Shire Way to be resurfaced

Starting this Friday, 4th December, the Council will be resurfacing Shire Way, Yate. work will start at roughly 8am, going on until 5pm, and there will be temporary traffic lights in place until 11th December, when the works are expected to end. Bad weather may delay the works so watch out for updates in the local press or radio.

Nibley Lane to close on Tuesday

The section of Nibley Lane north of Badminton Road running up to Iron Acton will be closed on Tuesday 1 December 2009 between 9.30am and 2.30pm to allow street cleansing and drainage works to take place. Residents will still be able to access their properties.

Taxi marshal scheme for Chipping Sodbury

Those of you who went out in Chipping Sodbury last Friday or Saturday night may have seen the new taxi and street marshals in operation. The scheme follows a similar one in Kingswood. The marshals will work on Fridays and Saturdays between 10pm and 2am, maintaining a safe, orderly queue at the taxi rank outside the George, assisting the police and taxi drivers, helping prevent anti-social behaviour and crime and watching out for unlicensed taxi drivers.

Local Councillor Dave Hockey, who led a Council review into tackling anti-social behaviour, has welcomed the move. “Once our review found that a taxi marshal scheme in Kingswood was a real success I was keen to see one in Chipping Sodbury. I have been pushing for it to be operational in the run up to Christmas and over the New Year period when Chipping Sodbury will be at its busiest - the extra protection provided will I am sure be much appreciated by all involved.''

Roadworks in Coalpit Heath

Tomorrow, Tuesday 24th November, there will be temporary traffic lights outside No232a Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath so that the road can be repaired.

What improvements would you like to see at Yate Station?

What improvements would you like to see at Yate Station? More shelters? Better information? Let us know by commenting on this post or by emailing claire.young@southglos.gov.uk.

Inspector gives her approval for “Windmill Green”

Sadly the Inspector has decided that the objections of hundreds of local people are not enough and has overturned the Council’s refusal of the “Windmill Green” planning application. Barratts will now be able to build 220 homes plus offices and a shop on the fields next to Park Farm.

Your local Focus team is appalled at this decision, which suggests local opposition and local needs count for nothing against Government demands for thousands of new homes to be built. We have raised the issue of how South Gloucestershire Council's handling of large scale applications could be improved with those currently running the Council. We don’t want this community or any other in South Gloucestershire to suffer in this way in future.

Thank you again to everyone who helped the fight against this development.

Read all about South Gloucestershire

This Saturday (21st November) there's a chance to buy local heritage books at Yate Library. Local heritage groups and authors from all over South Gloucestershire will be selling their books between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm.

New way to have your say on health

The South Glos LINk (Local Involvement Network) have got a new website where you can have your say on local health services even if you're not a member of the LINk.

The LINk's job is to find out what people think of our local health and social care services, what new ones they might need and what they think of plans for the future then work with the people who plan and run the services to improve them.

As well as commenting on local issues, you can also find out about the latest news, forthcoming LINk events and become a member.

Opening of Yate Health Centre delayed

The opening of the new Yate Health Centre, seen on the left behind the newly re-opened library, has been delayed due to a problem with the ventilation. It is now hoped it will be opened in late January/early February, once the problem has been investigated and fixed.