The South Glos Post

Council plans to boost access to high-speed broadband across areas of South Gloucestershire have moved into the fast lane, thanks to a new partnership announced today.

South Gloucestershire will be joining Wiltshire and Swindon councils as they begin preparations to sign up a commercial broadband infrastructure provider under the government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) project.

The BDUK scheme uses central and local government funding to ensure that areas not usually attractive to commercial providers can access the economic and social benefits of high-speed broadband.

And while South Gloucestershire’s BDUK plans were already well-advanced, the tie-up with Wiltshire and Swindon’s project – the most advanced in the country – means the district will now be among the first in the country to begin the process of signing up a commercial provider.

Welcoming the news, South Gloucestershire Council Executive Member for Corporate Affairs John Goddard said:

“This is extremely exciting news for the council and for all the businesses and households in the district who to date have been unable to get high-speed broadband from a commercial provider.”

More: Residents and businesses promised superfast broadband by 2013 »

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Labour councillors have failed to support plans for a new aerospace hub and protection of the Green Belt, whilst the LibDems are split – according to Conservative councillors in South Gloucestershire.

At a meeting on Wednesday 14th December, councillors agreed to submit to a planning inspector a revised future development blueprint – its Core Strategy – that now includes the re-development of Filton Airfield and safeguarding of 50 ha of aerospace land to allow local firms to expand and new ones to locate here.

The Core Strategy still includes the protection of the Green Belt stretching from Pilning all the way through to Frampton Cotterell and down the east of Kingswood – areas that had been under severe threat from the previous government’s Regional Spatial Strategy.

And the airfield’s redevelopment would strengthen that protection even more.

But in the main vote only Conservative councillors unanimously backed these plans. Labour abstained and the LibDem group was split down the middle with some voting for and against.

Cllr Robert Griffin (Con, Pilning & Severn Beach) said:

“I am pleased that the Core Strategy has been approved including the defence of the Pilning Green Belt and promotion of a new M49 junction, but I am disappointed that the other parties did not join the Conservatives in unanimously supporting these aims.”

“You just need to look at GKN’s decision to build their factory near Severn Beach to see that a runway is not a pre-requisite for a successful aerospace company.”

“But Labour’s overnight aerospace experts cannot seem to grasp that.”

“GKN ship all their manufactured components out by lorry.”

More: Labour and LibDems "unable to see the bigger picture" »

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

Labour councillors in South Gloucestershire say they couldn’t positively support the “flawed” Core Strategy as presented to the Council last week because it sacrifices both Filton Airfield and areas of Green Belt for development.

The revised Core Strategy, supported by the council’s ruling Conservatives, will agree 26,435 new homes to be built in the district in the period up to 2026. This is almost 5,000 more than the previously-agreed figure of 21,500 which all political parties campaigned for at the last council elections. 5,700 new homes will be built on Filton Airfield and neighbouring sites in what planners call the ‘Cribbs/Patchway New Neighbourhood. In addition to using the Airfield site, this neighbourhood would also eat up Green Belt land west of the A4018 at Cribbs Causeway (the Clifton Rugby Club site).

Explaining Labour’s position, Group Leader Councillor Andy Perkins (Labour, Woodstock) said:

“South Gloucestershire needs to get a Core Strategy in place so that the council has an agreed plan against which development proposals can be judged.  This will be even more necessary now that the Coalition Government is relaxing planning laws with a presumption in favour of development.”

“However, the version put forward is deeply flawed and was never going to attract Labour support as we have been unambiguous in our defence of the airfield.   The removal of Green Belt in Patchway is another factor preventing us from voting for it.”

More: Tories accused of "major U-turn" »

Source: South Gloucestershire Labour

Councillors approved a revised version of South Gloucestershire’s Core Strategy at a lengthy meeting of Full Council yesterday evening (Wednesday 14th December).

The document sets out the overarching development vision for the district until 2026 and will help the council to plan for and deliver the new homes, jobs and services that will be needed in the future.

The strategy will also help discourage speculative unplanned development in inappropriate locations by providing a clear framework for longer-term sustainable development in the district.

Welcoming the decision, South Gloucestershire Council Executive Member for Planning, Transportation and Strategic Environment Brian Allinson said:

“The Core Strategy is a vital blueprint for the future of South Gloucestershire and we should not underestimate the significant benefits that having it in place will bring to the district.”

“As well as helping us to plan properly the future, the strategy will make sure that new development meets our community’s needs, and occurs in the right place and at the right time.”

“I am very grateful to everyone who has contributed to the development of the strategy by sharing their views and taking part in the debate as the document has been developed.”

More: Revised strategy accepts closure of Filton Airfield »

Source: South Gloucestershire Council