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THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

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Issue 776

12th April 2023

The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

Political row engulfs new town council A bitter war of words has erupted between Conservatives and Labour in South Gloucestershire after the election results for the new Kingswood Town Council were announced. The Conservatives had pushed for the creation of the new town council, saying it was “part and parcel” of the regeneration of Kingswood, but when nominations closed last week, it emerged that they had actually failed to put forward any candidates - and regarded it as “appalling” that Labour had. The election was uncontested, meaning the number of candidates was the same or fewer than the number of places available for election. As well as Labour, there are Independents and a Lib Kingswood has a new Dem. town council Labour and Independent

Uncontested parishes in South Glos & B&NES Other towns and parishes in South Gloucestershire in which nominations were uncontested include Bitton, Emersons Green, Hanham, Hanham Abbots, Wick & Abson, Siston, Downend & Bromley Heath and Doynton. Oldland Parish Council’s Cadbury Heath and Longwell Green wards are being contested but no candidates came forward for the Mount Hill ward. Others without nominations include the Staple Hill ward of Downend & Bromley Heath Parish and Hanham’s Mount ward. Pucklechurch Parish Council is being contested. Meanwhile in Bath & North East Somerset, uncontested parishes include Saltford, Whitchurch, Marksbury, Farmborough, Newton St Loe, Corston and Publow with Pensford.

The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

candidates also stood for a new parish council for Staple Hill & Mangotsfield and all but one of the wards – Mangotsfield - were uncontested. Voters will decide the fate of that ward on polling day (4th May), when one Conservative candidate will be among the names on the ballot paper. We asked the Conservatives if they were disappointed at the lack of Tory candidates and a spokesman from the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Conservative Federation said: “It is more common than not for political parties to avoid politicising town and parish councils by not fielding official party candidates. “Considering that Kingswood Town Council and other new parishes have been created because of a historic failure of local Labour politicians to deliver for local people, it is appalling that the Labour Party have sought to politicise these new bodies from day one. “Conservatives have worked hard over recent years to amass an unprecedented £25m public investment package to regenerate the heart of Kingswood, from restoring the historic Whitfield Tabernacle to refreshing the shopping centre. A competently run town council is important in ensuring the long-term success of this regeneration, but this is now at risk from Labour. “In other parts of South Gloucestershire, Labour councillors on town and parish councils have a history of taxing to the max and, in one high-profile case, have been exposed using council staff to mow their private lawns. Will the same fate befall the new Kingswood Town Council? We hope local electors choose wisely in the coming weeks.”

Controversial consultation Kingswood’s population of close to 22,000 residents had been consulted by South Gloucestershire Council about whether they wanted a town council and just 320 responded with half against and 42% in favour. Regarding a new parish council for Staple Hill & Mangotsfield, 274 people responded to the consultation (2.5% of the population) with 39% backing the idea and 49% preferring no change. South Gloucestershire Council’s Regulatory Committee voted to push ahead with the proposals last year without a clear mandate.

In response, Labour’s Sean Rhodes, who was elected unopposed to the new Kingswood Town Council in the Kings Chase South ward and is standing to be elected to represent Kingswood on South Gloucestershire Council, said that the new councils were being imposed by the Sean Rhodes Conservatives “expressly against the widespread and well-reported wishes of local residents”. He said: “Therefore the introduction of these new councils clearly has nothing to do with the failure of Labour politicians to deliver as it appears the Conservatives are frantically trying to ‘spin’ this story. Imposing an added cost in the form of the precept to the council tax bill, in the middle of a cost of living crisis, was heartless and then not to even attempt to administer these new councils is completely irresponsible. “The Conservatives may be trying to make out that they do not field candidates in town and parish council elections, however they are standing candidates across South Gloucestershire so that really will not wash. We can only wonder how the official Conservative candidates in neighbouring town and parish councils will feel about this apparent dismissal of their campaigns.” Ian Boulton, who is standing for re-election to represent Staple Hill and Mangotsfield on South Gloucestershire Council, and was elected unopposed to the new Staple Hill & Mangotsfield Parish Council, said: “The Labour Party cares about our residents in Kingswood, Staple Hill and Mangotsfield and we are proud to have gathered Labour Party members and supporters to represent our communities; that is why we are standing. “We can only assume that they (the Tories) are lashing out in this vile manner as they either feel vulnerable or do not have support among their own local members to stand in the new parish councils they have created. If they truly believed their own ‘spin’ they would have nominated candidates to stand in these new parish councils, however they have chosen not to - leaving Labour to try and make the best of the mess the Conservatives have created.”

Opening date for new reuse and recycling centre The first phase of the Keynsham Recycling

use the signposted route via Broadmead Lane

B&NES Council, said: “This new purpose-

over the winter.

Hub has been completed and the new

roundabout and Ashmead Road. All Bath &

built public household waste and recycling

The council says that landscaping and tree

reuse and recycling centre will open on

North East Somerset Council operational

centre will be quicker and easier for residents

and hedgerow planting around the new

Monday 17th April.

vehicles will use a separate site entrance in

to use, with expanded recycling provision to

recycling centre will be ongoing as the

Public access to it will be via Worlds End

Pixash Lane.

make it possible for people to recycle even

correct size and species of trees become

Lane, which has been widened to a two-way

The current Keynsham Recycling Centre in

more.”

available.

road with a dedicated cycle path and

Pixash Lane will close and be incorporated

Construction on phase 2 of the Keynsham

Information on the new reuse and recycling

footpath.

into the construction.

Recycling Hub will continue, but site traffic

centre can be found on the council website

Visitors to the new centre will be advised to

Mandy Bishop, chief operating officer of

will use the main entrance on Pixash Lane. It

including directions and a layout of the new

is anticipated that phase 2 will be completed

site. The opening times will remain the same.

Young carers survey reveals worrying trends

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.

Carers Support Centre Bristol & South Gloucestershire says its annual survey reveals that more children and young people are doing more caring than ever. In total 237 young carers responded, with 60% saying they are providing more care than the year before. The survey reports increased instances of depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness. Perhaps most worrying is the 21% of the young carers who say they selfharm, a marked increase on the previous two years. Other health problems reported in large numbers are difficulties with sleeping and their relationship with food. The pressure of caring impacts on young carers’ schooling, with 10% missing lessons and 43% falling behind with schoolwork. The charity says: “Allin-all, the results of the survey show that there has never been a greater need for the services and support of Carers Support Centre’s Young Carers Service.” Find out more at https://www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk/

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The Week In Community Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA 0117 986 0381. www.theweekin.co.uk ISSN: 2052-9767 Publisher Editor Contributors

Stephen Rodgers admin@theweekin.co.uk Becky Feather 07403 273967 Christine Rogers

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Tracy Broderick 0117 986 0381 sales.theweekin@gmail.com @theweekineditor the_week_in_news

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The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

LloydsPharmacy appears to be selling off Keynsham store The Keynsham High Street branch of

be undergoing a refurbishment.

LloydsPharmacy looks set to be taken over

We asked LloydsPharmacy’s head office for

by an independent.

for a comment and they issued a rather

There has been speculation on social media

generic statement: “LloydsPharmacy is

that the new owner will be Keynsham

reviewing its community pharmacy estate

Pharmacy which is based in Station Road.

and is selectively selling some branches. No

However, a representative of Keynsham

LloydsPharmacy store is at risk of closure,

Pharmacy told us this week that the business

except those within the Sainsbury’s estate.

is not in a position to confirm anything at this

“The majority of buyers of these selected

stage.

branches are independent pharmacy owners

In recent weeks a lot of stock has been

and

removed from LloydsPharmacy, including

demonstrated that they are committed to our

the Clarins counter, with staff telling

branch teams and patients, and are well

customers that they are not closing but will

placed to meet the ongoing health needs of

local

businesspeople

who

have

Police target the school run In a crackdown before the Easter holidays, the Staple Hill neighbourhood police team spent time outside local schools monitoring parking, child restraints and mobile phone use. In total, 19 traffic offence reports were

The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

issued for parking on yellow zigzags, obstructions at junctions, inadequate child restraints, driving on the footpath and using a mobile phone whilst driving. A private e-scooter that was being used to carry a child was also seized.

the local community.

joining successful, local businesses and that

“The LloydsPharmacy team is pleased that

for patients there will be no change in the

its colleagues from these stores will be

way they use their local pharmacy.”

Shoe shop closing Next door to LloydsPharmacy is Shoe Zone where closing down signs appeared in the window last week. We have asked the company if they wish to comment on the closure. Meanwhile works are being carried out on the exterior of the old Barclays bank premises on the other side of Shoe Zone. The unit has been empty since the bank closed in 2020.

The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

Changing buses Publisher Stephen Rodgers takes a further look at bus travel around Keynsham Last week saw the withdrawal of around 40 local bus services in the region which were reliant on financial subsidies from Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils. Locally, these included the Keynsham and Brislington ‘around town’ services and many of the weekly connections from outlying villages to Kingswood and Keynsham. There were two main reasons. One, the increased prices demanded by local bus companies to renew contracts from 1st April due to their own rocketing fuel and wages costs, is understandable. The other, party politics and internal bickering between the West of England Combined Authority (the transport authority) and the three local council leaders (who fund the subsidised bus services), is less excusable. We have been here before of course. Last year, lengthy adjournments of public meetings while the four leaders discussed matters in private, preceded a compromise deal to extend support for bus services until the end of March. As part of that arrangement, the three council leaders also undertook to plan for an increase in their transport levy to the combined authority for the forthcoming financial year of up to 10%. But in Issue 765 we reported that B&NES, Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils had decided to freeze the levy at the previous level. As it turned out, some of the subsidised bus routes would have cost more than double to renew, so even if the council leaders had honoured their earlier undertaking to increase their commitment by 10%, there would still have been a shortfall. Instead, at January’s

meeting of the West of England Combined Authority committee, each council submitted a list of the routes they were still prepared to finance through the frozen transport levy. In the fall-out from the announcement of the bus cuts, B&NES and South Gloucestershire councils did partially backtrack and provided funding for short-term contract extensions on some services. B&NES Council’s leader came under fire for restricting these extensions to bus services in Bath with no help for rural services in North East Somerset. In South Gloucestershire, the bus link between Wotton-under-Edge and Yate was reprieved until June and another service was partially funded to provide a link to Southmead Hospital. The consequences are not just the loss of the 663/664/665 Keynsham town service or the 513/514 in Brislington and Knowle. Routes such as the 96 and 178, which had been rescued by local bus operators after being axed by First, are no more. And many of the ‘lifeline’ sometimes only weekly services that connected communities in Whitchurch, Bishop Sutton, Stockwood, and Wick to Keynsham, have all ceased. There has been some good news this week though. When the 178 was rescued by Abus and Citistar it provided a shorter length service from Brislington Park & Ride to Midsomer Norton. Now the new 522 bus route operated by First restores the old service as far as Bristol bus station, and together with the 349 and X39/39, provides a far improved frequency between Bristol, Keynsham and Bath. Then there is demand responsive transport. It is perhaps unfortunate that the date chosen to

Door-to-door service While WESTlink may be new to the Keynsham area, pre-booked local journeys have been around for 20 years. Keynsham & District Dial-a-Ride (KaDDaR) started in 2003. Whereas you still need to get to a bus stop for WESTlink, KaDDaR comes to your door. It covers the Keynsham and Saltford area, as well as outlying villages including Marksbury, Farmborough, Corston and Woollard. While many passengers book the service

The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

for medical appointments KaDDar is open to anyone. The key difference is that it is a member-only community service so you have to join KaDDaR. Journeys also have to be pre-booked at least 24 hours in advance. As a member of KaDDaR you can also join some of the organised day trips which operate to Cheddar, Weston-super-Mare or local garden centres. To find out more email Admin@keynshamdialaride.co.uk or call 01225 395321.

Dan Norris with one of the new minibuses

launch WESTlink (3rd April) coincided with the withdrawal of the council subsidised bus services. The easy conclusion to draw would be that demand responsive transport is intended to replace those services but Metro Mayor Dan Norris has repeatedly stated that it is not. The main aim of the green WESTlink minibuses is to provide a connection from outlying communities that have few or no bus services to the mainline public transport network. That is why bus frequencies are being beefed up on corridors such as Bristol-Keynsham-Bath and Bristol to Wells via the A37. But, as I found last week on my early WESTlink ride, demand responsive transport can yet replace some of those lost bus services. It may have seemed incredible that you could not catch a bus from Bitton or Cherry Gardens direct to Keynsham. Now you can. And let’s look more closely at the 663/664/665 Keynsham town service. It may seem obvious that with all the amount of housebuilding on Keynsham’s south, east and north fringes over the last decade, that a bus link to the High Street would be a given. But the fact remains that very people used it. Whatever the political shenanigans behind B&NES Council’s decision to withdraw funding, the subsidy was working out at around £13 for every passenger who

rode on the 663. Now, journeys from Somerdale to Waitrose, or Bitton to Keynsham railway station, can be prebooked using WESTlink. The Mayor says the old system doesn’t work and we need to find other ways of using public transport. There are broader and more long-term issues, such as local taxation or franchising, but more immediately the emphasis is on local connections to beefedup bus corridors. WESTlink is being funded on a two-year trial yet it is clear from social media chat on day one that some people actually seem to want it to fail. There is one year and 51 weeks left to see if there is indeed another way to get people out of their cars.

The Keynsham town service cost £13 per passenger

LETTERS

Music to welcome springtime

Another bad fall in Keynsham High Street Dear Editor On 30th March l twisted my ankle on the kerb of the cycle track outside Boots in Keynsham High Street. l fell face down into the middle of the road. l cut my nose which immediately started

The tree on Shortwood Road

bleeding. Straight away there were lots of

a tree has grown and developed over

people who came to help me with paper

hundreds of years only to be wiped out!

towels and water for me to drink.

The safety of all road users is paramount, but

After a while when l felt l was able, two men

surely another solution could have been

took one arm each and helped me up. My

explored, maybe traffic lights on that

husband was on a seat opposite unable to

particular narrow bend?

help me due to health issues. lt really has

Jasmine Crossman

shaken us both up.

Keynsham

A visit to the doctor next morning left the receptionist asking my name as she did not recognise me because of my swollen and colourful eyes. My ankle and foot have turned varying shades and l am not sure how my nose will end up looking. This was a horrid experience but was made easier by the help and kindness of the passers-by so l would like to say a big thank you so much to everyone who stopped to help. I am not the first and l certainly won’t be the last - hopefully the council will realise soon that they have to do something. Marilyn

Horrified at loss of ancient tree

Thanks for supporting cats in need Dear Editor I would like to send my personal thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery who have been supporting Cats Protection since 2018. During that time, funds raised by players

leader of Oldland Brass, Bob Lavis, arranges many of their pieces and also writes music. One of his compositions played at the concert was a piece called From Hvar, inspired by an island in Croatia. The concert on 1st April was in aid of Dementia UK, chosen by Good Afternoon Choir as this year's local charity. Anyone wishing to join the choir can find more information at www.goodafternoonchoir.org Christine Rogers

have enabled us to help and care for around 10,000 cats and kittens in our adoption centres across England, Scotland and Wales, while they await their forever homes. In addition, they have also helped us provide cat behaviour expertise to our cat care volunteers and staff and adopters; run our Paws to Listen grief support service to help bereaved cat owners; and speak up for cats

Dear Editor

to help create positive change for cat welfare

I was horrified to read your front page story

via our advocacy work.

last week regarding the felling of an ancient

Together we create a better world for cats.

oak and hedging on the outskirts of

Anyone wishing to adopt a cat or support

Pucklechurch.

Cats Protection, or seeking advice on cat

The timing of such work couldn’t be worse,

welfare,

with birds nesting potentially in both the

www.cats.org.uk

trees and hedges, and small mammals using

John May

the hedging for shelter, let alone the fact that

Chief Executive, Cats Protection

Holy Trinity Church in Kingswood was packed for a concert staged by the South Gloucestershire Good Afternoon Choir. The choir, with leader Matt Finch, entertained an enthusiastic audience as the singers weaved their way through a mixture of melodies to satisfy most musical tastes. Old favourites such as Dream a Little Dream, originally sung by the Mamas and Papas, contrasted well with more modern music, and an American Indian rendition called Shoshone Love Song with haunting harmonies held the audience spellbound. The 60 or so singers looked striking, the women in black accessorised with blue scarves, and the men in formal white shirts and black ties. The choir was complemented by the presence of Oldland Brass who entertained with favourites like Is this the way to Amarillo? and Strike up the Band. The

can

find

out

Breastfeeding support contract extended South Gloucestershire Council says it is pleased to confirm an extension to the community-based breastfeeding service with Barnardo’s continuing to run peersupported groups across the district from 1st April. There had been concerns about what would happen to the community-based service as the contract was due to end in March. A South Gloucestershire Council

spokesperson said: “In order to maintain a service without a gap in provision we negotiated with the current provider to run the service for the next year.” The groups run in Staple Hill, Cadbury Heath, Hanham, Yate, Thornbury and Patchway for mums and babies and their families, providing emotional and practical support to help mothers to breastfeed. Find out more at www.breastfeedingsouthglos.co.uk/

The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

Barclays branch in Kingswood to close The Barclays branch in Regent Street in Kingswood town centre is to close in July. Barclays say fewer customers are visiting their branches these days “and because of this we’re going to be changing the way we support our customers in your area”. In a letter to customers last week they said: “We’ll be closing our Bristol Kingswood branch on Thursday 6th July 2023 at

Shed fire spreads Crews from Bedminster and Temple fire stations were called to reports of a shed in Gilda Close, Whitchurch, alight at 10.51pm on Tuesday 28th March. The fire was also affecting a building nearby. With two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, crews used two high pressure hose reels and a jet to extinguish the fire, while a triple extension ladder and gas monitors were used to check that the scene was safe. The cause of the incident is thought to have been accidental.

12pm. The decision to close a branch is never easy and we appreciate this might not be welcome news, but we’ll make sure you and your local community continue to have access to our banking services when you need them – it’ll just be in a different way. “We’ll still be part of your community in Kingswood – we’re just finalising the details of when and where we’ll be based to support you with your banking but in the meantime we’re keen to hear what you think. We’ll be speaking with customers, the local MP, council members, charities, community groups and local businesses over the coming weeks to hear any thoughts and feedback on this change for us to respond to. To share your thoughts please visit the branch and speak to a member of our team.” Customers are advised that the nearest branches are in Broadmead in Bristol city centre and at High Street, Westbury-on-Trym, and nearby Post Office branches that

provide banking services for Barclays customers are in Kings Chase Shopping Centre and at the Kingsway Precinct in St George. In February it was announced that the Nationwide Building Society branch in Regent Street is closing on 20th April. Customers have been advised that the nearest Nationwide branches are in Cabot Circus, Yate or Westbury-on-Trym.

Citizens Advice service is extended People in Emersons Green who are facing hardship amid the cost-of-living crisis can now access vital advice on their doorstep. Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire has extended its free face-to-face advice sessions to the area. They are funded by Emersons Green Town Council and take place at Emersons Green Village Hall. Anyone with a problem – be it with debt, benefits, housing, employment and much more - can get one-to-one support on Thursdays from 10am to noon. The new drop-in sessions started on 6th April and run

alongside other face-to-face sessions in Cadbury Heath, Yate, Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Thornbury. The Cadbury Heath one is held at the Juice Project in Newton Road from 10am to noon on the first and third Monday of the month. More details about times and locations of the other sessions can be found at www.southgloscab.org.uk/ Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire helped 4,778 people last year (9% more than in 2021) and says there has been an 18% increase in the number of issues - up from 19,050 to 22,493. The charity saved clients a combined total of

SUNDAY CHEMISTS

Sudoku 1-Easy

£4.4m in 2022 which is the equivalent of £920 back in the pocket of each person they helped. More clients who have long-term health conditions or disabilities are asking for help with the cost-of-living crisis impacting more on these vulnerable groups. The charity says a greater proportion of clients are in older age groups, with those aged 70 to 89 now making up a larger proportion of total clients. The free telephone advice line is available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), where you can speak to local advisers. Call 0808 278 7947.

Sunday 16th April

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 12th April 2023

Rickshaw rides for the elderly being rolled out Warmley Wheelers has recently ordered a battery assisted rickshaw to extend the joy of cycling to include the elderly. Based next to the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, Warmley Wheelers provides cycling opportunities for people with health conditions or supported needs. The group is run by the social care charity Milestones Trust. The rickshaw service is planned to eventually offer three set rides per day, the times being chosen to offer the possibility of combining the ride experience with a visit to the neighbouring Warmley Waiting Room café to make for a great outing. Andy Underdown, the programme’s coordinator, said “We

are really excited about the addition of a rickshaw to our fleet of specialist bikes and providing a programme for the elderly. “Our current team of volunteers will need to be increased to provide the pilot cover for the new service. So, if you enjoy helping others, being part of a team, are reasonably fit, a confident cyclist and have a minimum of 1.5 hrs to spare on either a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or the first and third Saturday of the month, then please get in contact.” The picture shows Valerie Hillyer and her friend Mavis Jane at Warmley Wheelers with a rickshaw borrowed from Cycling Without Age Bristol. Contact Andy on 07587 034366 or email warmleywheelers@milestonestrust@org.uk

Fire in pub storeroom Avon Fire & Rescue crews from three fire stations were called to reports of a fire at The Hollybush pub on Bath Road in Bridgeyate at 5.31am last Wednesday. Crews from Kingswood, Temple and Hicks Gate attended and found a

Crossword

small fire in a storeroom. Four firefighters wore breathing apparatus for safety and used two high pressure hose reels, one covering jet and ventilation fans to extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire is thought to be accidental.

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Magnificent (8)

1. Magnitude (4)

5. Bludgeon (4)

2. Depart (5)

9. Very enthusiastic (7) 3. Secluded retreats (5) 4. Mad (6) 10. Interior (5) 6. Line of descent (7) 11. Diving bird (3) 7. Hair ornament (8) 12. Famous admiral (6) 8. Two-piece swimsuit (6) 15. Very angry (5) 13. Garland (3) 17. Slender (4) 14. Savoury dish (4) 19. Elk (6) 16. Nazi emblem (8) 22. Halve (6) 18. Competent (4) 24. Small loaf (4)

20. Defend, shield (7)

26. Breathe noisily (5)

21. Boy soprano (6)

27. Charge with air (6)

23. Ocean (3)

30. Swampy ground (3)

25. Shallow lake (6)

32. Perfect (5)

29. Topic (5)

33. Disgusting (7)

31. ---- Lynn, singer (4)

HMO gets retrospective planning permission South Gloucestershire Council has granted retrospective planning permission for a large house of multiple occupation (HMO) in Kingswood. A seven-person HMO licence was actually issued by the council in November 2018 for 3 Jubilee Road, which is a detached bungalow, but the applicant Stalwart Investments was unaware at the time that this constituted a change of use. A change of use application from a residential house to a large HMO was submitted to the council earlier this year and now the council has agreed that it can be retained as such. The application by Stalwart Investments’ agents said that the HMO could lawfully accommodate six people as a small HMO without planning permission and had accommodated seven people for more than four years without generating any noise complaints to the council. The plans received one letter of objection with concerns about anti-social behaviour, increased noise and traffic. The one letter of support said there have not been any issues. The council planning officer said the site and proposals meet the acceptable criteria and there is enough parking.

28. Readjust (5)

34. Poker stake (4) 35. Object of abhorrence (8)

The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

Inspector rejects appeal for homes on ‘green buffer’ Developers have lost their appeal to build up to five homes in a woodland site on the border of Bath & North East Somerset and Bristol. Chapel Hill Homes Ltd had applied to B&NES Council for permission in principle to develop land to the south of 9 Ridgeway Gardens at Whitchurch. The woodland site falls in B&NES but is next to the Bristol boundary to the north and west. To the east is an electricity substation and to the south is open countryside. B&NES turned down the application a year

ago on the grounds that it would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, would be an unacceptable development within open countryside, and would lead to a biodiversity net loss. Close to 100 comments of objection had been received from local residents. Whitchurch Village Council had warned it would reduce the “green buffer” and Bristol Tree Forum also objected, as did B&NES ward councillor Paul May and Tim Kent, who represents Hengrove & Whitchurch Park on Bristol City Council. Chapel Hill Homes Ltd had argued that the

Meat business seeks to operate on bank holidays A meat supplier based in Bridgeyate has applied to South Gloucestershire Council to open on bank holidays. Acar 68 Meats Ltd is based in Unit 11 of Trubodys Yard on London Road. The current planning permission restricts operating hours from 8am to 6pm Monday to Fridays, from 8am to 2pm on Saturdays and no working on Sundays or bank holidays. The business is now asking to vary a condition to allow bank holiday working from 8am to noon. The application says: “We moved here in 2013 and did not require to work bank

holidays, but with the popular demand of these days, we wish to be extended. There are other businesses which operate every day (one example is the gym) and we need to meet the demand of our customers. “Business has changed drastically over the last 10 years and takeaways and restaurants even more since Covid. “As the businesses are very popular on such days, we need to be able to supply where possible.” The bank holiday opening would exclude Christmas Day. The deadline for any comments to the council is 20th April.

development is an infill site and would not reduce the gap between the village and city and that it is in a highly sustainable location, with the Gilda Parade 150 metres away, good bus links and close to schools. They said that none of the trees on the site have preservation orders and that any future detailed planning application would include ecological enhancements and mitigation. They appealed to the Secretary of State with their agents pointing out that a separate appeal for three bungalows at Sleep Lane in Whitchurch Village had been allowed in the

Green Belt as infill. But the inspector backed the council’s ruling on the Ridgeway Gardens site, saying that the special circumstances necessary to justify inappropriate development in the Green Belt do not exist. The inspector’s report said that the proposal “would eat into the fairly narrow area of Green Belt land which acts as the buffer between Bristol City and Whitchurch Village, undermining the other Green Belt purposes which the inclusion of this land serves”.

Replacement trees planted after more ash dieback The national Tree Council has paid for replacement trees in the woodlands at Willsbridge Mill after more problems this spring with ash dieback. Pauline Lovell, of the group Willsbridge Mill Community Refresh which looks after the site, said: “In order to keep our wildlife safe and our woodlands healthy, with the help of South Gloucestershire Council, we have had to fell a number of diseased trees. “It is always sad to see trees being felled and where we can we leave as much of the old tree as possible as a haven for insects and fungi. “We are a community organisation with few funds, and we needed to replace these infected trees with new, healthy UKgrown trees before the nesting season. We are extremely grateful to The Tree Council

The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

who, at very short notice, agreed to fund us to replace the diseased trees, and very grateful to the children who gave up the first day of their school holiday to help with planting.” The new trees include oak, field and silver maples, horse chestnut, rowan, whitebeam, wych elm, large leaf lime, and birch.

A small town with a wealth of history For such a small place, Berkeley in Gloucestershire is world-renowned for many historical events, among them Edward Jenner’s discovery of the vaccine used against smallpox in the middle of the 18th century. It is in Berkeley Castle that one of England's early Kings, Edward II, was murdered in 1327. Yet another fact of major importance is that the town played a huge role during the English Civil War in the 1640s. All of this with the same family living at the castle since

Dr Jenner's house, now a museum

it was built more than 800 years ago. Berkeley has its origins in Saxon times and the castle that dominates it has roots stretching back to the 12th century, when it was primarily a defence against the Welsh. It has around 6,000 acres of land and amongst its famous visitors were Henry VII, Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth l, who in 1572 used it as a hunting lodge. A pair of her gloves and a bed cover are still to be seen at the castle. Another esteemed native of the town is Edward Jenner known as the father of immunology, who lived and worked at his Queen Anne manor house in the centre of Berkeley, near the church of St Mary the Virgin. Edward Jenner was born in 1741 and died in 1823. His success in smallpox vaccination eventually led to it being eradicated worldwide in 1979. As a local doctor in an area that made its living from farming and

agriculture, Edward Jenner saw the effects of cowpox first hand. Cowpox is a variation of smallpox and Jenner noted that the milkmaids who contracted it suffered a much milder illness than people who caught the smallpox disease and died from its horrific consequences. Even then there were country folk who realised that something was beneficial in injecting themselves with rough Inside St Mary's Church pointed pin pricks from the infected sore of a milkmaid. However, amount of the smallpox virus and was not ill Jenner's investigations proved that at all. innoculation was a way of keeping many This year on 17th May the Edward Jenner Heritage Trail will be launched to mark the other deadly diseases at bay. The first person to receive Jenner's 200th anniversary of his birth. The trail guide inoculation was an eight-year-old village boy will take you through some of the locations called James Phipps who was given a small and sights in Berkeley that would have substance from the hand of a milkmaid with existed during Jenner's lifetime. The trail is cowpox and survived with only slight illness. about 0.5 km and would take roughly half an Two months later he was given a small hour to complete. Each location has a plaque giving information plus a QR code. There is a ramp for access to the church, and with only a couple of small slopes, the trail would be suitable for wheelchair users. Some of the Georgian buildings known to Jenner can be seen today and St Mary's Church would have been the centre of the village. When visiting the church it is striking to see the colourful painting on the walls near the choir stalls and the altar. This restoration work was carried out in 1865 when layers of plaster and whitewash were The blue plaque honouring Dr Edward Jenner removed and original patterns restored. The church tower stands separately from the church and was built in the 17th century. As we slowly climb out of the Covid pandemic, it is with huge gratitude that we remember and acknowledge Edward Jenner's life and work which has ultimately saved the lives of millions in this country and the world beyond. Information about the Edward Jenner Heritage Trail can be found at www.jennerproject.com Outsiide St Mary's Christine Rogers The Week in • Wednesday 12th April 2023

Plans for green screens in shopping area Plans to install green screens later this spring at two locations in Downend’s main shopping area have been revealed. A spokesperson said: “South Gloucestershire Council is committed to making investments in our High Streets to help them to recover, transform and respond to the needs of their communities. “The Green Infrastructure scheme is an idea that has come through the Downend Partnership Group and is part of a phased investment in Downend. “Downend has a reputation for its flowers

and greenery and has an active In Bloom group, and there is a recognition that greenery in public spaces improves the high street environment, which in turn has an impact on civic pride and encourages visitors and shoppers alike. “The scheme includes green screens which are beneficial to air quality, as well as including new benches to provide resting places for shoppers and planters to improve the look of Downend in two areas, on Cleeve Road outside the Lloyds Bank building and on Westerleigh Road outside Sainsbury’s.”

News from Longwell Green WI At Longwell Green Women’s Institute’s monthly meeting in March we welcomed Fiona Edwards who gave us a very interesting talk about glass. After gaining a degree in architecture she found herself drawn to working with glass which she has now been doing for 20 years. She talked about the history of glass, different ways glass can be used and the process of working with stained glass from small pieces to large windows. Fiona runs classes at the Kingswood Heritage Centre and she spoke of the benefits of participating in a craft - gaining confidence, well-being, combating loneliness and problem-solving, as well as learning a new skill. Some of our members who attend Fiona's classes brought in some of the pieces of glasswork they had made. They were very good and hopefully inspired other members to have a go at working with

glass. April’s calendar includes a quiz night and a craft day as well as a visit to Fonthill Garden Centre in Bitton for a demonstration. To end the month, we have our combined birthday/Coronation celebration. We have lots of groups that our members can participate in. There are book clubs, walking groups, a knitting group, skittles and social suppers. On the first Thursday of the month we meet at The Chapel Coffee Shop in Longwell Green for Tea & Chat. Longwell Green WI regular meetings are on the third Friday of the month at 7.30pm at The Centre Longwell Green and new members are always welcome. If you are interested in visiting us email longwellwi@gmail.com, telephone 0117 9864782 or come along on the meeting evening. Linda Muller

One of the green screens is proposed outside the old bank on Cleeve Road

Situations Vacant

Catalytic converter thefts There have been two recent catalytic converter thefts in Saltford. One was stolen from a car parked on Montague Road between 1.30pm on Friday 31st March and 2.30pm on Saturday 1st April. The other vehicle was parked on Haselbury Grove in Saltford when its catalytic convertor was removed at 2am on 1st April. Anyone with information about these incidents, especially CCTV images, is

asked to call Avon & Somerset Police on 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Police remind drivers to be aware of anyone acting suspiciously around parked vehicles, especially if they appear to be working on the underside. Do not approach them but make a note of their appearance and the make and registration number of any vehicle they are using. There is information about catalytic converter theft prevention on the police website.

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The Week In - Issue 776 - 12th April 2023