James Felton

A three-vehicle crash on the southbound M5 between junctions 13 and 14 near Stroud has closed two lanes, causing long rush-hour delays. Traffic remains slow, with closures reported by AA Traffic Maps.

Plans have been approved to convert the upper floors of the former HSBC building on King Street, Stroud, into three houses in multiple occupation: a three-bedroom flat, a four-bedroom flat and a three-bedroom maisonette. The ground floor already has approval for three commercial units, including a restaurant and a shop. Green district councillor Cate James-Hodges welcomed the return of housing but raised concerns about whether rooms would be rented separately to strangers and how tenant safety would be managed. A planning officer concluded that the conversion would cause minimal external change, preserve surrounding heritage assets and support the town centre without harming its vitality.

Plans have been approved for The Port Way development off Winnycroft Lane in Matson, Gloucester, providing 180 homes in a mix of social rent, shared ownership and open-market tenures. Construction is expected to begin in summer, with the scheme including accessible homes, wheelchair-user properties, air-source heat pumps and solar panels. The development will preserve the remains of a medieval moated manor within an open meadow, alongside new footpaths and heritage information boards. Bromford Flagship LiveWest and Gloucester City Council support the project as a response to local demand for affordable housing.

A section of the A46 between Stroud and Pitchcombe was scheduled to close at approximately 3 p.m. on July 27 for about an hour so Gloucestershire Roads could safely remove a dangerous tree. The authorities apologized for the inconvenience and thanked motorists for their patience.

A grass fire on Field Lane in Hinton, South Gloucestershire, prompted road closures and warnings for residents to keep windows and doors closed because of smoke. Avon Fire and Rescue Service later said crews had left the scene but would return for an inspection, with closures between Field Lane and Cock Lane due to be lifted while smoke might remain.

Members of St Cyr’s Church in Stonehouse condemned an incident in which someone urinated against the church porch. The historic church, whose tower dates to the 14th century, said the area has been cleaned and appealed to visitors to treat the community space with care and respect.

Stroud Police recovered items stolen from Pop & Pup at the Five Valleys Shopping Centre during a busy shift that included anti-social behaviour hotspot patrols and welfare checks. Officers also assisted with a fallen-tree road closure in Chalford, recovered an abandoned vehicle on the A46 and supported Gloucestershire colleagues after a crash.

The driver of a black Audi A4 died after a collision with a green Land Rover Defender on Westerleigh Road near Yate at around 9:15 p.m. on a Friday. Emergency services pronounced the Audi driver dead at the scene. Avon and Somerset Police appealed for witnesses and asked anyone with information to call 101, quoting reference 5226207888.

Spurretts Opticians in Farnworth is urging people to seek professional advice for persistent dry-eye symptoms, which affect about one in three UK adults. Practice manager Helen Savvides explains that the condition can result from insufficient tear production or rapid tear evaporation and may be worsened by screen use, air conditioning and contact lenses. She recommends regular screen breaks, hydration, full blinking and the 20-20-20 rule, while the practice offers assessments to identify causes and develop personalized treatment plans.

More than 200 tonnes of hazardous waste, including household rubbish, white goods and asbestos, was illegally dumped on a privately owned two-acre floodplain site behind St Oswalds Retail Park in Gloucester. Gloucester City Council, the Environment Agency, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Ubico have launched a major operation to remove the waste, secure the site and prevent further dumping. Authorities say the landowners are victims, while residents who hired unlicensed waste contractors could face financial penalties or prosecution. The investigation is continuing and may lead to enforcement action against those responsible.