The South Glos Post

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

South Gloucestershire police have recovered two quad bikes and a go-kart stolen from an outdoor activity centre in Winterbourne.

The theft happened overnight Monday January 18 to Tuesday January 19 2010.

Thieves are believed to have broken into a metal shipping container used for storage to get an angle grinder which they then used to break into the container used to store the vehicles.

They took five blue Yakuza ATV-50 quad bikes, three Stratos 200cc karts, diesel and tools.

Officers recovered two of the quad bikes and one go-kart along with a suspected stolen vehicle at about 9.30pm yesterday, Sunday February 21 2010 from a residential property in Winterbourne after reports of a vehicle being dismantled at the location.

No one has been arrested in connection with the incident and police enquiries continue.

Anyone with any information which could help the investigation can call Filton Police Station on 0845 456 7000. Alternatively call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

South Gloucestershire police are appealing for people living in Downend to check their property after five burglaries in the area on Friday February 19 2010.

The break-ins all happened between 7.30 and 9.30pm within half a mile of Badminton Road, Downend.

DC Jason Hulbert said: “The thieves were simply letting themselves in through unlocked front doors even though the householders were in. Three residents challenged them and they gave various excuses and made off empty-handed.

“I’d like to thank the householders who called us about these incidents. We recovered a laptop, a handbag and bank cards which had been stolen from two other homes without the residents realising until we contacted them on Friday night.

“If anyone else was visited by two women in the Downend area on Friday night they should contact Staple Hill Police Station on 0845 456 7000.”

South Gloucestershire officers responding to a report of a householder disturbing two women in their home arrested two women nearby within five minutes of the call.

Two women aged 18 and 24, both from Yate, are due to appear before Northavon Magistrates today, Monday February 22 2010, charged with five counts of burglary.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

South Gloucestershire Council has adopted a 2.5 per cent council tax increase and a budget of just under £190m for 2010/11.

The rise will mean the average band D property in South Gloucestershire will pay a council tax of £1,245.20. This represents an increase of just under 60 pence a week for council services, compared to 2009/10.

The budget provides for:

• An extra £2million a year to improve the maintenance of roads, pavements and drains in the district (including funding towards repairing potholes caused by the recent adverse weather)
• Around £1.2million for a transport concession scheme for young people aged 14 to 18-years-old
• An extra £650k towards safeguarding vulnerable children
• Maintaining concessionary fares for older people
• £600k a year extra for community care to reflect the increased client care numbers
• A reserve of £1.4million to help protect services in the future as funding reduces because of the current financial climate

Also, work is planned to start or conclude on a number of capital schemes in the next financial year (2010/11), including:

• A £12million community special school
• Around £10million towards two “hubs” providing a range of services for children and young people and their families in partnership with NHS South Gloucestershire
• Three multi-million pound extra care housing developments
• £2.5million refurbishment of Kingswood leisure centre

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council