Well done to local groups

Community groups in the Ladden-Frome area had a successful night at the recent Area Forum. Grants were awarded to:

• Fascinating Rhythm - Enhancing equipment and performance - £1,325.00 
• Tytherington Village Shop - Extension for the Village Shop - £2,000.00 
• St Saviours Church Hall - Church Hall refurbishment - £2,000.00 
• Dodington Parish Band - Music and uniforms - £1,950.00 
• Friends of Ram Hill Colliery - Conservation of wall at Ram Hill Colliery - £1,250.00 
• Westerleigh Village Hall - Health and Safety Iniative - £1,225.00 
• South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group - Serridge Engine Site - North Side Preservation - £1,250.00 
• The Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath - Community Play Area - £2,000.00 
• King George V Memorial Hall - Sanding and Polishing of Hall Floor - £2,000.00 

The next round of revenue grants will launch on 24th October with a closing date of 5th December. You can find out more on the South Glos website.

Planning committee to decide on Box Hedge Farm application

The application to allow outdoor activities to be run at Box Hedge Farm is to be decided by the planning committee. It is likely that the site inspection will take place on 14^th October so it can be considered at the Development Control (West) meeting on 27^th October.

Don't lose your vote

The Register of Electors forms are arriving on our doormats. Don't forget to return yours! If you aren't on the electoral register you can't vote in elections - and the register also gets checked if you apply for credit.

It doesn't take long to fill out the form. If there are no changes you can simply do it by telephone or online. Remember that if you won't want your details used for marketing, you need to tick the right-hand column on the form, confirm that to the person on the telephone or tick the box on the online-form.

Find out more about local heritage

From Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th September you have the chance to find out more about local heritage. Local sites featured include Ram Hill Colliery (left) and St Saviour's Church. For more information about sites here and elsewhere visit the Heritage Open Days website.

Badminton Road street light switch-off - an update

Earlier in the year we reported that South Glos were planning on turning some of the lights on Badminton Road off in the early hours to save money and help the environment. Your Focus Team was concerned though that no consultation with residents was planned and got agreement that the change should be delayed until local people had had a chance to comment on the proposals.

It's now been agreed that the changes won't be made until April 2012 so that consultation can take place during the autumn and winter. A South Glos officer will attend a meeting of each of the Parish Councils and each of the Safer Strong Community Groups affected. They will write to local people to let them know about the Parish meeting.

Countryside at risk

Your Focus Team is worried that more of our countryside could be at risk.

The Public Inquiry to consider the plans for future development in South Gloucestershire, the Core Strategy, will not go ahead in October as planned. The Inspector appointed by the Government has told the council it must think again about how many homes will be needed, in the light of the latest population forecasts and the Minister's view that development should go ahead where possible. He also wants the Council to put forward proposals for the development of Filton Airfield and to justify the Green Belt boundaries.

It is really important to get the Core Strategy in place as the Minister has indicated he will be minded to give permission for planning applications when Councils have not got up to date plans. South Glos Council has written to the Inspector saying they can be ready for a Public Inquiry in February. Local people will be invited to workshops to discuss possible new proposals and there will then be public consultation on any changes towards the end of the year.

The Inspector's letter and the Council's response can be viewed on the South Glos website.

Bags for cardboard - out of stock, more promised

South Glos seems to have been taken by surprise by the demand for the bags for cardboard recycling.  According to this page all distribution points are out of stock at the time of writing. There will be a second wave of bags available in mid-September.

Sadly we know some residents didn't even realise the bags were available. Officers say it would be too expensive to notify everyone with a tag on their bin, so people who don't read blogs like this one or the local papers may well have missed out. We know from the surveys we did in the spring and winter that many of you were concerned about the lack of containers for cardboard. Let's hope that when the next batch of bags becomes available everyone who wants one can get one.