North Yate Election Guide

 To help you find out more about your Lib Dem Focus Team candidates for North Yate we have published this guide.

Brimsham and Ladden Gardens

Watch out - there has been a spate of attempted burglaries and car break ins around the new development. The police are running an operation to stamp it out - which is why they are signs up around the area. Let's work together to prevent it - lock sheds, garages and houses.

Focus Team win cash for Yate Outdoor Disabled Sports

At last, we have got confirmation that we will be getting a grant for more kit for disabled sports at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex. (You may have seen reports of this in the newspaper a couple of weeks ago, but that was a press release from someone who had not been involved in the grant process, and just heard we had an application in and we were likely to get the money.) Now it has been confirmed.

This is £57,618 for track and field equipment for disabled athletes at YOSC and some additional drainage work.

If you've never been to YOSC or don't know where it is, it is worth going up to have a look. You could pop in and have a drink in the bar and find out more.

A committee, made up of councillors from  the Focus Team  have raised over £1.5MILLION to do the site up since South Gloucestershire transferred it back to Yate Town Council. South Glos had let it get run down, but it now  brand new athletics track and field, a target sprint  facility, brand new all weather surface for hockey and football, grass pitches and work starts next week on a new multi use indoor sports building. All paid for by money the committee has raised from local businesses, councils, Sport England and developers.

The entire facility is run by a group of volunteers, called YOSC Ltd - transforming it from a site that lost £190k a year when S Glos run it, into a self financing project without putting up charges!

Princess Anne visited the site last year to congratulate the councillors and volunteers who have transformed the facility.  So if you are interested in sport, and have not been, do check it out.

(Head for Brimsham Green School and just beyond the School you will find the access road)

Photo - users, volunteers, members of the Focus Team, town council staff and contractors at the handover of the upgraded facilities.

Goose Green Way & Randolph Ave closed for noisy night resurfacing

The section of Goose Green Way  coming into Yate approaching the Randolph Ave roundabout, and the entrance to Randolph Ave is going to be closed from  8pm until 6am from 26th Feb until the work is done.
South Glos say this will create a significant amount of noise. The road will be closed so all access to Brimsham Park will be from Peg Hill - and all traffic coming into Yate will need to use other roads such as Greenways Road.

South Glos says that they will do their best to ensure people can still get to their properties, but ' there may be periods of time when access will be unachievable.

Here's the plan showing the area they will be resurfacing.

Play area and 'pavilion' plans behind Meadow Mead

Developers have put in plans for a play area and 'pavilion' right behind the houses in Meadow Mead to be used for community events. 

Two years ago, when developers first put in plans, they included an aerial cableway. Residents got a promise it would be removed. But it is back in on the latest plans. And on top of that they have added a wooden ' Pavilion' for public events, right behind houses. It will not be locked, will not have doors or windows, but will be flat roofed (ideal for climbing on). The Focus Team have written to residents alerting them to the plans, so they can comment. We've put the plan for the play area and the pavilion drawing below to give you an idea of what they propose. You can see where the existing Meadow Mead houses are at the bottom of the plan (number 6, is 6 Meadow Mead).

 Yate Town Council has objected, saying the play equipment should be in the park, in the existing play area within yards of this, not right behind houses.  Residents have been lodging objections. If you want to see what is planned and add your comments go to  the S Glos planning site:

https://developments.southglos.gov.uk/online-applications/ and put in the application number PK18/0529/RM

Brimsham development update - ammunition for comments on planning applications

As we told you earlier this week, residents only have until 28 December to put in their comments about the Brimsham development proposals.

Yate Town Council has now lodged a very detailed objection to these planning applications. It shows up the many deficiencies in the design. It may give you ideas for your own comments on applications - you can download the Yate Town Council objections here.

Brimsham Park - last chance to have your say on new houses

Barretts and David Wilson Homes plan to start building in the spring right behind existing houses.
So this is now REAL.

They got outline consent two years ago. We all opposed that as residents and councillors. Butnow this is about trying to make sure the new housing does as little damage as possible to our community. We’ve already given the developers a list of problems we could spot. Now we needyour help in looking at the plans carefully and pointing out the problems YOU can see, to help us try to get the developers/planners to change the plans.

Key features of what the developers want to do include
● their main site compound for up to 10 - 15 years to be in the field at the current end of Randolph Avenue, Close to the back of Pear Tree Hey. (Left hand arrow)
● Access to the show homes, and at least the first 238 houses from Leechpool Way (right arrow)
● The first 238 houses to be immediately behind Pear Tree Hey, Dryleaze and Meadowmead. (Circle on the plan)
● 35% ’Affordable’ housing (but that is not what we would call affordable for young families trying to buy their first home, although it will include social rented housing)
● Terraces of housing backing onto existing housing.
● Houses will block the current footpath through the fields from Randolph to the Park.
● A new northern access to the park, right at the narrowest part of the park, just north of the lake.
● Two new small play areas, one in the field behind Meadow Mead.
● No proposals (yet) for wheelwashing.

Don't wait until after the Christmas break to comment - that could be too late. The legal deadline for comments is before the end of the holidays. So we need to act NOW as residents.

The developers have said they are going to deliver a letter to some homes telling them about the application - make sure that you don’t only tell them what you think. Put your comments in to the planners who actually take the decision.

Go to South Glos Council's planning applications page then search for two applications:
PK17/5388/RM (David Wilson Homes, comments close on 29 Dec) and  
PK17/5389/RM (Barratt Homes, comments close on 28 Dec). Please comment on both.

Please let your Focus Team know your comments too - email Mike Drew on mike.drew@southglos.gov.uk

There are more details on a special Brimsham Park Focus that is being delivered at the moment. If you haven't received your copy yet, you can view or download it from here

Update 22/12/2017: Yate Town Council has lodged a very detailed objection to these planning applications. It shows up the many deficiencies in the design. It may give you ideas for your comments on applications - you can download the Yate Town Council objections here.

Brinsham Park Event - fun for all the family

Come and join in this Sunday 16th July in Brinsham Fields from 1.00pm till 4.00pm. Bring your dogs along for a 'Fun Dog Show', 'Tempation Alley' and a Tug of War, free treasure hunt for all the children and other activities.  See you there?

Competition for images of the fields to the north of Brinsham Park before they are developed!

Yate Town Council has announced a competition to photograph, paint or draw for posterity the fields to the north of Brinsham Park before they are developed.

Record a snap shot in time...capture the sense of place…what makes it special and unique? Fields.. gateways.. hedgerows.. ponds.. tracks.. wild life ..birds.. butterflies.. insects.. trees.. wild flowers.. streams.. rabbits.. Consider the obvious and common place and not so obvious! All entries will be compiled into a historic record. A small prize will be given to the winner to be judged on creative and imaginative observation capturing the essence of the area.

To enter: please send/scan colour or black and white images in any format to info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk or upload and post on Facebook or Twitter.

If you would prefer, send or deliver, a hard copy to Yate Town Council, Poole Court, Poole Court Drive, Yate, South Gloucestershire, BS37 5PP.

For more information tel. 01454 866506 or check www.yatetowncouncil.gov.uk

Rules: Please abide by the countryside rules and do not stray from the footpaths.
Copyright for future YTC publications is required for all entries.
Competition open to all ages, amateur or professional. Closing date 31st July 2016.

Help Brimsham Park get a big Tesco grant!

The Friends of Brimsham Park are applying to Tesco for a grant towards a big project:

• To re-establish  a Wildlife Pool in the park, provide a pool liner, pollard the trees and clear the scrub to let in the light.
• Re-introduce frogs, toads, newts and small fish such as minnows and stickleback. 
• Provide a Dipping Platform for small children and put the pool at the disposal of local infant schools. 
• Plant the area with wildflowers to attract pollen gathering insects like bees and butterflies, along with waterborne insects that the pool will attract this should increase the wild bird population visiting the Park.

Yate Tesco customers will decide which of three local community projects in our area will receive the lion's share of the money donated through the Government's 5p plastic bag charge. 

Customers will receive a token at the till to vote for the local project they think most deserves the bumper £12,000 grant, and have until 6th March to make their vote count. You don't seem to get a token from the self-service tills - maybe you have to ask for it.

A total of £11.5 million raised from the sale of Tesco bags in the UK since October 2015 will be donated through the Bags of Help scheme.

Brimsham Park improvements

The Friends of Brimsham Park and Lake and local councillors
celebrate their grant - and their haul of rubbish!

The Friends of Brimsham Park and Lake and local councillors rolled their sleeves up last Saturday and did a really good spring clean of the park. What's more, the bulbs that were planted last autumn are popping up now, so the Park is well worth a visit, particularly on a sunny day. There's a lovely walk around the lake and good play facilities. Children love looking at the wooden fish sculpture - see whether they can spot the baby fish!

The Friends had something to celebrate too - a grant of  £2558 from last week's Frome Vale Area Forum for works to control erosion of the lake banks. Coir coils will be used to hold back erosion while providing a habitat for marginal vegetation. (Coir is natural coconut fibre)

Over the next week we'll cover a few more local grants from the Area Forum, and a bit about the organisations who are receiving them.

Brimsham Park Big Spring Clean 7 March - Come and join us!

Yes, it's that time of the year again, and the Big Spring Clean at Brimsham Park will be on Saturday 7 March.

Meet in Coopers Road car park at 10 am for gloves, black bags, etc.  Please wear suitable clothing.  If you are unable to come along at 10 o'clock but are able to join us later, we will be glad to see you.

Help Spring Clean Yate!

Dates for your diaries... If You want to help make a difference, the Spring Clean of Brinsham Park is 7th March 10am, and on 12 April there’s wildflower planting.

Interested? Contact John Ford for details.

If you know of other local Spring Clean or planting events, please email paul.hulbert@gmail.com so that we can advertise them here.

North Yate development news

Nearly 40 residents attended a workshop yesterday in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall to discuss the development principles - building style, traffic measures etc - for the big North Yate development that is included in the South Glos Core Strategy.

Planning officers and developer representatives also attended, and they seemed to be listening to what residents told them. Perhaps we can have some influence on these smaller matters, even if the development is now likely to go ahead, judging by the Planning Inspector's preliminary response to the Core Strategy.

Planning application submitted for 2450 houses at Brimsham Park

Letters have been dropping on doormats in Brimsham Park telling people that Heron Land Developments have applied for outline planning permission for up to 2,450 new dwellings, extra care housing, 5 hectares of employment land, a local centre and two primary schools.

Two steps to making your voice heard:

Step 1 -Tell the government inquiry into the South Glos Core Strategy about your views by signing our petition and adding your comments - just click this link: Stop Brimsham Park Housing by Monday 25 June, to give us time to convert the petition and your comments into a document that we can present to the enquiry.

Step 2 - Submit your comments on Heron's planning application to South Glos Council by Thursday 5 July. You can see the Heron planning application details and submit comments by going to South Glos's Planning Application Search Page and searching for planning application no. PK12/1913/O. That's a letter O on the end, not a zero.

You may find the YBuild 3000 campaign website useful to give you some ideas.

Our last chance to stop 3000 more houses for Yate!

At a public hearing on 29 June a government appointed inspector will hear the last evidence about the proposed development at Brimsham. If the inspector gives the green light that will mean 3000 more houses on the fields near Brimsham, and put yet more strain on our already stretched roads and community facilities.

Make no mistake, there would be no new main roads, nothing to deal with town centre congestion, and only 9 hectares of employment - not enough for the new residents. South Glos says vaguely that the shortfall will be made up by things like "encouraging home working".

Chris Willmore will be representing local people at the enquiry. She'll be presenting all the letters and the comments we've received throughout this campaign.

If you haven't signed our petition or put your comments in yet, there's still time - just click this link:

Stop Brimsham Park Housing by Monday 25 June, to give us time to convert the petition and your comments into a document that Chris can present.

Heron's ideas for North Yate on show Friday and Saturday

Heron is putting on an exhibition of their latest proposals for North Yate over the next couple of days. The exhibition will display a masterplan as well as further details on key issues raised during the first consultation. The sessions are as follows:

Friday 17 June 2011 2pm - 8pm
Yate Outdoor Sports Complex (YOSC), Broad Lane, Yate

Saturday 18 June 2011 10am - 4pm
Yate Library, 44 West Walk, Yate

If you are unable to visit the exhibition, you will be able to view the exhibition material in full on Heron's project website from 20 June 2011. An online comments form will also be available.

Please note that this is a developer's exhibition rather than an official council consultation, but please take a look even if you think the development isn't desirable - it'll give you an idea of Heron's current thinking.

Heron North Yate exhibition - a report back

In case you didn't get to Heron's exhibition at YOSC or Yate Library, it was a pretty good briefing about the issues for the site, and it was good to see them making an early engagement with local people.

Some visitors were surprised by the scale of the development and how much has to go in the area. There will no doubt be pressure for the land least suitable for building to be designated as the Public Open Space allowance for the development, but local councillors are determined that the wettest areas should not be counted as part of this allocation because they wouldn't provide suitable space for recreation.


The Gazette reports that several hundred people visited the exhibition. Heron will now take feedback into account in developing an outline planning application, expected to be submitted in late summer or early autumn. More details area available from Heron at www.heron-northyate.info

Heron's vision for North Yate development to go on display

Heron Land Developments has announced the dates of two drop-in days, when people can view proposals for a new neighbourhood in North Yate.

The area was identified for 3000 homes in South Glos's draft Core Strategy to meet the previous government's housing targets. Although planning authorities have been allowed to assess housing need themselves since the General Election, the current South Glos administration has decided to retain the 3000, despite local opposition.

Heron owns most of the land north of Brimsham Park and would be the lead developer, responsible for the infrastructure for the new neighbourhood. This exhibition is not part of the formal planning process, but it demonstrates that Heron are prepared to engage with the local community, and hopefully to listen to what local people tell them.

Based on feedback from these sessions, Heron will draw up a draft masterplan for the site for a second round of public consultation, then submit an outline planning application in the summer. Building would take place between 2013 and 2026.

The public exhibitions are on Friday March 11 from 2pm to 8pm at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, and on Saturday, March 12 from 10am to 4pm at Yate Library.
Further information about the public consultation and proposals can be found at www.heron-northyate.info

More details from the Gazette here

Yate youth clubs saved from funding axe

Local councillors have welcomed the news that South Gloucestershire Council has pulled back from major cuts to youth services in Yate. Youth clubs had been told that funding to St Nicholas Youth Centre at Abbotswood would be cut by 65%, together with significant cuts to Brimsham Green Youth Centre.

After concerted lobbying from local councillors South Gloucestershire has now guaranteed funding for another year.

Dodington Parish Councillor Paul Hulbert said “South Glos seemed to think that because the Youth Café will be open in a few months time, local services could automatically be scaled back. The Youth Café was never a replacement for existing youth clubs, all along it was intended as an exciting new facility for our young people”

“As a councillor for a ward with one of the highest proportions of young people in South Glos, I was appalled at the prospect of St Nicks being cut to just a couple of ‘pool and pop nights’. Without adequate funding there is no way that local youth work can be developed and improved to tackle existing problems in Abbotswood and the surrounding area”

Yate Town Councillor Chris Willmore said “I am relieved that proposals to cut funding to St Nicks and Brimsham have been dropped from the Conservatives’ draft Budget"

"All the groups providing youth services in Yate have been working together, and as chair of the Youth Cafe Project I am delighted that funding has been continued for St Nicholas for another year. When we heard it was under threat, all our local councils united to support the project”

South Gloucestershire Councillor Ruth Davis (Lib Dem, Yate Central) said "This is an excellent result for Yate.  It means that the new youth cafe can be opened based on what the new users want rather than be expected to cover evening sessions that were previously covered by Brimsham and St Nicholas Youth Clubs”.

“It's really important that young residents decide what they would like provided, and when, for all three centres to be successful”

South Gloucestershire Council has said that funding for local youth centres will now be reviewed again after the Youth Café has been open for a year.