The SouthGlos Post

Teenage pregnancy rates in South Gloucestershire have fallen by 14.2 per cent, according to figures released this week.

The provisional 2008 under-18 conception rate for South Gloucestershire was 29 per 1,000 girls aged 15-17; a decrease of 14.2 per cent since 1998.

This compares favourably with the 13.9 per cent fall for England and Wales in figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The South Gloucestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership, including South Gloucestershire Council, NHS South Gloucestershire, Connexions and Brook, has worked to reduce conception rates by developing No Worries! sexual health outreach services improving provision of sex and relationships education, training for professionals and an information website for young people have been developed by the South Gloucestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership in consultation with young people.

Young people can look for advice and where they can access the No Worries! condom-card scheme online at www.youthunltd.com.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Police in South Gloucestershire are warning householders to be on the alert after recovering two cars stolen during burglaries.

Two homes in Oldland Common and Longwell Green were burgled this week, and on each occasion the thieves used the householder’s own car to make off having found the keys.

Overnight Tuesday February 23 to Wednesday February 24 thieves broke into a house in Oldland Common and took a Nissan Micra plus a mobile phone, camera, keys and cash.

In the early hours of Wednesday a home in Longwell Green was broken into and the owner’s Renault Scenic used to remove electrical items including a television and a DVD player, plus a handbag and contents including cash and bank cards.

Both vehicles were recovered by police yesterday, Wednesday February 24 2010. The Micra was reported to police as blocking a driveway in Longwell Green. The Scenic, still containing some of the stolen property, was found by officers in Barrs Court. The handbag was found by a member of the public dumped in a nearby footpath.

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Source: Avon and Somerset Police

South Gloucestershire Council’s Conservative transport chief has revealed that the authority is considering legal action after Ministers confirmed a larger than expected cut to the district’s bus budget.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed its intention to cut funding for free over 60s bus travel by £390K from April 1st.

This is £50k more than the £340k funding cut that had been proposed as part of plans announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) at the end of 2009 to change the distribution of funding for the national concessionary travel scheme for the 2010/11 financial year.

At £390k, it is the biggest loss for any council outside London.

This unexpected cut is despite the fact that 2010/11 will be the third year of a supposedly 3 year funding settlement that was designed to provide certainty for councils.

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Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

Police in South Gloucestershire are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted in Filton in the early hours of Sunday, February 14.

At around 2am the victim was getting out of a taxi on Kenmore Crescent when she was approached by an unknown man, asking for directions. When the victim – a 23-year-old woman – started to give the directions the man is alleged to have grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the ground before the victim managed to push him away.

The suspect is described as a white male, of approximately 25 to 30 year’s old, 5ft 8ins tall, of skinny build with short brown hair and dark eyes.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who thinks they may be able to assist police with their enquiries should contact police in Staple Hill on 0845 456 7000. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

South Gloucestershire Council has welcomed the announcement that work is planned to start in the spring on a new £300million science park.

The state of the art scheme – which will be located in Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire – will create around 6,000 high-skill and ancillary jobs and will help bring significant economic benefits to the West of England region and further afield.

Councillor John Godwin, executive member for external affairs and partnerships at the council, said: “The science park will be a world-class facility and a huge economic boost, creating thousands of jobs. The ambitious initiative will further strengthen industry and research in the region, and it is a facility that this council has supported and promoted for many years and we are extremely pleased that it is now coming to fruition.”

The South West Regional Development Agency is behind the major initiative and South Gloucestershire Council has been one of the partner organisations – including local universities, local industry, the West of England Learning and Skills Council and the Government Office South West – lending its expertise and helping to steer the project forward.

The science park, branded SPark, will be located on a 25 hectare site between the M4 and the Avon Ring Road in the North Fringe. It will serve as a major centre for science and technology, utilising and building on the expertise in the surrounding universities and industry.

Source: South Gloucestershire Council