Pucklechurch Parish Council Chairman’s Report – Winter 2019

 
A Goodbye and a Welcome!
As many of you will be aware Jodie Bailey who was our Clerk, moved on to a new job at the beginning of October.  Clearly, I want to take this opportunity to thank her for all the hard work she did on behalf of the Council over the five years she was with us, as well as to wish her well in her new role. Thank you, Jodie! I am pleased to say, however, that we were able to turn around the recruitment of our new Clerk in super quick time and equally pleased to be able to report that we have appointed Daphne Dunning to the role. Daphne is no stranger to the Council, or to Pucklechurch, as she is a long time resident and was at one time our Village Orderly. Welcome Daphne!
 
Daphne’s email address, contact details and phone number for the Parish Council are as follows:
Email: parish.council@pucklechurch.org
Telephone: 07525 842 095
Post: Daphne Dunning - Clerk, Pucklechurch Parish Council, 25 Parkfield Rank, Pucklechurch, Bristol BS16 9NR
 
Road closures and path works
I appreciate that it can be difficult to cope with road closures and hard to keep up with changes made to the timetables. All works to highways and paths around the parish are either the responsibility of the Highways Agency or South Gloucestershire Council. As a Parish Council we do not routinely receive updates on changes to timetables. The best source of the most up to date information can be found online via https:// one.network/ - this website enables you to search by location and across different timescales. Clicking on each dot that appears reveals the detail of each piece of planned work and the timeframe it is expected to be completed in.
 
Speed table update
South Gloucestershire Council has published a report that provided feedback on the results of the consultation about the proposal to install a speed table between Parkfield Road and Castle Road on the B4465 Westerleigh Road. To recap the scheme aims:
To provide an easier to use crossing point on Westerleigh Road, for the benefit of the mobility impaired and pupils of the primary school located on Castle Road. To support local and national policy in promotion of active travel through cycling and walking, with more numerous and attractive facilities. To reduce instances of speeding through the village.  
In response to representations made by residents and in light of its own reservations about the proposed signage for the scheme, Parish Council arranged a site meeting with SGC traffic engineers to try to resolve some of the issues. Some changes to the published signage scheme have now been identified that will reduce its impact on the conservation area as well as removing un-necessary signage. Although not part of the scheme, SGC is also willing to remove the black and white bollards on Parkfield triangle (at the Parish Council’s expense) and replace these with square wooden posts. Enabling works for the scheme will involve a road closure in February 2020.
 
M4 J18a update: no news
The scheme for a new junction was potentially part of the government’s second Road Investment Strategy from 2020-2025 but as of the end of September we still have no indication as to whether or not the scheme will be taken to the next stage of business planning. What can be said with certainty is that it is not one of the schemes revealed by Chancellor Sajid Javid at the Conservative Party Conference. It should be noted, however that what was announced were projects covered by the first wave of funding relative to the current major road network programme, with further rounds to be announced in the next few months. Should anything change PPC will do its best to keep residents informed.
 
Joint Spatial Plan: no progress
The Joint Spatial Plan was published by the West of England Combined Authority (Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire) which identified where new housing and other facilities should be built within the WECA area. Nevertheless, it failed to be approved by the Planning Inspectorate which may now lead to it being withdrawn.  You may recall that Pucklechurch was not identified as a location for strategic development within the plan. If you are interested in reading the Inspectors’ detailed response this can be downloaded by following this link: http://www.hwa.uk.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Detailed-Letter-v2.pdf
 
And finally…..
It falls to me, on behalf of the Council, to wish you, your family and your friends a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year!
 
With best wishes
Gail Boyle
Chair,
Pucklechurch Parish Council
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Reporting issues: the direct route
There are a number of common issues that can be reported directly to South Gloucestershire Council via its website. You can find out more about what can be reported here: https://www.southglos.gov.uk/general-information/online-services/report/.
 
The list is extensive and includes, for example, street-lighting, dog-fouling, missed bin collections, litter, fly-tipping, roads, pathways and overgrown hedges. Failing this you can also call the General Enquiries number 01454 868009 – from where you should be able to be put through the department with responsibility for dealing with your issue.  If you would rather not contact SGC directly I would recommend using www.fixmystreet.com. All you have to do to report a problem here, and for it to be sent to the right SGC department is:
 
enter a nearby UK postcode, or street name and area locate the problem on a map of the area enter details of the problem – you can withhold your own details  
Of course, if you are unsure whether or not an issue is SGC’s responsibility please direct your queries to Jodie Bailey (Clerk to Pucklechurch Parish Council) via email: parish.council@pucklechurch.org or by phone on 07525 842 095.
 
Gail Boyle (Chair, Pucklechurch Parish Council)
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Twinning Prints for Sale

Twinning Prints
Earlier in the year the Parish Council commissioned an artist to produce an original limited edition lino print to be given as a civic gift in honour the 25th anniversary of our twinning with Pringy.  The remaining copies of the print run, entitled ‘Pucelancyrcan –Pucklechurch’ by Melanie Wickham, are available for sale at the price of £35 each (unframed). These will be sold on a first come, first served basis to a maximum run of 50 copies. The image is a stylised representation of Pucklechurch Parish and reflects many aspects of its community history as well as its Anglo Saxon origins. Melanie has also very kindly offered to license the use of a digital copy of the image to Pucklechurch community groups to use for their own purposes at low cost (£25). To express interest in acquiring a print or to request the use of the image please email the clerk: parish.council@pucklechurch.org


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