The South Glos Post

A model gorilla created to celebrate Bristol Zoo’s 175th birthday has been stolen from Old Sodbury.

‘Godfrey’ is owned by Old Sodbury School and is part of Bristol Zoo’s Wow! Gorillas project.

Several local businesses led by David Anthony of Cotswold Edge Farm helped to fund Godfrey on behalf of the school.

“I am extremely upset that someone could even contemplate stealing from school children, it is a truly deplorable act and I can only hope that Godfrey is returned unharmed when the thief realizes how upset the children will be,” commented David.

‘Baby’ gorillas like Godfrey feature in over 100 schools in the Bristol area and help to raise much needed funds for the schools involved as well as having educational value in teaching communities about gorilla conservation.

Old Sodbury School organised a naming competition to raise money for the school and Godfrey was hand painted by pupils. They have also been involved in Bristol Zoo’s outreach programme.

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Source: Chipping Sodbury Chamber of Commerce

South Gloucestershire commuters can ‘dial and park’ for a special discount price at the new park & ride facility off Hunts Ground Road in Stoke Gifford (close to Bristol Parkway Station).

During September, all commuters who use their mobile phone to pay for parking will be charged just £2 per day, plus normal text charges – a saving of £3 on the normal daily rate.

The facility is the first of its kind in South Gloucestershire and gives residents the opportunity to leave their car behind before transferring to a train or local bus for onward journeys into Bristol and other parts of South Gloucestershire.

The park and ride is also on the route of the proposed North Fringe to Hengrove rapid transit network, which the council hopes to gain funding for from the Department for Transport later this year. If the bid for funding is successful, it would provide links to Cribbs Causeway, Aztec West, UWE and Emersons Green, and to Bristol city centre and on to Hengrove.

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A local campaign group is to hold a meeting this week to discuss the implications of the planned closure of Filton Airfield.

It follows the news that the Great Western Air Ambulance service (GWAA) has written to South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) expressing concern about the ability to provide a rapid response service to the Bristol area if it is forced to find a new home.

Avon and Somerset Police also have their response helicopter based at the site.

Support has been growing for the campaign since the closure plans were announced by owners BAE in April. SGC is currently undertaking a consultation on its Core Strategy Development Plan, which could include a change in land policy for the airfield to allow thousands of new homes to be built on the site.

The meeting takes place at the Ratepayer’s Arms (behind Filton Leisure Centre on Filton Roundabout) on Thursday 1st September at 7:30pm.

Read more about the proposed closure of Bristol’s Filton Airfield »

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) is now making it even easier for people to recycle their cardboard waste by providing local residents with a free bag.

The reusable recycling bags for cardboard have been delivered to local libraries, leisure centres and a wide range of local community outlets, from where they are now available for residents to collect.

Executive Member for Communities, Cllr James Hunt said: “We have listened to the views of residents who are keen to recycle as much cardboard as possible and these bags will help us to increase the amount of cardboard that is recycled, reduce contamination of the green bin and make the streets tidier.”

“We are aware that some residents do not want additional containers therefore cardboard presented neatly at the kerbside in other containers will continue to be collected as normal.”

Cardboard is no longer collected from the green wheeled bin as it is now being recycled, rather than composted down with garden waste, allowing it to be used again and again, which is more environmentally friendly.

More info: Cardboard recycling bag distribution points and latest stock levels (SGC)

Source: South Gloucestershire Council