CYCLE & MOBILITY SCOOTER VISION for YATE

Here it is! After talking with users, the Focus Team have drawn up a draft vision document for the key primary network we need for people on bikes and mobility scooters / wheelchairs to get around town. The Town Council backed the plan this week - now it is for South Glos / WECA to decide what they can to do deliver it as they are the authority responsible.

There are lots of other things that need doing to fill gaps- this focuses on the 'strategic' network within Yate/Dodington - with exit points to connect to wider networks.

We would love to hear your comments, suggestions, gaps that need filling (we have a list, but if you can add to it that would be great).

At this stage this is not a formal document, it is an attempt to get South Glos and WECA to adopt a vision for the town. If we can get them to move, there will have to be all sorts of formal consultations before they can do anything on the ground.

MILLSIDE PARK & PLAYZONE

What do YOU think should be done to improve it? The Focus Team on Yate Town Council has managed to get funding to do it up - to replace the sculptures and sort out the bottom path. But what else needs doing? Yate Town Council has formed a working group with some other interested residents to work out what to do. Once that Working Group has proposals they will go out for consultation. But right now, we need everyone's ideas, however vague, however big or small. How would you improve Millside?

FREE outdoor gym use

Come and use the free gym equipment in Kingsgate and Lilliput Parks:

It is suitable for adults of all ages - including elderly residents.

There are instructions on how to use them, and you can adjust them to fit your fitness level. Please remember to sanitise your hands before and after use, and keep to social distancing.

Lib Dems on Yate Town Council worked with Dodington Parish Council to organise the funding and the two groups of equipment between them. It means people can do gym type exercise for free outdoors. And for those used to taking a walk for fitness, you can add a bit of upper body exercise if you want.

Let us know how you get on with the equipment and anything / anywhere else you think would benefit from this sort of provision.

Tory Councillors refuse to pay KEY WORKERS fairly.

How short are memories? During lockdown and shielding people depended on all sorts of key workers - and the gov and public praised them. But now, the Conservatives on South Glos Council have refused to increase pay to care workers and other key workers the Real Living Wages - £9.30 an hour. They were happy enough to agree to write to the PM asking for a medal for everyone who contributed during lockdown - but the Tories would not back Lib Dem & Labour Councillors who proposed the Council pay key workers a fair wage. Don't they get it is bread on the table key workers need?

We depend on them. We should pay key workers fairly.

https://www.southgloslibdems.org.uk/news

Mayor does deal to get McDonalds to empty rubbish bin @weekends

Yate Mayor, Karl Tomasin from the Focus Team 

Our thanks to McDonalds.

Yate Mayor, Karl Tomasin has worked with McDonalds, to improve weekend bin emptying. As a result McDonalds have agreed to empty the bin by the bus stop on Station Rd near McDonalds at weekends.

Council staff aren't around to empty bins at weekends- but bins everywhere have seen a massive growth in use since COVID started. This one is suffering really badly. Karl spoke to McDonalds, and they have volunteered to empty the bin at the weekend, and Karl got Yate Town Council to provide the necessary kit.

Well done Karl and thanks to McDonalds

URGENT - KELSTON CLOSE TO BE CLOSED?

Abbotswood Primary School has requested a School Street in Kelston Close, closing most of the road to all traffic at school opening and closing times.

https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/consult.ti/Abbotswood_School_Street/consultationHome

They are looking at putting up retractable bollards Mon – Fri 1st Sept – 31st Jul.

It is a trial, but people only have until 6th August to comment before it starts - which is VERY short notice. However you can also make comments throughout September at the beginning of the trial period.

HALF a PARK AND RIDE for YATE?

We've won the long battle we have been waging to get our Park and Ride for Yate. But so far the Council is only offering a cheapstake version that has serious flaws.

Lib Dems got planning consent and funding back in 2006 but then the new Tory administration running S Glos spent the money elsewhere. We've been fighting since then to get our Park and Ride back.

FInally, there is progress but it is the cheapskate model. It is not what we were promised.

The proposal is for a far smaller park and ride than the original plan. Squeezed between the South Glos council offices and the solar panel park on the A432.

It won't have a bus service going into it - so users will have to dice with death crossing the A432 to the normal bus stop (and as of today S Glos is refusing to put in either a pedestrian crossing or lights).

And officials have not yet sorted out how they will stop the S Glos Council staff from filling it up every morning.

So, at last the principle has been accepted, the cash has now been restored to us, and something is going to happen. But unless S Glos sort out these problems we could be left with a costly white elephant/ council offices car park.

So your councillors had a meeting with S Glos this morning to raise all these concerns and to make it clear, we want a Park and Ride that works and is useful to residents. Not just a tick box on someone's election manifesto that said 'open park and ride' - it has to be one that works for local people and helps us all.

(It will have some good facilities, like electric car charging and secure cycle shelters, and we have asked for other things eg a pump and repair station - but the key issues of access to buses and size are simply not being addressed by S Glos).

Church Road Closure - but when?

Church Rd Yate will be closed from 22 July for roadworks. But WHAT TIMES?

The letter sent to residents by S Glos says it will be closed DAYTIMES 8am - 6pm. But the roadside signs they have now put up say it will be closed at night, 8pm to 6am.

So which is it? We have asked S Glos to sort out this mess and let us all know definitively BEFORE they start work. We will keep you posted.

Tories grab control over whether planning applications even go to a planning committee.

After the fiasco of residents not being allowed to speak at the planning committee meetings discussing Rockwood and the play area behind Meadow Mead - there is one bit of good news.

We made a huge fuss and S Glos has finally agree to restore the right for residents to speak at committee on line. Something most other councils found no difficulty in keeping when they switched to digital meetings, but S Glos said they couldn't.

But at the same time they have TAKEN AWAY the right of local councillors to refer planning applications to committee. At present as long as three local members want it referred, they have a right to take it to committee for a decision - so when officers are going against what residents want, local councillors can force it to committee so residents can speak and hope to persuade the committee. But now, the Chair of the Planning Committee is going to be given the power to decide whether that is allowed.

The Chair is not local, and on past form does not listen to residents. The Tories have imposed this new system, where they control what goes to committee and what is pushed through irrespective of local views. We will monitor carefully, and keep residents posted. Your Lib Dem local councillors will continue to try to get a fair hearing for residents when officers are not backing resident

YATE LEISURE CENTRE TO REOPEN on 27 July. For more info about the arrangements - booking, pass holders etc see https://activecentres.org/coronavirus/

YATE LEISURE CENTRE TO REOPEN

on 27 July. For more info about the arrangements - booking, pass holders etc see https://activecentres.org/coronavirus/

Tories officially wash their hands of any responsibility for open spaces or play areas on the new developments

Tories officially wash their hands of any responsibility for open spaces or play areas on the new developments

The Tories have created a model in which all the open space and play equipment on new developments like Autumn Brooke and Ladden Gardens will be owned by a PRIVATE company (set up by the developers) who then charge the residents to run the open spaces and play areas. Residents have been finding they have no way to ensure the company comes up to scratch. And S Glos who created this mess say the only solution is for a legal challenge by residents to private company.

So at yesterday's S Glos Council Cllr Mike Drew asked: "What efforts is the administration undertaking to ensure developers who have been given the responsibility for maintaining of Public Open Spaces and Play Areas in their development actually undertake the work for which they are charging the residents?"

Answer: from the Tory Cabinet "Once development is completed the relationship between the developer (or the company established to carry out the maintenance) and residents is a contractual one between these two parties.

As such any challenge is a legal one for the affected residents to take against the management company. Local Authorities have no power, authority or remit to intervene in what is a civil dispute.

Local authorities can, however, intervene if there is a breach of planning and officers are aware of at least one potential case. Although the development has been completed there is a five year management plan for the landscaping under a Condition on the Permission which may still be within time. The Planning Enforcement team, together with the specialist officer in Planning, are investigating to determine whether the Condition had been fully complied with. If this is not the case the council may be in a position to secure compliance and require the developer to ensure implementation and maintenance of the agreed landscape plan, for which residents are being charged."

Surely they should be trying to solve the problems their approach has created? At least with open spaces and play areas run by a council, if you don't like what they are doing you can sack them at the next election!

Help Us Help You South West survey

What do you think about the new ways health and care services and the voluntary and community sector have been helping people in the South West? For example, by offering online and telephone appointments.

You can share your views by completing this questionnaire. It should take 10-15 minutes and will be open until 31 July 2020. A report with the results of the survey will be published on the NHS England, NHS Improvement South West website and participating health and care organisations. You can also receive a copy of this report by providing your email address.

Call for sites and planning consultations

On Tuesday South Glos Council launched a “call for sites”. This gives everyone a chance to suggest sites that you think might have the potential for development, for houses or economic purposes. It is open from Tuesday 7th July to Tuesday 20th October and is part of the process of preparing the new Local Plan.

The “call for sites” process sometimes causes concern, so it’s well worth reading the FAQ document to understand what it means. Further information, including on how to submit sites and the status of sites submitted through previous call for sites, can be found at www.southglos.gov.uk/CallForSites2020.

During the same time period the council is also consulting on a number of additional planning documents including:

• Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) 2020 – www.southglos.gov.uk/SCI2020
• Householder Extensions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) – www.southglos.gov.uk/HouseholderSPD
• Barn Conversions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) – www.southglos.gov.uk/BarnConversionSPD
• Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) – www.southglos.gov.uk/CILSPD2020

Births, Marriages and Deaths

The councils registrars are now offering more services:

Weddings

You can now book weddings and civil partnerships at Kingswood Civic Centre and Poole Court in Yate.

At Kingswood Civic Centre all ceremonies are restricted to only two adult witnesses as guests.

At Poole Court in Yate, ceremonies will start from October on Saturdays only, with a maximum of 10 guests permitted in the ceremony room including: the couple, two witnesses, any children or babies and one photographer (as applicable). This total number of guests does not include the registrars.

At both locations hand sanitisers will be provided and social distancing will be required throughout the ceremony. They are unable to allow photographs after the signing of the register in the ceremony rooms, however photographs outside the buildings for a few minutes are permitted, if social distancing is observed.

Please note that this is subject to government guidelines, which may change. All restrictions are in place to protect everyone’s safety during this continuing pandemic and to comply with guidance issued by Public Health England.

To book a wedding or civil partnership at Kingswood or Poole Court please contact 01454 863140

Births

Kingswood Civic Centre can now take birth registrations on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is currently the only available location in South Gloucestershire for registrations. You can book a birth registration here.

Deaths

The council is continuing to accept registrations of deaths by telephone. When you call to book an appointment, you will be asked to provide your contact phone number and name for a call back by the registrar.

Please make sure you are available to take the call back appointment, which will last about 30 minutes. You can book an appointment on 01454 863140.

Westerleigh Road BRIDGE CLOSURE DEBACLE As we previously reported , from this week Westerleigh Road has been closed at the bridge over the M4 near the Folly pub. Unfortunately despite residents warning in advance about the dangers of HGVs ending up on inappropriate narrow country lanes, Highways England did not do enough to make sure drivers used the diversion route. As a result large articulated lorries have been trying to navigate Coalsack Lane, which is single track in places. Thanks to their failure to put up a sign at the Ruffet Road/Badminton Road junction saying no access to the ring road, drivers who are used to cutting through Ruffet Road/Coalsack Lane have ended up trying to turn in the road. Best bet is to steer clear of the M4 bridge completely. Your Focus Team has been raising concerns on behalf of residents and Highways England have now promised more signs will be installed. Please avoid the area. BUT WHY DIDN'T HIGHWAYS ENGLAND LISTEN IN THE FIRST PLACE??

Westerleigh Road

BRIDGE CLOSURE DEBACLE

As we previously reported , from this week Westerleigh Road has been closed at the bridge over the M4 near the Folly pub.

Unfortunately despite residents warning in advance about the dangers of HGVs ending up on inappropriate narrow country lanes, Highways England did not do enough to make sure drivers used the diversion route. As a result large articulated lorries have been trying to navigate Coalsack Lane, which is single track in places. Thanks to their failure to put up a sign at the Ruffet Road/Badminton Road junction saying no access to the ring road, drivers who are used to cutting through Ruffet Road/Coalsack Lane have ended up trying to turn in the road.

Best bet is to steer clear of the M4 bridge completely.

Your Focus Team has been raising concerns on behalf of residents and Highways England have now promised more signs will be installed. Please avoid the area. BUT WHY DIDN'T HIGHWAYS ENGLAND LISTEN IN THE FIRST PLACE??

New electric vehicle charging points

Photo - one of the growing number of electric cars in Yate (this one owned by a Focus Team member)

South Glos Council is installing 14 new electric vehicle (EV) charging points at seven locations across South Gloucestershire.

The 14 charging points will be located at Emersons Green, Hanham, Kingswood, Patchway, Staple Hill, Thornbury and Yate, offering residents and visitors to the area rapid (50kW) and fast (7-22kW) charging facilities at a wider range of locations. This is the first phase of our roll-out of EV charging points, with future plans for a number more at sites across the area. They will be installed in public car parks at:

• The Parade (Epney Close), Patchway (one fast)
• Yate Shopping Centre West car park (Station Road entrance), Yate (one rapid and one fast)
• Cecil Road car park, Kingswood (two fast)
• Mary Street car park, Thornbury (one fast)
• Haynes Lane, Staple Hill (one fast)
• Laburnum Road car park, Hanham (one fast)

The council is also installing one fast and five rapid charge points at a flagship West of England charging hub at the Bristol and Bath Science Park (BBSP) in Emersons Green, which will also feature a solar canopy. They ultimately aim to install a total of 12 (including both rapid and fast) EV charging bays at the hub.

The council expects to begin installing the first batch of charging points from mid-July and all 14 will be operational by the end of March 2021.

This is welcome news but there is still a long way to go to make electric cars an option for people without driveways.

The Liberal Democrats have submitted a written question ahead of next week’s council meeting on installing charging points in lamp posts.

Photo - one of the growing number of electric cars in Yate (this one owned by a Focus Team member)

FOOD POVERTY AND FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

A reminder that support is available for those experiencing food poverty. There is a food banks in Yate for emergencies. Visit the One You South Gloucestershire website food support page for more information. Anyone in financial difficulty because of reduced income should check the information for residents page.

GREEN COMMUNITY TRANSPORT

Karl Tomasin from the Focus Team with community transport organisers after qualifying as a driver for them

For the latest update on the services this voluntary project can offer see: https://www.cvs-sg.org.uk/important-update-from-green-community-travel/

It includes shopping and prescription collection and ring and ride.

Please share with those who are still shielding.

Plans to build on Station Woodland blocked

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Plans  for 2 houses and a bungalow in the woodland behind Station Lodge have been refused. Yate Councillors objected and this time the planners backed them - because of the impact on the woodland, wildlife and the important listed buildings around it - the Station Lodge and the raised history footpath for reaching the old station.

This week we have reported on some cases where planners have now backed locals, here is a case where they have listened to local objections.

New round of Discretionary Small Business Support Grants

Applications are now open until 12 noon on Monday 13 July for a second round of Discretionary Small Business Support Grants.

The Discretionary Small Business Support Grants Fund provides support to some small and micro businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs that are able to demonstrate a significant drop in income because of pandemic restriction measures. The grants help support businesses that did not meet the criteria for the existing Business Support Grant Schemes.

You can read more here:https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/business-support-grants-discretionary-fund/