Campaigners celebrate extra rush-hour train from Yate

Claire Young, Wully Perks (Vice-Chair) and Sue Walker (Chair) of Friends of Yate Station and Steve Webb MP at Yate Station


Following pressure from local MP Steve Webb and the Friends of Yate Station, First Great Western have agreed to put on an extra morning commuter train from Yate in the new timetable to be introduced in May.

Late last year, the MP held a meeting at his Yate office with First Great WesternChief Executive Mark Hopwood to register his complaint about overcrowding on rush-hour trains between Yate and Bristol. The company considered these concerns and has now announced that from May there will be an additional train leaving Yate at 0712, calling at Filton Abbey Wood, Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads before going on to Westbury. This is a train thatwas previously running empty through the station, starting in Cheltenham Spa and only beginning to pick up passengers at Bristol Parkway.

Commenting on his web site, Steve Webb said:"An extra morning train from Yate to Abbey Wood and Bristol is a big step forward. For passengers who have had enough of overcrowding on the later trains, this will provide an additional option of a less crowded earlier train. For workers with some flexibility on working hours it may mean that they can then travel back home slightly earlier, and thereby avoid the peak rush-hour trains out of Bristol in the evening. Coming on top of the additional carriage that we have secured for the 0815 service, this is another sign that where we campaign effectively we can get things improved".

In addition to the new 0712 service, there is an improvement in service for those travelling to Swindon, with the 0740 service now going on from Bristolto Swindon without the need for changing trains.

Roadwork round-up

• There will be traffic lights on Westerleigh Road near the Cooks Lane junction from 9-11 March so the road can be repaired.
• The B4058 Wotton Road will be closed from B4059 Iron Acton Way to Manor Road between 15-28 March to enable the road to be resurfaced.
• The B4058 Wotton Road, from Charfield Road B4059 eastwards for 500 metres (near the Post Office) will have temporary traffic lights and width restrictions 22 March - 6 April for resurfacing work to take place.

Westerleigh Road to remain open during crossing works

Due to the high costs of closing Westerleigh Road, including providing a shuttle bus, the crossing scheme has been altered slightly so that the work can be done without closing the road. By not making the road quite as narrow as first planned, it will be possible to keep one lane of traffic running at all times with two-way traffic lights. There will be signs warning of delays, so drivers can opt for alternative routes. The work is due to start on 6 April.

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.

New station for Charfield?

Would you like to see a railway station at Charfield? Or does the prospect cause your concern? Whatever your views, please share them with your local Focus Team at this website.

Good news on speed limits

The initial recommendations of an area-wide review into speed limits on A and B roads (and other significant roads) have been announced. The good news is that not only are speed limit reductions recommended for a number of roads in the area but two routes have been identified for urgent action. Consultation has already started on the proposals for the Old Gloucester Road. The Council also proposes to implement reductions on the B4465 and Westerleigh Road (plus Nibley Lane) in 2010/11. One of the factors considered was “community concerns”, so well done to everyone who has made their concerns clear to the Council, including all those who signed the petition which Claire Young (pictured above) presented to Council in May 2008.

We don't yet have full details of the B4465 proposals but as with the Old Gloucester Road scheme there will be a public consultation before they are carried out. We are also still awaiting the report from the separate safety review for the B4465 and surrounding roads. Officers have reassured your Focus Team that the work on the two reviews has been progressing "in parallel" but with the work "interlocking". However, the 2010/11 scheme will only implement the recommendations from the speed limit review, not the safety review.

Local groups win grants

At Thursday's Frome Vale Area Forum, a host of local groups were awarded grants:

Frampton Cotterell Over 50s Computer Group - £1200 to upgrade their computers to Windows 7
Charfield Memorial Hall and Playing - £1275 for new curtains for the hall
Friends of Ram Hill Colliery - £881 to have a professional scheme of work drawn up so they can continue to develop the site
3rd Westerleigh Rainbows - £350 for equipment
Tytherington Pre-school - £980 for new equipment
Wickwar Playing Fields Association - £960 for to maintain the fields for general recreational use this year while fee-paying clubs cannot use them