CAMPAIGN groups have to start somewhere. And where better than at grass roots level?

Local groups in the Yate area are proving they can be assertive, highly capable and most importantly extremely effective no matter how big or small the issue.

Take people living along Frampton End Road in Nibley for example. They have lived for years with the blight of speeding motorists using their rural lane as a rat-run endangering the lives of themselves, their children and their animals.

But after watching as the problems became exacerbated by an increasing amount of traffic on the roads and once it was decided action was needed, there was no stopping them.

And despite years of letter writing and lobbying, despondency and near desperation, they never gave up and now, finally, the residents of Frampton End Road have won victory in their quest to get their road closed to traffic.

In contrast, people in Pucklechurch are only just embarking on their struggle with the authorities to reverse a decision to turn Ashfield Young Offenders’ Institution into an adult jail for sex offenders. They may have months, even years, of fight ahead of them but the strength of feeling that they have been wronged by ministers whose decision was made with no local consultation, and their everyday proximity to the problem will no doubt see them through.

Displays of determination like these are not unique, however, and are visible in similar guises in every town and city across the country.

It is not only big, international campaign groups and charities which have the commitment to carry out their objectives. Even Comic Relief started somewhere.