Latest news with #LisaSpivey
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Major M5 project 'unlocks' thousands of homes at J10 Gloucester
Thousands of new homes could be built thanks to major improvements to a motorway junction. It was announced on Wednesday that development consent had been granted to a £229m project at Junction 10 of the M5 near Gloucester. Currently drivers can only access the M5 northbound from the junction, but the redevelopment will see access granted on and off the major route in all directions. The plans also include a new road linking Junction 10 to west Cheltenham, and the widening of the A4019 Tewkesbury Road. Leader of Gloucestershire County Council Lisa Spivey told BBC Radio Gloucestershire she was "absolutely thrilled" the work was going ahead. "There's been a lot of work on this and on this and we see this as a real key milestone in unlocking the fabulous potential here in Gloucestershire," she added, explaining that it could also bring new job opportunities, including in cyber and AI. As well as upgrades to the road network the money is also planned to fund flood mitigation measures and "active travel" facilities. The scheme has been funded by the government's housing infrastructure fund, alongside developers whose planned sites are set to benefit from improved links, with Gloucestershire County Council in charge. Rebecca Marshall, a senior project manager at National Highways - which is partnering with the council on the development - said: "This scheme will create smoother and safer journeys for all and improve travel times in the area. "It will also unlock housing and business development opportunities, as well as improving access to and from the motorway for emergency services. Public information events are set to be held during the summer, with construction getting underway from spring 2026. Completion, the council said, is expected in 2028.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Police crackdown on dangerous parking as Bibury trial begins
There will be increased police presence in a village to crack down on dangerous parking as a new traffic trial gets under way.A temporary traffic management scheme has started in Bibury, which sees coach parking bays temporarily replaced with bus stops, giving coaches ten minutes to pick up and drop off Spivey, the leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said the trial was implemented following "complete chaos" over recent bank holiday Jason Edwards of the Coach Tourism Association said it was "short-sighted" and may deter coach drivers from visiting. Up to 20,000 visitors can descend on Bibury, considered one of the prettiest villages in the UK, in one weekend, with many of them arriving by Spivey said the trial was "not a ban" but "a different way of getting people in and out of Bibury".She added there will be an increased police presence over the weekend to manage the traffic and ensure roads are not of the recent bank holiday weekends, she said: "[The parking] was really dangerous and it made it really unpleasant both for residents and also those visitors coming."I've seen illegal moves being made by coach drivers reversing into those spaces without a banksman guiding them, which is highly dangerous," she said. "Let's face it, this village was designed when haycarts and horses were the mode of transport, not massive coaches holding 50-60 people with loads of them coming at the same time."Coaches arrive, there's no way of controlling when they arrive. If ten arrive at the same time and there's two parking bays, it's chaos."But Jason Edwards, deputy chairman of the Coach Tourism Association, was worried the "short-sighted" trial will deter some coach drivers."We do expect to be able to drop off at a central point which is safe, convenient and not obstructing any traffic," he said."Our customers do spend a lot of money in these places and our drivers... abide by strict regulations and laws. It's a difficult one to grasp, really."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New council leader to consider more 20mph zones
The first female leader of Gloucestershire County Council says she will look at rolling out 20mph zones in towns and villages. Lisa Spivey is also the first Liberal Democrat to be voted in as the council's leader following the local elections earlier this month. At her first full council meeting on Wednesday, Ms Spivey made three pledges, which included the quick clear up of signs following road works and bringing children in care back into Gloucestershire. The third pledge made by Ms Spivey, also a councillor for South Cerney, was to reduce speed limits in some areas to 20mph, to improve "road safety" and make residents feel more "comfortable". More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Ms Spivey claimed some residents would respond "very positively" to 20mph speed limits, but said she would not introduce a "blanket" speed reduction, similar to Wales and Oxfordshire. "This isn't just about road safety, it's also about creating environments where people feel more comfortable and they want to walk and cycle," she said. She claimed "every single parish council" in her South Cerney division would support the speed limit reduction. "I'm sure that within some communities there will be [pushback] but it's about how we deal with that and balance it all out," she said. "But I think the data we've seen from the likes of Wales is that, after a year, not one town or parish asked for that 20mph limit to be reversed." In addition to her pledges, Ms Spivey said she wanted to improve communication between the public and council during her time in the top job, which is something she is "really excited" to have been voted in for. "It's a huge honour, a great privilege and a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of Gloucestershire," she said. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. New traffic rules as village faces 'overtourism' New council aims to fix 'crumbling roads' Gloucestershire County Council
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Gloucestershire County Council leader to consider more 20mph zones
The first female leader of Gloucestershire County Council says she will look at rolling out 20mph zones in towns and Spivey is also the first Liberal Democrat to be voted in as the council's leader following the local elections earlier this her first full council meeting on Wednesday, Ms Spivey made three pledges, which included the quick clear up of signs following road works and bringing children in care back into third pledge made by Ms Spivey, also a councillor for South Cerney, was to reduce speed limits in some areas to 20mph, to improve "road safety" and make residents feel more "comfortable". Ms Spivey claimed some residents would respond "very positively" to 20mph speed limits, but said she would not introduce a "blanket" speed reduction, similar to Wales and Oxfordshire."This isn't just about road safety, it's also about creating environments where people feel more comfortable and they want to walk and cycle," she claimed "every single parish council" in her South Cerney division would support the speed limit reduction."I'm sure that within some communities there will be [pushback] but it's about how we deal with that and balance it all out," she said."But I think the data we've seen from the likes of Wales is that, after a year, not one town or parish asked for that 20mph limit to be reversed." In addition to her pledges, Ms Spivey said she wanted to improve communication between the public and council during her time in the top job, which is something she is "really excited" to have been voted in for."It's a huge honour, a great privilege and a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of Gloucestershire," she said.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
Picturesque English village trials new restrictions after visitor influx
A picturesque Cotswold village, which attracts up to 20,000 tourists each weekend, is implementing new restrictions on coach access. From Friday, Gloucestershire County Council will roll out a temporary traffic management trial in Bibury, a well-known destination in the Cotswolds, altering how visitors arrive in the village centre. Currently, up to 50 coaches park in the village daily. The trial will see the existing coach bays temporarily closed and replaced with designated bus stops for safer drop-off and pick-up. The county council said it had worked with local coach operators, businesses, and the community to introduce the trial after tensions between tourists and residents escalated, with one villager claiming to have had his foot run over by a Range Rover in a parking dispute. The village in the Cotswolds, once described by Artist William Morris as the 'most beautiful village in England', is home to just 700 people Newly-appointed county council leader Lisa Spivey, who represents the South Cerney division, said: 'The safety of our residents and visitors is paramount. 'We've seen an increase in unsafe coach movements, particularly reversing into bays without proper guidance, which poses a serious risk to pedestrians and other road users. 'This trial is a proactive step to prevent accidents and ensure Bibury remains a welcoming and safe destination for all.' The council is urging visitors to park responsibly and use designated parking areas. 'Irresponsible parking not only endangers others but also detracts from the charm and accessibility of this historic village,' a council spokesperson said. 'Any vehicles not parked in compliance with parking restrictions will risk being issued with a parking penalty charge notice.' As part of the trial, car parking will also be suspended opposite the trout farm to provide a safe area for coaches to drop off and pick up customers. Visitors arriving by car are encouraged to use the pay and display car park at the trout farm or on the street, which offers unrestricted parking. Numbers of tourists have increased in recent years thanks to social media influencers promoting the village as a lazy get-away from major cities such as London.
