Superfast broadband for more villages

Charfield, Rangeworthy and Wickwar are the latest South Gloucestershire villages to benefit from a multi-million pound superfast broadband partnership between South Gloucestershire Council, Wiltshire Council, and BT.

The first homes and businesses in these villages will be able to order fibre broadband services by summer 2014.

The £35.6 million project, which is also funded by the UK Government’s Superfast Britain programme, is rolling out fibre broadband to more challenging areas that fall outside the private sector’s commercial plans.

Charfield Councillor John O'Neill said, "This is exciting and welcome news for Charfield who have been eagerly awaiting this news. We anticipate a huge take up rate in Charfield from residents and business. This is considered an asset that will streamline many companies and more importantly a great tool for children’s education needs.

Westerleigh - more work on double railway arches

Network Rail have submitted notices to carry out works on the double railway bridges over Westerleigh Road, as you enter the village from Yate. The works are in 3 stages and will involve the use of two way temporary traffic lights. The dates are 30th January until 8th February, 17th February until 26th February and 5th March until 7th March 2014.

Hopefully we will not have the problems we had last time as the road will not be closed.

Action needed on Hilly Field path

The path across the Hilly Field has been left unusable after Western Power brought their heavy plant and vehicles down to carry out tree surgery work and take the logs away last week.

Local councillors Pat and Dave Hockey are calling for it to be made usable again for the schoolchildren, dog walkers, horse riders and others who use it on a daily basis.

Dave said, "Residents and would be path users are appalled. The route round the roads is much longer and less safe for children walking and cycling to school every day. Western Power must accept their responsibility and help to sort out the problem that caused the path to be unusable as a matter of priority."


The water in the tracks has subsided but it will be back on Friday and Monday when very heavy rain is forecast.

Merlin Housing information event

Merlin Housing Society is holding an information event to show their final plans for their redevelopment sites in Coalpit Heath. It runs from 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Wednesday 29th January 2014 in the Miners Club, Coalpit Heath. All are welcome to attend.

Good news - no Woodlands Farm appeal

The deadline has now passed for Barratt Homes to lodge an appeal against the council's refusal of their application to build hundreds of new houses on land at Woodlands Farm. The good news is that they haven't done so.

Well done and thank you to all those involved in the campaign to save this important green space. Unfortunately this doesn’t mean that we won’t see another application at some point.

Nominate your community heroes

Nominations are now open for the Chair's Community Awards 2014.

The annual Chair’s Community Awards recognise and celebrate the valuable contribution local unpaid volunteers make to life in South Gloucestershire. This year’s celebration of community work and volunteering takes place in May and you have until Friday 21 March to nominate your local 'community heroes'.

You can nominate your community hero online at www.southglos.gov.uk/communityawards

Alternatively, call 01454 863019 or email communityawards@southglos.gov.uk

Deadline for nominations is Friday 21 March and the winners will be invited to a ceremony at the South Gloucestershire & Stroud College WISE campus in Filton on Sunday 18 May.

The BIG Spring Clean 2014

It's nearly time to "spring" into action again during the BIG Spring Clean.

Residents, businesses, parish councils and community groups are invited to get involved between 1st March and 30th April 2014. Last year 64 groups took part in the campaign, with 2,000 volunteers collecting 400 bags of rubbish to improve the local environment. You can request free bin bags and gloves and can also borrow litter pickers and hoops (litter picking equipment is available to loan throughout the year). After the event, the council can arrange to collect and dispose of the rubbish and recycling. Recycling is encouraged and different types of bags can be provided.

You need to register by Friday 21 February to take part. Download a booking form from:

www.southglos.gov.uk/bigspringclean

Alternatively you can request a form by emailing streetcleansing@southglos.gov.uk or calling 01454 868000.