Dowty Slot Car Racing Club December Updates

Dowty Slot Car Racing Club is a friendly bunch of people who enjoy racing followed by a chat over a pint. If you would like to join them give a ring to Dave Coward on 01452 421311.
December updates are now available, including results from all the latest races (1/32 scale, 1/24 scale and the Cotswold Challenge - race against Swindon's slot car racing club), as well as report from the Christmas Fun Run.

For more information about Dowty Slot Car Racing Club and other Cheltenham clubs and societies please visit our Community section at www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community.

If you are a member of Cheltenham club or society and would like to get your club's profile featured to promote its activities please get in touch. To find out how please visit our website www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community.

January Gig at Xposed Club

23 January 2009, Xposed Club, Pittville Studios, Albert Road, 8pm

Friday, 23 January 2009 will bring to Xposed Club SIRR (featuring NIK TURNER, PAT THOMAS, STEVE NOBLE & CHRIS CUNDY).

Nik Turner (saxophones) was a founder member of the pivotal 1970’s British counter-culture, space rock group Hawkwind penning some of their most influential songs including ‘Brainstorm’ and ‘Master of the Universe’. During the 80’s he then went on to form the post-punk anarcho-political group Inner City Unit famous for their perverse homemade videos and their self proclaimed gambits towards the demons of the music industry. Turner has also made occasional guest appearances with, amongst others, The Damned and Sham 69.

Chris Cundy (bass clarinet) tours regularly with Mercury Music Award nominated orchestral/pop band Guillemots. He also appears on both of their recent albums under Polydor. Cundy is also involved with many other experimental and improvised groups where he frequently works with Guillemots lead singer Fyfe Dangerfield as well as many other musicians. He has made appearances at numerous experimental music festivals including Venn and Supersonic.

Pat Thomas (electronics + piano) is known for his innovations within urban dub and jungle/electro music. He has recorded a number of solo projects including ‘New Jazz Jungle’ and the mystic Sufi inspired ‘Jungle Sufi’. Collaborations have encompassed projects alongside influential sound artists such as Joe Gallivan and Rhys Chatham. As a major figure within the improvisation scene he has appeared with Lol Coxhill and Tony Oxley amongst many many others over the years. He recently released ‘Pat Thomas Plays the Music of Derek Bailey and Thelonious Monk’ for the independent FMR label.

Steve Noble (drums) is a leading exponent of improvised and new jazz drumming and recent projects include an exciting new trio with Ingrid Laubrock and John Edwards. During the 1980’s he was a member of the band Rip Rig and Panic with Neneh Cherry. Noble has also worked very closely with the composer Simon H Fell on various projects involving improvised and compositional cross over. His powerful approach to rhythm sets him apart as a player whose music is enriched by the beat, the swing and the shuffle in a very contemporary way.

For a full calendar of 2008 Cheltenham gigs please visit our MySpace page. For other Cheltenham events visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Recycling Christmas Trees in Cheltenham

The festive season wouldn’t be the same without a decorated tree and when it comes to choosing one, more and more Gloucestershire residents opt for the real tree. If you have got this winter your Christmas presents under a cut tree, you'll need to know where to recycle it when the festive season is over.

If you live in Cheltenham you can take your Christmas trees to be recycled at Swindon Road recycling centre.
The centre is opened:
Monday – Friday 7.30am ~ 6.30pm
Saturday 7.30am ~ 4.00pm
Sunday and bank holidays 9.00am ~ 1.00pm

For residents whose households are part of the kerb side garden waste collection scheme, trees 5ft and under can be left (whole) next to your garden bag on your collection day and they will be taken as part of this service. Anything larger than this can be chopped up and placed in the council’s green waste bags.

You can also deposit your tree in January 2009 at:
Blooms, Evesham Road, Bishops Cleeve
Dawn Nurseries, Main Road, Little Shurdington
Dundry Nurseries, Bamfurlong Lane, Staverton
Gotherington Nurseries, Gretton Road, Gotherington
Greenway Nurseries, Main Road, Shurdington
Hurrans Garden Centre, Cheltenham Road East, Churchdown

Christmas and New Year waste collection dates:
Normal collection day - Revised collection day
22/12 Monday normal collections
23/12 Tuesday normal collections
24/12 Wednesday normal collections
25/12 Thursday (xmas day) - 27/12 Saturday
26/12 Friday (boxing day) - 29/12 Monday

29/12 Monday - 30/12 Tuesday
30/12 Tuesday - 31/12 Wednesday
31/12 Wednesday - 02/01 Friday
01/01 Thursday (bank holiday) - 03/01 Saturday
02/01 Friday - 05/01 Monday

05/01 Monday - 06/01 Tuesday
06/01 Tuesday - 07/01 Wednesday
07/01 Wednesday - 08/01 Thursday
08/01 Thursday - 09/01 Friday
09/01 Friday - 10/01 Saturday

12/01 Monday normal collections resume

Cheltenham Council Tax to Rise by 3.5%

Cheltenham Borough Council’s draft budget proposes a council tax increase in of 3.5%. For a D band property this is an increase £6.20 per year or 12p per week, bringing the borough’s share of council tax to £183.44 in 2009/10.

The total budget for borough council services for 2009/10 will be £16.5 million. A Government grant of £1.646 million and redistributed business rates of £7.1 million make up just over half that figure, leaving £7.6 million to be raised from council tax payers.

The budget proposes £708,800 of efficiency savings, including staff restructuring in several departments. £327,300 will be raised through a review of fees and charges for services, and a further £85,000 through better management of the council’s assets. The council’s fees and charges will generally rise by about 3.5%. Council tenants will face an increase of 5.47 per cent in rents.

Other features of the budget include a new part-time post of Homelessness Prevention Officer to help people in housing need, as more people are expected to be at risk of homelessness during the economic downturn. The council will continue to invest in reducing flood risk. This includes constructing a protective band around Cheltenham Leisure Centre which was devastated in the July 2007 floods, contributing £100,000 to the Prestbury Flood Prevention Scheme, and spending £90,000 over three years on maintenance of our watercourses, streams and ditches.

The budget will be presented to the council's cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday and then go for public consultation until January.

Cheltenham Sport & Leisure

A new section has been added to our Cheltenham4u website introducing Cheltenham's sport and leisure facilities.

Cheltenham has excellent sport and leisure facilities. Cheltenham Leisure Centre, reopened after 2007 floods, provides new, top of the range equipment for the gym, while the Prince of Wales stadium offers an excellent running track. Cheltenham's beloved outdoor heated swimming pool, Sandford Park Lido, is a popular destination for families during the summer season.

Whether you are a serious rambler or just like to relax in a beautiful countryside, Cheltenham, surrounded by walker's trails with stunning views, has a lot to offer - the famous Cotswold Way passes through Cleeve Hill and Leckhampton Hill.

Football fans will appreciate the award winning ground at Whaddon Road, home of the Robins - Cheltenham Town FC, whilst horse racing enthusiasts flock to Cheltenham Racecourse, with its exciting calendar of races, the most famous of which is the Gold Cup.

For more information please visit our website at http://www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/.

Christmas Tree Festival at Oxenton Church

13 -14 December 2008

Twenty seven decorated Christmas trees, decorated by village organisation and families, will be on display in the beautiful old church at Oxenton near Bishop's Cleeve. Refreshments will be available in the village hall. The church will be open this weekend from 10am until 3pm. Programmes cost £1 on the door. Oxenton is located 6 miles north of Cheltenham, off the A435, just north of Bishops Cleeve.

Cheltenham Rock School for Adults

21 - 22 February 2009, Dean Close School

Following on from the phenomenal success of the Cheltenham Rock School – a week of workshops and seminars aimed at aspiring and serious musicians aged between 11 and 19, run by Beyond Eternity Promotions under the guidance of local musician Peter Gill – comes the ‘For Adults Only’ Cheltenham Rock School. For a weekend in February (21 & 22), at Prince Michael Hall, Dean Close School, those that are ‘old enough to know better but young enough to not care’ can take part in an exciting round of workshops, jams and seminars aimed at reigniting old passions, increasing confidence and blowing some of the cobwebs away.

Unlike the summer rock school there is no upper age limit. If you can hold a guitar, a pair of drum sticks or sit yourself at a keyboard then you can take part.

In the light of the doom and gloom of the economic situation this is an opportunity for people to kick back and have some fun – escape from the real world for a weekend. Top local musicians and tutors will be guiding participants throughout the weekend which will culminate in a mini performance open to friends and relatives.

For further information on the course or to make bookings, contact Peter Gill at Beyond Eternity Promotions on 01242 587776.

Cheltenham HMRC Offices Could Close

In a last ditch attempt to protect the services of the HM Revenue & Custom offices for the people of Cheltenham, Martin Horwood MP met today with Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury. The government will tomorrow be announcing intentions to cut the number of offices in the south west in an attempt to make the service more efficient. Martin is concerned that this will result in a poorer service for local taxpayers.

Martin Horwood also raised concerns about the impact of planned relocation of many functions to Stroud or Gloucester. He commented “I am very concerned about the impact on staff and their families if HMRC workers are forced to commute to Stroud or Gloucester. When families have child care commitments, these will have to be taken into account.”

Stephen Timms did commit to keeping an enquiry centre in Cheltenham, either at Parabola Road, or within walking distance. He also assured Martin that these changes would not be implemented immediately and made clear that the government are committed to maintaining the enquiry centre service that exists at the moment.

However, the minister could not give any assurances that the opening hours of the enquiry centre that would remain in Cheltenham would stay the same, nor could he guarantee the availability of expert staff to deal with complex problems. Martin said “It will be disappointing for the people of Cheltenham if the excellent service currently offered by the staff in Parabola Road is not maintained.”

The decision on HMRC office closures is due to be made on Thursday, 4 December 2008.

December Gigs in Cheltenham

In December Beyond Eternity Promotions have prepared some exciting gigs for Cheltenham and surrounding areas.

Wednesday, 3 December 2008
JB Jazz and Blues Band, The Daffodil, 8pm, Jazz and Blues

Thursday, 4 December 2008
Paul Newman's Blues Jam Night, Subtone, 117 Promenade, Cheltenham. Band 9-11pm, FREE Entry, Drinks promotions.
Tom McNair, Apple Tree, Woodmancote

Friday, 5 December 2008
King Earl Boogie Band, Delta Flood. The Tubby Blues Club, The United Services Club, 7 North Place, Chleltenham GL50 4DW Jazz and Blues
Touch of Blue, Royal Oak, Hucclecote Jazz

Saturday, 6 December 2008
Tom Jurgens, Berkley Arms Tewkesbury Acoustic folk and pop

Sunday, 7 December 2008
Bryn Thomas Solo (Sax & Axe) Rising Sun Hotel, Cleeve Hill

Wednesday, 10 December 2008
JB Jazz and Blues Band, The Daffodil, 8pm Jazz and Blues

Thursday, 11 December 2008
Jim Ramsay, Apple Tree, Woodmancote Jazz

Friday, 12 December 2008
Als Allstars, Old Pats Club, Cheltenham
One Way Street, Merryfellow Inn, Charlton Kings

Saturday, 13 December 2008
Touch of Blue, Bayshill Inn Jazz

Sunday, 14 December 2008
Bryan McCabe, Royal George, Birdlip
Jazz2Go Big Band, Sax Express, Metz Big Band Jazz Christmas Party! Gupsill Manor, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury. 7.30pm, FREE admission (donations welcome) call Sara Espley- 07947676112 Jazz
JB 2, The Kilkeney, Andoversford, Lunchtime Jazz Jazz

Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Joined at the Hip, The VENUE Jazz Club, Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ. Doors open 8 p.m. music starts 9 p.m. Jazz

Wednesday, 17 December 2008
JB Jazz and Blues Band, The Daffodil, 8pm Jazz and Blues

Thursday, 18 December 2008
Lav Richardson, Apple Tree, Woodmancote

Saturday, 20 December 2008
Paul Jolley, Rising Sun Hotel, Cleeve Hill

Sunday, 21 December 2008
JB Jazz and Blues Band, Malvern Jazz Club, Malvern Rugby Club, Spring Lane Jazz and Blues

Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Paul Newman's Blues Jam Night, The Royal Oak, Hucclecote 9 p.m.

Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Tom Jurgens, Crown and Trumpet, Broadway
JB Jazz and Blues Band, The Daffodil, 8pm Jazz and Blues

Sunday, 28 December 2008
Aspen, Rising Sun Hotel, Cleeve Hill
The Jazz Jam, The VENUE Jazz Club, Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ. Doors open 8 p.m. music starts 9 p.m. Jazz

Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Paul Newman's Blues Jam Night, The VENUE @ The Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ.

Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Tom Jurgens, Crown and Trumpet, Broadway
Sax and Axe, Grapevine Hotel, Stow on the Wold, 8.30 - 1.30, booking needed.
One Way Street, The Merryfellow Inn, Jazz
JB Jazz and Blues Band, with guest drummer Tim Ward, The Daffodil, 8pm Jazz

For a full calendar of 2008 Cheltenham gigs please visit our MySpace page. For other Cheltenham events visit our Cheltenham events guide.