PUPILS and parents got behind King's Stanley CofE Primary School after it was found wanting by Ofsted.

After Tribal inspectors employed by Ofsted downgraded the school from outstanding to special measures, parents and governors are fighting back.

Part of their campaign was to celebrate what the school has achieved over the year, including the improvement in its Key Stage One results in the past 12 months which mean its pupils are well above the national average.

Children launched balloons with messages of support attached.

"King's Stanley is the best. They make you work hard but we also have fun," wrote Evie Bailey, nine. "I love King's Stanley School."

Tabatha Targett, eight, wrote: "I love my school because the teachers are friendly I have learnt a lot and I have nice friends."

County and district councillor for the area Steve Lydon (Lab) was also handed a petition calling for Stroud District Council to help overturn the report's conclusion.

MORE than 120 people turned up to have their say about proposals for a new Asda store in Stroud.

The supermarket giant hopes to build a branch on the Daniel's Industrial Estate in Lightpill, which would bring 250 new jobs.

It ran a three-day exhibition of its ideas, which include a petrol filling station, to consult the community about the scheme.

Asda staff handed out bottles of water to keep residents cool as they quizzed the Asda team, including developers and planning consultants, about issues including traffic and jobs.

High among the queries were what impact the store would have on the already busy A46 and how new traffic lights at the Dudbridge Hill junction would work.

Dozens of people filled in feedback forms and Asda property communications manager Oliver Jones said: "We were really pleased to see such a turnout from the community and to meet so many people who supported the scheme."

He said it was clear many were in favour or Asda regenerating a brown field site.

A resident of nearby Constance Close said: "Some people say we don't need another supermarket but they do good prices and we could walk there."

Stroud town centre resident Stella Parkes was not so impressed.

"I found viewing the Asda plans very depressing," she said. "Apart from the damage the store will do to business for town centre traders I think it will cause traffic chaos."

A formal planning application for the 36,665sqft food store, with 344 car parking spaces, filling station and cafe, is now due to be submitted to the Stroud District Council in August.

It is still possible to comment online at asda stroud.co.uk.

WESTINGTON looks set to fall off the map when Stroud District Council takes one of its biggest decisions for years tomorrow night.

The controversial suggestion that 1,500 homes might be built west of Stonehouse is being recommended for deletion from the draft Local Plan.

The crucial meeting will be presented with it two different lists of sites for future new housing estates when it meets at Ebley Mill.

One from its environment committee lists 2,350 housing sites.

The other from its strategy and resources committee comes up with 2,450 potential plots.

But both agree the previous reference to a reserve site west of Stonehouse should be deleted from the emerging plan.

Councillors are required to allocate land for around 2,400 homes which will be needed up until 2031.

They will be asked to decide on which allocations the public will be consulted on this autumn.

Council leader Coun Geoff Wheeler (Lab, Dursley) said he saw the recommendation from the strategy committee as "something the majority of councillors could support".

Coun Wheeler was "happy absolutely" that the reserve site be withdrawn and said: "This is probably the biggest decision we will make as this council".

Protestors from Keep Eastington Rural are among residents who oppose Westington. Campaign spokesman Tom Low said: "The reserve site was always a misguided concept because you don't go into a negotiation showing all your cards."

Mr Low's group preferred new homes dispersed around existing settlements to build stronger communities.

Richard James from the similar Don't Strangle Stroud campaign said he was delighted the "ill conceived" green fields site west of Stonehouse now looked as if it would be rejected.

YOUNG saxophonist Peter Price entertained an appreciative audience at Stroud Subscription Rooms.

Peter, who has just finished his A-Levels, was accompanied by host Trevor T Smith when he played the town's Your Musical Memories club.

Now on a gap year before leaving for university, the 18-year-old was in concert with singers Celia McCabe and Haydn Sutton, members respectively of the Capella Singers and Gloucestershire All Male Police Choir.

DRAMATIC underwater seascapes decorate a canalside wall thanks to sixth form art students at Archway School.

They worked for seven months designing and preparing the mural in Dudbridge.

It was part of the Cotswold Canals Knowledge programme, which aims to teach young people by using the canal restoration as a resource. Materials were provided free-of-charge by Bailey Paints.

Archway's head of art Jon-athan Hill said: "The students worked hard in hot conditions. The project was a lesson in project management and working together and we are delighted with the results."

PENSIONER Frank Gilbert's dream would come true when he took to the skies at the controls of a vintage biplane.

The 82-year-old cancer patient had the trip in the 1946 Stampe SV4 arranged for him by staff at Southfield Care Home in Stroud, where he lives.

Mr Gilbert spent time in the Royal Navy but always dreamt of flying a plane.

Southfield manager Mags Illingworth said: "We like to get to know our residents' life histories so we can tailor their care.

"When Frank told us how he'd always wanted to fly a plane we had to make it happen."

It was after Mr Gilbert was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that the Southfield team decided to organise his dream trip.

His family, other Southfield residents and staff joined him at Gloucestershire Airport in Staverton to cheer as he put the Tiger Moth through its paces.

He even took the controls during the plane's loops and rolls.

Southfield activities co-ordinator Yvonne Kelly-Fox said: "We were delighted to be able to arrange this for Frank."

Southfield is run by the charitable The Orders of St John Care Trust.

A PLAYING field car park at Stagholt in Stonehouse is being sold off for redevelopment by a housing association.

The firm offer of £70,000 for the area of land has been received from an association by the landowners Stonehouse Town Council, its building facilities working group has reported.

The figure had been verified by an independent valuation on the basis of five units being developed, the meeting at Stonehouse Town Hall learned.

VIP guest the Princess Royal joined her neighbours at a charity fete in Minchinhampton.

Princess Anne, who lives on the nearby Gatcombe estate, officially opened the annual fundraiser at Horsfall House charity-run rest home and day centre on Sunday.

She and the crowds basked in blistering temperatures outside the Minchinhampton Centre for the Elderly's home in Windmill Road, its chairman Nigel Parry said.

He said: "The Princess was brilliant, first class. She visited every single stall at the fete."

The Princess, who spent two hours at Horsfall House where she is patron, toured improvements inside the building before she opened the fete.

She met and chatted to patients, unveiled a plaque in memory of Horsfall benefactor David Thomas and another commemorating recent developments, including a three-bed extension.

The latest £900,000 project was possible partly due to the late Mr Thomas' £400,000 donation.

Horsfall House offers nusing, dementia and day care to needy local residents.

THOUSANDS flocked to enjoy the traditional rural amusements of Stroud Country Show.

Families and the cattle and other farm animals they had come to see sweltered together in the heat at Stratford Park on Saturday.

There was plenty of water on hand to make the cows and sheep were comfortable and a busy beer tent lubricated the human visitors.

Show chairman Edna Powell said: "We were pleased. It has been a fantastic turnout.

"It was all down to the fantastic volunteers who put up the tents and similar things."

Tony Wyatt, joint secretary of the large horticultural and crafts marquee, said he estimated around 4,000 people turned up to enjoy the vintage vehicles, rare breeds, poultry and waterfowl, charity and other stalls, sideshows, and children's classic fun fair.

Entry to the show was free and music from Frampton Silver Band provided the backdrop to a lazy afternoon for visitors.

"We zipped up the tent sides to let the breeze though and cool us down," Mr Wyatt said.

"Entries were down for the vegetables, which was hardly surprising considering the wet winter, cold spring and scorching heatwave."

Mr Wyatt's wife Mavis helped organise the competitive growers' and handicraft exhibits.

Cashes Green resident Alan Frusher won the best in show cup with his sweet peas.

Cups went too to D Cook for vegetables; Mr Frusher and David Green, sweet peas; Mrs G Davey, floral art; Lynne Powell, flowers; Margaret Fedrick, handicraft; Nick Price, photos; Amy Cook, Children's Cup; Stroud WI, the WI Rose Bowl; and D Marlow and G Gay for wines in the Stroud Wine Circle contests.

The show was officially opened by Stroud town councillor John Marjoram. Stroud MP Neil Carmichael exhibited his restored red and grey Massey-Ferguson 135 tractor.

RESIDENTS in the new royal prince's namesake village in the Severn Vale are delighted about the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son.

Businessman and long-time Cambridge resident John Keedwell said it was an exciting time.

"You can always see everything doom and gloom on the TV with different wars so it is good to see a joyous occasion that, perhaps, makes things a little better and lifts the spirits," said Mr Keedwell, 69, one of the volunteer organisers of both the North Nibley and South Cerney steam rallies

Philip Garrett, chairman of Slimbridge Parish Council, which includes Cambridge and Gossington, said nothing official had been mooted by way of celebration for the arrival of the royal baby.

"Obviously, everyone is going to be thrilled and pleased," he said.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's yet to be named son has become third in line to the British throne after his father and his grandfather Prince Charles who lives at Highgrove House, just outside Tetbury.

The little prince was born at 4.24pm on Monday, weighing in at 8lb 6oz. He was expected to leave hospital last night or early today and head to Kensington Palace in London with his parents.

The Duchess is believed to planning to spend her first six weeks as a new mum at the Middleton family's home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, while the couple's apartments at Clarence House in London and being renovated.

The Duke has already said he and his wife Kate simply "could not be happier."

Eighty per cent of UK homeowners are predicting property values will rise over the next six months – the highest level for three years – according to the latest Property Sentiment Survey from Zoopla.co.uk.

In an indication that confidence is flooding back into the housing market, Zoopla's poll of 5,863 homeowners found that four out of five expect prices to rise in their area before the end of the year, the biggest proportion since the second quarter of 2010.

Just seven per cent of homeowners across the UK expect house prices will fall between now and Christmas, down from 13 per cent just three months ago.

And the amount by which the average homeowner expects prices to rise is also at its highest in three years.

UK homeowners now predict property prices will increase by an average of 4.8 per cent over the next six months, up from 4.4 per cent three months ago.

Property owners are also much more confident about mortgage availability. Some 26 per cent believe attaining a mortgage now is easier compared to three months ago.

Homeowner confidence has improved throughout the UK, not just the South East, with nine out of 11 regions seeing an increase in the proportion of homeowners who think prices will rise over the next six months.

The biggest increase in confidence among homeowners is in the West Midlands, where 78 per cent of homeowners now believe house prices will climb in their region over the next six months compared to only 63 per cent three months ago.

Jon Plant was appointed Gloucestershire area manager of Andrews Estate Agents earlier this year. Here, he talks about rising house prices and the months ahead for the county's property market, including the strong return of the first-time buyer.

What area do you cover and how many branches does Andrews have in the county?

I cover the Gloucestershire area where Andrews has eight branches. They are Bishop's Cleeve, Cheltenham, Charlton Kings, Gloucester, Leckhampton, Stroud, Prestbury and Tewkesbury. We also have five letting teams operating in the area. We have been operating in Gloucestershire for more than 40 years.

What are your initial aims as area manager?

As area manager my role is to ensure that we deliver the highest standards of service to our customers and maximise performance across all areas of the business. We want to offer a dynamic, efficient service that delivers the highest results for our clients.

How has the agency performed so far this year?

This year appears to be one of recovery. Following the budget this year, we quickly identified more confidence in the marketplace and started to see more buyers. This in turn resulted in an increase in demand. We are seeing a much healthier property market compared to this time last year with property, buyers and viewings all up on 2012. We have over eight per cent more buyers than this time last year and with that kind of demand it is inevitable that house prices will rise.

How do you expect the market to behave over the rest of the summer?

Although, traditionally, there is a seasonal dip in activity over the summer months, we are expecting this year to remain buoyant. September and October are always very busy leading up to the pre-Christmas move. It is a great time to sell and we are looking forward to a busy finish to the year.

Are you seeing any buyer or seller patterns at the moment?

The biggest trends we have seen are the resurgence of the investor landlord as they recognise that with an increase in house prices they need to buy quickly before they become uninvestable. We are also seeing a strong return of the first-time buyer as mortgages are becoming more accessible.

Have you seen an increase in house prices in recent months and do you expect this to continue?

House prices have increased by around 3.7 per cent compared to this time last year. If we continue to see the trend in buyer demand that we have experienced so far this year, it is highly likely that house prices will continue to rise.

What is your general impression of the property market locally and nationally?

The evidence so far suggests that we are seeing a recovery. The year has got stronger and with demand currently outstripping supply and more lending by the mortgage providers, I see no reason why this will not continue.

Both young families and the elderly have been taking an increasing interest in a part of Cheltenham, an estate agent in the town has said.

Ian Whyte, of Whyte's Independent Estate Agents, said Warden Hill was home to great facilities for the young and old.

"We are very fortunate here because we have a healthy market for bungalows," he said.

"Warden Hill enjoys great facilities for all the family but in particular for the elderly, having a busy parade of local shops and a post office is a real bonus.

The doctors' surgery is on the same site as Morrisons, as is the library and there is an excellent bus service operating in the area.

"We are also blessed by good primary and secondary schools, which bring the young families to the area too."

He said house prices and confidence in the market were both up, with further opportunities for investment buyers who were not in short supply in the area.

He said: "The market is more buoyant now than it has been for many years. There is an optimism in the air and our level of enquiries has increased.

"Prices are starting to edge up and buyers do not seem to be put off by this.

"The investment buyer is still out there and we sell a percentage of our properties to those wanting to buy-to-let. Warden Hill and Hatherley are popular and the rental properties that become available are quickly snapped up.

"We find that those renting in this area turn into future purchasers, as they appreciate the locality and what's on offer here."

First-time buyers were also on the up, Ian added, with many being helped with their deposits by family.

However, he called for the Government to reduce stamp duty land tax, which is three per cent of the property's purchase price on those priced between £250,000 and £500,000, as it was hampering the market.

"The one disappointment for me is the continued high level of stamp duty," he said.

"I live in hope that this will be addressed in the near future. As agents we have a dilemma because when you value a property at £260,000 or £265,000 you know very well that many of those viewing will be wanting to offer £250,000 to avoid paying the additional stamp duty.

"This could be dealt with in a much fairer way and thereby kick-start the market even more by freeing those who need a bigger house from the shackles of this unpopular tax."

AMBITIOUS plans to use a Gloucester building as a hotel after a break of more than 100 years are being considered by planners.

Antony Clark, managing director of Cheltenham's Central Hotel in Portland Street, wants to turn Clarence House at 14-18 Clarence Street into a 55-bed hotel.

Only one of the seven office suites is currently let, and Mr Clark's planning consultants have made a case for returning it to use as a hotel.

"We are looking to run it as a similar operation to the Central Hotel in Cheltenham," said Mr Clark, who hopes to create about 10 to 15 jobs there too.

"We have serviced apartments in Cheltenham and a laundry, so we would be keeping it local with this hotel."

It traded as a hotel since at least 1861, on the back of the boom in trade in Gloucester, brought by the then-Gloucester and Berkeley Canal, and new railway lines.

It was sold in 1900 and until 1972 was used as a nurses home, when it was divided up in to offices. Then the inside was replaced but the original facade remained.

However, with only one office space let in the building on the corner of Clarence Street and Russell Street, and many firms preferring newer premises outside the city, consultants Alder King say there isn't the need for offices in this area of Gloucester which would also benefit from residential use.

Hugh Worsnip of Gloucester Civic Trust's architect's panel welcomed the application.

"This is acceptable and welcome," he said.

"The panel previously welcomed last year the use of this almost wholly unoccupied city centre office block as residential flats but this is a better use.

"We want the whole of the original facade to Clarence Street and Russell Street of the original Fowlers Hotel of 1856 retained as per the 1970s rebuild with extension.

"The proposed main entrance to Russell Street is an improvement ion the existing."

It traded for at least several decades as a teetotal temperance hotel, and by coincidence this hotel proposal does not include a bar.

THE HONOUR of Heineken Cup rugby must not be enough for Gloucester, calls Akapusi Qera.

The thunderous Fijian flanker believes the Cherry and Whites fully merit their return to top-tier European rugby this term.

But the 29-year-old loose-forward has warned that Gloucester cannot fall into the trap of believing qualification was the hard part.

The Suva-born back-rower has called on the Kingsholm men to raise their game to new heights this season, to cope with the extra demands of the Heineken Cup and mount a serious Premiership title challenge.

Gloucester will start their return to Europe's top table by hosting Perpignan at Kingsholm on Saturday, October 12 (6pm).

The prospect of Qera going head to head with former Gloucester team-mates and fellow back-rowers Luke Narraway and Alasdair Strokosch is sure to whet Cherry and Whites appetites for the Heineken Cup kick-off.

But Qera is urging his Kingsholm peers not to allow any distractions to derail their trophy charge in Nigel Davies' second season at the Gloucester helm.

Qera has been a Kingsholm fixture since his arrival from Pertemps Bees in 2007.

The wrecking-ball tackler admits he has enjoyed every minute of his time at the club but concedes he had hoped for more silverware.

The Fiji international's sole Gloucester title remains the 2011 LV=Cup, and he is dead-set on altering that this term.

Qera said the excitement that filtered through Kingsholm when Gloucester secured Heineken Cup qualification in April must now be channelled into relentless preparation.

He explained: "In the build-up to the last game of last season, the Exeter game, some of the senior players were joking about the big teams we could draw in the Heineken Cup and what that would be like.

"We were laughing it out thinking about playing teams likes Clermont and Toulouse.

"Making the competition brought a big level of excitement to everyone at the club, and so it should.

"But we must be extremely serious about the competition now.

"Even though we are there and we are excited to be, we need to lift our standards again this year.

"The Heineken Cup is a different level altogether.

"For us to be there is an honour, but we still need to work hard if we want to get the rewards from the competition that we're looking for.

"We have made good progress under Nigel in the first year, but there's still a long way to go to be where we want.

"And the only way to get there is through hard work."

Gloucester's pool six schedule switches from hosting Perpignan in round one to making the testing trip to Thomond Park to take on Munster a week later.

The draw was confirmed earlier this week, with Kingsholm rugby director Davies admitting a home victory in the first match will be crucial.

The former Wales centre believes Munster are favourites to win the pool, but is also confident his side can overturn the weight of history and expectation.

The six pool winners and the two best-performing runners-up will comprise the quarter-finals, and Gloucester's December double-header with Edinburgh could prove the crux of their chances.

Davies' men will entertain Munster at home in round five, before the Perpignan trip completes the pool schedule on the third weekend of January.

MARK Yates will have learned more about his new-look Cheltenham Town team from this match than in the three previous friendly wins over non-League opposition combined.

Coventry City provided by far the sternest test of the summer so far, with their mixture of first team and academy players passing freely and giving Cheltenham a thorough examination in the evening heat.

One-time Robins loan target Leon Clarke opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a fine curling shot from just outside the penalty area.

Right-back Cyrus Christie made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute after a long ball from Adam Barton was flicked on by Callum Wilson.

Christie beat Brown with a low shot inside the near post and Steven Pressley's Coventry deserved their lead.

Yates opted for a 4-4-2 formation, with Terry Gornell given his full debut up front alongside Jamie Cureton.

Most recent arrival Craig Braham-Barrett was handed his first start at left-back, while Ashley Vincent was picked to play in front of him on the wing.

Braham-Barrett showed a willingness to attack at considerable speed and he offers something totally different to the steady presence of Billy Jones, whose deliveries into the box were such an important source of goals for Cheltenham last season.

Matt Richards was once again bright in midfield and the other main positives for Cheltenham were a solid defensive display from Troy Brown up against dangerous front men and another impressive substitute cameo from youth team prospect Zack Kotwica.

The 17-year-old lost his man for Coventry's second goal, but the way he skipped away from several defenders at the other end in the latter stages was hugely encouraging.

Cureton was always a danger during his 61-minute run out and although he did not quite find his shooting range there was evidence to suggest he and Gornell could form a useful understanding in attack.

Gornell played deeper, acting as link-up man and happy to take the knocks and bumps to create openings for his veteran partner.

Substitute Jones forced Lee Burge into a reaction save in the final minutes, with Byron Harrison also denied by the Sky Blues goalkeeper.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; S Jombati, T Brown, S Elliott (K Lowe 70), C Braham-Barrett (B Jones 61); J McGlashan, R Penn (J Taylor 70), M Richards (G Bowerman 80), A Vincent (Z Kotwica 67); J Cureton (S Deering 61), T Gornell (B Harrison 70). Subs not used: D O'Donnell, J Hanks, E Williams.

COVENTRY CITY: L Burge; C Christie (L Bromley 76), J Clarke, J Finch, R Haynes; C Baker (E Bako 76), A Barton (I Lawton 76), B Daniels (R Quinn 76), L Lobjoit; L Clarke (B Maund 76), C Wilson. Sub not used: A Gott.

REFEREE: S Hooper.

ATTENDANCE: 872 (199 away).

STAR MAN: Troy Brown.