The SouthGlos Post

The architect of a youth bus pass scheme is encouraging local youngsters to take advantage of the scheme before the school holidays end.

Cllr Sheila Cook, Conservative Cabinet Member for Children and Young People on South Gloucestershire Council, is appealing to local youngsters to take advantage of cheaper bus fares that are available to them, thanks to the council.

The district’s youth concessionary travel scheme entitles 14-18-year-olds in full time education to half adult bus fares on evening, weekend and school holiday journeys.

The scheme was the brainchild of Cllr Cook who first proposed a council motion on the subject back in 2006. She said:

“One of the biggest issues young people raise locally is transport, particularly its cost and how that discourages greater use of public transport, and so we have been determined to do something about it.

We are proud to be one of the few councils in the country to have introduced this sort of travel concession for local youngsters and we very much want them to take it up.

With just one week left of the summer holidays, it’s an ideal time to get hold of a pass, which will help access the huge range of activities available across the local area.

We have a special website for South Gloucestershire youngsters called ‘Youth Unlimited’ and all the information they need is on there.”

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

Work is about to start on a scheme to tackle traffic congestion and improve road safety at the Kingsfield roundabout in Longwell Green.

The roundabout, which provides access to the Aspects Leisure Park and to Asda, has seen a considerable increase in traffic levels and queuing during the rush hour due to the significant expansion of local retail facilities over recent years.

The scheme will include widening the ring road to three lanes on the approaches to the roundabout and a widening of the Marsham Way approach to provide an extra lane for traffic turning onto the ring road. Traffic lights will also be installedto control traffic on all the main approaches to the junction, with the exception of Leisure Road which will remain under give way operation.

Similar improvements made last year to the Deanery Road roundabout on the ring road resulted in a reduction in commuter journey times and a positive impact on road safety – reducing accident numbers by more than 30 per cent.

It is hoped that there will be a similar improvement at the Kingsfield roundabout, which is one of the district’s main accident concentration sites.

The work is starting on Monday 23rd August and will last for 15 weeks. Outside of peak hours, the ring road will be reduced to one lane on each of the approaches to the roundabout and a temporary speed limit of 30mph will be in force for the duration of the works.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Whether it’s a trip to the beautiful baroque mansion at Dyrham Park or a peak at the old engine sheds at the Avon Valley Railway in Bitton, there is something for everyone during this year’s Heritage Open Days.

Unlock the secrets of the past and celebrate architecture and culture with all the family during this annual event which runs from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th September at various locations across South Gloucestershire.

Some 26 properties and sites are taking part including Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Ram Hill Colliery in Coalpit Heath, the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust in Patchway, Thornbury Castle and St Mary’s Church in Yate, a grade I listed building dating from Norman times. They will all be opening their doors to the public for free and guided walks will take place at Thornbury Castle gardens and there will be free admission to the National Trust site at Dyrham Park on Saturday 11th.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

A ceremony to mark work starting on site at the new Severnvale children’s locality hub in Patchway took place on Tuesday 10th August.

Councillors were joined by representatives from health and building contractors BAM Construction Limited to turn the first sod at the centre on Rodway Road.

Once complete, South Gloucestershire Council, NHS South Gloucestershire and North Bristol NHS Trust will provide a range of services aimed at children and young people all located under the same roof and in the heart of the community.

South Gloucestershire Council is leading on the development of the locality hub and Cllr Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people, said: “The Severnvale Hub will bring a range of important services under one roof, particularly for children and young people which will make it much easier to get advice, help and care when it is needed. This partnership approach will ensure that our residents can access services when it is convenient to them.”

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

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