Manor Hall Open Day

On Saturday 18th October, the Manor Hall will be celebrating the latest stage of their £100,000 renovation with an Open Day. Doors open at 10am, with a short ballet performance at 11am. Local MP Steve Webb will be officially unveiling the refurbishments at 2pm. Why not come along, enjoy the refreshments and find out what the Manor Hall can offer?

The Manor Hall management committee is always looking for new volunteers to become trustees. If you think you would find it rewarding to help take responsibility for this Grade II listed building and manage it for the benefit of the local community, please contact Jean Butler.

We're aware of concerns about the future of the Coalpit Heath Pre-School, which is held in the Manor Hall. Both the hall and the pre-school are very much valued by local people and local councillor Claire Young has offered to help them both with any issues they may face. We have been reassured that the Manor Hall committee has not given notice to the Pre-School.  The committee has offered the Pre-School a new contract and are hoping that this issue will soon be resolved by mutual agreement. If you have any concerns, please do get in touch.

Flu jab reminder

Free flu jabs are available for:

• Pregnant women
• Children aged two, three and four years old on 1st September 2014 (via a nasal spray)
• People with certain health conditions
• People aged 65 and over
• Frontline healthcare staff.

The World Health Organization recommends people in the vulnerable groups above should be vaccinated to prevent the virus being able to circulate at a harmful level. You can find out more on the NHS Choices website and the South Glos website.

Extra commitments on broadband

Some parts of our area are broadband "not spots", where residents struggle with connection speeds slower than 2 Mbps. The picture varies massively, sometimes even within communities. Some places have been helped in the first phase of the Government's Broadband UK project - it was recently announced that businesses at Westerleigh Business Park  should be able to order superfast Broadband from next spring. Others, such as Tytherington and Tortworth, have been prioritised for the second phase, although there are no guarantees.

It's clear that even Phase 2 of the project won't give everyone fast broadband though and that's why when we came to vote on it earlier this week, the Lib Dems made some additional proposals, which Westerleigh ward councillor Claire Young was pleased to second. These included looking into the possibility for DIY/community broadband schemes, with the use of grants or vouchers.

Our colleague, Sue Hope, drafted the proposals. She said afterwards, “We have secured promises from the Council to work with BT to improve communication with residents and to investigate alternatives schemes and technology so that rural areas are not entirely dependent on BT’s plans. We have also asked the Council to lobby government to ensure that future public contracts of this kind are more transparent, so that residents know what is happening with their services."

There is understandable frustration that, while some in South Gloucestershire are now enjoying access to superfast broadband, many rural residents are stuck in the slow-lane. We're pleased we were able to get these extra commitments from the Council but there is still a long way to go. To back our 'mind the gaps' campaign for improved broadband coverage, sign up on the website:

http://mindthegaps-ldthornburyandyate.nationbuilder.com/

World Mental Health Day event

South Glos Council is holding an informal event in Bradley Stoke to mark World Mental Health Day on Friday 10 October. The event, to be held at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre between 10.30am and 2pm, will provide practical advice and information about mental health and give visitors the chanceto try out various sporting activities that help lift the mood, including table tennis, badminton, swimming and exercise classes. The physical activity sessions will be followed by talks about mental health and associated issues from a range of experts including Anthony Lacny and Maria-Paloma Sequeiros from the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP).

Throughout the event there will also be a marketplace of stalls and information available so you can find out what’s happening locally and where you can go for help and support. There will also be a performance from the South Gloucestershire Carers Choir who will be performing uplifting songs. Children are welcome and there will be activities to keep them entertained taking place throughout the day. For more information or to book please call 01454 868274, 01454 865473 or email cchengagement@southglos.gov.uk

Review of Discretionary Rate Relief

The Discretionary Rate Relief scheme supports voluntary and community groups in South Gloucestershire by paying part of their non-domestic rates bill. It's in addition to the mandatory rate relief awarded to registered charities/community amateur sports clubs.

South Gloucestershire Council is consulting on possible changes as part of the savings it needs to make. You can find out more online and have until 24th December to comment.

Badminton Road surfacing postponed

You may have seen the large electronic notice boards or read my earlier blog post saying that Badminton Road was going to be closed over a number of nights for resurfacing. This work has now been postponed.

The road was originally resurfaced in 2013 but the new surface failed, so the contractor was asked to fix it at no cost to the council. This was scheduled for October, however a technical dispute between the material supplier and the surfacing contractor has led to the postponement. The work will now take place in spring 2015, as problems can occur if the work is done during bad winter weather. The sites have been inspected and remain safe.

Drop-in session for the retired

"Now I'm retiring" is a drop-in marketplace of clubs, volunteering opportunities and hobbies to inspire people who have retired or are about to do so. It's being held on Saturday 18 October between 11am and 2pm at Yate Library. For more information please email cchengagement@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 862356.