Saturday, 22 December 2012
Share the gift of time
You can find out more on the Precious Time website. There's information for residents, potential volunteers and organisations, stories about some of the amazing work already going on and a section where you can pledge an action.
There is also a "Being a Welcoming Organisation" toolkit to help groups welcome and involve older people.
If you would like more information on volunteering or are in need of support, email precioustime@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 862356.
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Paul Hulbert
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10:39 am
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Labels: #localfocus, dodington, elderly, sodbury, syd, volunteers, yate
Friday, 21 December 2012
Nominations open for community awards
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Paul Hulbert
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5:56 pm
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Labels: #localfocus, awards, communities, dodington, sodbury, southglos, syd, volunteers, yate
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Magic your old carpets away - courtesy of South Glos
From 14 January however there will be a new carpet recycling service at each of the four Sort It!* Centres at Yate, Mangotsfield, Stoke Gifford and Thornbury, with clearly signed containers.
Collected carpets will be taken away and shredded to use as a sustainable alternative to coal in cement kilns. Even better, there is no waste from this process as the ash is then used as an ingredient in manufacturing the cement. Clever!
Technology is being developed to separate recyclable fibres optically and extract the polypropylene content of the carpets and convert this into a plastic pellet to sell back to the plastic manufacturing industry.
Duvets, pillows, cushions and cushions from soft furnishings will also be accepted in with the carpets, potentially increasing recycling rates even more.
The new system should achieve a reduction of 222 tonnes of CO2 each year. Well done South Glos!
Posted by
Paul Hulbert
at
10:10 pm
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Labels: #localfocus, dodington, recycling, sodbury, southglos, syd, yate
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Have your say on Police and Crime Plans
The Police and Crime Plan for Avon and Somerset and the six policing districts of Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset West, Somerset East and South Gloucestershire will set out the vision, aims and objectives for the new PCC Sue Mountstevens' term in office.
You can have your say online or you can call the Commissioner's office on 01275 816377 or email pcc@avonandsomerset.pnn.
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Paul Hulbert
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1:19 pm
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Labels: #localfocus, crime, dodington, police, sodbury, syd, yate
Help stop spread of ash disease
Ash die back originated in Europe and has spread into the UK, including parts of South Gloucestershire. Symptoms of the disease include leaf death, with dead leaves typically hanging on the tree. This is followed by death of the tree’s branches.
As well as reporting suspect sightings, if you have an affected tree on your land it needs to be burnt on site to destroy spores that spread the disease. You can find more information on the council's website. Trees on private land are the responsibility of the landowner, and the council website includes advice on choosing a tree surgeon for people who may need to deal with affected trees.
Members of the public can report suspected sightings of the disease by telephoning 01454 868000 or emailing the team at streetcare@southglos.gov.uk .
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Paul Hulbert
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1:15 pm
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Labels: #localfocus, ash, disease, dodington, environment, sodbury, syd, yate
Mental health news
South Glos Council is currently looking for groups and organisations to bid for funding to support initiatives that will involve and benefit people with mental health problems. They are particularly keen to hear from organisations that would not necessarily see themselves as "Mental Health" organisations but may have interesting ideas. Ideas put forward by people with mental health difficulties include a Friday night supper club, a choir, a drama group, radio project, photo exhibition, steam train enthusiasts and various sporting ideas. For more information email cchengagement@southglos.gov.uk but hurry - expressions of interest have to be in by 8 am on Monday 21st January 2013.
Posted by
Paul Hulbert
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1:11 pm
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Labels: #localfocus, consultation, dodington, health, mental, sodbury, syd, yate
