Celebrating some big steps forward

WE have taken some big steps forward in South Gloucestershire, but there is much more to do.

Our plan to get South Gloucestershire moving has had great success, with planning permission to re-open Charfield Railway Station being granted, following strong community support which demonstrated to the council and the West of England Combined Authority the need to get these plans over the line.

The village’s railway services will be a vital asset for our people in our community to commute to work, visit friends and family, or travelling to school and college.

There are also plans to create a new cycle path up Thornbury Hill, which will bring clear benefits to the local community, providing greater infrastructure to people looking to make use of sustainable forms of transport.

We have also had positive national announcements for school funding, with South Gloucestershire’s per pupil funding increase of 6.9%, significantly above the national increase.

A new Two Bridges special educational needs school is being built in Alveston and we are refurbishing our rural schools. Work at Marlwood has been completed, and construction at Castle School is set to be completed in September next year. South Gloucestershire Council provided more than £14 million for the programme for both schools.

On the environment, South Gloucestershire Council are currently trialling a scheme to collect soft plastic recycling waste from the kerbside.

The trial has been a great success so far, and I will make sure we see this rolled-out in Thornbury, our neighbouring villages, and across all of South Gloucestershire as soon as possible.

I will continue to campaign against the Buckover proposals, which would mean a vast extension onto the edge of Thornbury, transforming the identity of our town and infringing on our landscape and natural environment.

Thornbury Health Centre also remains firmly on the agenda. I have met with the Health Minister, as we await announcements on the future of Thornbury Health Centre.

South Gloucestershire Council have purchased the site of the old Thornbury Hospital, removing the key barrier, and I will continue to push for the Department of Health and Social Care to accept our £13 million bid.

This will deliver greater primary care and outpatient services, mental health provision, more social care beds, and a specialised unit to help and support the elderly community receive care in their home.

Thornbury needs this facility more than ever before, and I continue to do everything possible to make sure we have a successful outcome.

We have made a huge amount of progress, but there is lots more still to do to keep South Gloucestershire the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family.

Alexandra Orchard is an osteopath specialising in stress-related chronic pain.

PLANTAR fasciitis is one of the most common orthopaedic complaints. It is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, thick tissue that connects the heel to the forefoot, up to the heads of the toes.

The plantar fascia’s purpose is to act as a shock absorber, even out weight distribution and support the foot arch.

During walking or running it elongates as the foot contacts