If you have comments to make on this proposal, they may be given to Network Rail before the end of August 2010, to the following email address:

crwest@networkrail.co.uk (alternatively telephone 08457-114141)

Please consider copying any emails and replies to clerk@charfieldparishcouncil.org.uk

There are of course minor issues yet to be cleared off the snagging list, including some work on the flat swings, but the whole installation was inspected last week with no defects of significance. We know how disappointing it was that the play area was not open for the school summer holidays. However, we’re on the final approach now and hope to formally open in a few weeks time.

Today – 20th August 2010 – the following update has been received from NRG Ltd.

Nationwide Recycling Group (NRG) Ltd wish to inform the local people of Charfield of their intentions regarding the plastic material currently stored in the yard. We have been consecutively let down by aforementioned baler supplier and have terminated our relationship with them.  We have managed to find alternative suppliers and there are a number of possibilities, however, other events have now taken over and because of this we will be altering our plans going forward.

We have secured premises in Avonmouth and as a result of this (as it stand today) it looks as if we will have the baler delivered directly to the new location and simply collect and deliver the plastic at Charfield to the new site.  I should also point out that activity in Charfield will not fully cease until the end of our lease in December but the quantity of material stored there (if any) will be greatly reduced.

I cannot say at this point on what timescale we will be working to – but rest assured it is in our best interests commercially to ensure this happens ASAP.

If you have any further queries / concerns regarding this site – please contact the Parish Clerk – in the normal manner.

Despite Councillors spending considerable personal time watering with hosepipe and bowser, large parts of the turf died back. Currently, the dead turf is being removed while we consider our options. Those options will be based upon the limited funds we have at our disposal.

There is no doubt that the play area will look superb once the grass is restored and the final snagging is completed on the contract with Jane’s Pond. In the meantime please bear with us, keep out of the construction area, and understand that we share your disappointment that the play area cannot be opened during the school holidays.

These village clean-ups have been very successful over recent years – the Spring Clean in March and the Autumn Litter Pick in September. Apart from the obvious improvement in the environment, many folk have appreciated the opportunity to put something good back into their community. Hopefully this year will be well attended and offer better weather than we had in the spring…

Councillors will be on hand between 10h00 and 16h00 to give out gloves, black bags and litter pickers (we’d like the pickers back please!) to anyone willing to volunteer an hour or so of their time. We’ll have a list of village areas, in order to ensure everywhere gets a looking at and nowhere gets a wasted second visit, but if you know of somewhere you want to give special attention to that’s fine too. There’s an obvious opportunity as well, to speak with one or more of your Councillors and put questions and comments to them.

This trial came to an end with a final review meeting on 13th July 2010.

South Gloucestershire Transportation Services’ Senior Safety Engineer confirmed that there had been no reported accidents or transport related injuries in Charfield village in 2009 or thus far in 2010. Police statistics showed a slight fall in crime throughout the trial (from 49 to 34 reported incidents).

Both the Parish and County Council representatives agreed the trial had proven the technology and the principle of switching off streetlights during the middle of the night, and Charfield Parish Council later Resolved that the trial should henceforth become permanent.

The minutes of the final review meeting are available here.
A copy of the working Risk Assessment is here, and a copy of the original Criteria is here. Police crime statistics for Charfield village are here (before) and here (after).

Post-Trial Project Summary

page updated 31 August 2010

Despite Councillors spending hours pumping water from bowsers and hose-pipes, the turf has shrunk and browned in several areas. May be it will die if we have no substantial rain soon. It is more than distressing to see our plans for a summer opening come to nought, but plainly this area will not be useable for some time. We are continuing to water the turf in the hope that rain will allow some of the remaining grass to grow, and keep the turf alive, and offer our apologies to the children who were hoping to use the facility during the summer holidays.

If you have any information regarding the vandalism on the night of of Friday 2nd July, the Police Crime Reference is 80368-10.

There is opportunity to examine and discuss the Core Strategy – that takes over from the Local Plan and continues South Gloucestershire’s direction between now and 2026 – on Thursday 29th July from 18h30 at the Memorial Hall, Charfield. This is followed by a Safer Stronger Communities Group meeting, to which you are also warmly invited.

blue = diversion, green = current

The proposal is based around the risks inherent in crossing four tracks – the diversion would reduce this to two. Network Rail state “You may be aware that at present the crossing traverses 4 railway lines which means in turn that it can take pedestrians a longer time than is desirable to get between the stiles. Although vegetation clearance has taken place the sighting of approaching trains, especially from the Eastern side, is limited because of the curvature of the line. By diverting the route of the path as indicated it will traverse the railway a little further to the North than now to a location where users will only have to cross two railway lines and where their sighting of trains will be improved meaning that they will be able to cross more quickly and with more warning time.”

There is a meeting later this month between Network Rail, Parish and County Councils, and if a feasible solution results then a Consultation will be made at which views can be expressed. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the Clerk.