Footpath to close for railway works

The footpath that goes from the end of Broad Lane in Westerleigh past Dodmoor Farm, left along the railway and then heads off towards Frog Lane Farm will be closed in the autumn for railway works to take place. The diversion will be along the Broad Lane Restricted Byway, up the path that goes across Ha'penny Bridge to Frog Lane Farm and then back south east. The closure order will be in operation from 30 September 2016 for up to six months but the closure is only expected to last for 11 days.

Paths to close for crossing works

The bridle way between Broad Lane and Dodmore Crossing in Westerleigh and the path that links in to this from Westerleigh Road, between The Bungalow and The Old Stores, will be temporarily closed so that level crossing works can be carried out. The closure order will be in place for 6 months from the 21st September 2015 but it's anticipated the works will take seven weeks during that time. The alternative route is to go down Broad Lane to Westerleigh Road and then along Westerleigh Road up to Dodmore Crossing.

Footpath diversion at Wapley

South Glos Council is seeking views on diverting a length of public footpath LDO 3/20 at The Old Rectory, Wapley. You can find out more on the council's website. The deadline for commenting is 30th August.

Wapley Bushes - footpath closure

The footpath on Wapley Bushes from Shire Way south westwards for 172 metres will be closed from 7th March so that a railway bridge can be demolished and replaced. Although the notice allows for up to 6 months closure it is anticipated the work will take about 3 months. A temporary footpath will be provided to the east.

Hilly Field path back in action

On Tuesday, just five working days after the work started to restore the path across Hilly Field, it was finished, in time for the end of the school day. Pupils from Winterbourne International Academy can now cycle down the newly relayed path without needing to plough through deep mud.

Nightmare mud path gets priority action

Yesterday, just two days after Tuesday’s meeting on site with South Glos Streetcare Foreman and a Public Rights of Way Officer at the Hilly Field to view the nightmare mud path, the scraper was in operation getting rid of a foot of mud from the path.

Today, huge Hanson’s lorries delivered the stones ready for Streetcare to load, transport, tip and level the newly resurfaced path.

A representative from Western Power agreed to share the cost of the resurfacing on Monday when they visited the site with Councillors Dave & Pat Hockey to view the muddy path nightmare left after their contractor’s vehicles had hauled logs up the footpath / bridleway. Western Power had arranged to cut the trees back to protect their power lines next to the path.

Cllrs Dave and Pat Hockey would like to thank all involved for their prompt action. It will enable schoolchildren from Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath to be able to walk and cycle on this designated ‘Safer Route to School’ without getting so horrendously muddy.

Action needed on Hilly Field path

The path across the Hilly Field has been left unusable after Western Power brought their heavy plant and vehicles down to carry out tree surgery work and take the logs away last week.

Local councillors Pat and Dave Hockey are calling for it to be made usable again for the schoolchildren, dog walkers, horse riders and others who use it on a daily basis.

Dave said, "Residents and would be path users are appalled. The route round the roads is much longer and less safe for children walking and cycling to school every day. Western Power must accept their responsibility and help to sort out the problem that caused the path to be unusable as a matter of priority."


The water in the tracks has subsided but it will be back on Friday and Monday when very heavy rain is forecast.

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.

Temporary footpath diversion

The footpath that runs from Leigh Lane near Cliff Cottage across to the abattoir and up to Westerleigh Road near Kidney Hill will be closed for around four weeks during the six month period starting from 5th November. The alternative route will join Westerleigh Road to the east of the railway bridge. The temporary closure is to enable the construction of the Yate Spur pedestrian and cycle route extension from the M4 to Westerleigh Road.

New public rights of way needed?

Natural England are running a 2 year funding scheme called Paths for Communities (P4C). From their website:

The aim of P4C is to encourage and support local communities to work with land owners to make improvements to the network of Public Rights of Way. In all cases P4C projects must include some element of new Public Right of Way creation. In most cases projects will include an element of new Bridleway creation but projects that include Footpath creation alone will also be considered where community and economic benefit can be demonstrated.

You can find out more on the Natural England website.

Fanatical about footpaths?

The Joint Local Access Forum for Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire (the JLAF) is looking for new recruits. The JLAF is a statutory body established by the three councils, to provide advice on improving public access to land in the area for the purposes of open-air recreation and enjoyment. They are seeking applications for membership of the JLAF from people of all ages who are enthusiastic about the rights of way network and access to the outdoors. This is an opportunity to contribute views and positive ideas on the potential of the network of paths in the area and on how to make it more accessible and enjoyable for all. For more information go to www.jlaf.org.uk - the deadline for applications is 9am on Friday 22nd June.

Update on cycle path from Yate to the railway path via Westerleigh

It was reported at the recent Joint Cycleways meeting that there has been no physical progress on the cycleway link because Network Rail haven't yet signed consents. Believe it or not, it's because of the main line electrification! They are considering using some of the land near the oil depot for training concerned with the electrification work, but they don't yet know how much land they need.

All other landholder agreements have been finalised for the first phase from Coxgrove Hill to Broad Lane, and land negotiations for the Broad Lane – Shireway second phase have just started.

Creating an additional link from the Nibley Lane corner to Westerleigh would cost over £50,000 and therefore will be considered for inclusion in South Glos's Local Transport Capital Programme for 2012/2013, along with all the other schemes competing for funds.

The next meeting of the Joint Cycleway Group will be in mid-April. Watch this space, as they say...

Delay for stage 2 of Manor Road footway

Streetcare have been unable to finish the Stage 2 of the Manor Road footway due to the snowy weather during December. A short length has to be completed, and the bus shelter has to be reinstalled in its new location. For safety reasons it is being moved about 20m towards the Chaingate Lane junction.

Local councillor Howard Gawler is pleased to hear and see that many walkers, runners and child cyclists are using Stage 1 between Chaingate Lane and Tanhouse Lane, on their way to the Oldwood Lane RUPP, which is a popular, quiet and safe track between Tanhouse Lane and New Rd.

Footpath closure

Footpath PMR7 from Westerleigh Road to Howsmoor Lane will be closed until the end of March 2011 while construction work takes place.

New footway on Manor Road

Construction of the new footway on Manor Road, between Chaingate Lane and Tanhouse Lane, is due to start on 4th January (weather permitting) and is expected to take 4 weeks to complete.

Unfortunately, due to the narrow width of the road, Manor Road will need to be closed to motorised vehicles for the duration of the works, although a pedestrian and cyclist route will be maintained. An alternative route using the B4058 and B4059 will be signed for diverted vehicles. The existing bus service will continue, but will take the following diversion route:-

Manor Road (North) – Chaingate Lane – B4058 – B 4059 – North road (including a U turn south of Tanhouse Lane) – Yate town centre.

The island at the junction of the B4058 and Chaingate Lane will be removed to enable buses to make the necessary movements.

Lane in Coalpit Heath to be closed

The lane that runs from Coalpit Heath Post Office through to Bell Road will be shut from today until 21st December inclusive so that drainage works can be carried out. Residents will still be able to access their properties. There has been a long history of flooding at this site and your Focus team has been pushing for it to be sorted.

Footpath closed near Westerleigh

Footpath LWE/16/20 is to be closed for 6 months from 19 March as necessary to carry out works on the footbridge over the stream. (To reach this footbridge from the Nibley Lane junction on Westerleigh Road, you would follow the track to the railway line, cross the railway line, and continue for a short distance.)

Footpath closure

If you follow the track that runs off to the west at the Nibley Lane-Westerleigh Road junction you come to a footpath on the other side of the railway line. This has had to be closed where the path crosses a bridge as the bridge has collapsed. It is planned to reopen on 27th November.

Diversion of public footpaths

There is an informal public consultation underway regarding the proposed diversion of two public footpaths in Tubb's Bottom. For more details see http://www.southglos.gov.uk/Legacy/public/Consultations/consultation_details.asp?id=1623