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THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

11th May 2022

Issue 729

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Controversy as approval is granted for 213 homes on greenfield site at Keynsham Developers have controversially won planning permission to build another 213 homes on fields off the A4 Bath Road in Keynsham. There had been almost 600 objections, including from Keynsham Town Council, Saltford Parish Council and Saltford Environment Group, to Mactaggart & Mickel’s plans for the site known as Withies Green, opposite Pixash Lane. Most of the concerns related to the impact on the already congested A4, on air quality and the loss of greenfield land that helps to maintain the separation of Keynsham and Saltford. Another key concern was that the decision pre-empts the public examination that begins next month looking

The A4

Also in this week’s issue

at Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU) which guides development for the coming years. The outline planning permission also includes a new playing field for the new Two Rivers C of E Primary School that is being built at the neighbouring Hygge Park development, as well as allotments, a community orchard and open space. Most of the site – which is also bordered by Manor Road Community Woodland – was removed from the Green Belt in 2014 and ‘safeguarded’ to ensure that there was land available to meet future housing development needs. In 2018 Mactaggart & Mickel tried to get planning permission for some 200 homes but at the time the council refused, saying that the site was not currently needed for development and that the existing road network didn’t have the capacity to cope with the increase in traffic that would be generated. The developers lodged an appeal but dropped it last summer. The application they came back with has now been successful, with B&NES Council’s planning committee voting last Wednesday by a majority of six to four to

Victim of jailed Keynsham burglar speaks out . . . page 4

Justice 4 Ross and Clare campaign becomes law . . . page 5

Withies Green

accept the advice of the planning officer that there are now several significant considerations weighing in favour of the development, including a significant contribution towards maintaining a five-year land supply in B&NES. Thirty per cent of the homes will be affordable. It was also felt that council had been able to negotiate a good package of measures from the developers, including sustainable transport improvements. To ensure that the proposals do not prejudice plans to improve the Bristol to Bath Strategic Corridor, land along the northern edge of the site that could potentially be needed for any future metrobus proposals will be safeguarded. Continued on page 3

Land dispute leads to new Mangotsfield slip road plan . . . page 9

Jubilee celebrations start in Keynsham . . . page 11

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

‘Saltsham or Keynford?’ Since we posted the story about Withies Green on our website last week there has been a lot of reaction including concern about the narrowing of the gap between Keynsham and Saltford. Comments have included: “Saltsham or Keynford? Didn’t see anything affordable at Hygge and we won’t see anything affordable here, either.” Another observed: “Our lives will be ruined even more, can't get a doctor or a dentist, no decent supermarkets, no bus services to support all these new people and all the traffic this is going to create, Keynsham is becoming a concrete

jungle. “As for needing more homes. who will be able to afford them? Affordable housing means 30 per cent less than the market rate, with most new houses are from £349,00. It won't make much difference to people on £10 or £15 an hour. We need affordable social housing for working people and there's no lack of brownfield sites on the way into Bristol on good bus routes.” And one remarked: “There is going to come a time if we keep building on farmland, there will not be enough land to grow crops to feed ourselves.”

Controversy as approval is granted for 213 homes on greenfield site at Keynsham Continued from page 1 Part of the development site is still in the Green Belt but there is an assurance that there will be no new buildings on that part; instead it will be used for open uses only, such as the playing field, allotments and an orchard. Addressing the committee before they made their decision, Keynsham East councillor Andy Wait said the application made no provision to ease motorised traffic congestion. He said that as well as 250 homes being built next door at Hygge Park, a large nursing home is also being built opposite at Pixash Lane which will lead to more traffic on the A4, as will the large new recycling centre being built nearby, and land that has been set aside for commercial development further along the A4. Fellow ward councillor Hal MacFie, who sits on the planning committee and voted against the proposals, was concerned that it was being decided before the LPPU examination. He said the site was deemed sustainable by planners because it had a frequent bus service - which might be the case for people going to work in Bath or Bristol but not if you want to go and do some shopping in Keynsham town centre as there is only a once an hour or once every two hour service. Committee member Duncan Hounsell, who represents Saltford and also voted against the plans, said there were many positive features in the planning application for a future date but he felt now was not the time. After the meeting Cllrs Wait, MacFie and Hounsell said in a statement: "We are

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

disappointed that outline planning permission was given for 213 dwellings on this site on so-called ‘safeguarded land’. We believe the decision was premature. We would have preferred that the public had been given the right to voice their opinion at the hearings, about to take place, into the B&NES Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU) on whether or not this site should be brought forward for development." And Saltford Environment Group (SEG) issued a statement in which they also highlighted concerns that the decision preempts the LPPU in June for which the inspector in the pre-examination papers has queried the justification for the proposed allocation of this land for development in the Local Plan now. SEG said: “The democratic process allowing local parish and town councils or others to make the case to the public examination for preventing such early development before any genuine need to develop it has been proven, has been undermined. “This will be frustrating and very disappointing for the residents of Keynsham, Saltford and the surrounding area as they face the prospect of even more traffic congestion and the loss of more of the area's highly valued local green space that was supposed to be safeguarded against development until at least 2029 in the existing Local Plan.” The statement also said: “Few will deny that new homes are required and especially affordable homes for a growing population, but they must be built in appropriate locations and represent genuine sustainable development.”

‘Delay more housing until transport corridor improvements’ Another outline planning application for land nearby at Minsmere Road for 70 homes, open space and new access is pending consideration by B&NES Council. There have been more than 250 objections to Taylor Wimpey’s plans including from

The site at Minsmere Road

countryside charity CPRE. The council announced last year that it was

public transport arrangements. Since that time

planning to remove safeguarded status from

public transport services have been cut further.

the former Green Belt land as it updates its

“The local 178 bus service, which has ceased

vision for future housing development.

to serve Minsmere Road for several years, was

CPRE, which also objected to Mactaggart &

threatened with cancellation and has received

Mickel’s plans for Withies Green, has said it

what may only be a temporary reprieve.

is concerned about the loss of important Green

“We fully endorse the comments made by

Belt separating Keynsham and Saltford and

Saltford

the increase in car traffic from the housing

Environmental Group. In particular the loss of

from the Minsmere Road plans.

the Green Belt and the need to delay major

It has highlighted the “inadequacies” of the

housing developments in the area until further

applicant’s transport assessment which it says

improvements to the transport corridor are

did not seem to bear any relation to the

agreed, funded and constructed. This is

experiences of local residents or the actual

unlikely for many years.”

Parish

Council

and

Saltford

Two comments of support B&NES Council received just two supportive

increasing house prices are partly down to the

comments from the public for Mactaggart &

lack of new housing developments. There was

Mickel’s plans. Supporters suggested that

a plea to ignore the ‘not in my back yard’

Keynsham needs more housing and that ever

culture and support young people in hardship.

Elderly victim of jailed burglar speaks out

THE WEEK IN Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge.

A 32-year-old burglar from Keynsham has been jailed for two years and five months. Daniel Smith, of Balmoral Road, who runs Redwood Tree and Garden Services, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary. The burglaries took place at properties on Fairlyn Drive in Kingswood on 26th February and Guildford Road in St Annes Park in Bristol on 3rd March. Sentencing Smith last month, the judge also took two other burglaries into consideration – one at a neighbour’s property in Balmoral Road on 27th January and the other at Penfield Road in St Werburghs in Bristol on 31st January. Smith was forensically linked to the scenes of the Fairlyn Drive and Balmoral Road burglaries while items matching the description of those taken from the Balmoral Road address were recovered from his address when it was searched. Smith was also linked to the Penfield Road burglary following analysis of his phone data. In relation to the Fairlyn Drive burglary, Smith first broke into the shed and stole two crowbars which were then used to force entry via rear door. He then stole two suitcases and a safe all containing personal documents along with various items of sentimental jewellery. Bank cards stolen from the property were later used unsuccessfully to try to buy items from eBay and Just

Eat. One of Smith’s victims, a 73-yearold man who lives in Fairlyn Drive, has written to the Attorney General asking for the sentence to be extended and is angry that Smith could be released after eight months. He said he had known Smith for two years and Daniel Smith regarded him as one of the family, unaware that he had previously served time for firearms offences in Gloucestershire following a conviction in 2018. He said Smith stole from him, his daughter, and his 76-yearold sister, and was caught because he left blood on the back door at Fairlyn Drive. The pensioner said the safe had been ripped from the wall, causing £1,500 damage. He believes all the documents taken, including passports and birth certificates, had been burnt at Smith’s home. He said he had been left over £1,000 out of pocket and no compensation order had been made.

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The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

Justice 4 Ross and Clare campaign becomes law Judges now have the power to hand out life sentences for causing death by dangerous driving, thanks to a campaign set up in memory of a young couple who were killed in Hanham nine years ago. In January 2013, Ross and Clare Simons, from Hillfields, were out for an afternoon ride on their tandem bike on Hanham Road when they were struck and killed by Nicholas Lovell, who was fleeing from the police. The 38-year-old from Oldland Common already had 11 convictions for disqualified driving and four for dangerous driving. He received the maximum possible sentence available at the time but with his guilty plea, this was reduced to 10 years and six months. The judge said at the time that he wanted to give a longer sentence but his hands were tied. Lovell was subsequently released from prison in 2018 after serving five years. Together with Ross and Clare’s families, Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore set up the Justice 4 Ross and Clare campaign to call for the maximum sentence of life imprisonment for death by dangerous driving, and a petition signed by 15,000 people was handed in at 10 Downing Street. In 2017 the Ministry of Justice announced that it would be

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

increasing the maximum penalty for dangerous driving offences from 14 years to life. And as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which received Royal Assent on 28th April, that has now become law. This week Kelly Woodruff, Ross’s sister, said: “Myself and all my family are delighted to bring a very long nine-year campaign into its final stages. After losing Ross and Clare in 2013 we have always felt we needed to achieve something positive out of an awful situation. Changing the death by dangerous driving law from 14 years to life means the world to us, knowing we will be helping future victims and their families. “We’d like to thank Chris Skidmore and his team for all their help and dedication over the years on this campaign. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.” Mr Skidmore said: “I am delighted that the change which Ross and Clare’s family and myself have campaigned for during the past nine years has now become law. “For far too long, drivers who killed either through reckless or careless driving have not faced sentences which reflect the terrible damage and harm that they cause to families and local

Clare and Ross

communities. “Ross and Clare’s family should be immensely proud of what they have achieved and the positive change that has come from their tireless campaigning.” The family and MP had also campaigned successfully for longer sentences for offenders who ignore their driving bans and in 2014 it was announced that they would be jailed for up to 10 years for causing a death on the road, rather than for two years, while a banned driver who caused serious injuries would get up to four years. Previously there had been no specific offence of causing serious injury by driving while disqualified.

Oscar leads Bristol Rovers onto the pitch after life-changing op Little Oscar Cridge from Longwell Green led Bristol Rovers onto the pitch for their crucial promotion match at the weekend, just months after he underwent an operation that has enabled him to walk unaided. The five-year-old loves football and Rovers are his favourite team. He was hailed their “lucky charm” after they beat Scunthorpe 70, securing promotion out of League Two.

Oscar Walks on the pitch

Oscar was born with cerebral palsy, meaning he had limited mobility and needed a frame to move around. Unfortunately he didn’t fit the NHS criteria for a life-changing operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy so his parents Emma and Shaun started a fundraising campaign for it to be done privately. Helping them has been local fundraising

musician Darren Sims – Daz - and his thousands of supporters. Proceeds from a Christmas charity single he released helped the fund reach £60,000. On 15th January this year, Oscar, who attends Emersons Gren Primary School, went in for his six-hour operation at London’s Portland Hospital. It was a success and his parents are thrilled with the progress he has made. They were watching proudly as he walked unaided onto the pitch at the Memorial Ground on Saturday. Emma said the atmosphere was “buzzing” and the crowd were chanting Oscar’s name. “Oscar completely smashed it. He took it all in his

stride.” Oscar needs intensive rehabilitation three times a week, costing £90 an hour. If you would like to make a donation towards Oscar’s ongoing rehabilitation, visit https://tinyurl.com/3x4n8k49 • After reading Oscar’s story in Issue 727 last month, a reader gifted a book about Bristol Rovers, called The Gas Are Going Up, to Oscar. It has been produced by Gasheads Jack Turner and Jake Jones. Jake’s grandmother, who lives in Keynsham, gave us the book to pass on to Oscar. Grateful mum Emma sends her thanks and says Oscar has been loving it.

Oscar with his book

Council clears up confusion South Gloucestershire Council has made a statement following our story in last week’s issue about the closure of Flip Out in Longwell Green. A council spokesperson said: “We were sorry to learn that Flip Out Bristol will be closing later this month after reading their recent social media announcement, which was featured in the previous edition of The Week In.

“We do, however, want to be clear that we have not issued Flip Out Bristol with a Compulsory Purchase Order and we have no vested interest in the plans to redevelop their current site at Aldermoor Way in Longwell Green. “We’ve spoken with Flip Out to clear up any confusion and they have updated their social media post to reflect that we haven’t been involved in the matter.”

Oscar with his parents Shaun and Emma

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

Bristol votes to abolish the role of elected Mayor Bristol has voted to scrap a directly elected Mayor and return to having a council leader and committee system at City Hall. The referendum held last Thursday saw 56,113 Bristol residents voting for a return to the committee system and 38,439 choosing to continue with an elected Mayor. The turnout was 28.6%. The result of the referendum is expected to be ratified at an extraordinary meeting of the full council on Tuesday 24th May. Governance of the city will change in May 2024

Driving charges A 25-year-old man has been charged following the incident involving a silver Ford car travelling between Bristol and Keynsham in the early hours of Sunday 1st May. Macauley Tomlinson, from Midsomer Norton, has been charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

when current Labour Mayor Marvin Rees’s second term comes to an end. The city council says that work will be carried out between now and then to develop plans for the new arrangements. Last December city councillors passed a motion by 41 votes to 24 to hold the referendum. It was proposed by the Lib Dems and supported by the Greens and Conservatives. Labour councillors voted against. The mayoral post was first created in 2012. Supporters say it is more visible and effective but opponents argue that it puts too much power in the hands of one person. Mary Page, organiser of the cross-party campaign against the mayoral model, said the referendum result was a comprehensive rejection of the current system. She said the campaign was about saying “the city belongs to us, all of us, not just one person”. Marvin Rees said: “Despite real concerns I hope the committee system can deliver for our city – continuing our administration’s momentum

Marvin Rees

building a better Bristol in the face of enormous challenges, not least the national cost-of-living crisis, global migration crisis, and the climate and ecological emergencies. “We’ll keep working hard over the next two years to keep delivering for Bristol.”

Council leader pledges consultation over location of new Jubilee park The leader of South Gloucestershire Council has reassured the Cadbury Heath community that they will have a say in the location of a brand new £500,000 park to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Speaking at a local Community Engagement Forum last Tuesday, Oldland Parish Council’s clerk Claire Dolman asked Cllr Toby Savage for an update, saying that since his

Plants and cream teas There will be a plant sale and cream teas at St Peter`s Church at Skinners Hill, Camerton, on Saturday (14th May) starting at 2pm. Entry is free and everyone is welcome. All proceeds from the event will be for St Peter`s Church Fabric Fund.

Keynsham Wombles in pioneering national trial Keynsham Wombles have been chosen by Keep Britain Tidy as one of only four research projects across the UK looking at how signage influences littering behaviour. Keep Britain Tidy do research into littering behaviour and how to create change. The trial area is at the top end of Charlton Road where regular Womble Jim will litter pick as normal for four weeks, with all the litter he collects being weighed. Signs designed by Keep Britain Tidy will then be put in place and for the next four weeks Jim’s litter haul will be weighed again to see if the signs make any difference. Keep Britain Tidy have chosen to work with Keynsham Wombles because they are such an active litter picking group. Nearly 300 people are currently involved. Past research into signage has given conflicting results with some anecdotal evidence suggesting signs may even increase the amount of litter dropped in some areas, so Keep Britain Tidy are keen to get some proper statistics to influence the advice they give to councils and volunteer groups.

administration had announced in January that there would be a new park at an existing open space in Cadbury Heath, lots of people had been asking where it might be. Cllr Savage said there would be a consultation about locations, “rather than it being a decision that’s just taken by South Gloucestershire Council”. He added: “Clearly the benefit of that consultation is being able to involve the community in what is a fantastic opportunity to be able to upgrade one of the existing green spaces within Cadbury Heath.” He said the council is keen to tap into the enthusiasm there clearly is locally and that he would report back with an update on timescales. In January the council announced £500,000 was being allocated in its budget to transform an existing open space in Cadbury Heath into a brand new bio-diversity park to celebrate the Jubilee and in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh to celebrate his love for wildlife and nature.

The green spaces in Cadbury Heath are the former golf course, Coronation Park, Banjo Island and Tarzan Park.

Witness plea after knife incident Police investigating an incident involving a man acting in a threatening manner with a knife in Brislington are appealing for witnesses. The incident happened at around 7.30pm on Whitmore Avenue on Tuesday 26th April. A 37-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident and appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 28th April. He was released on bail with a condition not to return to the Brislington area pending a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 27th May. Police thank local residents who have already spoken to them and provided a statement. Anyone who hasn’t yet spoken to police but who has information which could help the inquiry is asked to call 101 giving the call handler the reference 5222098774.

Toby Savage

Flower festival Staple Hill Methodist Church will be celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a flower festival. On Friday 3rd June and Saturday 4th June the church will be open from 10am to 4pm. On Sunday 5th June visitors are welcome from 1pm to 5pm and there will be a Songs of Praise service from 6pm. Refreshments will be available every day.

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

Land ownership row sparks new slip road plans Proposals for a redesigned slip road into the waste and recycling site at Carsons Road in Mangotsfield have had to be drawn up because of a land dispute. Planning permission for a long-awaited slip road was granted last summer. The site is run by South Gloucestershire Council’s contractor SUEZ and the new road aims to relieve congestion from queuing vehicles. But now a revised planning application says that following approval of the plans last June, there were “some land ownership issues that prevented the council from implementing the design”. It adds: “These can be overcome by realigning the slip road to avoid the common land. The realignment would move the slip road further west, but still within the confines of the existing planning permission ‘red line’ boundary.” Changes are also proposed to the field access and traffic signals at the junction of Carsons Road Link and Carsons

Road from what was approved last year. The realignment also means fencing will be needed and gates on both the northern and southern ends of the new slip road. A gated access is also proposed at the realigned field access. A “very minor change” to the trees and shrubs that need to be removed is also planned. This week a spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “We are committed to constructing a dedicated slip road at Mangotsfield Sort It Centre to ensure easy access for members of the public, contractors, and to alleviate queuing and tailbacks which can impact the local road network at busy times. “We have been in regular contact with the concerned party over the common land issue and are currently waiting for a decision on the revised plan for the slip road.” The planning reference is P22/02349/RVC and the deadline for comments is 19th May.

Lorries queueing outside the site

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 15th May

2 -Hard

Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (10.30am-4pm) Asda, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) Boots, Emersons Green Retail Park (10.30am-4.30pm) Sainsbury’s, Emersons Green Retail Park (9.30am-4.30pm) Stockwood Pharmacy, 78 Hollway Road, BS14 8PG (9am-7pm) Keynsham Pharmacy, 15 Station Road, BS31 2BH (10am-4pm) Tesco, Callington Road, Brislington (10am to 4pm) Morrisons, 688-718 Fishponds Road, Fishponds (10am-4pm) Boots, Avonmeads Retail Park, St Philips Causeway (11am-5pm)

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

Police announce review after child is injured near Conham River Park Police have announced that they are reviewing an incident in which a boy aged 12 received a head injury near Conham River Park. On Saturday 26th March officers were called to a report that a woman had struck a child at about 3pm. There was an investigation which included police attendance, taking statements from the child and an adult family friend, and viewing phone footage. An arrest was made but the individual was de-arrested once officers had their name and address. Police say this was in line with guidelines which say

officers must consider alternatives other than arrest whenever practical. The person was later formally interviewed at a police station. In a statement last Friday police said that a realistic prospect of a conviction was not made out from the available evidence

oversight from a senior officer. It is being monitored by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the intention is to identify appropriate independent scrutiny so that our communities can have confidence in the outcome. “We're aware that a number of people were in that area

following the investigation and all parties were updated that there would be no further action. “When police decide not to prosecute, victims have a right to request that a review is completed by an officer not previously involved in the case. Since becoming aware of the injured boy's family's concerns through social media, officers have been in touch with them and initiated a review. We will maintain that contact as the review progresses. This review will be carried out by an experienced detective sergeant, with

afternoon. We’re keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the original incident, or who may have phone or other footage which could help.” Call 101 and give the reference 5222071897.

Open day at bowling club On Sunday (15th May) Keynsham Bowling Club will be holding their annual open day when the green plus all equipment will be made available to anyone who would like to come along and have a go. There will be two one-hour sessions in the morning at 10am and 11am with two more in the afternoon at 2pm and 3pm. If you are interested email club secretary David Hockney at david.hockney@icloud.com or call 07787 968874 to book a slot.

Crossword

ACROSS

58 Ukrainian refugees arrive in South Glos South Gloucestershire Council says that 114 local sponsors have been matched with 266 guests from Ukraine, 105 of them children. A total of 58 refugees have arrived in the district so far. The council says it is seeing around 10 to 12 additional matched sponsors per week but expects that number to increase over the coming weeks. School places have already been found for some Ukrainian children who have arrived, and support with trauma and English as an additional language is being arranged. Support such as with mental health and employment is also being established.

DOWN

1. Meeting schedule (6) 1. Help (6) 4. Moneylender (6)

2. Receding (6)

8. District adjoining a town (6)

3. Type of window (6)

10. Source (6)

6. Esteem (6)

11. Pale purple (5)

7. Park warden (6)

12. Separate (6)

9. Wounding remark (4)

14. Course at dinner (6)

10. Ended (4)

16. Attire (4) 17. Tall grass (4) 19. Land measure (4) 22. Metallic element (4) 26. Buy back (6) 27. Breed of sheep (6) 28. Essential (5) 29. Light rainfall (6)

5. Calm (6)

13. Move to music (5) 15. Male voice (5) 18. Reliable (6) 19. Abut (6) 20. Worship (6) 21. Islamic ruler (4) 22. Muslim prayer leader (4)

30. Unwholesome (6)

23. Charge weapon again (6)

31. Over there (6)

24. Agile (6)

32. Stick (6)

25. Breed of dog (6)

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

Jubilee celebrations begin in Keynsham The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations have already begun in Keynsham with the launch of a fun High Street trail and a community film project run by the town council as part of Keynsham's new Local Cultural Programme. The programme is led by Keynsham Cultural Consortium with support from Bath & North East Somerset Council and funding from Historic England, as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zones scheme and brings fun, innovative pop-up street events and activities to the town centre. The consortium has teamed up with outdoor geogame

Colourful spectacle at church There will be a special service at St John’s Church in Keynsham at 10.30am on Sunday 5th June to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. People are encouraged to wear red, white and blue to help make it a really festive occasion. In the days before, the outside of the church will be illuminated in purple at night, and inside Keynsham and Saltford Local History Society will have a display about Keynsham from the 1950s. The church will be open 9am to 5pm on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

company High Street Safari to run a free, augmented reality (AR) story trail until 12th June. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon Trail lets families choose what happens in the story as they explore the town to find QR codes, allowing them to collect stamps, meet the characters as they come to life in AR, and learn about one of the decades of the Queen’s reign. The trail is located at seven stops - Keynsham Leisure Centre, Keynsham Library, Temple Street Canteen, Trigaci, Conscience Foods, Oxfam Bookshop and Dalia Cocina. To participate you need a smart device. Information and a map can be accessed via www.hikeynsham.co.uk/event/jubileebeacontrail/ And a film called Keynsham Jubilee Conversations with memories of royalty and Jubilee celebrations gone by is being put together at a series of filming sessions in Keynsham Memorial Park with residents. Residents are asked to take along a piece of memorabilia, a photo, or just a thought or memory about the Queen, the Royal Family, and jubilee celebrations gone by.

The remaining sessions are this Saturday (14th May) from 12.30-1.30pm and on Sunday from 1.30-2.30pm. The film will be screened at Keynsham Baptist Church as part of the Jubilee Picnic in the Park on Saturday 4th June.

The Community Page Walk on the wild side Our community reporter Steff Condick takes advantage of two bank holidays close together and some fine weather to enjoy the natural delights on our doorstep. When we couldn’t go indoors, we really appreciated all the outdoors had to offer. From happy hares hopping over Hanham Hills, to sophisticated swans sailing through Saltford, there are so many lovely things to do and see, and all for free. So with the summer holidays and a bonus bank holiday approaching, remember you don’t have to spend a fortune to have fun, and making memories doesn’t have to cost money.

North Stoke With life finally returning to normality and things opening back up again, it can be easy to overlook the adventures we can have right outside our front door. We are lucky enough to live in an area with so much to offer, with wonderful wildlife and fantastic flowers in every direction. Of course it’s lovely to be able to go to the cinema again, and sit inside the pub, but if there is one thing we can learn from the past year, it is not to take for granted the relaxing rambles and pretty places for picnics we have available to us all the time, rain or shine.

With Bristol Zoo closing its doors, you may be wondering where to see amazing animals now, but they don’t have to be exotic to be exciting. On a walk around our local fields, hills and paths, you can spot grazing goats, leaping lambs (or lazy lambs depending on what mood they are in!) and even eccentric looking emus. If you know where to look – or are adventurous enough to try a trail you’ve never been before, then there are so many creatures great and small just around the corner. After all, wild animals are exactly that – wild – you never know where or when you will spot them, meaning there is no such thing as doing the same walk twice. Squirrels that were sleeping yesterday may be sneaking about

Lambs at Swineford

searching for nuts today, and horses that were hiding yesterday may be out and about hungry for some hay today. One thing though is for sure, you certainly won’t spot them sitting in your front room (watching Alan Titchmarsh on the weekend is cheating!) so get your wellies on, get outside and get exploring. To start you off, see how many of these you can spot on your next ramble.

Spring search Easy Horses, cows, sheep, dandelions, daffodils, blossom /cherry blossom, daisies, magpie, ducks, pigeons. Medium Baby animals, rabbits, swans, squirrels, bluebells, robin, buzzard, fox, lambs, Canada geese, bumble bee collecting pollen from the flowers, blue tit, ladybird, caterpillar, snowdrop, foxglove. Hard Otters, donkeys, goats, deer, bats, emus, pigs, frogspawn, tadpoles, newts, frogs / toads, butterflies, hedgehogs, heron, badgers, dragonflies, woodpecker.

Near Hanham

Lambs at Swineford

Swan at Swineford - not the pub!

Kelston

Near Keynsham

New era for centre at the heart of Longwell Green The community centre in Shellards Road, Longwell Green, which has been at the heart of the village for more than 70 years, has recently been rebranded as The Centre at Longwell Green, supported by a refreshed website – www.thecentrelongwellgreen.org.uk Owned and run by Longwell Green Memorial Hall & Playing The California Suite

Fields Association CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation), it is self-funding and has been through a difficult period with income impacted by COVID-19. However, the centre was able to accommodate the pre-school to provide support for essential workers during the pandemic and used the time to repair and update the buildings. Working in partnership with Ellacombe Pharmacy, it provided a COVID vaccination unit. Last September the venue reopened for all members, groups and non-member users while still accommodating the vaccination unit. All but two user groups returned. New ones hired rooms and groups which had previously moved away came back. The Centre’s management say there has been great interest and uptake in room hire for parties and weddings. The California Suite provides an ideal venue. More than 30 groups currently use The Centre including short mat bowls, Longwell Green WI, the Stand Up Reach Out Social Group, a memory café, craft and modelling groups, badminton, ballroom dancing, Probus, the Longwell Green Orchestra and fitness and wellness groups. Last November saw the completion of the artificial football

The new artificial pitch

facility, which was supported by South Gloucestershire Council, Oldland Parish Council and the GFA, funded by the Football Foundation Premier League and Longwell Green Sports Junior and Senior teams. The facility is operated by Longwell Green Community Sports Ltd which is owned by the charity. It has opened the way for different community activities, such as men’s and women’s walking football, health and wellbeing groups, schools, and daytime and evening football activities. The netball courts have also been refurbished. The café in the Ellacombe Room is open Saturday and Sunday from 9am to late afternoon. The management are keen for the local community to know that the Ellacombe Bar and Orton Bar are open every evening Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday, showing sports channels. The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

The weir at Saltford

How to stay safe around water With the weather warming up, Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) are reminding people to stay safe around water. It can be tempting to cool off in local weirs, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and marinas, but outdoor swimming can have fatal

consequences as water can harbour many hidden dangers and be far deeper than you think. Sadly two young people have died in recent years near the weir in Saltford. Even in the height of summer, the water can be cold enough to induce cold water shock

Council to run the Park & Ride service - but may charge to park Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) will be taking over the running of Bath’s Park & Rides later this year, but users may also be charged for parking their cars in future. Last week’s meeting of the council Cabinet considered the award of new contracts which come into effect in September and approved a significant change in the way the facilities are run. The current contract, signed 10 years ago, provides the council with a fixed annual income from the bus operator (currently First) who then collects the fares. From September, the situation will be reversed with B&NES collecting all the fare income and paying a bus operator a fixed price to supply the buses. What is referred to as a ‘gross cost contract’ will also pass the risk of falling passengers to the council but the longer term belief is that there will be more benefits and greater flexibility in the way the services are run. From just over two million passengers a year in 2016, numbers had fallen by around 13% even before COVID. Despite the much-publicised stories of bus

The Week in • Wednesday 11th May 2022

patronage and companies struggling to recover financially since the end of lockdown, Manda Rigby, the Cabinet member for transport, told last week’s meeting that Park & Ride usage was based more on leisure than commuting so there is more confidence in a recovery as a result. Despite a number of opportunities from operating the Park & Rides outlined by Cllr Rigby in the future, the gross cost contract presents more immediate financial implications for the budget. To avert those pressures the council is proposing no immediate changes to the hours of operation but increasing the weekend fare to £3.60 per adult, bringing it in line with the weekday rate. It was also announced that the council would look at imposing charges to park at the sites in addition to the bus fare. This system is already in place at Oxford and is intended to ensure motorists who use the Park & Ride sites but do not take the bus into Bath still contribute towards the upkeep. Parking charges at Oxford’s three Park & Ride sites are typically £2 per car for up to 11 hours.

and water pollution and freshwater diseases can also make you ill. Here are the service’s top tips for staying safe: • Look out for those around you and make sure your friends aren’t taking unnecessary risks. • If someone falls into deep water, immediately call 999. If inland ask for the fire service and ambulance; if you are near the coast ask for the coastguard. • Never enter the water to try to save someone, always wait for emergency services. • Look around for lifesaving equipment to help the person exit the water or stay afloat. You could attempt to reach out to someone struggling in water. Clothes such as scarves, or long sticks could be used. If you do this, lie on the ground so your entire body is safely on the edge and reach out with your arm.

• If you find yourself in the water, remember ‘Float to Live’. Fight your instinct to swim hard, control your breathing and lie on your back to float. • When fishing, check that the spot you have chosen is safe. Riverbanks can erode, so let someone know where you are going and have a fully charged phone. • Avoid throwing sticks or balls near water for dogs and never enter the water to try and save a dog. Dogs usually manage to scramble out by themselves. • If you fall into water after drinking, your chances of being able to get out of the water are decreased due to alcohol’s impairment of simple movements. • If you’re going wild water swimming, make sure to tell someone where you are going and download the app, What3Words, to help Services find out exactly where you are in the event of an emergency.

Situations Vacant

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