Drop-in exhibition for Yate Spur cycle path

As we told you before Christmas, South Gloucestershire Council is consulting on plans for the next stage of the Yate Spur cycle path to link our area to the Ring Road cycle path and the Bristol and Bath railway path.

The plans propose changes to the Westerleigh Road / Nibley Lane junction and creating a joint pedestrian / cycle path alongside the length of Westerleigh Road between the mini-roundabout and the big Rodford Way roundabout.

South Glos has arranged a drop-in at Shire Way Community Centre on Thursday 5 January from 4pm to 8pm to give an opportunity to see a display of the plans and to discuss them with the StreetCare Team.

You can also click this link to see the plans and comment online

When you’re reading the plans, please bear in mind that they’ve mislabelled the section between the roundabouts as part of “Shire Way”, when it’s actually Westerleigh Road.

The consultation closes on Sunday 15th January.

Still time to nominate for Chair's Community Awards

There's still time to nominate a "local hero" for a Chair's Community Award. Do you know an unsung hero who is contributing in areas such as community development, promoting equality, arts, sports, play, environment, working with older or young people, advice and advocacy and being a good neighbour? Or a group doing the same? For the first time in 2017, the council is taking group nominations as well as individual ones.

You can find out more and download an application form on the South Glos website. The deadline is 16th January 2017.

Spring Clean 2017

It might seem a little early to be talking about spring, but it's not too soon to sign up for the annual Spring Clean.

You can help clean up your neighbourhood this spring by organising a litter pick. The Spring Clean will run from 18 February to 14 May 2017. South Glos is teaming up with Keep Britain Today's new Great British Spring Clean, which will focus on encouraging events over the weekend of 3rd-5th March. However you can organise an event at any time during the three-month campaign and the council is more likely to be able to lend you equipment if you avoid popular weekends.

To get involved, go to the Spring Clean 2017 page and register your event using the booking form. The council can provide free bin bags, recycling bags and gloves and a limited number of litter pickers and hoops. They can also collect the bags if you can't dispose of them.

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.

You can find useful information about local services over Christmas and the New Year in our recent blogpost and information about council services here. 

Westerleigh lights raising money for charity again

Father Christmas last year

Once again people in Westerleigh are raising money for charity with their Christmas lights - and not just in Mill Crescent. This year they are supporting Southmead Intensive Care Unit and Cystic Fibrosis. Don't forget to drop something in the donation bucket at the end of Mill Crescent.

Campaigners interviewed on Coalpit Heath housing plans

On Monday, members of the VALID campaign group and local councillor Claire Young were interviewed by Made in Bristol TV about the proposals for 1,500 homes to be built at Coalpit Heath. You can view the interview on their catchup service - it starts at about 3:26.

Latest statement from The Ridings Federation Trust

The Ridings Federation have announced that from 3rd January 2017 Dave Baker, CEO of Olympus Academy Trust (OAT), and Will Roberts, CEO of Castle School Education Trust (CSET), will jointly provide interim leadership support for Winterbourne International Academy, with a view to appointing an Interim Principal before the end of January. You can read their full statement here.