Gurkhas victory

Last night the House of Commons voted for a Lib Dem motion rejecting Labour's stance on the Gurkhas. More on the victory in Steve Webb's blog.

Event for businesses

Local businesses may be interested in "Smart investments in the South West for a Green Economic Recovery", a half-day seminar on the European, regional and local contribution to the economic recovery. It will take place on the morning of Thursday 14 May 2009 in Emerson’s Green Village Hall, Emerson Way, Emerson’s Green, South Gloucestershire, BS16 7AP.

For more information contact George Kousouros at South Gloucestershire Council
(George.kousouros@southglos.gov.uk) before 7 May 2009.

Frog Lane - Sixty Years On

This Saturday and Sunday (2nd and 3rd May) there will be a free exhibition in Coalpit Heath Miners' Institute (Village Hall) marking sixty years since the closure of Frog Lane pit, the last Coalpit Heath coalmine. You can view it from 7.30pm-11pm on Saturday and 12.30-2.30pm and 7.30pm-10pm on Sunday.

After that it moves to the Yate and District Heritage Centre from 14 May to 4 July.

ETA: Those interested in the mining history of our area might also want to look at the latest newsletter for the Friends of Ram Hill Colliery.

Buses - a partial victory

Just to let you know that South Glos Council has responded to our petition and all your emails. They've agreed to subsidise the X27. Key points are:

Good news:
- Hourly X27 service retained from Yate via North Yate, main road past Iron Acton, Winterbourne to Bristol.
- It will bypass Bristol Bus Station and continue to the Centre, which will be helpful for some people
- No problem with tickets if you're changing to another bus in Bristol because it's still run by First

Bad news:
- Only two X27 buses before 0900, instead of five (standing room only?)
- No X buses for South Yate loop
- South Yate / Birds drop from daytime service of two X buses plus one slow service per hour, to two slowcoach services only

Watch out for coverage on tonight's ITV West news if you see this before then. We'll post more details here in due course.

Have your say on health and social care in South Glos

The South Gloucestershire Local Involvement Network (LINk) is holding a public event on Thursday May 21st 2009 from 2pm until 4pm or 6.30pm until 8.30pm at BAWA, 589 Southmead Road, Filton BS34 7RG.

Becoming part of the LINk is your chance to have a say on health and social care in South Gloucestershire. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information and to book limited transport and crèche places (these must be booked by May 1st) contact Genise Hilton on 0117 9589348 or genisehilton@linksouthglos.org.uk .

Voluntary Voices

South Gloucestershire Voluntary Sector Forum has organised a "Voluntary Voices" event for all members of voluntary and community groups in South Gloucestershire - volunteers, staff and trustees. The event will take place at 2.00pm – 4.00pm on Monday 27 April in the Greenfield Centre, Winterbourne, BS36 1NJ.

They will be discussing the South Gloucestershire Safer & Stronger Communities Partnership Strategy Consultation April – July 2009 and there will be an update on the Local Area Agreement, covering the results of the Third Sector survey and planning the next steps in "Participation in Regular Volunteering".

Please contact Gillian Graham on 01454 865205 or email info@cvs-sg .org.uk to register your interest.

FREE launch event for new walks leaflets!

For some time a dedicated band of local walkers and councillors have been working on a series of leaflets based on walks between local churches.

The leaflets will be launched at an open event in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall on Saturday 2nd May from 10 am to 12 noon. There will then be an organised walk from St John's to St Mary's Church in Yate.

Please come drop in, collect your FREE walks leaflets and maybe join us on the inaugural walk!