Have your say on the Expansion of Bristol International Airport

Bristol international airport is currently consulting on a large expansion to its operations.
Many of you have from time to time raised concerns about the airport and the flight paths.

If you wish to submit your views please check out these two websites to see the competing sides of the argument

www.bristolairport.co.uk and click on master plan
and
www.stopbia.com

and then email your views and comments to
North Somerset Council Ref 06/P/2701/MP at
dccomments@n-somerset.gov.uk

by 22/12/6 - apologies for the short notice but this short notice has only just reached me.

Have your say on Bath and North East Somerset's Open Spaces

How far should people be expected to travel to get to their nearest park?
What do you think green areas should be used for?

These are just some of the questions being put to local people by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The Council has been reviewing green space provision across the district to ensure that supply and quality matches the needs of the community. Individuals and groups are being consulted to find out about their use and expectations of different types of green areas, including parks and gardens, spaces for less formal activities, recreation grounds, natural areas (woodland, natural and semi-natural areas), allotments and spaces designed for children and young people.

Having completed a comprehensive assessment and audit of these types of green spaces, the Council has now drafted a Green Space Strategy for further consultation with the local community.

Cllr David Dixon, (Lib Dem, Walcot) says, "Our green spaces in Bath are what make this such a special place to live, in Walcot alone we have Kensington Meadows, Kensington Gardens Park, the green space at Highbury Villas, Southbourne Gardens to anem but a few. It is important that each serves a purpose to safeguard it against future development."

The Strategy will assist Bath & North East Somerset Council in protecting existing green space from development and identifying where the supply or quality of green space is low, so that resources and funding bids can be concentrated into these areas. A key part of the Green Space Strategy is the creation of minimum standards for green space provision that will be applied across Bath & North East Somerset. Public consultation on the proposed Green Space Strategy finishes on Friday, 22 December. During this time, the consultation documents and details on how to make a response will be available at: Trimbridge House, Bath; Riverside, Keynsham and The Hollies in Midsomer Norton, as well as Bath Central, Saltford and Radstock Libraries, and on the council

Liberal Democrat Councillors get Composting

Councillor David Dixon has recently taken advantage of the superb offer that the Council has in partnership with the Waste and Resources Action Programme which offers residents of Bath and North East Somerset a compost bin from just £4.00.

Commenting on the use of his bin Cllr Dixon says, “This has been an excellent Liberal Democrat initiative and I feel that with all these things it is important that local councillors lead by example. In fact I have been very surprised by just how much less I put into our black bags which used to go to landfill, I now plan to use my own compost next year for our pot plants.”

To find out how to order your compost bin, visit www.recyclenow.com or call 0845 073 2002.

Safer Roads for Snow Hill

In 2003 the Snow Hill Consultation focussed on a range of issues which the community wanted solutions to.

Some have already been delivered such as a new community facility at the Dover House Laundry and through working with Somer Housing local Councillors David Dixon and Colin Darracott are pleased that Centre Track was formed.

We have also seen electric key charging facilities at London Road Stores and new play equipment at the two play areas.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillors can also now confirm that improvements to the parking and roads at Snow Hill are also on the way.

After concerns raised by local residents Councillors Darracott and Dixon worked with Somer Housing to consult on a new crossing for Snow Hill and for a solution to slowing down traffic in order to make the area safer for all.

The plans are to change over the sides of the road that vehicles can park on and making the turn out of Saffron Court safer by moving the junction forward a little.

Cllr Colin Darracott said “I am really looking forward to these improvements going in soon. It will help to make sure that traffic is slowed down and that it is safer for young people to cross from one side of the road to the other.”

The Tories Think You're a Tosser

The Conservatives have launched a website which appears to label everyone who has taken on personal debt as a “tosser”.

The website, which purports to give advice to people facing debt problems, is thin on the ground when it comes to practical information.

After viewing the site Cllr David Dixon said: “The Tories simply don’t care about the people who are facing crippling personal debt, preferring instead to label them “Tossers”. I think its very sad that the Conservatives have been so callous in the face of what is a very real problem. Anyone who is worried about their levels of debt should contact their local Citizens Advice Bureau.

“This website proves that the Conservatives have no concept of what it’s like to live in modern Britain. It just goes to show that the Conservatives are the same elitist, callous, nasty party that they have always been”

Rooting for Tree Lined Avenues to be Restored (UPDATE)

The Council has now agreed to plant 6 more trees in the Bathwick Estate following pressure from Local Liberal Democrat Councillor David Dixon.

The 6 trees will be planted over the winter period and it is hoped that 6 more can be planted next year too.

Over 27 trees were noted to be missing earlier in the year and ater discovering that there was no budget in the Council to replace these, the Conservatives in charge of Transport passed the responsinbility for this to the Lib Dem controlled Parks Department and one of the Council's tree officers has worked with residents in the Bathwick Estate to locate missing trees.

Cllr Dixon said, "I am so pleased that we are able to get some more trees planted in this area, and I hope that we can continue to get more."

Sydney Gardens Traffic

Colin Darracott and David Dixon met with residents fro the Bathwick Estate this morning to look at issues surrounding the recently new traffic system at Sydney Gardens.

Problems still being faced include:

Issue tring to cross safely for pedestrians - the unnecessarily complex junction makes it difficult for pedestrians to cross smoothly, inparticular from the nirthern side of Beckford Road to the eastern side of Bathick Street as the system only allows you to cross one segment at a time - frustrated pedestrians are either taking 3 to 4 minutes to cross or simply go when they see it is clear - without knowing sometimes which direction traffic might next be coming from.

Poor drainage especially in the recent wet weather is also causing issues and in cases the actual crossing is blocked by rather large puddles.

Vehicles are still blocking the marked out crossings - this is particularly bad when it is a lorry which blocks the view completely.

The proposal which we will put forward is that some improvements in this area should continue to take place and that the half completed crossing on Beckford Road should be finished.