The importance of staying safe and saving lives by keeping to social distancing guidelines still remains. To make this easier, a number of measures are being introduced:

• on our High Streets

• in parks and open spaces

• outside schools

• at bus stops

• on routes to work.

Some are simple measures like cutting back vegetation to widen footpaths or installing social distancing reminders on pavements. Other schemes will have a bigger impact, such as making our town centres pedestrian areas only or creating pop-up cycle lanes at busy points.

 Unfortunately S Glos are not using 'widenmypath'. To make a comment on these larger schemes people should visit the Sustrans website https://www.sustrans.org.uk/space-to-move/?utm_source=Town+%26+Parish+Councils+%26+MPs&utm_campaign=bcfbec49be-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_04_24_12_45_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6d5a85e985-bcfbec49be-406510362

PATH ACROSS YOSC CLOSED

Wessex are laying the new main sewer/drainage for the Ladden Garden Development across the YOSC sports pitches and Brimsham Green School pitches in the next few weeks. So the public footpath will be closed. Work is due to start on Mon 1 June. Here is the diversion.

Mud, mud, glorious mud

Network Rail's contractors have caused more damage to the grass than we anticipated, but we're on the case.

As you can see, the big tracked vehicle and the tractor and trailer have been taken further into the mouth of the Lower Meadow than we had anticipated, and the whole entranceway is just mud.

There are also tracks on the near corner of the Common and to the side of the roadway in between.

The big tracked vehicle will be removed from the Common side of the bridge on Saturday night, crossing the railway track to get back to the compound. The tractor and trailer will finish their work on Monday. On Tuesday there should be a pavement sweeper on site to clean the mud off the tarmac roadway.

We are meeting the site manager on Monday morning to discuss the RADAR gate and ground reinstatement. The site manager appreciates that we're not best pleased, while we do understand the practical difficulties of manoeuvring such large vehicles in such tight quarters.

On a related local note, we have also met South Glos this morning about the boggy patches on the "Ashtrack" footpath from Wapley Bridge towards Goldcrest Park. They have measured it up and agreed the necessary works, and they anticipate doing the work in June/July when Network Rail are well clear and the ground has dried up. Some parts of the path will just be topped up, the worst parts will be reconstructed and drainage will be put in at one or two points.

Wapley footbridge update

A quick progress report on Network Rail's work to raise the footbridge in connection with the electrification of the Great Western main line.

On the Wapley side of the bridge they have now laid stone along the green lane to the point where the temporary footbridge will be positioned. On the Shire Way side contractors Murphys have been removing excess soil prior to constructing the temporary bridge. If the track to or from the "ash track" is blocked for lorry movements, they will let you through if you ask - the track isn't closed.

The temporary bridge will go up in the fairly near future, and they will then start work on the accesses to the new bridge. Subject to the weather it is planned to crane the old bridge out and crane the new bridge in over a VERY long day on Boxing Day.

Consultation on plans for footpath on Dodington Road

In March, the Frome Vale Area Forum awarded funding for a new length of footpath on Dodington Road, in response to safety concerns raised by local residents.

Local people now have an opportunity to comment on the proposals. You can view the plans online and email comments to transportservices@southglos.gov.uk - the deadline for comments is Tuesday 9th September.

Footpath diversion at Wapley

South Glos Council is seeking views on diverting a length of public footpath LDO 3/20 at The Old Rectory, Wapley (near Wapley Church). You can find out more on the council's website. The deadline for commenting is 30th August.

Peg Hill development - consultation on public footpath diversions

South Glos Council is consulting about proposed diversions to public footpaths near Peg Hill in connection with the coming housing development.

You can find details and make comments on the South Glos website here - the consultation closes on 15 August.

Less mud at Wapley next winter

One of the muddy stretches of path earlier this year

Dodington Parish Council and Wapley Bushes Conservation Group are undertaking a major path upgrading project at Wapley Bushes this summer. The aim is to get rid of the very muddy stretches due to the last couple of very wet winters. The section of path shown in the photo is still very muddy even in the current warm weather.

Ring Paul Hulbert on 01454 315851 or email paul.hulbert@gmail.com for more information or if you would be interested in helping at conservation mornings in the Nature Reserve.

Wapley Bushes footbridge update

Network Rail have withdrawn their "advance notification" for replacing the footbridge to Wapley Common so that they can take account of the various comments about their previous scheme.

We understand that they will be submitting new plans in due course - we'll let you know here when new proposals are available.

Temporary footbridge for Wapley Bushes

It looks like Network Rail have listened to councillors and users of the path over the footbridge to Wapley Bushes. They have put in an application to divert the path via a temporary footbridge while they raise the bridge to get clearance for the overhead cables for electrifying the line.

Clearance work has recently started on site and we are now waiting for Network Rail to sort out the details of the paths to make sure that the slope isn’t too steep.

New public rights of way needed?

Natural England are running a 2 year funding scheme called Paths for Communities (P4C). From their website:

The aim of P4C is to encourage and support local communities to work with land owners to make improvements to the network of Public Rights of Way. In all cases P4C projects must include some element of new Public Right of Way creation. In most cases projects will include an element of new Bridleway creation but projects that include Footpath creation alone will also be considered where community and economic benefit can be demonstrated.

You can find out more on the Natural England website.

Fanatical about footpaths? (or indeed bridle paths)

The Joint Local Access Forum for Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire (the JLAF) is looking for new recruits. The JLAF is a statutory body established by the three councils, to provide advice on improving public access to land in the area for the purposes of open-air recreation and enjoyment.

They are seeking applications for membership of the JLAF from people of all ages who are enthusiastic about the rights of way network and access to the outdoors. This is an opportunity to contribute views and positive ideas on the potential of the network of paths in the area and on how to make it more accessible and enjoyable for all. For more information go to www.jlaf.org.uk - the deadline for applications is 9am on Friday 22nd June.

Wapley Common footpath over railway bridge - overnight closure 28-29 April

The footpath over the railway from Shire Way to Wapley Common will be closed overnight 28-29 April for a railway bridge inspection.

LibDem Focus councillor finds finance for much-needed paths

Focus Team members Jane Lund, Adrian Rush and Linda Boon
check out the new path behind Chipping Sodbury School

Cllr Linda Boon has found some local funding to surface a path at the back of Chipping Sodbury School, linking Gaunts Road to Dodington Road and Culverhill Road. This provides a safe walkway for residents of roads like Greenhayes and Smarts Green to places like Chipping Sodbury and Lilliput Park, where Linda's money has also financed path improvements. This shows how local initiatives can deliver small but well-focused much-needed improvements - we need more locally decided schemes like this.

New Sodbury footpath shows its worth, but more needed

In the recent snow it was a pleasure to be able to use the new footpath in Gorlands Road rather than tramping along the grass verge.

Previously there was no footpath on Gorlands Road except on a short section near the middle, despite the two groups of sheltered housing Whitefields and Batten Court. Anybody living in the Gorlands Road area had to brave the parked cars and the rough verge in order to walk into the High Street or Hatters Lane.

The footpath was provided after a sustained campaign by Lib Dem Focus councillors Ann Hulme and Linda Boon, and with the kind cooperation of the Badminton estate, which owns some of the verge.

This is not the only place in Chipping Sodbury that needs better footways, and the Focus Team is continuing to campaign for improvements - there are narrow and dangerous places elsewhere. Footpaths need to be wide enough for disabled buggies to pass comfortably and safely - please let us know if there's a particular problem area you want to be tackled.