The South Glos Post

South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats have welcomed a major step forward in achieving an integrated transport system fit for the 21st Century.

Lib Dem Transport Spokesperson Cllr Pat Hockey said, “I welcome the Cabinet’s decision to move forward with its bid for Government funding to enable work to start on the South Gloucestershire element of a rapid transport system. This will link The Mall, the main employment areas, including the Science Park at Emersons Green, Bradley Stoke and UWE, with Bristol City Centre and beyond.

“This may not be the tram we had originally hoped for but it is new and exciting and will offer a very attractive alternative to sitting behind the wheel in a traffic jam. It is regrettable that this progress has to be linked to the loss of Green Belt at Harry Stoke. The original proposals if they had gone ahead would have meant not only the loss of the countryside but a wide dual carriageway attracting even more cars on to the Ring Road joining the queues at the Hambrook roundabout.”

Cllr Hockey added, “We don’t have to abandon our dreams for a tram. If the funding becomes available the extra width needed to convert the bus rapid transit into a tramway is being safeguarded with these proposals.”

More info: North Fringe to Hengrove Package (Travel+)

Source: South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats

Kendleshire residents are celebrating the news that the next stage of their ‘Quiet Lanes Scheme’ has finally been given the go ahead.

In earlier phases, gateway treatments were installed at key entrances to the scheme, warning drivers that they were entering an area of narrow country lanes that they would be sharing with walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The only major entrance left without one was the Kendleshire crossroads, where Ruffet Road meets the busy A432 Badminton Road.

That will now be remedied as funding has been found for the new gateway. On Thursday, residents, officers, a Westerleigh Parish Councillor and local ward Councillor Claire Young met to discuss ideas, including the possibility of closing the slip road and remodelling the junction. Stone or wooden pillars could be built either side of the road, with a cobble “cattle grid” effect between them to encourage drivers to slow down.

Bob Ross, the local resident who first proposed the scheme in the late 90s, said, “I am delighted that this pioneering scheme, which remains far from complete, has not been forgotten by South Glos Council. It has already done much to preserve the rural nature of these lanes in the face of rapid development in the area, and to enhance safety for those who continue to use the lanes for recreation. I hope that several similar areas in South Gloucestershire will benefit from the lessons learned during the implementation of this scheme.”

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Source: South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats

South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats have announced their Shadow Cabinet with a promise that they will hold the Council’s minority Tory administration to account.

Cllr Ruth Davis continues as Leader of the group, a position the Yate Central councillor has held since 2005. Westerleigh Councillor Claire Young takes over the Deputy Leader role and will shadow the Communities Cabinet Member.

The other shadow roles are:

• Children and Young People – Cllr Ian Blair (Yate North)
• Community Care and Housing – Cllr Maggie Tyrrell (Thornbury South and Alveston)
• Corporate Affairs – Cllr Howard Gawler (Ladden Brook)
• Health – Cllr Sue Hope (Cotswold Edge)
• Planning, Transport and the Strategic Environment – Cllr Pat Hockey (Frampton Cotterell)

Yate North Councillor Mike Drew will be the new Chair of Council.

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Source: Liberal Democrat Group on South Gloucestershire Council

South Gloucestershire councillors are asking the government to allow the local community to be compensated for hosting the two Severn bridges.

Liberal Democrat councillors say it’s only fair that the local residents should be compensated for enduring disruptions which continue long after the initial construction phase.

Cllr Tyzack (Pilning and Severn Beach) said: “I recognise the burden and disturbance borne by the community in hosting a national or regional infrastructure project. So I think it’s only right that the council requires packages of community benefits to be provided to offset and compensate the community for the having that infrastructure forced upon them.”

He continued: “I have seen reports that the Welsh Assembly wish to claim all the bridge tolls once the spending on the bridge has been paid off. I feel that as the bridges are actually both in England and the Second Severn Crossing main arch is technically all in the ward of Pilning and Severn Beach that the residents of South Gloucestershire Council have an equal claim to some of that funding.”

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Source: Liberal Democrat Group on South Sloucestershire Council