Fly tipper prosecuted

A man has been ordered to pay £1,240 in fines and costs after admitting fly tipping waste in Besom Lane, Westerleigh.

The man from Staple Hill  appeared before North Avon Magistrates’ Court and was fined £400 with costs of £800 and a £40 victim surcharge.

The court heard that a Yate resident had been in contact with Burnell who agreed to remove some cardboard and packaging waste for the resident for £40. The waste was subsequently found dumped in a lay-by on Besom Lane. Burnell had claimed that he was driving along Besom Lane a few days after collecting the waste, when he saw some litter, including a mattress, dumped in a lay-by on the side of the road. He admitted dumping the Yate residents’ waste there as well.

If you have unwanted goods and household or garden waste, you are advised either to dispose of it at no cost via the council's Sort It centres or to give it to an Environment Agency registered waste carrier. Otherwise you could be held liable if waste is subsequently fly tipped. There are some simple steps you can take:

• Ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask where the waste is being taken. Legitimate firms will be happy to provide this information.
• Please do not be tempted to use people offering cheap waste clearance on sites such as Facebook and Gumtree unless you have confirmed that they are registered with the Environment Agency. You can check by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or by checking the public register of waste carriers. 
• Ask for a registered trading address and contact telephone number for the trader and get a receipt.

If you see illegal fly tipping, please report it using this online form or by contacting the Street Care helpdesk on 01454 868000 or streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Park and Fail

 

Residents of South Gloucestershire have been shocked to learn that Highways England have no idea about long standing hopes for more sustainable parking at the Tormarton motorway Junction.

Highways England closed the Picnic /Parking Site last year without any consultation, resulting in more cars dangerously parked on the nearby verges.   Sue Hope (Liberal Democrat, Cotswold Edge ward) has been fighting for years to get a formal Park and Share site at this busy junction.  This would be of vital strategic importance to the area, and dramatically reduce congestion on local roads.  It is included in the West of England Joint Transport Plan.

Sue said: “I was shocked when a Highways England Officer told me they had no idea about the vision for a Park and Share site on the A46, nor did anyone on her  staff.

“We desperately need better communication between agencies. I can’t believe what’s going on. Instead of opening it up, and improving local transport, they’ve simply closed the location. People are now parking illegally on the grass verges – because there’s nowhere else for them to go! I can’t believe they could be so short sighted, or so ignorant of what we want for the area. They’ve acted without so much as a by your leave, or any thought amongst themselves.

“We need a proper joined up approach, with a formal Park and Share site. This area could really help improve local transport, and it needs to be properly run.”

DANGER - Ice likely on Rodford Way tonight

We've just seen a Wessex Water van releasing large amounts of water onto Rodford Way eastbound near the Sundridge Park / Shire Way junction.

If it freezes tonight it could become very dangerous.

We don't know whether they have been doing the same anywhere else in the area. Take care!

75 years since bombing of Parnall’s Aircraft Factory in Yate

 
It's now been 75 years since the bombing of the Parnall’s Aircraft Factory in Yate.

Yate Town Council is organising an event in conjunction with Whirlpool Appliances Ltd, (formally Indesit Company) who now occupy the site and works formerly known as Parnalls, and Yate Heritage Centre to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the bombing of Parnall Aircraft.

If you are a survivor or the family member of a survivor of the bombing and would like to be involved in this event, or if you have memories or things you would like to share, please contact Yate Town Council. Email info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk or telephone 01454 866506 or pop in and see them at Poole Court in Yate.

Changes to Eighties bus services

South Glos Council is consulting on an option to change the 84 and 86 bus service to provide a more frequent and reliable service.

• The 84 would operate an hourly circular route in an anti-clockwise direction (Wotton – Charfield – Cromhall – Wickwar – Chipping Sodbury – Yate – Chipping Sodbury – Horton – Hawkesbury Upton – Hillesley – Alderley – Wotton)
• There would be a new 85 service operating an hourly circular route as above but in a clockwise direction.
• The 86 service would operate between Yate and Longwell Green, going via Coalpit Heath, Greenacres Park, Kingswood and New Cheltenham on an hourly basis (currently 2 hourly). School journeys will still be provided, although times may alter slightly.

The changes mean that people to the North of Yate wanting to travel to Emersons Green, Mangotsfield, or Kingswood would need to change at Yate bus Station.

You can have your say here before 11th February.

South Glos funding cut more than expected

We were already expecting that South Glos Council would have to make significant cuts in the coming year but the news from the Conservative government was even worse than had been planned for. The council will be getting less money than expected from the Government to provide services.

The council can now charge a levy of up to 2% towards rising social care costs, on top of the up to 1.99% council tax rise allowed without a referendum. Even if council tax did go up by 3.99% including the social care levy, there is likely to be a shortfall in 2018/19 of around £6m and in 2019/20 of £8m - which would require even more cuts on top of the £34m already planned for.

Due to these and other changes since the council's budget consultation was launched, the deadline for comments has been extended until 31st January. You can find out more and have your say here.

Abbotswood repairs - broken slabs to be given priority

As we reported recently, Yate Town Council has now bought the land at the front and back of the Abbotswood shops. They have held a meeting with local residents and Abbotswood Action Group to talk about the future management of the area. The meeting was very positive and the Council and local people are looking forward to working together to improve the area.

The first priority will be sorting out the broken and wonky paving. This isn't a trivial job - there are more than 50 broken slabs to replace, plus many more that need resetting. Yate Town Council is getting quotes from contractors, and they hope that the repairs will start within the next couple of weeks.

Local people, traders and councillors
celebrating the change of land ownership

If you're on Facebook, please "Like" the Abbotswood Action Group Facebook page, where you can find out more about this lively local group.

Community Fire Safety Volunteers wanted

Could you become a Community Fire Safety Volunteer with Avon Fire and Rescue Service and The Care Forum?

Community Fire Safety Volunteers research, contact and visit local social and community groups. They encourage these groups to sign up for Avon Fire and Rescue’s free Home Fire Safety Visits, a free lifesaving service that Firefighters deliver to people in their own homes. This is an important and worthwhile role that helps prevent devastating home fires and, ultimately, helps save lives.

You would be providing a valuable life-saving service in your community, gaining skills and using your experience and free time to help keep local people safer.

If you might be interested, please contact Steffie in Volunteering at The Care Forum, tel. 0117 9589308 or email volunteering@thecareforum.org.uk or check out the Community Fire Safety Volunteer web page

Feel better, keep fit, get involved - but how?

Maybe you're wondering how to fulfill that vague New Year resolution about getting more active? Or you want to find local sources of health information? Or do some volunteering that helps others become more healthy, or cope with their health issues?

There's a very useful new website called Well Aware that lets you search for information, resouces and activities local to you. Please visit the Well Aware website and browse around to find something that suits you.

Rodford Way safety proposals - have your say!

Rodford Way and the junctions along it have seen a succession of accidents over the years, and following pressure from local councillors (see our previous blog post) South Glos Council have drawn up proposals for improvements:

Shire Way / Sundridge Park junction - There have been many vehicle accidents here because drivers aren't certain who has priority. It is proposed to put some "Give Way" markings in the central crossover areas to make this clear.

Shire Way junction - a number of cyclists have been injured here, possibly because drivers pulling out of Shire Way are too busy trying to work out what cars in the centre of the road are doing. It is proposed to mark out the cycle lane with green surfacing and put up a sign to remind drivers that there is a cycle lane. (At the moment it is not intended to do the same on the Sundridge Park side of the junction, but that would seem very logical)

Abbotswood junction - at school run times a lot of vehicles, sometimes minibuses as well as cars, do a very dangerous U-turn via the mouth of Abbotswood and across both lines of traffic and both cycle lanes. We've personally witnessed a number of very near misses here. It is proposed to put in a traffic island at the mouth of Abbotswood to deter U-turns and to prohibit this dangerous manouvre.

Rodford Way near Kelston Close - The final part of the proposals is for an advisory 20mph speed limit on Rodford Way near Kelston Close in both directions, in line with Council policy to install 20mph speed restrictions outside schools. The restriction will operate at school opening and closing times as shown by signs with flashing lights. The road is so busy that it's not uncommon to see 30 or so people all trying to cross the road at once between the Abbotswood car park and Kelston Close.

You can comment on South Glos's proposals here - the consultation closes on Wednesday 5 February.

Nibley Lane to close for cleaning on Tuesday

Nibley Lane between Badminton Road and Westerleigh Road is expected to close for cleaning 9.30am until 2.30pm on Tuesday 12th January.

Main road through Old Sodbury to close 16 to 18 January

The A432 Badminton Road through Old Sodbury - a busy link for traffic from Yate and Chipping Sodbury to the M4 and the A46, will be closed for three days in January.

The length of road from Catchpot Lane to the A46 at the Cross Hands, will be closed for roadworks to install a new drainage system.

Please allow extra time to follow the signed diversions.There will be access to local businesses from the Chipping Sodbury direction, but there will be special signs telling HGVs to turn round much earlier.

Primary school admission applications close next week

The closing date for submitting applications for infant and primary school admissions in South Glos is Friday 15 January 2016.

To find out more about primary, infant and junior school admissions visit the South Glos school admissions web page.

Yate Town Council buys Abbotswood land

Yate Town Council has completed the purchase of the land in front of the shops at the Abbotswood Shopping Centre. They plan to look after it properly, doing things like repairing the broken and dangerous paving slabs. They will be working with local people and with Abbotswood Action Group to decide on priorities and how the area will be managed and improved.


Many congratulations to Yate Town Council - they've been working on this for a long time, and they've had to overcome many legal and practical problems to achieve this.
 
More details will follow, but if you're on Facebook you might like to "Like" the Abbotswood Action Group Facebook page, where you can find out about the events and initiatives organised by this lively local group.

Apply now for Big Spring Clean

The South Gloucestershire BIG Spring Clean 2016 runs from 1 March – 30 April 2016.  This is a chance for community groups, Parish Councils and residents to help clean up their neighbourhood and open spaces.

You don't have to in a formal group - you could get together with friends, family or neighbours. Or you might be part of a group that is already taking part in voluntary clean-ups during the year but want to take the opportunity of the BIG Spring Clean to play a part in a bigger campaign.

Free gloves, refuse sacks, litter pickers and hoops are on offer to groups who organise a ‘community’ BIG Spring Clean event, on a first-come-first-served basis. South Glos Council can arrange to collect the bags of litter you pick up. Unfortunately, they are unable to supply skips for the disposal of rubbish.

If your group is organising an event, please register by completing the BIG Spring Clean 2016 Booking Form available from this page and returning it to South Glos Council by 19 February 2016.