Cheltenham News
The latest Cheltenham news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Barlow Road sheltered flats get £650,000 refurbishment
New water pipes and a digital alarm system for 74 council flats at Barlow Road, Arle, a year after tenants reported discoloured water. What changes, and when.
More stories
What's On
Cotswold Life Home & Gift Show opens at Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday
A new two-day home, gift and food show fills five rooms at Cheltenham Racecourse on 2 and 3 October, 10am to 4pm. Tickets £7.50, under-16s free, free parking.
Business
Sibling Distillery heads for liquidation as creditors are called to meet
Sibling Distillery, the Charlton Kings gin maker, has called its creditors to a 6 October meeting, the formal step towards liquidation. What the notice says.
Planning
Glenfall Way homes refused on appeal, but the inspector's figures warn of more bids
An inspector has thrown out four homes on the Glenfall Way field in Charlton Kings. The landscape won, but only after he set out a 2.69-year land supply.
Community safety
Cheltenham BID puts security officers on town centre streets
Two BID-funded safety officers now patrol Cheltenham town centre from Friday 4pm to 4am, Saturday noon to 4am and Sunday daytime, in a three-month pilot.
Community
Cheltenham community groups can bid for £230,000 from Monday
£230,000 of developer money opens to Cheltenham community groups on 28 September, nearly 80% more than in 2025. Who can bid, and the 15 December deadline.
Property
Cheltenham house prices stall at 0.3% after three monthly falls
Cheltenham's average home is £322,758, up £927 in a year and £10,296 below April. Flats are down 2.3%; only the Forest of Dean did worse in Gloucestershire.
Planning
Cheltenham Green Belt vote: nine questions on the evidence
Campaigners ask when the Green Belt review and site-selection evidence will be published. The plan's evidence page holds nothing newer than November 2025.
Parking
Cheltenham Zone 15 parking made permanent, no objections
Cheltenham Zone 15 parking became permanent on 9 September after six months with no objections. Match-day controls on five roads, four streets freed.
Housing
Cheltenham council housing offices close, drop-ins 5 Oct
Cheltenham council housing offices at Hesters Way and Oakley close on 23 September. Nine weekly drop-in sessions start 5 October, leaving a 12-day gap.
Planning
Cheltenham Green Belt: 750 homes and an October plan vote
Councillors approve the plan that allocates sites in October, and its published Green Belt evidence dates from 2011. Residents want alternatives tested first.
Jobs
Cheltenham claimant count: 2,095 in August, over-50s rise
2,095 people in Cheltenham were on unemployment benefits in August, 2.7% of 16 to 64s. Hesters Way is highest at 5.6%; all 20 wards, by age and trend.
Business
Cheltenham BID names Julie Reader-Sullivan chief executive
Julie Reader-Sullivan, former chief executive of Headway Gloucestershire, will lead the town centre business levy body after Fran Inman steps down in September.
Property
Cheltenham house prices up 2.2%, now behind Tewkesbury
Cheltenham's average home is £325,399, up £7,107 in a year. Tewkesbury borough is now dearer, and only one Gloucestershire district grew more slowly.
Council
Cheltenham PSPO: overnight camping ban proposed borough-wide
Sleeping out overnight anywhere in Cheltenham would need council consent under a renewed PSPO that also targets aggressive begging. Comments close 19 October.
Council
Cheltenham council abolition paused: 2028 merger in doubt
Ministers told Gloucestershire's councils to stop work on scrapping Cheltenham Borough Council. The April 2028 merger and May 2027 elections are on hold.
Planning
Prestbury scout hut plan: new hall, comments close 22 Sept
1st Prestbury Scouts want a second 70 square metre hall for a group at its biggest in over 30 years. Comments close 22 September, and nobody has objected.
Business
Kashmir Cheltenham: restaurant firm in liquidation
The company behind Kashmir Restaurant on Albion Street entered liquidation on 26 August. A new business, Bell & Grill, is now registered at the same address.
Community
Cheltenham Youth Cafe back at Smokey Joe's on Thursdays
Free weekly sessions for young people restarted at Smokey Joe's on Bennington Street on Thursday 3 September, 3.30pm to 6pm, running through October half term.
Gloucestershire County Council
Cheltenham West fire station: 2,065 object to night cut
Gloucestershire wants Cheltenham West's 14 night firefighter posts moved to Cinderford. Its own figures add 25 seconds here. Consultation closes 28 September.
Charlton Kings
A40 Charlton Kings: 40mph plan after 17 collisions
Gloucestershire proposes 40mph and 50mph on 2,420m of the A40 at Charlton Kings after 17 injury collisions in five years. Comments close 11 September.
Transport
Cheltenham EV charging: 85p a kWh at St James Street
Cheltenham's second ultra-rapid hub has opened at St James Street car park: 10 bays, 85p per kWh or 80p on the app, and the parking tariff runs on top.
Environment
Cheltenham sewage works: Severn Trent pays £777,424
Severn Trent will pay £777,424 over an ammonia breach at Cheltenham's Hayden sewage works. It is not a fine and not a conviction. What the deal covers.
What's On
Cheltenham Literature Festival 2026: tickets 3 September
The full 2026 programme is out: more than 500 events from 9 to 18 October. Members book from 27 August, general booking opens 3 September. Full line-up.
Planning
Hesters Way garden plan: 17 trees on old St Aidan's site
Plans for a community garden on the old St Aidan's church site in Hesters Way are back: 17 new trees, an 85 sq m hub building, and comments open until 1 September.
Housing
Oakley Farm: 158 of the 250 new homes will be affordable
Nearly two thirds of the 250 homes going up off Harp Hill will be affordable: 53 social rent, 51 affordable rent, 54 shared ownership, with the first due this autumn.
Business
Charlton Kings builder McCauley Construction in liquidation
The Charlton Kings house builder entered creditors' voluntary liquidation on 30 July, days after a strike-off notice. Where creditors can turn.
Community
Hatherley Park lake set to refill after £55,000 restoration
Around 130 cubic metres of silt is out and the lake is 0.6 metres deeper, after £50,000 from the borough council and £5,000 from the Friends group.