The South Glos Post

Environmental projects across South Gloucestershire are being given a helping hand by the council to get them off the ground.

Almost £75,000 has been awarded to 33 community groups across the district to support community action, volunteering and environmental improvement this financial year.

Councillor Brian Allinson, executive member for Planning, Transportation and Strategic Environment said: “As part of building the Big Society, the council is committed to providing the resources forhelping local communities who want totake an active role in looking after the environment and the benefits that this provides for people, places and wildlife.

“The Environment Grant supports a broad range of environmental projects, for example, enhancing biodiversity, improving access to green spaces, supporting community events and learning, and promoting low-carbon, sustainable lifestyles.”

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South Gloucestershire Council is continuing its fight against fly-tipping and littering – which costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds each year to clean up – following the successful prosecution of four individuals for committing related offences.

Following an investigation, the council brought a prosecution against John Cox, of Redfield Hill, Oldland Common after he fly-tipped six bags of waste near his home. The bags contained a combination of work-based litter and waste. Mr Cox was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £300.

Wayne Dempsey of Casey Bottom Lane, St George fly-tipped a bed and mattress in a lane in Bitton. Mr Dempsey was fined £350 and ordered to pay costs of £600. Magistrates remarked that if Mr Dempsey had taken the bed and mattress to an appropriate civic amenity site, he could have disposed of them for free.

Also, Matthew Rees, the proprietor and director of Reece Environmental Ltd, was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £800, after waste was seen falling from the vehicle he was driving along the Ring Road. Mr Rees’ solicitor said in court that measures were now in place to prevent this from happening again in the future.

And Craig Manley, of Salcombe Road, Knowle was fined £365 and ordered to pay costs of £600, after waste was also seen escaping from the same vehicle that Mr Rees had been driving the previous day.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

New recycling services are well underway in South Gloucestershire and many residents have been recycling their food waste and plastic bottles from the kerbside, says South Gloucestershire Council.

The additional services, which are being funded from within the council’s existing waste management budget, allow residents to recycle more, helping to divert more rubbish from landfill and saving money and energy whilst benefiting the environment.

Cllr Heather Goddard, executive member for communities, said: “Overall, the first week of the major new recycling services across the district has been a success. A good number of residents have started to use the food waste bins and put out either their plastic bottles or cardboard, depending on their schedule, which is incredibly pleasing and I would like to thank them for their support. We expect the volume of materials for recycling to increase in the coming weeks as residents get used to the new services.”

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

A tree dressing event is being held in Chipping Sodbury which will involve a range of activities for local residents to celebrate our local trees and wildlife.

Organised by local conservation group, St John’s Park Conservation Group, with the support of South Gloucestershire Council, the ancient custom of tree dressing has been revived to help promote the value of trees to both people and wildlife.

Taking place on Saturday 11th December from 12.30 to 3.30pm in the green spaces of St John’s Park estate, on the riverside footpath between Wickwar Road and Hatters Lane, the event will involve a range of exciting activities for all the family to celebrate trees, including the dressing of a tree with artwork and natural sculptures.

Activities on offer will include environmental art workshops, bird feeder making and winter safaris. The artwork developed during the event will contribute to the production of an information panel to be sited in the area.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council