Kingsway Villagers

Hi All,

My wife, Amanda, has set up a Food Co-op for Kingsway families. The idea is that we can put in bulk orders with (mostly) local food producers, who then deliver to our place and then we distribute to you (or you come and pick it up).

We currently source from Over Farm (Veg’ etc), Cullimore Organics (Meat) and Essentials (Dry/Tinned Food etc).

There are already a few families involved and anyone is welcome to join in.

If you are interested in placing an order, or just knowing more about it, feel free to get in touch with Amanda by email - [email protected] or search on Facebook for “Kingsway Food Co-op”

Cheers,
Barry

I would like to thank all of the residents who voted in the recent County Council elections, and in doing so, placed their trust in me to be our Councillor for Grange and Kingsway.

I know that the two areas of Grange and Kingsway have a lot we can bring together to learn from the experiences of both communities Before and during the campaign I spoke to a great many residents, picking up many issues to resolve. However this needs to be an ongoing process and I encourage you to get in touch with me with any issues you may have, or things you think are good that we should do more of.

I do intend to hold regular surgeries both physical, and some trialing of internet based surgeries, as well as making use of other social media to pick up your thoughts. I am available on twitter (@baz_k) as well as Facebook, or though my website at www.barrykirby.co.uk.
Email me at [email protected] or just ring/text 07951330534

I look forward to continue working with you in our community.

Barry

In under 2 weeks, on the 2nd May, we have the County Council elections. This year will see a change from what we are used to, because of the reduction in the number of councillors and the redrawing of the County Ward Boundaries. Currently, the Quedgeley ward covers all of Quedgeley and Kingsway and has 2 Councillors to cover the area. This is going to change to having Quedgeley Ward covering the traditional area of Quedgeley up to the A38, and then a new ward called Grange and Kingsway covering Kingsway, Grange and Copeland Park. Both of these wards will have 1 Councillor each.

It is a great honour for me to have been selected as the Labour Candidate for the Grange and Kingsway Ward. I have lived here in Kingsway for over 5 years with my wife and 3 young children. Throughout this time I have been working hard within our community both as the founding Chairman of Kingsway Residents Association and as a Councillor on the Quedgeley Parish Council, I put community at the heart of everything that I do. From instigating the annual Big Lunch celebrations that have gone from strength to strength within Kingsway to holding public meetings for people to find out what is going on in our community and to enable them to put their issues directly to those responsible.

When talking to residents, one of the most common complaints is that politicians are “all the same”. However many people who have met me know that in this instance, this is not the case. You don’t just see me at election time. I believe in Labour values of decency, humanity and helping people where I can hence why I joined the Party, but I am also very clear on why I want to be a County Councillor, and that is to work for our community to make sure we are properly and actively represented.

I am constantly out and about, making myself available to anyone who needs it. I am also very active on social media both Twitter and Facebook and while it is not everyone’s’ cup of tea, I think it is important for anyone to be able to get in touch, by whatever means is most useful for them.

Our community is very important to me and I want to see it continue to grow in the way it has, and that is with the residents at the heart of the development and having our input taken on board. For example, the change from the bowling green to something more useful, the long but finally successful campaign to get the Naas Lane link road opened and the speed awareness campaign that I instigated. I am a great believer in positive action, just highlighting complaints is not enough, I believe in working with people to ensure that residents’ concerns are raised with the right people, and to keep going to ensure complaints are addressed.

So, when it comes to the 2nd May, please do take 10 minutes to pop to the polling station (Which is at the Kingsway Community Centre and NOT at the school as usual) and vote for me, Barry Kirby, to be your County Councillor and together we can ensure that our community grows and develops in a great way.

Cheers,
Barry

The Kingsway Speedwatch group is now up and running, with Sarah Jones and myself trained to use the equipment. We will be running ops over the next couple of weeks, looking at the main routes of Rudloe Drive, Woodvale, Valley Gardens and Thatcham Avenue.

If you want to find out more or get involved as part of the team then please do get in touch. My number is 07951330534 or email me at [email protected], it would be great to have your support. We have also set up a Facebook group here, so do keep an eye on that for updates too.

Cheers,
Barry

It’s great news that the County Council Planning Committee finally listened to reason and threw out the Incinerator plans. What is less great is the fact that the County Council has already signed the contract, so meaning that OUR money, in one form or another will be used to bail them out of their premature action.

I have heard today that UBB are already considering appealing against the decision, hence why it is important that we do not take our eye off the ball and think it’s all won, we have to ensure that this doesn’t get sneaked in by any back doors.

What is also really important is the fact that we need to deal with the waste that is currently going into landfill and that new plans and processes must get underway to sort this out. I believe that focusing on better and easier recycling, with an end process that is efficient and good for the environment has to be considered as a system of processes, not just a one size burns all solution.

Cheers,
Barry

Hi All,

After much delay for a number of reasons - we now have the opportunity to train some of us to use the official Speed Gun over the next week or so.

Training will be early evening next week (date and time to be confirmed to fit best with everyone interested), and will consist of showing us how to use the equipment, highlighting where we want to do it and what procedures we need to go through.

If you are interested, please comment on here or email me at [email protected] and let me know your availability next week.

This initial session will enable us to determine the level of speeding within Kingsway in order to take the next steps.

Cheers,
Barry