Bus fare consultation

First Bus have started a consultation on fares, which runs until 16th March. More information about the consultation can be found at www.fairerfaresforall.co.uk and hard copy questionnaires will be available on buses, in libraries, in council one-stop-shops and in First’s own travel shops. There will also be a series of roadshows.

Bus timetable changes

From this week, First is changing the timetable of some early morning and early evening 342/X42 journeys.

The following Monday to Friday early morning departures from Chipping Sodbury via Yate to Bristol Bus Station have been brought forward by either five or ten minutes: 0540 hours, 0635 hours, 0655 hours, 0710 hours.

Passengers have suggested that later morning rush-hour departures, which are currently heavily delayed in traffic, should also have been moved forward. What do you think? Please leave your comments below, including the service and time you are talking about.

In addition, the following Monday to Friday departures from Bristol Bus Station will also change: 0645 hours departure brought forward by five minutes, 1725 hours and 1755 hours departures pushed back by five minutes.

Full details of all the changes First are making are available on their website.

Westerleigh - more work on double railway arches

Network Rail have submitted notices to carry out works on the double railway bridges over Westerleigh Road, as you enter the village from Yate. The works are in 3 stages and will involve the use of two way temporary traffic lights. The dates are 30th January until 8th February, 17th February until 26th February and 5th March until 7th March 2014.

Hopefully we will not have the problems we had last time as the road will not be closed.

Red Cross Healthy Homes project

The Red Cross Healthy Homes project provides information and support with:

• keeping warm at home, energy efficiency and affording your energy bills
• preventing fires and falls
• maintaining independence
• promoting well-being

If you would like a free home visit and free winter warmth pack or if you would like them to visit a centre or group you attend to give a general talk about the Healthy Homes Project please contact Ellen Devine at H&SCWAG@redcross.org.uk or 0117 9415041.

Charfield leads the way on street lights

LED street lights are to be installed in Charfield this month as the first stage of a South Glos-wide roll out of the new technology.

Nearly 300 new lights are being installed in Charfield during January, reducing the parish’s street lighting costs from £11,000 to £3,500 per year and cutting related carbon emissions from 45 to 10 tonnes. Over the next decade, the new technology will be gradually installed in all of South Gloucestershire’s 30,000 street lights from May 2014, as part of a rolling investment programme.

Local councillor John O'Neill said, "Charfield has led the way with part night lighting and now with the new LED lighting technology. This will make for long term savings on our carbon reduction target and the South Gloucestershire Council budget which will benefit all Council Tax payers."

Trials of various patterns of new lighting - e.g. dimming - are taking place in other areas, as well as the overnight switch-off of conventional lights.

Nibley Lane to close for cleaning Tue 14 Jan

Nibley Lane is expected to close for cleaning from 9.30am until 2.30pm on Tuesday 14th January 2014.

Last chance to apply for 2014 primary school places 15 January

Is your child due to start primary school this year? The deadline to apply for South Gloucestershire primary school places is 15 January. Applications can be submitted online or by post - for further information and an application form, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/primaryadmissions