Parking around the Manor School

After a long delay, the proposed new parking restrictions around the Manor School in Coalpit Heath have now been formally advertised.

There are actually two consultations because two Traffic Regulation Orders are needed - one for the yellow zig zag lines, which will be shortened so that they are enforceable, and one for double yellow lines. Hopefully these will help prevent the dangerous parking that local people have often suffered at school times. You have until 22nd September to have you say.

Formal consultation on 20mph limits in Coalpit Heath

You have until 22nd September to have your say on the proposed 20mph limits on:

Burcombe Close, Coalville Road, Dormer Close, Heath Gardens, part of Henfield Road, Rathbone Close, Rose Oak Drive, Rose Oak Lane, Roundways, South View Crescent, South View Rise, Station Road, St. Annes Drive, Watters Close, Woodside Road.

This is the formal advertisement of the draft order, the next step in the legal process for changing a speed limit. You can view the proposals and comment here.

Safety on the roads around the Manor School

Last year South Glos carried out an informal consultation on introducing a 20mph limit on the residential roads to the east of Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath.

Based on the results of that consultation, officers decided to go ahead with the formal advertisement. That was supposed to happen in May but it was delayed and will now run from 29th August to 22nd September.

The formal advertisement of the waiting restrictions around the school, which is a separate piece of work, has been delayed by the departure of the official dealing with it. We'll let you know when it's time to have your say.

Have your say on 20mph on schools near Manor School

In November last year Claire Young attended the committee responsible for transport to present the findings of her survey on speed limits on the roads around the Manor School.

The council is now consulting on proposals to introduce 20mph speed limits on the following roads: Burcombe Close, Coalville Road, Dormer Close, Heath Gardens, Henfield Road, Rathbone Close, Rose Oak Drive, Rose Oak Lane, Roundways, South View Crescent, South View Rise, St Anne’s Drive, Station Road, Watters Close and Woodside Road.

You can view the proposals and comment online until 9th October.

Have your say on review of Keep Clear markings outside local schools

South Glos Council has just started a consultation on making changes to the Keep Clear markings outside some of our local schools:

https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/consult.ti/SKCmarkingsFromeVale

In our area both the Manor School and Watermore Primary School are included. You have until 24th July to have your say.

Busy weekend for local events

It's a busy weekend for local events.

On Saturday 4th July:

• The Frampton Cotterell C of E School Summer Fete starts at 1.45pm.
• The Manor School, Coalpit Heath is holding its Summer Fayre from 3pm-6pm.
• In Westerleigh the Neighbourhood Watch group is holding its annual Boules and BBQ event from 3.00pm on the village playing field. No need to book, just pay on the day (£1/person in a 2 or 3 person team). BBQ food is available separately in the Olde Inne. There's even a trophy to be won!

On Sunday 5th July the Coalpit Heath Steam and Vintage Ralley takes place, starting at 10am at Frog Lane Farm, at the end of Woodside Road.

Road safety around the Manor School - the latest

You may have seen the black wires across a number of roads around the Manor School. These are recording the speed and volume of traffic. Eventually, it’s hoped that all schools in South Gloucestershire will have 20mph limits around them, but it’s not possible to do them all straight away. The data from this monitoring, along with that for other schools, will be one of the criteria that will be looked at when deciding which schools to do first.

The officer responsible for the monitoring has seen the results of the survey Claire carried out last year to find out people's views on introducing 20mph limits. He said that it would also help the case for doing a school sooner rather than later if it was minuted as a priority by the local Area Forum. The Frome Vale Area Forum meets at 7pm on Thursday 5th March in Shireway Community Centre and members of the public are very welcome to speak. Please get in touch if you’d like to know more.

The council has agreed to take the necessary steps to enable the parking enforcement camera car to be used at the Manor School. Being able to demonstrate the local concern through your comments was very helpful in persuading officers that it should be added to the current programme of schools, rather than waiting for a future year. At an on-site meeting, officers explained it will involve making changes to the markings on the road to meet modern regulations. There will be a consultation on this.

Could you be a school crossing patrol person?

The Manor School is currently looking for a new school crossing patrol person. Parents feel much happier walking children to school, or allowing older children to walk by themselves, if there is someone to help them across the road at the school. Contact Claire Young to find out more.

Latest on parking problems

As we reported last month, parking continues to be a problem on some of our local roads.

School run parking

Although the 3 strikes scheme recently introduced by PCSO Andy Pound has been positive, some residents expressed concern that there wasn’t sufficient police presence to support it fully, as only the police can issue tickets. On Friday local councillor Claire Young attended a meeting at the school with the headteacher, governors, residents and PC Finbar Simmons. During the meeting, PC Simmons committed to giving the issue extra attention, and at last night's Safer Stronger Community Group meeting it was selected as a priority, which will help him argue for prioritising it over other work.

South Gloucestershire Council now has a parking enforcement camera car and while Claire was presenting the results of her survey to the committee on 12th November she also asked for the necessary steps to be taken to enable it to be used at the Manor School. At Friday’s meeting, she agreed to arrange an on-site meeting with the police and a highways officer to discuss this further and that is being done.

As well as enforcement, it’s also important to try to reduce the number of people driving to school. Claire has spoken to the Road Safety Officer at South Glos and she has now sent the headteacher details of a new scheme, "Five Minute Walking Zones", to promote children walking at least part of the way to school.

Other parking concerns

School run parking isn't the only concern for local residents, something Claire raised at last night's Safer Stronger Group meeting. Following concerns from residents, Claire wrote to both the football club and Fitquest asking them to remind their members to park considerately. Both responded positively - the football club are putting it on their next agenda and Fitquest have assured her that they remind their users every session and do spot checks.

In Claire's survey, people also expressed concern about people parking too close to certain junctions and Claire took this up with officers. White lines were introduced at the junctions off Roundways following a previous meeting she had on-site with highways officers. They are now proposing similar advisory keep clear lines at the junctions of Heath Gardens/Henfield Road and Station Road/The Brake. Although they are only advisory, the fact that someone is parked on them does help the police build a case for issuing a ticket for obstruction.

At last night's meeting, PC Finbar Simmons explained how the police approach parking problems. They need to be able to build a case that will stand up in court if the ticket is challenged. An obstruction has to be more than an inconvenience and courts will take into account how long it lasts, its nature, extent and purpose. Being prevented from leaving your driveway is an obstruction, but being temporarily blocked from entering isn't because you could park your vehicle elsewhere. With pavement parking, he will look to see if you can get a double buggy through. If there is an element of danger officers are more likely to be successful at court. If you are in any doubt, he advised you to call the police using the 101 number.

Call for road safety action around the Manor School

Thank you to everyone who completed Claire Young's survey on speed limits on the roads around the Manor School.

Other local schools have a 20mph limit around them, either permanent or when the lights are flashing. Claire wanted to find out if there was support for this at the Manor, and if so which roads people thought should be included.  A majority of those who filled in the survey supported a 20mph limit on the roads immediately around the school  - Roundways, St Anne's Drive and Henfield Road. On Wednesday, Claire attended the council's committee responsible for transport to present them with the results and call for action.

Dangerous parking was also a concern for many who replied. There are no simple solutions and a number of ideas have been tried over the years, including white lines on the roads and a PCSO working with the children to create flyers to hand out. At the meeting, Claire called for the necessary steps to be taken so that the council's parking enforcement car can be used outside the Manor School to help tackle the problem.

Manor School evacuated

The Manor School in Coalpit Heath has been evacuated this afternoon after a number of children fell ill over the course of the morning. Emergency services are attending the school and parents have been notified. For the latest information, please see the South Glos website.

Big tidy up at the Manor School

During the Big Spring Clean 2012, the Manor School, Coalpit Heath will be holding a big tidy up on Thursday 15th March, 3.30pm – 4.30pm. The big tidy up is part of a week-long focus on the environment that will include gardening, a visit from SITA (the council's waste contractors) and other outdoor events. If you'd like to join in, just turn up on the day.

Manor School playing field clean up

A small band of volunteers including teachers, parents, pupils and local councillor Claire Young turned up to pick litter on the Manor School playing field this afternoon. The good news is that there was much less litter along the hedge that runs beside Southview Crescent than at last year's Big Spring Clean event, when it was a real hot spot. Let's hope it stays litter-free!

Big Spring Clean 2011 events

Could you spare an hour or two to help clear up one of the litter hotspots in our villages?

As part of the Big Spring Clean 2011, there will be events on the Manor School Playing Field, Coalpit Heath and Park Farm, Frampton Cotterell.

The Manor School playing field is used not only by school children but also footballers and the local community. Come along at 2pm on Saturday 19th March to lend a hand. Gloves and black sacks will be provided.

The ducks on the village pond at Park Farm are thriving. They give a lot of pleasure to so many people of all ages who love to see them. But litter is a problem, not only in and around the pond but also amongst the trees which border Heather Avenue, around the Village Green and along the public footpath. If you can spare an hour or so to help clear litter fromn this lovely spot between 10.30am and 1pm on Saturday 26 March, that would be great. Gloves and black sacks will be provided along with a skip for the litter.

Litter picking on Manor Playing Field

Back in March, volunteers collected 12 bags of rubbish from the Manor School playing field. Now there's another chance to tidy up this well-used field. On Saturday 3rd July, people will be meeting up after the School Fair (which is due to end at 4pm but tidying up may start from as early as 3pm). If you would like to help, the Friends of Manor School will be down on the school field, so just ask a member for a bag.

Thanks to litter pickers

Thanks to everyone who turned up on a wet, miserable Saturday afternoon to pick several sackfuls of litter from the Manor School Playing Field. If you'd like to help out with future litter picks, please email Claire Young. And don't forget there's a chance to clean up the Glebe Land, Rectory Road, Frampton Cotterell this coming Saturday (27th March). Be there at 10.30am if you can help.

Big Spring Clean events

Two local litter hotspots will be tackled as part of the Big Spring Clean 2010.

The Manor School are holding a 2 hour clear up on the school playing field starting at 2pm on Saturday 20 March. Claire Young has arranged for the Council to supply gloves in both children's and adult's sizes and bin bags.

Dave Hockey has organised a large skip to go on the Glebe Land, Rectory Road on Saturday 27 March. Be there at 10.30am if you can help, all ages welcome.