Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch - 800 years and a time capsule!

This year’s Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch event will be exactly on the 800th anniversary of Chipping Sodbury being granted a Market Charter by King Henry III. This allowed William Crassus, the Lord of the Manor, to hold the first market in Chipping Sodbury in 1218.

The 2018 Big Lunch will be medieval themed and for this year only is taking place in August instead of June. It will be held on Sunday, August 12th 2018 from 12 noon to 6 pm.

Lots of medieval themed entertainment is planned including maypole dancing, a special medieval play performed by Sodbury Players, stocks, local bands and dance groups, plus much more to be announced! There will be a Knights and Princesses fancy dress competition for children.

It is planned to bury a time capsule on the day, sealed to be opened in 100 years. All businesses, groups, charities, organisations, schools and nurseries based in the town are invited to contribute items to the capsule which will be buried at the Millennium Garden. The aim is to provide a snapshot in time of life in Chipping Sodbury in 2018.

If you would like more information please email alexandra.womack@hotmail.co.uk

Items being included in the capsule will be displayed at the Big Lunch on 12th August. If anyone would like to help cover the costs of this historic project please get in touch.

Autumn Brook - problems with play areas and open spaces

Cllr Mike Drew has held an initial meeting with residents in the new Autumn Brook development. They are paying a fee to a management company for maintaining the play areas and open spaces, but they're not being looked after properly.

All your Yate Councillors have pressed for these areas to be handed over to the Town Council and the management fee to be scrapped. they believe that you should not be treated any different to the rest of the Town where the Town Council manages the play areas and parks.

If you think you're not getting value for money, please email Mike Drew on mikejdrew21@gmail.com or phone him on 07966 228864.

There's a useful Facebook Page for Autumn Brook

New timetable for 82 Southmead bus - your views please

The new timetable for the 82 bus has now been in place for a few weeks. Although the route has been extended to Chipping Sodbury, we've heard that from time to time late-running buses have turned round at Yate and left out the Sodbury part of the route.

Has this happened to you? How good have the buses been at keeping to time?

Also what do you feel about the Sunday service, which runs every two hours, and only comes as far as Yate?

If you're a staff member, how does the new timetable suit you?

 

You can check out the new timetables on the Traveline South West site

Please let Claire Young have your feedback.

Tern Inn - date set for Planning Inquiry - UPDATED

Many thanks to everyone who helped with the Heron Way traffic count (and kept us topped up with tea and coffee!)

This information is being analysed at the moment and will be passed on to the Government's Planning Inspector who is considering the plan to replace the pub and the car park with flats, with all the traffic chaos that will bring.

The Planning Enquiry will have a public hearing - it won't just be done on documents.

UPDATE: The hearing has been delayed, and we expect the hearing to be held at a local venue around 20th November. As a result the date for comments has been extended to the 31st July 2018.

You can submit any other (factual) comments of your own between now and Tuesday 31 July 2018 at the Planning Inspectorate website - please note that this will be offline between 9pm and midnight on Wed 13 June.

You can follow the Save The Tern Inn Facebook page here

Works near Chedworth - less mud but rail clearup delayed

We're glad to see that there is visibly less mud on Westerleigh Road from the tipping at Beech Hill Farm. The road is generally being kept pretty clear, though there have been occasional lapses.

On the Chedworth side the Network Rail works are still at a standstill following main contractors Carillion going into bankruptcy. The good news is that Network Rail have appointed a contractor for the remaining 4 weeks work, so we hope to see an improvement there soon.

On the the project to electrify the main line, the Besom Lane temporary compound just across the footbridge from Shire Way is expected to remain until February 2019.

Changes proposed for B&Q roundabout

At long last South Glos has come forward with some draft proposals to improve Yate's confusing B&Q (salt truck) roundabout. Their plans show much clearer road markings and signs, plus two puffin crossings.

The plans are open for comment until Monday 2 July - you can see the details and comment here