South Gloucestershire Council

The two administrative parishes of Olveston and Aust are within the Severnside Ward of the Unitary Authority of South Gloucestershire (www.southglos.gov.uk) being in the South West of England, approximately 120 miles West of London and immediately North of Bristol. The junction of the M4 and M5 motorways is within South Gloucestershire, giving excellent travel links to all parts of the country.

South Gloucestershire covers approximately 49,700 hectares or 192 square miles. It is an area of diversity and contrast with a variety of communities, attractive landscape combining fine unspoilt towns and villages with major areas of new residential, industrial and commercial development. The area stretches from the River Severn in the west to the Cotswolds in the east. Its southern boundary skirts Bristol, abuts the River Avon and extends almost to Bath, and its northerly boundary lies beyond Falfield on the A38.

Around 252,000 people live in South Gloucestershire. In the next few years the population is expected to continue to grow by approximately 2,500 per annum.

As the gateway to Wales and the west, both the first and second crossings of the River Severn lie within South Gloucestershire. The area is well served by the transport network with the M4/M5 interchange at Almondsbury. The M4 (London to South Wales) runs from east to west, the M5 (Birmingham to Exeter) runs from north to south, and the M32 gives direct access to Bristol. Main line inter city passenger rail services are available from Bristol Parkway station in Stoke Gifford.

The area has well established manufacturing industries (aerospace, engineering, food processing) and newer commercial development, largely located on business parks in the Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford areas. Many high technology companies are now based in South Gloucestershire and the area has also attracted a number of large employers in recent years including the Ministry of Defence Procurement Agency, AXA Sunlife and the RAC Regional HQ.

Within South Gloucestershire there are 44 parish and town councils, 35 wards and nearly 1,000 voluntary groups.

 

Thornbury, Alveston and Severn: Community Engagement Forum

In 2016, some local Safer Stronger Community Groups amalgamated.  Our local group (whose remit includes Olveston, Tockington, Old Down, Aust, Elberton and Littleton) is now the Thornbury, Alveston and Severn Community Engagement Forum. It met for the first time as a new group in February 2016.   This group discusses a surprisingly wide range of topics, from local crime to the infrastructure needs of new housing developments to road and traffic safety issues in our locality.  

You can read the agendas and minutes of the Community Engagement Forum meetings here.

 

 

Consultation on a reduction in services at South Gloucestershire Libraries

South Gloucestershire Council is required to make very significant savings and, as part of this process, they are carrying out a consultation about their preferred option for reducing library services in the area.  You can read their letter to Town and Parish Councils, dated 5 Oct 2016, here