LOOKING back on some of the stories the Gazette has reported through the years...

October 1977

REPAIRS to bring the Severnside fire station at Pilning up to standard turned out to cost double the figure originally anticipated.

Avon County Council’s land and buildings committee faced a shock bill of £45,000 for work that was originally thought to cost £20,000.

Cllr Gwynville Lawson told the committee: “I went down to the station in 1974 when the rain was pouring through the roof.

“I went down again this year and it had deteriorated a lot.

“It is really in a shocking state and it is terrible for the men who have got to work there.”

But her move to get the work put in hand immediately was rejected by the committee, with talks instead being held with Avon’s public protection committee to find where the extra money could come from.

October 1987

A DECISION on whether to allow a total of 160 houses to be built in Wickwar was deferred by Northavon planning chiefs.

Councillors agreed at a meeting of the planning committee not to consider the two applications until after a discussion on the Rural Areas Local Plan.

Residents were up in arms about the applications from Crest Homes for 80 houses on land at Southfields and from West Country Breweries, the Tortworth Estate and Gillguard for 80 homes off Station Road.

Villagers said they were particularly worried that the proposal by Crest Homes to demolish a stone wall in a conservation area would lead to the road being straightened and an increase in traffic speed.

A group demonstrated outside the council offices before the committee met and handed a 500-signature petition protesting at the Station Road development.