So where's the proper bus shelter for Yate?

You may remember we were promised that the new bus shelter would be done by the end of October? No sign of work on the ground, so as councillors we chased. We've now been told that the South Glos officer who was dealing with it has left.

We've spoken to another officer who has a record of being able to fix problem projects. He told us that the officer who left had passed on some notes, but as far as we can establish no firm date was agreed for installation, though it's thought that "this is likely to be before the end of November"

We've gone back and said this isn't good enough. The specification was agreed in July, we were told the end of October, and this sort of delay just isn't acceptable.

In the meantime, as some local people have remarked, it's ironic that Tesco's trolleys are now under shelter but bus passengers aren't.

We're continuing to chase, but it's like banging your head against a brick wall, it'll be lovely when we can stop...

Nibley Lane closure Thursday 3 November

Nibley Lane is expected to be closed from 9.30am to 2.30pm on Thursday 3rd November. This is to allow the road to be cleaned.

Nominate your local sporting hero now

You have until Friday 28th October to nominate your local sporting hero for an "Active South Gloucestershire" sports award. There is a range of categories:

• Sportsman of the Year
• Sportswoman of the Year
• Young sportsperson of the Year (awarded to members of a Sport England ‘Accredited’ Sports Club)
• Young sportsman, sportswoman and disability sportsperson category
• Sports coach award
• The Sports Link award (awarded to a Sport England ‘accredited’ sports club which has done the most to promote club/school links. Proposals must be independent of the club)
• School sport award (separate primary and secondary school category, awarded to the school which has done the most to promote school sport and physical activity to young people. Proposals must be independent of the school)
• School sport award individual - primary and secondary category (proposals must be independent of the school)
• Team award (awarded to teams who have excelled i e school, adults, Sport England ‘accredited’ sports clubs)
• Personal Achievement Award - sponsored by the Active Partnership
• James Clifford Memorial Award (awarded to sporting and leisure industry professionals for innovation, creativity and / or provision of excellent customer service) James was the popular marketing manager for Circadian Trust (who run SouthGloucestershire Leisure & Sports centres) who sadly passed away this year.
• Community sport award - sponsored by Airbus UK (awarded for outstanding contribution to a lifetime of sport)

All nominees for the awards, which are sponsored by Airbus and the Active Partnership (a partnership between South Gloucestershire Council, South Gloucestershire Leisure Trust and NHS South Gloucestershire to increase participation in physical activity) must live within South Gloucestershire or be involved with a South Gloucestershire club or school.

You can find out more on the South Glos website.

Yate Tesco opens today

Yate's new Tesco Extra store has opened today after a remarkably short construction period that is a credit to the builders and the project manager.

Work on four more shop units will start after Christmas. It is anticipated that two of these will form a Marks & Spencer Simply Food store.

Yate Shopping Centre has also launched a new website http://www.yateshoppingcentre.co.uk which carries details of events and stores at the Shopping Centre.

Westerleigh Road, Westerleigh - emergency overnight closure

*** UPDATE 21/10/2011- EMERGENCY WORK POSTPONED***

South Glos now say that the work will not now be tonight but will take place on the evening of 1st November from 8.00pm to 6.00am.

******

South Glos has just said that Westerleigh road ,Westerleigh will be closed overnight to ALL vehicles from its junction with  Besom Lane to a point 50m north of the Railway Arches for emergency repair works Network Rail need to carry out on the rail bridges crossing the road.

In other words, the stretch of Westerleigh Rd affected is from the lane that leads to Wapley, under the two railway arches, and finishing a short distance from the arches on the chapel (Yate) side.

However it is anticipated that the works will occupy 21st  October only,  from 8pm to 8 am.

Still trying to get a cardboard recycling bag?

We previously told you about FREE bags for recycling cardboard. South Glos's stock has run out and they're not ordering any more, but some of the local collection points MAY still have them:

• Yate Leisure Centre
• Yate Library
• Chipping Sodbury Library
• Yate Town Council (Poole Court)
• Dodington Parish Council (Dodington Parish Hall, Finch Rd)
• Frampton Cotterell Parish Council (Brockeridge Centre)

As at 20th October there are 50 or so still left at at Dodington Parish Council (Dodington Parish Hall, Finch Rd). You can ring 01454 866546 to check availability and working hours before you call. We don't know whether any of the other places still have stocks. First come, first served!

Dodington Parish Band 15th Anniversary Concert this Saturday!

Come and listen to this very popular local brass band. They've been going now for 15 years, and would like you to help celebrate their anniversary this Saturday (22nd October) in Dodington Parish Hall, Finch Road, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6JZ.

Tickets are £4 (including refreshments) from Wendy or Krystina at Dodington Parish Council - call in to the office in Dodington Parish Hall, phone 866546 or buy at door. Under 15s free.

Temporary Tesco buses Yate to Bradley Stoke

During the Tesco closure this week there is a free bus from Yate to Tesco Bradley Stoke. It leaves Yate on the hour from 9.00 am until 4.00 pm, and returns from Bradley Stoke on the half hour from 9.30 am until 4.30 pm.

Reminder - Yate Tesco now closed for a week

Just a reminder that the temporary Tesco store in Yate Shopping Centre has now closed so that the site can be cleared and car park restored before the new Tesco Extra store opens at 8am next Monday, 24th October.

Bus service changes

• The London Bus X2C service into Bristol, which only started in June, has been withdrawn from service as there have been fewer passengers than expected.
• From 30th October, there will be an additional 327 journey at 1940 (1935 Saturdays) from Yate to Bristol.
• Also from 30th October, there will be minor changes to early morning and evening times and on Mondays to Fridays the 0833 X42 journey from Chipping Sodbury will be withdrawn.

Recyling banks being removed

Recycling banks are being removed from a number of places across South Glos including:

• Yate - shopping centre overflow car park, Broad Lane Council offices, and YOSC
• Westerleigh - Ye Olde Inne

Resources are being re-allocated to providing recycling facilities for blocks of flats that don't currently have them. Please let your Focus Team know if you have concerns.

Filton Airfield consultation

A few weeks ago we posted about our concerns that the delay in the Public Inquiry for the Core Strategy may leave our countryside at risk of unwanted development.

Officers at South Glos have been working hard to provide the extra information the Inspector has requested. One area of extra work is on the closure of Filton Airfield. The Council will be holding some drop in exhibitions, some staffed, others unstaffed. You can find details of all the exhibitions and view the exhibition material online. The deadline for comments is Monday 24 October 2011.

Your Focus Team is also very interested to hear your views. You can find all our contact details here.

Is your home safe for winter?

Avon Fire and Rescue Service want to help you make sure you stay safe this winter. They offer advice on:

• Home Fire Safety Visits
• Firework safety
• Winter safety issues like chimney fires
• Electric blanket testing - take your blankets to Yate Fire Station between 9.30am and 4pm this Friday (14 October) to have them tested for free. To make a booking, call South Glos on 01454 863632.

Nationally, around 1,000 fires are caused by faulty electric blankets each year. Before you buy a blanket make sure it carries a recognised approval mark, such as the British Electrotechnical Approvals Board (BEAB) mark, or the International Standard number EN 60967.Don’t buy second hand and have your blanket inspected by the manufacturer or a qualified electrician in accordance with their instructions, usually every three years.

Victory on Yate train overcrowding

We're happy to announce the end of the long fight to get extra train carriages from Yate. From December the 7.40 and 8.09, and the return journeys from Temple Meads at 14.41, 15.41, 16.41 and 17.10 will each have an extra carriage. First Great Western told us this good news at the rail users meeting this evening.

Also for those affected by the complete failure of the commuter train service to Bristol on the morning of Monday 26th, Nigel at the station has forms for users to obtain refunds, or you can claim via the passenger charter.