Libraries closed Saturday 28th September

The following libraries will be closed on Saturday 28th September due to industrial action:

• Bradley Stoke Library
• Chipping Sodbury Library
• Emersons Green Library
• Hanham Library
• Kingswood Library
• Patchway Library
• Staple Hill Library
• Winterbourne Library
• Yate Library

Thornbury Library will also be closed due to previously scheduled maintenance works. There are signs on the door and if you've booked to attend ‘Discover’ festival events at these libraries you should have been directly notified.

Join the team tackling speeding in Coalpit Heath

Coalpit Heath Community Speedwatch is working hard to tackle speeding in and around the village.

Particular hotspots are Henfield Road in the Quiet Lanes Scheme and Park Lane. In Henfield, they recently caught 30 vehicles speeding in just 1.5 hours - more than 10% of the cars that passed. Most were doing over 40mph with the top speed being 51mph.

On Park Lane 45 cars were spotted speeding in 1.5 hours. The team currently has eight volunteers but is always looking for more. If you can help please contact the co-ordinator John Pearce on 07843 871387.

Update on Westerleigh traffic calming

Last week we reported on the delays to the Westerleigh traffic calming scheme. This week Westerleigh Parish Council and ward councillor Claire Young had a productive meeting with officers from South Glos Council. The project is in the hands of a new officer. Besides the objections to the speed table, the sticking points appear to have been keeping the project within budget and technical concerns about the feasibility of the road narrowings proposed. There is a minimum width of road that must be retained on all bus routes and what was previously proposed did not meet that requirement. At the end of the meeting the officers agreed the following:

•  They will take the report on the objections to the speed table to the next Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee meeting in November. Members of the public are welcome to attend to give their views before the decision is made. 
• In parallel with that, the new officer responsible for the scheme will go out on site with local representatives to re-measure the roads and identify what is feasible at each of the three entrances to the village, before drawing up new designs. 
• The revised scheme will then be implemented before the end of this financial year.

Click to support Paul's Place

Coalpit Heath-based charity Paul's Place has been nominated for the Lloyds community fund award 2013 and they need your votes! You can vote for them:

• Online – www.lloydsbank.com/communityfund 
• By text - text the word VOTE and MQQD to 61119 
• In person at a Lloyds branch – ask in branch for a voting token

You have until 1st November to vote.

Says Court Solar Farm approved

This afternoon the planning committee unanimously approved the Says Court solar farm application. The conditions were largely as in the report but with two additions (the conditions ones proposed by the Coal Authority and Network Rail). The condition about what should happen at the end of the 25 years was reworded so that it also required removal of the apparatus if the generation of power ceased some time before then.

Edited to add: During the meeting, officers also clarified the use of the community benefit fund. While still objecting to the application, Westerleigh Parish Council had negotiated on a "without prejudice" basis a community benefit of £1000 per MW generated, which could mean up to £17,500 a year for environmental projects to benefit the local community. Officers emphasised that their recommendation did not depend on this, it was a unilateral undertaking by the applicants, AEE Renewables. In the first year, £7000 will be available for ecological improvements on site, in conjunction with Avon Wildlife Trust.

Avon Fire And Rescue - advice on tomorrow's strike

Tomorrow between 12 noon and 4pm a national strike by firefighters is taking place. Avon Fire and Rescue Service have published some advice on staying safe and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Have your say at Safer Stronger Commuity Groups

The Yate Safer Stronger Community Group (which covers the rural part of Dodington Parish) starts at 7pm on Monday 23rd September in Shireway Community Centre. The Frampton Cotterell, Westerleigh, Coalpit Heath and Iron Acton SSCG (try saying that in a hurry!) is at 7.30pm on Tuesday 24th September in Iron Acton Village Hall.

Planning committee to decide Solar Farm application

The site meeting in July

It’s been confirmed that the DC (West) planning committee will consider the Says Court Solar Farm at their meeting next Thursday, 26th September, starting at 2.30pm in the Council offices in Thornbury. It will be the first application considered at the meeting, although there are some administrative items that always have to be dealt with first.

You can find the agenda online and the officer's report.

The officer recommendation is for approval with conditions. The actual decision will be made by the councillors at the meeting. There will be an opportunity for both supporters and objectors to speak for up to 5 minutes in total, so it makes sense for someone to act as spokesperson. Ward councillor Claire Young has a separate slot in which to speak.

Traffic alert - Westerleigh to Yate road to be closed for 10 days from 30 September

Between 30th September and 9th October, Westerleigh Road will be completely closed at the double railway arches so that Network Rail can carry out urgent repairs on the bridges.

This means that for ten days you won't be able to get through from Westerleigh to Yate in either direction. Unfortunately it's not possible for Network Rail to close just half the road because of the size of the machinery they need to use.

There will be warning signs about the closure at the entrance to Nibley Lane from Badminton Road and at the Shire Way roundabout and a diversion will be in operation.

This is likely to put pressure on other roads in the area, so please allow extra time if your journey to work takes you that way.

Westerleigh traffic calming delays

We had been expecting officers to bring a report on the Westerleigh traffic calming scheme to the September meeting of the Planning, Transport and the Strategic Environment Committee so they could make a decision on the objections to the speed table. Unfortunately this did not happen. Claire spoke to the Head of Street Care to express her strong concern about the lengthy delays to this project. He has agreed to meet Claire and representatives of the Parish Council along with the officers now involved in the implementation of the scheme later this month. Watch this space for more news.

Footpath NOT closing

Local people have expressed concern that the footpath between Dodmoor Farm and Frog Lane might close as part of the cycle path works. Claire has checked with officers and this is definitely not the case. As the only path between Westerleigh and that end of Coalpit Heath, it would be a high priority to protect it.

Have your say at Area Forum

It's Area Forum time again, your chance to have your say on issues in our area and have a say where local funding is spent. At this round of forums we'll be allocating New Homes Bonus and Capital grants for local groups. The Frome Vale Forum is on Thursday 19th September at 7pm in Watermore Primary School (junior site), Lower Stone Close, Frampton Cotterell.

Nibley Lane to close for cleaning

Nibley Lane, between Westerleigh Road and Badminton Road, is expected to close for cleaning tomorrow, Wednesday 11th September from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

Housing replacement plans event TODAY

Merlin are planning to redevelop 450 "non-traditional" homes across South Gloucestershire and the first 10 are in Coalpit Heath. Today (Wednesday 4th September) between 3pm and 7pm all local residents have a chance to see the plans at a drop in event in the Miners Club.

Time to Discover...

South Gloucestershire's second Discover festival starts on 12th September and runs until 1st November.

Discover 2013 brings together a number of events, including the Celebrating Age Festival, Active Mind Month, South Gloucestershire Taste Festival, the Out and About in Nature Programme and Heritage Open Doors. Details of all events are on the South Gloucestershire website site at www.southglos.gov.uk/discover and include:

• Discover our great outdoors through fungi forays, fossil hunting and wildlife wild nights out.
• Discover, celebrate and sample the abundance of local food in South Gloucestershire at harvest festival events, local food markets and bakery tours.
• Discover the rich heritage of South Gloucestershire at ‘Heritage Open Days’ events including a tour of the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust collection or a visit to Oldwood Pits and Ram Hill Colliery.
• Discover your creativity with author talks, painting and how to write ‘flash fiction’.
• Celebrating Age. Find out what’s going on in your local area, and discover a range of exciting activities from opera to Tai Chi.
• Discover events for life changes including dealing with depression, hearing and sight loss and memory loss.

Most events are free and can be booked on line.