Cheltenham Art Gallery to get £5 million extension

Cheltenham Borough Council is going to develop the semi-derelict site to the east of the Art Gallery & Museum to provide additional space for Art exhibitions. There will also be a large education space for schoolchildren, a bigger shop and ground-floor cafe which will be spreading out on to St Mary's churchyard.

78 architects have entered a competition to develop the shopfronts to the east of the gallery. The design should be environmentally–friendly, using construction from quality natural and reclaimed materials, together with a combination of on–site and off–site sustainable energy sources. The architects were encouraged to design the new extension in a way to create a ‘presence on the street’, to redefine the current street façade, but at the same time to complement the scale of the neighbouring buildings.

A shortlist of four designs will be announced late next month and final judging will be completed by mid-December.

You can view paper versions of the designs in A3 format, at the Art Gallery & Museum (from 19 September to 17 October) during regular opening hours ( Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.20pm, 11am opening on 1st Thursday of each month).

They can also be seen in full size (A1 format) in the 1st floor meeting room on the following dates / times:
20 Sept – pm only (from 2.00)
21 Sept– all day
22 Sept – all day
24 Sept – all day
27 Sept – am only (until 1pm)
29 Sept – all day
1 Oct – all day
4 Oct – all day
5 Oct – am only (until 2pm)
8 Oct – all day
9 Oct – am only (until 1pm)
10 Oct – all day
13 Oct – all day (part of the Big Draw Event)
15 Oct – all day
16 Oct – all day
17 Oct – all day

You can also see the submissions online on Cheltenham Borough Council Flickr page.

Danter's Funfair in Cheltenham

Thu 27 September - Sun 30 September, Cheltenham Racecourse

Yet again Danter's Funfair visits Cheltenham. All rides are £1 on Thursday - from 6pm you can take advantage of this special offer and have an evening of fun.

Thursday, Friday from 6pm

Saturday, Sunday from 2pm

Outbreak of a rare disease in Cheltenham

Throughout the summer months, Cheltenham has witnessed an outbreak of a rare illness called Q Fever, which is caught from infected livestock. A total of 28 cases have been identified in Cheltenham, while there are usually only a dozen incidents across the whole of the UK in a year. Most people infected in Cheltenham required hospital treatment. Victims were located in a south-west to north-east cross section of the town, from Hatherley to Bishop's Cleeve.

Victims can suffer severe pneumonia while others show no ill effects. Some people recover without treatment. The infection is often caught by close contact with farm animals but it can be also blown in the air, which may have been the case as none of the Cheltenham victims had any direct contact with farm animals. The evidence so far points to the period of risk being more than three months ago. The hot dry weather in April and May may have helped in spreading the disease.

The outbreak is now considered to be over, as the highest risk of infection is in the spring.

Leckhampton Court Autumn Fayre 2007

9th September 2007, Leckhampton Court Sue Ryder Care Centre

As every year, this year’s Leckhampton Court Autumn Fayre was a great day of family fun. It included craft and food stalls, fun fair, tarot readings, refreshment and bar, raffle, live jazz band performance, music, dance and artwork display.

The Fayre was officially opened at 11 am by the Mayor, Cllr John Rawson, who was introduced by the Town Crier, Ken Brightwell. After the opening came the performance by Cheltenham Swinging Squares Dance Club, followed by intriguing magical tricks of Mr Jinks the Magician. At the refreshment bar situated in front of the Day Hospice Brickhouse Jazz Band & Kevin O’Brien entertained the visitors.

At the rear of the Day Hospice, wood sculptor Tom Harvey armed with his chain saw was creating yet another great tree sculpture giving visitors the insight into the creative process of wood carving. At 12.30 pm Whisper and Shout Puppett Show entertained children with their stories from African mythology. The Coady Crew gave a great performance of street dancing followed by Fillipo the Clown. Other performances included Salsa dancing, martial arts and morris dancing. The weather turned sunny in the afternoon and everybody enjoyed the great day.

BBC Radio 4 - After the Floods

After the Floods
Tuesday 11 September 2007 20:00-20:40 (Radio 4 FM)

This BBC Radio 4 programme may be an interest to the residents of Cheltenham. After the wettest summer in England for over 240 years, the Government remains committed to providing millions of new homes and refuses to rule out building on flood plains. Are we just storing up trouble?

Heritage Open Days

6 - 9 September 2007

This year's Heritage Open Days events in Cheltenham offer free admission to several Cheltenham's buildings, some of which are not normally open to the public.

All Saint's Church Sat 8th Sept, 1030-1300

Sun 9th Sept, 1230-1530 Service 1830

Cheltenham Synagogue Sun 9th Sept, 1000-1300 & 1700-1900

Holst Birthplace Museum Sun 9th Sept, 1000-1600

St. Mary's Church, Prestbury Thur 6th Sept, 1300-1700

Fri 7th Sept, 1300-1700

Sat 8th Sept, 1300-1700

Sun 9th Sept, 1400-1700

St. Mary', Cheltenham Thur 6th Sept, 1100-1500

Fri 7th Sept, 1100-1500

Sat 8th Sept, 1000-1600 Talk & Tour 1430

Sun 9th Sept, 1000-1500 Service 0900

Cheltenham Ladies’ College Fri 7th Sept, 0900-1200

Sat 8th Sept, 0900-1200

St. Gregory's Church Fri 7th Sept, 1100-1600

Sat 8th Sept, 1130-1600

Heritage Open Days give Cheltenham visitors and Cheltenham residents the opportunity to visit buildings they normally would not be able to see.