For the first one - because there is a gap on the South Gloucestershire definitive map data between LPU 48,49 and LPU 47. This can be seen on the overlays at https://osm.mathmos.net/prow/progress/south-gloucs/-/pucklechurch/ or when importing the footpath data as an overlay for JOSM.
For the second point - that makes some sense. I'll bear that in mind.