Latest news with #SebastianField
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Podsmead regeneration rejected by council over green concerns
Plans for the £45m regeneration of a deprived area, including 172 new social homes, have been rejected by a city council over concerns of a loss of green plans for the Podsmead area of the Gloucester were rejected by the council's planning committee at a meeting on Tuesday with more social housing, the Gloucester City Homes' plans included a children's play park, Podsmead's first pharmacy, commercial buildings, and a multi-use sports Stenson, Gloucester City Homes, said the housing association was "massively disappointed" by the outcome of the meeting. The development report noted 1.91 hectares (225 acres) of open space would be lost if the plans were Field, city councillor for Podsmead, said he could see the benefits of the scheme - noted in the report as retail and economic opportunities, among others - but kept "coming back to the loss of green space over the whole site"."As the report mentions, the proposed development would result in the loss of approximately 60% of the existing informal amenity green space," he said."That is quite a lot, 34 trees are going to be lost and yes, they are to be replaced and added to, but we all know that young trees do not capture carbon nearly as well as mature trees."Other disadvantages listed included a lack of education and library spaces and limited benefits to the wider estate. At the meeting on Tuesday, six voted against the plans, two voted for, and there was one Stenson said the Podsmead scheme had been "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity"."We had an opportunity to access the Homes England Funding, and that went away last night," he added he believed the proposals "truly responded" to Podsmead residents' wants and needs."Personally, I can't understand why a £45m investment in one of the communities of Gloucestershire that really, really does need it was turned down."
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Urban greening strategy' to phase out weed killer
A strategy to increase greenery in a bid to tackle climate change is set to be approved amid plans to phase out use of a controversial weed killer. As part of the Gloucester Urban Greening Strategy Gloucester City Council wants to plant more greenery to address the threat of climate change and extreme weather. Its cabinet will consider the strategy this week as it prepares to phase out the weed killer glyphosate, which can harm insect populations and biodiversity. The council hopes to harness the natural benefits of trees, green roofs, hedgerows, and green screens to help tackle climate change. More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Glyphosate is used in very small quantities across Gloucester and, if eaten in large amounts, can have health impacts on small mammals and pets, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillors may also decide to stop spraying the city centre where weeds are usually kept to a minimum due to high footfall. Feedback from residents will be considered and the move will be kept under review. However, the weed killer will still be used to manage obstructive growth or treat invasive and dangerous species, including Japanese knotweed. The strategy will also consider the introduction of rainwater gardens to collect excess surface water and reduce pressure on sewers during high rainfall. At a recent meeting, Alastair Chambers, Independent councillor, criticised the use of the "cancer-linked" weed killer. "This chemical, glyphosate, has been banned or heavily restricted in over 30 countries, including France, Germany and Austria," he said. "Yet here in Gloucester, the administration persists in spraying it on our streets and green spaces, ignoring mounting scientific concerns and international precedent." Sebastian Field, Liberal Democrat councillor, said his group is committed to phasing the chemical out. He said: "By reducing its use alongside our plans to increase the amount of green space in our city, we will do our bit to try to reduce the alarming decline in insect populations." Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Plans for shop signs to reflect city's 'heritage' Climbing zone at shopping centre gets go-ahead Gloucester City Council
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Urban greening strategy' to phase out weed killer
A strategy to increase greenery in a bid to tackle climate change is set to be approved amid plans to phase out use of a controversial weed killer. As part of the Gloucester Urban Greening Strategy Gloucester City Council wants to plant more greenery to address the threat of climate change and extreme weather. Its cabinet will consider the strategy this week as it prepares to phase out the weed killer glyphosate, which can harm insect populations and biodiversity. The council hopes to harness the natural benefits of trees, green roofs, hedgerows, and green screens to help tackle climate change. More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Glyphosate is used in very small quantities across Gloucester and, if eaten in large amounts, can have health impacts on small mammals and pets, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillors may also decide to stop spraying the city centre where weeds are usually kept to a minimum due to high footfall. Feedback from residents will be considered and the move will be kept under review. However, the weed killer will still be used to manage obstructive growth or treat invasive and dangerous species, including Japanese knotweed. The strategy will also consider the introduction of rainwater gardens to collect excess surface water and reduce pressure on sewers during high rainfall. At a recent meeting, Alastair Chambers, Independent councillor, criticised the use of the "cancer-linked" weed killer. "This chemical, glyphosate, has been banned or heavily restricted in over 30 countries, including France, Germany and Austria," he said. "Yet here in Gloucester, the administration persists in spraying it on our streets and green spaces, ignoring mounting scientific concerns and international precedent." Sebastian Field, Liberal Democrat councillor, said his group is committed to phasing the chemical out. He said: "By reducing its use alongside our plans to increase the amount of green space in our city, we will do our bit to try to reduce the alarming decline in insect populations." Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Plans for shop signs to reflect city's 'heritage' Climbing zone at shopping centre gets go-ahead Gloucester City Council
BBC News
16-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Gloucester air pollution measures dropped after 20 years
Anti-pollutions measures in a city centre have been lifted after 20 years following improvements in air quality. Three air quality management areas (AQMAs) covering Gloucester's Barton Street, Priory Road and Painswick Road have now been revoked thanks to a fall in harmful emissions. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which oversees air quality, says the measures should be removed once no longer Sebastian Field, cabinet member for the environment at Gloucester City Council, welcomed the "great news", but said the authority would "be keeping a close eye on air quality across the city". "Air pollution is a major issue which affects us all, but particularly the most vulnerable in society including children and the elderly," he Barton Street and Priory Road AQMAs were launched in 2005, while the Painswick Road scheme was put in place in 2007. Since the zones were launched the council has monitored and managed traffic-related pollution and noticed a recent fall in omissions. This is consistent with a fall across the UK, thought to be cased by older vehicles replaced with new 'cleaner' models and a sharp rise in people working from home. Poor air quality can have a severe impact on people's health, and is linked with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as lung cancer. The removal of the AQMAs follows a recent consultation carried out by the city council into ways to improve further the city's air quality as well as its air quality action plan. The plan includes key proposals such as encouraging developers to include electric vehicle charging points in all new homes and expanding cycling infrastructure and one-way council said it is also looking at expanding the city's smoke control area to limit harmful emissions from chimney fires.
