Legal Action to Protect Siston Common
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THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 482 12th July 2017 Read by over 40,000 people each week Legal action to protect Siston Common There are hopes that for part of Siston Common been keen to protect the encampments, including Communities Secretary where travellers set up an green space in front of the one last September in which Sajid Javid will act swiftly illegal camp at the weekend. Horseshoe pub in the wake an estimated 40 caravans to approve a security plan Parish councillors have of previous unauthorised were driven onto the site. The parish council has commissioned a detailed design scheme for a bund around the site and has been waiting for the Secretary of State’s nod before the work can be done. They had hoped to get the site secure before the annual ‘traveller season’ began this summer but, as we reported in Issue 478 last month, the process was held up because of the Continued on page 2 & 3 Legal action to protect Siston Common Continued from page 1 for Siston ward, said he has that on Monday South consider issuing a notice to General Election, with been liaising with Gloucestershire Council had deal with the unauthorised council chairman John Hunt Kingswood MP Chris directed the travellers on the encampment under Section warning last month that as a Skidmore who has agreed to site to leave under Section 61 of the Act as the six-unit result, the work would “fast track” the application 77 of the Criminal Justice threshold had been probably be delayed until with Mr Javid. Consent is and Public Order Act. It was exceeded. Cllr Adam said he next year. needed under Section 38 of due to expire at 5pm had counted seven caravans However, this week Ian the Commons Act 2006. yesterday (Tuesday). and eight supporting Adams, district councillor Meanwhile Cllr Adams said He also asked the police to vehicles on the site. The reason such illegal encampments are met with Sajid Javid concern in the community is continued to drift in until that on previous occasions about 7pm. there have been frequent He said there had been a complaints about disturbance on the Common intimidation and the mess late Sunday night and into the travellers leave behind the early hours of Monday and the subsequent costly with vehicles being driven clean-up. around, headlights full on One elderly resident who and radios blaring. He said lives near the Common told there had also been “loud, us this week that units abusive shouting” before started arriving at about the situation quietened Travellers moved on at the weekend 3.45pm on Saturday and down around 2am. 2 The Week in • Wednesday 12th July 2017 Flashback to the article in Issue 478 He told us: “Residents are Cllr Adams said: “Every Government level, we are ments for waste removal. with the families to leave fed up to the back teeth.” He illegal encampment is all working together on the “We are currently liaising the site as soon as possible, said one van had parked assessed by the council and long-term approach to this with Siston Parish Council in line with our established almost alongside the police, who work within area of common land.” and the police to negotiate procedures.” displayed bylaws which current national policies. I A South Gloucestershire state that no vehicles are to totally appreciate that to Council spokesperson told be driven or parked on some residents, actions us on Monday: “Our common land. aren't strong or quick traveller unit has visited enough, but I can assure Siston Common to assess everyone I am constantly the unauthorised encamp- In this challenging and probing the ment, we have organised the week’s council and the police. necessary welfare checks Issue “At a parish, district and and have made arrange- Reaction to M4 junction proposals . pages 4 & 5 Long-serving Wellsway teachers retire . page 7 Work about to start on Bromley Heath viaduct . page 19 Have your say on S. Glos green spaces . page 24 The Week in • Wednesday 12th July 2017 3 Plans for M4 junction and link road at Villagers have shown their easing the pressure on the crematorium. near Edmund Court and onto roundabout at the end of her anger and concern after existing M4 junction with the A major new link road would Kings Lane, continuing driveway. discovering that Wester- M32 at Hambrook, would be be built across open land behind Homefield Road and The idea of the junction at leigh Road at Pucklechurch located close to the Bristol & between Pucklechurch and down to Siston Lane. The Pucklechurch was labelled has been lined up as a Bath Science Park and the Parkfield Rank to cross other possible route crosses “crazy” by Alderman Marilyn possible site for an M4 growing Lyde Green Shortwood Road at the Siston through the fields in front of Palmer, a former district and junction with a link road development, and that is still Lane Junction, and continue Parkfield Rank and then parish councillor. She was over their treasured fields. an option. between Siston and down to Siston Lane. applauded after her About 100 residents turned But last week we revealed Shortwood to join the A4174 Among those at the meeting impassioned letter was read up to Pucklechurch Parish that a £500,000 Government- ring road. were people who live in the out at the meeting (you can Council’s meeting at the funded study, being led by The route from the junction rank of houses near the read it in full on page 11). community centre last South Gloucestershire with the M4/B4465 proposes proposed junction at She said: “My initial reaction Wednesday and it was moved Council in partnership with two options for the link road Westerleigh Road, including on reading the proposal was outside to the car park to Highways England, has also near Pucklechurch. One Angela Day, who told The complete disbelief – the accommodate everyone. suggested a junction further passes close to the north-west Week In that she was proposed route could not It has been widely assumed east at Westerleigh Road (the edge of Pucklechurch along horrified at the prospect of a possibly be more disruptive. that a ‘Junction 18a’, aimed at B4465) near the pet Westerleigh Road and then THE WEEK IN Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, Marilyn Palmer Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge. 16,000 copies are distributed through retail outlets, libraries, pubs, community centres each week. Verified pick-up rate of 97%. Publisher Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA 0117 986 0381 www.theweekin.co.uk ISSN: 2052-9767 Managing Editor Stephen Rodgers [email protected] News Editor Becky Feather 07973 839936 Contributors Christine Rogers and Greg Taylor Advertising Jodie Deason and Tracy Broderick 0117 986 0381 [email protected] @theweekineditor No material in this publication, nor its associated website (www.theweekin.co.uk) may be reproduced without the written permission of Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. All rights reserved. Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. t/a The Week In is regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor for the Press CIC. As such, we adhere to the IMPRESS complaints procedure. A copy of this procedure can be found on our website or can be sent upon written request to the address above. 4 The Week in • Wednesday 12th July 2017 Pucklechurch branded ‘crazy’ It appears to be an would cut off the community inexplicably long link road to at Parkfield Rank from the ring road that will have a Pucklechurch village. She major impact on also highlighted the impact Pucklechurch. on houses close to the “Yet the arguments put proposed junction, and a raft forward by Chris Skidmore of other concerns including MP were for a new junction disruption during construc- to serve the science park. tion. Adjacent to the science park, “I trust that the parish council the M4 and the ring road are will, from the outset, object in practically adjoining. The the strongest possible terms proposed (Pucklechurch) to this crazy proposal,” she route makes no sense at all. said. The parish council “It will be entirely within the unanimously resolved to Parkfield Rank Green Belt and the visual oppose the Pucklechurch impact of the proposal on the option and chairman Bob Public consultation is Hall, who represents Skidmore, who has been character and appearance of Symons urged local people to expected to start in the Pucklechurch, will be invited campaigning for a Junction the rural landscape will be make their voices heard. coming weeks and there will too. 18a, told us he has always significant. It is inevitable He said he had been told that be a public meeting on 12th The Week In has asked Mr said it would make most that this will lead to more building the road through the September at Pucklechurch Hall to comment and we sense to have the junction land being opened up for Green Belt would be a Community Centre which understand he is seeking a either behind the science development in the Green cheaper option. (Approval will be attended by South meeting with South Glos park, or at the Willy Wicket Belt.” would need to be obtained Glos councillors, officers and Council and making the case junction, where the ring road She said Pucklechurch was a from the Secretary of State to the project team. Kingswood for the site near the science and the M4 are effectively conservation village, as was remove land from the Green MP Chris Skidmore and park.