The SouthGlos Post

The new changing rooms on the Emersons Green side of Pomphrey Hill playing fields were officially opened on Saturday 27 March.

The Council has invested £400,000 in the new facility which is the latest stage in a comprehensive programme of new sports facilities for the community at Pomphrey Hill.

Housing four changing rooms, a refreshment area, a room for match officials and facilities for the disabled, local football teams are already making good use of the new facilities.

As well as the new changing rooms, work is due to start on a brand new, state of the art two-storey pavilion featuring two community rooms and a kitchen so that other community groups can also benefit from using the facilities. The turfcutting ceremony for the pavilion will be held on 6 April. The £2 million pavilion represents an investment of £1.5 million from the council.

(more…)

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

A group of residents in Filton are doing their bit to keep their community safe and crime-free.

Residents of Charborough Road have arranged and helped to fund the installation of locking alley gates to keep the lane behind their homes secure. The large metal gates block access to the rear lane to everyone except local residents who get keys.

The scheme has proved very successful in many areas of South Gloucestershire and Bristol, and is supported by police and Safer South Gloucestershire.

(more…)

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

The concerted efforts to fix the potholes on South Gloucestershire’s roads are really paying dividends as the amount of potholes repaired so far this year has already surpassed the figure for the whole of last year.

Since this year’s pothole repair campaign started on 25 January, the council’s teams have already repaired over 3,300 potholes, including 1,600 in February alone, compared to 3,200 over the whole of 2009.

This was made possible after the council put a plan in place to re-prioritise the existing highways maintenance budget and invest £350,000 to address the situation. An extra £2m had already been invested this financial year to improve the condition of local roads and this will be repeated in 2010/11.

Because of the severe winter the number of potholes on the district’s roads has doubled, the council has increased the number of staff dedicated to tackling potholes by 50 per cent. These additional teams are working longer hours including through weekends to get the job done.

(more…)

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Police in South Gloucestershire are appealing for information in relation to an aggravated burglary in Filton on Friday, March 19.

At around 9pm on Friday evening three unknown males have forced entry to a property on Southmead Road, Filton and were carrying, what were believed to be rounders bats. They are alleged to have threatened the victims before stealing a number of items.

Among the items stolen was a distinctive large green plastic money saving jar in the shape of a beer bottle.

The offenders are described as male, of slim build, of between 5ft 9ins and 5ft 11ins tall. All were wearing dark clothing with scarves covering their faces and hoods over their heads. Two of the three were thought to be white.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information that could help police with their enquiries should contact officers in Staple Hill on 0845 456 7000. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

The Appointments Commission has approved the appointment of Melanie Gibbs as the new chair of NHS South Gloucestershire.

Melanie Gibbs has been acting Chair of NHS South Gloucestershire since December 2009, after the death of Sir Chris Clarke who had chaired the primary care trust from September 2006. Mrs Gibbs has been a non executive on NHS South Gloucestershire’s Trust Board since April 2001 and, during her tenure, chaired the audit committee.

Penny Harris, chief executive of NHS South Gloucestershire, said: “We are delighted with Melanie’s appointment. She has already made an invaluable contribution to the work of NHS South Gloucestershire to ensure that residents have access to good quality healthcare and in driving forward our ambitious plans to bring healthcare nearer to people’s homes.

(more…)

Source: NHS South Gloucestershire