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THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset Issue 795

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23rd August 2023

Read by more than 40,000 people each week

Leading firm gets the go-ahead for major expansion despite concerns A leading South Gloucestershire engineering firm, which

precision machined parts and has been based at the site since

operates 24/7, has won planning permission for a major

1959. Driven by overseas sales success and the lack of space,

expansion, despite many objections from people living

the business opened a second production base next to

close by.

Rzeszow International Airport in Poland 10 years ago. The

At a meeting on Thursday, South Gloucestershire Council’s

purpose-built modern production site in Poland is said to be

development management committee unanimously backed

a stark contrast to the “cramped and dated” Bridgeyate

McBraida’s planning application for a new statement building

facility.

at its Bridgeyate headquarters.

Nearby residents told of the negative impact the development

On balance, it was felt that the harms caused by the

would have on their lives, the noise they already have to put

The plans had the backing of the council’s economic

development are outweighed by the economic benefits as the

up with, their fears over road and pedestrian safety, concerns

development team. There were no objections from the

firm is a major contributor to the success of the region’s

about the loss of ancient common land, and the impact on

council’s commons officer over the loss of land which

aerospace industry.

local ecology.

amounts to 0.1% (just over 64sq m) of Bridgeyate Common.

Siston Parish Council echoed residents’ concerns and South

Environmental health officers were satisfied with the noise

Gloucestershire ward councillor Sam Bromiley said that

report from the applicant. The scheme includes landscaping

while not against the principle of an expansion, he felt the

and ecological enhancements.

proposals go beyond what should be reasonable for a site in

Adam McBraida told the meeting that the company was

this location. He said: “The new design of the building will

proud to be part of the Bristol aerospace industry. He said the

be considerably different to its current form, and vastly

expansion is necessary for the company to stay relevant and

different from anything else in the local community. It is out

resilient in light of international competition, and it nurtures

of character and would dwarf neighbouring properties and

local highly skilled jobs and takes on between four and six

businesses.”

apprentices every year.

The development includes widening an existing exit route to

He highlighted concerns about the impact on the environment

He said McBraida is “very conscious” of its presence in a

the north of the site onto the A4175 Bath Road for HGVs,

and the adverse effect on residents from noise. He also voiced

residential area and had responded positively to allay

which involves the loss of common land. Two houses on Bath

concerns about the proposed exit.

concerns.

Road – numbers 30 and 32 - will also be demolished.

A spokesperson for the residents told the meeting that in 1991

McBraida is a fourth-generation family business supplying

a planning application for a north access had been refused on

How McBraida's new building will look (Credit gcp Chartered Architects)

McBraida at Bridgeyate

the grounds that the junction would be substandard and dangerous. But a council planning officer explained that since then, guidance has changed. The report to the committee said that work will be phased – McBraida’s current access onto Francis Way will be used during phase one but once phase 2 is complete, operational goods vehicles will enter in the same manner but leave by the new exit onto Bath Road. These manoeuvres will require the large vehicles to cross the centre line of Bath Road but it is predicted that a large articulated HGV would only exit the site three times a day which is not considered would

The access will be opened up and widened using common land and the two houses behind the trees will be demolished

adversely impact the flow or safety of traffic.

Also in this week’s issue

Mountain Warehouse set to open in Longwell Green . . . page 2

Keynsham High Street’s latest fall victim speaks out . . . page 3

Praise for A-level students on results day . . . page 6

Redesign plans for delayed Lyde Green schools . . . page 7

Mountain Warehouse to open in Longwell Green The Week In understands that Mountain

Arcadia Group and one of the anchor stores

Warehouse, the UK's largest outdoor

at the retail park. Arcadia went into

clothing and equipment retailer, is

administration in late 2020. The Longwell

planning to move into the Gallagher

Green store did not reopen after lockdown

Shopping Park in Longwell Green.

and officially closed in 2021.

Approval to split the old Outfit store into

The Week In has contacted the retailer, which

three

has stores in Bristol and Bath, to ask about

units

was

granted

South

Gloucestershire Council last year and last

its plans to open in Longwell Green.

month we revealed that Superdrug is

Since we posted this story online last

planning to move into the unit closest to

Wednesday, the response on social media has

Boots.

been huge, with more than 62,000 hits on our

Outfit had been part of Sir Philip Green’s

Facebook page.

The old outfit store

Woman suffers head injury Police have appealed for the public’s

sustained a cut to her head from falling and

help after a woman was injured during

received hospital treatment. She has since

an assault in Kingswood earlier this

been discharged to recover at home.

month.

Police believe the incident to be isolated

On Sunday 6th August at around 1.45am,

and are seeking witnesses or anyone with

a woman in her 20s was hit in the face by

relevant footage of the incident to come

an unknown offender while she was

forward. If you can help contact 101 and

walking down Moravian Road. She

quote reference 5223188571.

Vehicles are deliberately damaged

Police are appealing for witnesses after

While making off, they used tools to

several

smash the boots of three vehicles along

vehicles

were

damaged

Kingswood.

London Street, Gilbert Road and Southey

Around 4am on Sunday 6th August, two

Avenue. The van was then abandoned on

unknown offenders attempted to enter a

Southey Avenue..

garden in London Street. When they were

If you have any footage or witnessed

challenged by a member of public, the pair

anything suspicious in the area, contact

made off in a white Ford van.

101 and quote reference 5223188632.

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

Latest fall victim speaks out as safety and design reviews are awaited An ambulance was called to Keynsham High Street last Thursday after yet another pedestrian fell at the stepped cycle lane. Since the redesigned High Street reopened to traffic in March 2022, there have been upwards of 70 reports to Bath & North East Somerset Council of people sustaining injuries, in some cases broken bones. The latest victim was Kelly Copeman who said she would be contacting her solicitors and had informed the council. Writing on Facebook, Kelly said she had been visiting Keynsham from Midsomer Norton with her son. They had been coming out of Boots and were going to get lunch when she moved to avoid someone coming towards her and lost her balance due to the ground “looking level but actually two inches lower”. She dislocated two bones in her elbow, fractured it and said she also had a

suspected fractured wrist. Kelly said: “Thank you so much to those of you who helped. The kind lady who looked out for my son and got him some lunch. She also really helped keep me calm. The offduty firefighter, the shops and Boots who lent blankets and coats. The PCSOs who waited while the ambulance sorted me out. Boots even brought my son's prescription to him. The paramedics were amazing too and looked after my son brilliantly.” She added: “I own my own business so this is the last thing I need. Six to 12 weeks recovery, can't drive.” She added: “I think unfortunately Keynsham is off my list to visit for a while. I was aware of the kerb issues as family live in and around Keynsham, and even thought earlier not to go near the edge.” Last year a Stage 3 Road Safety Audit made several recommendations for the High Street

Youths cause criminal damage A group of six youths caused criminal

teens.

damage at a derelict building in St

A larger group of youths returned to the

Clements Road in Keynsham at around

same area about 30 minutes later although

6pm on Sunday 13th August.

it is unsure if they caused any more

A witness heard the sound of smashing

damage or if the previous group was

glass understood to be coming from the old

responsible for all of it. Anyone with

Treetops care home and called out to the

information, especially CCTV images, is

offenders, who ran off. They were

asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers

described as white and aged in their early

anonymously on 0800 555 111.

as a whole, and changes were proposed by the design team to the cycle lane which included installing red Tarmac, reducing the width of the solid white line marking the edge of the cycle lane, and increasing the number of cycle symbol markings. The cycle lane changes were introduced last August but falls have continued. At the end of May the council announced that a Stage 4 Road Safety Audit would follow remedial work taking place in June to repair broken paving slabs and replace cycle stands and bollards. The council added that a design review would also be carried out to assess whether “additional enhancements” could be made to reduce trips and falls. This week B&NES Council told us: “We expect the road safety audit to be published in late autumn and further updates on the design review will follow after that.”

Noisy Network Rail works Network Rail has written to people who

teams can work safely.

may

from

Preparation work starts in the early hours

forthcoming overnight work on renewing

of Sunday (27th August) and will continue

rails, sleepers and track stones at Saltford

overnight from Monday 28th August to

Tunnel.

Friday 1st September.

There will be a mixture of day and night

Work will then continue at scheduled times

shifts when trains aren’t operating so the

during September, October and November.

affected

noise

Surgery takeover Keynsham

surgeries

Temple

House

both Keynsham and Saltford, as well as at

Practice and St Augustine’s Medical

Temple House Surgery’s current location

Practice have announced they are joining

within Keynsham Health Centre, and that

up.

all existing staff will remain”.

A joint statement says the “acquisition by

The practices said the move will help to

St Augustine’s will ensure that services for

make

patients can continue from existing sites in

accessible.

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

them

sustainable

and

Bereavement support group reaching a wide community

We have the shirt! Now we need someone to fill it! Fry club JFC Wanderers Under 15s, require a Goal Keeper for the coming season. Training on Wednesdays evenings. Playing Sunday afternoons - 2pm KO in the AYL. If you want to fill that shirt in goal, please contact Bernie Grimes on 07760 197849

Reporting aircraft noise The Bristol Airport phone line that took aircraft noise complaints has recently been discontinued. Anyone wishing to report any unusual disturbance must now use

the

online

complaint

system

https://tinyurl.com/mv5a86km or write to Bristol Airport, Noise Complaints, Lulsgate House, Bristol, BS48 3DW.

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.

Bereavement Support Keynsham drop-in sessions are proving to be of great value to those in the wider community. The free sessions are open to anyone suffering bereavement and despite the name of the group, they serve the Bath & North East Somerset authority area, neighbouring South Gloucestershire and south east Bristol. No one is turned away. The group is so popular that those attending agreed that they wanted the regular fourth Monday meeting to be held despite it being a bank holiday on 28th August. Meetings take place in the Keynsham Baptist Church Hall but the group is not connected to the church or other religious group. Coordinator Alan Hale said: “We are an inclusive service and anyone suffering bereavement is welcome. People should be aware that we do not offer counselling but we do offer an empathetic ear from our trained volunteers and of course tea, coffee and biscuits.” The future sustainability of the group has been made secure following recent funding from Keynsham Town Council and the Quartet Community

Foundation. Sessions are held between 2pm and 4pm on the fourth Monday of every month and between 5.30pm and 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month. For more information call 07776 493221 or email bereavementkeynsham@gmail.com

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

No material in this publication, nor its associated website (www.theweekin.co.uk) may be reproduced without the written permission of The Week In. All rights reserved. The Week In is regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor for the Press CIC. As such, we adhere to the IMPRESS complaints procedure. A copy of this procedure can be found on our website or can be sent upon written request to the address above.

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

Still no funding to replace broken sluice gate A Freedom of Information request has revealed that work is unlikely to start on repairing the broken sluice gate at Warmley Forest Park until next summer at the earliest. We have been reporting since November 2019 on the problems being caused by the broken sluice gate, which should be controlling the flow of water into the large pond in the park that was built for flood alleviation when the nearby

The pond

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

stretch of the Avon Ring Road was created. The pond is covered by a thick carpet of duckweed which has been harming wildlife. Last summer we reported on fears that the pond could also pose a safety risk like at Nunney Castle, near Frome, where a three-year-old boy almost drowned in the green algaecovered moat which he had thought was grass. South Gloucestershire Council manages the park but the Environment Agency (EA) owns the sluice gate. After an initial dispute over who was responsible for fixing the gate, the EA has said it will The sluice gate is broken fix it but it has not been a high priority. A request for an update on the situation from a local resident In response for an estimated time on when the work is has resulted in the EA saying that the work still isn’t fully expected to commence, the EA’s response was: “Our current provisional programme would be that we would hope to be funded but it is looking at ways to get the project funded. The EA was asked why, if the current contractor is busy on site to complete this work in summer 2024. But this is working on other priority work, an alternative company could dependent on getting funding and the resources required.” Some work to improve the pond area has been taking place not be engaged to complete the work. The EA responded: “The existing mechanical contractor this year. Following recommendations from an ecological framework is due to be decided within the next month or so. assessment, tree surgeons have opened up areas around the Once it is known who the new contractor is for the next five pond, allowing more light through. The project was funded years, it is hoped to engage with them as soon as possible to through South Gloucestershire Council’s Climate and Nature Emergency programme. get the project running.”

Praise for students on A-level results day Students at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College at Brislington were among those celebrating as they collected their A-level and BTEC results on Thursday. The college has the largest cohort of A-level students in the region and 716 young people received their results. They achieved an A-level pass rate of over 95% including 780 high grade passes. This is despite the disruption that they have experienced in their education over the last few years and against the backdrop of a downturn in results nationally as exam boards return grade boundaries to pre-pandemic levels. Students sitting Level 3 examinations across the country had never sat formal public examinations at secondary school until this summer. St Brendan’s also reported another increase in its BTEC grades with 55% of grades achieved by students taking Level 3 BTEC and Applied General courses being either Distinction or Distinction* which is the highest grade possible. More than 450 students applied through UCAS this year and the majority will be going to their first choice university. Amongst them are Rosie and Beth who will be taking up their places at Cambridge. Rosie will be studying History and Beth Veterinary Science. A record number of students have secured apprenticeships in many different fields including accounting, law, business, computing and engineering. Futura Learning Partnership, whose schools include

SBL students celebrating their exam success

Wellsway and IKB in Keynsham, said it was once St Brendan's students Rosie and again celebrating the fantastic achievements of Beth are both off to Cambridge sixth form students. The principal and executive head of the schools, Rob Pearsall, said the grades showed that students had been able to cope admirably with the disruption that the pandemic has caused to their education. The Sir Bernard Lovell Academy in Oldland Common, which is also part of Futura, said that bearing in mind this cohort of students had never sat formal public examinations at secondary school until this summer, the outcomes were very encouraging. “We are pleased to see a strong improvement at SBL Academy compared to results from 2019, the last time Level 3 examinations were or those who aren’t sure of what to do next, please take a little time to consider your options. Very few of us get everything awarded in England applying these standards.” Local councils have all praised young people for their right first time and very few of us know, or end up doing achievements and their families and teachers for their forever, what we think we want to do when we’re 18.” The free National Careers Service Exam Results Helpline support. Cllr Asher Craig, Bristol’s cabinet member for education, number is 0800 100 900. It is open from 8am to 8pm Monday said: “This year’s A-level students have experienced a to Friday, and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays. difficult time in their secondary school education due to the • GCSE results are out tomorrow and we will have a story in disruption of the pandemic. They’ve all shown real resilience next week’s issue. in the face of this challenge which I’m sure will set them up well for the future.” Bath & North East Somerset Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Paul May, said: “Receiving these results can bring a mix of emotions as you consider the next chapter in your lives – but whatever the outcome, there are options available to you. There is an excellent range of support and advice you can access to guide you through your next steps, which could include apprenticeships, employment, work experience and higher education opportunities.” South Gloucestershire Council’s co-leader and cabinet member with responsibility for schools, Cllr Ian Boulton, said: “For those who didn’t get the grades you had hoped for,

Happy Wellsway students Zoe & Katie

Pre-school’s rating leaps to Good Queens Road Methodist Church Pre-School in Keynsham, which was branded as Inadequate by Ofsted earlier this year, has now achieved a Good rating following another inspection. After February’s visit, Ofsted said that children's safety and welfare was compromised due to weaknesses in safeguarding arrangements. The pre-school’s leadership and management received the lowest rating as did the personal development of children, while the quality of education, and children’s behaviour and attitudes were said to require improvement. However, in the latest inspection report published last week, all categories are rated as Good.

Ofsted says that the manager has worked hard to support and upskill her team’s knowledge of safeguarding procedures. Children love attending the pre-school and make good progress. There is an ambitious, inclusive curriculum in place and staff are said to be friendly and caring. Children are said to behave well and learn to be independent. The inspector’s report also highlights that parents speak very positively about the preschool and the friendly staff. They know what their children are learning and parents of those with special educational needs and/or disabilities report on how the manager can

“never do enough” to help their family unit. The pre-school has 48 children on the roll. A spokesperson from the pre-school said the team were “thrilled” to receive the Good rating.

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

Delayed Lyde Green schools must now get permission for redesign A planning application to redesign Lyde Green’s longawaited secondary school and a second primary school to serve the new estate has been submitted. Outline planning permission for the 900-place secondary school and a 420-place primary school was first secured seven years ago, with detailed consent granted in March 2021. But from the start, the project has been plagued by delays including a change to the original location, a change in the sponsor of the secondary school, and a change of builder, along with challenging market conditions in the construction industry which have sent project costs soaring. Building the co-located schools was going to be £30m in 2021 but £41m has so far been committed by South Gloucestershire Council and the Government - and last month the council said it still needed to secure more funding for the secondary school. The amended application, now lodged on the council’s An image of the primary and secondary schools' main entrances

planning portal, says the alterations are proposed chiefly for the secondary school to meet Department for Education (DfE) guidance and standards so that the project can be funded and delivered. The secondary school has been redesigned to meet DfE requirements with additional rooms and facilities. The schools are still co-joined but each would have its own defined main reception entrance. Storey heights for both schools have been increased by 50mm due to a requirement for additional fire treatment. Internal changes to the primary school include the relocation of the lift and minor adjustments to associated rooms, the removal of the interconnecting door between the two schools and a slight move of the main entrance. The plans also show the primary school’s playground has been altered. The outdoor assembly amphitheatre has been removed to allow for more soft landscaping. A new arrival point and court for secondary school pupils to the south east has been included, with hard and soft landscaping, benches and revised cycle and car parking. A new hard landscaped court is provided to the north next to the sports hall, PE changing and community entrance. The informal hard games courts have been replaced with a soft informal and social area of seating, landscaping and

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

The site where the new schools will go

pathways, in part to meet DfE requirements. One of the other changes is that the delivery bay in the south-eastern car park now has a specific access point into the secondary school. The planning application says: “The delivery of both schools is ultimately critical to the success of the wider Lyde Green urban extension, and a swift decision from the authority is desired to ensure there is little delay to delivery.” The Olympus Academy Trust will be running the secondary school and Castle School Education Trust (CSET) will run the primary school under the Government’s Free Schools programme. The planning reference is P23/02334/RVC. The deadline for comments is 20th September and a decision is expected by early November.

LETTERS MPs should not have second jobs

Local bus service let-down after great holiday

Dear Editor

It was staggering - yet somehow unsurprising - to

I’ve just spent a wonderful week with Lochs &

read that Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg MP earns over

Glens Holidays in Scotland. Coming home,

£300,000 annually from working as a TV

because of disruption on motorways north of

presenter.

Birmingham, our coach didn’t get to Bristol until

Chris Skidmore MP's outside earnings - at

nearly 8pm on Saturday 12th August.

£200,000 a year - seem almost modest by

I got to Bristol Bus Station and no 349 buses were

comparison. Such extravagant sums will be hard

listed so I asked the 522 driver if he went round

to swallow for thousands of constituents

Park Estate in Keynsham. Yes, he said. But he

struggling to make ends meet.

didn’t! So walked back from the Memorial Park

Just as worrying is how much time these MPs

to check on bus times and no further buses go to

dedicate to non-parliamentary work. Every hour

Bilbie Green so I went into a pub to ask them to

Rees-Mogg sits at his GB News desk

phone for a taxi.

pontificating about “wokery” is an hour not spent

I am rather deaf and cannot use a mobile phone.

serving his constituents.

The people in the pub were helpful but said

At least Skidmore has decided not to contest the

no taxi was available so I started to walk up

next election, bringing to an end any pretence that

Charlton Road with all my luggage. I had to keep

he is still motivated by public service. Being an

resting on the garden walls as it’s all uphill. By

MP is a great responsibility and a great privilege.

the time I got past Caernarvon Road, I was

MPs should not have second jobs: plain and

shattered.

simple. The moment MPs forget the weight of the

But then a super lady came up behind me who had

office they hold is the moment voters should show

seen me struggling and helped me back home (I

them the door.

took her telephone number and was able to thank

Voters in North East Somerset & Hanham will

her the next day). It was 9.30pm and I just went

have their say, soon enough.

to bed with a Horlicks. Nothing stronger!

James Coldwell, Keynsham

Lochs & Glens are splendid at helping all elderly people but I can’t cope with local bus services that

The kindness of strangers

don’t serve the public. When I moved here in the

Dear Editor

early 1990s, we had six buses every hour – two

I would be grateful if via your newspaper I could

to Bath and four to Bristol.

pass on my sincere thanks to those who found my

Never again. I might just move up to Scotland!

purse in Keynsham High Street on Monday 7th

Pam Savage

August.

PS. My best wishes to Stephen Rodgers for so

Using some of the information inside, they were

many years giving us local news in this paper. I

able to pass the purse on to staff at Keynsham

wish him a very happy retirement and would

Dental Care who kindly let me know of its

recommend L&Gs Holidays as I have been eight

discovery.

times in different Highland hotels.

Your Letters page often features situations where local people come to the help of strangers. I would like to add my deep appreciation of the honesty

Why this new path is such great value

answer is yes, for a longer one please read on. What

some

people

(not

necessarily

Lockwood) don’t fully realise is that according to an official Government survey where they actually asked people (rather than listen to whoever shouts loudest) something like 70% of adults actually want to be more active but often don’t for a variety of reasons. And a big reason against cycling (a low impact exercise type available to most) is that it’s scary to share the road with large, fast-moving vehicles passing too close to you, not that it’s exactly fun for the drivers either. So if you can separate the two, everybody can gain, drivers can whizz along to the next obstruction in temporary peace and cyclists, joggers, walkers, horse riders, dog walkers and mums with prams, etc. can avoid the threat, the noise, stress and noxious fumes all at a fraction of the price spent repairing the damage caused by cars and lorries each year. And speaking of taxpayers, easily preventable bad health for some costs us all, whether in taxes or waiting lists obstructing your own treatment. If people want to be healthier, why not let them? Encourage them even, motivate them, we ALL gain. The thing is, our bodies just aren’t designed to sit down all the time, we’ve had millions of years of hunting and gathering, just thousands of farming, itself very hard work, physically intensive, as was most factory work until very recently. What we ARE designed to do (unlike most animals) is to like fatty and sugary foods and store the surplus as fat because just around the corner will come the famine and without the fat you

Dear Editor I fail to understand, alongside other residents, why the No 45 bus is using Watsons Road as a ‘cut through’ to Shellards Road in Longwell Green. This is now part of the 45 bus route. Watsons Road is simply not wide enough to accommodate this route from 5am to midnight. We have been beeped at when trying to enter our drive and any post/delivery people are beeped at. There is no break from the speed of these buses, there are small children in this area and the drone that they generate when slowing down vibrates the house. We no longer open our windows. I have witnessed buses mounting the pavement for cars or other buses to pass. Occasionally, some bus drivers will continue along Shellards Road to Cherry Gardens, Bitton, this was always the route taken before by buses. Why has the route changed? There is no bus stop in Watsons Road. I have contacted our local MP, who passed my email to First Bus. I have contacted Dan Norris, who kindly gave me First Bus CEO email. I have contacted First Bus, with no reply. I appreciate it is a valuable service but please re-route this bus along Shellards Road, as that always was a bus route. Shellards

Road

has

double

yellow

line

restrictions, a white line in the road and a widened junction for turning in and out of to enable safe use of 100 or more double-deckers per day. Wendy, Longwell Green Editor’s note: We have approached First and hope to bring you their response next week

might not make it through. Great for surviving back in the day, not at all good for you if you sit on your bum all the time stuffing your face with nice things (been there done that, not good, changed). Yes, life expectancy keeps increasing but what hasn’t yet is the average healthy lifespan.

and thoughtfulness of those who enabled the

Dear Editor

So again, in my opinion it’s a cracking use of the

purse to be returned.

In Issue 794, letter writer Stuart Lockwood asked

available cash, even more please will be much

God bless you.

if a new link from Pucklechurch to the cycle path

appreciated by more people than you may realise.

Mrs Glenys Hirst

network was the best use of our money. The short

Simon in Oldland

Why divert bus down a road with no stop?

Watsons Road

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

LETTERS New football team seeks sponsorship Dear Editor Fry’s Women’s Football team is a newly established local team based at the Somerdale Pavilion, Keynsham. Following the success of the Lionesses in the 2022 Euros, we saw an increased demand and opportunity to invite women of all ages and abilities to form a new club in the local area. The team’s focus is to build a diverse, inclusive and sociable community. We welcome women who are returning to football after time away, are completely new to football, looking to improve health and fitness or who just love the game and want to part of a team. Our ethos is Enjoyment,

We want to build on the ethos of the club and grow our links with local businesses by giving them the chance to get involved and support their

Countdown to popular church fete

local team. We are currently looking for sponsors ahead of

Bitton’s annual church fete takes

entering our first season in the Bristol Women’s

place on Saturday 2nd September

Casual League. Sponsorship will help us

from 1.30pm and preparations

purchase much-needed equipment and training

are well under way.

kits for the women. Sponsorship is available from

The fete is part of year-round

£25. You can follow us and find more about our

activities to maintain the historic

team on Instagram – @fryswomensjfc

Grade I listed church. It takes place

Alternatively, see us train on a Wednesday

in the Glebe Field, in St Mary’s

evening between 7pm and 8.30pm at Somerdale Pavilion. Get in touch with our team manager, Kelsey Manning,

07340

336972

charlotte_buttery@icloud.com

Church, and in the garden of neighbouring Church Farm and as usual there will be plenty of stalls, traditional

games

and

other

invited to make four decorated biscuits. All

attractions.

entries must be taken to the WI cake stall by

The Tatters and Tails Morris Group will be

2.30pm on the day for judging at 3pm.

entertaining the crowds and Highcroft

There is also a photography competition. The

Veterinary Centre at Longwell Green will

deadline for entries is tomorrow (Thursday).

again be running a fun dog show. There will

Details on how to enter online are available

be a collection of classic cars on display, a

at https://www.stmarysbitton.org.uk/ where

Bitton held its ninth flower

Punch & Judy show, and music from Oldland

you can also view the entries so far.

and vegetable show on

Brass, the Jazzbeanz and St

Saturday.

Mary's Minstrels. Teas will

The popular show, which

be served in the church and

was free to exhibit in and

there will be food stalls and

open to gardeners of all

a bar on the field. Visitors

ages and abilities and there

can also enjoy cream teas on

was a high standard of

the lawn at Church Farm.

entries.

This year the Bitton Baker

Participation, Community.

Fry’s Women’s Football team

Garden centre’s summer show Fonthill Garden Centre in

Some of the entries in the Fonthill show

of the Year competition makes a comeback. The organisers would like adults

Keep in touch, let us know what you think, send us your news www.facebook.com/theweekin

to bake an 8 inch (20cm approx) Victoria Sandwich. Children aged under 12 are

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 27th August

2 -Hard

Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (10.30am-4pm) Asda, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) 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 23rd August 2023

Tabernacle teams up with local artist Thanks to funding support from the Quartet Foundation, the trustees of the Grade I listed Whitfield Tabernacle in Kingswood have engaged the Warmley-based awardwinning artist Vincent Brown to offer a tutored art class and live demonstration of portrait painting.

The Whitfield Tabernacle

Visit historic site Kingswood Heritage Museum and William Champion’s Gardens and Grotto at the Warmley site will open for extended hours over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The museum will open from 11am to 5pm on the Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. William Champion’s Gardens and Grotto will be open from 11am to 4.30pm on the Saturday and Sunday. The gardens are open all the time but the grotto is only open at bank holiday weekends. Admission to the museum is £4. Admission to William Champion’s Grotto is also £4. All children under 12 can visit the museum and gardens for free. Parking is free.

On Saturday 23rd September, Vincent will be producing a portrait of Basil Rogers, the last minster of the Whitfield Tabernacle. It will take place in the New Cheltenham Community Centre where there will be seating for up to 40 people to watch the painting develop with the aid of a TV screen. The next day Vincent will run a two-hour painting class in his Clocktower studio for artists of all abilities to produce artwork based on the interior of the Tabernacle. Those attending the art class will also be invited to visit the Tabernacle on the 23rd so that they don’t just have to rely on photographs to inspire their work. Chair of the Tabernacle Trust, the Rev Anthony Hick, said: “We are excited to be working with such an accomplished artist as Vincent, and we know he shares our vision to encourage more people to get involved in producing and seeing art, drama and performance in all forms. “When our Tabernacle building is fully converted in 2024, we hope it will provide a useful and attractive venue for community and artistic events. The sessions we have planned Hawthornes II, a family portrait by Vincent Brown that with Vincent, and other sessions that we are was shortlisted for the Ruth Borchard Prize planning with local musicians and performers, are aimed at building a future audience and encouraging the Kim.Scudamore@whitfieldtabernacle.org or calling 0117 community to help shape what we are finally able to offer.” 9322723. There will be no charge to participants for any of the events The Whitfield Tabernacle is widely regarded as the birthplace planned for 23rd and 24th September but those planning to of the Methodist movement. The restoration will enable it to attend must pre-register their interest by contacting play a key role in a cultural quarter for Kingswood.

Crossword ACROSS

DOWN

1. Conjecture (7)

1. Isolate (8)

8. Bewilder (7)

2. Trimmed (5)

9. Faultless (7)

3. Musical drama (5)

10. Reckoned (7)

4. Course at dinner (6)

11. Bureaucracy (3,4)

5. Cut (4)

14. Allow (3)

6. Obvious (7)

16. Tangle (4)

7. Second-hand (4)

18. List of options (4)

12. Row (4)

19. Give out (4)

13. Stopper (4)

20. Large jug (4)

15. Canvas shelter (4)

21. Information (inf.) (3)

16. Pottery oven (4)

23. Kitchen tool (7)

18. Significance (7)

26. Have within (7)

22. Castrated male (6)

28. Joining (7)

24. Expel from property (5)

29. Madman (7)

25. Rustling sound (5)

30. Small axe (7)

26. Pay a short visit (4)

17. Dusk (8)

27. Prefix denoting self (4)

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

‘Protecting the Green Belt also protects the towns it surrounds,’ new report says With stories of developers eyeing up Green Belt land for house-building once more occupying column inches in The Week In, a new report from CPRE, the countryside charity, has described the Green Belt as the “indispensable solution to climate, nature and food security challenges”. Building on the Green Belt is a story as old as The Week In, beginning in 2007 with a Government inspector ordering land in Keynsham to be removed for the K2 development and again more recently for the Hygge Park and forthcoming Withies Green developments on the east of the town. Last week, we reported on fears for more than 300 acres of land north of Warmley,

while Redrow’s plans for 149 homes on the Green Belt in Hanham are being vigorously resisted by local residents. The CPRE report, State of the Green Belt 2023: A Vision for the 21st Century, shows thousands of new homes are built and proposed on Green Belt land every year, but most of these homes will not address the housing crisis. Only 5% will be delivered as social rent and at best only 31% will meet the Government’s controversial and highly contested definition of “affordable”. One of the report’s recommendations is to double the amount of Green Belt land which is used for farming – ironically, the current use of the fields at The Batch in Hanham

Green Belt land under threat at Warmley

where Redrow Homes wants to build. CPRE also wants to see more Green Belt land given over to woodland, the “rewiggling” of streams to soak up more water from nearby urban areas as well as the development of tourism and leisure uses. A common narrative used in many planning applications to build on Green Belt land is that the benefit of the development outweighs the damage caused. But CPRE says that today there is greater need than ever for it to fulfil the founding promise of access to green space, nature and cultural heritage for the populations of nearby towns and cities. Roger Mortlock, chief executive of CPRE, the countryside charity, said: “From the food

we eat to the nature we need, the Green Belt is treasured today and envied by many other countries. But it has the potential to deliver so much more. It could yet become a pivotal solution to the climate, nature and food security challenges bearing down on us, not to mention the countryside next door for 30 million people living in nearby towns and cities. “CPRE wants to see the Green Belt valued and protected for what it is but also delivering more in the future. Climate change promises more floods, more droughts and increased risk of wildfire. To protect the Green Belt is also to help protect the towns and cities it surrounds.”

Land at Withies Green was taken out of the Green Belt and now has planning permission for more than 200 homes

Developers ‘making changes’ to The Batch planning application Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society, which is fighting plans to build 149 homes on the 20-acre site known as The Batch, has learned that the developers are sending “revised and additional submissions” to South Gloucestershire Council. The council’s planning officer has agreed an extension of time for determination with the applicants, and the revised date for the council to make a decision on the controversial planning application has been pushed back from midAugust to Monday 11th September. However, objectors are concerned that the new deadline will not allow people long enough time to study additional submissions and produce detailed responses by that date.

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

The planning officer has said “it may be necessary to try to agree a further extension of time”. Ashfield Land and Redrow Homes’ plans to build on the Green Belt behind Hencliffe Way have already received hundreds of objections and a group call Hanham Say No to Redrow is working alongside the Green Belt society to try to stop development. The developers’ consultants claim the site doesn’t particularly contribute to the “purposes” of the Green Belt and that South Gloucestershire Council won’t have a new Local Plan in place for many years to allocate sites to meet the “desperate need” for housing in the wider Bristol area. As we reported last week, the Local Plan is expected to go out for public consultation in November.

The Batch

Delving into Devizes A bus pass is a wonderful thing we thought, as we boarded the 272 country bus from Bath heading towards Devizes. It was a typical day in this year's summer showery, windy, occasional sunshine and all in all a bit of a disappointment for mid-August. Hopeful that things would improve, we headed towards the rear of the single-decker bus, hoping to experience a slightly more elevated view of England's extremely green, gusty and slightly unkempt countryside. The bus driver seemed anxious to arrive at our destination in good time as he took the speed restrictions to their limit through the suburbs of Bath, Box, Melksham and rural villages such as Shaw, Atworth and Sells Green. About an hour later we arrived at the Market Place in the centre of Devizes. This country town dates back to the 1100s when a Norman castle was built here. However, little is left of the fortification due to the ravages of time and chiefly the attack by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War in 1645. Royalists were then forced to surrender the castle and its final humiliation came in 1648 when it was destroyed by Parliamentarians. The community that grew up around the castle owes its wealth and heritage to trading in snuff, tobacco and yarn and

wool. In the early 18th century, it held the largest corn market in the South West. The town's main export today comes from the famous Wadworth beer factory in Northgate Street in the centre of the town. It was established in 1875 by Henry A Wadworth with his brother-in-law John Smith Bartholomew buying a share in it in 1887 and becoming joint owner. It is still a family-run concern today. On alighting from the bus, we walked along Snuff Lane towards the Kennet and Avon Canal which took us just a few minutes, passing as we did so a well-hidden café to our right. The canal runs through Devizes and a slow stroll along its towpath is a good way to experience the narrow boat culture and visit the Wharf Theatre that is situated alongside it. There is also a huge cemetery that was opened in 1878 on the north side of the canal. Being so close to the waterway, it adds an extra dimension to a mainly flat walk. Coming back into town across Northgate Street Bridge, we were close to the start of the 29 locks that form the famous Caen Hill Locks. These locks rise to 237 feet over a distance of two miles with a one in 44 gradient. We made our way to the Bear Hotel in the Market Place. This coaching inn was one of dozens in the town in the 1700s and 1800s, serving as a stop-off and resting point for stagecoaches and mail coaches between London and Bristol. Today it very much retains an old-world charm even though much of it has been recently renovated. A nice touch is that it celebrates its connection to Wadworth Brewery by printing the Wadworth logo on its dessert biscuits. It was in the Bear Hotel in 1794 that the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry was created by a small group of local inhabitants wishing to keep order in the town centre. This organisation grew and grew and proudly served in the Boer War, and both world wars. It is now known as the Royal Wessex Yeomanry. After a pleasant meal we visited the Devizes Market on the opposite side of the Square. It has

A view of the Wharf Theatre from the Kennet & Avon Canal

a variety of stalls selling antiques, crafts, cards and clothes. There are also two cafés. An open-air market is held in The Shambles next door to the market every Thursday. A quick taster of a country town not too far away from home is always a treat and it was as the bus trundled homeward through windswept Wiltshire and blowy Bath that once again the rain started to blow in sideways. Arriving in Bath Bus Station, we were lucky enough to connect with the 19 bus to Bitton and reflect that a day trip to Devizes was just the ticket during this spell of crazy English summertime, and maybe even a bit of a washout can sometimes turn into something really quite special. Christine Rogers

Caen Hill is one of the longest continuous flight of locks in the country

Community choirs plan more concerts and fundraising Across the West of England there are 24 Good Afternoon Choirs which will all be returning to singing – and fundraising – after their summer break. Each year each choir chooses a local good cause to benefit from its fundraising events and concerts. So far this year £14,415 has been raised across the region and choir founder Grenville Jones hopes to smash last year’s total which topped £22,000. Locally the Keynsham Good Afternoon Choir is led by Grenville Jones and meets every Wednesday at Keynsham Methodist Church (Victoria Centre) from 2pm to 4pm. Following the summer break the choir starts back Singing in the Afternoon on 6th September. The choir performed to a packed St John’s Church at Keynsham Music Festival with the Mencap’s Music Man Project, and this and other fundraising events have raised

almost £600 for the Bath Mind charity as well as £200 for Mencap. More concerts are planned in the run-up to Christmas including an open Christmas celebration at Keynsham Methodist Church on Wednesday 13th December. The South Gloucestershire Good Afternoon Community Choir, based in Kingswood, is led by Matt Finch and meets every Wednesday at Kingswood Community Church (Great Hall) from 2pm to 4pm. It too will be starting up again on 6th September. Choir members held their first concert of the year with guests Oldland Brass at a packed Holy Trinity Church. This concert and other fundraising events have raised £802 for the Dementia UK charity so far this year. More concerts are planned in the run-up to Christmas. There are also choirs in Bath, Bristol, Yate/Chipping

The South Gloucestershire choir performing at Holy Trinity

Sodbury, Thornbury, Norton Radstock, as well as in Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall. There are no auditions and everyone is welcome. Visit www.goodafternoonchoir.org or call 01761 472468.

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

Advice charity PCC welcomes rollout launches £30k appeal of free call blockers Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire is to move from its current rented headquarters to new premises early next year in order to increase the number of people it can help with face-to face advice. The team hopes this will mean the charity can help an additional 1,900 people each year, but it needs the help of the public to raise £30,000. The charity provides essential support to people in the district with problems including debt, benefits, energy, employment and housing. The cost of living crisis has seen demand for help with foodbank referrals and energy bills shoot up. Overall, the charity helped 4,183 South Gloucestershire residents with 19,625 issues in 2022/23 – nine per cent more than in the previous year. Face-to-face advice sessions are important to clients with many preferring seeing advisers in person rather than over the phone or via webchat. Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire is buying Unit 1, Badminton Court at Yate as its new base, using reserves and a loan. But

it also needs to raise funds for changes such as creating eight new interview rooms. This will double the number of client rooms at its current home near Yate Leisure Centre. Find out more about the appeal at https://tinyurl.com/2u482mpz The charity also offers face-to-face advice sessions at venues including Juice at Cadbury Heath on the first and third Monday of the month from 10am to noon and at Emersons Green Village Hall on Thursdays from 10am to noon.

Avon & Somerset’s Police & Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford has welcomed a national rollout of free callblocking units to help protect people falling victims to phone scams. Led by the National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team and in partnership with trueCall Secure+, the aim is to prevent the public, especially vulnerable individuals, from receiving phone calls from fraudsters looking to obtain personal or financial information. A call blocker filters out unwanted scams and nuisance phone calls from a landline phone (the unit does not work with mobile phones). In previous call-block projects run by the NTS Scams Team, the units have blocked 91% of scam and nuisance calls.

The unit plugs into an existing landline phone and phone line and can work alongside broadband and lifeline pendant devices that are already installed. PCC Mark Shelford said: “It’s great to see that NTS Scams Team have received funding to rollout call blockers, a key tool to help prevent people from falling victim to scammers and rogue traders. “Heartless fraudsters have no qualms targeting those most vulnerable in our communities so it is more important than ever that we take steps to help protect people. If you or a loved one is interested in a free call blocker, please do visit the Friends Against Scams website https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/cb video - to find out more.”

Keep in touch, let us know what you think, send us your news www.facebook.com/theweekin

Situations Vacant

Roadside checks for drink and drugs An operation aimed at reducing fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions is running in the Avon & Somerset Police force area this week. Op Tonic is using an intelligence-driven strategy to identify and apprehend drivers under the influence of drink or drugs, with the objective of taking offenders off the road before they can cause harm. The roads policing team are conducting proactive high-visibility roadside checks at key locations identified through intelligence-led insights and officers’ local expertise. Op Tonic also centres on swift responses to live CCTV updates and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) hits. Through

collaboration with CCTV hubs, officers receive alerts about suspicious activities which could indicate a driver is about to get behind the wheel while impaired by drink or drugs. Drink and drug-driving was a factor in a third of collisions in the force area in 2021 which involved the deaths of 12 people.

Free tablet loan scheme Age UK Bath & North East Somerset has launched a free tablet loan scheme to improve digital inclusion. Whether you’re a complete beginner who has never logged on, or a tech returnee in need of a refresher, the digital team can help.

Loans lasting between eight and 12 weeks run throughout the year. There is a digital drop-in at Keynsham Library in Market Walk on the last Tuesday of the month. Call 01225 466135 or email digital@ageukbanes.co.uk to find out more.

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd August 2023

Crossword Solution

Sudoku Solutions 1-Easy

2-Hard

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