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October 2017 • Issue 53
POLICE P32 | WHAT’S ON P44 | DIRECTORY P46 Find us on Facebook: BradleyStokeJournal Follow us on Twitter: @TheBSJournal
PLUS , IN YOUR 48-PAGE BRADLEY STOKE MAGAZINE
PARKWAY BRIDGE Leaked council note considers option for closure… Page 8 Brook Way Activity Centre
Olympus Academy Trust
Additional car parking and green space here?
Planning application withdrawn
P2-3
Patchway school is latest to join
P13
l Four-week line closure brings benefits of electrification closer l Staffed hours at library reduced from 1st October l MetroBus construction: September report l Getting to know the new primary headteachers l Students complete Land’s End charity ride l Stoke Gifford By-Pass to open by December l Community-run carnival proves a hit l Weather puts dampener on open air cinema l Tanning salon on the cards for Willow Brook l Jubilee Centre is latest target in graffiti spate l Counting the true cost of the Forty Acres traveller encampment
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October 2017
News Concern over tree roots • Planning application pulled
B Contact Us Editor: Stephen Horton info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk 01454 300 400 83 Snowberry Close Bradley Stoke Bristol BS32 8GB
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About the Bradley Stoke Journal The Bradley Stoke Journal website and magazine are published by North Bristol Press, a trading name of Snowberry Media Ltd; company number 8451178 (registered in England and Wales); registered office: 7 Chelford Grove, Stoke Lodge, Bristol BS34 6DD. Our other publications include the Patchway Journal website, the Stoke Gifford Journal website and the Filton Journal website. North Bristol Press is independent of any other media company or network operating in the Bristol area. We accept no responsibility for anything stated by advertisers, who are themselves responsible for complying with all relevant legislation. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or article author. © North Bristol Press 2017. Content published in our magazines or on our websites may not be reproduced in any form without our express written permission.
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radley Stoke Town Council (BSTC) has suffered a setback in its ambitions to redevelop the dilapidated hard court area in the grounds of Brook Way Activity Centre after officers at South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) indicated they were minded to refuse planning consent for a proposed scheme that would see the area converted to additional car parking spaces and green open space. The news comes exactly four years after the then mayor Cllr Brian Hopkinson proposed the construction of two new buildings on the site, one for a charity and the other for youth provision. A subsequent public consultation on the future of the area showed that 59 percent of respondents wanted to see additional parking facilities provided at the combined community centre and doctors’ surgery site, with just 20 percent
supporting the need for a “new building” of some form. After a working group set up to consider the results of the consultation failed to produce any formal reports or recommendations over a period of more than two years, the matter came back to Full Council in July 2016, where it was unanimously decided to use earmarked reserves of up to £50,000 to convert the hard court area to green open space and extend the car park. A planning application was subsequently submitted to SGC (in April 2017), for a scheme that would create 20 additional parking spaces at the site, with 12 of these being created by expanding the existing car park into the area currently occupied by the hard courts and the other eight being created on the doctors’ surgery side of the access road. The remainder of the hard court area would be converted
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News
Setback for car park extension at Brook Way to green open space, with a new footpath being created to link this to the access road. Plans showed that ten existing trees on the site would need to be “relocated” as part of the work. Signs that all might not be well with the application emerged in June, when councillors were told that SGC’s tree officer had expressed “concerns about the loss of some trees”. This was followed in August by the news that SGC had insisted that the town council produce an arboricultural survey and provide justification of the need for additional parking at the site. September’s Full Council meeting was informed that SGC officers had expressed additional concerns about damage to tree roots that might be caused by making deep excavations in the front part of the hard court area in order to bring it down to the same level as the existing car park.
Councillors were told that a surveyor has now advised that the existing surface of the hard court could be retained on the part which is proposed to be used for additional car parking, although a ramp would need to be constructed to bridge the difference in level relative to the existing car park. It was noted that this possibility had been discounted during earlier discussions on the advice of a (now former) town councillor who works in the construction trade. It was agreed that the town council’s planning application should now be withdrawn, “to avoid losing the application fee”, and resubmitted with amendments at a later date. Further meetings will now be held with the town council’s surveyor before options and costings of possible scheme variations are brought back to Full Council.
Above: Dilapidated hard court area at the council’’s Brook Way Activity Centre Right: Car park chaos in front of Bradley Stoke Surgery (archive image)
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October 2017
News
Four-week line closure brings benefits of electrification closer
U
pgrade work on the Great Western main railway line, which necessitated the closure of a section of the route for four weeks and the closure of Bristol Parkway Station for the final two weeks of that period, was successfully completed by Network Rail in mid-September, marking another major milestone in the delivery of the Great Western modernisation programme. The line re-opened as planned on the morning of Saturday 16th September following an extensive programme of work, which took place over a 28-mile stretch of railway between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, bringing GWR’s new fleet of Intercity Express
Trains another step closer for passengers. These brand new trains will deliver more than a fifth more seats per train and more frequent services for passengers when they are introduced this autumn. Almost 5,000 members of Network Rail’s orange army put in more than 175,000 working hours throughout the four weeks of work, which involved the use of 14,000 tonnes of ballast, approximately 2,600 concrete sleepers, 106km of wires and more than 500 foundations for electrification. Work to improve reliability and increase capacity has taken place at Bristol Parkway Station, including track renewals and
New signalling gantry being installed at Bristol Parkway
signalling upgrades. Further vital upgrades to accommodate the new trains took place as the extension of three platforms and the construction of a fourth platform at the station got underway, due for completion at the end of this year. Also, as part of this programme of work, electrification of the Chipping Sodbury Tunnel was completed with more than 8km of conductor rail and approximately 1,100 anchors drilled into the Victorian tunnel to support the electrification infrastructure. This series of work has also enabled the first phase of the resilience scheme at a floodprone area in Chipping Sodbury to be completed as part of the Department for Transport’s Flood Resilience Programme. David Buisson, Network Rail major programme director, said:
“I’d like to thank passengers and those living near to the railway for their patience as we have completed this important work.” “I’d also like to thank our workforce for their efficient and safe delivery of these works and our colleagues at GWR who have worked hard to keep passengers moving throughout this programme of upgrades.” “We’ve made great strides towards electrifying this section of the railway over the past four weeks, and we will continue to work safely and tirelessly to bring the benefits of electrification to passengers in 2019.” Rob Mullen, GWR operations director, said: “This work is crucial to maximising the benefits of our new Intercity Express Trains which enter service this year, with more seats compared to our existing trains and quicker journeys to London from 2019.”
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October 2017
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News
A 110-tonne Kirow crane lays track at Bristol Parkway to serve a new platform
Busy times at Patchway Station as trains are diverted from Bristol Parkway
Service alterations during October 2017 Saturdays in October: Tains between London and South Wales will This autumn, Network Rail are building a new platform at Bristol be diverted to avoid the Severn Tunnel Parkway, and making track improvements, in readiness for the new Sundays 15th & 22nd October: Trains between London and South Intercity Express Trains. They are also carrying out work in the Wales will terminate at Bristol Parkway, with replacement buses Severn Tunnel, Filton Abbey Wood and Cardiff areas. Journeys may running between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central be longer than normal, and buses will replace trains on some routes. Sundays 1st, 8th & 29th October (to 1pm): Trains between London If you travel through Bristol Parkway at weekends, please check and South Wales will terminate at Bristol Parkway, with replacement your train times, as there are some major changes. buses running between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central Plan your journey at GWR.com/BristolParkway2017
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Come and visit us to explore the widest range of Post 16 courses in South Gloucestershire
October 2017
t: 01454 300 400
Bradley Stoke Library opening hours from 1st October 2017 Day
Library available*
Staffed hours
Monday
8.00am – 9.30pm
10.00am – 6.00pm
Tuesday
8.00am – 9.30pm
10.00am – 6.00pm
Wednesday
8.00am – 9.30pm
No staffed hours
Thursday
8.00am – 9.30pm
10.00am – 6.00pm
Friday
8.00am – 9.30pm
10.00am – 6.00pm
Saturday
8.00am – 6.00pm
9.30am – 12.30pm
Sunday
8.00am – 6.00pm
No staffed hours
*Please note when the library changes from staffed to unstaffed opening, it will close for 15 minutes for the transition to Open Access. The library is only available during unstaffed hours for those who have signed up for the free Open Access scheme and completed an induction. For more information and to book your Open Access induction online see www.southglos.gov.uk/OpenAccess
Post 16 Open Event
When the library is available during Open Access times you will be able to: • Scan your Active Leisure and Library card and use your PIN to enter the library • Connect to the free wifi • Use a computer • Print and photocopy items • Access online e-resources • Issue, return, renew items and pay charges using the self-service kiosks • Collect reserved items • Read books and newspapers
Wessex Water tunnelling works in the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve
The Edge Church, Aztec West, BS32 4TF Thursday November 9th, 6.30-8.00pm
Why should I go?
All of the Concorde Partnership centres and all of their subjects will be represented under one roof: Abbeywood Community School, Bradley Stoke Community School, Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy, Patchway Community School, South Gloucestershire & Stroud College and in conjunction with Winterbourne International Academy Find out about the largest choice of subjects and courses by a South Gloucestershire partnership – we have over 30 subjects and more than 40 courses on offer Need Advice? We will have impartial careers advisors on hand to help guide you onto the right courses
Tunnelling work that is being carried out from a compound near the ‘duck pond’ in Bradley Stoke’s Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve became more intensive for a ten-day period during September as contractors switched to 24-hour working.
Our venue has ample free parking and a coffee shop, with amazing cakes and space for you to talk through your options
The work is associated with the latest chapter in Wessex Water’s Frome Valley Relief Sewer (FVRS) project, which involves laying a 5km long, 1.8m diameter sewer pipe between Iron Acton and Bradley Stoke.
For more about our partnership, please visit: www.concordepartnership.org.uk
A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “Excavation of the access shaft is now complete and we have been successfully tunnelling towards the M4. We have now moved onto the next phase in our work which will involve tunnelling under the motorway. To ensure this important work went smoothly, we revised our construction working hours to 24 hours a day, seven days a week between Wednesday 13th and Friday 22nd September.” Normal working hours have now been resumed.
If you have questions or need more information, please call us on 0117 307 5660
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October 2017
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News
Staffed hours at library reduced from 1st Oct
S
taffed opening hours at Bradley Stoke Library are to be reduced to 35 hours per week (currently 45.5 hours) from Monday 2nd October as part of cost-saving measures being introduced across the library service by South Gloucestershire Council. The total number of hours for which the library is open each week will, however, remain unchanged, thanks to the use of ‘Open Access’ technology. The new system, which was installed at Bradley Stoke in February and at other South Gloucestershire libraries over the summer, allows registered users to use their upgraded membership cards to access services during unstaffed hours. They are able to browse, borrow and renew books and other resources and make use of other facilities such as computers and study spaces. By reducing staffed opening hours, the council hopes to save £500,000 per annum, although net savings in the first year will be minimal due to the £450,000 cost of installing the Open Access technology and associated security measures. Open Access will also go live on 2nd October at Cadbury Heath, Filton, Emersons Green, Winterbourne, Thornbury, Staple Hill and Yate libraries, with users able to use the library from 7.30am to 8.30pm, seven days a week. The technology is also installed
at Patchway Library, where opening hours are slightly different because the building is shared with the NHS. From 2nd October, Open Access hours will be 8.45am to 5pm Monday to Friday, except Tuesday when it will open later, until 7pm. Open Access hours on Saturdays will be from 9am to 1pm, but closed on Sundays. Additional funding from Patchway Town Council will also cover longer staffed hours than the core times funded by South Gloucestershire Council. Bradley Stoke library has had Open Access in place since the beginning of 2017, where it has been successful in allowing new library users to access services during times when the library was previously closed. Those who work during the day and have limited time available during the weekends, for example, have been able to take advantage of early morning or evening opening, for example. To use Open Access, users will need to receive an induction to the system at one of the libraries where it is installed. They can book a session either by visiting their local library or by going online to www.southglos.gov. uk/OpenAccess. Here, users will also be able to see the full terms and conditions of membership and use of the system. All South Gloucestershire libraries will also be running with new staffed opening hours from 2nd October. These times are available in each branch and
are published on the website at www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries Another change taking effect from October is the withdrawal of the mobile library service. In Stoke Gifford, the council is supporting a replacement service that will see a fortnightly community library operate at The Old School Rooms. The first session will be on Tuesday 10th October, from 2pm until 4pm. Cabinet member for communities and tourism, Cllr Heather Goddard, said: “Our libraries are a wonderful resource, for residents of all ages. I am delighted that despite continued budgetary pressure on the council, we have, working closely with the community, been able to develop a solution that maintains people’s access to books and other resources, while making a contribution to the savings that we have had to make.”
“New technology will work alongside our excellent library staff, so that as a community we can make the best use of these facilities throughout the week and even more residents can visit and take advantage of them.” Anyone without internet access can contact the library service on 01454 868006.
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KUMON MATHS AND ENGLISH STUDY CENTRES Book your two-week Free Trial now! Bradley Stoke Study Centre 01454 610389 Find out more by coming along to our open event on Saturday 28 October from 10.00am – 2.00pm.
1 OCTOBER – 20 NOVEMBER Terms and conditions apply. Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre. Subject to availability.
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October 2017
News
Study looks at closing Parkway bridge to cars Leaked document reveals council is looking at closing bridge to general traffic, to help speed MetroBus journeys
C
ampaigners who successfully petitioned for a review of South Gloucestershire Council’s decision to construct a new bus lane on Hatchet Road, Stoke Gifford say they are shocked to hear that one of the alternative proposals being actively considered by the council includes the closure to general traffic of the Parkway Station railway bridge (linking Hatchet Road to Brierley Furlong). The bus lane, or whatever alternative proposal might replace it, is required to support a ‘second phase’ MetroBus route known as the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME), which will link The Mall at Cribbs Causeway with Bristol Parkway Station and serve the new developments planned for the former Filton Airfield site. The council insists that measures are needed to shorten MetroBus bus journey times and “increase reliability” on the Hatchet Road section of the route, but campaigners have argued that the bus lane scheme represents poor value for money
The railway bridge near Parkway Station, which provides a link between Hatchet Road and Brierley Furlong
and will only achieve minimal journey time improvements. Their preferred alternative, which would remove the need to remove mature hedgerows and trees from both sides of Hatchet Road, is to review the number of bus stops and implement lay-bys at those that are deemed necessary. A study note seen by the Journal and known to be in the possession of local councillors and campaigners, describes a £1.5m scheme to restrict the Parkway railway bridge to buses, taxis, pedestrians and cyclists only. This would be supported by a £6.5m scheme to widen the Winterbourne Road to
dual carriageway along its full length between the Hatchet Road Roundabout and Great Stoke Roundabout (a.k.a. Rabbit Roundabout) and a £5m scheme of improvements at Great Stoke Roundabout. The supporting elements are understood to be necessary to handle the general traffic that would need to use the soon-toopen Stoke Gifford Transport Link (see pages 24 & 25) as an alternative route. Advantages of the alternative scheme, aside from those for MetroBus, are said to include making the Parkway bridge safer for pedestrians and cyclists and encouraging the use of
sustainable transport. The only disadvantage listed in the study note is that traffic from the north would not be able to travel to the south of the railway line without redirecting around the A38 or SGTL. [Ed: This would clearly also apply for journeys in the opposite direction, e.g. from Filton to Parkway Station.] On the subject of funding, the note says: “Some initial work has suggested that the scheme, tested with and without the [Winterbourne Road] widening, would have a good chance of achieving funding through the West of England Combined Authority channels.” When the existence of the study note was raised by members of the public at a meeting of Stoke Gifford Parish Council on 12th September, council chair Ernie Brown, also an SGC ward councillor, said he was aware that SGC’s officers had working on the alternative proposal “for three months”. He added that he “didn’t want to see any discussion of the Parkway bridge closure option” and said he was worried that the outcome of the current review would offer just two options, the Hatchet Road bus lane or the closure of the Parkway bridge. A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson declined to confirm any details from the study note, saying only: “We are on track to report back to Cabinet on this issue later this year, [an action] which was resolved at a meeting of Full Council in July.” “As part of this work, officers are re-examining plans for the route of the MetroBus from the Hatchet Road roundabout to Parkway Station and investigating whether the CPME scheme can be delivered in a different way. The details are still being finalised, however a report will be brought to a public meeting of Cabinet where the proposals will be discussed in full.”
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October 2017
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News
In Brief
Beginners’ running course starting soon
Town council strategic planning decisions
orth Bristol Running Group (NBRG) is once again offering its popular beginners’ course, starting in October. The course will run for eight weeks and support you to reach the goal of completing a 5km (3.1 mile) run or jog by the time you graduate at a local parkrun (even if you have never run before!). The course will be held on Friday evenings at Bradley Stoke Community School (netball courts) from 6.30pm and the cost of the course is £10 in total. Over the eight weeks, NBRG’s run leaders and helpers will support you to gradually increase the distance that you run whilst following a structured training session which will include warm up, stretching, running, a short sprint and a warm down. The first session will take place on Friday 13th October. Interested in joining? Please
Decisions reached following discussions at Bradley Stoke Town Council’s annual strategic planning meeting in early September include: • To obtain costings for a package of additional security measures at council sites and public open spaces following a foiled attempt by travellers to gain access to the Jubilee Centre site (see page 42) • To obtain quotes to install a multi-use games area (MUGA) within part of the existing hard courts at the Jubilee Centre • To obtain quotes for replacing the damaged high safety netting at Baileys Court Activity Centre, which protects vehicles in the car park from cricket balls • To ascertain the cost of licences and any relevant restrictions to work undertaken to plant trees and flowers in Bradley Stoke ● Minutes of all town council meetings can be viewed at www.bradleystoke.gov.uk
N
Participants on a previous NBRG beginners’ course in 2015
email Sheila, one of the run leaders, at sheilawilcox1@ outlook.com for full details. Sheila says: “North Bristol Running Group is a local running group, based in Bradley Stoke. It is a friendly group of runners
who support each other to train; it’s very informal and we welcome every type of runner to join our group.” “We communicate our running activities via our Facebook page, so please take a look there.”
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October 2017
Sport
Opticians bowl over club with support
L-r: Robert Bertram (BSCS chairman), Julie Rafferty (Specsavers Bradley Stoke), Bob Wilkins (BSBC captain) and Steve Woodruff (BSBC vice-chairman)
B Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
FREE Grant Funding
radley Stoke Bowls Club has received £500-worth of sponsorship from three local Specsavers opticians stores – in Bradley Stoke, Filton and Cribbs Causeway. The money will mainly help pay for the continued development of different bowling opportunities for both new and experienced bowlers. The stores are also donating Specsavers mugs and umbrellas to help keep spectators warm and dry during tournaments. Store director Ed Stanleigh said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Bradley Stoke Bowls Club for their 2017 season. They’ve been part of Bradley Stoke for seven years now, and we’ve been involved right from
the beginning. It’s something that’s important to the local community, so we’re very happy to offer our continued support.” Robert Bertram, chairman of Bradley Stoke Bowls Club, said: “We’re very grateful to Specsavers for their ongoing support. Their sponsorship will help us with the development of bowls in the Bradley Stoke area and provide additional benefits for players and spectators to relax and enjoy the tournaments and friendly matches.” The sponsoring Specsavers stores can be found at the Willow Brook Centre (Bradley Stoke), Church View (Filton) and The Mall (Cribbs Causeway). ● Website: bsbc.webs.com
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October 2017
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11
News THE CLOSURE of the M5 motorway for around seven hours on the morning of Thursday 14th September brought gridlock to Bradley Stoke and the wider north Bristol area. The motorway was closed from around 4.40am between junction 16 (Almondsbury) and junction 14 (Thornbury) following an incident in which a pedestrian sadly died after being struck by a number of vehicles. Police said they believe the man had left his vehicle, which was parked on the hard shoulder. Motorway traffic was diverted onto the A38, which had a knockon effect on all connecting main commuter routes. By 8.45am, traffic was queuing the whole length of Bradley Stoke Way northbound, the whole length of Brook Way northbound and from the leisure centre on Bradley Stoke Way southbound. The motorway was eventually reopened just before noon after police had completed their investigative enquiries.
14th September 2017 Bradley Stoke Way
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October 2017
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Schools
Patchway secondary joins Olympus Trust
P
atchway Community School (formerly known as Patchway Community College) has become the latest secondary school to join the Olympus Academy Trust (OAT), where it joins Bradley Stoke Community School and Abbeywood Community School (Stoke Gifford), along with five local primary schools in Bradley Stoke, Filton and Stoke Lodge. The Patchway secondary had been in discussions with OAT for some time, but the lack of funding for essential buildings maintenance work at the school had proved a stumbling block. The award, earlier this year, of in excess of £4 million of government and local developer money, ring-fenced for facilities and building work at the school, paved the way for the transfer to be completed on 1st September. The name change from ‘college’ to ‘community school’ achieves consistency with the other OAT secondaries and avoids confusion about the age range that the school caters for. Dave Baker, CEO of Olympus, visited the school on Friday 15th September, when he addressed a Year 7 assembly and presented Patchway headteacher Karen Cornick with a plaque to mark the school’s joining of the trust. Mr Baker said: “It has taken a long time to get to this point but there is a lot to look forward to
with funding for improvements to the buildings as well as support for students to achieve.” Speaking of the benefits of being part of a larger partnership, Mr Baker said OAT had a proven track record in delivering school improvement and positive working relationships with the Department for Education and other government agencies. He added: “Our staff share expertise, provide mutual support and challenge one another to constantly improve the education we provide in our schools every day. Children also enjoy joint activities and access to staff and resources that they may not have experienced previously.” In a letter to parents, Ms Cornick said: “We are delighted to be part of a wider group of schools and we are already seeing some of the benefits of belonging to a multi-academy trust in terms of the management of our facilities and support with our financial management.” OAT could soon see a fourth secondary join its ranks after Mr Baker reported in a recent newsletter that the uncertainty surrounding the future for Winterbourne International Academy “has been resolved”. He explained that the Department for Education has confirmed that “in principle” approval has been given for
Olympus CEO Dave Baker presents a commemorative plaque to Karen Cornick
Winterbourne to join OAT. The Ridings and Olympus trustees will now work with the Department for Education to plan for a smooth transfer, with the best interests of Winterbourne students and their learning community at the heart
of discussions. OAT was already due to provide multi-academy trust support for Winterbourne for the 2017/18 academic year, but a full transfer is now likely to take place early in 2018. ● www.olympustrust.co.uk
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October 2017
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News
Three Brooks nature reserve in September By Sara Messenger, Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group
Conservation group members Gill Smith (left) and Sara Messenger (right) present a copy of ‘Bobby the Brown Long-Eared Bat’’ to librarian Sarah
crickets whose chirping is at a similar pitch to the bats! If you have missed our walks, you don’t have to miss out completely as at Bradley Stoke Library we have ten bat detectors available for loan, complete with guides and leaflets written by our own Gill Smith and John Morris. If you head off on your own
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we’d suggest you choose a dry night. Remember to wear sturdy footwear and take a torch (please don’t shine it at the bats) and be mindful that the leisure centre car park closes at 10pm! To celebrate the 21st International Bat Night, we have also donated to the library the children’s book ‘Bobby the Brown
THREE BROOKS BAILEY’S COURT INN
being surprisingly knowledgeable on the subject. Although we found many bats that evening, we again found none over the lake, which is usually teeming with pipistrelles, which are the smallest bat we have on the reserve. Whether this is to do with the tunnelling works there or the low level of water we’re not sure, and as the works won’t finish until after the bats have gone into hibernation, we won’t know until next year Four types of bat can be found on our reserve: pipistrelle, soprano, Daubenton’s and noctule. We found that if you point the detectors down into the long grass you can hear quite a lot going on, however it’s not a new breed of ‘grass bat’ that you’ve discovered, but the
HOLLOW
Thanks to the generosity of Bradley Stoke Town Council, our ‘bat walks’, unlike those in many other places, are free to the public – although I’m sure their continued popularity has as much to do with Avon Bat Group’s Stewart Rowdon’s engaging manner as with the walks being accessible to everyone. After telling us some batty tales and sharing out the bat detectors, Stewart led 25 of us off into the darkness to see what we could find. We didn’t get very far, as we discovered that the bats were using the large oak tree in the grounds of the leisure centre as a roost, so we stopped there. Several of the lads from the skate park came over to see what we were up to with a couple of them
TREE
All things batty!
ST MARY’S
October 2017
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News
Left: Incinerating infected ash trees. Right: Tree with symptoms of ash dieback.
Long-Eared Bat’, which is sold in support of the Bat Conservation Trust. Written by novelist A S Mills and beautifully illustrated by Kate Wyatt, the story follows young Bobby, his family of bats and his first journey in the outside world.
Ash dieback
Although the fungal disease ‘ash dieback’ has been around in the UK for five years, the reserve has been very lucky to have been spared an outbreak. Unfortunately, we have recently spotted signs of the disease in several saplings which are usually the first to succumb. As requested, we have reported the outbreak to the Forestry Commission and after taking further advice we are now operating a ‘slash and burn’ policy. Any trees that are infected are being cut down and incinerated on site in an
attempt to limit the damage to our plantation. Although we are hoping for the best, we do need to be thinking about which species to replace the lost trees with. Ash dieback is a disease of only ash trees and is caused by the fungus chalara fraxinea. It causes leaf loss and the crown to die back and usually leads to the death of the tree. Surveys have now confirmed the presence of the disease at more than 150 locations in England and Scotland, including established woodlands like ours. Chalara fraxinea is being treated as a quarantine pest under national emergency measures and we would ask, to protect our reserve and others, that all users of the reserve give their boots a good wash before going to other places so that you don’t cross contaminate sites. ● Conservation group website: www.three-brooks.info
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October 2017
News
MetroBus build: September report By Jim Aitken, Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd
South of Patchway Brook
Traffic management has now been removed, with the exception of one final section near Primrose Bridge, which has been left in place so that a pollution control chamber can be installed. We await the design solution to install this equipment as the underground utilities that are there prevent the current planned installation. An evening road closure from Patchway Brook to Savages Wood has been applied for to undertake some additional slot cutting within the carriageway outside the leisure centre. At the time of writing, it was hoped to undertake this work on one night only during the week commencing 25th September, from 8pm to midnight.
Great Stoke Roundabout
Traffic has been switched to the new bus lane to enable works on the northbound side, including new kerbs lines, drainage and footway works. Local pedestrian footway diversions around The Worthys will be installed to facilitate these works. Works including surfacing is to be completed early October for this area, with the road being fully cleared of traffic management by the end of October. The overall duration of works has extended due to drainage design changes. We have strived to keep the traffic flowing by keeping open narrow lanes, as opposed to other traffic management measures which could have restricted traffic movement. Consequently, we
New bus lane in use by general traffic at the southern end of Bradley Stoke Way
have received no complaints of traffic congestion in this area whilst we have completed the extended work on the verge.
Stoke Gifford By-Pass
The carriageway is now 100 percent surfaced and footways 95 percent complete throughout the scheme. Final signage, landscaping, fencing and finishing works are ongoing, with a target completion for early October. Further landscaping will then be undertaken due to seasonal restrictions for planting. Network Rail has been using the by-pass to access their new bridge in and around the Curtis Lane area. Works were carried out 24/7 on the railway line for a two-week period in September. The bridge being constructed over the Ham Brook is the responsibility of another contractor and is currently ‘off limits’ to the Alun Griffiths team. We need to undertake further
works around the above bridge to complete the by-pass, which will take us to December 2017. ● See pages 24 and 25 of this magazine for a special feature on the Stoke Gifford By-Pass.
Cones remain on a section of bus lane near Primrose Bridge, pending the outcome of a design decision
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October 2017
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Sport
In Brief
Council funds ladies’ football team
We hand-deliver 9,500 copies of this magazine As well as being delivered to ALL of the 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke, a further 800 copies of this magazine are delivered in the neighbouring areas of Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. We leave a further 700 copies at public locations in Almondsbury, Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, Patchway, Stoke Lodge, Stoke Gifford and Winterbourne.
Bradley Stoke Ladies’ football team has started its third season in the Gloucestershire County Women’s Football League, playing its opening match on Sunday 17th September. The season had already got off to a great start with the news that the squad had successfully secured funding through South Gloucestershire Council’s Member Awarded Funding scheme, which supports local
voluntary community groups. Team manager Martin Lee said: “The club would like to thank local South Gloucestershire Councillors Paul Hardwick, John Ashe, Roger Avenin and Brian Hopkinson for supporting and sponsoring the application. Special thanks to Paul who managed the process for our application on our behalf. The money will be used to purchase new football kit for the team.”
The photo above shows the Bradley Stoke Ladies’ squad with Cllr Paul Hardwick presenting the cheque to manager Martin Lee and coaches Ross Lee, Matt Smith and Mark Tickner. The Bradley Stoke Ladies’ squad trains every Tuesday at Bradley Stoke Community School. Any players interested in joining the club can email Martin Lee at mlee1@btopenworld.com for further information.
The Journal is proud to be Bradley Stoke’s ONLY locally edited newspaper!
The Journal Send us your news! November magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 23rd October info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk
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is misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 5 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. We make sure we turn up when we say we will, do
the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.’ Cloudy2Clear service the Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, Stoke Lodge, Patchway and Stoke Gifford areas and Graham is finding that his approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is
that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated.’ So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Graham a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!
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October 2017
News
£4.8m for gas-powered buses in West of England
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outh Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for transport, Cllr Colin Hunt, has welcomed the £4.79m fund from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, which is designed to help unlock a £28m investment by First West of England to potentially transform a significant part of their fleet into bio-methane powered buses. Alongside this historic investment, the additional buses would mean that over half of First West of England’s fleet would be low emission or low carbon. The new buses, which could start running by 2019, will help South Gloucestershire and neighbouring authority areas make progress in reducing harmful air pollution to meet legal limits and will operate in locations where the most benefit will be gained in reducing pollution, including the city centre area, Staple Hill and other routes. The funding will help introduce 110 new gas powered buses, 30 of which will be introduced into MetroBus services. Cllr Hunt said: “This is a great news for everyone living and working in and around South Gloucestershire and is yet another example of our strong local authority partnerships levering funding for muchneeded transport improvements. “We are looking forward to working with First and our neighbouring authorities to unlock the investment needed to operate and manage a new fleet of buses using innovative technology.” West of England mayor Tim Bowles said: “I’m delighted that £5 million of government funding has been secured to transform the bus fleet in the West of England. Joint working has unlocked this investment to help cut harmful nitrogen oxide emissions, safeguarding the health of local communities. “My vision for the West of
England states that we will work together to take responsibility for reducing emissions and is currently available online for feedback.” South Gloucestershire Council formally led on the bid and the grant was submitted to government by the West of England councils (Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, and North Somerset) and First. The announcement follows the launch of the first double decker bio-gas bus in Bristol earlier this year (see photo above). BSJ editor Stephen Horton comments: The statement that 30 of these government subsidised First West of England buses “will be introduced into MetroBus services” may have raised the eyebrows of a few astute readers, given that the only MetroBus route for which an operator has so far been announced is the relatively short section between Ashton Vale and Temple Meads. Does that route really require 30 buses or is there something we haven’t been told about operator intentions for the wider MetroBus network? We have put the question to SGC and await a meaningful reply. The use of public funds to subsidise the operations of one particular bus company (First) is also worthy of scrutiny. A response from SGC says the funding application process was “compliant with State Aid regulations”.
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October 2017
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Advertising
First class education in a tranquil environment
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OPEN DAY Thurs 19th Oct 2:30pm to 5:00pm
L
ocated in the village of Tockington, just three miles north of Bradley Stoke, Tockington Manor School is an independent co-educational Nursery and Preparatory School for children aged 2 to 13 years. Housed in the beautiful Tockington Manor, with 28 acres of outdoor space including a cross country running route; sports pitches and cricket pavilion; a 25 metre indoor heated swimming pool; and floodlit astro turf, it’s no surprise that when children leave us at age 13 they are extraordinarily healthy. The curriculum is delivered by our team of dedicated teachers who are passionate about their craft, with children achieving enviable success rates in the 11+ and Common Entrance exams and a high percentage winning scholarships to the country’s top senior schools.
We are a non-selective school, and with small class sizes of only 20 children per year group we are able to tailor the delivery of lessons to each individual, ensuring progress for all. We strive to provide flexible care to support our parents in providing a secure family life whilst maintaining a career in this challenging world. Children can join us as early as 7.45am for breakfast and leave as late as 6.30pm after supper should you wish, and they can board with us full time or on an ad-hoc basis from the age of 7. To find out more about Tockington Manor School come and enjoy tea and cake with us at our Open Day on Thursday 19th October, 2.30pm to 5.00pm. Or, to arrange a private tour please email registrar@ tockingtonmanorschool.com or call 01454 613229.
An independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 2 to 13 years. With classes of only 20 children and a family approach to education, we offer wrap-around care with extended hours and full-time or occasional boarding when required.
Call 01454 613229
registrar@tockingtonmanorschool.com www.tockingtonmanorschool.com
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October 2017
Schools
Getting to know the new headteachers By Nikki Hallur o fewer than three primary schools in the local area have welcomed new headteachers this year. Wheatfield Primary School, Holy Trinity Primary and Stoke Lodge Primary all enter a new chapter of leadership, and we got in touch with them to find out a little more about their new heads. Philip Winterburn is the new headteacher for Wheatfield Primary. He says the “warm atmosphere, friendly staff and polite children” impressed him when he first visited the school. He was previously headteacher at Cherry Garden Primary School in Bitton. Mr Winterburn says he views Bristol as home, having worked in Bristol schools for over 21 years. He spent his childhood in Merseyside and Buckinghamshire, but he has been settled in this part of the country since 1992. Recalling his own experiences of school, Mr Winterburn says he loved going to primary school, and specially enjoyed English and creative writing. He has even written a children’s book, which remains unpublished despite encouraging letters he received from the publishers he sent his manuscript to. Mr Winterburn likes to keep fit, running 10ks and half marathons, with the aim of doing a full marathon someday. He also has an interest in music and enjoys the variety of new bands and venues Bristol has to offer.
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Philip Winterburn, Wheatfield
Nicola Antwis, Stoke Lodge
Janet Dickson, Holy Trinity
His free time is spent with his wife and two daughters, aged 9 and 11. Speaking of his new role at Wheatfield Primary, Mr Winterburn says: “My first job as the new headteacher is to get to know the children, staff and families really well and to learn about the school’s many strengths. It takes time to build relationships and trust, but this is an essential foundation for a new school leader. As we move forward, I want to see Wheatfield grow and develop into an outstanding school for its children and community. I have had very positive start at the school and am really looking forward to the months and years ahead.” The new headteacher at Holy Trinity Primary School is Janet Dickson. She is currently getting to know staff and students, “learning all the new names” and says she feels very welcomed by how friendly they have all been.
Ms Dickson lives in the Warmley area, having grown up in Keynsham. She says she loves Bristol and has three grown-up children who all went to schools around the local area. Her interests include a love of nature, and being a member of The National Trust, she enjoys visiting different places. In terms of her background in education, Mr Dickson has taught in every year group of primary school and has been headteacher in two other primary schools before joining Holy Trinity. Janet Dickson has high hopes for her primary school, having been impressed by the children’s behaviour and eagerness to learn. She says: “I have high expectations for all children and believe that every child deserves the chance to shine. At Holy Trinity, along with a fantastic staff team, we will endeavour to give children a varied, stimulating education
and instil in them self-confidence and a love of learning.” She also reminds readers that Holy Trinity has Open Days on 2nd and 8th November. Stoke Lodge Primary has also welcomed a new Head: Nicola Antwis. Ms Antwis says she has felt very welcomed with lots of smiles and handshakes in her first week. She is currently very busy with school events, but she did give us a few details about her background and interests. Ms Antwis is originally from Edinburgh, Scotland but has lived in the Bristol area for over 11 years. She is married to a fellow headteacher, at a school in Porthcawl, Wales. She also has three teenage children who keep her busy with sports events and concerts. She says she is “very impressed by the many talents young people have.” We wish all three of the new headteachers all the best at their new schools!
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October 2017
News
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tudents from a local dance school are looking forward to living out their dreams by performing on a famous West End stage later this month. A group of 40 performers from the Sharon Phillips School of Dancing, several of whom live in Bradley Stoke, will be treading the boards of Her Majesty’s Theatre on Sunday 8th October when they take part in a Young Performers Show. The girls, aged 10 to 18, have been rehearsing since April in preparation for the big event, where they will perform two ballet dances and one modern dance. The costumes the girls will wear have been specially imported from America. Dance school owner Sharon Phillips said: “We wish the girls the best of luck with their performance, and memories I’m sure they and their families who will be watching will remember forever.” Other activities on this term’s programme include participation
Troupe of forty local dancers heading for West End stage
in a ‘tapathon’ in aid of Children in Need and the hosting of five exam sessions. The school runs classes at St Chad’s Church Hall in Patchway
on Saturdays from 9.15am to 2.30pm. Further classes are held throughout the week, and on Saturdays, in Alveston. For more information, call
Sharon on 07989 652780, visit sharonphillipsdance.co.uk or search for the Sharon Phillips School of Dancing page on Facebook.
Infant & Junior School: Visiting Morning Tuesday 3 October Open Morning Saturday 4 November
Senior & Sixth Form: Sixth Form Open Evening Thursday 12 October Senior School Visiting Morning Tuesday 17 October
0117 962 2641 redmaidshigh.co.uk
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October 2017
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News
Students complete Land’s End charity ride
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wo 16-year-old students from Bradley Stoke have completed a gruelling cycle ride to Land’s End in order to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Scott Warburton and Ryan Edwards say they encountered some “truly awful” weather during the 300-mile trip, on which they carried all their gear and stayed in youth hostels. Immediate members of both students’ families have been affected by cancer, which motivated them to embark on the challenge in order to raise money that might help “beat cancer sooner”. They trained for the trip by cycling to Bath and back, and say they did a lot of research and route planning, considering everything from maps to food. Their four-day adventure took them across Exmoor and then on to Land’s End via Boscastle, Truro and St Austell. They encountered heavy rain and strong gusts of wind at some points, especially near the coast at Boscastle, when they had to cycle through the night in order to keep to their schedule. High points of the trip, aside from arriving at Land’s End and having their photo taken at the famous sign, included exploring Botallack Mine and taking the coastal path from Land’s End to Sennen Cove. Along the way,
the students say they enjoyed the sense of independence and speaking to other guests at the youth hostels and hearing their stories. After returning to Bristol by train, Scott and Ryan had just one day to recover before starting their Post-16 studies at BSCS! Reflecting on the trip, Ryan commented: “The journey was undoubtedly a tough one. For two 16-year-olds it was a physical and logistical challenge. But, more so, an adventure – a voyage into parts of the country unbeknown to us. We had little clue as to what lay ahead of us, in terms of terrain and in beauty. Even after 120 miles of cycling, broken only by two-and-a-half hours sleep, the Cornish landscape refused to look any less stunning. A tremendous test and a truly remarkable trip, to say the least.” Asked if they had plans for further cycling challenges, Scott said: “We would both certainly be up for doing something similar in the future. We would like to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End one day, but we would certainly need more training and experience, as well as a support vehicle. We would also be interested in cycling to France one day. We’ll see what happens!” ● The amount raised to date is £570 + Gift Aid. Donations may be made via a fundraising page at http://bit.ly/bs-lands-end
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October 2017
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C
Bradley Stoke
Stoke Gifford
A
Parkway Station
B
SGTL
Hambrook Lane
C Highbrook Park
Ring Road
D Holiday Inn
M32 J1
Indicative only
ommuters heading south from Bradley Stoke towards the A4174 Ring Road and the M32 could soon have a new route option open to them with the news that the currently under-construction Stoke Gifford Transport Link (SGTL, known locally as the Stoke Gifford By-Pass) is set to open before the end of the year. The new road, which will be open to all traffic (not just MetroBus), will link Parkway North Roundabout on Great Stoke Way (A) and the A41474 Ring Road (D), close to the Holiday Inn. Its construction has required the installation of two new bridges, one over the main railway line (B, near Kings Drive) and the second over the Ham Brook (C, close to the new Crest Nicholson housing development at Highbrook Park). Contractors Alun Griffiths report that the carriageway is now fully surfaced, with the exception of the section over the Ham Brook bridge (see page 16). A MetroBus spokesperson has confirmed to the Journal that it is hoped to have the new road open “before Christmas”. The Ham Brook bridge is expected to be completed in mid-October. Work on the installation of traffic signals is ongoing. MetroBus services on the North Fringe to Hengrove (NFHP) route, which will make use of the SGTL, will now not begin until 2018. Information on operators and the service start date “will follow next year”, added the spokesperson. In response to queries from readers, the Journal can confirm that all traffic movements at the junction of Hambrook Lane and the SGTL will be restricted to ‘ahead only’, i.e. it will not possible to turn on or off the new road at this junction. At the junction of the southbound SGTL with the A4174, there are two lanes to turn left (towards the M32), two lanes to turn right (towards UWE) and a right-turn bus lane. MetroBus services will access the M32 via a new overbridge and bus-only junction off Stoke Lane, south of UWE. 1: View from the Hambrook Lane junction looking north, towards the new railway bridge and Parkway North Roundabout. 2: View looking east along Hambrook Lane, where it is crossed by the new road. 3: View looking north from Highbrook Park, showing the Ham Brook bridge (left centre) and the new road snaking through open countryside towards Parkway North. 4. View looking south towards the junction of the new road with the A4174 Ring Road.
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Stoke Gifford By-Pass to open by December
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October 2017
News Hamish is seeking his ‘forever home’ (and so are his chums!) This article comes from a group of friends working together to help our “next-door neighbours” – currently living under a hedge!
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any readers will be aware of the incident reported in the press last year, where four tiny, newborn kittens, were found in a council recycling collection bag. Thanks to the kindness of the South Glos collection team, the kittens were placed into care, at Rowe Veterinary Hospital. These fortunate little ones turned out to be the latest members of a rapidly growing colony of around twenty or so stray and feral cats, who were living rough under hedgerows, in our Bradley Stoke area. Feral cats are the offspring of stray or abandoned pet cats and, as the result of pet owners’ failure to neuter their animals, it allows them to breed, uncontrolled. Unneutered female cats can become pregnant from the age of four months, while a single female can be responsible for 20,000 descendants within five years!
Within our group of female and male cats, the boys would viciously fight over fertile females, inflicting serious wounds on each other. Undernourished young females would become pregnant, at as early as three to four months, physically unable to produce healthy kittens and totally unprepared as to how to care for them. Many kittens would simply be abandoned, to die. The colony had been of longterm concern to our neighbours. Most were generally upset by the nasty mess the cats made around their homes and gardens. Some had tried to help, by offering food, while others befriended individual cats, taking them into their homes, as pets. Meanwhile, the core colony continued to breed and multiply, at an alarming rate! Our rescue-plan came together towards the end of 2016. With approval of near neighbours, and the invaluable support of Bristol and Wales Cat Rescue and Cats Protection Bristol, we ventured into our programme of regular
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open. All have been neutered, they are healthy and in good condition. They have become trusting of human contact, are affectionate and enjoy petting. With another winter fast approaching, we are urgently seeking people who are experienced with cats and can offer loving, forever homes, to Hamish, Carlos, Gemma, Saffi and Tilly.
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night feeds and hopeful captures. Our activities were initially conducted at night, around where the cats felt safest – between the dustbins, soggy undergrowth and parked-up cars – not a lot of fun, during those dark, wet and chilly winter evenings! Catching our pussies proved a little easier than we had first imagined, as they were desperately hungry and would happily enter our humane trap to reach some tasty food, almost within minutes of it being set up. Organising neutering and after care for them proved to be a much harder task, however. Both charities were inundated with cats and had little room for extra occupants. But, with a little juggling, a lot of persuasion and the great support of local people, we have nearly achieved our goal! Most of our cats have already been adopted into loving homes. Our pregnant females were successfully gathered into safe care, and all gave birth to healthy litters. This leaves a final five gorgeous pussies, still living out in the
Chums together
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October 2017
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Claire Wingate writes: September has been a very exciting and busy time at Babyballet Bradley Stoke. Not only have we celebrated our third birthday, but we have also launched our new Babyballet syllabus.
Babyballet Bradley Stoke celebrates its third birthday
Our celebrations don’t stop here: over the summer we were delighted to learn that Babyballet has been voted the Best Babyballet/Toddler Class 2017 in the national Loved by Parents awards. The last three years have flown by. It has been a magical journey and I am so proud of all the special memories that we have created for our Babyballet stars and their families. This coming year is going to be even busier with lots of performances planned and special themed celebration weeks throughout the year”. A big “thank you” to everyone who has supported us throughout the past three years.
Our classes are held for boys and girls aged 18 months to five years on weekday mornings, Monday afternoons and Saturday mornings in Bradley Stoke, Almondsbury and Olveston. Please visit www.babyballet.co.uk for more information or to book a three-week trial at one of our classes.
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Woodlands Grange, Woodlands Lane, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 4JY
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October 2017
October 2017
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News Community-run carnival proves a hit Andy Ward reports on this year’s Bradley Stoke Carnival, which took place on Saturday 26th August
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he event opened with the traditional carnival parade processing along Brook Way led by the City of Bristol Pipes and Drums and with entries from the Bradley Stoke community, including amongst others, a great entry from the Bradley Stoke Lions Club featuring, of course, a lion, a witch and a wardrobe! As always, the parade swelled in numbers as members of the public joined in the procession as we passed by and by the time it reached the Jubilee Green it had doubled in length. Prizes were presented to winning parade entrants, including the Lions Club and Bradley Stoke in Bloom, before we enjoyed another performance from the parade band. As in previous years, we had a selection of commercial and charity stalls on the field, along with commercial traders, all of which created a nice village green feel for visitors to wander around at their leisure. The funfair also proved to be very popular and seemed to be busy all day. This year the Carnival Committee provided a free to use community zone (buckets were on site for donations to the mayors charity for those that wished to do so) which consisted of a ‘Total Wipe Out’ inflatable, a 60-foot long assault course and a
Gladiator duelling area, as well as a vintage traditional games area. The idea behind the community zone was so people could come along to the carnival and have a relatively inexpensive day yet still be able to join in the fun and it certainly seemed to be the case considering how busy the zone remained until the very end. Live music has always featured at the carnival and this year was no different. Bradley Stoke Radio provided and hosted the music stage for the day, as well as broadcasting the entire stage line-up live on air. In response to feedback received at previous carnivals, the line-up featured a mix of both local talent and tribute acts. Judging by those singing along in front of the stage, it would appear that Angel Heart and the Neil Diamond, Robbie Williams and Elvis tribute acts went down a storm, as did all the very talented and entertaining performers taking to the stage throughout the day, Voices were raised in song all afternoon! A massive thank you to everyone for coming along and joining in on the day. The event was put on by the community for the town to enjoy and it seemed that all those who came along had great day. We were blessed with some amazing weather. Thanks also to those involved in putting the event together, both before and on the day and, of course, all the wonderful volunteers who made the event happen.
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Bristol Care Homes operates 3 care homes in Horfield, Almondsbury and Thornbury, and will soon be opening a 4th home in Fishponds. Our commitment is to excellence of care with constant innovation. We are keen to hear from nurses to lead our teams. Care home nursing is a challenging, rewarding, and fulfilling professional career. It addresses long term holistic person-centred care in a community setting. Nurses set the strategies and lead the care team. We’d be pleased to hear from you and invite you to visit one of our homes to see contemporary professional nursing in advanced care of the elderly. Have a look
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Get well · Stay well
t: 01454 300 400
by Craig de Groot, chiropractor at Willow Brook Clinic
Good reasons to stretch – Part one Posture and Confidence It’s easy to forget to stretch. It’s often overlooked because the results are not as visible as lifting weights and squatting – or so you think. Stretching can lead to better posture, fewer aches and pains, greater confidence, and a more positive outlook on life. Stretching increases your blood flow and circulation for a healthier body and sends oxygen to your brain for a clearer mind and confident mood. Your gluteal muscles We do a lot of sitting, but did you know sitting is tough on your body, especially on your glutes? When you are sitting, the nerves that activate your glutes can shut down in a very short period of time. When your glutes shut down, other muscles and joints in your body become over-stressed and can result in pain in places such as the knees and lower back. The most effective way to combat this problem is to keep your glutes active. Getting up and stretching your glutes and hip flexors is a good first step to wake up these muscles. Whether you work out or not, stretching these tight muscles can reduce future injury and pain.
Your thoracic spine Your thoracic spine, which is located in the middle of your back, is very important to stretch and keep moving. Simple spinal rotation exercises throughout the day are extremely important if you drive, sit, or just stay in one place for a few hours of the day. When the thoracic spine becomes tight, it can create many problems up and down the chain of the body. Your neck, shoulders and chest can tighten up or become unstable and weak with a tight thoracic spine. If you would like to become more supple and able to do the things you want to do, contact your chiropractor or physiotherapist today and ask for help. Happy stretching!
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October 2017
Appeal to support charity Superhero Day SOUTHMEAD Hospital Charity is asking ordinary people to do something extraordinary and become a Hero for a Day. On Friday 6th October, schools, nurseries, businesses and workplaces across Bristol will become superhero headquarters as children and adults dress as superheroes for the day to raise money for the charity’s Prostate Cancer Care Appeal. Whether it’s Batman, Superman, Ironman or Wonder Woman – Hero for a Day is a fun way for people to transform from their usual clothes and change into a caped crusader. Schools, workplaces or other organisations who wish to take part can get a free fundraising pack which includes a superhero mask template that can be decorated.
The Prostate Cancer Care Appeal aims to raise £2 million to purchase two surgical robots for the hospital to meet growing demand, fund new diagnostic and treatment options and to support the training of the next generation of robotic surgeons – improving outcomes for men with prostate cancer. To sign up your school or workplace for Hero for a Day contact 0117 414 0170 or visit www.southmeadhospitalcharity. org.uk/heroforaday
Advertising Feature
New mortgage and protection specialist joins Aspirations IFA
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illow Brook Centre based Aspirations Financial Advice Ltd, providers of independent financial advice, have recently welcomed a new team member, Richard (‘Rocky’) Riccalton DipCII CeMap TAP.dip, who will be their mortgage and protection specialist covering the M4 corridor from Bristol along to and including Chippenham, Calne and surrounding towns and villages. Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, Rocky is married and lives with his wife and two boys in north Wiltshire. He has a banking background and over 25 years’ experience of financial planning, as an adviser, manager and consultant within a large learning and development function. Rocky is a strong advocate of providing personal customer service and ensuring he listens to and acts upon the needs of his customers. Least to say, excellent communication lies at the heart of what Rocky does. Outside of work, Rocky is a qualified cricket umpire and, in
Richard (‘Rocky’) Riccalton
the winter, follows his beloved football team, Newcastle United. He also enjoys time with his family and going for walks in the countryside accompanied by the family dog. To contact Rocky about any of your mortgage or protection requirements, give him a call on 07407 273331 or email ask@ aspirations-ifa.com For details of other financial services offered by Aspirations, visit www.aspirations-ifa.com ● See advert on page 34.
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October 2017
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News
Legion gearing up for Poppy Appeal launch Parkway Station to host launch event on 27th October
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fter another successful fundraising year, the Stoke Gifford branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) is already gearing up for its 2017/18 Poppy Appeal. The branch, which covers Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, Stoke Lodge, Stoke Gifford and Filton, will stage its traditional Poppy Appeal launch event at Bristol Parkway Station on Friday 27th October, starting at 2pm. The launch will be attended by Chelsea pensioner Michael Allen, standard bearers, cadets, Scouts, members of the RBL Riders branch with their motorbikes and members and supporters of the RBL Stoke Gifford and Patchway branches. The money raised through the Poppy Appeal goes to the RBL’s
NOW ING RECRUIT IN YOUR AREA
Welfare Fund, which is used to give help and support to current and ex-service personnel and their families. If you or someone you know needs help from the Royal British Legion, please contact their national helpline on 0808 802 8080. The RBL has a Pop-in Centre at 60 Union Street, Bristol, where people can call in for advice and information on the charity’s support and community services. Anyone interested in volunteering to collect for the local Poppy Appeal or who is interested in joining the RBL (you don’t have to have served in the armed forces) can contact the branch at rblstokegifford@ gmail.com or by phoning John Moloney on 07802 535591.
Archive image of a previous Stoke Gifford RBL Poppy Appeal launch
Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day events Full details of local Remembrance parades and Armistice Day services will be included in the November issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine. Diary dates are as follows: 11th November: Short Armistice Day services by the RBL at Bristol Parkway Station, Sainsbury’s Stoke Gifford and the Willow Brook Centre 12th November: Stoke Gifford RBL Remembrance parade & ceremony 12th November: Bradley Stoke Scouts Remembrance parade & ceremony 19th November: Patchway RBL Remembrance parade & ceremony
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To find out more, please call 0117 989 8210 or visit our website www.homeinstead.co.uk/bristolnorth To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400
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October 2017
Bradley Stoke Beat Team PCSO Alicia Harvey reports
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e’ve had quite a few reports of nuisance vehicles around Bradley Stoke in recent months. As a result of these reports, we’ve been seizing mopeds that were being used in an anti-social way. The owners (three, so far) have to pay more than £100 to get them back. We do need to hear about incidents. Your reports help us target our patrols and prioritise resources. You can report issues and raise priorities through our website, www. avonandsomerset.police.uk, as well as by calling 101. As we head into autumn, I’d like to remind you again about your home security. Did you know that joining Neighbourhood Watch is one of the most effective things you can do to prevent burglary? Now is a good time to think about your home security, because with the darker
@ASPTheStokes on Twitter
nights it can be easier to spot when no one is at home. We’d recommend using timer light switches set to come on at dusk, as well as fitting motion-sensing security lights. Think about all the things you keep in your shed and garage. Bicycles and power tools are valuables often stolen from outbuildings. Even ladders or hand tools could be used to break into your home, so it’s important to make sure your shed, garage and gates are sturdy and secured with good quality locks. Other top home security tips include: • Lock up and set the alarm, if you have one, at night as well as when you go out.
• Hide your keys and handbag or wallet safely out of sight. Never leave your keys in the back of the door or in view of a letterbox or window If you hear a suspicious noise in the night please do check if you feel safe to do so. If you see someone behaving suspiciously call 999, otherwise ring 101 at any time. There’s security advice, information about Neighbourhood Watch and more on our website www. avonandsomerset.police.uk. Myself, PC Claire Fletcher and Mrs Cordukes from the Student Support Team at Bradley Stoke Community School, along with the South Gloucestershire Police Cadet Unit, have been involved
in raising money for the West of England MS Therapy Centre in Bradley Stoke.
We raised the cash for this great cause by ‘taking the plunge’ into Portishead Marina – and being saved by a very large Newfoundland dog!
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October 2017
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News
Weather puts dampener on open air cinema
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ig screen entertainment came to the town square at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre on Saturday 16th September when local residents were invited to bring chairs and blankets to watch a programme of three feature films. The free event, organised by the Willow Brook Centre with the support of Bradley Stoke Radio, had attracted great interest when it was first announced during the summer, but attendances on the day were a little disappointing, with several people saying they had been put off by the unseasonably chilly weather and the forecast of showers. Those who braved the weather were able to take advantage of a 20 percent discount on Harvester takeaway meals, although a last-minute hitch meant that the promised drinks bar failed to materialise. The centre’s Tesco Extra store also supported the event, offering movie-goers a ‘bottle of water and a cookie’ deal for just 50 pence.
Unfortunately, licensing restrictions meant that two of the films on the originally advertised bill, ‘Boss Baby’ and ‘Mama Mia’, could not be shown, so these had to be replaced with ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2’ and ‘Wonder Woman’. Reflecting on the event, Willow Brook Centre manager Andy Wynn said: “We were delighted to receive so much positive feedback on our Movies in the Square event. It was the first time that we had put on this type of event and we have learned some lessons for the future. We would love to repeat the event and are currently looking into options for summer 2018.”
Feedback from readers on the BSJ Facebook page Sarah B: We had a fab time. Kids loved it, real community feel. Please do this again. Bit of rain doesn’t hurt anyone, just be prepared. Ann N: Loved it – Beauty and the Beast was a big hit! The rain didn’t put us off … well done Willow Brook Centre. See you next time! Vanessa W: We planned to attend but were put off by the weather. Fabulous idea, although I wonder why they didn’t do it in the summer. Clare M: Had planned to attend but change of film plus uncertain weather were the reasons for us not attending. Great idea, would love to see more events like this locally.
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October 2017
News
Tanning salon on the cards for Willow Brook
Archive image of mall unit 8, trading as a Santander agency in 2011
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retail unit at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre which has lain vacant for the past three years looks set to reopen soon as a tanning salon after planning consent was granted for a change of use. Mall unit 8, between Ocean estate agents and Reflections hair salon, last traded as an agency of Santander bank, alongside mortgage and insurance specialists The Mortgage Market. The recently granted planning application was made on behalf of The Feel Good Group, which operates the Tanning Shop brand, under whose banner the store is expected to operate. A planning statement submitted with the application notes that the unit has been extensively marketed since the Santander agency closed, but no potential retail or Class A2 (financial services) operators have shown serious interest. The statement adds: “The proposed tanning salon use will undoubtedly positively add to the diversity of uses on offer in the town centre and will ensure the long term vital and viable use of the premises.” The Feel Good Group is an established operator of tanning salons, with shops throughout the UK and particularly in London. Each shop provides
both UV and sunless tanning booths and staff are trained to promote responsible tanning and UV exposure. The shops also stock a range of tanning products including tanning SPF, fake tan products, skin care and body products. In approving the application, the responsible council planning officer noted that the proposal would not result in the loss of a retail unit within the town centre, as the previous Class A2 use was not principally retail. Additionally, it was noted the proposed tanning salon would have a retail element, with tanning products displayed and sold within the salon. On this basis, it was not considered that the proposed change of use would detract from the retail character and function of the centre. The consent granted allows the salon to open between 9am and 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and 11am to 6pm on Sundays. A total of five new jobs will be created, two fulltime and three part-time. The Journal understands that contracts are yet to be signed for a new lease, but as we went to press it was noted that a “coming soon” webpage had already been created for the Willow Brook Centre branch on the Tanning Shop website. ● thetanningshop.co.uk
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October 2017
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News
In Brief
Abacus offering Forest School sessions for pre-schoolers
Next Bradley Stoke community forum
ABACUS PRE-SCHOOL is proud to be developing Forest School sessions for the children who attend any of the Abacus settings, currently located in Bradley Stoke, Filton and Mangotsfield. Layla, who manages Abacus @ Baileys Court, is undertaking her Forest School Level 3 qualification, enabling her to provide a six-session course for the children and their families. She passionately believes that Forest School allows children to learn through their senses, encouraging the development of strong leadership skills. The Abacus team have been busy tidying a part of Savages Wood, Bradley Stoke so they can hold the sessions in a safe, fun outdoor environment. The children will be taught how and why it is important to look after our local natural environment, along with how to use real tools safely, whilst building camp fires for toasting marshmallows. Fun
activities will include getting creative making name tags, necklaces, leaf crowns, flower presses, clay creatures and much more messy play. They are hoping to run their next Forest School sessions after the October half-term for more
forest fun. “Wellington boots at the ready! We look forward to you joining us,” says Layla. If you are interested in more information regarding Abacus Pre-School, please call 01454 867285 or email enquiries@ abacuspreschool.co.uk
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The next Community Engagement Forum (CEF) for Bradley Stoke, Stoke Lodge and The Common takes place at Baileys Court Activity Centre BS32 8BH on Thursday 12th October, starting at 7pm. South Gloucestershire Council’s CEFs, previously known as Safer and Stronger Community Groups, are about listening and responding to local people’s real issues. People in their communities know best what works for them and what their real needs are. CEFs have been developed through working with various partner agencies including Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue, health authorities, town & parish councils and local organisations. To find out more, visit www. southglos.gov.uk/cef or phone the community engagement team on 01454 868113.
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October 2017
News
Jubilee Centre is latest target in graffiti spate
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radley Stoke Town Council (BSTC) says it is working with the local police team to combat a spate of tagging-style graffiti on walls, bus shelters and other structures across the town. In recent months, graffiti images measuring up to 2 metres across have appeared at a number of very prominent sites, including on Bradley Stoke Way (underneath Primrose Bridge and close to the bridge over Stoke Brook), Baileys Court Road, Champs Sur Marne and the new skate park at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. Other sites that are regularly plagued by graffiti include various locations within the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve and the subway under the Winterbourne Road near Huckley Way.
In the latest incident, a large tag around 2.5m across was sprayed on the wall of the changing room block at the Jubilee Centre. The town council, which owns the block, has since contracted a specialist team at South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) to remove it at a cost to local taxpayers of £180. Figures obtained by the Journal show that 15 incidents of graffiti were reported to BSTC since the start of the year, with eight of these occurring within the first three weeks of September. However, many incidents are thought to go unreported or are dealt with by other authorities, such as SGC. Members of the public can report instances of graffiti to SGC via its website at www.southglos. gov.uk/report or by phoning
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To report graffiti, phone the town council on 01454 205020, visit www.bradleystoke.gov. uk/graffiti.php or use the FixMyStreet.com website or smartphone app
REPORT THEM TO
Street Care on 01454 868000. Its policy is to clean graffiti from council-owned property within three working days. Priority is given to offensive and haterelated graffiti. Difficulties arise, however, when the graffiti is on noncouncil property, such as utility company boxes or on private property. Fortunately, BSTC voluntarily acts a ‘clearing house’ for all cases of graffiti in Bradley Stoke and undertakes to inform the correct agencies e.g. South Gloucestershire Council, Western Power, Royal Mail, BT, depending on the property that has been defaced. To inform BSTC about graffiti within Bradley Stoke, visit the dedicated webpage at www. bradleystoke.gov.uk/graffiti. php, email administrator@ bradleystoke.gov.uk or phone 01454 205020. Another method for reporting graffiti (and many other
council-related issues) is to use the FixMyStreet website or smartphone app, which is very easy to use and provides a public record of all reported problems in an area. Reports using this system are automatically forwarded to SGC, which usually confirms receipt with 24 hours. According to its website, Avon and Somerset Police categorises graffiti as anti-social behaviour, and the public are asked to report it by filling out an online incident form at www.avonandsomerset. police.uk/report or calling 101. The Journal has passed photographs of recent graffiti incidents to the town council, but has chosen not to publish them. ● SGC offers a service to remove graffiti from private property, with the consent of the owner. The charge for this is £35 per hour. Details from Street Care.
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October 2017
Ask the Doctor with Dr Siân Langdon of Bradley Stoke Surgery Flu season is coming! Are you prepared?
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n July of this year, I wrote an article for the Bradley Stoke Journal regarding the importance of drinking water and “medicine sick days”. At the time we were experiencing a heatwave. At the time, I predicted that it wouldn’t last and that the British summer would be a disappointment. Sadly, I was correct! As the nights draw in, the temperature drops, school run traffic chaos begins and many teenagers depart to far-flung universities, I will make another prediction. Flu season will soon be upon us! Not much of a prediction really given that your surgery will have ordered their flu vaccinations in March and dusted off the well-practised flu campaign during your summer holiday! In 2015/16 famously the flu vaccination let us down. It was rubbish. The flu virus out-foxed
the vaccine manufacturers and the Health Protection Agency and mutated so that the vaccination was barely effective. This affected the uptake in 2016/17, unsurprisingly. However I would urge those of you eligible to attend for this year’s dose. A report in 2008 by the WHO reported that vaccination greatly
otitis media (ear infections) and increases life expectancy in the elderly by reducing heart attacks and strokes. So I would urge you to check if you are eligible… Do you have a chronic illness? Are you over 65 years old, a carer/healthcare worker or pregnant? Do you have a child whose birthday falls between 01.09.13 and 31.08.15?
“If you are in an eligible group, contact your GP surgery and get booked into their flu clinic”
reduces diseases, disability, death and inequity worldwide. Only clean water is more effective and here in Bradley Stoke that is something we all take for granted. Vaccinations are also safer than therapeutic medicines and have an excellent safety record. Interestingly, the benefit of the flu vaccine goes beyond preventing influenza. In children it reduces the rate of acute
If any of these circumstances apply, please contact your GP surgery to get yourself or your child booked into their flu clinic. Children aged four years and children of appropriate age for school years 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be offered the nasal spray in a school-based programme. And to those of you “flying the nest” – if you haven’t had your meningitis ACWY vaccination before heading off to university
and you are under 25 years old, contact your GP now to get it done. Having this vaccination could literally save your life. So, remember, “coughs and sneezes spread diseases” and to “catch it, bin it, kill it”. Let’s keep those nasty viruses to ourselves and protect those around us by getting immunised! Dr Sian Langdon Bradley Stoke Surgery t: 01454 616262 www.bradleystokesurgery.nhs.uk
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October 2017
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Sport
Advertising
New under-12s netball session in Bradley Stoke
Why “ME” TIME groups?
Bradley Stoke Junior Netball Club has recently introduced a new under-12s session to the club. This group are training from 4.30pm to 5.30pm every Wednesday at the Jubilee Centre, Bradley Stoke. This session is for girls in school years 5, 6 & 7 and is a great opportunity for younger girls to learn about 7-a-side netball before moving to secondary school. The under 12s netball is kindly being sponsored by Haywards Chauffeurs this year. Last year the club entered an under-12 team into the Avon League and the girls amazed
everyone by being placed straight into Division 1 after the seeding tournament! They are hoping to enter a team again next season once the new under-12’s sessions are established. There are still a few places left for this age group at the club, so if you are interested please contact the club by email at BSNCJuniors@yahoo.co.uk
Pre-School Open Afternoons & Evenings Little Acorns Pre-School
Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road, Bradley Stoke ~ Tel: 07837 707331
Thursday 2nd November (1.00pm – 2.00pm)
Little Acers Pre-School
Sure Start Centre, Bowsland Green Primary School, Ellicks Close, Bradley Stoke ~ Tel: 01454 866745 Wednesday 1st November (5.30pm - 7.00pm) Friday 10th November (1.00pm – 2.00pm)
For parents who would like to register for the pre-school We take children from two years of age and both 15 and 30 hour funding is available
Visit our website: www.lachildcare.co.uk
ALTHOUGH I truly wished to be a mum, and I cherish that role and love my children I could not have imagined a part of me would feel emptiness within. When I was around other mums, the talk was always home and children. This was valuable, but I was missing a space where I could be myself, as a whole woman with aims, dreams, difficulties and needing to share these with visual and real contact with others, learning how to cope with my life, build my selfesteem and strive to realize my ambitions and be better. I needed group contact where I could look into someone else’s eyes, feel the empathy, and see into a “mirror” to keep learning more about myself, others and life. The group offers opportunities to socialize, be creative, explore relationships, enjoy, relax, learn to draw boundaries to say yes or no, express feelings, and most of all have fun. If you are
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By Maria Assumpta Canals-Tomás
really aware, every contact and situation redefines who you are, what you desire and gives you a choice to improve your wellbeing. ‘’ME’’ TIME group can help you achieve this. ‘Learning by doing’ relaxation, communication and self-awareness techniques which will make a big difference into your life! ARE YOU READY TO JOIN? Maria Assumpta Canals-Tomás Life Personal Developments
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WEDNESDAYS 10-11.30am or THURSDAYS 7-8.30pm 8 session course Oct-Dec, Term Time Venue -Bradley Stoke Active Leisure Centre
FREE TASTER SESSIONS Wednesday 4th & Thursday 5th OCTOBER Additional Special Workshop Saturday 11th November “How to say Goodbye”
Contact Maria on 07731 518541, email mariaassumptact@gmail.com or Facebook – “ME” TIME Project
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October 2017
In Brief Local Brownie pack has spaces (on Mondays) Brownies is a fun activity group for girls aged 7 to 10 years. The 2nd Little Stoke Brownies meet on a Monday evening at the Scout Hut on Rossall Avenue, Little Stoke between 6.15pm and 7.30pm. The pack currently has a few vacancies. Girls from all parts of the Stokes and surrounding area are welcome. To register your interest, please go to www. girlguiding.org.uk/informationfor-parents/register-yourdaughter
Churches reunite but locations stay the same From this month, Bridge Community Church, which meets at Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS), is becoming ‘City Church: Bradley Stoke’. In 1997, a small group of people moved from Brighton to Bristol to start a new church. City Church met in a pub on Gloucester Road and quickly launched yet another church – Bridge Community Church – which has been meeting in Bradley Stoke since 2002. Together, the two churches have grown significantly and today over 450 people call them their
home. Now Bridge Church and City Church are re-uniting as one church. The new City Church will continue to meet on Sundays at two locations in Bradley Stoke and Cotham, but will be one church with one name, one purpose, and one vision. City Church: Bradley Stoke meets every Sunday, 10am at Bradley Stoke Community School. You can find out more information at www.citychurch. org.uk
Thanks from Marie Curie for Carnival generosity Jackie Scott writes: The Five Stokes Fundraising Group, on behalf of Marie Curie, would like to thank everyone for their support at the recent Bradley Stoke Carnival where we raised £163.40 on our tombola stall. Anyone wishing to help at our Christmas collections can go to mariecurie.org.uk/collections and sign up.
Addams Family ticket competition winners Congratulations to Naomi Parr and Charlotte Somers, the two lucky winners of our September competition to win a pair of tickets to see a performance of
The Addams Family musical at the Bristol Hippodrome. Naomi kindly sent us the following feedback: “I just wanted to let you know that I had a wonderful evening with my friend yesterday. It was an amazing show and the seats were brilliant. I hope you run many more competitions like this, as I will be entering as many as I can!”
Arts society lecture on Antarctic photography South Gloucestershire Decorative & Fine Arts Society’s first lecture of the new season takes place on Thursday 19th October when guest speaker Mark Cottle will present ‘A Photographic Odyssey – Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition’. Meeting at Bradley Stoke Community School BS32 7BS (near Bradley Stoke Library and Leisure Centre), we are a friendly group and always pleased to welcome guests and
new members. Refreshments from 7pm; welcome and slide illustrated lecture at 7.30pm. Good parking and easy access. To enquire about joining the society, please call Sally Kitching on 01454 774401, email sallykitching@googlemail.com or visit sgdfas.org.uk No artistic ability required – just an enquiring mind and an interest in the arts.
New members welcome at local squash club Bradley Stoke Squash Club is looking for new members to join their club squash league. All ages and standards of player are welcome to join the league and are also invited to club evenings which take place from 6.20pm every Sunday at Patchway Sports Centre. The club will also be entering two teams into the Bristol and District Squash League to play teams from across the region over the coming months. Both teams secured promotion last season and look forward to challenging their upcoming opponents. Members also recently welcomed a team from Leicestershire to Bristol to play in the Morgan Cup, in memory of team mate George Morgan, who died last year. George, 20, played for the club whilst studying at UWE. He sadly collapsed and died during a club match which, it was later found, was the result of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an undiagnosed heart defect. Club chairman Andrew Blake said: “As a club we’re excited at the prospect of playing in the leagues again and are very keen to welcome anyone who’s interested in playing squash, whatever their level, to our sociable Sunday club night.” More information can be found on the club’s Facebook page or by phoning Neil Beetlestone on 07863 184022.
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October 2017
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41
News
Busy start to the autumn for Stokes Singers
T
he autumn has got off to a busy start for local community choir Stokes Singers. We’ve been pleased to welcome new members to our Thursday rehearsals and plans for our next performances are well under way. If you love to sing and would like to join the choir, autumn is a great time to start something new. There is room for more singers in all sections and men or ladies with lower voices would be particularly welcome to join the baritones. Musical directors Sian Walters and Philip Lawrence assure you of a warm welcome and the opportunity to try the choir for 2 rehearsals free of charge to see how you get on. Thursday evening rehearsals are at 7.30pm at Coniston Community Centre, Patchway and Liz, our membership secretary, can give you further information on 014545 614148.
Event no. 7: Stokes Singers with the Generation Gospel Choir in Stoke Gifford
At our weekly rehearsals, we’re preparing for our ‘Voices for Hospices’ concert which will raise funds for our local St Peter’s Hospice. We are delighted to be joining forces with Yate based Apollo Wind Band, under the direction of David Knight, to present an entertaining evening of song and music to suit all tastes. Anne King, Chair of
Stokes Singers, commented: “So many of us have experienced, through family, friends and work colleagues, the amazing care given by our local hospice. This concert is a great way of supporting St Peter’s to continue their work.” ‘Voices for Hospices’ will be at Holy Trinity Church, Broad Croft, Bradley Stoke, BS32 0BD
Funerals from £1,895
at 7.30pm on Saturday 14th October. Advance tickets will be available from Liz on 01454 614148 or from members of Stokes Singers or Apollo Wind Band. Please buy your ticket early to make sure of your seat. In 2018 the choir celebrates its 25th birthday and we’ve challenged ourselves to achieve 25 performances during our special year. For our 7th event members joined the Generation Gospel Choir at their Stoke Gifford rehearsal to share a different style of singing and the 8th event was the Anniversary Big Sing, when we were part of a workshop and performance to celebrate 150 years of the Colston Hall. We’re planning to be welcoming the festive season with some community carol singing and our Christmas Concert will be at the Church of Christ the King, Bradley Stoke on Saturday 9th December.
MW
Funeral Directors
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October 2017
News
Counting the true cost of the Forty Acres traveller encampment
L
ocal councils in the Stokes have been counting the cost of a recent unauthorised traveller encampment in the Forty Acres area of Stoke Gifford and considering measures for increasing security at vulnerable sites. Around thirty traveller caravans and associated vehicles entered Forty Acres after a lock and chain was cut on the vehicular access gate from Hatchet Road, opposite Meade Park, on 9th August. The
travellers were eventually evicted by bailiffs on 18th August after Stoke Gifford Parish Council obtained and served a court order. A meeting of the parish council on 12th September was informed that the legal costs associated with the securing the eviction, including legal advice, court charges and bailiff fees, were estimated to be in the region of £2,500. Local residents were commended for assisting the parish council with litter picking
We are looking for Health Care Professionals! 2 x Registered Nurses – Deerhurst Nursing Home, Soundwell &
Saffron Gardens Care Home, Whitehall
1 x Registered Clinician (Nurse/Paramedic) – Orchard Grove Reablement Centre, Whitehall £13.42 - £15.72 an hour + pension and childcare support The Job: - Managing the clinical care of patients and coordinating the staff team - Positive role model, working to our Person Centred Care philosophy to maintain our high standards within the home - To continually develop staff and self to deliver high standards of care The Person: - Registered Nurse or Paramedic (depending on the role applying for) – Active on NMC - A competent and professional manner regardless of the situation Interested in applying? Please contact the relevant person on the numbers below: Deerhurst Nursing Home – tracey.smyth@brunelcare.org.uk or by calling 0117 904 1170 Saffron Gardens Nursing Home – karolina.machalkova@brunelcare.org.uk or by calling 0117 939 6681 Orchard Grove Reablement Centre – kinlay.burns@brunelcare.org.uk or by calling 0117 954 3865 WE ARE OBLIGED TO ASK ALL SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO COMPLETE A DBS APPLICATION, WHICH BRUNELCARE WILL PAY FOR. BRUNELCARE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 201555
www.brunelcare.org.uk
Boulders have been reinstated at the Hatchet Road entrance to Forty Acres
and clearance work after the travellers had left, but it was nonetheless still necessary to use the services of South Gloucestershire Council’s grounds maintenance team to remove large quantities of white goods, mattresses, green waste and general rubbish that had been left behind, at a cost of just over £3,000. Questions were asked about why boulders which had previously protected the Hatchet Road entrance to Forty Acres had been removed a number of years ago and never replaced. It is thought that this happened when either the Environment Agency or SGC were working on the site but no conclusive answers were forthcoming. Needless to say, the boulders have now been reinstated.
Enhanced security
Additional security measures agreed at an extraordinary meeting of the parish council on 29th August include a new height restrictor bar for the entrance to Little Stoke Park and telescopic posts to be installed at entrances to the Mike Gallivan Memorial Field and Royal Park, at a total cost of almost £3,000. As reported in our September magazine, once evicted from Stoke Gifford, some of the traveller convoy made a stopover in Bradley Stoke before eventually forming a new
encampment at The Tumps in Patchway. News has since emerged that a number of travellers attempted to enter the Jubilee Centre site in Bradley Stoke, where town clerk Sharon Petela and other council staff were able to successfully fend them off, the town clerk reportedly sustaining bruising to her arm in the process. Council members later praised the staff “for their vigilance and sterling efforts in preventing unauthorised vehicles accessing the site”. However, they were less than impressed with the response of the police, who took 20 minutes to respond to a 999 call. A formal complaint was subsequently made, which resulted in an apology being issued with the explanation that there had been a misunderstanding between two separate police units. The incident has also prompted Bradley Stoke Town Council to review its site security and it has since been agreed to obtain quotes for the installation of a new gate and fencing at a second vulnerable entrance to the Jubilee Centre site, the installation of tamperproof padlocks on all gates, the installation of boulders along the Great Meadow side of the Baileys Court cricket pitch and the installation of soil banks on Bradley Stoke Way and Brook Way.
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October 2017
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In Brief Patchway Special School gets nod from planners A ‘unique’ new Special Free School has been granted planning approval by South Gloucestershire councillors. Members of the authority’s Development Control Committee (West) approved plans to build a new special free school for pupils with special educational needs on a site next to Patchway Community School in Hempton Lane, Patchway. The new Pegasus School will have 80 school places and be a mixed school for pupils with autism. The project is sponsored by South Gloucestershire and Stroud College and supported by the wider Concorde Partnership which consists of a group of secondary schools in South Gloucestershire (Bradley Stoke, Abbeywood and Patchway Community Schools). In addition, the project group is working in partnership with the local authority, existing South Gloucestershire special schools (Culverhill, Warmley Park, New Siblands, New Horizon’s Learning Centre) and local resource bases. Cllr Toby Savage, Cabinet member for schools, commented: “This is about building something which we don’t currently have in South Gloucestershire – a fantastic new special school dedicated to meeting the education needs of a growing number of pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.” ● www.sgspegasusschool.co.uk
info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk
Please park in Willow Brook Car Park and walk to the fireworks
Sunday 5 November 2017 Bradley Stoke Jubilee Centre •Gates open at 4.30pm •Hot food will be served from 4.45pm •Fireworks display starts at 6.00pm NO ENTRY FEE, there will be various collection points in aid of the Mayor’s Charities – Cardiomyopathy UK and Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service
No Alcohol No Sparklers
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What’s On (1st October – 5th November) Sunday 1st October 9am: Severnside Ramblers’ Walk: Miserden. Meet in the Blue Zone car park at Aztec West – a car-sharing scheme is operated. More info: http://bit. ly/ssramb [Further walks on 8th, 13th, 15th, 22nd, 27th & 29th October and 5th November] 9.30am: Stokes Cycling Club Medium and Long Distance Bike Rides. Meet outside Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/stokescc or phone Bryan on 01454 617560. [Further rides on 8th, 15th, 22nd & October and 5th November]
Monday 2nd October 9am-11.30am: Refresh Café at Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church. Everyone welcome. [Weekly on Mondays; term time only] 10.30am: Baby Rhymetime at Bradley Stoke Library. [Weekly on Mondays; term-time only]
Tuesday 3rd October 7pm: Girls and Young Women’s Night at the Jubilee Centre. Girls-only youth club night. [Weekly on Tuesdays]
Wednesday 4th October 10am-12noon: Citizens Advice Bureau Outreach Session at the Jubilee Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/citadbu or phone 08444 111444 [Weekly on Wednesdays] 2pm-3.30pm: Bradley Stoke Senior Friends meet at Baileys Court Activity Centre. Drop-in social club for the over-55s. [Weekly on Wednesdays]
4.15pm: Spanish Rhyme Time at Bradley Stoke Library. For children up to Year 2. Open Access membership of library required. [Weekly on Wednesdays; term-time only]
Thursday 5th October 10.30am: Pre-School Storytime at Bradley Stoke Library. [Weekly on Thursdays; term time only] 11am: Walking for Health. Organised walk (1.6 miles) starting from the town square. More info: http://bit.ly/sgc-wfh or phone 01454 868006 [Further walks on 9th & 19th October and 2nd November] 7.30pm: The Stokes Crafters meet at the Poplar Rooms, North Road, Stoke Gifford. More info: The Stokes Crafters group on Facebook [Weekly on Thursdays]
Friday 6th October 7pm: Bat Walk in the Three Brooks Nature Reserve. Booking essential: http://bit.ly/bat171006
Saturday 7th October 10am-4pm: Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group Workday. Meet at the tool store, behind Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/ bsj-tbncg or call 07497 006676 [Also on 4th November]
Sunday 8th October 11am-4pm: Orchard Harvest Day at Winterbourne Medieval Barn. Entrance £2 for adults. More info: http://bit.ly/wmbarn
Tuesday 10th October 7.30pm: Willow Brook
October 2017
For more details and further events, visit: www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/whats-on/
Townswomen’s Guild meets at the Jubilee Centre. This month: Pam’s Baskets. More info: Janine 01454 617645
Wednesday 11th October 2pm: Bradley Stoke Women’s Institute (WI) meets at the Jubilee Centre. This month: This month: AGM. More info: Beverley 01454 625855 7pm: BSTC Finance Committee Meeting at the Jubilee Centre. Agenda: http:// bit.ly/bstcfin 7.30pm: Bradley Stoke Lions Club meets at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. More info: Robin Young on 07712 046644
Thursday 12th October 7pm: Community Engagement Forum at Baileys Court Activity Centre. Addressing issues within Bradley Stoke and Stoke Lodge. More info: www.southglos.gov.uk/cef
Saturday 14th October 10.30am-12pm: Craft Group at Bradley Stoke Library. 7.30pm: Voices for Hospices. Stokes Singers’ concert at Holy Trinity Church, Bradley Stoke. See article on page 41.
Monday 16th October 1.30pm-3.30pm: Sew and So’s patchwork and quilting group meets at the Jubilee Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/sewandsos 7pm: BSTC Leisure, Youth & Amenities Committee Meeting at the Jubilee Centre. Agenda: http://bit.ly/bstclya
Thursday 19th October 12pm-2pm: Volunteering Drop-in Session at Bradley Stoke Library. Pop in for a chat with a volunteer advisor. More info: http://bit.ly/vc-pfs or call 01454 868986. 7pm: South Gloucestershire Decorative & Fine Arts Society Lecture at Bradley Stoke Community School. This month: ‘A Photographic Odyssey – Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition’ by Mark Cottle.
Friday 20th October 1.25pm-7.45pm: Blood Donation Sessions at the Jubilee Centre. More info: www.blood.co.uk
Saturday 21st October 10am-4pm: Bradley Stoke in Bloom Workday. More info: bsib@hotmail.co.uk or phone 07582 634107. Please get in touch to find out where we will be meeting and working.
Wednesday 25th October 7pm: BSTC Planning & Amenities Committee Meeting at the Jubilee Centre.
Thursday 26th October 10.30am-12pm: Half-Term Children’s Craft Activity at Bradley Stoke Library. Drop-in session for ages 4-11. Parental supervision required.
Sunday 5th November 6pm: Fireworks Display at the Jubilee Centre. Organised by Bradley Stoke Town Council. For full details, see advert on page 43.
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October 2017
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Competition Prizes on offer in our ‘Autumn in the Stokes’ photo competition
info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk LAUNDERETTES
45
WINDOW CLEANING
WASH SHOP PLUS
11 The Parade,Patchway Bristol BS34 5LP Tel : 0117 947 0284
www.patchwaylaunderette.co.uk
Self service, Service washes, Duvets, Bedding & Curtains washed, Dry cleaning Fast winter drying, Ironing service. Mon - Fri 10am to 4pm, Sat 10am to 1pm. (last service 1 hr. prior to closing times) CAKE MAKERS & DECORATORS Do you enjoy capturing the changing colours of autumn on your camera or smartphone? Well, this year you have an extra incentive because the Journal is once again running an ‘Autumn in the Stokes’ photo competition, with a first prize of £30. The prize will be awarded to whoever sends us the shot that best captures the beauty of the season in the local area. There will also be two runners-up prizes of £20 and £10 each, Photos must be taken during October 2017 in a public place within the Five Stokes area (Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, Stoke Gifford, Stoke Lodge or Harry Stoke).
CARPENTRY & JOINERY
Sweet Sensations Cakes Bespoke cakes and cupcakes for all occasions
Weddings, anniversaries, baby showers etc.
Please contact us for a consultation and free quote www.sweetsensationzcakes.vpweb.co.uk Tel: 07774 887007 / 01454 625210 Email: sweet_sensationz@sky.com PAINTING & DECORATING
PAINTING & DECORATING
Inside Out Painting & Decorating Local family business All work undertaken No job too small
To enter, email your photo to photos@ bradleystokejournal.co.uk, message it to the Bradley Stoke Journal Facebook page or post it on Twitter mentioning @TheBSJournal and including the #AutumnPhoto hashtag. Don’t forget to include your name and say where the picture was taken. The competition will close at midnight on Sunday 29th October 2017 and the winning entries will be published in the November issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine. Competition terms and conditions: Entrants must live within the Five Stokes area. Maximum of six entries per person. The three prize-winning entries will be chosen by Journal editor Stephen Horton, whose decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.
Interior and exterior work Floor and wall tiling Wood and laminate flooring All work guaranteed Call for a free quotation
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Visit our online directory: www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/directory
October 2017
t: 01454 300 400 PLANT HIRE
T. EDWARDS PLANT Digger and Driver Hire • • • • • • •
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RUBBISH CLEARANCE
Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance Licensed waste carrier We load and clear Same day service Household, garden, garage & sheds cleared Single item jobs Cheaper than a skip No VAT
Contact Stuart or Sue on 0800 0234 995 (Freephone) or 07770 944727 stuart.thistlewood@yahoo.co.uk
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October 2017
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PLUMBING & HEATING
info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk PLUMBING & HEATING
47
TAXIS
PANACHE
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• Complete bathroom refurbishment • Ceramic tiling • Heating & general plumbing services • Clean & tidy workmanship • Competitive rates
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Chrissy’s Scents (Stoke Gifford) • Scented bars • Warmers • Children’s products • Diffusers chrissyclayton.scentsy.co.uk 07768 970779 chrissy26summers@hotmail.co.uk Facebook: @Scentsybychrissyc Local delivery available
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Call Paul for free quote 01454 850201 or 07980 001109
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Childcare from 3 months to 5 years of age at Banana Moon Day Nursery Bristol.
Providing a safe, caring environment for children from three months to five years of age. •
Open 7.30am – 6.30pm, 51 weeks of the year
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To find out more or to book a visit, call 0117 9691 662 or email info@bananamoon-bristol.co.uk
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Banana Moon Day Nursery Bristol Pinnacle House, 166a Gloucester Road North, Patchway, Bristol BS34 5BG Call us on 0117 9691 662 or visit bananamoon-bristol.co.uk