Green Belt Land Needed to Meet New Housing Targets
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THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 497 25th October 2017 Read by over 40,000 people each week Green Belt land needed to meet new housing targets 105,000 new homes are be possible to build the extra conclusions of the West of the report is currently being needed in the region by 44,000 houses without England Joint Spatial Plan considered by the West of 2036 of which only around taking land from the Bristol which the public will get to England councils of 60% have currently been and Bath Green Belt. view their comments on B&NES, Bristol, North provided for. And it will not Those are the key next month. A final draft of Somerset & South Gloucestershire. A dozen strategic deve- lopment locations have been identified for additional housing which include Whitchurch (2.500 homes), Keynsham (1.500) and 750 new houses on the site of the Brislington Park & Ride once it is located to Hicks Gate. You can read more on pages 6 & 7. ‘Junction 18a vital to unlocking potential for housing’ Roads Minister Jesse Belt and divide historic way. The nearest areas to Norman has said that communities. Pucklechurch and Lyde building a Junction 18a on Mr Norman said he would be Green that are earmarked for the M4 will “be vital to talking to Highways major new housing deve- unlocking the potential for England’s chief executive this lopments are Coalpit Heath, housing developments in week. where 1,800 new homes are that area”, a remark which People in Pucklechurch have mentioned in the JSP, and will do nothing to lift the been told many times that the Yate, where 2,000 homes are “cloud of uncertainty” that new junction is about being mooted. the local MP had just told reducing congestion and We understand that letters of him is hanging over unlocking economic potential concern have been fired off to Chris Skidmore (l) & Luke Hall (c) met recently with Transport Pucklechurch. - not about housing. And Mr Hall from people in Secretary Chris Grayling to discuss concerns about the eastern option Mr Norman was responding although housing at Pucklechurch, and The Week to a Parliamentary question Pucklechurch is not included In has also asked him to Transport Study appeared to 18a consultation, both Mr last week from MP Luke in the updated regional Joint respond to Mr Norman’s indicate from the provisional Hall and Kingswood MP Hall, who asked the minister Spatial Plan (JSP) which has comment about housing. cost and 6km long link road Chris Skidmore backed to speak to Highways just been published, the There has already been that the new junction and link residents’ opposition to the England to rule out minister’s words imply that unease about the consultative will be at Pucklechurch. eastern proposals and Pucklechurch (the eastern housing is a major part of the process for Junction 18a, South Glos Council has reiterated that if the eastern option) for the junction as decision process. which closed last week, stressed there is no pre- proposals are chosen by the early as possible, calling it an The other option for Junction including the outcry in determination of the Highways Agency, they “undeliverable and 18a is Lyde Green where a Pucklechurch last month £500,000 study. would both withdraw support unsupportable proposal” that massive housing develop- when the draft Final Report Meanwhile in their formal for the necessary funding would devastate the Green ment is already well under of the West of England Joint submission to the Junction from the Government. 2 The Week in • Wednesday 25th October 2017 Former Bristol Rovers Chairman Geoff Dunford dies Former Bristol Rovers age. Chairman Geoff Dunford “Geoff quietly and peacefully died on Saturday after a passed away at home with his long illness. He was 66. wife Sharon, sons Peter and Paying tribute, the club said it Matthew and step-daughters was saddened to learn of his Jessica, Esther and Kathryn at death, adding: “Geoff and his his side. father, Denis, did so much to “Geoff had very bravely keep Rovers going back in battled a long-term illness 1986 and he will always be and throughout displayed remembered for the major great courage, humour, role he played in the history strength and faith. Geoff Dunford of our club.” “Geoff was well known as a In a statement released prominent businessman in the supported throughout Bristol. “We ask for family privacy at funeral will be announced in through the club his family west country, for his “At home, he worked just as this time and details of his due course.” said: “It is with great sadness involvement on the board of tirelessly as a husband, father that we announce the passing Bristol Rovers FC and for the and most recently a of Geoff Dunford on the various charity and grandfather. He will be morning of Saturday 21st community projects he greatly missed by us all. October 2017 at 66 years of Also in this week’s issue Dangerous driving laws strengthened following local campaign . pages 4 & 5 Changes to constituency boundaries proposed for next General Election . page 8 MP takes MenB vaccination campaign to Minister . page 13 “We feel abandoned” says south Keynsham residents . page 22 The Week in • Wednesday 25th October 2017 3 Armistice Day in Ministry of Justice agrees The Justice 4 Ross and who was fleeing from the sentence, but his hands were Keynsham Clare campaign, set up police. The 38-year-old tied. Due to stricter road closure applications, for Armistice Day after the death of the from Oldland Common had Since then, the grieving Keynsham Royal British Legion will not be observing the two- young couple killed by a 11 convictions for family of 34-year-old Ross minute silence at the Memorial Gates on Bath Hill on Armistice driver with an appalling disqualified driving and and 30-year-old Clare – Day (Saturday 11th November). list of motoring convic- four for dangerous driving. supported by Kingswood St John’s Church will be opening the church doors at 10.45am tions, has helped to secure Lovell received the MP Chris Skidmore - have until 11.15am where the Legion will be observing the two- another change in the law. minute silence at 11am. The vicar will say a prayer inside the maximum possible sentence worked hard to secure church where the plaques naming the fallen are. This will be On 27th January 2013, Ross for killing the couple, but changes in the law to get followed by the Bearing of Standards and the Last Post. and Clare Simons from this amounted to just 10 tougher sentences. They The Legion says that anyone wishing to come to the church to Hillfields were out for an years and six months. The have already campaigned observe the silence is more than welcome. The traditional afternoon ride on their judge said at the time that he successfully for an Remembrance Sunday (12th November) parade and service at tandem bike in Hanham wanted to give a longer increased punishment for the Memorial Park gates remains unchanged from previous when they were struck and years. killed by Nicholas Lovell, 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, Ross & Clare 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 25th October 2017 to strengthen dangerous driving laws drivers who kill while injury or death by careless “Over the course of this disqualified, with sentences driving whilst using a campaign, I raised this issue rising from a minimum of mobile phone. with the former Prime two years to 10 years. Mr Skidmore said: “I am Minister, David Cameron, Earlier this year Mr delighted that the Ministry I have met with the Skidmore, Ross's parents of Justice has decided to Secretary of State for Dawn and Edwin Simons, press ahead with these Justice on several occasions and his sister Kelly changes to the law. The and in 2014 I scheduled Woodruff met the Justice public response to the recent a debate in the House Secretary Liz Truss to consultation was of Commons on dangerous discuss a consultation on the overwhelmingly supportive driving on the anniversary maximum sentence for of introducing tougher of Ross and Clare’s death. dangerous driving offences sentences, this demonstrates I was also humbled by being increased from 14 just how powerful the the level of support years to life imprisonment. strength of feeling is from local residents with Chris with Ross & Clare’s family handing in the 15,000- And after overwhelmingly surrounding this issue.