Turn Things Upside Down

A thought-provoking short video by nathankw

General Election candidates hustings in Yate 28 April

All the General Election candidates for the new Thornbury and Yate constutuency will be at St Mary's, Yate on Wednesday 28 April from 7.30 to 9.00 pm.

Undecided? Want to see the candidates in person? Please come along.

(With many thanks to all who organised this event)

Not on the electoral roll? There are just two days left to register to vote

Click here to find out how

Leaders' debate - could YOU help the Lib Dem campaign?

What did you think of the Leaders' TV debate? Want to help Steve Webb's campaign?

It's really easy to join the @LibDems - you can find out more here and join for as little as £6

Chipping Sodbury Festival - 25 years not out!

Tickets are selling fast for events in this year's Chipping Sodbury Festival, which runs from 11th to 20th June.

Some of the most popular events are almost sold out already, so get your tickets now from Chipping Sodbury Tourist Information Centre at the Clock Tower, and from Farrago in Horse Street.

For full details of the events check out the Chipping Sodbury Festival website!

Beating the Bounds of Yate Common - 9 May 2010

Beating the Bounds is a traditional local activity for Rogation Sunday, walking round the boundaries of the Common so that people know what they hold as a community asset. In some places they beat the bounds of an entire parish, or ride round the boundaries of larger parishes.

The Common was nearly sold off for housing some years ago, but a determined campaign by local people (many now in the Focus Team) kept it in public ownership. This gives beating the bounds of the Common a special meaning. Please bring your children to show them what a lovely area we have just on the edge of the town.

Please come and join the walk, which starts from the kissing gate opposite St Briavel's Drive at 3pm on Sunday 9 May.

Facebook to encourage people to register to vote

The BBC reports that Facebook is working with the Electoral Commission to persuade people to sign up to vote if they're not already on the electoral roll.

Facebook users who visit the site over the weekend will be offered a link to a page that lets them enter details online.

The deadline for voter registration for the 6 May general election is 20 April - later than in previous elections.

It is estimated that more than 3 million potential voters may not be registered.

Could you rattle a tin for Alzheimers research?

BRACE - Bristol Research into Alzheimer's and Care of the Elderly - will have a collection at Morrison's in Yate on Friday 23rd April. They need helpers for a couple of two hour slots in the afternoon, or you can help for a one hour stint if you can't manage two.

Please help this very important local charity that focuses on financing research into dementia and conditions of the elderly. If you can spare an hour or two, please ring Lynda at the BRACE Office on 0117 340 4831 or email her on lynda@alzheimers-brace.org

You can find out more about BRACE from their website at
www.alzheimers-brace.org

A third of tax credit payments are for the wrong amount – Steve Webb

Almost a third of tax credit payments have been for the wrong amount, figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats have revealed.

More than 2m families have been repeatedly overpaid in the 5 years since tax credits were introduced, answers to Parliamentary Questions show.

The number of families repeatedly underpaid was up 42% to almost 1m over the same period.

A staggering 50,000 families have been taken to court in pursuit of overpayments in the last three years.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Steve Webb said:

“These figures should shame ministers into making changes to the tax credit system.

“Families are put on a financial rollercoaster when they are forced to repay tax credits after continual mistakes. This is not the kind of help they need when times are hard.

“Families need to know exactly what cash is coming in and when. They should not have to face sleepless nights wondering when the Revenue will come knocking asking for money back.

“Ministers should fix tax credits payments for six months at a time so overpayments could be avoided, but they refuse to admit the system is anything but perfect.”

Yate Easter Egg Hunt 2010 on Monday!

The annual Kingsgate Park Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Bonnet Parade will take place on Easter Monday - 5 April - starting at 10.00 am.

Come along to this ever-popular free family event.