Local odds and ends: manholes, roads, school safety

Photo: Ruscombe

Hedge planting and pond survey

4th March 10am to 1pm - Hamwell Lease hedge planting and March to April a pond survey is being carried out in Cainscross with a Pond Fair planned at Cainscross Primary School at 10am on 24th May: for more info contact Ivi on 753358. This "Greenspaces in Cainscross" project by Stroud Valleys Project has been hugely successful - Randwick Scouts have been out lots helping - bulbs planted, new hedges at Humphreys' Close and more. Others have also joined in - local schools like Archway, Ruskin Mill students, volunteers from a local forestry company, the Cainscross Wildlife Group and more. Parents who have joined children in helping have remarked how nice it is to spend quality time as a family with their children rather than all the usual interrupions of normal family life.

Overflowing manhole incident on 10-01-07 by A.S. Cooke's yard in Puckshole

Severn Trent tell me that the incident was confirmed as roots, root cutting had been undertaken downstream but some roots immediately adjacent to the manhole were still present (this occurs sometimes when the equipment is put into the system it can miss the first few roots as the cutting commences) - the roots have now been removed and all root cutting along the length has been completed. The system is remaining on planned maintenance until a scheme to overcome the roots is completed. Also Severn Trent have now had approval to progress a scheme which will probably include relining however the engineers are now looking at the system and will propose final details of the scheme in due course. Timescales will depend upon workloads. The Ruscombe Brook Action Group are delighted that the problem here has been recognised and solutions being considered.

Lower Street, Whiteshill still closed

Update: they are going to work in front of the wall on the private residence side which will need planning permission. Apparently the planning process takes 8 weeks, so they are looking at starting the repairs in May.

Ruscombe Road to close

Glos Highways are saying they are planning to close Ruscombe Road so that they can repair the wall supporting the carriageway by the Old Co-Op. The dates they have given are 19th March for 2 weeks. The Parish Council have raised a number of issues re this - see minutes on their website.

Climate change in the Western Daily Press

My 1000 wod comment re climate change appears in todays' Western Daily press. See it here.

WaRbler - future editions!

Whiteshill and Ruscombe residents will have recieved the first issue of the Parish newsletter - should be a copy on the Parish website. Future editions are being planned - a meeting to choose topics for next edition is planned - let WaRbler know direct or I will pass info onto next editorial meeting.

Main Road / Highfield Road Box Junction outside Whiteshill School

There have been proposals for a box to replace the zigzag lines opposite the school - apparently at the request of the school - I am unclear how much consultation has taken place but it looks like this will go ahead. I personally am generally unhappy about more road paint and suspect a box will do little to improve the situation - cars already ignore the zig zag area and my fear is that more paint will distract drivers from looking out for children. I consider other
measures are necessary to slow traffic and reduce parking there...and will continue to campaign for them - at the very least we should have a 20 mph zone.