Kingsway Villagers

I am looking to move my wall a few feet and create an additional drive space (preferably tarmac) in an area  of my unused land down the side of my house and on some general scrubland within my boundaries.

I am keen to keep the appearance of my additional drive in keeping with those around mine.

Do you think that the current builders still on site would be willing to come around and make the alterations for me or should I contact an independent (you hear so many cowboy stories though)?

Is this something I’d need to get planning permission for?

Any help/pointers appreciated.

Thanks

I have recently emailed the Council about the unsightly litter that is mounting on the verges and hedgerow on the bypass between the Kingsway entrance and the Petsmart Traffic Lights. I have received a response saying:

"Thanks for your enquiry. Currently this area of dual carriageway is tidied twice a year, early June and then end September. We are aware that this is an ongoing problem and are reviewing how we approach such litter issues in the future."

If anybody else is disheartened with the amount of litter collecting in the hedgerow I’d be grateful if you could contact The Council. Surely the more of us that complain the quicker they might do something.

If anyone has any contacts at the Council that could expedite the process I’d be grateful for a word in the right ear(s).

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