Leckhampton Online

There are many special people in Leckhampton, doing amazing things and it’s nice to be able to big them up every now and then.

Laura got in touch to tell us that she will be running the London Marathon this April and is raising money for her chosen charity Friends of Conservation.  Here’s Laura’s personal message:

Hello! On 22nd April I am running a whopping 26 miles in the London Marathon. Madness you say? Then please, please help lessen my pain by giving generously to my wonderful charity Friends of Conservation. It will certainly help me to run all 26 miles knowing I have your support.

Did I mention it is 26 miles?!

Friends of Conservation works with local communities in Africa, Central & South America and Asia to support sustainable ways of living in harmony with wildlife and the environment. 

Thank you so much for any donations.

Laura

To help Laura reach her fundraising target of £1500 for Friends of Conservation, you can donate online at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LauraMorris83 or get in touch with Laura by email at laurajuliemorris@gmail.com.

The Joint Core Strategy is out for public consultation until 12th February 2012. The public consultation is called ‘Developing the preferred options’ and local residents are being urged to have a say before then.

What is the Joint Core Strategy and what does it mean for Leckhampton?
‘The Joint Core Strategy (JCS) is a partnership between Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council, supported by Gloucestershire County Council.
The JCS was formed to produce a co-ordinated strategic development plan for the area, and will plan how the area will develop during the period up to 2031.’

The public consultation ‘Developing the preferred options’ outlines the various proposed scenarios for development throughout Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury over the next two decades.

Leckhampton has been targeted as one of the potential allocated areas for housing development, with a possible 1650 additional homes being built.

I live in Leckhampton.  What should I be doing?
Leckhampton residents are being urged to make themselves familiar with the Joint Core Strategy proposals, and have their say by responding to the consultation.  Things to consider include:
•    Impact on environment and wildlife
•    Loss of informal recreation space
•    Impact on local road networks
•    Flooding issues
•    Impact on local primary and secondary schools
You can respond to the consultation in a number of ways:
1.    Attend a consultation event (see timetable below)
2.    Complete the consultation questionnaire online. Click here for more details
3.    Download the consultation document.  Click here for more details
4.    Listen to an audio explanation of the consultation.  Click here for more details.
5.    Get in touch with the Joint Core Strategy Team directly by telephone on 0800 073 1441, email info@gct-jcs.org, or write to them at:
Joint Core Strategy Team
Municipal Offices
Promenade
Cheltenham
GL50 9SA

Below is a timetable of public consultation exhibitions throughout February.

Edward in intensive care

Chiropractor Simon Rose from Leckhampton and his friends Neil Barrett and Paul Dodd have completed a 103 mile sponsored Cotswold Way Challenge from Chipping Campden to Bath in an astounding 3 days. The walk usually takes 1 week to complete and Simon’s wife Leah says she is “very proud” of the men who have really had to dig deep to complete this challenging event.

Simon set the challenge to raise money for Bristol Children’s Hospital, as a way to say thank you for saving his young son’s life.  Simon’s son Edward was born with a serious congenital heart defect called Fallot’s Tetralogy in 2007 and he received his life saving open heart surgery at Bristol Children’s Hospital in 2008.

Simon says “It is very important to me and my family to be able to give something back to the Bristol Children’s Hospital after they saved our sons’ life. He may need further corrective surgery when he is older and so we will always support their charity as much as we possibly can.”

Edward is now a bouncy and boisterous 3 year old, who loves going to Westfields Day Nursery and Broadlands Pre School with his brother Thomas.  Simon says “He is one of the happiest, strongest, liveliest little boys you’ll meet.  He is big and he is clever and he adds sparkle to the lives of all that he meets.”

Simon and his wife Leah have been overwhelmed by support from friends, patients and neighbours.  The fundraising total is currently at £2000 and the family are still collecting donations.  If you would like to donate please visit http://www.justgiving.com/leah-rose.

Here are the plans for the proposed development on the Delancey land.

The planning proposal includes 25 3 – 4 bedroom family homes, a retirement complex, and an additional affordable healthcare provision for the elderly.

Click on the images below to see in full size

Local residents have raised the following issues after seeing the plans.

• Additional road traffic caused by the proposed 90 new houses (the 25 family homes currently have 2 car parking spaces allocated to them)
• Even more pressure on primary and secondary school places – what would a potential extra 50 children mean to the area?
• Have they got the aesthetics right? Are they trying to cram too much in? What benefit could this new development bring to the community?

Post your views on the plans in the comments section below.

Fred Barton is a local painter who attends the Sue Ryder Day Hospice and does many of his paintings in the hospices art room.

Fred is putting on an exhibition of his work in the Sue Ryder Day Hospice.

Entrance is £2 and there will be other family activities.