Kingsway Villagers

Hi my name is Judy,

I would just like to introduce myself to Kingway.

Myself and my team are opening a new Hair And Beauty Salon in Kingsway next month – Feb’ 2012 – at the local centre (by Tesco Express).

We have organised a launch party for the 25th of February and we are opening on the 28th of Feb’.

Everyone is welcome on the 25th, to come and have a little look around and meet the staff; we will be there from 6pm and we look forward to meeting you

Judy

Hi All,

There have been some discussions around Gloucester Carnival and we would really like to put in a float or something like that into the procession for 2012, with the main idea being to have some fun and do something as a community.

To that end, if anyone has any ideas of how to decorate the float in a way that reflects Kingsway and/or is pertinent to us, then please comment below.

Also (and more importantly) if you would like to be involved in putting a float/something together then we would really appreciate your help. Not quite sure what it will involve yet, but it will not be too arduous but should be a bit of a laugh really.

Again, drop a comment here if you think you would like to be involved and we can take it from there.

Cheers,
Barry

Following many recent remarks, complaints and questions about the Naas Lane to Woodvale link road, I recently received a copy of a letter written by a local resident (and previous Residents Association Committee member) and sent to Robert Hitchins, along with the reply – which came from Andy Smith (QUVL):

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing regarding the Naas Lane entrance/exit road for Kingsway. It is currently blocked off at both ends by concrete barriers, silt and rubble to prevent cars from using the road. At several residents’ association meetings QUVL have said that when they have been in talks with Robert Hitchins about the road, that it is due to be opened in September 2011. This date has been and gone, yet the road is more blocked than ever! However, my complaint is more about pedestrian access to this road. As you may be aware, there are several businesses on this small stretch of road (a nursery, a community centre etc.) and I take my 2 year old toddler to the BarBar Nursery there. It is getting increasingly more difficult to get to the nursery, as there is so much rubble to climb over or around, not to mention all the mud and deep puddles forming either sides of the barriers which make it impossible to walk through or push a buggy over. It’s getting very dangerous to help my toddler around/over all these blocks and I’m deeply unhappy about it. As users of the businesses situated on that stretch of road, we have the right to expect a safe passage to walk to the said businesses.

Please kindly either open the road, or at least organise a safe and clear walkway from the Kingsway roundabout end of Naas Lane through to the nursery. It is currently an accident and/or lawsuit waiting to happen.

Please also kindly respond to my e-mail with confirmation of its receipt, and what Robert Hitchins intend to do about the problem.

Thanks and regards,
Kimberley

Dear Kimberley,

Thank you for your email regarding the road between Naas Lane and Woodvale.

On behalf of QUVL we continue to work with County Highways to prepare this road for adoption. We have recently made great progress with the City Council in agreeing in principle the adoption of the balancing pond which drains the area around this road.

Our next step is to obtain adoption of the drainage network, following which Highways will agree to adopt the road once final surfacing and other remedial works have been completed.

We have now engaged a contractor to complete the surfacing of this road and the works are programmed for the first quarter of 2012.

In the meantime, we are reviewing the use of the stone bund at the North end of the road to prevent traffic accessing this road, and will shortly be replacing these with an alternative measure, which will ensure that the footway width is left clear. We have this year encountered issues with travellers gaining access to the area around the balancing pond, and the current measures enable this risk to be minimised, to the benefit of ourselves and local residents and businesses.

I hope the above provides a useful update and assure you of our best attention.

Regards
Andrew Smith

Following on from this discussion – Potential new Asda Supermarket in Kingsway, the following letter from Robert Hitchins Limited, Dated 9^th January 2012, was received today:

Dear Householder,

Land at Kingsway, Quedgeley and possibility of a foodstore

You may be aware that Robert Hitchins Ltd has been approached by a major retailer interested in building a foodstore on a 4.5 acre site at the entrance of the Kingsway estate off the A38 in Quedgeley.

We are pleased to confirm that the food retailer ASDA is the preferred partner for this proposed development.

A public consultation event outlining the proposals for a foodstore will be held to seek feedback before planning application is submitted to Gloucester City Council.

As a resident of Quedgeley, we very much hope that you will be able to attend.

The venue, dates and times are as follows:

The Committee Room, Quedgeley Community Centre, School Lane, Quedgeley, GL2 4PG

Thursday 9^th February, 4:30pm – 7pm

Friday 10^th February, 10am – 6pm

Saturday 11^th February, 10am – 1pm

We are aware there has been strong demand for more facilities in Quedgeley where the community has experienced rapid residential growth and little retail choice.

It is therefore our hope that a 25,000 sq ft ASDA supermarket would go some way towards meeting that need and would have a positive economic impact on the area, bringing up to 230 local jobs.

The store envisaged would include a café, 239 car parking spaces, a cycle park, recycling area, high-quality design, and attractive landscaping.

As a local resident, you are probably aware that the entire 340 acre Kingsway area, part of a former airfield, received planning permission in 2003 for a mixed use scheme of 3,300 homes, a 40 acre employment site, community and leisure facilities, retail, sports area and primary school.

It was initially hoped that the 4.5 acres on the A38 might suit a company seeking a national HQ or major warehouse facility. The area therefore has planning consent for B1 use (offices) or B8 (warehousing), not A1 (retail).

Since 2003, however, much has happened, not least the economic downturn which has considerably altered expectations as to what can realistically be achieved.

On the plus side, however, there have been hugely positive changes in Quedgeley. More that 1,700 homes and Kingsway Primary School have been built by members of the Quedgeley Urban Village Ltd consortium, which include Robert Hitchins.

We have also refurbished Avionics House which provides 16,000 sq ft of office accommodation where some units remain vacant, and in March 2011 the company got the go-ahead to build a further 100,000 sq ft of office accommodation which we are keen to deliver when occupier interest is shown.

In addition, we are very pleased that Robert Hitchins has recently completed the development at Kingsway local centre, including a Tesco Express, Chemist, Café, Estate agent and Marston’s Pub/Restaurant which is due to open on 30^th January. QUVL is also currently constructing sports pitches for community use.

It is our belief that an ASDA foodstore would be a valuable addition to those facilities, bringing the site into economic use and widening retail choice in response to local need.

We hope you find this information of interest ad that you will be able to attend the public exhibition. Your input would be very welcome.

Yours Sincerely,
Mark Durand
Senior Development Surveyor
Robert Hitchins Ltd

I would like to make the Kingsway community aware that reports of a rogue trader have come to our attention in recent weeks. A few people have mentioned about someone taking their computer away for repair and later returning and telling them it can’t be repaired. Some of these people have in my opinion been conned into selling the item for a few pounds. After hearing about the faults with one person’s laptop it is clear this was an easy fix and would not have cost much at all to rectify. One person was told that her Nintendo DS was not repairable and this was never returned to her. I am sure this is theft even if it is a broken item.

This kind of behaviour is damaging to the community and for local businesses trying to provide a legitimate service.

I would like to urge people to ask to see proof of qualifications before allowing anyone to attempt any repairs on your electronic devices. I would also like to tell the residents of Kingsway and the surrounding areas that even if their item cannot be fixed it still remains their property and they are entitled to it back in the same condition as it was when taken away.  Search for a second opinion. This kind of thing was happening all the time in my previous location.

The people of Kingsway need to know that rogue traders are everywhere. In this present financial climate we all want to save money but the three people I have spoken to have lost their laptops and had to replace them at a cost much more than a repair would have been. Don’t throw it away along with your hard earned cash. Also faulty laptops and computers make good money when sold online so even if it is broken consider selling it yourself online before accepting a few pounds for it.

It would be interesting to hear from anyone who may have suffered regarding this con.

After dozens of ‘phone calls, folks stopping me in the street and much speculation and anticipation, I can confirm that Kingsway’s Pub’ The Barn Owl will open it’s doors to the public on Monday 30th January. (The expected opening time is around 11:30am, ‘though the exact time is subject to confirmation).

Manager Gary Millard invited Residents Association Committee members to meet him and take a sneak preview of the building earlier this evening (sadly the beer isn’t online yet, so we had to make do with a coffee) and I must say that I was very impressed. The renovation has been beautifully done. Internally the building is stunning and the facilities are excellent and the patio and external areas are quite extensive.
Gary revealed that no internal photographs have been released as the owners wish to “wow the public” on arrival, (thus I will not describe anything in detail, except to say that the Bats really have been looked after!!) and I must say that – in my honest opinion – he will not be disappointed.

Gary – previously manager of the Weavers Arms (now the Haywain) in Quedgeley until around 5 years ago – has since been running the Bristol-based Huntsman (also a Marston’s Pub’) until he and his wife (and co-manager) Kirsty and children moved back to the area to live at The Barn Owl in Kingsway.

Gary said that – of the 40 staff recently appointed – 37 are Kingsway Residents, and both Chefs have come with excellent CV’s (one of them was previously Head Chef at Wentworth Golf Club and the other at The George in Stroud).

The Pub’ website is here, complete with menus and information plus a link to their Facebook Page and a link to register and receive your free drinks voucher (registered customers will receive special offers and information).

Just so I’m not accused of being biased, I will say that in my opinion the one negative aspect is that Marston’s intend that this will be a restaurant rather than a Local Pub’, so – although it will doubtless be the prettiest restaurant in the area – I won’t be getting the band back together for a gig at the local!

And finally, the restaurant will in fact be opened to invited guests only on 27th, and to pre-booked customers only on 28th and 29th. (I believe Gary said that some leaflets are being distributed locally by the staff, so if you receive one, book early to avoid disappointment…
and don’t sue me if I’m mistaken here, the tour took an hour and I wasn’t making notes)!