evergreen hedge.30 roses were also planted to replenish therose beds around The Whish Sistersdrinking fountain.Malcolm Walls, community parks

ofCcer for Cheltenham Borough Council,says: The new hedge will greatly improvethis part of the park and screen out viewsto the car park and the lido plant.

We really appreciate the help of thefriends group and our other volunteers, itmakes a big difference to the work that wecan do.Chris Beal from the Friends of Sandford

Park, continues: Were very pleased thatwe were able to win funding from thecouncil for the new hedge and rosebushes. This is the Crst project that weveworked on with the council and werelooking forward to doing more projectswith them in the future to develop thisalready rather wonderful space.Funding of 1,580 for this work came

from the councils Community PrideFund following a successful applicationfrom the friends group in 2014.

SoapboxBy COUNCILLOR KLARA SUDBURY

IT IS a bit of a shocker to take a strollalong Cheltenham High Street these days.The work to improve the paving outsideM&S has restarted after being halted lastyear after delays. It did look like the instal-lation of a Yellow Brick Road when it wasCrst put down; with a bit of time it looks alittle less garish. The workmanship leavesa bit to be desired though, with large gapsin the texture of the Cnish that create ahandy home for discarded cigarette ends.But at least something is being done

there. Further up the High Street the ex-pensive paving slabs look like they havebeen the victim in a tarmac themed horrormovie. What on earth were Gloucester-shire Highways thinking by removingdamaged slabs and Clling them in with asplodge of tarmac? From near the Beech-wood Arcade to Cambray Place the pavingis an absolute joke.Gloucestershire County Council is re-

sponsible for maintaining Cheltenhamsroads and pavements, not the BoroughCouncil. In the previous highways con-tract the County asked the contractor toonly make defects safe. Hence a hugeexpanse of pricey paving has been com-pletely ruined because of the CountyCouncils penny pinching. Irritatingly thisis a false economy because there is no waythe High Street can be left looking in thisdesperate state.The more recent contract with Amey

has speciCed that repairs should be likefor like which means if a paving slab isbroken it should be replaced and notbodged with tarmac. It shouldnt haveneeded a genius to predict what theoutcome of the previous contract wouldbe. And it doesnt take a genius to workout that it will cost so much more to sort

it all out properly now.The front page of last weeks edition at-

tacked Cheltenham Borough Council forwasting money on new signs on the sidesof recycling vans instead of Clling thetowns potholes. Cheltenham BoroughCouncil does not have any responsibilityfor road maintenance. I did have asmidgen of sympathy with the sentimentof the article though; it does on the face ofit seem odd to spend thousands of poundsthanking people for saving money.However, this advertising is to make

people aware of the need to recycle notjust to help the environment but also tosave on the money spent on landCll tax.Whilst the Borough Council collects therefuse, it is the County Council who areresponsible for disposing of it and it is theCounty who have to pay the landCll tax.

MATT Jones, Edward Palmer and Matt Wale,between them they have more than ten years-on-the-job experience. Together they walkaround ten miles per day when making collec-tions with the average round serving approxi-mately 740 properties.The job entails very early mornings with the

crew getting up at around 6am. They arrive atthe depot at 6.45am to give themselves time tocarry out safety checks on the recycling truckand pick up any recycling boxes which need tobe delivered. They head out on their round at7am andwill be out as long as it takes to collectthe recycling for that day. This varies from sixhours to sometimes more than eight hours, itall depends on road works, trafCc and howheavy the day is.They all agree the best part of the job is

working outdoors, even if it is challenging inbad weather conditions, meeting people in thecommunity and working in a team to get thejob done. The hours also Ct well around theirhome lives.Matt Jones, waste and recycling operative,

says: The amount of recyclingwe are collectingis on the increase so we really appreciate resi-dents taking the time to separate out their re-cycling, especially when they have lots ofrecycling boxes, as it makes our jobmuchmoresimple and quick to do.Edward Palmer, driver, added: By separating

out the recycling it means the vehicles arentblocking the road for so long as we can bemuch quicker at sorting it into the various com-partments.Councillor Chris Coleman, cabinet member

for clean and green environment, said: Id liketo thank the refuse and recycling crews for alltheir hard work. They really do a great job, andare always friendly and helpful. Its importantto hear their views on how we can help to in-crease recycling as they are collecting it day inday out and speaking to residents. Its encour-aging that they are seeing an increase and aresupportive of the Thanks amillion campaign.To Cnd out more about recycling in Chel-

tenham including your collection day, whatyou can recycle and where visit the councilswebsite.

Volunteers planthedge and rosesin Sandford Park

A day in the life of a Cheltenhamrecycling crew

8 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 26 FEBRUARY 2015

Culinary creative Khoosupports Great British BrekkieCHELTENHAM based Winstons Wish, theleading childhood bereavement charitysecured the support from popular celebritychef Rachel Khoo, in support of its fundraiserthe Great British Brekkie which ended on the15th February and the Cordon Bleu trainedchef has provided an exclusive recipe toWinstons Wish to back the campaign.WinstonsWish has been calling out across

the country for families, friends, colleaguesand classmates to join them and help raise50,000 to support bereaved children byhosting a charity breakfast. Manywell-knowncelebrities have also been backing the cam-paign by posing in Winstons Wish brandedaprons and recording videos of their favouritebreakfast treats.Speaking exclusively, Khoo revealed her

favourite breakfast as a child, and how hertaste has changed: It was cereal and some-times the bad type, like Sugar Puffs, on specialoccasions like holidays. We didnt get themvery often, so they were more of a treat. Mypallet has changed a bit, but I still get nostal-gic if Im at a hotel and they have those

mini packets of cereal theyre so enticing! Ibelieve in everything in balance.Rachels Great British Brekkie recipe

potato crumpets with maple mustardgammon topped off with oven roasted toma-toes and a fried egg is exclusively suppliedfrom her new book Kitchen Notebook, avail-able in all good book stores now.Winstons Wish has a signed copy up for

grabs stay tuned to the Twitter account@winstonswish for details on how to get yourhands on it!Raising a toast to the popularity of the

Great British Brekkie campaign, Kathryn Lev-erett, Fundraising Team Leader, said: We areso pleased that a chef of Rachel Khoos calibreand Kair is behind our campaign. Her break-fast ideas are certain to inspire many of oursupporters and the money raised from thedonation of her signed Notebook will help usto support more bereaved children and theirfamilies.For more information and to register

www.greatbritishbrekkie.org.uk or tweet them@winstonswish using #greatbritishbrekkie.

CLIC Sargents 10-day Get in CharactereBay auction starts on Thursday 26th Feb-ruary and is expected to raise thousands ofpounds for children and young people withcancer.Our very own best-selling thriller writer,

Eve Seymour fromCheltenham, who writesunder the male pseudonym Adam Chaseand appears weekly in our culture section isoffering aspiring authors the chance to haveher critique their work, and beneJt fromher expert advice.Eve is amongst 69 popular authors taking

part in this years Get in Character eBayauction, an annual fundraiser organised byCLIC Sargent, the UKs leading cancercharity for children and young people, andtheir families.The 10-day auction takes place from 8pm

Thursday 26th February to 8pm Sunday 8thMarch 2015. The highest bidder will winthe opportunity to have Eve critique theirwork.Many other authors in the CLIC Sargent

auction, including thriller writer Lee Child,novelist Lisa Jewell, and former SAS soldier

Andy McNab, are auctioning off the oppor-tunity to be a named character in theirforthcoming novels.In addition, signed book bundles from

Sarah Addison-Allen, Anthony Horowitz,Jodi Picoult, Lucy Dillion, Liane Moriartyand Jojo Moyes are up for grabs.Eve said: CLIC Sargents Get in Character

auction is for such a deserving cause, I feelprivileged to be asked to take part.Kate Apperley, eBay co-ordinator at CLIC

Sargent, the UKs leading charity for chil-dren and young people, added: We havean incredible selection of authors support-ing Get in Character this year. The moneywe raise will make a huge difference andhelp us to provide the emotional and prac-tical support that a child or young personswhole family needs to help them cope withcancer and get the most out of life.For more about the auction

www.clicsargent.org.uk/getincharacter.Access the auction from 8pm on

Thursday 26th February 2015 visit:http://stores.ebay.co.uk/clic-sargent-get-in-character

Best-selling Cheltenham authoroffers aspiring writers hope

WARDENHill residents can look forward toWarden Hill Activity Mix (WHAM) on Sat-urday 28th February.This exciting event will offer residents the

chance to meet people from local socialgroups and clubs as well as local serviceproviders and charities. It is taking placefrom 2pm to 5pm at Warden Hill UnitedReformed Church.There will be demonstrations and enter-

tainment from local music, dance and ex-ercise groups and a trusted traders boardwhere residents can swap details of tradersthey have used and trust. Free tea, coffeeand cake will be provided.The event has been organised as part of

the ConnectingWarden Hill project by TheChurch in Warden Hill, local residents,Leckhampton with Warden Hill ParishCouncil and Cheltenham BoroughCouncil.Hannah Wright, strategy and engage-

ment assistant at Cheltenham BoroughCouncil, said: This should be a good op-portunity for local people to Jnd out moreabout local groups and activities in the areaand to meet new people. There is a lotgoing on in Warden Hill but people dontalways know about it.Cllr Anne Regan, ward member for

Warden Hill, added: I am delighted to beinvolved in organising this event as it pro-vides the perfect opportunity for residentsto meet others and Jnd out about thevarious activities and social groups in thearea. I think people will be surprised abouthow much there is to do and I hope it willinspire people to get involved in local ac-tivities on a more regular basis.All are welcome and if anyone needs help

getting to and from the venue, pleasecontact Hannah Wright on 01242 775156or at Hannah.wright@cheltenham.gov.ukto book transport.

Warden Hill Activity Mix eventSaturday 28 February, 2-5pm;Warden Hill United Reformed Church

To register, please call: 01242 522697 or visit our website

Prepare to be proud

www.cheltenhamcollege.org

OPEN MORNINGPrep (3-13) Saturday 7 March at 9.30am

26 FEBRUARY 2015 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 9

Chris Berry FloristCELEBRATING OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR!Flowers for all occasions delivered in Cheltenham and surrounding

areas at competitive prices

www.chrisberryflorist.co.ukTelephone: 01242 526 464 or 07808 292 143

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10%DISCOUNTonMothers DayOrdersquoting this advertbefore 7th March

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Chris Berry Florist is a family run business since 1985.Chris and Nicky have built up their reputation by offering quality

displays at affordable prices with a friendly service.

I DONT knowabout you but Icant quite get myhead around thefact that its beentwo months sinceChristmas alreadyand I have( s o m e h o w )managed to navi-

gate the coldest months without thoughtuntil March is literally on my doorstep.I am a great believer that the weather

can have a profound impact on ourmoods (or can even be the catalyst thatpushes someone over the edge) so thethought of some random sunshine iswelcoming.I think the upcoming change in season

could be a motivator to start a springclean, especially if things have seemeddreary recently. So here are a few tips ondusting away those winter cobwebs.1) Actually spring-clean your home: ap-parently the state of your home repre-sents the state of your mind. Sode-cluttering your house can actuallyhave many therapeutic beneKts as well.Dont know where to start? Why notdedicate just 10 minutes to tidying a dif-ferent pile of clutter a day? 2) Our recep-tionist Linda recommends doing amini-life audit which can begin simplyby writing a list of the current tasks/ac-

tivities you have in your life and group-ing them into things that either makeyou Lourish or feel like a hindrance.You could even estimate the time you

give to each one and how necessary eachone is to your life in order to try and in-crease the joy in your life. 3) Whetheryou are the gardening type or not, whynot try growing a vegetable or Lowerfrom scratch this spring? Whether in apot or in your garden it might be asmall but refreshing way of feeling con-nected to nature.

AgonyAunt Kimberley Wall

Horwood stands hisground on fox huntingAN UNEXPECTED battle has brokenout in the struggle to win the urbanconstituency of Cheltenham at thisMay's General Election over foxhunting.A few pink coats make an appear-

ance at the racecourse from time totime but the foxhunting fraternity gen-erally steer well clear of the denselypopulated borough. But the town'sLiberal Democrat MPMartin Horwoodis a keen animal welfare campaignerwho wants to keep the ban on foxhunting in place and this seems tohave turned him into a bit of a quarryfor the foxhunters himself.The ban on fox hunting was intro-

duced by the 2004 Hunting Act. TheConservatives promised a vote onrepeal in this parliament but neverbrought it to the House of Commons.With only weeks to go before parlia-ment is dissolved for the General Elec-tion, it looks unlikely to happen.But now an undercover pro-hunting

organisation Vote OK has told itsCotswold supporters they should headfor Cheltenham and support the Con-

servative candidate, originally fromFoxcote in the Cotswolds.Martin Horwood commented:

Don't expect to see pink coats on theProm though: Vote OK doesn't evenask the pro-hunting candidates tomention the issue on their leaLets or inspeeches. They just quietly add man-power to their campaigns and denythey're interfering with democracy.He went to add: It is exactly the op-posite. We encourage people to get in-volved in the democratic process.Every political party agrees that notenough people do get involved in pol-itics, so every party should welcomeany initiative that increases the partic-ipation of people in elections.But Martin Horwood MP thinks the

problem is the covert way they operate:"I'm all for a fair debate on killinganimals for sport with my Conserva-tive opponent but I hadn't even re-alised he was pro-hunting. He hasn'tmentioned it in any of his leaLets. Yetit's clear he's relying on pro-hunt ac-tivists being bussed in from outsideCheltenham.

BRIX & Mortimer was launched inAugust of last year by CheltonianMartin Julier. Martin has over a decadesexperience of selling property in andaround Cheltenham and has been amember of the National Association ofEstates Agents for over 15 years. His in-dustry experience and local knowledgeprompted him to open his own agencythat blends traditional pro-activemethods of marketing and service aswell as the latest technologies.Martins Julier says: The ethos of the

company is to provide a truly bespokeexperience to sellers that delivers an un-rivalled service. We are the only estateagent in Cheltenham to provide pro-fessionally shot property Klms for allour properties free of charge. The Klmtours combined with professional pho-tography present the property in thebest possible light and provide a moreinvolving experience for the viewer.Our unique Klms can be enjoyedthrough our website, Rightmove,Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and Pintrestto ensure the maximum exposure tothe market.He also went on to add: We also

provide free market appraisals 7 days aweek to suite the vendor. For more in-formation contact Martin JulierMNAEA on 01242 898 746 or visitbrixandmortimer.com

Free Klm for sellers

10 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 26 FEBRUARY 2015

BUSINESSEditorsDESK

THE Mnancial colossus that is Jelf wasestablished in 1989 by its founder anddeputy Chairman, Chris Jelf.

Jelf's core business focuses on theprovision of an extensive range ofservices and advice to companies. Its asimple ethos and business offer thatscoursing through the very lifeblood ofthe company.

Phil Barton, CEO of Jelf Insurance isa very affable Lancastrian with a M-nancial services background goingback more than 30 years. Its a long,winding path of experience thatsmade him one of the most respectedprofessionals in his Meld. Prior tojoining Jelf in 2003 he worked forAXA, where he was the Managing Di-rector (IFA Sales) and Prudential,where he was Sales Director (NationalAccounts). Since then he has per-formed a number of roles includingHead of Compliance, Group Commer-cial Director and Group Marketing Di-rector. He was appointed CEO(Insurance) at Jelf in May 2010.

Phil Barton commented: 2014showed phenomenal growth for JelfInsurance. We returned a 69% proMtgrowth which was a stellar perform-ance.

Phil added: In December 2014 wewere voted National Broker of the Yearwhich meant that we were voted thebest out of 6000 brokers by the indus-try. Thats no mean feat and a real re-Nection on the high standards we haveset at Jelf.

The insurance business has over 800staff in England and Wales with theirhead ofMce in Bristol.

As a full service consultancy, Jelfadvises businesses across a range ofservices including insurance, health-care, employee beneMts, commercialMnance and Mnancial planning. Philwent on to comment: We concen-trate on understanding the risks thateach client faces; building a bespokesolution that removes or managesthese issues.

Over the past ten years Jelf havemade in excess of 40 acquisitions.

As part of this growth in December2014, Jelf acquired Yorkshire based in-surance brokers, Beaumonts InsuranceGroup Ltd. Beaumonts have ofMces inLeeds, Bradford, Shrewsbury and Don-caster, which will join existing JelfGroup ofMces in Hull, York, centralLeeds and Manchester.

Phil Barton said: We were delighted

that Beaumonts chose Jelf as theirpartner for growth. Together Jelf, TheInsurance Partnership and Beaumontshave now created a new northernpowerhouse stretching from Manches-ter to Hull. He added: Jelfs vision isto become the leading insurancebroker in the UK, committed to deliv-ering the highest levels of customerservice to clients in the local commu-nities in which we work.

THE BBC Outnumbered characterJake, actor Tyger Drew-Honey,switched on a brand new 6,000 re-newable energy system at Noahs ArkChildrens Venture in Eastleach lastweek.

The renewable energy system wasdonated by Cheltenham-based ForeverGreen Energy and it will save thecharity an estimated 20,000 in energybills. It has been installed on the roofof one of the main buildings and thereis hope it will generate enough energyfor the centres needs, with the oppor-tunity of selling any excess electricityback to the national grid.

Noahs Ark Childrens Venture is acharity which provides a countrywideescape to children living in deprivedinner-city areas.

Childrens Venture Manager RichardWilkinson said: We were looking atways of reducing our energy costs and

thought solar panels would be an idealsolution. I contacted Forever GreenEnergy and they very kindly donatedthe system that will not only save usmoney, but also has the potential toprovide us with an income.

Forever Green Energy is a leadingprovider of renewable energy solu-tions. They are specialists in renewabletechnologies including solar panelsand air source heat pumps.

Forever Green Director Ben Williamssaid: All of our customers have seenan excellent return on their invest-ment and are enjoying massivelyreduced energy bills, so Noahs Ark canlook forward to signiMcantly reducingthe amount they spend on energy,plus they are also reducing theircarbon footprint.

Tyger Honey-Drew said: I haveknown about the Noahs Ark charityfor many years and it is great to hear

Forever Green has supported them bydonating this system. It is so impor-tant to use green technology and forthe charity to be self-sufMcient. It willenable them to spend their all-impor-tant funds on beneMtting the facilityand the children it caters for.

WITH only 70 days until theGeneral Election (at thetime of going to press) itsstaggering that some of our localpoliticians havent been more vocalabout the latest scandals involvingtwo of the Grandees of Westminster.

Namely the Straw individual andthe Rifkind chap who were caught bymy colleagues at The Telegraphasking for cash.

Bad enough that they are paid 67K for doing their job,but then to get their snouts in the trough and ask for moreprivately is downright disgusting.

Also by way of my own investigative journalism, how dowe know that this is the Mrst time? Its the Mrst time theyvebeen caught!

Not saying anything or commenting about this by ourlocal politicians, may you think, not be a local issue. True wehavent heard a peep out of any of them about this latestpossible Westminster fraud. Yes Fraud. Strong words andtheyre meant to be. Because Im sure they would have gonethrough with the transactions if they hadnt been exposedby the press.

Had this been private individuals in business doing this,then they would have been sacked or prosecuted.

Rifkind was quoted as saying he felt that it may have beena lack of judgement. More like hes sorry he got caught inthe act. He also said: An MPs salary of 67,000 is notenough for the standard of living Im entitled to. Hmm...

And now we learn Straw has decided to fall on his ownsword in May. How very honourable of him. Again onlybecause he got nabbed in the act.

Is it me? But do local politicians just run for cover whenone of their own is being grilled or even caught with theirpants down?

I would like to see what Alex Chalk has to say aboutMalcolm Rifkind or Paul Gilbert from Labour about JackStraw. Ill bet its a glib measured response.

Again, youre thinking this isnt about Cheltenham. Ohyes it is, because if our local politicians are going to be quietabout these major stories what else will they shirk from? Weneed a few apples upsetting in this town if we are ever goingto get anything done about parking, potholes and the A&E.

Theres a responsibility for all of our local politicians tomake a comment on issues other than what just affects thistown. And heres another major reason why they shouldwind their necks above the parapet and do some shouting.They all want the local electorate to turn out in droves onthat day in May to mark a cross where it counts for them.

Theyre making sure the local voters are engaged with localand national politics must surely be on their wish list? It mustalso be crucial for them to ensure that the local populationare less disenfranchised with politics than they already are.

Not making comment because its the party line or theydont want to seem too vocal isnt going to help them onejot. Serious scandalous issues need serious no holding backcomments from potential backbenchers.

Eric Barton, Editor

Cheltenham Standard is published weekly by Cheltenham Standard Ltd is registered at Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Montpellier Drive,Cheltenham, GL50 1TA. Reproduction of any material, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without the prior written consent of thepublishers. All material is sent at the owners risk and whilst every care is taken, heltenham Standard Ltd will not accept liability for loss ordamage. Dates, information and prices quoted are believed to be correct at time of going to press but are subject to change and noresponsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. Neither the editor nor publisher accepts responsibility for any material submitted,whether photographic or otherwise. All rights reserved. ISSN no. 2055-2092. Terms and conditions at www.cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

Got a comment?Please contact us at

editor@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

Forever Green Energy donate 6,000solar panel to charity

A ROLLING STONE Phil Barton

RichardWilkinson

from Noah'sArk with actor

Tyger DrewHoney at the

centre

26 FEBRUARY 2015 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11

BUSINESS

THE University of Gloucestershire has won3m of funding to provide grants to start-upand early-stage businesses in the county. Thegovernments Regional Growth Fund moneywill be awarded to businesses with potentialfor high growth and job creation, enablinglong-term economic development and lastingemployment in Gloucestershire.

Financing a new enterprise is often ex-tremely difMcult, with many entrepreneursciting it as the most challenging part of start-ing their business. This funding will form thetimely injection of cash that many local busi-nesses need. The funding complements thepackage of support that is already available tostart-up businesses through the Universitysnew Growth Hub. The support on offer in-cludes incubation (ofMce space), mentoring,opportunities for collaboration, becoming in-vestor-ready, and a business angel investmentnetwork.

It is expected that the University will use thefund to provide grants to around 50 businesseseach year until 2017. In many cases this willbe enhanced by further investment from HighNet Worth Individuals or other businesses.

University of Gloucestershire Director of

Business Development, Laura Crabb said:Weve listened to what businesses need andwere hearing that access to Mnance is a bigbarrier. This funding enables us to supportbusinesses in the area they need the most.There is strong evidence to suggest that oncean initial grant is made, other angels or busi-nesses are more likely to invest, creatinggreater economic and employment beneMt allround.

In a region that has a need for more privatesector employment to reduce the dependenceon public sector jobs and an already high sur-vival rate for early-stage businesses, this is awelcome success for Gloucestershire.

Further information will be available to busi-nesses on how to apply for the funds later thisyear. Local business people can sign up to TheGrowth Hub e-newsletter to stay up to date.

LOCAL business people it seems are re-turning to four wheels for cost-effectiveLondon travel but not driving them-selves.

A Cheltenham-based chauffeur serviceis now offering a viable alternative totrains for people attending Londonmeetings.

Imagine an early meeting in the City,then a couple more before coming home.Theres getting to the station, parking,pricey Mrst-class tickets and London cabfares. Of course you can work on thetrain but there may be a lack of privacy.

Increasingly as David KefNer of AzureChauffeur Driven Luxury Cars explains,executives choose to be chauffeured.The combination of comfort, extra

working time, privacy, and cost-advan-tages over Mrst-class rail can very oftenmake sense to the savvy executive.

By the time youve added rail and cabfares, hiring Azures chauffeur-drivenBMW could be appealing on the costfront. Youll be in town in good time foryour appointment. David continues:Chauffeured door-to-door betweenmeetings and home again for less thanthe train fare. Travelling in Azures BMWwill allow you to work then relax. Youwill also beneMt from its full Wi-Fi capa-bility, DVD screens, folding tables, heatedseats and privacy blinds.More information 01242 510 000www.azureluxurycars.co.ukemail david@azureluxurycars.co.uk

Savvy Cheltenham executives revertto four wheels for London trips

University of Gloucestershire secures3m to support local businesses

KIER Group plc with an ofMce in Cheltenhamhas announced good half-year results for theyear ended 31st December 2014 with revenueup 11% to 1.583bn.

The business which employs 154 people inCheltenham and over 2,600 across the south-west, is responsible for building CheltenhamRacecourses new 45m grandstand, the 30mredevelopment of the brewery into a mixed-use scheme and the runs Mve household wasterecycling centres across the county.

Kier highlighted a robust future pipeline ofwork with Kier Construction boasting an im-proved order book (secured and probable) of2.6bn (June 2014: 2.5bn); which is now100% secured for 2015 and Kier Services orderbook (secured and probable) of 3.9bn (June2014: 3.7bn); also now fully secured for 2015.The Property development pipeline sits atmore than 1bn and the Group has a

strong forward sales position in the Residentialdivision.

The Group reported underlying operatingproMt of 44.2m in line with the prior year(2013 44.4m), and reNecting the second halfweighting in forecast full year results. The re-silient performance of the Group has enabledthe business to retain robust margins, with KierConstruction at 2.1% due to a strict approachto bidding; and Kier Services at 4.2%. Theperiod ended with a better than forecast netdebt position of 156m (June 2014: net debt123m) after investment of 37m in the Prop-erty and Residential divisions.

Commenting on the results, Kier Group plcchief executive, Haydn Mursell said: I ampleased to announce a good set of results, onceagain reNecting Kiers ability to deliver consis-tently whilst continuing to invest for medium-term growth.

ROCK STEADY GROWTH

THE Cheltenham Business Partnership hasannounced a major consultation with localbusinesses on the possible creation of aBusiness Improvement District (BID) in thetown centre.

Businesses will be asked to identify thepriority projects that they consider wouldboost trade and to outline whether theywould support the creation of a BID as thevehicle to achieve this, requiring them tovote to pay a small additional sum on theirannual Business Rates.

BIDs are considered to be the leadingmodel of Management & Development ofTown & City Centres, with almost 200 cur-rently operating across the United Kingdomand it is expected that a Cheltenham BIDwould generate upwards of 350,000 peryear to promote and add to the vitality ofthe town, thus increasing footfall and busi-ness within the BID location.

The survey will begin on 2nd March and

run until 27th March and businesses willhave the opportunity to participate eitheronline athttps://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Chel-tenhamBID or via written forms, with theresults of the survey forming part of anoverall assessment of the feasibility of a BIDin Cheltenham, which reports back to theBusiness Partnership in May.

John Forward, Centre Director of theRegent Arcade Shopping Centre and Chairof the Cheltenham Business Partnershipsaid: In these times of tough competition,its important for Cheltenham to maintainits leading position in the region. To dothat business needs to set the goals and leadfrom the front, ensuring that the town ispromoted professionally and consistentlyto attract the footfall we all need. Webelieve that if Cheltenham can set up a BID,the expertise within the business commu-nity will enable us to do that.

Consultation on major towncentre improvement plans

Come and join us on 'Red and White Day' andhelp cheer the Robins to Football League survival

www.ctfc.com

Cheltenham Townv Tranmere Rovers

Saturday,February 283pm kick-off

Your team needs yoursupport more than ever!

Come and join us onRed and White Day andhelp cheer the Robins toFootball League survival

20%OFFAll home shirts boughtfrom the club shopon Saturday!

TECHNOLOGYwill continue to drive globalinnovation in all industries during 2015but, according to an interim reportrecruitment is one profession that will neverbe fully automated and will see a growingemphasis on human intervention in thecoming year.The general election traditionallymarks a

time for business caution in the UK, ascompanies pay close attention to theirspending. The importance of ef>cient andeffective recruitment at this time isheightened and Andrew MacAskill,Managing Director, Executives OnlineGroup Businesses, believes it is at times likethis that the value of skilled recruitersbecomes more evident.MacAskill says: While we have embraced

digital technology and are constantlyinnovating to deliver ef>ciencies andenhance our customers experience;technology can never replace quality face-to-face interaction.Technology is extremely ef>cient for

accurate and fast skills matching, but this isonly a fraction of the job. The real skill thencomes in applying the hands-on experience,knowledge and soft skills of recruitmentprofessionals.Research conducted by Executives Online

shows that over 40 percent of recruiters arenow using LinkedIn for recruitmentpurposes. Luke Webber, Associate Director

at Executives Online believes that, whilesocial media will continue to be used withsome success in 2015, for the recruitmentprocess to be truly successful the candidatenet needs to be cast wider.Jan Piet van der Plank, Partner at

Executives Online in the Netherlands, says:Candidates must become more aware oftheir external pro>les and reputations.They need to become well known in theirparticular industries and build their ownbrands to succeed in securing top roles.From an international perspective, many

people are naturally risk averse when itcomes to their careers and will avoid placesof con?ict or political strain. However, hirersare increasingly looking for candidates withinternational experience to manage cross-border and often global teams. So, there isan imbalance in supply and demand whichExecutives Online believes will result inskilled hands-on recruitment becomingeven more indispensable in the future.MacAskill concluded by saying: The key

is not to forget the human and traditionalelements, whilst being able to innovatewhere necessary in this digital age. Forexample, technology cannot support acandidate when they are handing in theirnotice or considering a counter offer.Recruitment is a people business and youcannot put a price on meeting a candidateor a client face-to-face.

26 FEBRUARY 2015 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 13

Are youlooking for

a newcareer

challenge?

We are recruiting forMortgage Collections Advisorsto join our team at our o(ce inCharlton Kings, Cheltenham.Salary up to 18,920 plus benefits

At Chelsea Building Society, we really do value our people and believeyou'll enjoy working here. Your ideas will be listened to and you'll beencouraged to take the initiative. It's the way we do business. AtChelsea it's a team e&ort and success is always recognised andrewarded.

We are looking for an empathetic and understanding individual withexceptional listening skills to engage with customers who mayexperience di(culties now or in the future in making their mortgagerepayments.

With a talent for explaining complex information as clearly andconcisely as possible, you will have a confident approach toquestioning and will use all of these skills to find the best solution forour customers, ensuring that they are treated fairly.

Previous financial service, collections or mortgage experience wouldbe beneficial, however if you possess good communication skills anda positive attitude, and feel that you could provide an exceptionalservice to our members we can provide training for the rest, which willinclude a seven week induction program. If this sounds like you, to findout more and to apply, please follow the link below:

http://www.workatchelsea.co.uk/Job reference 2211BR

Chelsea Building Society and the Chelsea are trading names ofYorkshire Building Society. Yorkshire Building Society is a memberof the Building Societies Association and is authorised by thePrudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FinancialConduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.thechelsea.co.uk

Technology drivingglobal innovation

14 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 26 FEBRUARY 2014

TELEVISIONYour one-stop guide to thebest terrestrial tv over the weekend

16 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 26 FEBRUARY 2015

DIDYOU know theres aConcert Band thatrehearses at LakesidePrimary School? The grouphas been meeting since2005 and rehearses everyThursday from 7-9pm interm time.They are alladults who play Hute,clarinet, oboe, bassoon,saxophone, trumpet,trombone, tuba orpercussion and are part ofGloucestershire Music performing jointconcerts with other ensemblesincluding concerts at CheltenhamTownHall.They have members from all walks of

life teachers, scientists, councilworkers and administrators to name buta few. Most make the rehearsals everyweek but of course there are always

occasions when it is not possible to bein two places at once.If you are looking to play for fun,

maybe you used to play when you wereat school, then give them a look. Anyoneof any standard is welcome.E: lakesideconcertband@gmail.comhttp://lakesideconcertband.gloucestershiremusic.co.uk

CULTURE

AWARD-WINNING classical artist RussellWatson has asked Cheltenhams very ownCommunity Choir to join him during hisintimate performance at CheltenhamTownHall on Sunday 15th March as part of hisnational tour.

Watson is one of the worlds mostprominent tenors, selling in excess of sevenmillion albums worldwide. His Grst album,TheVoice, held number 1 positions in boththe US and UK charts and spent a record-breaking 52 weeks at number 1 in the UK.He has always been a strong supporter of

unsigned local artists and choirs, especiallyafter being a judge on the BBC prime timeshow Last Choir Standing.RussellWatson said: I love being

accompanied by choirs and the energy andexcitement they bring. I am really lookingforward to this tour and feel thatCheltenham Community Choir will be theperfect addition to the evening.

Established in 2014, CheltenhamCommunity Choir is a charitable jointventure between CheltenhamTown Halland Gloucestershire's oldest amateuroperatic and dramatic society, CheltenhamOperatic and Dramatic Society (CODS),celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

CODS Publicity Manager, Karen Frank,said: The choir is extremely honoured andexcited to have been asked to perform withRussellWatson.With just two rehearsals toperfect the songs, the pressure is on but weare conGdent that we will rise to thechallenge and deliver a memorable eveningof entertainment to Cheltenhams musiclovers.

Watson has won four Classical BRITawards and has performed for some of theworlds greatest Ggures, including HMTheQueen, the late Pope John Paul II whorequested a private audience with Russellat TheVatican, former US President Bill

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Clinton, the Emperor of Japan, the Kingof Malaysia and Middle Eastern Sultans.His collaborations are equallyimpressive, including Pavarotti, LionelRichie, Michael Bolton, Sir Cliff Richard,Lulu and Meatloaf, to name but a few.

Tickets for An Intimate Evening withRussellWatson are 46.50 and 36.50and are available from CheltenhamTown Hall Box Of5ce in person, via0844 576 2210 or atCheltenhamtownhall.org.uk

RUSSELLWATSONIN CHELTENHAM

Russell Watson

26 FEBRUARY 2015 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 17

STAY at home dads havedoubled in the last twenty years,a rise fuelled by the Lnancialcrisis, changes in employmentpractice and the fact thatwomen are more career-orientated. Back in the darkages, when my own childrenwere little, I knew one dad wholooked after the kids while hiswife had a full-time job.Marginalised by many mums, hewas sometimes referred to asthe camp guy. Sexism inaction, Adams would say andhed be spot-on, so it was with

fascination I picked up AModern Father... Except, at Lfty-seven pages, nine of which aredevoted to an index,introduction, cast, andtestimonials, its more of apamphlet than a book.Split into chapters which, in

reality, are short posts takenfrom Adamss blog, he makesfew astute points about the anti-man environment when itcomes to child-rearing. Theauthors observations aboutdelivery of junior, a visit to thedentist, or what its like standingoutside the school gate arentexactly revelatory. The real issueis that, although ones ownchildren/divorce/eating disordermay be captivating (rightly so) tothe person concerned, these

dont always create an originalread unless in skilled hands. Attimes, the book is simply toopersonal, too autobiographical

and too intrusive, and, key, thereis no unique voice. Basicelements of storytelling, whichwould have lifted the narrative,are absent. How not to preparea childs nativity costume is thenearest the book comes tohitting the funny spot, and whilethe author in the Lnal pageslooks into the future for stay athome dads in a more reMectivetone, three and a bit pagesbarely does the topic justice.Likewise, how Mrs A copes witha reversal of traditional roles, amagic opportunity to throwopen the discussion, is sketchedover. Perhaps what delivers as ablog doesnt translate to bookformat.Many observations made by

the author are not gender-

speciLc: there is as muchrequirement for workingmothers to be Mexible as stay athome fathers. And when Adamsreports on the complexity ofhaving two or more children ofdifferent ages, he hands itstraight to mums on theproverbial plate. And yourpoint, precisely?A Modern Father (... And Dad

Blogger) by John Adams ispublished in collaboration withCronx Books.

Eve Seymour is a freelance writingcoach and the author of seven crime6ction novels. Beautiful Losers willbe published by US publisherMidnight Ink early 2016. To seemore details of her work visitwww.evseymour.co.uk

By EVE SEYMOUR

BookREVIEW

A MODERN FATHER (... AND DAD BLOGGER) By John Adams

Thursday 5th March atThe Everyman Studio TheatreHAILING from the countys smallest villageof Little Dribblepatch; DerekTinkleberry,Donald Cornfoot and Edmund Sidebottam(otherwise known as comedy folk band,Folk On) have been described as anirresistible force of nature (Cross RhythmMagazine).Folk On draw the crowd, from young to

old, into their world of storytelling, legendand, to be honest, a fair bit of nonsense.Folk On always enjoy visiting the

'sprawling metropolis' of Cheltenham, andwill be returning onThursday 5th March fora special intimate show at the EverymanStudio Theatre.This will be an eveningLlled with the usual fun, folk and frivolity,as well as showcasing some of the brand

new songs from their forthcoming secondalbum You Knows It.Having wowed the crowds at Greenbelt

Festival and Cheltenham Folk Festival, thisyear they will be appearing atWychwoodFestival too.This is a rare chance to spendan evening with the Men of Folk in a moreintimate setting and to be uplifted by theirsongs and stories.Tight rural harmonies and melodies as sweetas village fete jam The Comedy StoreAn experience not to be missed GreenbeltFestivalTickets available for 5th March fromwww.everymantheatre.org.uk or bycalling the box of2ce on 01242 527573(Tickets 10.50, doors open 7.30pm,show starts at 8.00pm).For more visit www.folkon.co.uk

CULTURE

ON Friday 27th February SMVSubtone hosts live reggae in theform of Mizizi.The band are a nine-piece,

eighteen-legged powerhouse whohave their roots Lrmly set in thesounds of the Caribbean.Formed in 2010, Mizizi have

appeared at venues and festivalsacross the UK, including Brisfest,CanterburyWorld Music Festival,Bristol Harbour Festival and the hugemain stage at Shambala Festival. Theband recreate the sound of all of thebest reggae bands and musiciansfrom the 1970s and 1980s such asSteel Pulse, Aswad and Bob Marley.Mizizi Lll dance Moors with new songsand revived reggae classics bycelebrating the brilliant rhythms ofroots and reggae music over theyears.Following Mizizis performance,

Barry Ashworth from legendary dancefavourites Dub Pistols will take to thedecks to perform a DJ set. He

promises an infectious blend ofelectronic music, breaks, ska, dub,hip-hop and punk. After a recent livetour with the Dub Pistols that took inSubtone, Barry returns to the DJ boothto grace Cheltenham with hispresence once again.Also on Friday, Cheltenham punk

rockers 4ft Fingers make a welcomereturn to the Frog & Fiddle. In whatwill be their last gig with currentbassist Dougie who will soon bemoving to Australia, the skate punkspromise a noisy night, with favouritessuch as Brickwall and Killing Timeno doubt on the set list.After building up a healthy

following at the turn of themillennium, 4ft Fingers signed to GolfRecords and released several albumsand music videos.They touredregularly around the UK and evenmade it to USA in 2004 to promotetheir third album, A Cause ForConcern which was released on Go-Kart Records over the other side of thepond. After a brief hiatus in 2010, theband went back on the road in 2012and have been touring sporadicallyever since. Support on Friday comesfrom Mr Zippy andThe Splash.For more local music news visit:www.behindthesceneglos.com

THE LIVELINE UPS

BEST KEPT SECRETFolk On

18 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 26 FEBRUARY 2015

QUIRKYNEWS SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT...A selection of the strangest stories from around the globe

I AM TOM THURLOW. So its nosurprise I regularly get invitedto attend the very best events,restaurant launches, champagnefuelled dinner parties and Ill goto each and every one of them tomake me feel better about myself.But when an e-mail fell into my

inbox inviting me to thisSaturdays Warden Hill ActivityMix (WHAM) I can truthfully say Ifelt like overdosing.The event at Warden Hill

Church promises a whole heap offun in the form of local music(bless, well they wont have thelicense to play anything else) anddance & exercise groups. Theyllalso be providing free tea andcake.But make no mistake; the

main event will be the launchof the TrustedTraders Board.

The church will encourage localresidents to swap the details oftraders they have used and trust.Its this that the church andcouncil want to promote under theruse of tea, cakes and hippiesplaying the guitar.Its an aggressive move to poach

business from sites such asGumtree or Google and I wontstand for it.Now I couldve forgiven this

event and described it as quaint ifit was just a sweet little thing thelocal church was organising.Throwing ineffective, completely

pointless events iswhat theyre best at.I wouldnt wantthat tradition tostop. It makes people

like my Nan veryhappy to seeEileen, Patriciaand Sue

standing over a pot of tea whilstturning the tombola.But its a wholly different matter

when the council are involved. Thewhole thing stinks of council basedbox-ticking, mandatoryspending of publicmoney to satisfybox-ticking andgeneral lack ofyouth or anythingthat would appeal to aliving, breathing humanunder the age of 60.Hannah Wright the councils

Strategy and EngagementAssistant (what a waste) had thistri?e to say on the event: Thisshould be a good opportunity forlocal people to >nd out moreabout local groups and activitiesin the area and to meet newpeople. There is a lot going on inWarden Hill but people dontalways know about it.Yeah sure there is sweetheart.

The last time I visited Warden Hillthere was a good William Hill andwhenever I felt hungry I only hadto walk ten steps or so to a Co-Op

and buy myself a vanilla crown.Another woman whos wages

we pay, Councilor Anne Regan,provided us with more obligatorywaf?e: I am delighted to be

involved in organising thisevent as it provides the

perfect opportunityfor residents tomeet others and

>nd out about thevarious activities and socialgroups in the area. I thinkpeople will be surprised about

how much there is to do and Ihope it will inspire people to getinvolved in local activities on amore regular basis.Great stuff Anne. Well, Id love

to be the person that publiclyrecommends that the CheltenhamBorough Council sacks bothyourself and Miss Wright. As far asIm concerned, this is cold hardevidence that our taxes are beingfrivolously wasted on staff thatresemble low quality cattle. Youreboth tired ladies with nothinginnovative or new to bring to thetable. The pair of you are holding

the town back with yourNeanderthal vision of localentertainment.The funds we could generate by

withholding your incomes wouldbe substantial enough to throw amuch, much better event thatcould bene>t the local communityin a much smarter way than a fewcups of tea; or we could just simplyreplace you both with a pair offresh graduates. What do youthink?In light of this Im compelled to

suggest an alternative event forCheltonians to attend thisSaturday and let me recommendMooMoos nightclub.Itll be another night of

debauchery, but multiplied a fewtimes over as theyll be hostingLauren Pope from TOWIE fame.You know, the blonde one with thefake boobs and if you squint looksa little bit like a horse? Ride ondown if you want to party.

Get more of Toms insightsby following him onTwitter @thurlow

The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these articles are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reect the views, opinions or positions of The Cheltenham Standard

VENTING SPLEEN Local man about town, Tom Thurlow lets loose

U.S POLICE say a suspecteddrink driver appeared to fallasleep while having his mugshotphotograph taken.Christopher Shirley, 20, was

found asleep inside his truckoutside a Walmart store inPorter, Texas, according toof?cers.Deputies said Shirley was

inside his truck, which hadbacked into another car,according to local media reports.He then allegedly failed a ?eld

sobriety test and deputies saidhe appeared to nod off whilegetting his mugshot taken.Shirley has been charged with

drink driving.

Mugshot drunk

A BRITISH adventurernicknamed the Human PolarBear is set to take on his mostdangerous challenge yet.Wearing just a swimming cap,

goggles and Speedo trunks,Lewis Pugh aims to swim 5kmin Antarctica's perishingly coldSouthern Ocean.The sea is -1.7C, any colder it

would freeze, but it will not bethe ?rst time he has experiencedsuch bone-numbing cold.He has swum in a glacial lake

two-thirds the way up MountEverest and covered 1km in theArctic.Mr Pugh, from Plymouth,

says: We don't know how my

body will cope, because no onehas tried this before.If a normal person jumped

into these waters they wouldbe dead in minutes, probablyless.Mr Pugh can only survive

because he has developed aremarkable power to raise hisbody temperature by 1.5C.Scientists discovered this

ability, which they callanticipatory thermogenesis, bymonitoring his temperature

during training at an ice-?lledpool.As he mentally prepares to

dive in, the fear and adrenalinerush prompts his body to burnextra calories and raise his coretemperature to protect his vitalorgans.Despite his special powers,

Lewis would not surviveAntarctic water long enough toswim 5km in one go. So he willswim 1km ?ve times over nearlya month.

AN 82-year-old U.S woman hasbeen arrested after trying to shoplifta bottle of Sexiest Fantasies bodyspray which claims to drive anyman wild.Anneliese Young was allegedly

caught trying to steal the scent -called Fireworks - from a pharmacynear her home in Augusta, Georgia.The fragrance provides a burst of

sensuality and is "as addictive andseductive as the woman who wearsit, according to the manufacturer.A store worker reportedly spotted

Ms Young putting the 5 iteminside her handbag and thenwalking out without paying, reportsThe Smoking Gun.Police say she admitted the theft

as soon as she was challengedoutside the shop and immediatelyreturned the spray.But Richmond County Sheriff's

Of?ce deputies were summonedand Ms Young was arrested after thestore said it wanted her to beprosecuted.

GRANNYSEXBOMBHUMAN

POLARBEAR

26 FEBRUARY 2015 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 19

CRYPTICCrossword

CoffeeBreak

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8

9 10 11

12 13

14

15 16

17

18 19 20

21 22

WASH

HEAD

CHOP

HAIR

WordLadderConvert the word at the topof the ladder into the wordat the bottom of it, usingonly the four steps inbetween. Every word mustbe a valid four letter word.

Last weeks solutions (19th January 2015): Across: 1 Enigmatic; 8 Amy; 9 Information;11 Episode; 12 Axiom; 13T-shirt; 15 Domain; 17 Ideal; 18 Retsina; 20 Latin primer; 22The;23 Stone deaf. Down: 2 Nun; 3Mario; 4Tea-set; 5 Chicago; 6 Cannibalism; 7 Pyromania;10 Faith healer; 11 Extricate; 14 Relates; 16 Gringo; 19Terse; 21 Era

8 57 3 8 2

4 69 2 8

2 6 8 4 1 98 1 7

3 2 5 6 4 16 8 97 9 3 8

StandOKU!Dif:culty rating: Moderate

TARGET

Y R EW NI C OA

Make as manywords of four lettersor more as you can.Each word mustcontain the centerletter and eachletter must onlybe used once.

Target:25 words good;35 very good;40+ excellent.

ACROSS

7. Celia changes her name (5)8. Avoiding contact at an informalgathering (7)

9. Alcohol from Athlone? (7)10. Give a word for owned-up (5)12. Dianas own take-away? (10)15. Insincere tribute and terriblespiel on right to have a bad habit(3,7)

18. Operating on a scar revealsbones (5)

19. Tending to disrupt runs withgin mixture (7)

21. Fast food for the citizens, say(7)

22. Relationship to air travellers(5)

DOWN

1. FatsWaller wrote about these(10)2. May have strength (5)3. Intend to change a name (4)4.Work on the wall leads to strike(6)5. Type of medicine usingconifers, perhaps (8)6. Related to the generousCommunist (7)11.Was nothing written aboutthis state? (10)13. Repeats the outcome oftreaties (8)14. Terrible respect for a ghost (7)16. Disappear like a vehicle? (6)17. I step over the slope (5)20. Gunners and engineers arenot common (4)

ARIES (March 20 April 18):Positive reinforcementfrom you would go a longway today. People aremore cooperative if youshow sympathy for theirplight.

TAURUS (April 19 May 19):Venus trine Saturn meansyoure playing Beauty tosomeone elses Beast. Lookfor a heart of gold underthat rough exterior.

GEMINI (May 20 June 20):Your version of eventsdoesnt mesh withsomeone elses.You mightsuggest that this personget his facts straight - afteryou make sure that yoursare Crst.

CANCER (June 21 July 21):It doesnt help to suffer insilence. A superior mustbe made aware of his orher own shortcomings.Its time to speak yourmind.

LEO (July 22 Aug 21):That person is worth thecommitment.TodaysVenus/Saturn trine may

not be passionate, butits the most enduring.

VIRGO (Aug 22 Sept 21):A loved one isnt tryingto bring you down.His/her criticism ismeant to beconstructive. But youcant change until youhear yourself the wayothers do.

LIBRA (Sept 22 Oct 22):Venus trine Saturn todaybrings out hiddenstrengths of arelationship: a unitedfront in the face ofadversity and mutualsupport for when thegoing gets tough.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 Nov 21):Someones willing to helpyou over a Cnancialhurdle, but its going tocost. This is no time to bepenny wise and poundfoolish. Say yes.

SAGITTARIUS(Nov 22 Dec 20): A certainsomeone Cnally wearsdown your defenses.You

still dont see what youllgain, but youre willing tobe proven wrong.

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 Jan 18):Youre married to acertain colleague for betteror for worse. Instead oftrying to get out of it, youmight try working withwhat you have.

AQUARIUS (Jan 19 Feb 17):Someones trying to getback into your goodgraces. Play hard to get,but remember that in theend you really do wantthis person to succeed.

PISCES (Feb 18 March 19):It doesnt matter howconvincing people soundin their arguments, onlyyou can decide whatfuture course is right.

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Were doing all we can to protect our customers from the terrible impact of sewer flooding. Thats why were spending over 5million to repair and replace sewer pipes throughout Cheltenham.

Severn Trent Water supports the Suolk Road street fair

Along with our contract partners, NMC Nomenca, weve made great progress so far. Were nearing the end of much of our work, but there is still a bit more to do. Were continuing our work in the following areas:

Suolk Road Roman Road Fawley Drive Whaddon Road

All businesses will remain open as usual. We hope residents and road users will continue to support their local traders while we complete our work.If you want to know more about our important work there are lots of ways to do this:

Go online at northmid.co.uk/cheltenham

Follow us on twitter @nmcncheltEmail us at contactus@nmcnomenca.co.uk

Call our customer liaison team on 08081 688 140

Meanwhile, our work to help prevent sewer flooding continues.

26 FEBRUARY 2015 CHELTENHAM STANDARD 21

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