Frome Valley Relief Sewer on TV

On Thursday local councillor Dave Hockey featured in a BBC Points West news story on the Frome Valley Relief Sewer - you can watch the extract here. Dave has been campaigning for the last two decades on this issue. Let's hope the new sewer will make a difference.

Have your say on Climate Change Strategy

Climate Change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. South Glos Council is currently consulting on its draft Climate Change Strategy for 2018 - 2023. You can find out more and have your say at www.southglos.gov.uk/climate18 until 12th March.
There are several ways you can respond:

• Take part in the online survey
• Download and print a paper copy of the survey and send to Freepost  RTXL-YJXJ-BXEX, South Gloucestershire Council, Corporate Research & Consultation Team, Climate Change Strategy, Council offices, Badminton Road, Yate, BRISTOL BS37 5AF
• Email: consultation@southglos.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01454868154

Campaigners lobby for climate change action

Last Saturday campaigners, including local councillor Claire Young, attended The Climate Coalition's Week of Action coffee morning in the Ridgeway Cafe in Yate. They discussed ways to tackle climate change at a local level then afterwards went to lobby the local MP to demand action from the government on the national changes necessary to support local action.

Issues covered included giving certainty about feed-in tariffs to volunteers trying to get community energy projects off the ground, requiring new homes being built in our area to be 'zero carbon' and improvements to public transport. Sadly, from scrapping energy regulations for new homes to cutting feed-in tariffs for renewables, the Conservatives have a poor record on supporting low carbon policies.

River Frome flood risks - exhibition 1st March

The Environment Agency is looking into the risk of river flooding in Yate and Chipping Sodbury and what options there might be to reduce this. Their study is at a very early stage.

They are holding a public exhibition in the Charter Suite at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall on Wednesday 1st March from 2.30 to 7.30 pm.

The area involved runs from St Johns Way through the centre of Sodbury, The Elms, The Ridge, then right past the Riverside complex, and out along Greenways Road and Cranleigh Court through to Stover Road. So anyone living in those areas might want to come along - if you're not at risk of flooding yourself, you might still be interested or concerned about potential flood works along the river.

Come along to their public exhibition to find out more about your current flood risk and what might be possible as part of a future flood alleviation scheme.

Your views and your local knowledge really matter! At the exhibition they would like to hear your views on:

• any flooding problems in the past
• their initial plans and options

You can call in at any time during the exhibition. They will be on hand to answer your questions, hear your views and to give you more information about flood protection, flood warnings and community flood plans.

Help for those in fuel poverty

If you live in fuel poverty, don't have a central heating system and your property has an Energy Performance Certificate Rating of E, F or G, you could be eligible for a grant of up to £4,000 to have a new central heating system installed. The funding is available until 31st August 2016.

You can read more here. Further information and energy efficiency advice is available by calling the Warm and Well advice line on 0800 500 3076, by emailing warm&well@severnwye.org.uk or by texting ‘WARM’ to 83010.

Anyone considering installing a central heating system should also ensure that their home is insulated. You may be entitled to a grant for cavity wall and loft insulation through the Warm and Well scheme, which can save £160 per year on fuel bills. All grants are subject to a survey and availability.

Concerned about bees?

If you're concerned about the plight of our bees and other insects and what we can do to protect them locally, you might be interested in the Pollinators Project Meeting being held on Monday 15th June 7.00-9.00pm at Bailey's Court Activity Centre, Bradley Stoke, BS32 8BH.

The speakers will be Dr K Baldock from Bristol University, Clare Dinham from Buglife and Sally Pattison from South Gloucestershire Council. Refreshments will be provided  (probably with a honey theme!). RSVP to sally.pattison@southglos.gov.uk 

Community benefit from Says Court Solar Farm

When planning permission was granted for Says Court Solar Farm, Westerleigh Parish Council negotiated a Community Benefit of £19,000 per year for the life of the solar farm (expected to be 25 years).

As part of this agreement, the Parish Council will work with Avon Wildlife Trust to implement two wildlife habitats adjacent to the solar farm. This agreement lasts for five years and includes an education programme, community engagement, wildlife walks, monitoring and management advice.

You can find out more and suggest ideas for spending the money on the Parish Council website.

Save on your heating bill

If you're interested in finding out how you could cut your heating bill, why not attend the South Gloucestershire Environment Forum next week?

Council officials and industry experts will be giving a presenation about the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. The scheme, introduced by the Lib Dems in Government, pays participants that generate and use renewable energy to heat their buildings. It's designed to reduce carbon consumption and save you money and is particularly helpful if you are in an area without mains gas.

The free event takes place at the Greenfield Centre, Park Avenue, Winterbourne from 7pm to 9pm on January 21. Contact Paul Knuckle, Climate Change Officer on 01454 864220 to confirm attendance.

Another fly tipper prosecuted

Another local fly tipping case has resulted in a conviction.

Last year waste including plastics, suitcases, furniture and cardboard was fly-tipped and set on fire on land belonging to Network Rail at Nibley Lane Railway Bridge, Iron Acton. Avon Fire & Rescue Service had to be called on two occasions on July 21 and October 12 to deal with the incidents.

A local man was fined £1,500, £750 for each fly tipping offence and ordered to pay costs of £2,000 to South Gloucestershire Council when he appeared at court on June 26th.

In court he claimed he had permission to cut down wood and foliage from the area around the railway bridge and needed to burn excess foliage such as brambles. However, environmental protection officers were able to trace some of the waste back to St Peter’s Hospice charity shop in Chipping Sodbury. The man was captured on CCTV removing items donated to charity from the rear of the premises.

Officers also spoke to him near the railway bridge when they spotted him there in his lorry. Residents had also called the council to report the fly-tipping and quoted seeing a lorry parked nearby with the same vehicle registration.

If you see anyone fly tipping in South Gloucestershire, please report it by calling 01454 868000 or online via the South Glos website. At that link you will also find other useful information on flytipping.

It's worth noting that if you use a waste carrier, it's your responsibility to make sure they are properly registered. If not and your waste ends up fly tipped, you could be fined up to £5,000. To avoid this, South Glos advises: 

• ask to see a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate, and where your waste is being taken. Legitimate firms will be happy to provide this information 
• you can check whether your waste carrier is registered by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or on line at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/publicregister 
• ask for a registered trading address and telephone number – not just a mobile phone number 
• ensure you have an official receipt and make a note of the registration number of the vehicle taking the waste away, along with the waste carrier's licence number 
• do not be tempted by “cash in hand deals” or cold callers and if in doubt, say no and contact the Envirocrime team for advice on 01454 868001.

Have your say on draft Climate Adaptation Plan

Last year South Glos Council adopted the first part of its Climate Change Strategy, the Low Carbon Plan. That sets out how the council is working with others to reduce dangerous emissions.

Now it's time to have your say on the second part of the strategy, the Climate Adaptation Plan. This Plan aims to provide a guide for managing the impacts of climate change. The key questions are:

• Does the Plan highlight all of the key issues and risks? 
• Are there any other relevant activities in progress or planned that should be included in the Plan? 
• Are there any other actions you think need to be considered? 

For further information and to view the draft Climate Adaptation Plan please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/consultation The consultation runs until 31 July.

An open consultation on the Climate Adaptation Plan will also be held at the South Gloucestershire Environment Forum meeting on Wednesday 9 July between 7pm and 9pm at the Park Centre, High Street, Kingswood, BS15 4AR. Places are limited, so please email sustainability@southglos.gov.uk to book a space if you would like to attend.

Solar Farm connected in time

Last week the Says Court Solar Farm (pictured here from the Bristol to Yate train) was connected just in time to secure the higher rate of Community Benefit for Westerleigh Parish. Under the agreement, some of the money has to be used in conjunction with Avon Wildlife Trust for on site ecological improvements. The rest will be used for environmental projects in the Parish.

Volunteers clear Village Pond

Last Thursday Village Action plus TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) cleared a lot of the rushes from the 'Village Pond' on Park Farm to make more space for the fish and ducks.

The pond was drained and cleared about 2 years ago but not enough soil was removed to get rid of the rush roots and they quickly took over the pond again.

Says Court Solar Farm construction

Earlier in the month, Westerleigh Parish Council and ward councillor Claire Young met representatives of AEE Renewables, who applied for planning permission for Says Court Solar Farm, and Sun Edison, the company that are going to construct and run it. The meeting was prompted by residents' concerns that some test piling had taken place outside the hours allowed by the planning permission.

Sun Edison apologised for that and gave assurances that they would be sticking to the permitted working hours (08:00 until 18:00 Monday to Friday, and 08:00 until 13:00 on Saturday with no Sunday or Bank Holiday working). Work was due to start this week, with the main task being to construct the on site roads need during the construction phase. The noisiest phase will be the piling, planned to start in the last week of January and last for approximately 3 weeks.

You can find out more, including the presentation they gave, on their blog. Keep an eye on it for news on the progress of the works. It all needs to be finished by the end of March because then the subsidies go down (and with it the level of community benefit).

The BIG Spring Clean 2014

It's nearly time to "spring" into action again during the BIG Spring Clean.

Residents, businesses, parish councils and community groups are invited to get involved between 1st March and 30th April 2014. Last year 64 groups took part in the campaign, with 2,000 volunteers collecting 400 bags of rubbish to improve the local environment. You can request free bin bags and gloves and can also borrow litter pickers and hoops (litter picking equipment is available to loan throughout the year). After the event, the council can arrange to collect and dispose of the rubbish and recycling. Recycling is encouraged and different types of bags can be provided.

You need to register by Friday 21 February to take part. Download a booking form from:

www.southglos.gov.uk/bigspringclean

Alternatively you can request a form by emailing streetcleansing@southglos.gov.uk or calling 01454 868000.

Renewables and landscapes - have your say

South Gloucestershire Council is currently running two consultations on planning documents - one on guidance for renewables the other on an assessment of our local landscapes.

The council is consulting on its Draft Renewables Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) until Friday 7th March. This is intended to help our area achieve its renewables targets, give guidance on what needs to be included in applications and how they will be judged and encourage communities to get involved in projects.

You can view the documents and have your say at:

www.southglos.gov.uk/renewablesSPD

Comments will help to shape the final document, which is expected to be adopted by the council in May.

Lib Dem planning spokesperson Pat Hockey explains, "Enabling a meaningful proportion of needs for electricity and heating to come from renewable sources is a key part of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy. It is important for residents to understand how it is proposed to do this and let us know whether they agree with it."

"The Landscape Strategy dates back to 2005 and there have been significant changes over the years. As renewable energy installations often have an impact on the landscape it seems a good idea to review the Landscape Strategy at the same time. We hope that local people will turn to the pages that assess the landscape that is familiar to them and let the Council have their views. This will be an important document for deciding on planning applications, not just those for wind turbines and solar farms."

You also have until Friday 7 March 2014 to comment on the Draft Landscape Character Assessment. You can do this online at:

www.southglos.gov.uk/landscapecharacterSPD

Red Cross Healthy Homes project

The Red Cross Healthy Homes project provides information and support with:

• keeping warm at home, energy efficiency and affording your energy bills
• preventing fires and falls
• maintaining independence
• promoting well-being

If you would like a free home visit and free winter warmth pack or if you would like them to visit a centre or group you attend to give a general talk about the Healthy Homes Project please contact Ellen Devine at H&SCWAG@redcross.org.uk or 0117 9415041.

Charfield leads the way on street lights

LED street lights are to be installed in Charfield this month as the first stage of a South Glos-wide roll out of the new technology.

Nearly 300 new lights are being installed in Charfield during January, reducing the parish’s street lighting costs from £11,000 to £3,500 per year and cutting related carbon emissions from 45 to 10 tonnes. Over the next decade, the new technology will be gradually installed in all of South Gloucestershire’s 30,000 street lights from May 2014, as part of a rolling investment programme.

Local councillor John O'Neill said, "Charfield has led the way with part night lighting and now with the new LED lighting technology. This will make for long term savings on our carbon reduction target and the South Gloucestershire Council budget which will benefit all Council Tax payers."

Local Nature Reserve celebrates triple award success

Wapley Bushes Conservation Group is celebrating triple success, having won three environmental awards this year.

The Nature Reserve has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Community Award under the national award scheme for well-managed, high-quality public and community parks and green spaces, plus a Level 4 “Thriving” award from South West in Bloom. The Conservation Group’s latest project – a community orchard – also won a Level 3 “Developing” certificate. This project aims to restore heritage varieties of fruit in a new public orchard.

The Conservation Group’s volunteers were officially presented with three awards at their November work morning by Cllr Christine Howard, Chairman of Dodington Parish Council, pictured holding the flag in the photo above.

Cllr Paul Hulbert, who has taken an active part in all the Wapley projects, said “We’ve had a busy year, and it’s good to have our volunteers’ efforts so well recognised. We were particularly pleased to get a Level 3 award for the Community Orchard, which only started two years ago. We would like to thank Dodington Parish Council and South Gloucestershire Council for their support and encouragement.”

Wapley Bushes Conservation Group welcomes volunteers at its regular workdays, including accompanied children. Full details and photos of the reserve are on the Wapley Bushes blog www.wapley.blogspot.com.

Find out more about community energy

Energising Communities is an event where you can find out why communities are generating their own energy and what groups are doing elsewhere. The event runs from 11am to 3.30pm on Saturday 16th September in Windhager UK offices, Marshfield, SN14 8SR. The keynote speaker will be Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. There will be a home-made soup and sandwich lunch for £5.

To find out more and book your place, go to the Marshfield Energy Project website.

Energy Loan Scheme launched

South Glos Council has recently launched an energy loan scheme to help homeowners carry out a range of projects, including installing solar panels, biomass boilers or upgrading their existing heating. For further details call the energy advice line for free on 0800 500 3076.