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Leader's Life: New Year Plans

Councillor Paul James Mon, 17th Dec 2018 at 09:00

Councillor Paul James 17/12/2018

I said at the start of 2018 that the year would be one of “openings and anniversaries” and “when it all starts to come together”. I believe the events of the last twelve...I said at the start of 2018 that the year would be one of “openings and anniversaries” and “when it all starts to come together”. I believe the events of the last twelve months have proved both to be true.

We certainly celebrated the 1100th anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed and the 375th...I said at the start of 2018 that the year would be one of “openings and anniversaries” and “when it all starts to come together”. I believe the events of the last twelve months have proved both to be true.

We certainly celebrated the 1100th anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed and the 375th anniversary of the Siege of Gloucester in style,...

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Leader's Life: Tales of the city

Councillor Paul James Fri, 23rd Nov 2018 at 09:00

Earlier this year we celebrated the 1,100th anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed and her burial at St Oswald’s Priory, and marked 375 years since the Siege of Gloucester in the Civil War. One of the lesser-known anniversaries this year is...Earlier this year we celebrated the 1,100th anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed and her burial at St Oswald’s Priory, and marked 375 years since the Siege of Gloucester in the Civil War. One of the lesser-known anniversaries this year is...Earlier this year we celebrated the 1,100th anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed and her burial at St Oswald’s Priory, and marked 375 years since the Siege of Gloucester in the Civil War. One of the lesser-known anniversaries this year is...

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Leader's Life: Gloucester Business Improvement District

Councillor Paul James Wed, 24th Oct 2018 at 09:00

Gloucester’s Business Improvement District has now been in place for a little over a year. Few people know a great deal about what it does, but it is having a major impact on what happens in the city centre. The BID, as it is known, was...Gloucester’s Business Improvement District has now been in place for a little over a year. Few people know a great deal about what it does, but it is having a major impact on what happens in the city centre. The BID, as it is known, was...Gloucester’s Business Improvement District has now been in place for a little over a year. Few people know a great deal about what it does, but it is having a major impact on what happens in the city centre. The BID, as it is known, was...

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Leader's Life: Engage in Gloucester

Councillor Paul James Tue, 25th Sep 2018 at 09:00

As a councillor, you certainly see how much of a role volunteers play in the life of the city. Our volunteers range from churchwardens, Friends of the Hospital, members of the Civic Trust or Rotary Clubs, volunteer litter pickers and many other...As a councillor, you certainly see how much of a role volunteers play in the life of the city. Our volunteers range from churchwardens, Friends of the Hospital, members of the Civic Trust or Rotary Clubs, volunteer litter pickers and many other...As a councillor, you certainly see how much of a role volunteers play in the life of the city. Our volunteers range from churchwardens, Friends of the Hospital, members of the Civic Trust or Rotary Clubs, volunteer litter pickers and many other...

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Leader's Life: An important month

Councillor Paul James Thu, 23rd Aug 2018 at 09:00

September is an important month for the city for many reasons, including that Gloucester Day falls within it. Gloucester Day represents the lifting of the Siege of Gloucester during the Civil War and although historically it falls on 5th September,...September is an important month for the city for many reasons, including that Gloucester Day falls within it. Gloucester Day represents the lifting of the Siege of Gloucester during the Civil War and although historically it falls on 5th September,...September is an important month for the city for many reasons, including that Gloucester Day falls within it. Gloucester Day represents the lifting of the Siege of Gloucester during the Civil War and although historically it falls on 5th September,...

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Leader's Life: Time to catch up

Councillor Paul James Wed, 25th Jul 2018 at 09:00

August is the month when the Council goes into ‘recess’ – in the same way that Parliament does, but not for as long. This doesn’t mean councillors stop working, but there are no formal meetings of the Council other than the...August is the month when the Council goes into ‘recess’ – in the same way that Parliament does, but not for as long. This doesn’t mean councillors stop working, but there are no formal meetings of the Council other than the...August is the month when the Council goes into ‘recess’ – in the same way that Parliament does, but not for as long. This doesn’t mean councillors stop working, but there are no formal meetings of the Council other than the...

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Leader's Life: Summer in Gloucester

Councillor Paul James Mon, 25th Jun 2018 at 09:00

Gloucester’s summer events programme this year is as strong as ever, despite a couple of notable events taking a year off in 2018. The Food Festival at Gloucester Quays has been cancelled for 2018 to allow the refurbishment of Orchard Square...Gloucester’s summer events programme this year is as strong as ever, despite a couple of notable events taking a year off in 2018. The Food Festival at Gloucester Quays has been cancelled for 2018 to allow the refurbishment of Orchard Square...Gloucester’s summer events programme this year is as strong as ever, despite a couple of notable events taking a year off in 2018. The Food Festival at Gloucester Quays has been cancelled for 2018 to allow the refurbishment of Orchard Square...

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Leader's Life: No bars to Prison plan

Councillor Paul James Tue, 22nd May 2018 at 11:30

At the start of May, the City Council’s Planning Committee approved plans for 200 new homes on the site of the former Prison. The Prison was closed in 2013 and sold by the Ministry of Justice to specialist heritage developers City &...At the start of May, the City Council’s Planning Committee approved plans for 200 new homes on the site of the former Prison. The Prison was closed in 2013 and sold by the Ministry of Justice to specialist heritage developers City &...At the start of May, the City Council’s Planning Committee approved plans for 200 new homes on the site of the former Prison. The Prison was closed in 2013 and sold by the Ministry of Justice to specialist heritage developers City &...

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Leader's Life: Lady of the Mercians

Councillor Paul James Wed, 25th Apr 2018 at 09:00

In my January column, I said that 2018 would be a year of anniversaries for Gloucester, one of which was the 1100th anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed and her burial at St Oswald’s Priory. So who was Aethelflaed (pronounced Eth-el-fled)...In my January column, I said that 2018 would be a year of anniversaries for Gloucester, one of which was the 1100th anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed and her burial at St Oswald’s Priory. So who was Aethelflaed (pronounced Eth-el-fled)...In my January column, I said that 2018 would be a year of anniversaries for Gloucester, one of which was the 1100th anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed and her burial at St Oswald’s Priory. So who was Aethelflaed (pronounced Eth-el-fled)...

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Leader's Life: St Mary de Crypt

Councillor Paul James Mon, 26th Mar 2018 at 09:00

On the outside, St Mary de Crypt in Southgate Street looks like a pretty, but not extraordinary, church building. But, like many historic buildings in Gloucester, it can tell a lot of stories! In 1539, The Crypt School – now at Podsmead...On the outside, St Mary de Crypt in Southgate Street looks like a pretty, but not extraordinary, church building. But, like many historic buildings in Gloucester, it can tell a lot of stories! In 1539, The Crypt School – now at Podsmead...On the outside, St Mary de Crypt in Southgate Street looks like a pretty, but not extraordinary, church building. But, like many historic buildings in Gloucester, it can tell a lot of stories! In 1539, The Crypt School – now at Podsmead...

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Leader's Life: Improving Gloucester’s railway station

Councillor Paul James Sat, 24th Feb 2018 at 09:00

The steelwork for Gloucester’s new bus station will soon be coming out of the ground, with completion currently on track for late August. When the city finally gets its 21st century, state of the art facility, it will be in stark contrast to...The steelwork for Gloucester’s new bus station will soon be coming out of the ground, with completion currently on track for late August. When the city finally gets its 21st century, state of the art facility, it will be in stark contrast to...The steelwork for Gloucester’s new bus station will soon be coming out of the ground, with completion currently on track for late August. When the city finally gets its 21st century, state of the art facility, it will be in stark contrast to...

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Leader's Life: Robinswood Hill

Councillor Paul James Wed, 24th Jan 2018 at 09:00

I have fond memories of Robinswood Hill when I was growing up – from junior school trips climbing to the top, to running around it for cross country afternoons when I was at The Crypt School. It has also, literally, been a beacon for...I have fond memories of Robinswood Hill when I was growing up – from junior school trips climbing to the top, to running around it for cross country afternoons when I was at The Crypt School. It has also, literally, been a beacon for...I have fond memories of Robinswood Hill when I was growing up – from junior school trips climbing to the top, to running around it for cross country afternoons when I was at The Crypt School. It has also, literally, been a beacon for...

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