South Glos Liberal Democrats welcome declaration of Ecological Emergency

South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats have welcomed the statement by the authority’s majority Conservative group, following pressure from the Opposition Liberal Democrats, that the Council has declared a formal Ecological Emergency.

South Gloucestershire’s neighbouring West of England local authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and Bristol declared Ecological Emergencies earlier in 2020, however Conservative-controlled South Gloucestershire had, until tonight, made no formal statement on the subject.

Following the submission of a motion to tonight’s full council by the Liberal Democrat Group calling for the declaration of an Ecological Emergency, the Conservative group gave notice to the opposition groups of their intention to move an amendment including the phrase: “this council notes that a formal Ecological Emergency has been declared”.

Following this acknowledgement that South Gloucestershire Council has already declared an Ecological Emergency, and the statement by the Leader of the Council during the discussion on Climate Emergency Update Report, that tackling the Ecological Emergency had been fully integrated into tackling the Climate Emergency the Liberal Democrat Group decided it was no longer necessary to move the motion at Council.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Adrian Rush, who had been due to move the Liberal Democrat motion, said:

“I welcome the administration’s acknowledgement that, through it’s work on the Climate Emergency, this Council has already declared an Ecological Emergency.

“Declaring an Ecological Emergency is an important step forward. The administration now needs to demonstrate that it takes the Ecological Emergency, which it has acknowledged, seriously.”

Council gives unanimous support to Liberal Democrat motion on tackling stalkers and domestic abusers

Gloucestershire councillors have unanimously supported a motion proposed by the opposition Liberal Democrat Group on tackling stalkers and domestic abusers.

The motion, proposed by Yate North councillor Ben Nutland, highlighted the scale of the scourge that is domestic abuse across the country – with evidence having shown that domestic abuse has increased during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Proposing the motion, Councillor Nutland said:

“On average a woman is killed by a man every three days in this country.

“One in four women in this country will suffer domestic violence in their lifetime.  One in four.

“Three-quarters of violence against women happens in a place where a woman should feel safest – her own home.

“I think colleagues on all sides will agree with me that these are truly shocking statistics.

“By passing this motion tonight we send out a clear signal for those who suffer in silence, that they can speak out and receive the help they need. We can change the narrative from ‘Why doesn’t she just leave?’ to ‘Why doesn’t he just stop?’.

“Domestic abuse is everyone’s problem and the solution must be too.”

Seconding the motion, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Yate Central, Ruth Davis said:

“It’s about stopping the perpetrators not stigmatising the victims.

“We’ve got to get this right, if anything the most important things are the cultural shift, that we prioritise stopping perpetrators and asking them why they do it and including the details of stalkers and domestic abusers on the Violent and Sexual Offenders Register.”

By passing Councillor Nutland’s motion, the Council gave it’s support to:

• The proactive identification, assessment and management, by the police and probation service, of domestic abusers.
• A cultural shift, whereby greater emphasis is given to identifying and stopping the perpetrators of domestic abuse.
• The details of stalkers and domestic abusers being included in the Violent and Sexual Offenders Register.

The Chief Executive of the Council will now write to the Home Secretary and the Avon & Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner setting out the Council’s position and asking her to take action.

CONSULTATION ON 30 MPH SPEED LIMIT FOR HERON WAY, CHIPPING SODBURY

 

South Glos Council is consulting on a proposal to change Heron Way from a 40 mph limit to 30 mph. It's always been a bit of an oddball, as a single carriageway 40 mph road in the middle of the Birds housing estate.

We've seen a few near misses ourselves, particularly for example with vehicles speeding down the hill to the roundabout just when families and children are crossing the road after school closing time, when traffic coming from Scott Way is also heavier.

You can see the full details and comment officially to South Glos Council on this link:
https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/.../consultationHome

 

Feel free to comment below, but please remember that your opinions ONLY count if they are sent officially to South Glos.

FIGHTING FOR HALF HOURLY TRAINS

The new train timetable from Sunday 13th Dec is a real missed opportunity. 

 You can find details at: https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/train-times. Annoyingly, they are running slow trains from Glos to Bristol every half hour, but only alternate trains stop at Yate!! 

The Malvern line B3  from Malvern to Bristol stops at Yate.

The Weymouth B10 line from Gloucestershire to Weymouth does not show the train stopping at Yate. It says it will stop at places like Thornford and Upway, but not Yate. But actually it will because it is really the B3, but some of them will go on to Weymouth.

Confused?

We have been campaigning for half hourly trains for a long time, and the local MP SAYS he backs the campaign. And WECA and South Glos say THEY back it, but say it is going to cost a lot of money as they need to make technical changes. WECA are spending a fortune on feasibility studies.

We have immediately got Yate Town Council to approach GWR to suggest they sort this out, and once again pushing for the half hourly service we need. 

Stephen Williams, who has been helping us with this campaign commented " Yate  desperately needs the half hourly service, and instead of years more promises that it is ‘being investigated’ we need action.”

BOOK MY BUS RIDE

The book my bus ride scheme is about to go live on the Y1. so you can now book a ride on the Y1 on Monday - Friday. This means you are sure there is space for you on the bus and the bus will not be overcrowded. (You don't get a specific seat, you get a promise you will be able to find space on the bus safely)

You can book a slot on line at www.bookmybusride.com

We were worried that those who most need the certainty may not use computers, so they have agreed to trial a dedicated phone and book service on 07866 977586, Monday to Friday from 09.00-17.00 (excluding Public Holidays). Confirmation of all phone bookings will be sent in the post and First recommends making phone bookings seven days in advance of your journey to allow time for this delivery.

If you know of people who might find this service helpful, do please tell them about the phone and online service.

Mayor, Karl Tomasin said " We are really pleased with this as it will mean people can phone or go on line to book a seat - and people have been telling us they are put off trying to use a bus because worried that the bus may be over full. This reassures them they have a space booked and will be empty enough to meet social distancing rules” (photo taken before COVID)

Drive-In Christmas Carols Sunday 20 December

 

Churches within Yate have organised Drive-In Christmas Carols on the Riverside Car Park, the one near the cinema, supported by Yate Town and Dodington Parish Councils, Yate Shopping Centre and the community.

 

You will be able to sit in your car, COVID-safe with your "bubble". There will be music on the sound system and the words will be up on the big screen. Esquire Coffee will be open for take away food and drink.

 

There are two sessions, at 6 pm and 8 pm. Booking is ESSENTIAL - tickets are going very quickly. You can book here - https://www.yateparish.org/carols - click on the session you want. Donations will go to St Peters Hospice.

Campaign for touch-free pedestrian crossings

Instead of pushing a button as a pedestrian, to get the lights to change, you move your hand under the button unit. Like touch free toilet flushing. The gadget detects the movement.

A simple way to avoid the button that is never cleaned and so many people touch so often - which is a COVID risk (and other infections)

The cost? £100 per pushbutton. So you could do every pedestrian controlled light in Yate for under £2000. So we suggested South Glos used some of the money it had been given for highways works resulting from COVID to do this. They refused point blank, even though other authorities have rolled this out. What do you think?

Have a look at:https://twitter.com/.../status/1322503676544585728/video/1

NEW PLANS FOR TERN INN SITE

 

The owner of the Tern Inn and car park off Heron Way has submitted a new planning application for the car park area.

 

The proposal is to build a convenience store - likely to be CO-OP - with 5 flats above, one 2 bed and four 1 bed. The building would be along the side of the car park next to Heron Way. The pub would be retained.

 

The plans show that there would be 41 spaces in the car park - around the existing capacity. Out of the 41 there would be 1 disability space and 5 spaces for the flats, with access bollards.

 

15 spaces would be designated for store use, leaving 19 "additional spaces" for everyone else.

 

You can see the full details and comment on the South Glos website here:
https://developments.southglos.gov.uk/.../applicationDeta...

 

This replaces the previous application that was turned down after so much opposition, which would have seen the pub demolished and flats built all over the car park.

 

Feel free to comment and discuss the new proposal here, but please remember that your views will only be officially considered if you send them to South Glos - the easiest way is to use the "Make a Comment" button on the page linked above. Please get your official comments in before Christmas. It's likely that there will be a decision by Wednesday 27 January.

 

There is also a lively Facebook discussion going on in The Birds Yate and Chipping Sodbury Resident Group - if you're not already a member, you can find them here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1031148403680385

RAISE CARER'S ALLOWANCES

Join our #StandUpForCarers campaign to increase the Carer's allowance by £1,000 a year.

Will you join them and add your name and join our fight to give carers the support they need?

The national campaign is being led by Ed Davey. This campaign is so personal to him as he has been a carer for much of my life.

His story "First as a teenager, nursing my mum during her long battle against bone cancer. Later for my Nanna, organising her care and trying to make her last few years as comfortable as we could. And now as a father, as Emily and I care for our disabled son John. I know how tough it can be. I will speak up for the nine million carers in our country and be their voice." Will you join Ed? If you will, join the campaign today: libdems.org.uk/carers

A46 Tormarton - comments by 2 Dec

South Glos is proposing to do some work on the A46, where the road up from Codrington/Westleriegh and the road to the Compass Inn meet it, close to the M4 junction. That has always been a dangerous junction and South Glos want to cut the number of serious accidents there.. Claire Young, and local residents have been working to get the Council to take action.(Picture below of Claire and residents campaigning back in 2018 when South Glos put in temporary lights)

Officers have now published their plans: some raised red hatching and a change in speed limit. Here are the plans.

If you want to comment you need to fill in the S Glos form at:
https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/consu.../A46Tormarton
Comments close on 2nd Dec. The proposals are below

.

MORE CYCLEWAYS FOR YATE

A few months ago, during lockdown, Yate Town Council put together a master plan for the strategic cycle routes we need around Yate, to help people cycle (and consulted with cyclists to identify the strategic routes where it is currently trickier to cycle). We are pleased that South Glos has agreed to act on some parts of the Yate Town Council master plan. So they are currently drawing up plans for a cycleway from the B and Q roundabout to Link Road along Station Road, and from B and Q to Link Road along Kennedy Way. That would give a link to the North South Route.

We have asked them as part of the plans to sort out the McDonald's car park entrance and pilot a one way system through the car park using the Armadillo exit; and have reminded them of the urgent need to sort out the two traffic lights and mini roundabout at Church Rd which has a real pedestrian hazard. And we have put the case for having a secure covered bike park at the junction of these routes by the bus terminus for bike and ride. We have also stressed they need to consult carefully BEFORE they start doing anything - and learn the lessons from the Station Rd mess. These routes SHOULD be easier to solve without harming residents or businesses....but they need to listen and resolve the problems up front.

Focus wins battle to tackle problem underpass.

South Glos have confirmed to John Gawn that the subway from Sundridge Park to the shops will close this coming week. They hope to start work shutting it off on 5th October ie Monday. Thanks to John for all his work with residents, the police and South Glos to tackle the problems there.

GOV PLANS REMOVE YOUR SAY IN PLANNING DECISIONS

If you think recent decisions where South Glos planners have ignored local views were bad…. It is going to get worse. The government has published two proposals, which would remove ANY local say in a whole range of planning decisions.  Lots of things that have a significant impact on neighbours would no longer need planning permission. So no chance to have your say, no chance for South Glos to try to get improvements.  

We think this is a disgrace. We believe local communities should shape their own futures, together - not have a market based free for all in which developers can do what they like, whatever to cost to other residents. Today Lib Dem Conference condemned these anti-democratic changes  https://www.libdems.org.uk/f17-emergency

You can find out more about what the government is planning by going to  https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-current-planning-system

And 

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-for-the-future

McDonald's Chaos

Friday, 4.30pm and it is... chaos.... First full week back at school and Station Rd was completely blocked in both directions by queues for McDonalds - blocking the fire and ambulance station, right turn area and the east and west bound lanes.

We have asked the police and South Glos to work with McDonalds urgently to stop this happening again. And asked the shopping centre owners to help.

Two residents have very helpfully supplied photos - if YOU spot the problem, and can safely take a photo, please do and send it to us, as the more evidence we have, the more likely officials are to take serious action to prevent the problem.

When it was bad earlier in the year, S Glos did some monitoring, but of course McDonalds knew, so they made sure the problem did not occur. And McDonalds for a while had a sign saying no queuing back onto the road, with someone where forcing cars to move in. That needs to be restarted, and they need to act quickly whenever a problem occurs. McD's say they don't know if there is a problem. Well, there is a camera that monitors car parking entrance, run by the shopping centre owners, so could they not use that to spot if there is a backlog, or simply put in their own camera. It is not acceptable for the town centre to gridlock because of a queue for McDonalds....

Park and Ride Planning Application in

Good news - with your help there have been improvements to the proposals but …

• users are still going to have to cross the A432 to get to the bus stop -
• It is likely to turn into a Council Office overflow car park

The plan is for 192 spaces, incl 13 disabled and 20 electric, one car club bay, 6 m/c and secure parking for 46 bicycles. We've attached the plans to this post.

Open from 6am to 10pm excluding bank holidays

This is much smaller than would be needed to allow for all the extra houses since the plans agreed in 2005, so there are real worries about whether it will be big enough.

Parking will £2.60 a day but free for those using the buses. So you won’t need to use the bus or train to park there. That means it is likely to get heavily used by people working in the Council offies next door, as that is desperately short of parking. So there is a real risk relatively few of the 192 spaces will be available for ACTUAL park and ride users.

The plan does show an on site bus lay-by, but there is STILL NO COMMITMENT commitment to actually getting the buses to go in so users are still going to have to cross the A432 to get to Bristol bound buses

The good news is that it WILL have a signal controlled pedestrian crossing over the A432 Badminton Rd - so we have won that battle thanks to your help in creating a strong community pressure.

You can check out the plans and add your views at

https://developments.southglos.gov.uk/online-applications/ - then put the reference P20/16166/R3F in the search box.

Photo - Stephen Williams, Ruth Davis, John Gawn, CLaire Young and Mike Drew trying out the road crossing to get to the bus stop from the proposed car park.

Developers rip up Ladden Gardens Local Centre master plan

Plans have now been published for the 'local centre' at Ladden Gardens. They are COMPLETELY different from the approved master plan.

The hotel and pub are gone, the 7 shops have been reduced to 1, green space is being removed and car parking put in. Instead all the space that would have been used for these facilities is going to be 3 storey flats, with only the road width and s single row of cars between them and existing houses. All the plans showing them set further back have been torn up. They are proposing to put the community building at one end, and all the parking at the other end, right outside existing houses (just to make sure you maximise disturbance to resident late night).

If YOU live anywhere on the new development, you might want to have a look and comment as this is going to be the only community facility for the whole of the new development. You can find it at: southglos.gov.uk/search-planning-applications - then put in the reference P19/14631/RM - but you will need to move fast - they only published this revised version of the plan this week and want comments immediately.

The version the developers put in last October was far far worse, and S Glos officers have done well to get as many changes as they have managed so far. Now we need to all help put pressure on to get more changes.

The Town Council has objected to the changes - when resident shave tried to get eg play area problems sorted out they are told by the planners ' oh we have to stick to the approved masterplan' but this looks like another example of one rule for residents and one for the developers - if the developers get away with ripping up the masterplan for the local centre. Their only excuse for the change is ' there is no demand for a pub or hotel' - well not right now maybe, but we need to plan for the next 50 years - and if they cannot build those right now, at least let us have it for community uses, to replace the community use of a pub and hotel.

HALF HOURLY TRAINS FROM YATE a TORY MYTH

Remember back in June when the Tories announced half hourly train services from Yate. This is something we have been fighting to get for a long while. We were surprised, as WECA was still in the process of commissioning reports. We asked WECA whether there was now a decision. Their reply is long, but in essence, they are no further forward. The press release was just spin manufactured from nowhere.

Compare the official answer from WECA with the Tory press release.....

(https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/18533814.new-half-hourly-train-services-announced-yate-bristol-gloucester/)

Stephen Williams, pictured above, who is helping us try to get WECA to deliver. commented "We need ACTION not SPIN."

They are still writing business cases and risk assessments, as they have been since 2016.The WECA reply (and it is Weca that are in charge) received today is: " The March 2019 MetroWest Phase 2 Outline Business Case identified Yate as the terminating point on the Bristol Parkway to Gloucester line for MetroWest services and increasing the services calling at Yate to half hourly, this remains a WECA commitment.

The Gloucester Extension report you reference was produced in December 2016 and the infrastructure work required for the extension is being revisited by Network Rail to validate the proposal and includes liaison with the train and freight operators. The December 2016 Gloucester Extension report did not include any timetable or Railsys modelling and therefore this needs to be considered. The report noted that the next steps should be timetable and operational assessments and this is being progressed by WECA.

As part of the operational assessment, risk assessments of the increased service frequency at level crossings on the line to Gloucester need to be undertaken. Once this has been completed and any alterations to level crossings due to safety concerns identified, WECA will confirm the programme of infrastructure works required for the revised timetable. WECA have commissioned a consultant to undertake a Transport Economic Assessment for MetroWest Phase 2 to include the extension to Gloucester to review the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR). This will confirm our approach to ensure a robust Full Business Case is submitted for the full capital works required."

NEW MULTI-SPORT BUILDING FINISHED

On Friday, Yate Town Council got the keys from the builder for the new multi-sports building on its land at YOSC - behind Brimsham Green School. This has been funded with grants from Sport England, environmental trusts and the Town Council. It will provide a new home for Yate Boxing Club and other indoor users. If you are looking for a new home for indoor sports - check it out.

The photo shows Karl Tomasin and Chris Willmore from the project group with the architects, builders, boxer, and other project group members at the handover this week.

When it is kitted out, it will have a boxing ring, punch bags, mirrors and other training kit. If you would like to sponsor the building, its kitting out or help in any way please contact  chriswillmore@blueyonder.co.uk

HAVE YOU DONE THE BIG YATE COVID-19 SURVEY YET?

 

Please will you help us by filling in our on line survey about COVID-19 and its impact on your family and our community. We have delivered 12,000 copies door to door to a sample of houses.

If you have not filled one in yet, you can help by doing the short survey on line - at southgloslibdems.org.uk/cv19-survey

Experts are telling us what we SHOULD be thinking, but this survey aims to find out what YOU think are the priorities and impacts round here - so we can press local councils and the MP to act on the things that are troubling YOU right now. This has been organised and funded entirely by volunteers - from the Lib Dem FOCUS team (as your councillors)

To every one of the high number of households who have returned the forms or completed on line so far - thank you, you are giving us a really good picture of the range of issues and impacts families in our town are facing - and what we could do to help

(Photo - Mike Drew with just one of the batches of survey forms)

Yate Spar Trucks to go on public display.

Anyone who drives through Yate will be familiar with the Lozenge roundabout outside B and Q and Morrisons. For many years a black truck has stood on the circular roundabout - donated by Bad Salzdetfurth, Yate’s German twin town. Bad Salzdetfurth is a salt mining town, and this was a salt truck.  But the remains of Yate’s coal or spar (celestine) have only been available to the public on Oldwood Open Days.

John Gawn, one of the instigators of the scheme at the B & Q roundabout.

 

A meeting between South Glos open spaces team, Yate Town Council estates manager and two Councillors, John Gawn and Chris Willmore earlier this spring is changing all that. The meeting was set up to discuss the state of weeds on the roundabout and its generally poor state. As ideas emerged, Chris suggested we might do something about celestine to compliment the salt truck. A  few years ago Yate Town Council and SGMRG had rescued a large kibble from Yate Common, where it had sat for many years. This was identical to one shown in a photo of celestine extraction in Yate.   Owned by Yate Town Council, as landowners, SGMRG had done some restoration work. We wondered could we use that.

 

 

 

The cylindrical kibble with its triangular swivel hoist, pictured in use in Yate.

(Yate Heritage  Centre Photo)

 

Within days the Yate and South Glos staff, together with Chris, Roger Gosling and Dave Hardwick were at Oldwood, discussing what should be done. Two options emerged -  the round kibble or  a v shaped tipper truck used for Celestine, owned by Dave, stored at Oldwood, like one in a picture of Celestine.

 

 

A v shaped tipper truck shown in action in Yate (Photo from cover of Dave Hardwicke and Harry Lane’s Celestine book)

 

Never have a group of people dithered so much. In the end it was decided to take both and put one each end of the long lozenge section of the roundabout, replacing the weed beds.

 

The amazing S Glos open spaces team started designing a scheme. Mike Drew a Yate Councillor agreed to chip in £2,200 from Member Allocated Funding to getting the two items fully restored and the landscaping done. South Gloucestershire open spaces team found the rest of the cost.  Loan forms have been produced so the ownership of the artefacts remains with SGRMG and the Town Council respectively.

 

A plan emerged for the two items to be sandblasted and then given protective paint, and having white stones coming out of the tipper truck as an imitation of Celestine.  On hearing this John Ford, another local councillor wondered if Barretts, who are carrying out a massive development north of Yate had any Celestine going spare. Within 12 hours Barretts had very kindly said yes, loads, take as much as we wanted. So South Glos staff were dispatched to liberate loads for this project and some for Oldwood.

 

 

One of the celestine samples donated by Barretts

 

Work has been completed on the restorations and they are in the workshop at South Glos Council ready to go.

 

  

Photo of the items in the workshop at S Glos, ready to install.

 

 

In the final scheme we will keep the salt truck where it is and add the two Celestine items at each end of the lozenge, securely fixed to the ground. An interpretation board is being designed, which will go on the pavement overlooking the roundabout.

 

Until COVID-19 stopped work, this amazing project had gone from nothing, to being ready to implement in just 5 weeks. My thanks to Phil Jones from Yate TC, Lee Cowle at South Glos, Mark Rooney at Barretts, Councillors Mike Drew, John Gawn and John Ford and David Hardwicke, Roger Gosling and Jenni Humprhis.

 

At the very least this will get people talking about Yate’s history as the world’s leading producer of celestine for many years.