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

October 1986

A PETITION to keep open a controversial street off Thornbury High Street was met with opposition.

The campaign was to save Soapers Lane, which was stepped up in the early 1970s amid a storm of protest, prior to St Mary Centre being built.

First Joan Hall, an ex-mayor of Thornbury, was asked to move on by Grosvenor Developments as she canvassed for signatures on its property, followed by Cllr Sheila Eardley-Wilmot, who was told by police to remove her card table from the High Street, being told she was causing an obstruction.

But a few days afterwards, a jubilant Cllr Eardley-Wilmot announced that over 500 signatures had been obtained on the first two days.

October 1996

THICK black smoke from a bonfire could be seen for miles as it hung in the sky over Northavon.

The billowing smoke came from a fire of old tyres, wood and farm rubbish set alight by a farmer in a Rangeworthy field.

Police attended when the fire got out of control, with two fire engines being called.

A CONTROVERSIAL go-kart track in the green belt at Winterbourne was given the go-ahead by the Secretary of State for the Environment following a planning appeal.

An appeal was launched against Northavon District Council’s decision to refuse permission to build the circuit for petrol driven go-karts in Trench Lane, because it was within the Bristol green belt.

October 2006

A PENSIONER in Chipping Sodbury criticised South Gloucestershire Council after claiming workers took 12 hours to come out to a flood in the town.
Kenneth Evans, 68, said the flood was an annual occurrence caused by heavy rainfall, but this year’s was the worst he had ever seen.

“There are meant to be pumps there to stop the flooding but these always seem to pack up and we are left with a flood that blocks the road,” he said.

But South Gloucestershire Council responded saying an engineer came within an hour to Bowling Hill Road, but regrettably the water could not be cleared until the volume of water had time to clear.

GROUPS in need of volunteers were asked to register with the Volunteer Centre in Yate.

The centre, based in the shopping centre, was there to help place volunteers at any type of group and organisation in the area.

A featured request made at the time came from Wickwar Car Home for people who go in and chat with residents.