The SouthGlos Post

Local residents living on a steep Kingswood road are being encouraged to have their say on a road safety scheme to tackle speeding motorists.

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) has begun consulting on the provision of a new footway build out, new white lining and a new dropped kerb crossing point at the junction of Champion Road and Pound Road.

The proposed scheme attempts to address residents’ concerns about the speed of downhill traffic turning left into Champion Road from Pound Road.

The aims of the proposed highway improvement are:

• to reduce the speed of traffic turning into Champion Road from Pound Road,
• to improve road safety and improve accessibility for pedestrians who wish to cross Champion Road near the Pound Road junction,
• to encourage more sustainable means of travel, and
• to provide elderly and less mobile residents with an enhanced location to cross Champion Road.

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Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

The Cycling City project has provided match funding to local charity the Kingswood Foundation to provide secure, covered cycle parking for young people and staff.

The new cycle parking facility has proved to be very popular and since completion the number of people cycling to the site has increased.

To celebrate the opening of their new cycle parking facility, the Foundation organised a launch event for cyclists that included advice and information on cycling, free bike checks and a bike breakfast.

Councillor John Calway, leader of the council, said: “Providing good cycle parking facilities is one of the ways the Cycling City project is encouraging cycling in South Gloucestershire. Being able to leave your bike close to your destination is one of the great advantages of cycling and we are pleased to see how popular the new cycle parking has been.”

Sandy Hore-Ruthven, chief executive of the Foundation said: “The Kingswood Foundation is keen to promote sustainable solutions to travel and the grant from South Gloucestershire Council matched with our own investment enabled us to provide state of the art cycle storage facilities and enabled many more of our users to cycle rather than use a car.”

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following an assault in Kingswood on Saturday 25th July.

At around 3am a 27-year-old man was about to enter a fast food outlet on Regent Street when he was approached by an unknown man who assaulted him and dragged him down London street. The assault stopped when a member of the public intervened.

The victim was taken to hospital with an eye injury.

Police are now keen to speak to a man who is described as white, aged in his late 20’s or early 30’s, of a stocky build and around 6 feet tall.

Anyone who may have information is asked to call police on 0845 456 7000 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

The ground has been broken on the site of a new housing development in Kingswood.

Merlin Housing Society’s chairman Les Good, who is a Merlin resident, got the work underway last week.

Over the coming weeks and months two new buildings will be built on the site, providing ten new flats and a new Kingswood Housing Office.

“This development will provide much needed homes in South Gloucestershire and I am delighted that work is underway,” Les said. “It’s exciting to think that in the new year this site will be the home for ten families plus our new area housing office.”

The High Street development, which is due to be completed in January, is just the start for Merlin’s building plans. Over the next four years, it aims to build 100 new homes in South Gloucestershire.

Merlin Housing Society is the largest provider of social housing in South Gloucestershire, managing a stock of around 8,000 homes for single people, families and the elderly.

Source: Merlin Housing Society

NHS South Gloucestershire and construction company ISG Pearce have signed a contract for the refurbishment of Cossham Hospital. This paves the way for builders to move onto site on 1 June.

The strategic health authority NHS South West announced in March 2008 that £19 million has been set aside for the redevelopment of Cossham Hospital. Plans to redevelop the hospital were given the final go ahead this March when the strategic health authority agreed the Full Business Case (FBC). The FBC was previously approved by the boards of NHS South Gloucestershire, NHS Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust.

“This is fantastic news. After years of working in partnership with local people to plan the refurbishment of Cossham and the services we will deliver from Cossham Hospital, building is finally set to start on site within the next month,” said Chief Executive of NHS South Gloucestershire, Penny Harris.

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Source: NHS South Gloucestershire