Councillor Surgery

Back in May new district and county councillors (Rich Wilsher and Linda Cohen respectively) covering the Hillesley and Tresham Parish were elected.  They both recognise the importance of meeting their electorate to discuss topics of concern or interest.  The next councillor surgery is at Hopkins Hall in Hillesley on Saturday 6th November at 11am.  To remind you, these are some of the specific areas of responsibility:

District Council – council housing, local planning, recycling and refuse collection, leisure facilities

County Council – schools, social services, public transport, highways, waste disposal, trading standards

However, following the recent murder of Sir David Amess MP whilst conducting a routine constituency surgery, it is a current requirement to make an appointment before attending.  Please use these email addresses.

Cllr Rich Wilsher (SDC, Kingswood Ward)  Cllr.Rich.Wilsher@stroud.gov.uk 

Cllr Linda Cohen (GCC, Wotton Division)  linda.cohen@gloucestershire.gov.uk

If there are any matters you would like to discuss which are at Parish Council level, please contact me directly.

New Railway Station at Charfield

A consultation period has started to enable public comment regarding the proposal for a new railway station at Charfield.  Drop-in events are being held as follows: 

• Monday 8 November 3pm to 7pm at Wotton Town Hall, Market Street, Wotton-under-Edge
• Wednesday 10 November 2pm to 5.30pm at Charfield Memorial Hall, Wotton Road, Charfield
• Saturday 13 November 10.30am to 2.30pm at Charfield Memorial Hall, Wotton Road, Charfield

Information about the station is available here:  https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/charfield-train-station

Countryfile 

Some of you may recall a television article about Hillesley that was broadcast in 1971.  Here’s a reminder:

https://en-gb.facebook.com/BBCArchive/videos/705897603182676/

John Craven, who featured in that film has recently returned to Hillesley 50 years later to record a follow-up piece.  It will be broadcast on Sunday 21st November during Countryfile on the BBC.

Highways

The Parish Council had a meeting recently with a representative of GCC Highways to discuss the condition of roads throughout the Parish. The most effective way of getting potholes and other highway issues addressed is to report them via the website. www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/highways/roads/your-highways-report-it/. All reported issues will be investigated and followed up as appropriate.  This website also shows if an issue has already been reported.

Boundary Commission Consultation

You may or may not be aware of is that there is currently a consultation being conducted by the Boundary Commission.  The proposed changes which are due to be reported by 1st July 2023 would mean that our parish would move from the Cotswold to the Stroud constituency.  There’s comprehensive information about this on the Boundary Commission for England website. 

2023 Review

Hillesley Happenings

Back in the May local elections, I became Chair of Hillesley and Tresham Parish Council and one the duties associated with that role is to write a short article in the Hillesley Happenings newsletter.  If you are not familiar with this monthly publication, there’s a lot of other local information included.  Current and past copies can be seen here:

https://htpc.org.uk/hillesley-happenings/

If you would like to be added to the email circulation of Hillesley Happenings, please let me know.

Simon Lee

Parish Councillor