Latest news with #CheltenhamBoroughCouncil
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cheltenham coffee van must pay fees despite council mistake
The owner of a mobile coffee shop has been told she must pay her street licensing fees despite a mistake meaning she did not pay for the past 12 Baxter who trades as Tan's Coffee Box in St Luke's Road had not been paying fees amounting to thousands of pounds to Cheltenham Borough council mistake came to light when Ms Baxter reapplied for her new licence in June, and officers realised they had not been taking payment. The previous fees were she was told she would have to pay £3,298.32 of fees due for the forthcoming year of trading, despite more than 300 people signing a petition asking for the fees to continue to be waived. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Hollie Wakefield, who represented Ms Baxter at the licensing committee, said the small independent coffee business is run from a converted horse said hundreds of people had supported her appeal and added the cafe is well used by many patients from nearby Cheltenham General Hospital."We've received dozens of heartfelt letters," she told the committee, some of which were read to this, the committee voted unanimously to reject the bid to waive the forthcoming fees."The reasons being the subcommittee thinks the business is a wonderful addition to the Saint Luke's community and does a great job, as do other businesses," the council's solicitor said."That does not give rise to an exemption. There is no evidence before the committee and following questions asked of the applicant this evening, that any exemption should be given," they added.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Prestbury car park back on market after controversial sale
A former council car park is back on the market, for more than double the price it was sold for, as a plot with planning permission for a 1,000 people signed a petition to keep Idsall Drive car park in Prestbury in 2024 but Cheltenham Borough Council decided to sell it for £282,500 because it was "surplus to requirements" and cost £4,000 a year to Gillman has secured planning permission for a five-bedroom self-build property on the site, which is now on the market for £600, Stan Smith said parking had been a problem after the closure of the car park with residents "fuming over the chaos it has caused". Smith said the parking situation was set to get worse after proposals for double yellow lines in the to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the proposals include Mill Street, Linden Avenue and The said the council "rode roughshod" over the petition to keep the car park and did not listen to concerns over the proposed new property."It's chaos in there now. Residents are fuming. People are parking on the bank by the war memorial opposite the Idsall Drive car park," he said."If they put double yellow lines on the road, where are people going to park then?"Nobody has thought this out. The council just doesn't care," he added. A council spokesperson said: "Taking into account the market at the time, along with planning and other costs and risks, the council is satisfied that it secured best consideration for the local taxpayer."The sale also removed the financial liability of ownership, allowing those savings to be diverted into front line services."The purchaser has since obtained planning consent for a single self-build dwelling, meaning that the future owner must live in the property for a minimum period of time."
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Gloucestershire Airport to be sold for more than £25m
Gloucestershire Airport will be sold for more than it's £25m guide price, councillors have of Gloucester City Council (GCC) gave the final go-ahead to the unnamed preferred bidder at a meeting on Thursday evening, pending due diligence by GCC and Cheltenham Borough Council, the 350-acre airport in Staverton was put on the market with a guide price of £25m in October 2024, and in the meeting it was revealed that the selected bidder had offered above that leader, Jeremy Hilton, said he was "confident" that the new owners would make a success of the site, adding: "We've done everything we possibly can." Several weeks of checks will now be undertaken, with the sale expected to be completed by identity of the buyer is expected to be revealed next week, according to the Local Democracy Reporting at both authorities and the airport itself have stressed the site is being sold as a going some councillors and campaigners have raised fears about the viability of the business and the potential for the land to be sold for housing in the future. Airport 'needs investment' Hilton said a "robust" covenant would be put in place to prevent the land from being developed on, and this would likely last for 50 said Gloucestershire Airport was more likely to survive as a result of the sale compared to if the councils continued to run it."We know the airport is running at a loss and has been for a number of years," he added."They have not paid the councils a dividend for as long as I can remember. They need substantial investment."Two Community Independent councillors argued the land should be sold to build up to 12,500 Andrew Bell said: "We need houses… this is our perfect chance."However, members voted to go ahead with the sale by 25 votes to two.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'At-risk' Cheltenham Playhouse given £25k grant by council
A community theatre has been given a council grant after announcing it would close without urgent Playhouse announced last month that it needed to raise an initial £50,000 by the end of June as it did not have the "depth of funds" required to Burge, acting chair of the Board of Trustees at Cheltenham Playhouse, said the "first milestone is within reach" after receiving a £25,000 grant from Cheltenham Borough Council, which owns the Cheltenham Playhouse, which will celebrate its 80th birthday in 2025, hopes to raise £100,000 by the end of the year. A long-term masterplan had been devised by new theatre trustees but financial support is needed to keep the doors of the 180-seat Cheltenham Playhouse oldest parts of the Grade II listed Regency building date back to 1806, and the former swimming baths still exist underneath the Tailford, cabinet member for economic development, wellbeing, culture, and public realm at Cheltenham Borough Council, said Cheltenham Playhouse "makes the world of art inclusive and accessible"."It's only right that we come together and do all we can to ensure the theatre has the funding in place to continue now and long term, for the benefit of our future generations," he added. Mr Tailford added the council would be "working closely" with Cheltenham Playhouse to see what it can do to support Burge from Cheltenham Playhouse said the theatre was "so grateful" for the grant."This grant has changed the outlook of our emergency fundraising and our first milestone is within reach, allowing us to think more positively," Mr Burge said."Along with the incredible donations we have seen from our community, this figure allows us to plan for a brighter future as we move to the second phase of our fundraising."
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Concern over winter ice rink damaging park grass
Concerns have been raised over the environmental impact that a temporary ice rink could be having on a popular park. The winter attraction at Imperial Gardens in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, provides a huge boost to the local economy throughout the Christmas period. Speaking at a planning committee meeting, Cheltenham borough councillor Glenn Andrews raised fears that with each passing year that the rink is installed, soil compaction and sunlight deprivation are slowly killing the grass underneath. However, the committee voted to allow the installation and operation of the rink for up to 75 days a year, from November to January, for the next three years. During the meeting on 22 May, Andrews said he was worried that after another three winters, the council may have to completely redo the gardens. "Every time I go into Imperial Gardens... the re-turfing isn't taking as well. That is fairly obvious," he said. "I do worry about soil compaction. We've got three whole years, and winter is the time when traditionally those gardens would regenerate. "I think on ecological grounds I'm against this." According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, head of planning Chris Gomm said he was not aware that soil compaction was an issue assessed by the case officer. "The condition that requires the land to be reinstated to its former condition would also apply to the flowerbeds and the grass, to make sure they are healthy post deconstruction," he said. Councillor Frank Allen added the economic benefit it brings to the town outweighed any potential ecological issues. "The ice rink is one of our best features in the winter. We would do well to keep on preserving that," he said. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Town ice rink set to return for festive season Christmas ice rink leads to £74k council shortfall Cheltenham Borough Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
