Local history talk - 21 March

The latest Frampton Cotterell and District Local History Society talk takes place at 7.30pm on Wednesday 21 March at Zion Church,Woodend Road , Frampton Cotterell, BS36 2HY

Alan Freke of Frenchay Museum will be doing a talk entitled ‘The GWR Badminton Line'. All welcome, entry £4 or free to members (annual subscription £15), light refreshments included.

Tackling loneliness

A recent survey by Contact the Elderly showed 1/3 of people had noticed a lonely older person in their community and been concerned, and 40% did not feel confident that they knew how they could help.

South Gloucestershire Disability Network are hosting an information evening for community members to find out:

• How to approach this situation
• What you can do to help
• What schemes exist to help isolated people locally 

The event will take place on Tuesday 20th March at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. Registration starts at 6pm, after which attendees can have some nibbles and a look around stalls of local organisations should they wish. The main event will start at 6.30pm, to end around 8.30pm.

The event is aimed at businesses, workers, volunteers and members of the community who have, or might have, contact with lonely people, but who may not be sure what they can do to help. The aim is to increase confidence and provide some new skills in approaching situations with potentially lonely people, as well as provide attendees with information about schemes which may be of use to others in the community – for example First Contact and Community Connectors.

Booking is essential via Eventbrite.

TV historian to give talk in Frampton Cotterell

Well known historian and TV presenter Prof Ronald Hutton will be giving a talk, "Tudor History- Bloody Mary", at 7.30pm on Wednesday 21 February at the Zion Church, Woodend Road, Frampton Cotterell, BS36 2HY. All welcome, entry is £4 or free to members of Frampton Cotterell and District Local History Society (annual subscription £15). Light refreshments are included.

History talk next Wednesday

The latest Frampton Cotterell and District Local History Society talk will take place on Wednesday 17 January 2018 at 7.30pm in the Zion Church, Frampton Cotterell. "A Little Kingdom – the Harman family’s Lundy 1925 to 1969" is a talk by Andre Countanche. All are welcome, the entry is £4, including light refreshments, or you can pay an annual subscription of £15.

Next mining talk

The next South Glos Mines Research Group talk will take place on Wednesday 10th January, 2018 at the Cricket Club, Serridge Lane, Coalpit Heath, BS36 2TT (7:30pm for an 8:00pm start). The talk by Jonathan Maisey will be about the history and exploration of Windrush Quarry, one of the underground sources of Cotswold Stone. Non-members pay £2 or you can pay £17.50 to become a member and attend the regular talks for free.

History talk next week

The Frampton Cotterell and District Local History Society are having a talk 2The Tudor Navy - from the Mary Rose to the Armada" by Tim Bowly at 7:30pm on Wednesday 13 Dec at the Zion Church, Woodend Road, Frampton Cotterell BS36 2HY. All welcome, entry is £4 or free to members (annual subscription £15) and includes light refreshments.

Local history talk next Wednesday

There will be a talk about the Early Avon Valley Copper and Brass Industry at 7.30pm on Wednesday 4th October in the Miners (Coalpit Heath Village Hall).

Local history talk next Wednesday

The Frampton Cotterell and District Local History Society are kicking off their 2017/18 season of talks next Wednesday with one entitled “A Trip to Jerusalem – Pubs and Pub Signs” by Mike Rowland. It starts at 7.30pm on Wednesday 20th September in the Zion Church, Woodend Road, BS36 2HY. All welcome, entry is £4 including light refreshments or free to members (annual subscription is £15).

Reminder - railway electrification work

As we've previously reported, for 4 weeks from 19th August Network Rail will be carrying out electrification work between Royal Wootton Bassett and Westerleigh junction. Some of the work will be noisy.

From 2nd to 15th September, the work will be extended to include Westerleigh Junction, Coalpit Heath, Winterbourne, Stoke Gifford and Bristol Parkway station, up to Patchway/Filton junctions and Bristol Parkway station will be closed. Trains will still be running using diversionary routes, with rail replacement bus and coach services in place for some journeys.

For the latest on the railway upgrade works go to www.networkrail.co.uk/westernupgrade and for more about rail services during the Bristol Parkway closure go to gwr.com/bristolparkway2017 or crosscountrytrains.co.uk/bristol2017

If you have any questions about the work and missed the earlier drop-ins, there is another one planned at The Old School Rooms, St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford on Thursday, August 17 from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

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.

Climate change coffee morning

At 10am this Saturday, 29th July, the WWF are holding a Climate Change Coffee morning in the Ridgewood Cafe, Yate. This will be a chance to find out more about the Climate Coalitiion, how climate change is affecting the local community and what action you can take. You can find out more at https://www.facebook.com/events/408149509578801/

Rail electrification - more noisy work ahead

Major electrification work will be taking place in our area from 19 August to 15 September, night and day. Some of the work will be noisy and deliveries to Network Rail compounds along the route (e.g. Shire Way access point) will be made by road, so nearby roads will experience an increase in traffic.

The work will be on the main line from Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, to Patchway/Filton junctions, via Old Sodbury, Chipping Sodbury and Yate to Westerleigh Junction.

In addition, from 2 September to 15 September 2017, the work area will extend to include Westerleigh Junction towards Yate station, Coalpit Heath, Winterbourne, Stoke Gifford and Bristol Parkway station, up to Patchway/Filton junctions.

Network Rail say "We are electrifying the line to bring passengers quieter, more frequent and more reliable services between London Paddington and Cardiff"

The work includes:

• Carrying out the piling required to install the foundations which will support the electrification equipment. That's the really noisy part. 
• Installing the equipment, including trackside masts and overhead wires at some locations. 
• Installing electrification equipment in Chipping Sodbury tunnel. 
• Improving flood resilience at Chipping Sodbury sidings. 
• Preparing Bristol Parkway station for the arrival of new InterCity Express trains, including the construction of a fourth platform. 

How can you find out more?

Network Rail are setting up a dedicated web page at www.networkrail.co.uk/westernupgrade - it contains more detailed information about the work they will be carrying out and will be updated regularly as the project progresses. It also has a useful introductory video.

Network Rail will also be running drop-in sessions, when members of the project team will be on hand to explain the work and answer your questions. The sessions nearest to us are:

• Thursday 29 June, Coalpit Heath Village Hall, 4.30pm to 7pm
• Tuesday 4 July, Ridgewood Community Centre, Yate, 4.30pm to 7pm
• Tuesday 11 July, The Old School Rooms, St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford, 4.30pm to 7pm
• Wednesday 12 July, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, 4.30pm to 7pm
• Tuesday 25 July, All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down, 4.30pm to 7pm

If you have any questions about the work, you can email Network Rail at crwest@networkrail.co.uk or call the 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41. For updates, you can follow them on Twitter @networkrailwest

Cream tea for carers

On Wednesday 21 June, from 10am to 12 noon, Time 4 Carers are hosting a cream tea in the Jubilee Room at Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath. Time 4 Carers offer social events for carers throughout the year.

For more information contact Time 4 Carers on 07597 278204 or email time4carers@gmail.com

Reminder - Bromley Heath Viaduct Meeting tomorrow

We have previously reported on the major works being undertaken on the Bromley Heath Viaduct on the A4174 ring road, which could take up to a year and will have a massive impact on the road network in our area.

Previously the council was proposing to close a number of roads off Badminton Road in Coalpit Heath. Local residents were concerned about how this would affect their own daily lives and also the trade for local shops. I have spoken to the relevant highways officer, who has told me that they have listened to people's concerns and are not now proposing to close the roads.

You can find out the latest plans at a drop-in event at Frampton Cotterell C of E Primary School, Rectory Road BS36 2BT tomorrow (Tuesday 13 June) from 6pm to 8pm.

For the next 3 weeks the council will be installing temporary traffic lights at the junction of the B4465 Westerleigh Road and the A46 Bath Road. Works will be carried out between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

For more information please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/bhviaduct - if you cannot make the Frampton Cotterell drop-in event, you might like to attend one of the others planned around the area.

Future of the Over 50s Forum

The South Glos Over 50s Forum is for all residents who are over 50 years old. They are now holding meetings around the area in a bid to reach out to more people. The upcoming meetings locally are:

• Tuesday 28th March, 10am to 12 noon - Thornbury Methodist Church, High Street, Thornbury
• Thursday 30th March, 2pm to 4pm - The Ridgeway Community Centre, Station Road, Yate

For more information, email southglosover50s@gmail.com

Chance to raise local issues

The next Community Engagement Forum for Winterbourne, Frampton Cotterell, Westerleigh, Coalpit Heath, Iron Acton, Hambrook & Frenchay takes place on Tuesday 7th March 2017 at 7.30pm in The Greenfield Centre, Park Avenue, Winterbourne, BS36 1NJ. Guest speaker will be Trevor Wilmot talking about Neighbourhood Watch.

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.

Barn Dance for St Nicholas Family Centre

At 7.30pm on Saturday 4th March there will be a Barn Dance at St Nicholas Family Centre, Yate BS37 4LG. Tickets are £8 for adults and £5 for children under 12, with they money going towards making further improvements to the family centre. While there for the dance, you will have a chance to see the new kitchen plans. Phone 07788111626 or 07879680118 for tickets, or pay on the door.

Mining talk

The South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group are holding a talk, "Now we know their names", on Wednesday 1 March at about 9:00pm (after the group’s AGM) in the The Miners (Coalpit Heath Village Hall).

The talk is by DP Lindegaard, author of the book “Killed in a Coalpit – Lives of the Kingswood Colliers”. The book is a useful reference for anyone whose family were employed in the South Gloucestershire and Bristol coalfields; the index has over 2000 family names.

Talk on mining book

D P Lindegaard is giving a talk about her new book “Killed in a Coalpit” at Kingswood Heritage Museum  at 3pm on Tuesday 29 November.

 

The Museum will be open from 2pm to 5pm and for that afternoon admittance will be free (normal price is £3). They will be exhibiting extra mining items above their normal displays specially for the afternoon.