Friends of Ram Hill Colliery AGM

The AGM of the Friends of Ram Hill Colliery (FoRHC) will be held in the Miners Institute (aka Coalpit Heath Village Hall), 214 Badminton Road, BS36 2 QB on Wednesday 19 June at 7:30pm. The Ram Hill Colliery site itself is open to visit at all times and more info can be found at www.ramhillcolliery.org.ukThere will be an open day there on Sunday 15 September.

After the AGM the Chairman will be giving a talk about Woodchester Mansion, a grade 1 listed building near Stroud. Woodchester Mansion is an incomplete Victorian family house which means that it is possible to see things there that would normally not be visible in a stately home. For more info see www.woodchestermansion.org.uk

Woodlands Farm - revised plans

You may have received notification that Barratt Homes have submitted revised plans for Woodlands Farm, which are available on the South Glos website. (You need to scroll right down to the bottom of the screen to see the latest documents.) If you feel you wish to reiterate your objections, it can’t do any harm, though we are advised that they will assume that your original objections still stand unless you state otherwise.

Lorry Watch to help police weight limits

The South Glos Trading Standards team has developed a Lorry Watch Scheme for communities to help tackle those who breach weight limits on our local roads.

The scheme is similar to the very successful Community Speed Watch scheme already in operation in South Gloucestershire. The initial trial will involve existing Community Speed Watch (CSW) groups operating in a weight restricted area reporting incidents they see while carrying out speed watch sessions. It is hoped the scheme can later be widened to include town and parish councils where either there isn't a CSW scheme or the weight restricted area isn't covered by them.

Lorry Watch will enable local people to report alleged offenders to Trading Standards, who can then advise the vehicle operator on the alleged breach and provide information on how to avoid the area in the future. It will also allow Trading Standards to gather intelligence on when and where to target their resources for enforcement checks.

Good news on energy

Energy prices are soaring hitting everyone, especially the vulnerable. Your Focus Team has won cross-party backing on South Glos Council for two energy initiatives:

• At Dave Hockey’s suggestion, officers are investigating a council-run collective energy switching scheme. £5000 has been identified to piggy back on the Bristol "Switch and Save" scheme (www.bristolswitchandsave.org.uk) which would allow local residents to gain discounts on their power bills of between £60 and £250 pounds per year.
• Claire Young successfully proposed setting aside £15,000 of Invest to Save money to help kick-start a Community Energy Co-op in South Glos. These organisations support communities to develop renewable energy projects, including on community buildings and schools, and offer people a share in the profits of local installations. Bath and West Community Energy (www.bwce.coop) and Bristol Energy Co-op (www.bristolenergy.coop) are both running successfully in neighbouring authorities.

Retiring soon or already retired?

If you are retiring soon or already retired, why not drop in on the Now I’m Retiring Information Fair on Saturday 15 June 2013, at Yate Library, between 11am and 2pm. Described as "A marketplace of clubs, volunteering opportunities and hobbies to inspire you", you can find out more by emailing cchengagement@southglos.gov.uk or calling 01454 862356.

Core Strategy update

The Council today forwarded an additional response to the Planning Inspector for the Core Strategy, the planning blue print for South Gloucestershire. You can view the information on both the Council’s Core Strategy web page (www.southglos.gov.uk/corestrategy) and the Programme Officer’s Core Strategy Examination web page (www.southglos.gov.uk/corestrategyexamination).

Local Highways Schemes Planned for 2013/14

Funding has been allocated by South Gloucestershire Council’s Planning, Transport & Strategic Environment Committee to:

• improve the zebra crossing in Winterbourne High Street
• construct the next phase of an off road route for cyclists and horse riders along the Iron Acton Bypass
• carry out a traffic study to review the lorry routes associated with Yate
• carry out the preliminary work for the Church Road Bridge replacement. 

The delegated funding to the Frome Vale Area Forum will cover:

• the Traffic Regulation Order for closing Frampton End Road to vehicles
• consulting on a 40mph speed limit on Bristol Road
• investigation of possible ways of slowing traffic on Church Road. 

A pedestrian refuge on Park Lane near Woodend Road is being funded from the money remaining from the sale of the Council Houses to Merlin. The developers are funding a 20mph speed limit in The Meads.

Work has started in preparation for replacement of the Church Road bridge due to structural defects. Early in May the traffic lights were up whilst investigations took place to confirm the large number of utilities that cross the bridge.

A temporary footbridge will be constructed in Winter 2014 alongside the bridge. It will double as a carrier for all of the utilities. When the bridge deck has been replaced in Summer 2014 the utilities will be moved back into the footways and the temporary footbridge will be removed.

We will keep you informed of the dates when the existing bridge deck is due to be demolished and replaced and the diversion arrangements when we know them.