Welcome to SPJARA!
Here's the latest news from our part of Cheltenham
Online Safety & Cybercrime
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Thanks to wonderful and useful talk on Online Safety & Cybercrime by Laura Davies, Cyber Support Officer, Digital Intelligence Unit, Gloucestershire Police at the SPAJARA AGM on the 13th of May, we are now a little more aware of how to protect ourselves from becoming victims of Cybercrime. Useful emails and websites Some of the useful contants Laura had in her presentation, which you may find useful to store somewhere in case you may need it are : To check the strength of your password or generate a strong password: /password.kaspersky.com/ To check if your email id has been in a data breach: https://haveibeenpwned.com/ If you are suspicious of an email, report it by forwarding it to : [email protected] If you are suspicious of a text, report it by forwarding it to 7726 Report all Cyber Crime and Fraud to: www.reportfraud.police.uk/ Passkeys and Password Managers One topic that was mentioned was Passkeys. As mentioned by one of the committee members, there was a short conversation recently on BBC Radio 4's PM Program, which explained what it was and how they work. In the interest of our residents we have made a recording of that conversation available here : drive.google.com/file/d/1p8GxyMQmt_IxDSj9FnE4NUUyGHTBUxcQ/view?usp=sharing Password Mangers: The use of Password managers was recommended by Laura in her presentation and also in the PM program clip on Passkeys. The Password manager can also be used to generate strong passwords and can be used in-sync across your devices - i.e., your mobile, laptop , tablet etc. Some good password managers are reviewed in this website: uk.cybernews.com/lp/best-password-managers-uk/ Stay safe |
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CHILDRENS’ ART PROJECT
With Spring finally here, we’d like to encourage budding artists, from the age three to twelve, to free their creative spirits and produce a postcard size picture on the theme of Spring in Cheltenham.
The picture can be in paint or charcoal or crayon or indeed in any medium the artist likes, and we’ll display as many as possible on our notice board at the Norwood Triangle. Pictures should be signed by the artist – first name only please and age.
This is not a competition but an opportunity for our children and grandchildren to express their creativity and have their work displayed for all to see.
Pictures – don’t forget, postcard size only – can be posted or hand delivered to British Red Cross Furniture & Electrical Shop , 14 Suffolk St, Cheltenham GL50 2DQ
And by 30th of May 2026
Note: Please mention that the submission is for SPJARA paintings campaign when you submit it. If sending by Post please add ‘SPJARA Painting Campaign’ to the address.
This is a new idea which we hope will engage our younger residents! If there is interest, we will continue this throughout the year and information on future themes will be detailed on the SPARA Noticeboards (in Norwood Triangle and Bath Road) and the SPJARA website (https://www.spjara.org.uk/)
With Spring finally here, we’d like to encourage budding artists, from the age three to twelve, to free their creative spirits and produce a postcard size picture on the theme of Spring in Cheltenham.
The picture can be in paint or charcoal or crayon or indeed in any medium the artist likes, and we’ll display as many as possible on our notice board at the Norwood Triangle. Pictures should be signed by the artist – first name only please and age.
This is not a competition but an opportunity for our children and grandchildren to express their creativity and have their work displayed for all to see.
Pictures – don’t forget, postcard size only – can be posted or hand delivered to British Red Cross Furniture & Electrical Shop , 14 Suffolk St, Cheltenham GL50 2DQ
And by 30th of May 2026
Note: Please mention that the submission is for SPJARA paintings campaign when you submit it. If sending by Post please add ‘SPJARA Painting Campaign’ to the address.
This is a new idea which we hope will engage our younger residents! If there is interest, we will continue this throughout the year and information on future themes will be detailed on the SPARA Noticeboards (in Norwood Triangle and Bath Road) and the SPJARA website (https://www.spjara.org.uk/)
March 2026 - First Tuesday of the month social
There was a warm and friendly air in the March Jolly Brew social on the 3rd of March , as you can see in the photograps here. Why not join us for the next first Tuesday of the month social which will be on the 7th of April . See page below (First Tuesday of the Month social) for details
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First Tuesday of the month social
First Tuesday of the month
Join us every First Tuesday of the month at The Jolly Brewmaster in Painswick Road for a friendly get-together. The SPJARA committe members will be there from 6pm to 7:30 to make you feel at home, listen to your gripes, laugh at your jokes and welcome newcomer!
Join us every First Tuesday of the month at The Jolly Brewmaster in Painswick Road for a friendly get-together. The SPJARA committe members will be there from 6pm to 7:30 to make you feel at home, listen to your gripes, laugh at your jokes and welcome newcomer!
SPJARA Christmas Lights Switch-on 2025
A wonderful merry Christmas Lights On event was enjoyed by all on 12th of December. A Good turn out with lots of bonhomie, conversations and singing of Christmas carols spurred on by the mulled wine, snacks and the warm brazier. We were entertained by the musician D'Artagnan!
A big thank you to the hard work by the committee members who put up the lights and made all other arrangements for the event.
Merry Christmas to all!
A big thank you to the hard work by the committee members who put up the lights and made all other arrangements for the event.
Merry Christmas to all!
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SPJARA Birthday and Garden Party 2025
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Though it threatened to rain at the start, the Sun soon came out with a smile and a wonderful SPJARA Birthday and Garden Party ensued.
The wine was dispensed with aplomb by the able Wine servers ( Vanessa and yours truly (Vivek):-)) ... Cucumber Sanwiches and Egg Cress Sanwiches made by Diana and Carol were devoured with relish, conversation flowed in an atmosphere of bonhomie! A speech was delivered by Maurice and the Birthday cake was cut. We were entertained by the beautiful singing by Joy-Amy. A big thank you to Nickie and John for letting us use their garden for the party. A fabulous end to a astonishingly warm and sunny Summer |
SPJARA objects to plans for new development in The Park
You can read our submission here. But briefly we think that new homes that may be built within the circle will be damaging in themselves and could begin a process in which other bits of The Park are put up for sale for development.
You can read our submission here. But briefly we think that new homes that may be built within the circle will be damaging in themselves and could begin a process in which other bits of The Park are put up for sale for development.
COUNTY COUNCIL CLIMBS DOWN ON PROM PAVEMENT
As many people are now aware, Gloucestershire County Council recently proposed to remove part of the York paving in the pedestrianised section of the Prom and replace it with a tarmac strip, treated with gravel. Well over 2000 people signed a petition organised by the Cheltenham Civic Society which urged a rethink. Because we felt that many SPJARA members would share the society’s concern, we wrote to our County Council and Borough councillors to indicate our support for the aims of the petition.
We received the letter below from the Civic Society’s chair. The plans are now on hold, and we hope very much they will be ditched completely.
We received the letter below from the Civic Society’s chair. The plans are now on hold, and we hope very much they will be ditched completely.
We've replanted the Norwood Triangle
The planting team resting after the warm work
How it looked before - the box dying everywhere
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We planted box bushes on the Norwood Triangle many years ago and they made a beautiful picture. But of late they have been munched to death by this fellow: the Box Moth caterpillar or Cydalima perspectalis:
So we dug them up and planted the two triangles with 127 pittosporum tenuifolium plants. It was a community effort, as you can see. The new plants are already thriving, though they will need watering for some months.
A big thank you to Diana Pollock for organising the purchase of the plants and to the Suffolk and Tivoli Traders, Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucestershire County Council for assisting us with three grants to over the costs, We look forward to the triangle - a venue for many of our social events - looking even better than before. More colourful utility boxes
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above two replacement BT Open Reach boxes before decoration (above) and after (below)
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Graffiti tackled too
Rhys has also been clearing up two boxes that recently got the graffiti treatment. Below (left) before the clean up and (right) after
Rhys has also been clearing up two boxes that recently got the graffiti treatment. Below (left) before the clean up and (right) after
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BEWARE THE BOX MOTH CATERPILLAR!
(it's back again - see main story)
Gardeners throughout Cheltenham - including many in the SPJARA area - are battling with a plague of caterpillars that are eating their box bushes 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 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, hidden between leaves that have been spun together with silk, over-winter, and will then emerge in the spring as moths which 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.
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 back again - see main story)
Gardeners throughout Cheltenham - including many in the SPJARA area - are battling with a plague of caterpillars that are eating their box bushes 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 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, hidden between leaves that have been spun together with silk, over-winter, and will then emerge in the spring as moths which 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.
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
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
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
The Bath Road shops
Now, more than ever, we realise what a great set of shops we have on the Bath Road. Please support them.
The SPJARA AGM -
a great occasion
a great occasion
We held our AGM at the Suffolk Bowling Club on 20 May. The reports given by Maurice Gran (chair) and Heidi Awege (treasurer) have been uploaded to the website here. 50 or so members attended the AGM proper; and a further 10 or 15 joined us afterwards to listen to a brilliant illustrated talk by Stuart Manton on the history of our part of Cheltenham.
We elected a new committee as follows:
•Chair: Maurice Gran
•Hon Treasurer: Heidi Awege Thompson
•Hon Secretary: Vanessa Angelo-Thomson
•Membership Secretary: Roy Arnold
•Committee members: Hugh Arthur, Sara Dillon, Hugh Curran, Julian Hancock, Adrian Phillips, Diana Pollock, Simon Smith
•Ex-officio members: Cllr Tim Harman (GCC) and Cllr Jackie Chelin (CBC)
* NB Julian Hancock and Simon Smith are new to the committee
We elected a new committee as follows:
•Chair: Maurice Gran
•Hon Treasurer: Heidi Awege Thompson
•Hon Secretary: Vanessa Angelo-Thomson
•Membership Secretary: Roy Arnold
•Committee members: Hugh Arthur, Sara Dillon, Hugh Curran, Julian Hancock, Adrian Phillips, Diana Pollock, Simon Smith
•Ex-officio members: Cllr Tim Harman (GCC) and Cllr Jackie Chelin (CBC)
* NB Julian Hancock and Simon Smith are new to the committee
To read our latest Newsletter - click here
HOMES FOR REFUGEES
A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY COUNCIL
Gloucestershire County Council has launched a scheme called Homes for Refugees, to provide short-term supported accommodation to help refugees to rebuild their lives in the county.
The scheme is for refugees who have been granted asylum, meaning they have the legal right to live and work in the UK, having fled conflict or persecution in their own country.
Once an asylum claim is approved, an individual is generally only given a short notice period to leave the accommodation provided by the Home Office, and do not have enough time to make longer term plans, such as securing employment and more permanent accommodation.
The Homes for Refugees scheme gives this group of new refugees a little more time to look for their own housing, secure benefits, find employment and work out their next steps.
The structure of the scheme is similar to Homes for Ukraine: UK residents provide spare rooms, properties, or annexes as accommodation and are offered a monthly ‘thank you’ payment of £600 to cover extra household expenses.
The short-term placements last up to 3 months, and both hosts and guests get wrap-around support during this time. Guests will receive professional help to look for employment and long-term accommodation, so that they are ready to move towards independence by the end of the placement. The Homes for Refugees team offer guidance to hosts throughout the placement and can also support them if they wish to turn the arrangement into a longer-term formal tenancy.
There was a very positive response to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, with over 800 hosts welcoming Ukrainians into their homes, but we need more people to come forward to offer refugees a safe place to stay so they can start to rebuild their lives.
At the link below you will find:
· an enquiry form to get in touch with our friendly Homes for Refugees team
· more information and some frequently asked questions
· links to a digital poster that can be shared or printed. Please display these in any suitable locations you have. Let us know if you would like us to send you hard copies.
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/homes-for-refugees
A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY COUNCIL
Gloucestershire County Council has launched a scheme called Homes for Refugees, to provide short-term supported accommodation to help refugees to rebuild their lives in the county.
The scheme is for refugees who have been granted asylum, meaning they have the legal right to live and work in the UK, having fled conflict or persecution in their own country.
Once an asylum claim is approved, an individual is generally only given a short notice period to leave the accommodation provided by the Home Office, and do not have enough time to make longer term plans, such as securing employment and more permanent accommodation.
The Homes for Refugees scheme gives this group of new refugees a little more time to look for their own housing, secure benefits, find employment and work out their next steps.
The structure of the scheme is similar to Homes for Ukraine: UK residents provide spare rooms, properties, or annexes as accommodation and are offered a monthly ‘thank you’ payment of £600 to cover extra household expenses.
The short-term placements last up to 3 months, and both hosts and guests get wrap-around support during this time. Guests will receive professional help to look for employment and long-term accommodation, so that they are ready to move towards independence by the end of the placement. The Homes for Refugees team offer guidance to hosts throughout the placement and can also support them if they wish to turn the arrangement into a longer-term formal tenancy.
There was a very positive response to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, with over 800 hosts welcoming Ukrainians into their homes, but we need more people to come forward to offer refugees a safe place to stay so they can start to rebuild their lives.
At the link below you will find:
· an enquiry form to get in touch with our friendly Homes for Refugees team
· more information and some frequently asked questions
· links to a digital poster that can be shared or printed. Please display these in any suitable locations you have. Let us know if you would like us to send you hard copies.
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/homes-for-refugees
SPJARA visit to Javelin Park
Javelin Park is that immense structure just south of Gloucester beside the M5. It generates electricty from the waste that it burns. SPJARA set up a visit there on 14 August. We were a small party and given a full tour of the facility, from the loading bays where our rubbish arrives through the prepartion store and the furnace that generates the steam that drives the turbines. The power generated is enough to meet the needs of some 25,000 homes.Living as we do downwind from Javelin Park, it was good to see the effort made to ensure the air that emerges after the process is clean. You can see more here UBB (ubbgloucestershire.co.uk). Above is a photo of us all, kitted out for the tour.
Many thanks to Vanessa Angelo-Thomson for organising this outing for us. We plan to repeat the visit later in 2024.
Javelin Park is that immense structure just south of Gloucester beside the M5. It generates electricty from the waste that it burns. SPJARA set up a visit there on 14 August. We were a small party and given a full tour of the facility, from the loading bays where our rubbish arrives through the prepartion store and the furnace that generates the steam that drives the turbines. The power generated is enough to meet the needs of some 25,000 homes.Living as we do downwind from Javelin Park, it was good to see the effort made to ensure the air that emerges after the process is clean. You can see more here UBB (ubbgloucestershire.co.uk). Above is a photo of us all, kitted out for the tour.
Many thanks to Vanessa Angelo-Thomson for organising this outing for us. We plan to repeat the visit later in 2024.
Latest planning news
We have commented on the plans to convert the former Lloyds Bank in Bath Road into a "community church, proposals for two new houses behind 16 Upper Bath Street and a plan to modify 14 Park Place.
We submitted our comments earlier in the summer of 2023. In September, we learnt that in the case of the proposed church the approved plans were amended to remove the threat to trees. As to 16 Upper Bath Street, the earlier plans were withdrawn, and a new more modest proposal for a single storey house has since been approved. It is now under construction.
You can read all our recent submissions to the Council and other planning news here.
We have commented on the plans to convert the former Lloyds Bank in Bath Road into a "community church, proposals for two new houses behind 16 Upper Bath Street and a plan to modify 14 Park Place.
We submitted our comments earlier in the summer of 2023. In September, we learnt that in the case of the proposed church the approved plans were amended to remove the threat to trees. As to 16 Upper Bath Street, the earlier plans were withdrawn, and a new more modest proposal for a single storey house has since been approved. It is now under construction.
You can read all our recent submissions to the Council and other planning news here.
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 on the build-outs outside the Co-op (see photos). The Co-op helps to water them. We've moved the old planters that were there before to the Norwood Triangle - see below.
Meanwhile, Rhys Cowe, our artist, has decorated several new utility boxes in Bath Road (see opposite).
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 on the build-outs outside the Co-op (see photos). The Co-op helps to water them. We've moved the old planters that were there before to the Norwood Triangle - see below.
Meanwhile, Rhys Cowe, our artist, has decorated several new utility boxes in Bath Road (see opposite).
Bath Road -
one of two planters next to the Co-op
....and brightening up the Norwood Triangle
In May last year we moved the old planters from the Bath Road to the Norwood Triangle and planted them anew - see photos below. Many thanks to Diana Winsor and her husband Ken for the planting advice and assistance here and in the Bath Road.
In May last year we moved the old planters from the Bath Road to the Norwood Triangle and planted them anew - see photos below. Many thanks to Diana Winsor and her husband Ken for the planting advice and assistance here and in the Bath Road.
the team that moved the replanted the planters - now the flowers are flourishing in the Norwood Triangle (below)
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.
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.
SPJARA: who, what and where is it?
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
the SPJARA area, drawn by Diana Pollock 2024
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The streets in our area
Andover Road (east of Andover Walk) Andover Street Andover Walk Ashford Road Brandon Place Casino Place Edward Street Grafton Road Gratton Road Great Norwood Street Morgans Drive Norwood Road Northwick Place Painswick Road Park Place St James Place St Philip's Street Suffolk Street Tryes Road Tudor Lodge Drive Tudor Lodge Road |
