Did you see anything?

At approx 11am on Thursday 28th August a distraction burglary occurred in the Coalpit Heath area. Two persons attended the address claiming to be from the water board. No vehicles were seen in the vicinity.

To pass on information please either call 0845 456 7000 or email: forceservicecentre@avonandsomerset.police.uk quoting the log number 376.

Composting meeting

Tormarton Parish Council have arranged a public display of the SITA planning application from 6.30-9pm on 3rd and 4th September in Tormarton Parish Hall. A Parish Meeting to obtain views on the application (which people from neighbouring parishes are welcome to attend) will be held in Tormarton Parish Hall, starting at 7.30pm on Thursday 4th September.

Deadline looming for phone box comments

BT have asked South Gloucestershire Council to co-ordinate the local response to the proposed phone box closures. Comments must be sent to the Council not BT directly by 31st August 2008. For more information, see the South Glos website.

Paul's Place Grand Reopening Event

Local charity Paul's Place are holding a grand reopening event tomorrow (Bank Holiday Monday) from 2pm-5pm at their home, Coalpit Heath Cricket Club. Not only do they have the opening of their new ramp down to the cricket pitches to celebrate, they are also delighted that on Thursday the planning committee granted them permission to build a new extension.

Tormarton composting application

The consultation period has started for SITA's in-vessel composting application for the highways depot site near Tormarton. You can view the extensive case file and make comments on the South Glos website. According to the website, the deadline for comments is 9 September, but local Councillors were told it was the 8th. Either way, there isn't long to make your views know.

Residents and Parish Councils affected by the previous composting application near Westerleigh were angry that no residents were notified of that application because none lived within 100m of the site. Claire Young took these complaints to the Executive Member at the Select Committee and this time the Council have contacted all those within 900m. This includes some people living in the part of Dodington Parish within Westerleigh ward.

If you would like further updates on this application, you can join our composting mailing list by sending an email to:

focus-on-composting-subscribe@googlegroups.com

Phone mast - deadline for comments 2 September

Don't forget that if you wish to comment on the proposed O2 phone mast, the deadline for comments is 2 September.

First bus prices to rise

First Bus has announced price rises of around 6 percent in the Greater Bristol area with effect from Sunday 1st September. They say this is due to the rising cost of fuel.

The announcement from First is here.

For more details you can click on the "Bristol fares information" link at the bottom of First's announcement.

(Thank you to our sister blog for this story).

Radio masts approved

The planning committee voted 8-4 to grant permission for the radio masts to be built at Tubb's Bottom.

New phone mast application off Park Lane

O2 are proposing to erect a phone mast on land off Park Lane, Frampton Cotterell. You can view the application details on the South Glos website.

Radio mast application goes to committee

The application to build two radio masts off Frampton End Road will be considered by the Development Control (West) committee on Thursday 21 August. The meeting starts at 2pm in Thornbury. Officers are recommending approval, you can read the report on the South Glos website.

Water problems continue

According to Bristol Water it will now be Monday or Tuesday before the bad taste and smell will be gone from the local water supply. They have reiterated that the water is safe to drink (though the taste makes it pretty undrinkable - Editor). They have a duty to provide water that is not only safe but free of bad taste or smells. There appears to be nothing about the incident on their website.

Funny tasting water?

Claire Young contacted Bristol Water to complain about the "earthy" tasting water currently coming through taps in Coalpit Heath.

This is a known issue affecting Bristol and surrounding areas, caused by organic matter in the source. Claire was told that it is completely harmless but they are taking steps to deal with the odd taste and the water should be back to normal in a couple of days.

Station Road Post Office closure date

The Post Office have announced that the PO counter in Station Road, Yate (Tesco Express) will close at 1pm on September 5th.

This despite the effect this will have on the large number of elderly people in the area, who may find it difficult to get to the Shopping Centre or to stand in the long queues that are a regular feature of the Post Office there.

Rising energy costs

Local MP Steve Webb has recently blogged about the massive gas price hikes.

Those looking to renewable energy to help with the problem of rising fuel costs can find more information on the South Glos website.

IVC application submitted

Earlier this week, SITA submitted the formal planning application for
an In-Vessel Composting facility near Tormarton. It will take around
seven to ten days to register, after which the Council will have a
target of 13 weeks in which to determine it as it is classified as a
major application. There will be a public consultation process and the
application will go before the Development Control (East) committee,
rather than being decided by a planning officer.

New bus timetables

The new bus timetables that come into action tomorrow can be seen on the South Glos website. Make sure you click on the new rather than the old timetables where both are listed.

Local residents will be particularly interested in the X27, X42, 327 and 342 services.