Belly Dancing Taster Session at Cleeve Sports and Arts Centre

27 April 2009, Cleeve Sports and Arts Centre

Belly Dancing Taster Session with Claire Manigrasso will take place on 27 April at Cleeve Sports and Arts Centre. Claire has been dancing for over 7 years, from when she first took it up in London and got completely 'hooked'! She teaches mainly Egyptian-style and prides herself on running fun and friendly classes, providing good exercise for muscle tone - plus enabling students to learn this beautiful dance form. Suitable for all ages (over 14, all shapes and sizes). Held in a part-mirrored dance studio from 8.00pm- 9.30pm, cost £5.50 each.

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival

19 - 21 June 2009, Montpellier Gardens

The Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival is coming to Montpellier Gardens 19th to 21st June 2009 with a line up of the most tantalising food and beverage producers in the county. Over 150 exhibitors display their wares.

MasterChef 2009 winner Mat Follas, the Kiwi chef, a self-avowed forager of food head-lines the Festival along with Martin Blunos, holder of two Michelin stars, join some of the counties leading local chefs showcasing local and regional produce in theIntoto Kitchen, Free Wine Theatre talks showcasing the finest wine from Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Portugal and England with leading wine makers, share there knowledge to an enthusiastic crowd.

Real Ale is highlighted by a selection of the best brewers producing the finest ales and cider. Premier and Grand Cru champagnes can be enjoyed in the Champagne Garden Bar, enjoy the finest perfectly chilled glass of champagne or why not sample the full decadent experience and share a bottle of Champagne on ice, with friends relaxing and raising a flute to the sunny days of summer.

Over the three days of the Festival there will be a variety of entertainment from music to street theatre, join Professor Nohair & the Wiglifters sensational fast fingered, hot Boogie Wooogie band; meet Britain’s most rejected aristocrat, Lady Christobel bubbles her way from pillar to post, hobnobbing with her public. A derelict dowager, her appearance and joie de vivre create astonishment and mirth. Enduring these less-than royal walkabouts is her trusty butler, a dilapidated, lugubrious old retainer whose cutting asides undermine Lady Christobel’s fond fancies.

Open Times: Friday 12noon to 7pm, Saturday 10.00am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm
Daily admission is £4.00 in advance and £5.00 on the day, tickets can be purchased from Cheltenham Town Hall at 0844 576 2210.

Swimathon 2009 at Cheltenham Leisure Centre

16 - 19 April 2009, Cheltenham Leisure Centre

Swimathon 2009 is set to make a splash as it launches at Cheltenham Leisure Centre. As the world's largest fundraising swim, thousands of swimmers will take part in over 500 pools nationwide between 16 -19 April 2009. Swimathon entrants will be able to help the lives of thousands of terminally ill patients through the donations to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Swimathon 2009 is open to everyone, encouraging people to set their own personal challenge by accomplishing a distance of their choice. Swimmers can challenge themselves to the ultimate 5K challenge, 2.5K for the intermediate swimmer or 1.5K for those who swim occasionally. For those interested in joining forces with friends, colleagues or family, the 5K challenge can also be completed as part of a team of up to five people. For more information, contact Amy Stanley on 01242 774735 or email amy-marie.stanley@cheltenham.gov.uk

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Cheltenham MP Slams 'Disgraceful' Fuel Poverty Vote

Cheltenham Liberal Democrat MP Martin Horwood has condemned a parliamentary vote today that saw a backbench Private Member’s Bill on fuel poverty defeated in the House of Commons despite MPs voting overwhelmingly in its favour. Nearly 7,000 people are estimated to be in fuel poverty in Cheltenham and the bill would have mandated energy suppliers to provide so-called ‘social tariffs’ while prompting government to do more to ‘fuel poverty proof’ low income homes with energy efficiency measures.

The bill, promoted by Somerset Lib Dem David Heath MP, failed because of arcane parliamentary rules: private member’s bills are timetabled for debate on Fridays when most MPs are in their constituencies but still require 100 MPs to vote in favour of the ‘closure’ of debate regardless of how many vote against. If this ‘closure’ vote is unsuccessful, ministers are then free to ‘talk out’ the bill. Just before two o’clock today the closure motion was supported by 89 MPs, including Martin and many Lib Dem colleagues, with only two voting against. Following the bizarre parliamentary rules this crushing majority was judged by Deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst not to have carried the motion. At 2.30pm Labour minister Joan Ruddock talked out the bill and it was lost.

‘It’s incredibly frustrating’ said Martin, who made the six-hour round journey from Cheltenham just for the vote. ‘If there had been 11 more MPs present, we would have seen an important measure to tackle fuel poverty go through to the next stage. I wish more Labour and Conservative had made the effort to turn up. But the incomprehensible and antiquated rules of the House of Commons don’t help. We need important private member’s bills to be given the same midweek slots that government bills get, and not subjected to these idiotic rules whereby a vote of 89 to 2 is apparently defeated. It would be very funny if the subject hadn’t been so serious.’

Circus Skills Workshop at Cleeve Sports and Arts Centre

28 March 2009, Cleeve Sports and Arts Centre

Roll up, Roll up and join the circus for the day - Plate Spinning, Diabolo and Juggling are just a few of the skills on offer at a fun circus workshop at Cleeve Sports and Arts Centre on March 28th. Come along and have a go - there'll be lots of help from the instructor who will teach you the basic skills or help you to learn some new tricks. Please call 01242 673581 for more info or to book. The workshop is funded by Extended services so will only cost £1.50 for a two hour session. Come and join between 9.30am- 1.30pm. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Meet Your MP Martin Horwood This March

Martin Horwood is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Cheltenham. If you need to discuss any matters with your local MP, you can arrange an appointment at his advice surgeries on Friday lunchtimes or evenings. Appointments can be booked by phoning the office on 01242 224889 or e-mailing martin@martinhorwood.net.

You can also meet Martin at various events taking place in and around Cheltenham.

Monday, 16 March 2009
3:00pm
Martin will be officially opening a new helpline at Rethink (Unit 8, Twigworth Court Business Park, Tewkesbury Rd, Twigworth, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL2 9PG).

Wednesday, 18 March 2009
From 7:15pm
Martin will be attending a ‘Question Time’ event at Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham. Pate’s is one of only ten schools from across the UK to reach the final round of this competition.

Friday, 20 March 2009
7:30pm
Martin is the guest speaker at a ‘Pizza and Politics’ event in Tewkesbury. He’ll be talking about Liberal Democrat economic policy and also national policies on flooding.

To keep up-to-date with Martin's Horwood's appearances in parliament please visit our website.

Moscow State Circus

1 April - 5 April 2009, Cheltenham Racecourse

The enviable reputation of Russian circus is based on 200 years of tradition, but in particular 70 years of massive state support under the communist regime. Moscow State Circus will visit Cheltenham on their 2009 tour of the UK in April, offering the world's finest circus spectacular featuring the eleven-strong Roubstov acrobatic troupe, the foot-juggling Panov family and the Averiouchkine clowns.

Tickets cost from £7 to £27, available on site or at Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster 0844 856 5555, Box Office on site 07721 565558). Performances start at 7:45pm except Sunday. Early evening shows 5:00pm Thursday, Friday & Sunday. Matinees 3:00pm Saturday / 2:00pm Sunday.

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Philomusica's March Concert

21 March 2009, St. Andrew's Church, Churchdown

Friends of local choir, Philomusica, will have the chance to wish them Bon Voyage when they give a concert at St Andrew’s Church, Churchdown on Saturday 21 March.

“We’re going on a concert tour to France immediately after Easter”, explains Philomusica Chairman, John Quinn, “and we’ll be performing the same programme that we’re presenting in France when we sing in Churchdown.”

This will be the fifth overseas trip for the choir, following highly successful visits to Holland, Belgium and the USA, as well as a previous visit to France. This latest tour will see them basing themselves in the city of Rouen in Normandy and while they’re in Rouen they’ll give two concerts.

“Our tour programme focuses mainly on English music”, John explained, “though we’ll also sing some pieces by French composers. So there’ll be works by several English composers, including Vaughan Williams and Parry as well as by the Frenchmen Fauré and Gounod.” One of the concert highlights will be a set of arrangements of spirituals by John Rutter, which the choir has performed abroad before. “We performed these superb, jazzy spirituals in Belgium two years ago”, said John, “and members of the audience were literally dancing as we sang. So we hope the French audiences will enjoy them just as much.”

The concert is on Saturday 21 March at 7.30. Tickets cost £7 (accompanied children un der 16 admitted free) and can be bought on the door or in advance by ringing 01452 506417

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Future of the Battledown Ward Discussed Today

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood is this morning meeting with Dr Philip Milner, the independent reviewer of children’s inpatient services. Martin first signed the petition against the loss of inpatient services at Battledown ward before he was even a parliamentary candidate and he took up the issue on the first day after his election in May 2005. After an ‘options appraisal’ in May 2005 it seemed as though the battle had been won when the local NHS responded to a huge local campaign by agreeing to pilot a nurse-led ward that would have kept overnight inpatient beds in Cheltenham. But in March 2006 drastic cuts were announced in the NHS in Gloucestershire to help neighbouring Primary Care Trusts clear multi-million deficits. Battledown ward’s promised nurse-led unit was axed weeks before it was due to start and the ward closed to overnight inpatient admissions in May 2006.

In September last year, Martin asked to meet NHS Gloucestershire chief executive Jan Stubbings to discuss their new situation of financial surplus and the re-examination of the case for overnight children’s beds in Cheltenham.

‘Given that the only reason the plan was scrapped in 2006 was financial, it’s right that we should re-open the case now that the NHS is in surplus. Given the economic situation, this could be our only chance’ said Martin

‘Many of the people who weren’t here in 2005 – including Dr Milner I would guess – may not realise just how comprehensively we won the argument back then’ he said. ‘The options appraisal accepted the huge opposition to the loss of inpatient services amongst stakeholders and recommended a rescue package in the form of a nurse-led unit. Crucially, it identified a clinical need, saying that a nurse-led ward could have helped hundreds of sick children every year to stay closer to their families. These would have included minor respiratory cases, minor orthopaedic emergency cases such as fractures needing traction and minor surgery cases needing overnight observation. That’s just as true today. All the local NHS trusts had signed up to the idea. The plans were in place and ready to go. It was only the government’s financial mismanagement that scuppered the plan at the very last minute. I think Dr Milner needs to understand the strength of opposition there was to the original plan and the bitter sense of betrayal we all felt when the rescue plan for a nurse-led ward was so abruptly dropped without consultation. We argued, we marched and we signed petitions in our tens of thousands but the NHS and the government let us down. But I have never given up. This is a real opportunity for the local NHS at least to rebuild some of that trust with local people. ’


BATTLEDOWN WARD TIMELINE
July 2003
Cotswold & Vale PCT (one of NHS Gloucestershire’s three predecessor PCTs) launch countywide review of children’s and maternity services.

Local clinicians identify children’s and maternity services at Cheltenham as at risk. The Save Battledown Ward campaign launch petition to save ward in response.

June 2004
PCTs agree draft plan for consultation on changes, to be led by Children’s Health Planning Group (CHPG)

Save Battledown petition reaches 12,000 signatures, backed by the Gloucestershire Echo’s Save Our Children’s Ward campaign and all three political parties.

11 September 2004
6,000 protesters march through Cheltenham in support of Battledown ward to mark opening of consultation. Richard James of Cotswold & Vale PCT and chair of CHPG proposes location of children’s services and neonatal intensive care in either Cheltenham General or Gloucestershire Royal. But a clear proposal to move inpatients to Gloucester to inpatients is buried on p16 of his consultation document. The document makes no recommendation for change in broader maternity services but accepts its proposals ‘will limit the choice of location for a future change’.

December 2004
Save Battledown petition reaches 22,000 signatures.
Six Foundation Trust governors including three clinicians oppose changes but call for the examination of nurse-led children’s ward.

Loss of inpatient services is opposed by all three political parties.

January 2005
Consultation outcome report acknowledges the 22,000 petition signatures and reveals 98% of correspondence opposed the proposals. The top four most frequently made points all relate to Battledown ward.

Save Battledown petition reaches 24,000 signatures.

A joint sub-committee of the Gloucestershire PCTs agree to commission an options appraisal of a nurse-led ward and ‘hospital at home’ alongside inpatient closure. Reassurances are given about the future of Cheltenham’s maternity ward.

6 May 2005
General Election result announced in Cheltenham. All seven parliamentary candidates oppose loss of inpatient services, including paediatrician Dr Bob Hodges standing as a Save Battledown candidate, and poll 43,621 votes between them. Lib Dem Martin Horwood is elected with 18,122 votes and writes to the NHS the same day fulfilling his election pledge that Battledown ward inpatient services will be his first priority. It is also the key issue in his maiden speech to Parliament.

Save Battledown petition reaches final total of 27,000 signatures.

17 May 2005
Options appraisal final report by Shona Arora and Ada Bennett recommends piloting a nurse-led ward, retaining inpatient beds on Battledown ward. Key findings included:
Following group discussions, 71% of stakeholders support a nurse-led unit, only 10% the move of overnight services to Gloucestershire Royal.
There was a clinical case for overnight care in Cheltenham. It was estimated that between 3 and 10 children a night – a minimum of 950 bed days per year or more than 300 children - could be appropriately cared for in a nurse-led ward, including mild respiratory cases, orthopaedic minor emergency cases such as fractures needing traction and surgical day cases needing overnight observation such as ophthalmology, maxillo-facial and urology.

A joint PCTs sub-committee accepts the recommendation for a nurse-led ward pilot on 23 May, ‘to assist in meeting the needs of children currently admitted to hospital and to help avoid the need to transfer them to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’.

June 2005
The proposal to pilot a nurse-led ward is explicitly accepted by all three Primary Care Trust boards in turn.

Planning begins for the implementation of the nurse-led ward.

February 2006
Opening of nurse-led ward scheduled for March 2006.

Government announce need for NHS to clear its deficit within one year. Cheltenham & Tewkesbury PCT is in surplus but Cotswold & Vale and West Gloucestershire have a combined deficit of £10m for 2005-06. Total savings required in Gloucestershire are £30m.

Cheltenham & Tewkesbury PCT and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust agree to stand by their commitment to fund nurse-led ward. Cotswold & Vale and West Gloucestershire PCTs begin to cast doubt on decision.

28 March 2006
Joint meetings of three PCTs cancel plans for nurse-led ward. Closure of overnight services is to begin on 19 April without further consultation.

April 2006
All elected governors of Foundation Trust condemn ‘absolute farce’ of national consultation requirement, saying ‘Governors, Members and local people have worked tirelessly in order to maintain overnight Children’s Services at Cheltenham General Hospital.’
Closedown of inpatient services at Battledown ward begins. Despite urging from Martin Horwood MP, Overview & Scrutiny Committee declines to ‘call in’ proposal.

June 2006
Formal consultation begins on proposed cuts across NHS in Gloucestershire. Battledown ward is not included. The closure of Cheltenham’s maternity ward is proposed despite all previous assurances.

22 July 2006
10,000 people march through Cheltenham in protest at the NHS cuts. Many placards and banners support Battledown ward.

30 September 2008
Martin Horwood MP meets with PCT Chief Executive Jan Stubbings to discuss re-examination of case for overnight inpatient beds at Battledown ward, given new PCT’s financial surplus.

Minister Agrees to Look into Greyhound Inn Closure

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood raised the threatened closure of the Greyhound pub in Whaddon at a crisis summit between MPs and ministers in parliament yesterday. Local government minister John Healey agreed to look into the case personally.

The meeting, organised by the all-party Beer group and backed by the new all-party Save the Pub group, was packed with hundreds of parliamentarians and campaigners and saw MPs and peers queuing in the corridors of Westminster to get in. The meeting was addressed by the Campaign for Real Ale and representatives of breweries and rural communities as well as ministers and MPs from across the country.

Martin told the meeting about the decision to save the Greyhound taken by Cheltenham Borough Council which was then overturned by a government inspector. He called for an urgent change in planning law to prevent the loss of popular viable pubs like the Greyhound. The minister unexpectedly agreed to look into the case personally. 'It was good to see such huge opposition to the loss of good local pubs all over the country' commented Martin 'I was surprised by the minister's promise to look into our case in particular and I wouldn't want to get anyone's hopes up too high but this is definitely an interesting development and if it highlights what an appalling decision has been taken in this case, that can't hurt. We certainly haven't saved the Greyhound at the moment but I am keeping up the fight.'

Activities for Children in Cheltenham This Easter

There will be many different activities for children available in Cheltenham during the Easter Holidays. You can enjoy the rides at Danter's Funfair at Cheltenham Racecourse, learn circus skills at The Everyman, be a star of a musical at The Playhouse, or enjoy a multi-activity camp at St. Edward's Junior School.

DANTER'S FUNFAIR
Wednesday, 8 April - Sunday, 19 April 2009
Yet again Danter's Funfair visits Cheltenham, promising over two weeks of great entertainment. Coinciding with the Easter Holidays, Danter's Funfair will be pitched with their amazing rides at Cheltenham Racecourse.

WORKSHOPS AT THE EVERYMAN THEATRE
Monday, 6 April 2009
Circus Skills Workshop
Ever wanted to have a go at juggling, diabolo, plate spinning or even uni-cycling? Now's your chance to become a circus performer! 10.00am - 1.00pm (for 6 - 10 year olds). Cost: £10.00 per person
Tuesday, 7 April - Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Mask Making Workshop
Spend the morning making masks and the afternoon working with them, leading to a short presentation at the end of the day. Tue 7 Apr 10.00am - 4.00pm (for 7 - 11 year olds), Wed 8 Apr 10.00am - 4.00pm (for 12 - 16 year olds) Cost: £10.00 per morning, £20.00 per full day
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Clowning Workshop
Step out of this world and into the world of comedy! Come along to this frantic, fun and physical workshop! 10.00am - 1.00pm (for 11 - 15 year olds) Cost: £10.00
The King's Birthday
Make a play in an afternoon! Thu 9 Apr 2.00pm - 4.00pm (for 4 - 7 year olds) Cost: £5.00

THEATRE STUDIO SCHOOL AT THE PLAYHOUSE
Monday, 6 April - Saturday, 11 April 2009
Come and work with professional tutors and create fantastic productions of Return to the Forbidden Planet for 13 - 18 year olds and Kidz in Space ....The Forgotten Journey for 6-12 year olds culminating with full-scale performances. There are three courses open to anyone between the ages of 6 and 18 years old with a love of theatre and performance. There is also a Technical Course for students with a flare for design, lighting and construction. For course information, fees and audition details please contact Suzanna Segura on 07977 227707 or by email on info@theatrestudio.co.uk

4-2-11 ACTIVITY CAMP AT ST. EDWARD'S JUNIOR SCHOOL
Tuesday, 14 April - Friday, 17 April 2009
4-2-11 Activity Camp is a family run camp which opens during the Easter and Summer holidays, offering a creative alternative to sports-based camps. 4-2-11 camps are exciting themed weeks, workshops, and jam-pack the schedule with swimming, arts and craft, cookery, pottery, drama, music, games, quests, bouncy castles and more. Camp 2's independence is encouraged via their newspaper and CommonRoom activities, while younger children can rest with stories and puzzles. The camp opens at 8.45am and closes at 4.30pm, with a time out facility available until 5.30pm.

Prices start from £25 per day, daily and weekly bookings are welcomed for children of age 4-11. The staff are well trained, professional and pride themselves on making sure every child has as much fun as possible and makes friends with other campers. While there is a fully structured programme of activities, the camp is very flexible and child-led. Impromptu games of bench ball, rounders or water fights are common, as are quiet time activities after particularly lively swimming sessions. All children are welcome, any special requirements or individual needs will be accommodated.

For information about these and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.