Call for regeneration action

Local councillor Claire Young has called upon South Gloucestershire Council to kick-start the regeneration of the “western gateway to Yate.”

Although on the edge of Yate, most of the industrial estates are in Westerleigh and Iron Acton Parishes. With the Conservatives proposing thousands of new homes in the area, it's vital we have the jobs to go with them and an improved Yate station that links all the different forms of transport together.

The recent sale of Stover Road Trading Estate and the development of the new Local Plan make this the ideal time to look again at this issue. At last week's council meeting, Claire asked the Leader of Council to bring together the owners of all the trading estates and involve local councillors in the process. He was non-committal but your Focus Team will keep pressing for action.

Council car park extension approved

Last week the planning committee unanimously approved the application to extend the car park at the Badminton Road council offices. Having listened to the concerns raised by residents and ward councillor Claire Young, an additional condition around lighting was added to try to limit the impact on local residents. However local residents remain concerned about the impact the extension will have on them.

Site visit for car park extension plans

At the DC (East) planning committee last week, councillors decided that they needed to see the land where the council is proposing to extend their Badminton Road office car park before making a decision on whether it should go ahead.

The visit will take place at 10.20 am on Friday 26th January. The officer's report is available online.

Nibley Lane Iron Acton to be closed for cleaning Wed 31 May

South Glos have told us that the length of Nibley Lane from Holly Hill to Badminton Road will be closed for cleaning shortly. The notice says some time between 31 May and 4 June, but they anticipate it being 9.30am–2.30pm on Wed 31st.

Flood risk plans now online

At the Environment Agency's drop-in exhibition on the risk of river flooding in the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area in March, local councillor Claire Young asked them to make the plans available online for those who couldn't attend.

They have now published the plans on their website. If you would like to make comments, you can email them to mark.goldingay@environment-agency.gov.uk

Flood risk drop-in

Last week local councillor Claire Young and a number of her colleagues attended an Environment Agency drop-in looking at the risk of river flooding in the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area and options for reducing it.

One of the at risk areas identified was Nibley. There they were suggesting property-level measures such as flood gates and non-return valves, as larger scale measures are not considered viable at this point.

On other sections of the river options included widening the channel and creating flood storage covering up to 20 hectares, with capacity equivalent to 80 Olympic-size swimming pools. Claire took the opportunity to discuss how this would affect properties downstream at places like Frampton Cotterell and was assured that the flood storage area at Tubbs Bottom would reduce the risk downstream.

The Environment Agency stress they are at a very early stage of their study and they do not have funding to implement any options at this stage. The majority will have to come from other public or private sources, including developers. Claire asked the agency to make the exhibition materials available on their website.

Nibley council offices - car park extension

Earlier this year, we reported that the Conservatives were considering closing the Kingswood Civic Centre and extending Badminton Road to accommodate a council chamber and extra staff.

They are now proposing to keep the council chamber at Kingswood but move the staff to Nibley, which still requires the car park to be extended. Your Focus Team requested and received plans that demonstrate this will still leave room for the planned Park and Ride.

Have your say on extending Nibley council offices

Earlier this month we reported on proposals to close Kingswood Civic Centre and extend the Badminton Road council offices at Nibley.

At the time, local councillor Claire Young raised concerns about the impact extending the offices could have on traffic and parking in the local area. She also sought, and was given, reassurance that any plans would not affect the ability to deliver the Nibley Park and Ride in the future. Last year we made sure plans for the solar farm would not restrict a future Park and Ride, we need to make sure the same is true of any office extension. We were told they were also looking at whether solar panels could be put over any new parking area.

Now it's your chance to have your say on the proposals. At this stage, it is still on the principles of the different options, not on any detailed plans for an extension. You can find out more and have your say here until 13th May.

Badminton Road council offices to be extended?

South Gloucestershire Council is looking to make more savings on office space. The Conservative administration's preferred option is to extend the offices (and parking) at Badminton Road, Nibley and move staff there, so they can close Kingswood Civic Centre.

At the Policy and Resources committee meeting on Monday, local councillor Claire Young raised concern about the potential impact on people living around the council offices, where there are already concerns about parking and traffic.

Claire also sought, and was given, reassurance that any plans would not affect the ability to deliver the Nibley Park and Ride in the future. Last year we made sure plans for the solar farm would not restrict a future Park and Ride, we need to make sure the same is true of any office extension. We were told they were also looking at whether solar panels could be put over any new parking area. When more detailed plans are available we will let you know.

Nibley Lane to close for cleaning

Nibley Lane (between Badminton Road and Westerleigh Road) is expected to close for cleaning between 9.30am and 2.30pm on Tuesday 12th May.

Update on new electricity substation at Nibley

The work relating to the new electricity substation at Nibley slipped from October. The shutdown is now expected to happen on 21st May, with work prior to that which will involve digging up the road.

Planning application submitted for council office solar scheme

The planning application has now been submitted for the proposed solar scheme on land next to the Badminton Road Council Offices at Nibley.

Last week we reported on a meeting we had with officers about the proposals. You can now view the plans and make comments online.If for any reason that link doesn't work, go to the planning application search page and enter the reference number PK14/4785/R3F. You have until 6th January to make comments.

Solar scheme at Badminton Road

Earlier this year, we reported that the council was proposing to put solar panels on land next to the council offices at Nibley. This morning Claire Young and fellow councillors met officers to discuss the plans before an application is submitted.This would be a very small scheme compared to the commercial solar farms that have sprung up in the area recently, the aim being to provide electricity for the council offices.

While keen for the council to save money in a positive way and use greener energy, your Focus Team was concerned that enough space should be left for the long-planned park and ride.This now needs to be bigger than originally planned due to all the new homes being built in Yate. The good news is that the latest plans allow for a 236 space car park, with the possibility of further spaces behind the offices. The solar panels would go on the slightly higher ground towards the back of the site in the top picture, which isn't suitable for car parking.

Your Focus Team is campaigning to get the park and ride built, along with other transport schemes in the Yate area. Go to http://letsgetyatemoving-ldthornburyandyate.nationbuilder.com  to back the campaign and share your experiences and ideas about local transport.

Good news at Frome Vale Area Forum

Last night's Frome Vale Area Forum had a packed agenda:

• Schemes to introduce 40mph limits on the B4058/B4059 Iron Acton and 20mph limits within Iron Acton and on surrounding roads including Nibley Lane were approved.
• We awarded New Homes Bonus money to Coalpit Heath Village Hall ("The Miners") to put solar panels on their roof and to Iron Acton Parish Hall for an extension to the entrance lobby
• Station Road, Coalpit Heath and Lower Chapel Lane, Frampton Cotterell were among four resurfacing schemes we chose for 2015/16.

Have your say on Frampton End Road

Over 750 local people signed a petition to improve the safety of Frampton End Road, especially for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. You can now have your say on options for closing Frampton End Road to through traffic and a 20mph speed limit. You can view the details and make comments on the South Glos consultation website.

Letters about the consultation have been sent to everyone living on Frampton End Road, Mays Hill and Station Road, Iron Acton. Black/yellow information signs have been put up at the junctions of Church Road/Frampton End Road, Badminton Road/Mays Hill (on both spurs) and Station Road/Bristol Road to notify people who use the roads but don't live on them. The feedback from the consultation will be considered by the council's Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee at its meeting at 3pm on 30th January in Kingswood Civic Centre. Members of the public can attend and speak.

Consultation on plans for 20mph speed limits on other roads in the area (including Nibley Lane) will now take place separately at a later date so that officers can discuss the proposals with the Parish Councils first.

482/483 bus service changes

The current operator of the 482 and 483 bus services, from Chipping Sodbury to Cribbs Causeway via Coalpit Heath and Frampton Cotterell among others, had announced that they no longer intended to operate the service from 20 May, as the services were no longer commercially viable. Following an emergency tender, Wessex Connect will now run the service for a year with increased journeys in the afternoon peak times.

Good and bad news on the buses

There is both good and bad news for users of the 342 and X42 bus services, which serve Coalpit Heath and Nibley among other places.

The bad news is that the 18:05 X42service from Bristol to Chipping Sodbury is being withdrawn from 1st April. First have told officers that due to the delays on the 342 services in the evening peak period they often have two vehicles operating the corridor at the same time. They argue that the 342 gives a greater degree of consistency and will meet the greatest passenger demand.

The good news is that the Sunday/Bank Holiday service is improving from 2 hourly to hourly, also from the start of April.

There are other changes to times and timetables should be available shortly on the Council's website.

Light switch-off for Badminton Road

Following the success of switching off some street lights for part of the night along the ring road and in a number of towns and villages, South Glos Council is planning to do the same for Badminton Road. The Council wanted to push ahead without consultation but your Focus team has persuaded them to take a little more time so we can get your feedback. A bit of local knowledge now could save much time and money later!

From the centre of Yate to just past the new Council offices, the lights would stay on all night. Between there and the Wick Wick roundabout (where the A432 meets the A4174 Ring Road), the lights would be switched off in the early hours except around the following:

• Church Road junction
• Woodend Road junction
• Beesmoor Road junction
• railway viaduct as you leave Coalpit Heath
• Park Lane
• Kendleshire Crossroads
• Cuckoo lane junction, just before Wick Wick roundabout

If you have any queries or comments, please contact Claire Young.

Councillors and officials experience Frampton End Road dangers

Frampton End Road was
built for people and
horses...

South Gloucestershire’s Cabinet Member and Director responsible for Transport and a Senior Highways Officer walked the entire length of Frampton End Road on a cold morning in February to experience it for themselves.

Local councillor Dave Hockey and residents joined them to discuss the hazards on this winding, narrow road and to talk about the accidents that have taken place on it involving horses, walkers, cyclists, vehicles and property.

...not for motor cars, vans and
lorries

Council Officers will now collect data on the traffic using the road. Your Focus Team will keep you informed on the proposals they bring forward to make it safer for those using it to enjoy the countryside.

Frampton End Road petition presented

More than 650 people from Iron Acton, Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath and further afield signed the petition to get something done to improve the safety of Frampton End Road for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and drivers.

Marilyn Wright with the petition at Algars Mill on Frampton End Road with other members of the organising team

Nick Carver, seen in the photograph with his dog, presented the petition to South Gloucestershire Council at their meeting on 15 December. The Executive Member for Planning & Transportation agreed to arrange to walk Frampton End Road with Senior Highways Officers to consider what actions can be taken to improve the safety for all users of this very narrow, windy lane.