Have your say on Council budget

Back in July, Lib Dem group leader Cllr Ruth Davis won the Council's backing for a full public consultation on the Council's budget, similar to the Bristol City Council Big Budget Conversation. With the current serious economic situation the Council faces some tough decisions and the Lib Dems felt it was important that local people should have a say on how those decisions might affect the services they use. You can take part in the discussion here.

Footpath closure

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

Getting into public life

If you are interested in representing your local community, whether as a local councillor, school governor or magistrate, but don't know where to start, there is a free community learning programme to support you.

The 10 week course starts at 7pm on Monday 27 September in Yate Library. For more information, see the leaflet online.

If you are interested in standing as a Liberal Democrat Councillor in next year's elections, for South Gloucestershire Council or your local Town or Parish, please contact a member of your Focus team.

Better disabled access at polling station

On 6th May, people who tried to use the disabled access at the Manor Hall polling station found it was locked due to the pre-school operating in an adjacent room. Staff would unlock it on request, but this clearly wasn't helpful for those who turned up without someone able-bodied to access the building via the steps to ask on their behalf.

Claire Young took up the complaints and it has now been agreed that the polling station will move to the Newman Room, with the pre-school moving to the Jubilee Room. This means that the door at the top of the concrete ramp can be left open at all times and everyone should have good access.

The count will still be held in the larger Jubilee Room, as more space is needed and at that time of night the pre-school obviously won't be operating.

Visit Ram Hill Colliery and other heritage sites this weekend

Over the next few days there are a whole range of ways you can find out more about our local heritage.

The Friends of Ram Hill Colliery will be holding an open day at the site on Sunday 12th September from 10am until 4pm,with guided tours from 10.15 to 2.30pm. In nearby Coalpit Heath you can visit St Saviours Church on Saturday (10.00am – 3.00pm) and Sunday (2:00pm – 4:00pm).

You can visit Wickwar Town Hall by appointment on Fri 10th and Sat 11th September 10.00am – 4.00pm (contact Mrs P. A. Trull, trull@btinternet.com or 01454 299120.

You can find out more on these and many other events by viewing the South Glos Heritage Open Days leaflet online.

If you're interested in places further afield, look at the national Heritage Open Days website.

Frome Vale Area Forum tonight

The Frome Vale Area Forum is at 7pm this evening at Frampton Cotterell C of E School. Along with the usual open session for you to raise issues, there will be displays on the Joint Local Transport Plan and South Glos Council's review of licensing policy and the committee will be making decisions on grants for local organisations.

Have your say on transport - this Tuesday

South Gloucestershire Council and the other three councils that make up the West of England Partnership are currently putting together the Joint Local Transport Plan for the next 15 years. There will be a consultation event in Yate Shopping Centre on Tuesday 7 September from 11am to 3pm. Residents can complete a questionnaire at www.transportmatters.org or pick up a paper copy at the library, where you can also read the draft plan. The consultation deadline is Monday 4th October.