Dodington Ward Election guide

 To find out more about your Lib Dem Focus Team candidates for Dodington, we have published this guide. 

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

Local emergency Grant Funds

LOCAL EMERGENCY GRANT FUNDS

Dodington Parish Council are pleased to announce that they have diverted part of their 2020 – 21 budget into an ‘Covid-19 Emergency Fund’ set up to help locally based organisations and charities that are supporting residents in the Chipping Sodbury, Dodington and Yate area through this current crisis.

Please see guidelines and application forms at

https://www.dodingtonpc.org.uk/launch-of-emergency-fund/

If you are unable to print and need hard copy – don’t hesitate to contact the parish council who will get paper copies to you

Once completed either email to : clerk@dodingtonpc.org.uk or pop in the post to our office address (there is a rota for going into office and checking for mail).

Dodington Parish Council, Dodington Parish Hall, Finch Road, Chipping Sodbury. S Glos. BS37 6JZ.

** Note the next council meeting when grants will be considered is 13th May 2020 – so if possible please get your application into us by 10th May 2020 **

You can apply to this fund as well as the Yate Town Council Battle Fund

Birds - Tree planting

Local councils and groups have been working with South Glos on the first year of a major tree planting programme. Across South Glos around 8,250 young trees have been planted. 

In Dodington Parish local councillors worked with residents to find out where they did and didn't want trees. For example they didn't want trees that would block where children play.

In Lilliput Park a class of children from Raysfield School planted 100 trees, helped by South Glos and Dodington staff and by volunteers from Avon Wildlife Trust Southwold Group. Before Christmas the same partnership helped schoolchildren create a wildlife flower area.

South Glos also planted trees near Goldcrest play area and along hedges around Abbotswood School, Kelston Close and near Chedworth. 

In all about 800 trees were planted in the parish. The extra trees will improve air quality and capture something between 0.5 and 5 tonnes of CO2 a year, bringing health improvements for local people.

Many of the trees will  have pollen rich flowers and fruit, ideal for birds (e.g crab apple, cherry and rowan), so there will be definite biodiversity gains.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Best wishes from everyone on the Focus Team!

Please save your stamps for charity!

Most of our local charity shops collect used stamps - foreign, UK commemorative or just plain "ordinary" stamps - and sell them on to dealers to raise funds. Please keep all those stamps you get at Xmas or indeed any time of year and take them in.

Alternatively you can drop them off to Paul Hulbert at 35 Blaisdon, Yate (this year he's collecting them for the Children's Hospice) or leave them at Dodington Parish Council for him to collect.

General Election 2019 results - Thornbury and Yate

The results of the 2019 General Election in the Thornbury and Yate constituency are as follows:

• Luke Hall (Conservative) 30,202   ELECTED
• Claire Young (Liberal Democrats) 17,833
• Rob Logan  (Labour Party)  4,208

Many thanks to everyone who supported Claire, and to all those who worked so hard on our campaign. 

Hustings for General Election this Tuesday at St Nix, Abbotswood

Please come along at 7 pm this Tuesday to meet and hear from all three candidates for the Thornbury and Yate constituency. You can email your questions to YateHustings@gmail.com, or you can write your questions just before or during the Hustings. There will be some time for verbal questions at the end, but you have a better chance of it being answered through email or writing down at the event.

Lib Dem General Election Campaign launched in Thornbury and Yate

The Lib Dem General Election Campaign for Thornbury and Yate was officially launched yesterday evening - though of course we've been working hard on it already!

Our candidate Claire Young (centre) said "We're ready to stop Brexit and focus on issues that matter to local people, securing a brighter future for our community"

Claire is shown flanked by fellow candidates Louise Harris  (Filton and Bradley Stoke) and Dine Romero (Kingswood)

Don't miss the big Abbotswood Christmas event on Saturday 30th November

Get your festive season off to a splendid start with the Abbotswood Christmas Fair and family event on Saturday 30th November from 4 pm until 6pm. This ever-popular event has lots to offer for all ages. Donkeys, live music... What's not to like? Santa will of course be there too, ready for the switch-on of the big Abbotswood Christmas tree.

Road closure - between Westerleigh and The Folly - Yet another change - now Mon 11 to Wed 13 Nov

They've now gone back to the original date... According to an update from South Glos today - 7th November -Westerleigh Road will be closed from Monday 11 November to Wednesday 14 November from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

The Westerleigh Road will be closed for 3 days 9.30 am - 3.30 pm between The Folly pub and the traffic lights at the top of Westerleigh Hill. This is due to carriageway patching work by South Glos Council. There are bound to be delays while this busy commuter route is shut.

South Glos say "A signed diversion will be in place. Access to properties and businesses will be maintained via either the eastern or western side of the road (whichever is clear of works at the time). We will do everything we can to minimise disruption and we apologise for the inconvenience.

These works are in advance of a surfacing scheme due to take place on Westerleigh Road in 2020"

Filming on Road to Nowhere on 28th October

A production company are planning to film at the Road to Nowhere on the 28th October between 8 am and 5 pm, so access may be limited.

They intend to film driving sequences. The majority of the shoot will include static car shots, exterior and interior. One vehicle will be involved.

South Glos consulting on HGV parking ban on Rodford Way near Kelston Close

For years people living near this part of Rodford Way have been woken up in the early hours of the morning by heavy goods vehicles starting up - they've been using this stretch of road as an unofficial lorry park.

South Glos are now considering banning HGVs over 7.5 tonnes from parking there, and they want your views.

The consultation is open until 8th October - you can see the documents and comment here

Gypsy Patch Lane roadworks update

Further update from Metrobus w/c 14/10/2019:

"Three-way temporary traffic lights will be put in place on Gipsy Patch Lane from Monday 14 October. The lights will need to be positioned at the railway bridge and will include the junction with Station Road.

The temporary lights are needed by Wales and West Utilities whilst diversionary work is carried out on the gas main in preparation for the replacement railway bridge next year. The work is expected to take up to two weeks and the lights will be in operation around the clock.

It was hoped that this work could be completed without the need for traffic lights but for the safety of all road users this is no longer the case. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your continued patience.

All shops and businesses on and near Gipsy Patch Lane will be open as normal"

---------------------------------------

The Cribbs Patchway Metrobus Extension project tell us:

"The three-way temporary traffic lights at the railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane are to remain in place for at least a further week. Contractors are currently installing crossings on Gipsy Patch Lane as part of preparation works for the bridge replacement next year. The extension to the temporary lights is needed to enable additional work to lower a utility cable.

Safety is paramount and given the limited space around the railway bridge the temporary lights help protect workers and members of the public whilst this work is completed. This additional work will not affect the project’s timetable.

The temporary lights will only operate Monday to Friday during off-peak hours and pedestrians and cyclists will continue to be able to pass under the railway bridge. Cyclists may be asked to dismount.

Once this work is completed the temporary traffic lights will be replaced with automated Stop/Go boards on Gipsy Patch Lane. These will only be used as needed when workers and machinery from the construction site need to safely cross Gipsy Patch Lane. Their use will be kept to a minimum and as far as possible will be kept to off-peak times.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your continued patience. We will continue to keep local residents, businesses and commuters up to date on the project.

All shops and businesses on and near Gipsy Patch Lane will be open as normal"

For further information about the project please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/cpmetrobus

You can now keep up to date via the project' new Facebook page www.facebook.com/sgloscpme

Bus fare victory in Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury

Liberal Democrat bus campaigners are celebrating victory in their campaign for a cheap fare for bus journeys within the towns of Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury. From later this month people travelling on First Bus services will play just £1.50 for any single journey in town.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Thornbury & Yate, Claire Young, said:

"This is fantastic news for bus users in Thornbury and Yate. Last year's fare rises left them paying far more for a short bus journey than those in Bristol or Bath. It made people think twice about using the bus to go to the shops, adding to the congestion and parking problems. We pushed First Bus to give us a low flat-rate fare for journeys within town and we're delighted they're doing that."

Yate Town Councillor Chris Willmore said:

"We have fought for this in Yate for years, it's a key plank of our 'Let's Get Yate moving' plan. It was nonsense expecting people to pay a fiver to get to the shopping centre and back. Well done to First Bus for listening. Now we need to tell everyone about it and show bus bosses that cheaper fares work."

Cllr Maggie Tyrrell (Lib Dem, Thornbury) said:

"At this price, people will be happy to jump on a bus rather than face the hassle of finding a parking space in town. I'm glad First Bus have heeded our arguments."

Claire added:

"We are still pushing for the towns to have their own travel zones taking in nearby villages, like the zones for Bristol, Bath and Weston-Super-Mare. Flat rate "Rider" tickets allowing you to make as many journeys within the zone as you want in a day, week or month would help more people go by bus."

St Briavels Drive resurfacing to carry on for another week

 South Glos Council's Streetcare section have told us that the resurfacing works on St Briavels Drive have been delayed as there is considerably more reconstruction required than originally anticipated.

These works will now hopefully be completed on 17th September. In the meantime the bus diversions will continue.

Sustainable September - events in Abbotswood and nearby

Abbotswood Action Group have announced their programme of events for "Sustainable September" - there's lots to interest all the family. The first event is this Sunday, 1st September:  “Lines In The Landscape: A time trail walk exploring how people and nature interconnect in our modern town and countryside” The walk will set off from outside St Nicholas Church, Abbotswood at 2 pm.

A walk of about two hours at a gentle pace from Abbotswood to Wapley Bushes and back. Discover disused streams and ancient hedges in the built-up area, and see how wildlife and people use pathways, beelines and wildlife corridors in the Nature Reserve. Please wear suitable footwear and dress according to the weather.

If you’re interested, other events during the month include wildlife talks and a Bicycle Safari (think “nature ramble on wheels”)

Volunteering opportunity - treasurer for local group

Are you good with figures? Could you spare around 4 hours a month to help Abbotswood Action Group, who have a vacancy for a volunteer Treasurer? Please contact Steph on volunteeringyate@southernbrooks.org or 01454 868570 to find out more.

Gypsy Patch Lane, Abbeywood Roundabout - roadworks in September

Lots of local residents drive along Gypsy Patch Lane, Filton and through the narrow bridge. Work will be starting there in September to prepare for replacing the bridge.

From Monday 2nd September temporary three-way traffic lights will be in operation on Gipsy Patch Lane at the railway bridge. These will be in place for up to two weeks.

After this period automated Stop/Go boards will be used as needed on Gipsy Patch Lane.  These will only be used when workers and machinery from the construction site need to safely cross Gipsy Patch Lane, their use will be kept to a minimum and as far as possible will be kept to off-peak times.

Meanwhile at Abbeywood Roundabout there will be major resurfacing work overnight from Monday 9th September 2019. They will be planing off of existing tarmac and laying a new surface. The work will start at 8.00 pm and go on until around 6.00 am. During the work the road will be closed and all traffic will be diverted around the area.

Road to Pucklechurch to be closed at motorway bridge

The Highways Agency will be closing the bridge which crosses the M4 on the B4465 between Westerleigh and  Pucklechurch for strengthening works from Tuesday 27th August to Friday 4th October.

*** Update - the road is now finally open again ***

You will still be able to get to the crematorium from the Yate and Westerleigh direction, but if you're coming from elsewhere please follow the diversion signs or leave the ring road (A4174) at the Emersons Green roundabout, and come in along the Westerleigh Road.