The South Glos Post

Many South Gloucestershire schools and libraries are likely to remain closed today as a result of industrial action by public service workers.

According to information published by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) at 7:30am this morning, 67 schools in the district are fully closed today and 25 are partially closed – leaving just 14 fully open.

Libraries in Chipping Sodbury, Downend, Kingswood, Thornbury and Winterbourne will be closed for the day, although Patchway Library will be open as usual from 9am to 5pm. The Council’s mobile library service will also be suspended for the day.

The services provided by Thornbury, Yate, Patchway and Kingswood One Stop Shops “may be affected”, says the Council, adding that “waiting times may be longer than usual”.

Safer and Stronger Community Group meetings in Filton and Thornbury/Alveston that were due to take place this evening have been postponed.

The Council’s Streetcare helpdesk said today that they expect refuse collections to be carried out as normal.

Latest information from SGC: Industrial Action

Government Minister Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, officially opened the £25m National Composites Centre (NCC) in Emersons Green earlier today (Thursday 24th November).

The NCC is a new 8,500 sqm state-of-the-art building that brings together dynamic companies and enterprising academics to develop new technologies for the design and rapid manufacture of high-quality composite products.

Composite materials, such as carbon fibre, are finding increasing use in fields as diverse as aerospace, wind turbines and electric vehicles and the NCC aims to capitalise on the research and manufacturing expertise already built up in the field of composites development within the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area.

Speaking to more than 200 guests at today’s official opening, Dr Cable said:

“Here in the UK we are very good at invention, but we need to do more to innovate and turn our ideas into products and jobs. I don’t want the UK to miss out on any opportunities to create economic growth through manufacturing.”

“This centre will work with our world class universities and international businesses based in the South West and across the UK, to develop and commercialise new technologies. Its work will strengthen our manufacturing sector, exploiting the next generation of advanced composites materials and helping maintain our global lead in this technology area. I look forward to seeing what they produce.”

After the formalities, Dr Cable was shown around the centre and saw state-of-the-art machinery, including a world-leading £2.5m robotic, automatic fibre placement. He also met some of the highly skilled engineers that will assist UK manufacturers to develop and commercialise new technologies and products.

More: Centre expects £5.5m of work in its first year »

South Gloucestershire’s new fleet of eleven winter gritting vehicles was officially launched last week – with a little help from the district’s primary school pupils.

Dozens of youngsters from Reception class to Year 3 had entered the council’s ‘name your gritter’ competition as part of a campaign to highlight the importance of winter road safety and the vital role of the winter gritting fleet.

The winning entries were announced at a special ceremony at Cherry Garden Primary School, Bitton by council Chair Mike Drew and Executive Member for Communities James Hunt.

Winning names included ‘SS Great Gritter’, chosen by children at Oldbury-on-Severn CEVC Primary School and ‘Rocky’, which was suggested by children at The Manor Church of England Primary School in Coalpit Heath.

Children at Cherry Garden School were singled out for special praise after two of their entries – Comet and Crystal — were selected by the judges.

Councillor Hunt said:

“Well done to all the children who took part in this competition. We had some really imaginative entries and it has been a great way to get young people thinking about the important work of our gritting fleet during the winter months.”

More: See the full list of names chosen by local schoolchildren »

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Fine wines and tasty cheeses are on offer to Merlin Housing Society residents who offer their suggestions on how the society can improve.

Merlin’s Community Investment Team is inviting residents to a special wine and cheese tasting event at the start of December. And while residents are sampling the tasty treats, staff will be asking them their views on Merlin’s services and what things they’d like the society to provide in the future.

The event is part of Merlin’s consultation with residents to produce its local offers for 2012.

Community Investment Manager Jen Griffiths said:

“We know that our residents have different priorities and want to tailor our services to meet those needs. Across the organisation we have been working to meet all of last year’s local offers that residents produced. Now we are working with residents to draw up next year’s offers.”

“We received lots of feedback from our residents’ fun day during the summer and are holding this event so that we hear the views of as many residents as possible.”

More: Contact Merlin now to reserve your place »

Source: Merlin Housing Society