Work gets underway on next phase of the Quiet Lanes Scheme

Work is getting underway on the next stage of the Quiet Lanes Scheme. Coalsack Lane, Kendleshire will be closed from Monday 3rd December to Friday 14 December while granite setts are installed as part of a gateway treatment.

New mobile phone masts

Claire Young was recently contacted by Needham Haddrell Chartered Surveyors on behalf of Vodafone, who propose to install a mobile phone mast beside Badminton Road near the junction with Woodside Road. They have not made a formal planning application at this stage but the Government encourages mobile phone companies to carry out pre-application consultation.

Claire wrote back indicating her concerns about the proposal and asking them to consult residents in the area. They put the application on hold and promised to write to a number of households in Badminton Road, Woodside Road and Rose Oak Drive. Unfortunately some residents did not receive the letters. If you live close to this junction and have not received a letter, please contact Claire as soon as possible on 864086 or by email (Claire.young@southglos.gov.uk) . The deadline for receipt of comments has been extended to the middle of December but it is vital they know of any missing letters as soon as possible.

Vodafone are also hoping to erect a phone mast within Kelly Brothers Storage Depot off North Road, Yate. This is in an industrial area next to the railway and not overlooked by houses. However if local residents have any concerns, do please contact Claire.

Have your say on housing

What do you think the Council's priorities should be for housing? If you want to have your say, click here to find out more. Alternatively, Council staff will be in Yate Shopping Centre on Tuesday 4 December from around 9am to 2pm.

Your views on day service provision

The Council is asking for the views of users of the Learning Difficulties Day Services and their carers on proposals to change the day services provided. You can find out more by clicking here and selecting "Learning Difficulties Day Services re-provision" from the list.

Over 50?

South Gloucestershire Council are currently consulting on their strategy for the over 50s. You can get involved online here.

Another option is to drop in to the Greenfield Centre, Park Avenue, Winterbourne any time between 10.30am and 1pm on Monday 3rd December. If you need transport, please call Sharon on 01454 865922 or e-mail Sharon.gilbert@southglos.gov.uk .

Parish Plan Open Day

Westerleigh Parish Councillors organised an excellent Parish Plan Open Day on Saturday. Despite the poor weather, there was a steady stream of residents dropping in to make their suggestions. As well as completing a questionnaire, residents could also provide feedback by selecting flags with possible improvements or sticking post-it notes up on a board.

There were displays about the play proposals for Newman's Field (pictured above), the mining history of the area, the Manor Hall Trust and the Sensory Garden. The play proposals were generating a lot of interest, with the designer on hand to explain what she is aiming to do. Features such as balance beams and an earth mound with a slide will be arranged around the edge of the field, leaving room for junior football pitches in the centre. Play equipment will be multi-purpose where possible, doubling up as fitness equipment for footballers or seating for spectators at matches, and will be made of natural materials to blend in with the surroundings.

Don't forget the Parish Plan Open Day

Westerleigh Parish Council are holding an Open Day tomorrow (Saturday 24th) for anyone interested in finding out more about developing a plan for the Parish. This is a chance for residents to say what improvements they would like to see. Westerleigh Parish is very diverse, covering Westerleigh village itself, most of Coalpit Heath, Henfield, Kendleshire, Mayshill, Nibley and the Stover Road area, and it's important to have input from all areas.

There will also be more information about the play proposals for Newman's Field.

Roadworks on Westerleigh Road

On Monday 3 December there will be temporary off-peak signals at the double railway bridge on Westerleigh Road to enable a bridge inspection to take place.

Your community needs YOU!

Would you like to see action to improve your area? Both Frampton Cotterell and Westerleigh Parishes are gearing up to produce Parish Plans. The first step is to form a Steering Group.

Westerleigh Parish (which includes most of Coalpit Heath) have arrranged a special event at the Manor Hall from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 24th November. There will also be a chance to see the new play proposals for Newman's Field.

Frampton Cotterell Parish (which includes the rest of Coalpit Heath) have pencilled in their Open Day for Saturday 26th January at the Brockeridge Centre. Before that happens, they are having a visit from two leading members of the Congresbury Parish Plan Team tonight (Tuesday 20th November). For more information call Dave Hockey on 773611 or email him at dave.hockey@southglos.gov.uk.

Help make South Gloucestershire a Fair Trade area

If you run a cafe, restaurant or shop, or you are a supplier selling Fairtrade products then South Gloucestershire Council would like to hear from you.

Any organisation supplying, selling or promoting Fairtrade products in the district can get a free listing in the South Gloucestershire Fairtrade Directory. Email details of your organisation and the Fairtrade products you provide to sustainability@southglos.gov.uk by Friday 30 November 2007.

The free directory will be available from local retailers, libraries, leisure centres and council offices in time for Fairtrade Fortnight in February 2008.

Women's pensions - Steve Webb's campaign gets pension justice

Steve Webb MP has been campaigning to get proper state pension payments for women whose computer records had been lost, so that they weren't receiving credit for periods when they were at home raising children.

Steve was contacted by more than a thousand women who have been affected. Steve and his team identified a dozen key cases and took them to the Department of Work and Pensions, who agreed that they had lost out. One woman has received more than £10,000 in back pension and interest.

The Government has now agreed to trawl through millions of National Insurance Contribution records to identify the people affected - the back payments may add up to tens of millions of pounds.

For the full details, see Steve Webb's blog.

Chevron signs

Earlier in the summer, Claire Young asked for chevron signs to be installed on the sharp bend where Broad Lane meets Westerleigh Road in Westerleigh, in addition to the high friction surface being laid. This has now been done. Hopefully the combination of these safety measures will reduce the number of accidents.

Quiet Lanes Scheme - the next phase

Yesterday residents and Claire Young met Highways officers at the Ruffet Road/Coalsack Lane junction, to consider revised proposals for the junction as part of the second phase of the Quiet Lanes Scheme. It was agreed that the priorities should stay as they are and the gateway treatment proposed nearby will be changed to a road narrowing to slow traffic down. The priorities will change at the Coalsack Lane/The Hollows junction and a gateway treatment will be created nearby. It’s hoped that work will start on this latest phase of the scheme before Christmas.

Make a Noise

This Saturday (3rd November) is Make a Noise Day in the local libraries. Events will be taking place at all libraries and will include competitions, storytimes, IT sessions and a guest appearance of the Bookstart Bear.

Yate library recently won a £1.5 million lottery grant to update its facilities. You can read more on our sister blog.