Sainsbury's lorry success - and don't forget to comment on road safety scheme

When the B4465 safety review didn’t recommend a weight limit, Claire Young contacted some of the firms whose lorries regularly use the route to discuss lorry routing. Sainsbury’s has now agreed to send lorries from their Emerson’s Green distribution centre along the ring road to the M4 rather than going to junction 18 via Westerleigh and Codrington. Some of the lorries come from other depots so if you see Sainsbury’s lorries on the route, please let Claire have the registration number so Sainsbury’s can contact the depot involved.

Don't forget you only have until Monday 21st to comment on the B4465, Westerleigh Road and Nibley Lane Casualty Reduction scheme - more details here.

Lower speed limits for Nibley Lane

Under the proposed road safety scheme for the B4465, Westerleigh Road and Nibley Lane, the current national speed limit on Nibley Lane between Badminton Road and Westerleigh Road would be reduced to 40mph. If you would like to look at the detailed plans or make comments, you can do so on the South Glos website. But hurry - the deadline for comments is Monday 21st March.

Residents who completed our surveys in the autumn were also worried about speeding in Nibley Lane between Nibley and Iron Acton. Officers are now investigating whether a 30mph limit could be introduced there, perhaps at the same time as a scheme to make Frampton End Road safer in response to the petition presented to South Glos in December.

New activities for young people?

Following concerns raised in last year’s survey, Claire Young has been talking to South Glos youth workers about possible new activities for young people in Westerleigh, Codrington, Dodington and Wapley. Three options are:

• drama project in Westerleigh in the summer
• transport to boxing in Yate
• transport to the “Armadillo” youth cafe in Yate

If you are aged 14-19 or someone in your household is, email claire.young@southglos.gov.uk to let Claire know which of these are of interest.

Your views on Yate transport problems

South Glos Council’s planning blueprint (“Core Strategy”) aims to regenerate the industrial estates to the west of Yate, to create a wider range of jobs and a more attractive approach to the town. The planners are looking at the transport problems in the area. They are already aware of a whole host of issues including:

• The need for improvements at Yate station
• Heavy traffic on Badminton Road and Station Road at peak times
• The difficulty getting into and out of South Avenue and houses on Badminton Road
• The narrowness of the bridge on Stover Road
• The problems caused by lorries wrongly going down North Road

If you have any other concerns you’d like to feed in at this early stage, please contact Claire Young.

Handy Van South Glos - free security checks, subsidised minor repairs

Free Security Checks
Handyvan South Gloucestershire Council operate a free home safety and security check for all owner occupiers and private tenants in the South Gloucestershire area. Improving the security of your home, will help reduce the risk of burglary and unlawful entry, making you feel safer.

All work is carried out free of charge, to British Standards and insurance Industry requirements. The service is funded by South Gloucestershire Council and supported by the Avon and Somerset Police and Avon Fire and Rescue Service provides a free security service including crime prevention advice and home security products for:

* Properties at risk of burglary
* Vulnerable people
* Victims of crime domestic violence and hate crime
* General home safety and falls/accident prevention checks with remedial action


Subsidised Minor Household Repairs
South Gloucestershire Council operate a subsidised Minor Household Repair Service. The aim of this service is to enable people to maintain their independence in their own homes.

The minor household repair service is restricted to jobs of less then 3 hours at a subsidised rate of £10.00 per hour and will typically consist of:

* Small building repairs, odd jobs (e.g. fitting curtain rails or shelves)
* Small plumbing jobs, (e.g. tap washers, leaks, blocked sinks.
* Small carpentry jobs, (internal door repairs, flat pack building)
* Gutter cleaning, cracks in paths, small plaster repairs

The service is available to vulnerable residents who are over 60 years of age, and to people of working age with disabilities. This service is not available to Housing Association or Private Landlords.

For more information please contact andrew.harris@southglos.gov.uk or telephone 01454 863857.

Beech Hill Farm - another application for tipping

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Beech Hill Farm - blue line shows tipping boundary, pointer shows access from Westerleigh Road

Back in 2007 Beech Hill Farm, "the place that sells the fireworks" just under the railway bridge from the Shire Way roundabout, was refused planning permission for significant tipping. They've now submitted another application.The site is just across the railway from Rodborough and Chedworth.

Westerleigh Parish Council and Dodington Parish Council have objected - comments include that the application should be refused on the ground of traffic problems and disturbance to nearby properties. As the alternative approach routes - Westerleigh village and Nibley Lane - have weight limits, this would mean all significant lorry movements coming down through the Dodington/Yate estate roads.

Should permission be approved restricted hours should be imposed, avoiding worstening the dangerous junctions at Nibley Lane and Shire Way mini-roundabout at peak hours, i.e. before 0930 and after 1600 Monday-Friday.

Make your own comments - the Planning Application reference number is PT07/2338/F, and you can submit comments to South Glos here - the closing date is 1 April.

Watch out for paving contract scam

South Gloucestershire trading standards is urging local residents to be very careful signing home improvement contracts when dealing with doorstep salespeople.

Legally you are entitled to a seven-day cooling off period after signing a contract with a door-step trader. During that time you can back out of the agreement with no consequences. However, several block paving businesses which operate in the region are suspected to be routinely back-dating contracts when they are signed by customers, preventing them from exercising their right to back out.

The workmen then turn up at the customer's property,  usually when they are not at home, and start digging up the driveway. When the customer complains, the business may refer them to the contract which makes it look as if it was signed over a month ago.

It is a criminal offence for doorstep traders not to give customers a written notice of their right to cancel the agreement within seven days of signing it, but this may be waived by the customer only if they sign to say that work can start immediately. Most block paving businesses give such written notice, but some use the tactic of writing an earlier date on the contract so that they can effectively start work immediately and it looks as if the customer has already had their seven day cooling off period.

Anyone entering into such an agreement is recommended to check any date that is written on the agreement straight away and make the salesperson correct it if an earlier date is written on there. If you feel that you have been duped by this method and the work has started within the seven days without your consent, please report the business to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.