14
www.stokegiffordjournal.co.uk
January 2020
News
Councillor Column Minimizing impact of bridge & highway works
I
would like to take this opportunity to extend best wishes for the new year to all Stoke Gifford residents from your three Stoke Gifford district councillors. We are continuing to liaise with the developer and project team who are actively engaged in the bridge replacement works at Gipsy Patch Lane. We will ensure that the impact is kept to the minimum while the works proceed and especially when the road will be closed for the proposed implementation of the bus lane. We have strongly made our position clear that everyone in our area should be kept well informed by Network Rail and by all stakeholders involved in the bridge work. A new chair of the Stakeholder Liaison Group, Robert Walsh, has been appointed and can be contacted by residents and businesses at South Gloucestershire Council, Badminton Road, Yate BS37 5AF or by email at Robert. Walsh@southglos.gov.uk We continue to seek assurances from the developer and South Gloucestershire Council officers in respect of the 20+ trees that are planned to be removed to allow the road to be turned into a bus lane. We will continue to seek replacement of the trees, where possible, to enable the road and our residents to continue to benefit from trees and shrubbery. We feel this issue should be treated seriously as the removal of healthy mature trees does not fit well with reducing carbon emissions in line with the climate change policy that our local district council and neighbouring councils have pledged to support. We will continue to keep our highway officers aware of the need to ensure that diversions are kept under strict control to ensure that our residents, schools and local businesses are not adversely affected by the bridge replacement and road closure.
t: 01454 300 400
We have raised our concerns with Streetcare and Highways over the need for many of our existing local roads and pedestrian footways to be better maintained, especially as the area continues to see large scale development and many of our existing roads are now seeing vastly increased traffic levels and are suffering disrepair. The graffiti (criminal damage) that now blights many of our residents’ properties can be logged and removed as soon as possible after a completed indemnity form has been submitted by the householder. If you become affected by graffiti damage, please contact Stoke Gifford Parish Council on 01454 865052 to make use of this free service. We continue to negotiate with South Gloucestershire and the developer for a planned new community facility proposed to be built on the Highbrook Park development at Harry Stoke. We will keep you updated on future progress of this project. We have continued to fund and support our local Citizens Advice Bureau which currently runs two well attended sessions a month in Little Stoke. The service provides a great deal of help and support to all our residents across the whole of Stoke Gifford. Cllr Keith Cranney Chair of Stoke Gifford Parish Council and South Gloucestershire councillor
Farewell to parish clerk Steve Shield
Cllr Keith Cranney bids farewell to departing parish clerk Steve Shield (left)
A
fter nearly 22 years working in local government within South Gloucestershire, with the last nine years as parish clerk and responsible financial officer for Stoke Gifford Parish Council, Steve Shield recently left his post to take up a new position as town clerk of Sherborne in Dorset. During his time in post, Steve was instrumental in moving the parish council forward, maintaining strong professional working relationships within the council, as well as connecting with many residents, hall hirers, park users, and local
organisations in Stoke Gifford. Steve was successful in obtaining a significant amount of external funding which has contributed towards building improvements, improved sports provision, improved infrastructure and an investment into new street furniture across the wider parish. Current parish council chair Cllr Keith Cranney commented: “Our best wishes go to Steve and his family from everyone associated with the parish council and I personally thank him for his outstanding contribution to the parish over many years.”
Corrections and clarifications In the signature line of the Councillor Column in our November magazine, it was incorrectly stated that Cllr Ernie Brown is the chair of Stoke Gifford Parish Council. The chair of council is in fact Cllr Keith Cranney. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.
To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400