The South Glos Post

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a fatal road traffic collision in Kingswood.

The incident occurred on Monday 25th January 2010 at around 5.45pm in Soundwell Road at the junction with Leicester Square.

A motocycle was in collision with a Ford Mondeo.

The motorcyclist died later in hospital. He has been named as 16-year-old Brendon Smith of Kingswood.

Anyone who was in the area at the time or witnessed the incident is asked to contact the collision investigation unit on 0845 456 7000.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Police are appealing for information to trace two men who allegedly assaulted and verbally abused another man on the petrol forecourt of Tesco Express on Gloucester Road North, Filton.

It happened on January 13 at around 7.10pm.

The two suspects were in separate cars. One, in a black Mini Cooper, is described as white, aged in his 30s, 5ft 11ins tall of slim to medium build. He had short dark hair and was wearing a dark long-sleeved top and blue jeans.

The second man was in a red Ford Ka. He is white, in his late 50s, of stocky build and around 5ft 8ins tall. He had short blond hair and was wearing a red T-shirt and jogging bottoms.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at Staple Hill on 0845 456 7000. Or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

The Conservative administration on South Gloucestershire Council has announced plans for the district’s lowest ever council tax rise, despite being one of the lowest funded councils of its kind in the country.

At 2.5 per cent for 2010/11, it would be the lowest council tax rise in the Council’s history and is in stark contrast to the huge rises seen under previous council administrations – including the infamous Liberal Democrat 12.4 per cent council tax rise in 2002.

A 2.5 per cent increase is also down on the 2.9 per cent for 2010/11 that was proposed in September 2009 as part of a budget consultation exercise.

The reason that the rise has been lowered is because the authority is on course to collect over £800k more council tax than it thought it would.

This extra revenue is being shared between further lowering the council tax rise and contributing towards a £650K funding boost for safeguarding vulnerable children, including ‘looked after children’ in the care of the authority.

(more…)

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

South Gloucestershire Police have charged a 16-year-old man with burglary after a break-in at a house in Stoke Gifford in which two mountain bikes were stolen on January 17 2010.

The young man, who is from Stoke Gifford, has been released on police bail and due to face Northavon Magistrates on February 23 2010.

A 13-year-old boy arrested in connection with the same incident remains on police bail.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police