Good news on parking for North Road residents

At last night's Frome Vale Area Forum, we considered objections to the proposed waiting restriction changes on the trading estates close to the council offices. We agreed to implement the proposals as advertised, excluding the section of Waverley Road that extends beyond the adopted highway and the planned removal of the existing waiting restriction on Woodward Avenue. The latter was decided after a member of the public successfully argued that it would make the road less safe for pedestrians and not increase the available parking as people who currently have access to a car park would use it as it is closer to their workplace.

The good news for residents on the small rank of cottages on North Road is that this means they will now have parking permits to use the road outside their houses so that people from the council offices don't stop them parking there.

Success for local groups and projects at Area Forum

A number of local groups were awarded small grants at last night's Area Forum:

• Friends of Ram Hill Colliery £100
• Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir £1500
• Wickwar Preschool £1750

From the New Homes Bonus, Frampton Cotterell Parish Council was awarded £36,270 to install pellet burning heating systems and upgrade the lighting for greater energy efficiency in The Pavillion and The Brockeridge Centre.

Rangeworthy Village Hall was given £3,700 to install double glazing and new fire doors. Iron Acton Parish Council received £13,000 to install recreational equipment for teenagers, while Iron Acton Community Cinema got £2680 to buy a projector and other equipment. Tytherington Parish Council was awarded £4110 for Jubilee Field repairs.

Help to quit smoking

Next Wednesday, 12th March, is No Smoking Day.

Smokefree South Gloucestershire offer free support to stop smoking through local GP surgeries, pharmacies and specialist appointments and groups in the community. From 11am to 4pm there will be an event at Yate leisure centre to promote a healthy, smokefree lifestyle. There will be carbon monoxide breath testing, blood pressure checks and fitness challenges throughout the event. For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/smokefree

Safety improvements for Dodington Road

There was good news at last night's Frome Vale Area Forum for residents campaigning for safety improvements around the railway bridge on Dodington Road, Chipping Sodbury.

Local resident Stephen Gregson, pictured left with ward councillor Claire Young, spoke about the most recent accident and urged members to take action. Members agreed funding to create a 70m hard surfaced pavement from the access to the school playing field to a safer crossing point, where dropped kerbs will be installed. Currently pedestrians have to cross on the bridge where visibility is poor.

40th celebrations for Yate Leisure Centre

On Sunday 9th March, it will be exactly 40 years since Yate Leisure Centre opened.

From 12 noon onwards there will be a free programme of fun events for all the family and you will be able to swim for just 20p, the price in 1974. Funds raised will go to the British Heart Foundation.

To find out more call 0300 333 0300.

Bus service changes

Changes are in the pipeline for our local bus services.

Getting to Southmead hospital

Last week we told you there was good news on buses to Southmead hospital from our villages. Starting 13th April, First will be running service 82 hourly to Southmead via Cribbs and Parkway, leaving Yate at 6.20am until 7pm, with the last return from Southmead at 8pm. The 581 will be replaced by the 81, giving the option of a half hourly service to Southmead changing at Parkway or the longer hourly direct service.

First Bus changes

First are also renumbering other services and changing their timetables:

• The 689 becomes the X49 (see more below)
• The 342/X42 becomes the 47/X47.
• First will be running a commercial service, the X46, to replace the subsidised X27 that Wessex currently run. It will only go as far as Bristol bus station, not on to Anchor Road as the current service does, but it will extend beyond Yate to Chipping Sodbury. Wessex are looking to continue to run the X27 as a commercial service, but with reduced frequency.

Consultation on changes to subsidised services

South Glos Council is asking for your views on planned changes to some of the services it subsidises.

• The 689 Yate to Bristol service will be replaced by a new commercial service, X49, run by First, saving the council £40,000 in subsidy. It is good news for passengers as it will run earlier in the morning and later in the evening than the current service and will be extended to run on Sundays.
• The council plans to stop the experimental 222 Longwell Green-Chipping Sodbury service, which goes via Yate, Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath and Kendleshire, to save £150,000.
• The 622 Cribbs Causeway to Chipping Sodbury service, which goes via the Stover Road area, Rangeworthy and Tytherington, would no longer run before 9am.

The council is also proposing to save £110,000 by no longer subsidising supported school services where the services are not readily available to the public and there are no pupils entitled to free transport using the routes. Instead they will support schools and parent groups to arrange their own transport.

Those that affect pupils in our area are:

• 680 – Frampton Cotterell – UWE – SGS Filton College (but the 81 offers an alternative service)
• 967 – South Yate – Chipping Sodbury Secondary School – Brimsham Green School (for which there is currently no alternative – one pupil has been using the service from Westerleigh village)

You can find out more and make comments on the South Glos website before the end of March.

Temporary road closure

Westerleigh Road is expected to close between its junctions with Coalsack Lane and Cookes Lane for one week from the 11th April. The closure is to allow drainage repair works to be carried out.