The South Glos Post

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a man indecently exposed himself to two 12-year-old girls.

The incident occurred on Saturday 12th September 2009 at around 4.40pm in Littledean, Yate, Bristol.

The man is described as white, aged about 60 years and 5ft 5ins tall. He had a round face with big cheeks. He was wearing small rectangle glasses which were small and only covered half his eyes. He had dark grey, short spiky hair, balding at the front and had pale skin. He was of medium build with a rotund belly.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Rich Worrin at Staple Hill CID on 0845 456 7000. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – they never ask your name and never trace your call.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Little Miss Muffet, Little Bo Beep and even Incey Wincey Spider will be helping to celebrate National Bookstart Day 2009. The theme this year is My Favourite Rhyme.

To celebrate National Bookstart Day, South Gloucestershire’s Library Service is holding two special events for parents and children to enjoy singing rhymes and learn more about Bookstart. This is part of a national celebration which will see more than 4,000 parties involving storytelling, singing and rhyming take place across the country. Bookstart aims to help every child in the UK to develop a lifelong love of books and this year’s programme will offer millions of children and parents the chance to discover the joy of reading together.

Posters, a favourite rhyme book and stickers have been designed especially for the day by children’s illustrator and author, Sebastien Braun.

At 11am on Thursday 8 October there will be an event at Staple Hill Library where pre school children will participate in singing various children’s rhymes at the weekly rhyme time session. Sebastien Braun, local children’s author and illustrator, will be on hand to share his love of rhymes and talk about the rhyme book and stickers he has designed especially for National Bookstart Day.

On Friday 9 October the Library Service, in conjunction with the Children’s Information Service, Community Learning and the Leisure Trust, will be holding a promotion in Yate Shopping Centre to reach parents who may not be aware of the range of services South Gloucestershire Council provides to support parents of young children. The event will commence at 10am and finish at 4pm.

Looking forward to the events, Councillor Heather Goddard, executive member for communities, said: “Reading books is one of the best things a parent can share with their child. The activities on offer at South Gloucestershire’s libraries are a great opportunity to help children discover a lifelong love of books.”

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Residents of South Gloucestershire will be even safer as a result of the opening of an extended CCTV service covering the district.

An official opening on 29 September marks the completion of an 18 month project to provide state-of-the-art CCTV equipment across South Gloucestershire.

Brand new equipment has been installed in key locations including Kingswood, Staple Hill, Chipping Sodbury, Hanham, Filton, Cadbury Heath, Patchway and Thornbury.

South Gloucestershire Council has invested £300,000 in the scheme with the remaining funding coming from the Home Office. In order to ensure available funding had the maximum impact, the council reached an agreement with Bristol City Council to monitor the cameras on its behalf.

Heather Goddard, executive member for communities for South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Local people have told us how important an improved CCTV service is to them, and I am delighted to see the effect of the council’s investment. Thanks to hard work by councillors, local communities, the police, council departments, town and parish councils, residents in South Gloucestershire will be safer in our towns.”

Chief Superintendent Andy Francis of Avon and Somerset Constabulary added: “South Gloucestershire is generally a safe place to be, but there are particular times and places, especially in our major towns, where extra effort is needed.

“This new equipment will help us to identify and respond quickly and appropriately to crime and anti-social behaviour, to make the public even safer.”

Commenting on the improved system, Rhodri Briggs, CCTV coordinator at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This new equipment is the very latest available, and will provide the clearest pictures possible. Already over a dozen incidents have been defused using it, and the equipment will provide a noticeable improvement in the service we provide.”

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

South Gloucestershire Council is running two events for homeowners and builders over the next month to promote building regulation standards and sound building practice.

The building ‘surgeries’ are being held at Wickes, Longwell Green between 8am and 11am on 29 September and 13 October. Two council surveyors will be on hand to assist customers with any queries they may have about building works and will advise on the latest building regulations.

The Council’s building control team is responsible for checking plans and the inspection of work so that it complies with building regulations. These are legal requirements laid down by the government that aim to ensure adequate standards for the construction of buildings. The regulations cover health and safety, energy conservation and access and facilities for disabled people and apply to most building work, with a few exemptions.

South Gloucestershire Council is committed to maintaining the highest standards and ensuring the built environment in which we live complies with standards set by Government. The service gives value for money and achieves the highest standards providing customers with confidence in any building project.

A local homeowner who recently used the building control service said: “I found it to be excellent from beginning to end.”

Building regulations should not be confused with planning permission and will often apply to work which does not require planning consent. If you are thinking about carrying out any building work and would like any advice please contact us on 01454 868004 or email Building.Control@southglos.gov.uk.

Source: South Gloucestershire Council