Nightmare mud path gets priority action

Yesterday, just two days after Tuesday’s meeting on site with South Glos Streetcare Foreman and a Public Rights of Way Officer at the Hilly Field to view the nightmare mud path, the scraper was in operation getting rid of a foot of mud from the path.

Today, huge Hanson’s lorries delivered the stones ready for Streetcare to load, transport, tip and level the newly resurfaced path.

A representative from Western Power agreed to share the cost of the resurfacing on Monday when they visited the site with Councillors Dave & Pat Hockey to view the muddy path nightmare left after their contractor’s vehicles had hauled logs up the footpath / bridleway. Western Power had arranged to cut the trees back to protect their power lines next to the path.

Cllrs Dave and Pat Hockey would like to thank all involved for their prompt action. It will enable schoolchildren from Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath to be able to walk and cycle on this designated ‘Safer Route to School’ without getting so horrendously muddy.

Your views on anti-social behaviour

Avon and Somerset Police are running an online survey about anti-social behaviour. If you're using a desktop or laptop you can fill it in here and there is also a mobile and tablet version. The survey closes on Sunday 9th February, 2014.

Volunteers clear Village Pond

Last Thursday Village Action plus TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) cleared a lot of the rushes from the 'Village Pond' on Park Farm to make more space for the fish and ducks.

The pond was drained and cleared about 2 years ago but not enough soil was removed to get rid of the rush roots and they quickly took over the pond again.

Latest bus timetable changes

From 2nd February, First is changing the timetable of some early morning and early evening 342/X42 journeys.

The following Monday to Friday early morning departures from Chipping Sodbury to Bristol Bus Station will be brought forward by either five or ten minutes: 0540 hours, 0635 hours, 0655 hours, 0710 hours.

In addition, the following Monday to Friday departures from Bristol Bus Station will also change: 0645 hours departure brought forward by five minutes, 1725 hours and 1755 hours departures pushed back by five minutes.

Full details of all the changes First are making are available on their website.

Flu vaccinations for two and three year olds

The annual flu vaccinations are now being offered to healthy two and three year olds.

Previously it was only offered to children with a condition that puts them at risk from the effects of flu. Now all children who were aged two or three on 1st September 2013 will have the chance to get vaccinated.

The vaccination is administered via a nasal spray, so no injection is required. It has also proven more effective in preventing flu in children than other vaccines.

Local GP practices in South Gloucestershire are currently contacting parents of children in the target age group to arrange a vaccination appointment. If you aren't contacted and think you should have been, do contact your surgery.

Aero museum plans and the air ambulance

Last Monday Claire Young and Howard Gawler were among a group of councillors visiting Filton Airfield to look at plans for the new Bristol Aerospace Centre. The proposals include a new home for the Bristol Concorde, Alpha Foxtrot, which has been preserved at Filton since it made the last Concorde flight in 2003. More information is available on the Bristol Aero Collection website.

Afterwards the councillors had an opportunity to find out more about the Great Western Air Ambulance service.  The charity is currently raising money to buy a new helicopter - if you'd like to support them, check out their website.

Says Court Solar Farm construction

Earlier in the month, Westerleigh Parish Council and ward councillor Claire Young met representatives of AEE Renewables, who applied for planning permission for Says Court Solar Farm, and Sun Edison, the company that are going to construct and run it. The meeting was prompted by residents' concerns that some test piling had taken place outside the hours allowed by the planning permission.

Sun Edison apologised for that and gave assurances that they would be sticking to the permitted working hours (08:00 until 18:00 Monday to Friday, and 08:00 until 13:00 on Saturday with no Sunday or Bank Holiday working). Work was due to start this week, with the main task being to construct the on site roads need during the construction phase. The noisiest phase will be the piling, planned to start in the last week of January and last for approximately 3 weeks.

You can find out more, including the presentation they gave, on their blog. Keep an eye on it for news on the progress of the works. It all needs to be finished by the end of March because then the subsidies go down (and with it the level of community benefit).