Help Frampton Cotterell in Bloom

Frampton Cotterell is being judged for the Britain in Bloom competition on Monday 10th July. In 2015 the village was awarded silver gilt pennant and Floral Friends of Frampton (FFF) have been busy re-potting planters & hanging baskets for the summer. They would like people to try to keep the village free of litter and check the frontage of their properties for things like weeds along the edge of the pavement or road over the coming weekend.

Fire safety advice

South Glos Council has published some fire safety advice on its website, along with links to more comprehensive advice on the Avon Fire Service website.

Planning committee visits Woodlands Farm

Today members of the DC (East) planning committee visited Woodlands Farm to view the site and hear the concerns of local people and councillors. As yet, we don't know which committee meeting the decision is likely to be taken at - we'll keep you updated.

Latest on Westerleigh smell

Following recent odour complaints, the Environment Agency have visited Westerleigh abattoir to carry out a compliance assessment. They have asked the owners, Tulip, to make a number of improvements and will take further steps if these are not completed by the deadline given.

If you experience an odour that you think may be caused by the abattoir, please call them on 0117 9571919. If the odour persists, please also contact the Environment Agency’s hotline (0800 807060).

20mph limit for Frampton Cotterell C of E School

As part of their programme to introduce 20mph speed limits around schools, South Glos Council is consulting on introducing one on the following roads in Frampton Cotterell:

Beaufort Road, Brookside Drive, Foxe Road, Meadow Mead, Mount Close, Park Row, Prospect Close, Rectory Road, Robel Avenue, School Road, Thornhayes Close, Western Avenue, Winchcombe Road and Witney Mead

You can find out more and have your say on the council's website - you have until 20th July to have your say.

Planning committee to visit Woodlands Farm

Next Friday, 30th June, the DC (East) planning committee will be visiting Woodlands Farm, Coalpit Heath. Barratt Homes are hoping to build up to 215 houses on the site, which they call "Blackberry Park".

The committee members are expected to arrive at the site at about 10.50am. Members of the public are very welcome to attend - last time there was an application for Woodlands Farm large numbers turned up to show their opposition. There will be 10 minutes for someone from the objectors to speak, as well as 3 minute slots for South Glos and Parish Councillors. We will be meeting by the kissing gate that leads into the fields between St Saviour's Rise and Blackberry Drive - as shown by the green star on this map.

You can view the agenda for the site visit here - it includes a link to the case officer's report.

Many people will be at work or school next Friday morning but there is another way to show local opposition. This Saturday, 24th June, a photographer from the Gazette is coming to the fields at 11am. Please meet by the kissing gate that leads into the fields between St Saviour's Rise and Blackberry Drive - and encourage your friends and family to be there too.

Rail electrification - more noisy work ahead

Major electrification work will be taking place in our area from 19 August to 15 September, night and day. Some of the work will be noisy and deliveries to Network Rail compounds along the route (e.g. Shire Way access point) will be made by road, so nearby roads will experience an increase in traffic.

The work will be on the main line from Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, to Patchway/Filton junctions, via Old Sodbury, Chipping Sodbury and Yate to Westerleigh Junction.

In addition, from 2 September to 15 September 2017, the work area will extend to include Westerleigh Junction towards Yate station, Coalpit Heath, Winterbourne, Stoke Gifford and Bristol Parkway station, up to Patchway/Filton junctions.

Network Rail say "We are electrifying the line to bring passengers quieter, more frequent and more reliable services between London Paddington and Cardiff"

The work includes:

• Carrying out the piling required to install the foundations which will support the electrification equipment. That's the really noisy part. 
• Installing the equipment, including trackside masts and overhead wires at some locations. 
• Installing electrification equipment in Chipping Sodbury tunnel. 
• Improving flood resilience at Chipping Sodbury sidings. 
• Preparing Bristol Parkway station for the arrival of new InterCity Express trains, including the construction of a fourth platform. 

How can you find out more?

Network Rail are setting up a dedicated web page at www.networkrail.co.uk/westernupgrade - it contains more detailed information about the work they will be carrying out and will be updated regularly as the project progresses. It also has a useful introductory video.

Network Rail will also be running drop-in sessions, when members of the project team will be on hand to explain the work and answer your questions. The sessions nearest to us are:

• Thursday 29 June, Coalpit Heath Village Hall, 4.30pm to 7pm
• Tuesday 4 July, Ridgewood Community Centre, Yate, 4.30pm to 7pm
• Tuesday 11 July, The Old School Rooms, St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford, 4.30pm to 7pm
• Wednesday 12 July, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, 4.30pm to 7pm
• Tuesday 25 July, All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down, 4.30pm to 7pm

If you have any questions about the work, you can email Network Rail at crwest@networkrail.co.uk or call the 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41. For updates, you can follow them on Twitter @networkrailwest