Find out more about new First Bus fares

First Bus are holding a number of roadshow events to explain their new fares to local people. This Friday 1st November they will be in the Willow Brook Shopping Centre in Bradley Stoke from 12pm until 8pm and in Bristol Bus Station from 9am until 6pm.

You will also be able to pick up a simple guide to what's changing on buses, at Travel Shops, at roadshows and in Bristol City Centre on 1st and 2nd November. A more comprehensive booklet will be available and you can find out more on their website. If you tweet First @FirstBSA using the hashtag #fairerfares they will try to answer your questions directly.

Could you help a young care leaver?

It's National Care Leavers' Week and South Glos Council has launched a recruitment drive to find people to support a young person when they leave care.

As part of the supported lodgings scheme, they are looking for families, single parents, couples or individuals from all backgrounds, cultures and identities to provide supported, temporary accommodation for care leavers aged 16 to 18. You would need to provide them with a room in your home and help mentor them to take the first steps towards independent living. Ideally you would also live near community facilities with good transport links.

You would receive full training from the council's supported lodgings coordinator, have the opportunity to meet other carers in similar roles and you would also be paid a weekly allowance of £155.

Contact Esther Clarke on 01454 863498 or email esther.clarke@southglos.gov.uk For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/supportedlodgings Further details on the national campaign are available at www.thecareleaversfoundation.org

Have your say on how South Glos Council buys goods and services

South Gloucestershire Council is asking your views on a new procurement and commissioning strategy. The council spends over £170m each year on goods, works and services provided by external organisations. It wants to make sure it gets the best possible value and supports local businesses. You can find out more and make comments on the council's website - the consultation runs until 3 January 2014.

Sainsbury's Local proposed in Badminton Arms car park

A property group is proposing to build a Sainsbury's Local store in part of the car park of the Badminton Arms in Coalpit Heath.

The pub would remain open, with the play facilities relocated to the area between the pub and Badminton Road. The store would go in the south western corner of the site and there would be a separate designated area for service vehicles and deliveries to the shop.

Box Property Group is holding a drop-in information evening from 5pm to 7.30pm at the Badminton Arms on Tuesday 5th November 2013. There will be display boards and people available to answer questions that residents and local traders may have.

When this was first rumoured in the summer, concern was expressed by existing local traders. Your Focus Team would be interested to hear your views.

Cycle path - the latest funding situation

There is currently some uncertainty over funding for the next phase of the cycle path. The southern side of the Westerleigh Road crossing is in place and it's hoped that there will be a further £75K in 2014/15 to complete the northern side. There may also be the possibility of further funding to complete the route from Westerleigh Road to Broad Lane.

Energy Loan Scheme launched

South Glos Council has recently launched an energy loan scheme to help homeowners carry out a range of projects, including installing solar panels, biomass boilers or upgrading their existing heating. For further details call the energy advice line for free on 0800 500 3076.

First Bus fare changes

First Bus are changing their fares from 3rd November:

• The old 3 zones will disappear to be replaced by 2, inner and outer.
• They have a new, simpler way of working out single ticket prices.
• An outer zone First Day Ticket, giving unlimited travel in the inner and outer zones for one day, will cost £6.

You can find out more on the First Bus website.

Time to apply for revenue grants

If you're a voluntary group working to make our local communities better, did you know that you can apply for a small grant from South Gloucestershire Council to help you do it?

At the September Area Forum we awarded capital grants to a number of local organisations:

• Crossbow Pre-school Community Hall - Renovaton project -£1,192.00 
• Frampton Cotterell & District Community Association - Central Heating for Crossbow House - £1,000.00
• Wickwar Playing Fields Association - Open Air Basketball Facility - £750.00
• Friends of Ram Hill Colliery - Restoration of Ram Hill Colliery Site - £850.00
• Tytherington Rocks Football Club - Pitch maintenance project - £750.00
• 1st Frampton Cotterell Scout Group - Improving kit - £2,000.00
• Tytherington Village Shop Association - "Growing the business" - £550.00
• Frampton Cotterell Netball Club - Frampton Cotterell development - £605.24
• St Saviours Church - Badminton Road Wall - £1,500.00

The current round of applications is for revenue grants - small grants that can help you with your basic running costs and buying small pieces of equipment. For example, they can help towards room hire, insurance or putting on a community event. We are especially keen to hear from groups that haven't made an application before as we want to make sure we are reaching all parts of the community.

You can find out more and make your application on the South Glos Grants Website. There is also a helpline available on 01454 865865 Mon-Fri 9am-4pm.

In communities that have had new housing, there is also an opportunity to make a proposal for spending some of the New Homes Bonus that the government gives the council for the first 6 years after each new house is built. At the last Area Forum we endorsed the following projects in the Ladden-Frome area:

• Frampton Cotterell Netball Club – Hiring Indoor Training Facilities - £1,680 for 1 year
• Frampton Cotterell Parish Council – Pavilion Extension - £30,500
• Frampton Cotterell Parish Council – Solar Panel Installation - £19,675
• Wickwar Youth Club – Kitchen Equipment - £1,000
• Wickwar Village Hall - Refurbishment - £2,830

If you want a New Homes Bonus scheme to be considered at the next Area Forum, you need to apply by Monday 4th November. Applications for the following meeting should be submitted by 3rd February. Contact your local councillor if you'd like to know more.

Badminton Road night closures

The A432 Badminton Road will be closed between Culvert Avenue and Nibley Lane for 4 nights starting on 28th October 2013. This is so that resurfacing work can be carried out.

Have your say on police

You have until Saturday 26th October to tell Avon and Somerset Constabulary what you think about plans to re-shape the structure of the force and the way it works.  You can find out more and have your say on their website.

Last chance to nominate for Sports Awards

Tomorrow (Thursday 17th October) is the deadline for nominations for the 2013 South Gloucestershire Council Sports Awards.

The Awards recognise the amazing contribution of local people who play, coach and organise sport across South Gloucestershire. If you know someone who deserves to be recognised for their achievements please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/sportsawards to nominate them.

The awards evening will take place at the BAWA Club in Filton on Thursday 28 November at 7pm and will be hosted by BBC Radio Bristol’s Geoff Twentyman. The 2013 South Gloucestershire Council Sports Awards are sponsored by Airbus in the UK and the Active Partnership.

A38 - overnight roadworks

It may be outside our immediate area, but many people will use the A38 Filton Roundabout when they travel further afield. From 14th-24th October, major resurfacing work will take place at night, starting at 8pm and continuing until about 6am the following morning. All approaches to the roundabout will be closed and traffic diverted.

Westerleigh Road to reopen at 6am Friday 11th October

Westerleigh Road has been closed at the double railway arches on the way into the village from Yate since 30th September. It was due to reopen today but Network Rail have found further problems. After negotiation with the council, the company agreed to get extra people in to speed up the work but they do need some extra time. They now plan to re-open the road at 6am tomorrow, Friday 11th October. Fingers crossed they find no further problems.

Westerleigh Road closure - continuing tomorrow

Claire Young has been contacted by people today concerned that the Network Rail Westerleigh Road closure is being extended to 11th October. Unfortunately the relevant officers have been unavailable but it appears that the current expectation is that the work will finish tomorrow, 10th October. We will keep you updated if we hear more.

Library disruption

Local libraries could be affected by planned industrial action this Friday 11 October between 10am and 2pm. The full impact of the action won't be known until the day but you can get updates on the council's website.

Progress on Westerleigh traffic calming scheme

Last Thursday Claire Young walked round Westerleigh village with the highways engineer now responsible for the traffic calming scheme, Parish Councillors and a representative of Community Speedwatch. The engineer, who has taken over the scheme since the previous officer left the council, proposes the following:

• installing a road narrowing at the existing 30mph/40mph gateway along Shorthill Road approx 0.5m either side of the carriageway
• installing a road narrowing just north of the Old Parsonage on Westerleigh Road approx 0.5m either side of the carriageway.
• investigating the Broad Lane junction in more detail with the proposal to build out the existing verge, possibly with kerbing and tarmac to narrow the road in line with the potential Yate cycle path. The officer will arrange a meeting with the engineer dealing with the proposed cycle path to ascertain what can be achieved within the same cost as a road narrowing. This will most likely not happen at the same time as the other two narrowings due to the complex nature of the work involved.

The Vehicle Activated Sign will remain at the existing location along Shorthill Road. The engineer advised that relocating it on the other side of the road, as had previously been proposed, would not be as effective. Drivers coming down Shorthill Road will see a series of reasons for slowing down – the 30mph limit will start right up at the crossroads, there will be the road narrowing at the entrance to the village, then the Vehicle Activated Sign, then the warning sign for the speed table and then the speed table itself. The officer hopes the speed limit signs can be installed within 2 weeks.

As previously reported, a report on the objections to the speed table will go to the next Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee meeting, which starts at 3pm on Wednesday 20th November in Kingswood Civic Centre. Members of the public are welcome to attend to give their views before the decision is made.

Industrial action today

Today industrial action is affecting council services, including all the libraries except Cadbury Heath. You can find out more on the council's website.

Westerleigh still open for business

While Westerleigh Road may be closed at the double railway arches as you enter the village from Yate, most of the businesses in the village are very much open - and they'd still like you to visit!

The village shop is closed until the road closure ends next week but Wot Nots, the New Inn, Ye Olde Inne and the other businesses in the village are still open. You can get to them by entering the village from the other end - either via the traffic lights at the cross roads at the top of Shorthill Road or via the Kidney Hill junction.

And if you are on foot or a bicycle you can still get through the railway arches as well.