Latest on Yate Spur Cycle Path

Thank you again to everyone who signed our Yate Spur cycle path petition. Just before Christmas Claire Young had a response to the petition from a council highways officer. It confirmed that:

• The completion of the route is a priority for the council
• The new crossing point on Westerleigh Road was due to be completed before Christmas.
• Subject to final approval of the funding, the next significant section, providing an off-road cycle path from the Westerleigh Road crossing to Broad Lane and improving the existing track from Broad Lane to the Dodmoor level crossing, will be implemented in 2015/16. The funding would also cover drawing up plans for the final section.
• Subject to planning, agreements over the lease/purchase of non-Council owned land and the approval of a future funding bid, the aim would be to complete that final section in 2016/17.
• The council continue to look for further funding opportunities that might allow earlier completion of the route.

At Claire's request, the petition was passed to the Local Economic Partnership (LEP) Investment Board, which was considering funding for the 2015/16 work at its meeting on 12^th December. They approved it, but the programme has to be formally signed off by the Strategic Leaders Board at their meeting on 9th January. Hopefully this will be a formality, but the Investment Board kindly referred the petition on to them so they too would be aware of the strong support for this scheme. The Planning, Transportation and Strategic Environment Committee on South Gloucestershire Council will then have to approve the Local Transport Capital Programme, including externally funded schemes like this one, at their 25^th March meeting.

Although we are close to securing funding for the next section, we still need to get funding for the final section. We are therefore keeping the petition open and will continue to press for the path’s completion.

Westerleigh Parish Council to consider new homes questions

At their meeting starting at 7.15pm on Monday 5th January in the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath, Westerleigh Parish Council will be considering questions posed by residents of Westerleigh about the proposals for up to 20 new homes in the village. You can find the agenda on the Parish Council's website.

It is extremely important that as many Westerleigh residents as possible respond to the consultation being run by South Gloucestershire Council on two possible sites for building up to 20 new homes. Links to information about the proposals and a response form can be found at www.southglos.gov.uk/policiessitesandplaces. Comments must be submitted to the Council by Tuesday 13 January at the very latest.

Claire has created a page giving more background information for those interested in how we got here and what the next steps are.

Recycling Christmas trees

If you have a real Christmas tree, South Glos Council say there are a number of ways you can recycle it when the festivities are over:

• If you have subscribed to the garden waste service you can put your real Christmas tree in your green bin for kerbside collection on your collection day. Please cut the tree into manageable pieces and make sure the tree is not wedged into the bin.
• You can buy a single use garden waste sack for £2 from your nearest South Gloucestershire library. Please attach the sack to the tree and leave out for collection on your bin collection day (you don’t need to worry about cutting the tree to fit it in the sack).
• You can also recycle your tree at one of South Gloucestershire’s four Sort It centres. 

Please remember to remove all decorations, pots and stands before recycling your Christmas tree. Recycled trees will be processed with the rest of South Gloucestershire’s garden waste and turned into fertiliser and mulch. To check your collection day please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/localconnection

Merry Christmas from your Focus Team

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers from your Focus Team. We hope you have an enjoyable festive season.

Planning application submitted for council office solar scheme

The planning application has now been submitted for the proposed solar scheme on land next to the Badminton Road Council Offices at Nibley.

Last week we reported on a meeting we had with officers about the proposals. You can now view the plans and make comments online.If for any reason that link doesn't work, go to the planning application search page and enter the reference number PK14/4785/R3F. You have until 6th January to make comments.

Time for young people to have their say on youth service

Are you a young person living in Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath, Westerleigh or Iron Acton? If so, follow this link before 21st January 2015 to tell Frampton Cotterell Parish Council what you want and need for your new youth service. And if you're not aged 11-19, please pass this link on to anyone you know locally who is.

After months of bitter arguments over the future of the Brockeridge Youth Club, Frampton Cotterell Parish Council unanimously agreed to appoint an experienced, qualified Youth Work Leader from the very successful Chipping Sodbury Youth Club to liaise with local young people and find out what they would like for the Frampton Cotterell & Coalpit Heath area.

Since a large part of Coalpit Heath is in Westerleigh Parish, Cllr. Eve Carey has joined the Youth Working Group representing Westerleigh Parish Council - just like Frampton Cotterell Parish Council they are  interested in ensuring that local youngsters have somewhere to go where they can enjoy themselves and get professional support when needed. The provision of 'Outreach Services' to young people who prefer not to attend a youth club will also be considered.

Dave Hockey said, "I'm delighted that we have at last managed to find a way forward that is constructive and has the full support of Frampton Cotterell Parish Council. I look forward to finding out what local young people want for their youth club and to get the advice of the appointed Youth Work Leader."

Free Christmas events for children

Our local libraries are once again running free Christmas events for children including:

Saturday 20 December

Festive fun
Thornbury Library, 11am to 12pm
Drop in to make Christmas cards and decorations.

Stories round the Christmas tree
Winterbourne Library, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Festive stories around the Christmas tree, crafts and refreshments. Most suitable for two to eight-year-olds accompanied by a parent or carer.

Tuesday 23 December
Help yourself crafts
Winterbourne Library, 2pm to 4pm
Help yourself crafts in the children’s library - using up materials from craft sessions from throughout 2014. Bring a parent or carer to give you a helping hand.

Tuesday 30 December
Stir your senses
Emersons Green Library, 2pm to 4pm
Make your own pomanders, mobiles and shakers.

Help yourself crafts
Winterbourne Library, 2pm to 4pm
Help yourself crafts in the children’s library - using up materials from craft sessions from throughout 2014. Bring a parent or carer to give you a helping hand.

Wednesday 31 December
New Year crafts
Winterbourne Library, 10am to 11.30am
Welcome in the New Year with a craft drop in - making masks, calendars and sharing good memories.

Saturday 3 January
Winter craft fun
Chipping Sodbury Library, 10.30am to 12pm
Seasonal crafts.

Winter crafts and fun
Yate Library, 10.30am to 12pm
Seasonal crafts.

Some libraries will also be holding free storytime and rhymetime sessions for babies and toddlers and their parents or carers to enjoy stories, action songs and rhymes together. These include:

Tuesday 23 December
Rhymetime fun
Winterbourne Library, 9.30am to 10am
Festive rhymetime.

Tuesday 30 December
Rhymetime fun
Winterbourne Library, 9.30am to 10am
Festive rhymetime.
For more information contact the libraries on 01454 868006 or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries