Celebrating some big steps forward

WE have taken some big steps forward in South Gloucestershire, but there is much more to do.

Half-hourly train services from Yate to Bristol have finally been confirmed following my debate in Parliament.

More funding has been made available, and we can expect half-hourly train services from May, providing a more reliable transport option for people locally, reducing journey times, taking cars off the road and reducing emissions.

Planning permission to reopen Charfield Railway Station was also granted, following strong community support which demonstrated to the council and the combined authority the need to get these plans over the line.

The village’s railway services will be a vital asset for people in our community to commute to work, visit friends and family, or travelling to school and college.

We have also delivered the new park and ride in Yate, and re- opened the right-hand turn from Heron way onto Kennedy Way.

Improving safety is vital, and in March a new pedestrian crossing was proposed for Old Sodbury, vital for providing appropriate infrastructure for the village.

I am also constantly pressing to ensure we get our fair share of police officers locally. Britain is ahead of schedule in recruiting 20,000 new officers in England and Wales, and Avon and Somerset now has 412 more officers than in 2019.

I will continue to fight to make sure that our local towns and villages get the police presence that we need to tackle speeding and antisocial behaviour.

We have had positive national announcements for school funding, with South Gloucestershire’s per pupil funding increase of 6.9%, significantly above the national increase.

This will help with plans to build a new primary school in Yate and refurbish school buildings locally.

However, there is still more to do. I have met with the Health Minister, as we await announcements on the future of Thornbury Health Centre.

South Gloucestershire Council have purchased the site of the old Thornbury Hospital, removing a key barrier, and I will continue to push for the Department of Health and Social Care to accept our £13 million bid. This will deliver greater primary care and outpatient services, mental health provision, more social care beds, and a specialised unit to help and support the elderly community receive care in their home.

Soft plastic recycling has been trialled successfully in Sodbury and Olveston, and I will make sure we see this rolled-out across South Gloucestershire soon.

We will continue to fight excessive development and oppose the plans to increase the size of Chipping Sodbury by 35%, with 750 more houses. We will continue to oppose inappropriate projects and defend our beautiful natural countryside.

We have made a huge amount of progress, but there is lots more still to do. We will continue to fight to keep South Gloucestershire as the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family.