The News

Below is an article sent to me regarding car parking for on the Bristol Downs for visitors to the Zoo
To me 60 days a week is acceptable, am I alone in thinking so?

In the October issue of ‘The Boot’, Jane Wood asked members to check this site for a ‘pro forma’ letter objecting to the renewal of the Zoo’s planning permission to use the Downs as a car park. This request was overtaken by the planning application being considered unexpectedly quickly, on 22 October.

The good news is that the Planning Committee was unanimous in rejecting the Zoo’s application for permission to park up to 600 cars on 60 days a year for a further three years. The bad news is that they gave permission for another year, to allow alternatives such as shuttle buses from the Portway park-and-ride to be put in place, and that the year will start only after a legal agreement on ecological monitoring and transport discussions has been put in place.

We have been here before: the first planning permission, in 1999, was for one year only but it was followed by two longer ones. The legal agreement following the Committee’s 2003 decision took two and a half years to negotiate. And neither the Zoo nor the Council has ever put effective alternatives in place.

You can help to ensure that this one year permission marks the end to zoo parking on the Downs by:

Dogs on walks

The committee have revised their guidance concerning dogs on walks. As before, dogs should be kept on leads at all times but we are now recommending that anyone wishing to bring a dog on a walk telephones the leader in advance to ensure that the route is suitable for canine participation.

HELP!

Walks Regrading

There is a small amendment to the walks grading system. The A grade covers a wide range of walks, from less difficult undulating routes to near-hillwalks. To encourage members to try A walks we shall identify those suitable for potential new recruits by grading them "easier A".

TICKS!
Take care! THREE people in Congresbury have contacted Lyme Disease from TICKS.
These were from local walks

I have just bought a 'TICK REMOVER' from the vet in Yatton a simple devise costing £3.50 It is called 'O TOM' Their site is worth a look at (www.otom.com) You get 2 sizes in a packet, I expect I will be giving it a try when I next walk on the Mendip Hills!
Ticks are unpleasant but usually harmless, so don't panic
It is recommended that you tuck trousers into socks, wear long sleeves and generally 'cover up' Personally I am not in favor of that as the little blighters get under clothing whatever you wear. A GOOD insect repellent works OK, I bought some in the USA that was recommended for protection against ticks and it did work VERY well. If you can find a repellent that has a tick repellent in it, BUY IT and USE IT, then enjoy the freedom of short sleeves and short trousers. Even so examine your skin when you get home

The tick is seldom found the same day, you will find that you start itching a day or two later, when you examine the place this happens, you will see a small black spot (pin head size) Get it out!

INFORMATION ON LOCAL BUS SERVICES

Those of you over 60 can obtain a Diamond Travel Card allowing free bus travel on any journey (After 9.00am Mon-Fri)

Leaflets giving bus times can be obtained from Bristol Bus Station or from the Travel Information Centre on Colston Avenue. A map showing routes in Greater Bristol is also available.

Information can be found on line by selecting either timetables or supported bus routes at

A map is available showing all bus routes in North Somerset with brief details of operating days and frequencies.

A book giving times for First Bus Services in North Somerset can be obtained from Bristol Bus Station, from the Travel Information Centre on Colston Avenue, from Weston tourist information center or the First bus office at Weston. This costs 20p.

Details of the bus services in North Somerset not operated by First bus can be found in a free booklet for bus services in Mendip area issued by Somerset County Council. This can be obtained from the places detailed above as well as Bath Bus Station and Tourist Information Centers in Frome, Wells and Glastonbury.

A map is available showing all bus routes in Bath and North East Somerset with brief details of operating days and frequencies.

A book giving times for First Bus Services in Bath and North Somerset can be obtained from Bristol Bus Station , from the Travel Information Centre on Colston Avenue and from Bath Bus Station. This costs 20p.

Details of the bus services not operated by First bus which run from BANES into Somerset can be found in a free booklet for bus services in Mendip area issued by Somerset County Council. (Phone 0845 345 9155). This can be obtained from the places detailed above as well as Tourist Information Centres in Frome, Wells and Glastonbury.

Details of the bus services not operated by First bus which run from BANES into Wiltshire can be found in a free booklet for bus services in West Wiltshire area issued by Wiltshire County Council. (Phone 01225 713000). This can be obtained from Bath bus station and Tourist Information Centres in Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury.

For details of the bus services not operated by First bus which run from BANES into South Gloucestershire see below.

From here you can get details of bus timetables but also by going to ‘more in this topic’ (top right hand corner of screen) you can select ‘bus routes – area guides’.

Each of these guides has both a map of routes and timetables for routes in the area.

As well as seeing them on the website some are available from Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury tourist information centres.

Leaflets for the First Bus services from Bristol to Yate and Chipping Sodbury, to Thornbury and Dursley and to Newport and Cwmbran are available from Bristol Bus Station. Also from tourist information centres at Chipping Sodbury, Thornbury and Newport respectively.

Leaflets giving timetables for bus services in South Gloucestershire not operated by First bus are produced by South Gloucestershire council. As well as seeing them on the website some are available from Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury tourist information centres, from Bath Bus Station, from Bristol Bus Station and from the Travel Information Centre on Colston Avenue .

Details of the bus services not operated by First bus which run from South Gloucestershire into Wiltshire can be found in a free booklet for bus services in West Wiltshire area issued by Wiltshire County Council. (Phone 01225 713000). This can be obtained from Bath bus station and Tourist Information Centres in Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury.

Finally times for buses throughout the UK can be found from the Traveline website.

Single copies for £4-00.
Add £1-50 for postage & pkg, and send your order to the address below.

Order your copy of Bristol Backs direct from the Bristol Group Ramblers for
only £4.00, plus £1.50 P&P. Send a cheque payable to "Bristol Group of the
Ramblers’ Association", c/o 57 Somerset Road, Bristol, BS4 2HT.