Welcome to SPJARA!
Here's the latest news from our part of Cheltenham
BEWARE THE BOX MOTH CATERPILLAR!
Gardeners throughout Cheltenham - including many in the SPJARA area - are battling with a plague of caterpillars that are eating their box buses with a terrifying ferocity. Here is the villain, the caterpillar of the box moth, or Cydalima perspectalis. Box Tree Caterpillars are greenish-yellow with black heads and once fully grown the caterpillars reach up to 4cm in length and will have a thick black and thin white stripes along its body. In the spring, the moths appear and there can be up to 3 generations of caterpillars a year. Box Tree Caterpillars over-winter as caterpillars rather than as moths, so it is essential to kill as many of the caterpillars as possible before the temperatures drop in the autumn. The caterpillars over-winter, hidden between leaves that have been spun together with silk and will then emerge next spring as moths to reproduce and produce the next generation of caterpillars. The moth came from East Asia and has no natural predators here. Wherever it goes, it destroys box bushes very quickly, reducing them to an unsightly skeleton. It’s really bad news. You can control it though, using a biocide called XenTari. We have sprayed this on the box bushes on the Norwood Triangle. We won’t be able to get rid of the caterpillar for ever, but we are pretty sure we wil be able to control it. There are some pretty strict rules about using this treatment, but used carefully it should be safe. Wear a mask and gloves, and don't spray in windy weather. There are other forms of control, notably nematodes which predate on the caterpillars. Sadly it seems as if this new pest will be with us now for good and will only be controlled, not removed entirely. So many people are thinking of planting alternatives. There is lots of good advice here https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/box-tree-caterpillar It's getting a long overdue refresh
Well, if you too shudder every time you see this monstrous eyesore - the public loos in the Bath Terrace Car Park - there's some good news. At last, the Borough Council are carrying out a proper clean up and repainting job. Welcome back to your refreshed conveniences!!
In case you missed the AGM on 15 November.....
There were 55 members present - a record. For the draft record of the meeting, including Clair Chilver's account of the year, the financial report and the guest talk, see here. And the next item includes a link to the tlak by our guest ‘The grass can be greener
– Sustainable solutions for your property' Here are the slides from SevernWye talk given at our AGM on how to make our homes more carbon efficient SPJARA commit to tackling climate change and reducing our emissions to net zero by 2030
SPJARA has signed up to the Borough Council’s CheltenhamZero Agreement. This means we recognise “the climate emergency and acknowledge the unacceptable risks it poses globally and also locally to the future of our environment, our livelihoods, our homes and our town”.
By joining CheltenhamZero, SPJARA has committed to tackling the climate emergency head on, doing our part with our organisations and working collaboratively to support the shift to net zero emissions as a town by the year 2030. Meanwhile we can learn from other parts of town. For example, the Hesters Way Forum has developed a very good, simple green living guide - here http://hesterswayforum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Green-Living-Plan-Draft-27-11-20-.pdf  local residents, SPJARA committee members and Chris Chavasse of CBCB planting trees at Mellersh House, on 27 November 2021
TREES AND MORE TREES - SPJARA MAKES OUR AREA GREENER! We planted ten more trees around Mellersh House on a chilly November morning. They are all rowan or mountain ash trees (Sorbus aucuparia). They were purchased by SPJARA from the Cheltenham Tree Nursery. John Paterson organised the event. He was helped by Diana Pollock, Roy Arnold, Andrew Bishop (local resident), and Adrian Phillips. Chris Chavasse, Borough tree officer was on hand to help and advise. PS Now that summer is coming we have been watering the saplings. They are all in good shape.  another shot of the SPJARA tree planting party at Mellersh House on 27 November 2021
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Brightening up the Bath Road
Working with our neighbouring residents' association, NARA, we obtained a grant from the county to help brighten our favourite local shopping street. We installed and planted two new planters outside the Co-op (see photos). And Rhys Cowe, our artist, is redecorating a new utility box on the corner with Grafton Road. 
the two planters after planting
Roundabout branding repaired
Huge thanks to the Cook Shop and Lizzie Smith its owner for their incredibly generous funding for the repair to the Bath Road roundabout's "branding" which was damaged recently for the umpteenth time. (See pictures below of earlier damage to a panel and now repaired). We are deeply appreciative and very much hope that SPJARA residents will consider reciprocating this by supporting the Cook Shop. And thanks too to Chantal Freeman who was out doing the work at 7AM on Easter Sunday morning before the traffic. 
Latest planning news
We have commented on a new scheme for 99 Painswick Road - which we like much more than earlier ones (which were mercifully abandoned) You can read our submission to the Council and other planning news here. We've also signalled our strong support for the re-erection of the damaged pillar and gates to Hilgay House (Tudor Lodge Road). The Bath Road shopsNow, more than ever, we realise what a great set of shops we have on the Bath Road. Please support them.
The Bath Road Utility boxes - some good news!
SPJARA has had new grant from Glos CC to i decorate a replacement utility box on the corner with Grafton Road - see above
An invitation to join our committeeFrom Clair Chilvers, Chair
The SPJARA Committee is looking for new members. We want ‘doers’ – people who will help us to organise events, social media or take on a particular Committee responsibility. The Committee meets three times a year in the evening. If you are interested please contact me by email initially clair_chilvers@hotmail.com |
Who or what is SPJARA?
SPJARA* is the Residents' Association that covers the roads and streets of Cheltenham shown on the map below. The name SPJARA comes from St. Philip and James Church which lies at the centre of our area. However, we have no formal link to the church.
Why not join SPJARA? It's just £5.
We look forward to meeting you soon
* SPJARA started life as 'St Philip and St James Area Residents' Association', but a name change to its initials SPJARA was agreed in 2018. Hence the rather awkward name!
Why not join SPJARA? It's just £5.
- We help to protect and improve our area -
- see Stuff we Do
- We help local people to meet and socialise -
- see Social Events
- We get things done
- We are always looking for ways to make our area better.
We look forward to meeting you soon
* SPJARA started life as 'St Philip and St James Area Residents' Association', but a name change to its initials SPJARA was agreed in 2018. Hence the rather awkward name!
THE SPJARA AREA
With thanks and acknowledgment to Diana Winsor, 2018
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