Latest news with #SidPhelps
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Free hour parking scheme in Forest of Dean expanded
A parking scheme which offers the first hour for free is being rolled out to another site after council bosses confirmed the regime is "working well". Forest of Dean District Council chiefs abolished the first hour charge for their car parks last year as a way to attract new visitors to their part of Gloucestershire. At a cabinet meeting on 15 May, councillors voted to bring Pyart Court car park in Coleford into the scheme to ensure continuity across their authority agreed to delegate officers to consider feedback and decide whether to go ahead. The Pyart Court site includes a off-street parking area which enforced different rates than their nearby car there is a 20p charge for an hour and 40p for two hours – which applies 24 hours and seven days a badge holders are also charged at the standard rate, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). 'Unify charges' Projects and property cabinet member Sid Phelps, who presented the report, told the meeting: "The proposal will abolish the current charge for blue badge holders, to bring it in line with other Forest of Dean District Council car parks."The parking order will unify charges across all of our car parks in the district." Mr Phelps asked cabinet members to back the proposals and to agree a budget of around £5,850 for equipment and signs for the emergency cabinet member Chris McFarling approved the concept of bringing Pyart Court on board."We seem to be doing well with the new charging facilities which we introduced," he said."After much discussion and debate, they seem to be working well. We are managing to get the income we need to offset the expenditure in our car parks."
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Work on Five Acres leisure centre at Coleford to finally start
Construction can begin on a leisure centre after revised regeneration plans were approved by leisure, community and commercial facilities will now be developed at the former Gloucestershire College site at Five Acres, near Coleford, as part of the Levelling Up the Forest programme.A "large and modern" gym, full-sized 3G pitch, changing rooms, and soft play areas have been included following the review said Sid Phelps, cabinet member for property and projects at Forest of Dean District Council (FODDC), backed the reviewed plans unanimously following delays due to rising inflation, with construction hoped to begin this summer. In February 2024 FODDC secured planning permission to develop the first phase of facilities at the site. 'Hugely important' Mr Phelps said the council wanted "the best possible facilities" for residents, but also wanted to ensure the "hugely important" project was "financially sustainable"."Having received the unanimous backing of councillors, I am excited to say that we can now move on to the next stage of the Five Acres redevelopment and begin construction of this fantastic project," he help reduce refurbishment costs and respond to the climate emergency, FODDC successfully applied for £200,000 from the Government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. The money will support the installation of a new air source heat pump system, radiators and roofing part of phase one of the project, the Speedwell Building will be turned into new office and community spaces and a cafe and outreach space for Hartpury's University's Aspiration two of the project will focus on the 3G artificial pitch and floodlights, for which FODDC is awaiting Football Foundation funding approval.
