Park and Fail

 

Residents of South Gloucestershire have been shocked to learn that Highways England have no idea about long standing hopes for more sustainable parking at the Tormarton motorway Junction.

Highways England closed the Picnic /Parking Site last year without any consultation, resulting in more cars dangerously parked on the nearby verges.   Sue Hope (Liberal Democrat, Cotswold Edge ward) has been fighting for years to get a formal Park and Share site at this busy junction.  This would be of vital strategic importance to the area, and dramatically reduce congestion on local roads.  It is included in the West of England Joint Transport Plan.

Sue said: “I was shocked when a Highways England Officer told me they had no idea about the vision for a Park and Share site on the A46, nor did anyone on her  staff.

“We desperately need better communication between agencies. I can’t believe what’s going on. Instead of opening it up, and improving local transport, they’ve simply closed the location. People are now parking illegally on the grass verges – because there’s nowhere else for them to go! I can’t believe they could be so short sighted, or so ignorant of what we want for the area. They’ve acted without so much as a by your leave, or any thought amongst themselves.

“We need a proper joined up approach, with a formal Park and Share site. This area could really help improve local transport, and it needs to be properly run.”

DANGER - Ice likely on Rodford Way tonight

We've just seen a Wessex Water van releasing large amounts of water onto Rodford Way eastbound near the Sundridge Park / Shire Way junction.

If it freezes tonight it could become very dangerous.

We don't know whether they have been doing the same anywhere else in the area. Take care!

75 years since bombing of Parnall’s Aircraft Factory in Yate

 
It's now been 75 years since the bombing of the Parnall’s Aircraft Factory in Yate.

Yate Town Council is organising an event in conjunction with Whirlpool Appliances Ltd, (formally Indesit Company) who now occupy the site and works formerly known as Parnalls, and Yate Heritage Centre to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the bombing of Parnall Aircraft.

If you are a survivor or the family member of a survivor of the bombing and would like to be involved in this event, or if you have memories or things you would like to share, please contact Yate Town Council. Email info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk or telephone 01454 866506 or pop in and see them at Poole Court in Yate.

Changes to Eighties bus services

South Glos Council is consulting on an option to change the 84 and 86 bus service to provide a more frequent and reliable service.

• The 84 would operate an hourly circular route in an anti-clockwise direction (Wotton – Charfield – Cromhall – Wickwar – Chipping Sodbury – Yate – Chipping Sodbury – Horton – Hawkesbury Upton – Hillesley – Alderley – Wotton)
• There would be a new 85 service operating an hourly circular route as above but in a clockwise direction.
• The 86 service would operate between Yate and Longwell Green, going via Coalpit Heath, Greenacres Park, Kingswood and New Cheltenham on an hourly basis (currently 2 hourly). School journeys will still be provided, although times may alter slightly.

The changes mean that people to the North of Yate wanting to travel to Emersons Green, Mangotsfield, or Kingswood would need to change at Yate bus Station.

You can have your say here before 11th February.

South Glos funding cut more than expected

We were already expecting that South Glos Council would have to make significant cuts in the coming year but the news from the Conservative government was even worse than had been planned for. The council will be getting less money than expected from the Government to provide services.

The council can now charge a levy of up to 2% towards rising social care costs, on top of the up to 1.99% council tax rise allowed without a referendum. Even if council tax did go up by 3.99% including the social care levy, there is likely to be a shortfall in 2018/19 of around £6m and in 2019/20 of £8m - which would require even more cuts on top of the £34m already planned for.

Due to these and other changes since the council's budget consultation was launched, the deadline for comments has been extended until 31st January. You can find out more and have your say here.

Abbotswood repairs - broken slabs to be given priority

As we reported recently, Yate Town Council has now bought the land at the front and back of the Abbotswood shops. They have held a meeting with local residents and Abbotswood Action Group to talk about the future management of the area. The meeting was very positive and the Council and local people are looking forward to working together to improve the area.

The first priority will be sorting out the broken and wonky paving. This isn't a trivial job - there are more than 50 broken slabs to replace, plus many more that need resetting. Yate Town Council is getting quotes from contractors, and they hope that the repairs will start within the next couple of weeks.

Local people, traders and councillors
celebrating the change of land ownership

If you're on Facebook, please "Like" the Abbotswood Action Group Facebook page, where you can find out more about this lively local group.

Community Fire Safety Volunteers wanted

Could you become a Community Fire Safety Volunteer with Avon Fire and Rescue Service and The Care Forum?

Community Fire Safety Volunteers research, contact and visit local social and community groups. They encourage these groups to sign up for Avon Fire and Rescue’s free Home Fire Safety Visits, a free lifesaving service that Firefighters deliver to people in their own homes. This is an important and worthwhile role that helps prevent devastating home fires and, ultimately, helps save lives.

You would be providing a valuable life-saving service in your community, gaining skills and using your experience and free time to help keep local people safer.

If you might be interested, please contact Steffie in Volunteering at The Care Forum, tel. 0117 9589308 or email volunteering@thecareforum.org.uk or check out the Community Fire Safety Volunteer web page