Talk: the Wild Owl TV Garden – A Wildlife Haven in Suburbia - Fri 6 October

A fascinating illustrated talk by local expert Ian McGuire, who shows what can be done in an ordinary suburban garden. There will also be displays from our local wildlife groups.

Fri 6 October, 7.30 pm at Dodington Parish Hall, Finch Road, Chipping Sodbury
(Organised by Dodington Parish Council)

Busy environmental weekend coming up

Lots of green things to do this weekend - all free!

Fri 22 September
The Conservation of British Owls – illustrated talk by local expert Ian McGuire
7.30 pm at Yate Library
(Wapley Bushes Conservation Group, sponsored by South Gloucestershire Council)

Sat 23 September
Kennedy Way Pond work morning
The Southwold Group of the Avon Wildlife Trust will be working at local wildlife haven Kennedy Way Pond, on the corner with Link Road, Yate, carrying out vegetation clearance and general management. Meet at the pond (near the cinema end of the Riverside car park) at 10am.
(Southwold Group of Avon Wildlife Trust)

Sun 24 September
Bicycle Safari – discover local nature on two wheels with expert Ian McGuire. Family friendly, under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
Bicycle Safari sets off at 11.00 am from Riverside car park next to cinema BS37 4AY
(Joint Cycleway Group)
Come along and meet Dr Bike from 10.15 am to have your bike checked or find out more about safe cycling with family and friends (South Gloucestershire Council Bikeability Team)

Loan Bike Scheme – try before you buy

If you’ve not cycled for a while and would like to get back on a bike for fitness, leisure, or an easy and stress-free way to get to work, then why not give the Loan Bike scheme a try.

The Loan Bikes scheme is different from a daily Bike Hire as their quality bikes can be borrowed for up to a month, absolutely FREE of charge, and are a great way to boost your confidence and discover if cycling is for you before investing in a new bike.

The loan bike scheme is open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. More details here

Men In Sheds - event 5 October

Are you interested in making things, working with wood, working in a team doing things for others?

Yate Town Council are organizing a free drop in event for anyone interested in hearing more about the startup of an over 50’s ‘Men in Sheds’ group in Yate.

The event is taking place on Thursday 5th October 2017 from 12.30pm-2.30pm at the Armadillo Youth Café and Venue (the purple building next to Yate Leisure Centre).

The Town Council has invited local established Men in Sheds groups to come and share their experiences with those attending and have asked if they could bring along some examples of items that they have created/mended within their sessions or information on other activities.

There will be displays with information relating to existing Men’s Sheds and information about how to set up and run the sheds. Yate Heritage Centre are also bringing along examples of historic local tools. 

Refreshments including free coffee, tea, bacon butties (veggie alternative) and biscuits will be on offer during the event.

This is a very informal meeting for anyone who would like to hear more about the project and would like to help shape the future of the group.

For more information about the event or project please get in touch with Yate Town Council, they would love to hear from you! (Poole Court Drive, Yate, South Gloucestershire, BS37 5PP. Email info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk or phone 01454 866506)

West of England Strategy - consultation until 27 September

The West of England Combined Authority is consulting on its high-level plans for delivering economic growth for all, under three pillars:

• Businesses that succeed 
• World class skills for employment 
• Infrastructure fit for the future 

They are keen to get the views of businesses, organisations and individuals - you can find out more and comment here

Last chance to have your say on South Glos ward boundaries - runs until 6 November

The South Glos Council wards will be changing at the next local elections in 2019, with the total number of councillors being cut from 70 to 61 and the number of voters being represented by each councillor becoming more equal.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has published their draft recommendations for the new boundaries. You can find all the details, including interactive maps, on their website. The consultation runs until 6th November 2017 and is your last chance to have your say before their proposals are finalised.

These are the criteria the Commission must follow when drawing up electoral arrangements:

• To deliver electoral equality where each councillor represents roughly the same number of electors as others across South Gloucestershire.
• That the pattern of wards should, as far as possible, reflect the interests and identities of local communities.
• That the electoral arrangements should provide for effective and convenient local government. 

You need to take account of these if you are suggesting different ward boundaries.

It's just as important to say if you like the changes proposed as if you don't. 

Note that the external boundary of South Gloucestershire won't change, just how the area within it is divided up into wards. Nor will they be changing external Parish boundaries.

However, Parishes and Parish wards within Parishes are being used as the building blocks of the new wards. Because of this, some Parishes will have their internal ward boundaries changed and others will have Parish wards created for the first time.  For example, they propose moving the boundary between the Coalpit Heath and Westerleigh wards of Westerleigh Parish so that all the houses on Henfield Road, The Hollows, Cook's Lane and Bitterwell Close are in the Coalpit Heath ward. There would still be 7 Parish Councillors for Coalpit Heath ward and 2 for Westerleigh ward.

How will it affect our area?

If these proposals go ahead:

• The Birds area will become part of the Dodington two member ward
• Chipping Sodbury will become a one member ward
• The Westerleigh ward of Westerleigh Parish and Dodington South ward of Dodington Parish, which are both currently in Westerleigh ward, will move into an enlarged two member Boyd Valley ward.
• There will be a a new Sodbury Vale one member ward, which take in large parts of the current Cotswold Edge ward
• There would be a minor boundary change between the Yate North and Yate Central town council wards

Yate Swimming Pool to reopen at end of October

Yate Leisure Centre have announced: "We are pleased to announce to all Active Customers, that both of our Swimming Pools will be opening again at the end of October following major redevelopment works.  This is a little later than originally envisaged"

"Both pools will be re-filled with water during early October.  This is to enable the building contractors to monitor and test the integrity of the new pools.  The water will then be gradually heated prior to opening for general use"

"We are really excited that we are nearing completion and the reopening date.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and continual support"

Chipping Sodbury School area - 20 mph speed limit consultation - open until 22 September

South Gloucestershire Council is consulting on a scheme is to reduce traffic speeds in the vicinity of Chipping Sodbury School, which will make walking and cycling to school more attractive. The proposal is to reduce the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph along roads in the vicinity of the school, in line with the other schools in the area.

The following roads are affected by this scheme:

• Bowling Road
• Claypit Hill
• Dodington Road
• Gullivers Place
• Lilliput Avenue

You can find full details and comment here

Aviva Community Fund - applications open 12 September 2017

The Aviva Community Fund offers you the chance to get funding from £1,000 up to £25,000 for an important cause in your community.

All you have to do is enter a project for your community organisation – even if you took part previously – and tell them what a difference these much-needed funds could make.

The Aviva Community Fund opens on 12 September 2017 - you can find out more here.

Memory Cafe at Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church

The Memory Cafe is run by the church with the help of the Rotarians and is very relaxed and friendly - family and careers welcome - tea, coffee and cake provided. Activities quizzes, word search dominos etc. Help, support and an opportunity to share experiences.

1st and 3rd Tuesdays 10.30am to 12.00noon
Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church
High Street
Chipping Sodbury
01454 313023
Email office@cs-bc.org.uk

Temporary traffic lights on Nibley Lane

There are temporary traffic lights on the narrow bridge on Nibley Lane between Badminton Road and Westerleigh Road. Concrete barriers have been put in place where the fence has collapsed, so the road is now only one vehicle wide at that point.

The fence - which had previously been damaged by vehicles crashing into it - appears to belong to Network Rail, so we have no information about how long the traffic lights will be there.

Nibley Lane is a popular rush-hour cut through, so delays are likely at peak times (though it makes that blind bridge safer)

Monday Lunch Club particularly for older members of the community

There is a Monday Lunch Club at St Nicholas Family Centre, Abbotswood, Yate aimed particularly at older members of the community every Monday, starting 11th September (excluding Bank Holidays) at 12 noon for 12.30 pm.

Soup and a roll with dessert only £3.50, which can't be bad!

Contact details -
Tel: 01454 324712
Email: st.nicholas.abbotswood@hotmail.co.uk
Website www.stnix.co.uk

Also on Mondays at St Nix:
Friendship Club 10.00 to 11.30 am (£3) Chair based activities and games with tea and biscuits among friends
This is 4U 2.30—3.30 pm (free) Play table games, chat and make new friends

St Nicholas uses Green Community Travel  - please contact them if you need help getting there.

Station Road Area, Yate - Waiting Restrictions Review - have your say before 15 September

South Glos Council is consulting on waiting restrictions around Station Road.

All day parking is taking place in roads off Station Road by people working in local offices and commuters using Yate Railway station who do not want to pay for car parking in the station car park.  South Glos say that the demand for on-street parking and associated obstructive parking is causing access and visibility difficulties for local residents.

The idea is to provide waiting restrictions to deter all day and often obstructive parking in Cranleigh Court Road (shops layby), Folly Bridge Close, Longs Drive, Moorland Road, and Station Road.

You can read more details and have your say here

New 622 bus route between Chipping Sodbury, Yate, Thornbury and Cribbs Causeway

Stagecoach West has introduced a useful new service from Chipping Sodbury to Cribbs Causeway via Yate and Thornbury - full timetable here

Heritage Open Days 2017

It's nearly time for the Heritage Open Days, which give everyone a chance to find out about our local history.

Unsurprisingly given the importance of the industry locally, there will be several events where you can find out about our mining history. These include Brandy Bottom Colliery (Friday 8 September: 1000 - 1600, Saturday 9 September: 1000 - 1600, Sunday 10 September: 1000 - 1600), Ram Hill Colliery (Sunday 10 September: 1000-1630) and Oldwood Pits Coal Mine (Saturday 9 September: 1400-1700 and Sunday 10 September: 1100-1530, tours every half hour).

You will also be able to visit Winterbourne Medieval Barn (Saturday 9 September: 1400-1700 and Sunday 10 September: 1400-1700) and St Saviour's Church (Friday 8 September: 1100-1300, Saturday 9 September: 1100-1500 and Sunday 10 September: 1100-1100; Service 1000). For more details of these and other local events, go to the Heritage Open Days website.

Community Spaces Network Celebratory Event 2017

Are you involved in a community spaces volunteer group? Then come along to the annual Community Spaces Network Celebratory Event on Wednesday, 27 September 2017 from 17:30 to 21:00 at the Nest Cafe and Community Centre in Page Park, Staple Hill, BS16 5LU.

It's a good event and an excellent opportunity for networking and getting new ideas.

You'll need to register - if your group hasn't received an invitation, please email the Community Spaces Team 

Nibley Lane to close for cleaning Tue 5 September

Nibley Lane, from its junction with Badminton Road to its junction with Westerleigh Road, is expected to close for cleaning from 9.30am until 2.30pm on Tuesday 5th September for street cleaning to be carried out.