Have your say

Improving our places

South Gloucestershire communities will see yet more exciting improvements and a boost to our local economy thanks to the new budget’s spending plans.

Regenerating Kingswood

In a major step towards the regeneration of Kingswood’s town centre, the council completed a £10million acquisition of the Kings Chase Shopping Centre and car park last year. Alongside the funding in place to pedestrianise Regent Street, and the restoration of the Whitfield Tabernacle, the acquisition will transform the town.

Options for redevelopment of the Kings Chase centre include leisure, housing and community services to complement shopping. As part of these plans, the council is also looking at reviewing the parking charges. The acquisition, and other regeneration plans, are funded by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

Following extensive public consultation last year, the council will be bringing a final masterplan for Kingswood before its Cabinet in March. Feedback from local people included the potential for new leisure centre facilities in the town centre. Others commented that the council should prioritise connecting the green and open spaces across the area.

Helping Thornbury Thrive

The council has secured a further £4.577million to progress its plans for Thornbury’s historic high street to create a welcoming destination. The scheme is also set to boost the town’s economy.

The investment will create dedicated blue-badge parking, loading and drop off bays, stopping through-traffic, widened footways, increased cycle parking and new seating, planting and wayfinding along the much-loved high street.

The next steps are for the council to complete a detailed design, taking on board views expressed so far by the community, and prepare the full business case. It will then engage again with local people and stakeholder groups.

In further good news for the town, the council has bought the former Thornbury Hospital site with a focus on developing a much needed new health centre and at least 70 extra care homes.

Demolition of the hospital buildings will start later this year. The council is working closely with the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group to progress plans for the replacement health centre.

Yate on the move

Yate’s new £4.5million park and ride is now open. Located on Badminton Road, the facility is already helping to reduce traffic by providing attractive alternative travel options such as public transport, Cllr Steve Reade at the new park and ridecycling or car sharing.

The park and ride is open seven days a week (excluding bank holidays) and includes 198 parking spaces, cycle parking for 46 bicycles, and improved bus stops. The car park will also be available for rail users at Yate Station.

Looking ahead, a new masterplan, which sets out the aspirations for developing Yate, could see around £600million invested in the town over the next 15 to 20 years. Produced with partners including the town council, local business and residents’ groups, the Town Improvement Masterplan for Yate’s vision sets out how organisations can work together to help the town change.

During public consultation last summer on the draft vision, local people fed back that they wanted to see more investment in Yate and a modernised town. Their responses shaped the final masterplan which you can view on the council’s website at www.southglos.gov.uk/yatemasterplan

Cribbs Patchway Metrobus Extension on track

Work on the Cribbs Patchway Metrobus Extension (CPME) is making great progress. The project will provide an alternative, fast and direct bus route between Parkway Station and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway.

Work along Gipsy Patch Lane has included a new railway bridge, improved paths for pedestrians and cyclists and carriageway widening for new bus lanes. Gipsy Patch Lane is set to be fully open by September this year, with metrobus services then commencing on the CPME route in spring 2023.

For further information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/cpmetrobus

New bridge in place at Gipsy Patch Lane

Have Your Say: Your Local Plan

The council is consulting on Phase 2 of its new Local Plan preparation. You can help shape South Gloucestershire’s future by sharing your views on possible locations for new homes, business growth and change, new green networks, and areas for renewable energy. View the plans and respond online at www.southglos.gov.uk/newlocalplan or call 01454 868004.

Town and parish council proposals update

Charlton Hayes, Kingswood, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield, and Stoke Park & Cheswick have taken a further step towards getting their own new parish and town councils, following responses from the public and approval from the council’s regulatory committee. The council will consult with people again on further details in the coming months. The new parishes will give the areas more of a voice and provide a structure for taking action on local needs. Once the town and parish councils are set up, the Special Expenses will be reviewed and reduced if the new parish councils take over the running of services. To receive the latest news from South Gloucestershire Council direct to your inbox, including when the town and parish council consultations start, sign up at www.southglos.gov.uk/newsletter

Digital Champions here to help get online

The council’s digital champions can help if you, or someone you know, needs help to get online or would like to learn more. The digital champions run free one-to-one support sessions to help you feel more confident using the internet and online services.

Based in seven South Gloucestershire libraries - Downend, Emersons Green, Hanham, Staple Hill, Thornbury, Winterbourne and Yate - digital champions can help you complete specific tasks such as applying for a blue badge, setting up an email account or learning how to make video calls.

You can book a session and bring your own device along (such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone), or use one of the library computers on the day. To book your session, visit the library during staffed hours and speak to library staff or phone 01454 865022 (lines open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday 9.30am to 12pm).

With 12 libraries, a mobile library and many community libraries open throughout the week, the council is here to help. Find your nearest library at www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries

Keep in touch

Sign up for our weekly enewsletter at  www.southglos.gov.uk/newsletter If you are not online and would like a printed copy, please call us on  01454 868009 Follow our social media channels at  southglos.gov.uk/twitter  southglos.gov.uk/facebook To find details of how to contact us visit  southglos.gov.uk/contactus or call  01454 868009

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