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Wednesday 30 September 2009

Cheltenham Healthy Walks

Just 30 minutes a day of brisk walking can have many health benefits. Cheltenham Health Walks is a free health programme organised by Cheltenham Borough Council. So, if you enjoy walking, meeting new people and socialising, have good local knowledge and want to help out in your local community, please contact Rowena Adam for more information on 01242 775202 or rowena.adam@cheltenham.gov.uk. All walks are free and last between 20 to 60 minutes.

WALK TIMETABLE
Mondays:
2pm
Meeting point: leisure@ Cheltenham reception, Tommy Taylor’s Lane
A gentle walk around Pittville Park and the surrounding area
Tuesdays: 10.30am
Meeting point: The Doorstep Café, Hesters Way Resource Centre
A gentle walk around Hesters Way followed by refreshments in the café
Wednesdays:
10.30am
Meeting point: Oakley Community Resource Centre, Clyde Crescent
A local walk around Oakley and Prestbury
2pm
Meeting point: Park Campus (UoG) reception
Come and enjoy the Merestones Meander or the Montpellier Mooch followed by tea and coffee in the refectory.
Thursdays: 10.30am
Meeting point: The Plaisterer’s Arms, Winchcombe
A beautiful walk around Winchcombe taking in Sudeley Castle and the surrounding areas
Fridays: 10.30am
Meeting point: The Vine coffee shop, Church Street, Charlton Kings
Join us for a quiet walk away from the major roads, followed by refreshments at The Vine

Sunday 27 September 2009

Recover Your Stolen Bike

Police in Cheltenham are bringing back regular bike-viewing sessions for people who have reported a theft of their bike. Every month about 20 to 30 bikes are recovered by the police which remain unidentified.

The first viewing will be held between 9am and 2pm on 10 October 2009 and then on every second Saturday of the month. The viewings will be held at Cheltenham Police Station on Lansdown Road. Anyone wanting to attend must bring their crime letter with them, with the unique crime number, which they would have received when they reported their bike stolen.

The best way to reunite with your bike after it's been stolen is to have it security tagged. You can register your bikes on www.immobilise.com, where a secure portfolio of property is created which is added to the National Mobile Property Register and can help recover items which are stolen.

For further information on the work of Cheltenham Town Centre Safer Community Team please visit the Constabulary website at www.gloucestershire.police.uk and go to the neighbourhood policing pages.

Thursday 24 September 2009

Meet Your MP Martin Horwood in Cheltenham

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.

Friday 25 September 2009
11:30am
East Glos Tennis Club in Cheltenham are holding a coffee morning as part of Macmillan’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’. The event runs from 10am until 12:30pm, and Martin will be going along at around 11:30am.
5:45pm
Martin will be attending the Cheltenham Arts Council annual awards ceremony at the Playhouse Theatre. Please see http://www.freewebs.com/cheltenhamartscouncil/awards2009.htm for more information.

Saturday 26 September 2009
10:45am
Martin will be going along to a Dads Group meeting at the Hesters Way Childrens Centre to meet other dads and their children.
1:00pm
An Eco Fun Day is being held at the Springbank Community Resource Centre. The event runs from 10am until 2pm, and Martin will be arriving at around 1pm. For more information about the event please contact Chris Green at chrisgreen@hwnp.org.uk.

Sunday 27 September 2009
3:00pm
Martin and his wife will be attending a concert by the Cantilena Orchestra at Cheltenham Town Hall. The concert is in aid of the British Heart Foundation and Maggie’s Centres.

Monday 28 September 2009
10:00am
Martin will be spending some time at Greatfield Park Primary School in Cheltenham.
12:15pm
Martin is speaking at the AGM of Third Sector Services, which will be held in the Montpellier Room at Cheltenham Borough Council.
2:00pm
Martin is speaking in assembly at Cheltenham Kingsmead School. He’ll be telling the pupils about life as an MP and how what he does affects the younger generation.
3:00pm
Waitrose in Cheltenham is holding an event to mark the first anniversary of the ‘Community Matters’ scheme. Martin will be speaking about the importance of local charities.

Tuesday 29 September 2009
10:00am
Martin will be visiting Balcarras School to meet with the new A Level politics group and Year 13 pupils.

Wednesday 30 September 2009
7:00pm
Martin will visit Dean Close School to speak to politics students, followed by speaking at a Francis Bacon dinner.

Friday 02 October 2009
9:00am
Martin will visit Arthur Dye Primary School in Cheltenham, where he will join in assembly and then open the new playground and building improvements.
2:30pm
Martin will speak to 6th formers at St. Edwards School.

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

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Cheltenham MP Rallies Party Against RSS

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood rallied his party yesterday to support his plans to protect the UK’s biodiversity and restore its natural environment.

Speaking to party conference in Bournemouth, Martin urged members to support the policy paper, Our Natural Heritage: Policies on the Natural Environment. This policy, among other measures to protect and enhance the UK’s natural environment, would scrap the controversial Regional Spatial Strategy housing targets which are threatening greenfield land around Cheltenham.

Martin said, ‘I am delighted to be moving this conference motion today. Our policy on the natural environment has been widely welcomed by conservation charities and green groups. But for Cheltenham in particular, the commitment to ditch those RSS targets is really important. Locally and nationally, you can trust the Lib Dems to protect our green spaces.

‘Our Natural Heritage also calls for tough action internationally on deforestation to tackle serious climate change. And it calls for radical reform of the remit of Ofwat so that profit is not put above people.

‘The Lib Dems have a long history of being the greenest of the political parties and this policy will strengthen our record.’

Martin Horwood has also spoken out against the big barrage option for the Severn Estuary at conference. An alternative, the much smaller ‘Shoots’ barrage, in combination with tidal reefs and lagoons has been proposed by the Lib Dem Severn Tidal Power working group, who believe it will offer environmentally sustainable energy generation.

The combination of technologies, phased over time, would enable power generation over a staggered period of time and the reefs would generate a large amount of energy with very minimal environmental damage. This proposal would provide upwards of 8% of the UK’s electricity needs.

Speaking on the motion, which was passed by the party, Martin said ‘This imaginative solution that the Liberal Democrats have proposed is a triple win. It will generate just as much electricity as the big barrage, without the environmental damage to eco-systems and because some of the elements of the proposal can start generating electricity sooner, this will cut down our carbon emissions even more than the big barrage.

‘We must of course make sure that we balance local and environmental concerns, and I believe this policy does just that. The big barrage would be an environmental disaster for the Severn Estuary’.

Thursday 17 September 2009

Start Singing with Philomusica

It’s easy to get fed up when there’s often so much bad news in the media. And the disappointing summer weather hasn’t helped much. If you’re in need of cheering up, the members of local choir Philomusica would love to hear from you.


Philomusica’s conductor, Linda Parsons, is a firm believer in the positive benefits of singing. Linda says: “Raising your voice in song with a friendly group of singers is a sure-fire way of getting the feel-good factor. It’s huge fun!” Linda adds that singing can help you keep in trim too. “Medical research has shown that singing helps you tone up your muscles and also releases endorphins which create the body’s “feel good” factor. So rehearsing and performing can even beat going to the gym!”
The choir, which draws its membership from all over the county, is keen to attract new singers as they begin rehearsals for their autumn series of concerts. “ We don’t audition people before they join” said Linda. “ We would rather people came along and gave us a try. Our autumn programme offers what should be a fascinating contrast. We’re going to sing Mozart’s Requiem, one of the greatest pieces in the choral repertoire and we’re going to couple it with performances of a brand new work by Howard Goodall. His Eternal Light. A Requiem was only composed in 2008 but it’s already a big hit and it includes some lovely, accessible music. New members can expect a warm welcome and some great music to sing.”

If you want to hear Philomusica in action before joining you can hear them perform Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and Feel the Spirit, a suite of Spirituals in arrangements by John Rutter. That concert is in Pershore Abbey on Saturday 26 September 2009 at 7.30pm.

Philomusica has a rehearsal group which meets at 7.30pm each Friday at The Milestone School, Longford Lane, Gloucester and interested singers are welcome to come along to a rehearsal or to visit the choir’s website at www.philomusica.org.uk. Further information is also available from Linda Parsons on 01452 700847; John Quinn on 01452 506417; or Gaye Boggon on 01452 308674.

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Eco Fun Day at Springbank Community Centre

26 September 2009, Springbank Community Centre

Eco Fun Day will take place at Springbank Community Resource Centre and Springfields Park on Saturday, September 26th from 10am to 2pm. It is a low carbon family entertainment activity that has the theme of climate change running throughout. Hesters Way Neighbourhood Project who are organising the event hope that it will play a significant part in raising environmental consciousness in the area while at the same time providing fun activities and a varied programme of entertainment with something for all the family.

Among the activities planned for the day are dance, sketches by Everyman Theatre, Thomas Trilby circus act, competitions, information on climate change and recycling, arts workshops, a magic show, line dancing, belly dancing, Capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, games, music, and dance), a samba band, Tai Chi, a creatures of the rainforest workshop, composting instruction, local community group activities, a range of children's entertainment, cycling training and repair, energy saving information, waste management information, jobs, volunteering and training information, family advice and guidance, a mobile police station, a calligraphy workshop, Play Rangers activities, The Fun Music man, football tournaments, health walks, a raffle and tombola and much more. There will be a BBQ and refreshments are available.

Eco Fun Day is also one of a number of events that are scheduled for Peace Week, 19th to 27th September, and activities will be taking place on the day to celebrate this. Eco Fun Day is free and everyone is invited to come along. If you would like any further information or are able to help out on the day, please call Chris Green on 01242 539088.

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

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Changes to Bus Routes in Cheltenham

Yet again, Cheltenham bus service is going to see some changes. Sadly, some bus routes in Cheltenham are to be withdrawn, as passenger numbers are low.

Service K (Cheltenham town centre to Up Hatherley and Warden Hill), service J (Cheltenham town centre to Benhall estate) and also service W in Prestbury will be withdrawn completely.
Evening journeys after 7pm for Service H (Cheltenham town centre to Wymans Brook) will be also withdrawn. The frequency of Sunday services will be reduced from hourly to two hourly on Services B (Cheltenham town ce ntre to Charlton Kings), H (Cheltenham Town Centre to Wymans Brook), F (Cheltenham Town Centre to Leckhampton) and G (Cheltenham town centre to St Marks).

More regular timetable for Service N (Cheltenham town centre to Prestbury) will be introduced, with a service every half hour throughout the day. Evening service to Charlton Kings will be saved due to integration of service B with service 41.

However, it's not all doom and gloom for Cheltenham bus service, some routes are seeing improvements, such as service 94 to Gloucester which now uses super luxury double deck 'Gold' buses, the first route in the UK to do so. Extra buses are being added to ensure that the frequency of service 94 is kept to 10 minutes at peak times, as well as off-peak.

For information on Cheltenham transport and timetables of local buses please visit www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/transport.asp

Monday 14 September 2009

2009 - 2010 Cheltenham Horse Racing Fixtures

16 October - 17 October 2009 – The Showcase
The Showcase offers a stunning start to the new season at Cheltenham Racecourse with a two day meeting. Seven races each day, with almost every category of horse catered for, will allow you to get some early season pointers for the forthcoming fixtures at Cheltenham and elsewhere. During the Showcase you can learn about all aspects of horse racing - you can watch how a horse is saddled, visit the weighing room and the commentary box and perhaps even present a prize. After Friday's races champion trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh will be giving a talk at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Tickets from £9. Gates open 11.30am, first race 2.20pm.

13 November - 15 November 2009 – The Open
The Open represents three days of the best that racing has to offer and is the biggest and most important meeting of the first half of the Jumps season, with £750,000 in prize money up for grabs. 18 races provide for a thrilling competition between many of the best Jump horses in Europe, large and enthusiastic crowds creating a special atmosphere and even the opportunity to spend your winnings in the tented village. Friday is Countryside Day with its unique country fair, where you can see a range of demonstrations from duck herding to dressage. The highlight of the meeting is Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup, a race that has been a high point of the Autumn racing calendar since 1960, which offer £150,000 prize. The gates open at 10am, first race is on at 12.50pm and last race runs at 4pm. Tickets start from £9.

11 December - 12 December 2009 – Boylesports International
Boylesports International features two days of the highest class action, with many emerging and established equine stars on display. Saturday's card includes the £200,000 boylesports.com International, one of the most valuable hurdle races of the entire season in Britain or Ireland and the ultra competitive boylesports.com Gold Cup, a superb race in its own right and one of the series of 2 mile 5 furlong handicap chases that never fail to illuminate the season at Cheltenham. On Friday, take your second chance of the season to experience Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, along with the £100,000 boylepoker.com Handicap Chase, as a second highlight on another outstanding card. In the evening on Friday, The Centaur hosts the Brightwells Bloodstock Sale, to which everyone is welcome.

1 January 2010 – New Year’s Day Racing
2010 horse racing at Cheltenham Racecourse starts with New Year's Day Racing. The New Year is kick started with some of the best horses, jockeys and trainers in the land. Gates open at 10.00am, first race is on at 12.25pm, last race at 3.55pm. Advanced tickets to Best Mate enclosure £10, Club/Tattersalls £22.

30 January 2010 – Festival Trials Day
This is arguably the best one day Jumps meeting of the entire season anywhere. Seven races give some final clues as to the destination of the big prizes at The Festival (Five Festival winners ran on this day last season), but this is a day of sporting drama that is far more than a prelude to four days in March. Highlights include the Letheby & Christopher Chase, Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle and the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase. Gates open at 10.30am, first race is on at 12.55pm, last race at 4.20pm. Advanced tickets to Best Mate enclosure £10, Club/Tattersalls £22.

16 March - 19 March 2010 – The Festival
The National Hunt Festival is the highlight of Cheltenham's horse racing calendar, with its importance in British racing, comparable to the World Cup in football. It features the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup, the tradition of which goes back to 1819 and which had its present form since 1924. The four-days of the best steeplechase and hurdle racing attracts thousands of visitors from Ireland, with a strong line-up of Irish horses challenging for the prizes on offer. The 20 races offer in excess of £2 million in prize money. Thursdays have been established as Ladies’ Day when ladies fashion takes the centre stage and the name of a Lady who has made the most Outstanding Contribution to Jump Racing, as well as the winner for the Best Dressed Lady awards is announced. Advance booking is recommended as it will save you money.

14 April - 16 April 2010 – The April Meeting
Since 2008 April Meeting, a Friday evening fixture has been added to the traditional two days. There is also another top class National Hunt sale organised by Brightwells in the Centaur on the evening following the first day of the meeting, which in recent years produced a staggering £2.3 million in aggregate turnover. Advance tickets to Best Mate enclosure £9, Club/Tattersalls £18.

5 May 2010 – Hunter Chase Evening
Hunter Chase Evening is a fixture where amateur jockeys take centre stage on the racecourse, taking part in six races. Off the track, this ever-popular meeting provides an outstanding atmosphere in which to enjoy the last meeting of our season. Advance tickets to Best Mate enclosure £9, Club/Tattersalls £18.

Sunday 13 September 2009

Rowan Gymnastics Club for Pre-School Children

Rowan Gymnastics Club at St. Philip and James Church Centre, in Cold Pool Lane, Up Hatherley, runs pre-school gymnastics classes with the help of Early Gym. An exciting range of dedicated pre-school equipment allows for the introduction of gymnastics for the three and four to five-year-olds. The equipment is a scaled-down version of the equipment used in the other classes for the older gymnasts, which has been specially designed to take into account the size of these early gymnasts.

It allows for the introduction of gymnastics at an early stage in a fun and friendly environment. A small team of qualified coaches run these classes. Classes are held on Wednesdays at 1pm and 2pm and Saturdays at 9.30am. Recreational and competition classes for 5-7 years old, 7-10 years old 10+ years old and adults take place at Bournside Sports Centre in Warden Hill Road.

If you would like your child to be part of this exciting sport, contact Dave Powell, the head coach on 01242 572868 or email davepowell49@ukonline.co.uk.


For more information about Rowan Gymnastics 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.

Saturday 12 September 2009

MASH Festival at Cheltenham Leisure Centre

19 September 2009, Cheltenham Leisure Centre, 1pm - 6pm

MASH (Music, Arts, Sports and Health) Festival will take place at Cheltenham Leisure Centre on Saturday, 19 September 2009. It will be a day of events and activities to celebrate wellbeing and culture in Cheltenham. This free event will include sports tasters, street entertainers, samba drumming workshop, Ceroc, Salsa, Belly Dance and Street Dance workshops, Wii Room and much more. In Cheltenham Art Gallery from 11am - 4pm there will be live music performances, improvised music relay and visitors will be able to get their health checked for free.


TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

Dance Studio - 45 minute sessions
1.00 - 2.00 Belly Dancing
2.00 - 3.00 Salsa Workshop
3.00 - 4.00 Coady Crew
4.00 - 5.00 Ceroc Workshop
Multi Use Area
1.00 - 6.00 Circus Skills
Squash Courts 1-4
1.30 - 3.30 Mini Squash Taster Session led by Tim Miller
4.00 - 6.00 Racketball Taster Session led by Tim Miller
Squash Court 5
1.00 - 6.00 Free Play
Sports Hall - 50 minute sessions
1.00 - 2.00 Badminton
1.00 - 2.00 Samba Drumming
1.00 - 2.00 Soft Play Session
2.00 - 3.00 5-A-Side
2.00 - 3.00 Table Tennis
2.00 - 3.00 Soft Play Session
3.00 - 4.00 Kwik cricket
3.00 - 4.00 Tri golf
3.00 - 4.00 Soft Play Session
4.00 - 5.00 Sports hall athletics
4.00 - 5.00 Bouncy castle
4.00 - 5.00 Soft Play Session
5.00 - 6.00 Short Tennis
5.00 - 6.00 Bouncy castle
5.00 - 6.00 Soft Play Session
Teaching Pool
1.00 - 4.00 Free Swim
Main Pool
1.00 - 6.00 Free Swim
For more information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Wednesday 9 September 2009

Salsa at Holiday Inn Express Cheltenham

10 October 2009, Holiday Inn Express Cheltenham


A weekend dance event is being held to raise much needed funds for Cheltenham’s Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund; to continue supporting local patients and their families affected by leukaemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers.
Cheltenham locals are invited to attend a Latin-style dance event with 2 salsa dance workshops with professional tuition aimed at all levels, followed by 2 live performances by top dance professionals as part of the entertainment. The event includes a 3 course dinner buffet menu, complimentary cocktails and an evening disco until late.
Proceeds from top raffle prizes will be donated to help support the LINC Charity based at Cheltenham General Hospital. Dr. Gill Rouse, LINC co-ordinator, says “We are glad to have support to raise much needed funds for a new countywide haematology unit to be built. Sincere thanks to all those who can support the event.”

The event will take place on Saturday, 10th October from 6.30pm to 12am at Holiday Inn Express Cheltenham. For more information and to book tickets call 01242 548200 or visit http://www.hiexcheltenham.com/.


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

Friday 4 September 2009

Cheltenham MP Lands National Flood Role

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood has been picked by the Liberal Democrats to speak for the party in Parliament on the forthcoming Floods Bill - and he wants local people to help him prepare for the role.

Two years on from the floods that devastated Gloucestershire and other parts of the country in 2007, the Lib Dems have confirmed that the Cheltenham MP will be its national spokesman on the bill which is expected before Parliament this autumn. The bill, already published in draft form, sets out the government's plans for better co-ordination of flood defence, warnings and emergency response.

Martin will be writing to tens of thousands of Cheltenham residents in the coming weeks to ask for their views and experiences, two years on.

Martin said "My suspicion is that there are still many unresolved issues people in Cheltenham have and this is a golden opportunity for me to raise them at national level. The government has spent years consulting but has still dodged some of the most difficult issues that arose from the flooding. Where are the measures to change Ofwat's remit so that water companies have a clearer responsibility to spend more of their profits on preventing local flooding? Where are the measures to ensure that insurance companies treat people fairly who have been flooded or are at risk? Where are the changes to the planning laws to put a stop to development on greenfield sites that will make flooding worse?"

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said "With his extensive knowledge of the natural environment and his experience of supporting those affected by flooding in Gloucestershire, I know that Martin will do a first rate job holding the Government to account on the Floods Bill.

“Martin is widely recognised in Westminster as a tireless champion for his constituency, his work on this Bill will help ensure that the devastation in Cheltenham wrought by the floods of two years ago won’t be repeated.”

Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Tim Farron said “It’s clear for anyone to see, that despite their protestations, the Government still has a huge backlog of flood relief works in many parts of the country.

“With severe floods likely to become more common due to climate change, we need a real strategy and real investment to protect high-risk areas.

“If the Government is serious about reducing the risk of flooding, they have to step up their efforts to front load investment in flood relief schemes in high risk areas across the country.”