Press articles and other things

Please tell all friends and neighbours to attend if they can on Wednesday 20th July 2011 at 17:00, outside the South Glocs council offices in Nibley, in the estate opposite their New Offices in Yate for a photo for the Evening Post and possibly the Gazette.

Why?  To lobby the South Glocs Councillors and keep the issue in the press. There is plenty of car parking in front of the offices.

The councillors don't usually turn up till a bit later so we should have an opportunity to get pictures in front of the building with perhaps a couple of grumpy councillors walking by.

Other news.

• There will be an article in the Evening Post tomorrow, please look out for it.
• Signs will be appearing at all Yate town council parks across Yate in the notice boards advertising our campaign.
• An Application has gone in to build a "travellers site" somewhere between Herons proposed development, Tan house lane and Yate rocks. I have not looked at it yet but the  South Glocs Planning application reference is PT11/2001/F. I'm told its likely to have impact on the footpaths around the area and significantly increase traffic in a very rural area. Unfortunately the time for comments ends on 29/7/2011. Please note although you may have views about the type of people attracted to these sites, the council won't consider these views as it is considered descriminatory. They are only likely to consider objective issues likely infrastructure or environment.

South Gloucestershire Core Strategy Exploritory Meeting 28 June 2011

Attended the South Gloucestershire Core Strategy Exploritory Meeting 28 June 2011. The Core strategy is important as its the Councils overarching  planning document. If this can be delayed, new government legislation may give us the power to significantly affect any development.

1. The meeting was 3 hours long and focused on procedure rather than specific issues. It was a bit of an endurance test. Incredibly frustrating, as it focused on procedure, you really could not say what you wanted to, although a few people did, including me.

2. The first subject discussed was whether the councils consultation met with their legal obligations. It appeared that a QC was appointed by Britel Fund Trustees Ltd to argue the point. He seemed to make a valid case that initial consultations were stated as draft and that not all the documents were produced at the start of the consultation so people were not sure what they were commenting on. He stated that this meant the consultation did not meet the statutory obligations laid down in law.

3. The meeting then discussed housing with developers saying the numbers were too low and pressure groups including us saying they were too high. It felt like the suited developers were perched like vultures playing their own little game.

4. The green belt was mentioned then Filton Airfield. As the council had not yet met with British Aerospace. The Government Inspector agreed that he would defer his decision for 2- 3 weeks.

5. He stated that his decision would result in one of 3 outcomes. (1) use the core strategy as a working document and revise some things as they work with it as it will only be minor changes needed.(2) suspend the core strategy for anything up to 6months for further work to be done and take in Filton Airfield. (3) throw it out completely and wait for the Localism Bill to come into force. He will put his notes on the council web site.

Latest...

Been a while since the last newsletter. So what's been happening.

• The stall at the Yate Community festival 25/6/2011 80 leaflets distributed and 3 pages of signatures on the paper version of the petition.
  
  
• The leafleting campaign where most of Brimsham park has been leafleted. Over 550 leaflets distributed. this is a new improved leaflet and we are actually speaking to people this time around. If they are in.
  
  
• The picture in the Evening Post and then the Observer which goes to the whole of Yate.

• Attended the first full meeting of South Gloucestershire council and handed out leaflets to all but 5 of the councillors.