South Glos Council is writing to all households to clarify who is registered to vote. You should receive a letter in early February which will clarify if the electoral register information for your property is correct and if you need to take action to join the register.
To vote in the elections on 7 May 2015 you must be registered by Monday 20 April. If you’re not on the register, you won’t have a say in who represents you.
It is also necessary to register to vote if you wish to apply for credit. This is because credit reference agencies use the register to check where someone lives when they apply for credit in order to prevent fraud.
If you are a South Gloucestershire resident and your household hasn’t received a household information letter by the end of February then please contact the electoral services team by calling 01454 863030 or by emailing electoral.services@southglos.gov.uk
Thursday, 5 February 2015
Celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday
Our local libraries have a range of fun activities planned to mark National Libraries Day on Saturday 7 February.
As well as events and activities all library members who visit their local library on the day can:
The council is also launching a Facebook eAudio reading group for people who find it difficult to attend a reading group but would still like to read the same book as others and share their thoughts afterwards. All the titles being discussed are available to download for free at www.librarieswest.org.uk/eaudio Visit the LibrariesWest Facebook page to find out how to get involved www.facebook.com/librarieswest
Activities taking place on National Libraries Day (Saturday 7 February) include:
Storytime fun with Elmer
Chipping Sodbury Library, 10am
Yate Library, 11.30am
Storytime session for young children with Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. (Also at Yate Library on Sunday 8 February, 11.30am)
Get singing Thornbury
Thornbury Library, 10am to 11.30am
Hear the community choir performing outside Thornbury Library.
Many libraries will also be running a treasure hunt for children and a fun literary quiz for adults - pick up free treasure maps and quiz sheets from your library on the day.
Visit www.librarieswest.org.uk/nld15 for more details on what’s happening at your library on Saturday 7 February. You can also get in touch on the day via Twitter (@LibrariesWest #NLD15) and ‘like’ them on Facebook to share what you love most about your library www.facebook.com/librarieswest
As well as events and activities all library members who visit their local library on the day can:
- reserve up to two items from the LibrariesWest catalogue free of charge
- hire a DVD for half price
- enter a free prize draw with the chance to win a tablet computer, a £25 voucher for a well-known online retailer and a range of bestselling books if they borrow at least three physical items
The council is also launching a Facebook eAudio reading group for people who find it difficult to attend a reading group but would still like to read the same book as others and share their thoughts afterwards. All the titles being discussed are available to download for free at www.librarieswest.org.uk/eaudio Visit the LibrariesWest Facebook page to find out how to get involved www.facebook.com/librarieswest
Activities taking place on National Libraries Day (Saturday 7 February) include:
Storytime fun with Elmer
Chipping Sodbury Library, 10am
Yate Library, 11.30am
Storytime session for young children with Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. (Also at Yate Library on Sunday 8 February, 11.30am)
Get singing Thornbury
Thornbury Library, 10am to 11.30am
Hear the community choir performing outside Thornbury Library.
Many libraries will also be running a treasure hunt for children and a fun literary quiz for adults - pick up free treasure maps and quiz sheets from your library on the day.
Visit www.librarieswest.org.uk/nld15 for more details on what’s happening at your library on Saturday 7 February. You can also get in touch on the day via Twitter (@LibrariesWest #NLD15) and ‘like’ them on Facebook to share what you love most about your library www.facebook.com/librarieswest
Better recycling services for flats
South Glos is now offering people living in flats with communal recycling facilities an improved standardised service.
Following the changes, waste will be collected from four types of bin stored in the communal areas:
The current bins used in communal waste facilities will be changed over to the new bins during the weeks beginning 2 and 9 March. The new bins are actually recycled themselves as they are the surplus unwanted bins that have been collected over the past few months. These new bins will be clearly marked with colour coded labels for the new recycling service.
The new collections will start the week beginning 16 March. Residents will get an information pack delivered when the bins are changed over.
Following the roll out of the flat changes, the public recycling banks serviced by SITA on behalf of the council that are located in supermarket car parks, village hall car parks, social clubs and sports clubs will be removed. They will no longer be needed as everyone will now have kerbside collections and the savings have been used to provide the improved service for flats. This does not effect banks run by charities.
For further information please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/sortit, telephone on 01454 868000 or email waste.management@southglos.gov.uk
Following the changes, waste will be collected from four types of bin stored in the communal areas:
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic, cans, aerosols and foil
- Glass bottles and jars
- Black residual bins will still be available for those materials that cannot be recycled.
The current bins used in communal waste facilities will be changed over to the new bins during the weeks beginning 2 and 9 March. The new bins are actually recycled themselves as they are the surplus unwanted bins that have been collected over the past few months. These new bins will be clearly marked with colour coded labels for the new recycling service.
The new collections will start the week beginning 16 March. Residents will get an information pack delivered when the bins are changed over.
Following the roll out of the flat changes, the public recycling banks serviced by SITA on behalf of the council that are located in supermarket car parks, village hall car parks, social clubs and sports clubs will be removed. They will no longer be needed as everyone will now have kerbside collections and the savings have been used to provide the improved service for flats. This does not effect banks run by charities.
For further information please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/sortit, telephone on 01454 868000 or email waste.management@southglos.gov.uk
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Southmead bus services safe
There was concern locally when some eagle-eyed people spotted that First Bus were deregistering the 82 bus service. However, Pat Hockey, the Lib Dem Transport lead member, has investigated and all is well.
Pat said, "I spoke to First’s Managing Director, James Freeman. In order to make bus services more reliable the timetables have been investigated and some of them found to be totally unrealistic in view of the traffic congestion. This has resulted in changes to timetables. The new timetables have to be registered with the Traffic Commissioners and will start on March 29th. The existing services have to be deregistered to accommodate this and include the 82."
"There is absolutely no intention to stop the Southmead services. The aim is to make them reliable. Before the changes come in I am assured there will be full publicity."
Pat said, "I spoke to First’s Managing Director, James Freeman. In order to make bus services more reliable the timetables have been investigated and some of them found to be totally unrealistic in view of the traffic congestion. This has resulted in changes to timetables. The new timetables have to be registered with the Traffic Commissioners and will start on March 29th. The existing services have to be deregistered to accommodate this and include the 82."
"There is absolutely no intention to stop the Southmead services. The aim is to make them reliable. Before the changes come in I am assured there will be full publicity."
Yate Cinema construction starts next week
Work on the Yate Riverside, the cinema and leisure development, will start next Monday, 9th February.
The first steps will be to establish the contractor’s compound and start removing the trees and shrubbery in the development area, an operation that will take around four weeks. The developers and Yate Shopping Centre been working closely with South Gloucestershire Council officers and Natural England to minimise the impact on any wildlife. We understand that the outstanding tree issues have been sorted out, and the badgers have been successfully moved to their new sett nearby. What's more they have started to reoccupy and extend an old sett next door.
Because of the works, the overflow car park off Link Road will be closed from early March until the end of September. Shopping Centre retailers will be assigned 100 special parking spaces in the main car park for their staff so as to ensure the vast majority of spaces are still available for shoppers - short term pain for long term gain. At least it's not the Christmas shopping season, but there will be some inconvenience at peak times. The Shopping Centre has asked shoppers where possible to come on foot or cycle, or public transport.
The retail and restaurant units are scheduled to open in early December. The cinema is now scheduled to open by Easter 2016. Not quite as soon as we had hoped, but it's all happening!
The first steps will be to establish the contractor’s compound and start removing the trees and shrubbery in the development area, an operation that will take around four weeks. The developers and Yate Shopping Centre been working closely with South Gloucestershire Council officers and Natural England to minimise the impact on any wildlife. We understand that the outstanding tree issues have been sorted out, and the badgers have been successfully moved to their new sett nearby. What's more they have started to reoccupy and extend an old sett next door.
Because of the works, the overflow car park off Link Road will be closed from early March until the end of September. Shopping Centre retailers will be assigned 100 special parking spaces in the main car park for their staff so as to ensure the vast majority of spaces are still available for shoppers - short term pain for long term gain. At least it's not the Christmas shopping season, but there will be some inconvenience at peak times. The Shopping Centre has asked shoppers where possible to come on foot or cycle, or public transport.
The retail and restaurant units are scheduled to open in early December. The cinema is now scheduled to open by Easter 2016. Not quite as soon as we had hoped, but it's all happening!
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Consultation on Newlands Avenue and Coalville Road garage developments
There will be a consultation/information event next week for two Merlin development sites - Newlands Avenue and the Coalville Road garage site. The event will be on Thursday 12 February between 3.30pm and 6.30pm at Coalpit Heath Village Hall (Miners Club).
Monday, 2 February 2015
Westerleigh Parish Council votes against new homes
Tonight Westerleigh Parish Council voted unanimously to say no to the principle of 20 new homes at Westerleigh village.
The proposal would have led to the village settlement boundary being extended and the chosen site plus part of the existing village removed from the Green Belt. Parish Councillors heard from a succession of residents opposed to new housing. Reasons given included concerns about increased traffic, pressure on the sewage system, the threat to wildlife, damage to the rural character and whether it would open the floodgates to further development. Residents did not feel that 20 new homes would support the shop or other facilities and expressed scepticism that they would attract younger people to live in the village.
Agents spoke for the landowners of the two sites that South Glos had suggested might be suitable for development. They were the only voices raised in support.
The Chair proposed the no vote on the basis that there was no clear consensus that development would sustain the viability of the village, that the infrastructure would not support it and there was no evidence young people would be willing to move to the village.
South Glos Council will now retain the current settlement boundary and Green Belt designation for Westerleigh village in the PSP Plan.
The proposal would have led to the village settlement boundary being extended and the chosen site plus part of the existing village removed from the Green Belt. Parish Councillors heard from a succession of residents opposed to new housing. Reasons given included concerns about increased traffic, pressure on the sewage system, the threat to wildlife, damage to the rural character and whether it would open the floodgates to further development. Residents did not feel that 20 new homes would support the shop or other facilities and expressed scepticism that they would attract younger people to live in the village.
Agents spoke for the landowners of the two sites that South Glos had suggested might be suitable for development. They were the only voices raised in support.
The Chair proposed the no vote on the basis that there was no clear consensus that development would sustain the viability of the village, that the infrastructure would not support it and there was no evidence young people would be willing to move to the village.
South Glos Council will now retain the current settlement boundary and Green Belt designation for Westerleigh village in the PSP Plan.
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