Saturday 30 January 2010

Crossing scheme - urgently need your views!

During the recent consultation on the crossing scheme by the old Post Office, a number of residents requested a footpath on the eastern side of the road leading to the bus stop and kerbs to prevent vehicles over-running the verge. Requests have been received to extend the proposed kerbs up to the boundary with Leas End/Kenmare.

There are not sufficient funds for a footpath, but it would be possible to extend the kerb line which would entail an additional length of approximately 60m of excavation and kerb installation, plus the provision of top soil within the existing verge and seeding. However, if this work proceeds, there would be insufficient funds to cover white lining work to slow traffic in Shorthill Road, which was requested by residents there when the crossing was first agreed as they fear that the frustration of being slowed by the crossing will encourage drivers to go even faster up the hill.

Claire Young visited people on Shorthill Road/The Quadrangle/Westerleigh Road on Friday to find out their views on which of these options, if either, they would favour. The work is planned to start in February so a decision needs to be made urgently as to which option should go ahead. Please email any feedback to claire.young@southglos.gov.uk by the morning of Tuesday 2nd February.

Burst water main closes Ram Hill

A burst water main near Greenacres in Ram Hill has resulted in the road being closed to through traffic. Bus service 686 is diverted along Henfield Road until further notice.

Friday 22 January 2010

Come and hear Paddy!

Thornbury and Yate Liberal Democrats
invite you to come and hear
Paddy Ashdown
on Thursday 4th February
in Thornbury Leisure Centre at 8pm.


Paddy will discuss the political situation at home and abroad, as well as his experience as a Royal Marine, a Diplomat, and Lib Dem Leader for ten years. There will also be a chance to put your questions to him.

Entry is free but if you intend to come it would be helpful if you could let Thornbury and Yate Liberal Democrats know on steve@stevewebb.org.uk or by phoning Steve Webb’s local office on 01454 322100.

Please print this blogpost and bring it along as your ticket, and invite your friends to come along too.

Published, promoted and printed by Clive Parkinson on behalf of
Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat) Poole Court, Poole Court Drive, BS37 5PP

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Important news on bin collections

From Monday 25 January ALL collections (including black and green wheeled bins and green box recycling) will revert to the normal published days.

If all the confusion caused by Christmas and the bad weather has left you wondering which week you're on, you can check your collection dates online. Where collections have been delayed, SITA will collect reasonable amounts of side waste.

For this week (18 January - 22 January), green bin collections are still suspended and SITA is running approximately one week late on black bin and recycling collections. The advice for this week is still to put your containers out as per the holiday calendar and SITA will get to them as soon as they can.

Monday 18 January 2010

Celebrating age - opportunies for community groups

South Gloucestershire Council, Age Concern, the Senior Citizens Forum and Southern Brooks Community Partnership are staging the first South Gloucestershire Spring Into Life Festival – A Celebration of Age. This festival will open on Saturday 10th April with an event at Patchway Community Centre, and closes on 23rd April with an event at Cadbury Heath Community Centre.

Community Groups and Organisations can:
• bid for up to £300 to put on their own event, with the deadline for applications being Tuesday 9th February 2010
• be included in the Active Directory in return for waiving fees for those new members attending during the festival
• run an activity or session at either the Patchway or Cadbury Heath event

For more information on bidding for funds or running an activity at the opening or closing events, please contact Denise.swain@southglos.gov.uk by Tuesday 9th February 2010. For publicising ongoing events, please contact David.dowding@southglos.gov.uk by 31st January.

Saturday 16 January 2010

Shire Way resurfacing

The major resurfacing work due for the lower end of Shire Way was delayed yet again because of the snow.

It has now been rescheduled to start on Monday 18 January, and to be complete by Wednesday 27 January. Temporary traffic lights will be in operation.

This will be a full-scale excavate and resurface process similar to what was done on the other part of Shire Way.

It will not be the same as the thin coating that was put on Heron Way, about which there were many complaints at the Area Forum at the Shireway Community Centre recently - the road at Heron Way was open when surfacing was going on, and cars damaged the soft surface.

Friday 15 January 2010

Frampton Cotterell SSCG meeting re-arranged

The meeting of the Frampton Cotterell, Westerleigh, Coalpit Heath and Iron Acton Safer Stronger Community Group that was called off due to snow on 5th January will now take place on Tuesday 16th February at 7.30pm in Iron Acton Village Hall.

Thursday 14 January 2010

Up to 1.7m pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments - Steve Webb

Up to 1.7m pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent weather, according to analysis of Government figures by the Liberal Democrats.

Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, which goes unclaimed by as many as 1.7m pensioners.

Commenting on the Liberal Democrats website, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Steve Webb said:

“It is a scandal that pensioners on the breadline are missing out on these payments, worth an estimated £42.5m.

“Fuel prices are at an all time high, making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to people already struggling on a poverty pension.

“Labour has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need.

“The Government should be making every effort to identify pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash.”

Wednesday 13 January 2010

South Glos website running normally again

The South Glos website is now running normally again, with the snow information all linked from the Severe Weather page.

Snow News - Wed 13th January

South Glos website service reduced

Due to very heavy demand access to the South Glos website has been reduced, so some of our previous links don't work.

Schools closures are now on the main South Glos web page.

Sunday 10 January 2010

Temporary changes to 622 bus service

Because Manor Road in Engine Common is temporarily closed to traffic to enable a pavement to be installed, bus service 622 cannot follow its normal route. You can find details of the changes on the South Glos website.

Snow latest

With some forecasters suggesting more snow is on the way, you can keep up to date with how it is affecting Council services on the South Glos website.

As of Friday, SITA were hoping to restart black bin and green box collections on Monday 11th, weather permitting, but green bin collections will be suspended until the black bin backlog is cleared (unless your green bin was missed on 23rd or 24th December). When the backlog of black bin collections has been cleared, green bin collections will resume and residents will be able to put additional cardboard by the side of the green wheeled bin, preferably flattened down. It may be tied together with string but no plastic or any other non-compostable packaging can be used. Of course, plans may well change if more snow arrives. You can read the latest online.

Thursday 7 January 2010

Youth Cafe gets planning permission!


The proposed Youth Cafe in Yate has now received planning permission. The £1.3 million complex, which will be built between the leisure centre and the roundabout, will be jointly funded by Yate Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

All South Glos schools closed Thursday



All South Glos schools will be closed on Thursday 7th January. You can find out more on the South Glos website.

Snow news

You can find out how the snow is affecting Council services on the South Glos website. All bin collections are cancelled today (Wednesday 6th January).

New NHS Constitution

The Government is currently consulting on a new NHS Constitution setting out the rights of patients. You can view and make comments on the consultation online.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Tonight's SSCG meeting CANCELLED

The Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath, Westerleigh and Iron Acton Safer Stronger Community Group meeting, due to be held in Iron Acton Village Hall on Tuesday 5th January, has been called off due to the snow.

Nick Clegg to hold public meeting in Bath

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will hold a public meeting in Bath on 7th January, to discuss with local people the issues that matter to them.

Since Nick became leader of the Lib Dems he has held well over 50 public meetings across the country, and anyone is free to attend at St Michael’s on Broad Street in the centre of Bath, start time 6.30pm.

Nick said, “It is now more important than ever for politicians to get out of Westminster and engage with people about how to rebuild our economy and restore trust in politics. I am looking forward to meeting the people of Bath and discussing the issues that matter most to them.”

If you’d like to come along and ask a question of Nick, then you can register your interest by going to http://meet.nickclegg.com

Monday 4 January 2010

Get ready now for The Big Spring Clean


South Glos Council will be running the Big Spring Clean campaign again in 2010. It will be starting on 1st March, a month earlier than last year so litter can be collected before the vegetation starts to grow. The campaign will run for two months.

To register your interest call 01454 863592 from today or email naturalenvironment@southglos.gov.uk You will then be sent an information pack and booking form. You can use the form to order gloves, bags and even a skip if necessary.

The official launch of the Big Spring Clean 2010 will take place on Saturday 20th March – the first day of Spring. If you can organise a special event for that day please let South Glos know so they can help to promote it.

You can also find tips, details of what's going on locally or register your group at these national websites:

www.thebigtidyup.org
www.cleanupuk.org.uk
www.litteraction.org.uk