Your opinion is sought

The Rugby Club kindly agreed to open their bar to the village on certain Fridays, as the village doesn’t have a pub where everyone can meet and socialise. There were only 10 of us at the recent TGIF. Whilst it was pleasant enough for us, it is now uneconomical for the staff.

We need to decide on the future and the format of the event. Therefore, we would appreciate if as many villagers as possible could kindly complete the questionnaire by the end of the month.

Please reply by 31st October.

A Book of Bears

During lockdown earlier this year, my sister Shelagh sent regular photos of what her three large teddy bears were doing to her grandchildren to make them laugh. She ended up with over 50 photos of bears involved in various activities.

As these photos were very popular with other children, or those who are young at heart, she has now put them into a book with captions.

The book makes an excellent Christmas Present for any age range from 2 to 92! ALL the proceeds of the book are going to the National Deaf Children’s Society. A charity that is special to Shelagh, and they have written a very supportive piece in the book.

To order a copy

Anyone who would like a copy of the book can either:

• contact me as I have copies at home. (saves postage)
• or email the Three Bears!
• Cost £8 from myself or £10 (with postage) from the Three Bears

Please spread the word

If you can download and print the poster it would be much appreciated.

Latest Numbers

The BBC and others are fixated on UK news. Are we SO insular these days? Looking at the Worldwide COVID-19 Dashboard I see that not only has the 40M case number been passed but the 400K new cases per day also. The whole of the EU (and UK) is also now in the midst of a second “wave”. In March the peak was at the 30K per day level at present it’s 115K per day.

Of course this is not the whole story as most people in March were not tested, so the estimated daily infection rate for March is probably higher than now.

Worrying Trend for the UK

However, behind the current statistics is a worrying trend. So whilst the current estimated daily infection rate for the UK is around 17.5K per day, well short the peak 100K per day in March, unless something drastic is done in the UK this could rise to 85K by the end of the year. This would also mean that the same number of ICU beds that we needed in May would be needed in January. Unfortunately we are due to run out of ICU beds in early November……

Community Internet Radio for Wotton under Edge and beyond

Started during lockdown Edge Radio from Wotton under Edge is steadily growing in content and popularity. Now with our own Mike Henton on the radio in the Boo and You show it will grow from strength to strength!

How to Listen and Contact

• On the Internet
• Facebook
• Station Schedule and other ways to listen

The Roundabout on A38 at J13 of M5

Everyone must have seen the impressive road workings at the A38 roundabout. This is where the new canal is being put through. The Missing Mile refers to the section of the Stroudwater Navigation from the A38 to the Oldbury Brook. It was infilled when the M5 was built and the road from the A38 to the M5 J13 is actually built on the infilled canal.

M5 Underpass

The next obstruction for the new canal is the M5 itself. Here there is an existing underpass for the River Frome. The plan is for a new concrete canal channel to be added alongside the river. However the level of the new canal would have to be lower than the normal river level. In order to achieve the required headroom for navigation. A consequence of this is that during flood events the canal channel would be unusable.

Costs

The current estimated costs are £23M. However I cannot find a finish date at present.

Further Reading

If you are interested in the above I suggest the site Cotswold Canals in Pictures – Phase 1b Overview as the starting place. Also the Gloucestershire Highways – A38 Canal Bridges

Fascinating Fact

The Stroudwater Navigation is still a company owned by the current owners of the original 200 shares. A separate Trust owns just over half and runs the company. In 2005 the company leased the canal back to the then British Waterways for 999 years.

Wotton Area Climate Action Network

Wotton Area Climate Action Network or C.A.N. are a community-led Climate Action Group. Serving Wotton-under-Edge and the surrounding areas Wotton Area C.A.N. aims to help residents and businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. Towards a goal of helping the area become carbon neutral by 2030.

Wotton CAN news

Despite not being able to hold public meetings in person, Wotton CAN has lots to offer its supporters. To keep up with all news, subscribe to the free monthly newsletter – full of interest, useful tips and information on many Climate issues.

Also visit the website follow on Facebook or email

September 2020 Newsletter can be downloaded here

Time to have your say

Highways England are launching a consultation on the updated designs for the ‘A417 Missing Link’. The A417 is a key route linking the South West and Midlands.

Following feedback last year, Highways England have made some changes to parts of the route. Residents, businesses and commuters can now have our say.  From Tuesday 13 October 2020.

The planned upgrade of the A417 will see a single lane stretch of carriageway between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley roundabout in Gloucestershire, upgraded to dual carriageway. Considerably benefiting road users, local communities and businesses.

The consultation runs from Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 12 November 2020. Feedback will help Highways England develop its application for a Development Consent Order to be submitted early next year.

One of the best ways to find out more about the proposals and have your say is to visit the online exhibition.