The Liberal Democrats have launched their city council election manifesto with a pledge that Gloucester deserves better after 17 years of Conservative rule.

The Conservative administration is tired and has run out of ideas and it is time for change in Gloucester in the local elections on May 6.

The Liberal Democrats have the ideas, energy, enthusiasm and the plan to rebuild the council and help Gloucester prosper as it emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

The iconic Debenhams building in the centre of Gloucester has been bought by the University of Gloucestershire.

The 1930s art deco building will be restored and turned into a five-storey campus in the heart of the city centre.

The university is also considering ways of turning the ground floor of the building into dual use - allowing access to services by the public.

One of Gloucester's most important monuments has received a Government grant to help with ongoing maintenance.

St Oswald's Priory has been awarded £25,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund to pay towards the cost of conservation work.

Among the projects is placing a turf layer onto the top of the walls, which helps reduce the deterioration of the stones.

The Liberal Democrats have welcomed the decision to appoint a new city council waste contractor.

Ubico will provide Gloucester with waste and recycling services, street and toilet cleaning, grounds and tree maintenance from April next year - replacing Amey.

As the company is co-owned by the other district council's in Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire it should mean it is easier to improve waste services.

The Liberal Democrats are challenging the Conservative city council administration over its dreadful record on emptying the bins and clearing litter in Gloucester.

At next week's full council meeting, the Lib Dems will propose a motion calling for a root and branch review of litter bin provision and the emptying regime in the city.

A Gloucester councillor is working to help businesses resolve a parking problem in his ward.

Councillor Sebastian Field, who represents Podsmead, was contacted by a business owner on Empire Way who said legal parking opposite their business was preventing access for customers and deliveries.

The business, which is based on the Centurion industrial estate off Bristol Road, has contacted the police in the past on days when the parking has been particularly bad.

Gloucester City Council's budget has been branded "dull" as financially-stretched residents face paying more for services.

The ruling Conservatives saw their budget for the 2021/2022 financial year approved by a majority of councillors.

Gloucester City Council's share of the council tax bill will rise 2.4% next year.

A city councillor who started an email newsletter for residents during lockdown is celebrating the 50th issue of his email.

Councillor Sebastian Field, who represents Podsmead, began the project in April 2020, during the first national lockdown, as an extra way of communicating with residents.

Councillor Field said: "I am really pleased to have reached this milestone. I communicate with residents in Podsmead in lots of ways including traditional forms, but with lots of people at home during the lockdowns it was an extra way for me to let people know about the issues I'm working on.

The Conservatives have been accused of complacency over the state of roads and pavements in Gloucester.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton said there was an £80 million backlog of repairs for highways across Gloucestershire.

And he criticised the Conservative cabinet member for complacency over the state of the roads - highlighting several in the city that need fixing.