Update on experimental road closures

There was a big turnout of residents in Ruffet Road yesterday at the meeting organised by Claire Young to discuss the experimental road closures.

The closures are due to start on Monday, having only been announced last Tuesday. Whether they agreed with the closure or not, people were unhappy about how this has been done. The Conservative Cabinet Member left before the end without saying whether he'd put the proposals on hold but Claire secured a promise from officers of a proper public consultation event.

This morning highways officials have confirmed that following yesterday's meeting there will be a pause to allow further consultation - details will be posted on the consultation web page today.

Cuts to winter gritting? Have your say!

Conservative-run South Glos Council is proposing to stop gritting some roads in icy weather to save money. It's yet another "saving" they have identified in the face of Government funding cuts.

The cut would reduce their fleet from 11 gritters to 9 and take 30 km of roads off the list that are salted when freezing conditions seem likely.

Affected roads include Park Lane and Perrinpit Road (Frampton Cotterell) and Claypit Hill, part of Dodington Road, Gibbs Lane and Sodbury Lane (Dodington Parish).

A consultation on these cuts is running until 18 June. If you want to find out more, there will be a drop-in event with Street Care staff in the meeting room at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex (YOSC), Broad Lane, Yate, BS37 7LB from 3pm to 5pm on Wednesday 2nd May.

You can read more and have your say on the consultation website.

Campaigners welcome new cycle path link

Cllrs Claire Young (left) and Paul Hulbert (centre)

joined cyclists Kate Kelliher, Denis Butterworth 

and Bob Keen and horse rider Ann Fay on the new section

Campaigners who have been pushing for the completion of the "Yate Spur" cycle path are celebrating the opening of the latest section, which is designed for use by horse riders and walkers as well.

The off-road cycle path will eventually link Yate to the Bristol Bath Railway Path, opening up the cycle network to many more people. The latest section links Broad Lane, Westerleigh with the cycle crossing point on Westerleigh Road.

Paul Hulbert and Claire Young with 

 the cycle path petition in 2014

Cllr Claire Young, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Thornbury and Yate, started a petition in 2014 calling for the completion of the cycle path. She said:

"It is fantastic to see another important link in this route open. Hundreds of people showed their support for completing the path by signing our petition. When finished it will make commuting to work by bike an option for more people as well as being a great way for families to get out into the countryside."

"We will keep pushing for the final sections to be completed. The link from Dodmoor Crossing to the Nibley Lane junction and the section under the railway bridge by the Shire Way roundabout will bring some of the biggest safety improvements. I look forward to celebrating the opening of the finished path."

But there's disappointing news too. Paul Hulbert, chairman of the Joint Cycleway Group, said:

"The JCG has just been told that the next leg - from Broad Lane to Nibley Lane Corner - will cost more than is available in the current spending round because of drainage and access problems. We've asked South Glos to look at alternative ideas and funding sources. However we have been told that some small improvements we requested on the A432 Kennedy Way will be done this financial year"

Reminder - have your say on Local Plan

Don't forget you only have until 30th April to have your say on South Gloucestershire Council's new Local Plan at www.southglos.gov.uk/newlocalplanfeb2018.

This is your chance to have your say on how up to 1,800 extra homes can be delivered in smaller developments in our rural areas. This is in addition to the thousands of new homes already proposed in large developments at Coalpit Heath, west and north west of Yate in Westerleigh and Iron Acton Parishes, Charfield, Thornbury and Buckover.

A46 traffic lights update

At a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on Monday, I raised the issue of finding a permanent replacement for the temporary A46 traffic lights with the Cabinet Member responsible for transport.

He said that Highways England, who look after motorways and other major roads, were not happy for the temporary lights to stay in place but are happy for the council to investigate a permanent solution.

The next step will be for South Glos to ask the West of England Combined Authority for funding. Don't forget you can sign our petition to show your support.

Good news on 82 bus

Thank you once again to everyone who signed our 82 bus service petition. The great news is that both the 82 and X49 bus services will be extended to Chipping Sodbury from 27th May.

Our petition in autumn 2016 showed that hundreds of people wanted the 82 service to run to and from Chipping Sodbury again, so they wouldn't have to change buses in Yate. At the time we were told that wasn't possible, but we have kept up the fight. We are delighted that First Bus has finally listened.

Not all of the changes being made by First Bus are good news though. On Sundays, the 82 service drops to 2 hourly. We will continue to campaign for better bus services for local people every day of the week.

You can check out the new timetables on the Traveline South West site.

Concerns raised about experimental road closures

Tuesday's announcement of experimental road closures in the Kendleshire area has provoked a strong reaction from local residents and businesses.

The Experimental Traffic Order will close roads to motor vehicle through traffic on Bromley Heath Road at Moorend, access road at Bromley Heath Road near Bromley Drive, Bury Hill, Coalsack Lane, Cuckoo Lane and Ruffet Road from 30th April 2018.

Many of the closures have been in place during the Bromley Heath Viaduct work under a temporary Traffic Regulation Order, but those in Coalsack Lane and Ruffet Road are new. They would turn the cluster of houses at the Badminton Road end of Ruffet Road into a cul-de-sac, with their only route out being straight on to Badminton Road. You can see the details in this plan.

This is not what the residents requested at our meeting back in February They suggested that if any roads were to be closed, it should be the short section between the Coalsack Lane/The Hollows junction and Westerleigh Road. They felt this would stop rat running, while still allowing all parts of Henfield and Kendleshire to remain connected. Highways officials say the closures would improve safety at the notorious Kendleshire crossroads.

When the consultation started on Tuesday, Claire Young alerted the Kendleshire Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator and a representative of the Golf Club. Since then she and residents have been lobbying officers to put this aspect of the proposals on hold so the concerns can be investigated. Claire has arranged a site meeting next week with highways officials for people who live in the roads and representatives of the Golf Club.

You can have your say on the council's consultation site.

Viaduct re-opening and A46 traffic lights going

The good news is that the council is planning to re-open the Bromley Heath Viaduct over the weekend of 27th April.

The bad news is that this coming weekend they will be removing the temporary traffic lights on the A46 near Tormarton, at the junction with the B4465 Westerleigh Road, which were installed to manage traffic diverted by the viaduct works. To carry out the removal there will be four-way lights in operation from 8am on Saturday until 6pm on Sunday.

Many local people believe these lights have made the junction safer. With the help of all of you that have shared your views with us, we've already convinced the council to start looking into a permanent solution. If it's to happen though we need to make sure this is a high priority for funding. If you would like to see permanent traffic lights installed and you haven't already signed our petition, please do it today.

Have your say on housing for older people

With life expectancy increasing and people from the post-war "baby boom" reaching old age, the number of older people in South Gloucestershire is increasing. To help them plan for older people's housing needs, the council are carrying out a survey.

You can find out more and complete the survey via the consultation web page. The survey will run until the 27th April.

Latest section of Yate Spur cycle path open

We are delighted that the latest section of the Yate Spur cycle path, from Westerleigh Road to Broad Lane, Westerleigh, is now open.

Temporary closure of North Road and Nibley Lane

These roads are expected to be closed for cleansing work to be carried out:

• North Road,between Armstrong Way and the bridge over the River Frome, will be closed from 6.00am – 9.00am on 19th April 
• Nibley Lane between Badminton Road and the Holly Hill junction is expected to be closed from 11.30am - 2.30pm on 20th April

Broadband delays

South Gloucestershire Council have informed us that work to install fibre to a number of cabinets/structures is currently on hold whilst they work with Openreach to identify solutions to problems including severely blocked ducting, land subsidence and wayleave issues.

The list of affected cabinets can be found here. We will update you once we have further information.

Good news on mud and rocks on Westerleigh Road

Good news for anyone driving on Westerleigh Road or walking along the pavements - the mud and stones are being cleared and tipping stopped until further notice.

Local people were horrified when tipping started at Beech Hill Farm three weeks ago, leaving the roads strewn with mud and debris. I raised it with the council's planning enforcement team and since then have been continuing to share residents' complaints with them and Street Care, the team that looks after our roads. I also wrote directly to Keyway, the firm carrying out the tipping.

When I spoke to the Head of Street Care yesterday he told me that Keyway had been told to get a sweeper and team of workers with shovels out that day to clear the roads, otherwise the council would do the job and charge them for it. Even by the time this picture was taken at lunchtime yesterday the situation was much improved and as you can see a sweeper was in action.

Now someone is out with a pressure washer hosing down the pavements and a sweeper is cleaning all the roads around and leading to the land fill. Keyway have confirmed to me that they have closed the tip until further notice.

Could you be a foster carer?

There are more than 160 children in care in South Gloucestershire who need a stable home. South Glos Council want to hear from anyone who has ever considered fostering and would like to know more about this rewarding role.

They are holding a series of information sessions during April and anyone who is interested can come along to get information and talk to professionals about what’s involved.

Drop-in sessions are being held throughout South Gloucestershire where the fostering team will be available to answer any questions:

• Saturday 7 April, 10.30am to 12.30pm, at South Gloucestershire Council Offices, Badminton Road, Yate BS37 5AF 
• Wednesday 11 April, 1pm to 3pm, at Emersons Green Village Hall, Emerson Way, Emersons Green BS16 7AP 
• Thursday 19 April, 7pm to 9pm, at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS 
• Friday 27 April, 12 midday to 7pm, at Kingswood Civic Centre, High Street, Kingswood BS15 9TR.

Mud on road near Beech Hill

Thank you to those who have raised concerns that tipping has started at Beech Hill Farm and there is mud on the road. Claire Young raised this with the relevant officers at South Gloucestershire Council, who have promised to investigate.