The closure of Filton Airfield is unthinkable, with its ease of access to the motorway network and direct rail-link, combined with the long runway.

Such a strategic location should be utilized to its maximum.

Air freight cargo is now transported to all destinations worldwide. With the increase in air freight services Filton could become a “Cargo Hub”.

Major firms like FedEx,UPS & DHL should be encouraged to set up bases there. to cover the West and South Wales.

With the opening of the Deep Sea Terminal at Avonmouth, Bristol could become a “Super Hub”for cargo handling by road, rail, sea or air with an international reputation.

Lets look to the future.

Yours faithfully,

David Jones

On the same day in December that the Conservative-led government published its plans for the Big Society (the Localism Bill) and announced how much money it was (or wasn’t) giving local councils, another announcement was quietly slipped out.

This announcement related to the winding up of a scheme called the Independent Living Fund (ILF). The ILF was established in 1988, by the Thatcher government of all governments, and makes payments to disabled people to help them lead a more independent life in their community. The £359million fund currently supports around 21,000 people nationally who receive an average £300 a week to help them pay for carers so they can live at home and not in a care home.

One of the first acts of the new Conservative-led government in June was to close the scheme to new applicants. The latest announcement is that the scheme will be shut down entirely in 2015.

In South Gloucestershire, there are around 55 people who benefit from the scheme and receive just under £1million between them. Last year, 6 new applicants were able to benefit from just under £120,000 in support.

Closure of this scheme will make it harder for disabled people to live at home and potentially put extra strain on the NHS, places offering full-time care and the local council. Indeed, as part of next year’s budget South Gloucestershire Council is already having to set aside money which will mean cuts in other places.

Apparently, according to Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg, we are all in this together. But somehow, when announcements are quietly slipped out like this, it doesn’t feel like it.

Yours faithfully,

Cllr Andy Perkins,
Councillor for Woodstock ward, Kingswood and Labour Group Spokesperson on Adult Social Services,
South Gloucestershire Council

Your readers may be aware that South Gloucestershire Council is in the process of closing its current 8 elderly persons’ homes. I was contacted recently by one gentleman who had placed a memorial plaque to his mother (who died in 2003) within the grounds of the Frome House in Yate. However, this gentleman had not been contacted by the Council as to whether he would wish to have the plaque returned to him as the home was closing. It was only through pure chance that he was told of the home’s closure and was able to arrange for the memorial plaque to be rescued.

Because of the possibility that other relatives may have installed memorial plaques following the death of a relative, I have suggested that the Council’s Community Care & Housing department should make attempts to trace the next-of-kin of any other former residents of the Council’s homes who are remembered on plaques. I have been assured that this will now be carried out.

However, if next-of-kin have changed addresses since their relatives died, the Council may not be able to trace you. I would recommend, therefore, that if your readers have placed a memorial plaque within the grounds of one of the Council’s homes, and they wish it to be returned to them, then they should contact the Council’s Community Care and Housing department (FREEPOST (SWB 1485), Bristol, BS16 7ZZ or telephone: 01454 868007).

Yours faithfully,

Cllr Andy Perkins

Councillor for Woodstock ward, Kingswood
South Gloucestershire Council

The Council is responsible for granting licences to pubs, clubs, events and people. Under the Licensing Act 2003, the Council has to review its Statement of Licensing Policy every three years.

The Council is inviting residents to comment on the draft policy. The deadline for comments is noon Friday 22nd October 2010.

The Council consults Council Tax payers each year before agreeing its budget and council tax. This is your opportunity to comment on the Council’s priorities, its council tax and proposals to improve services and increase efficiency.

The proposals include:

• Traffic lights to control the traffic on all the main approaches to the junction, with the exception of Leisure Road which will remain under give way operation.
• The Ring Road is to be widened to three lanes on both approaches to the junction to provide separate dedicated lanes for turning traffic towards the retail parks.
• The Marsham Way approach to the junction is to be widened to three lanes to provide an extra lane for turning traffic onto the Ring Road.

Cycling City Route 15 will provide a new north/south link between the Bristol & Bath path at Coxgrove Hill and Station Road, Yate. The route will generally follow the rail corridor using disused railway track, run along field boundaries and existing public rights of way and public highway.

The consultation runs from 28th Septemebr 2009 until 26th October 2009.

It is proposed to build a contemporary, eco-friendly cafe on the side of Yate Leisure Centre at the Morrisons end.

A display on the proposals for the Youth Cafe will be mounted in the upstairs foyer of Yate Leisure Centre from 1 – 11 September 2009 and an ‘at home’ event is being held from 2.00pm to 8.30pm on Tuesday 8 September where the Architects, representatives of Yate Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council will be in attendance to answer any queries.

It is proposed to install on Westerleigh Road a solar powered vehicle activated sign which will display 30 to westbound vehicles who are exceeding the speed limit. A ‘Side Road Ahead’ sign will also be installed on the lamp column outside house number 140.

The aim of these measures is to improve road safety on the approach to the junction of Westbourne Road.