March 2018

Delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to all homes in Bradley Stoke

March 2018 • Issue 58

LETTERS P17 | POLICE P42 | WHAT’S ON P44 | DIRECTORY P46

Plans revealed for McDonald’s and Starbucks at Willow Brook

Lots of you are “Lovin’ it”, but some of the neighbours aren’t best pleased… Pages 6, 7 & 9

Metro mayor called on to help sort out Aztec West traffic shambles Page 36 “We’ve had so many roadworks, and for so long. Lots of work has been done, at the M5 J16 roundabout as well, and we hoped it would be sorted, but it’s not. It’s absolute rubbish!” (Bradley Stoke town councillor)

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PLUS , IN YOUR 48-PAGE BRADLEY STOKE MAGAZINE l Overnight closures of Parkway Bridge in March l Three Brooks tunnelling project to be completed by “end of March” l South Glos council tax to rise by 5.99 percent l Ring Road contraflow extended by 7 weeks l February in the Three Brooks nature reserve l MetroBus update: “Sorry, nothing to report!” l ‘Filton Keynes’ framework agreement signed l £2.2m award will help cut bus emissions l Gipsy Patch Lane rail bridge upgrade slips by a year to 2020 l Website reveals history of the Stokes area l Labour party selects local MP candidate

“friendly and always ready to help …a can do attitude.”

Enzo – Bradley Stoke oceanhome.co.uk

March 2018

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3

News

Overnight closures of Parkway Bridge in March

M

otorists and local residents are being advised to prepare for disruption caused by the planned overnight closure of roads in the vicinity of Parkway Station over a number of nights in March.

South Gloucestershire Council has announced that it plans to carry out major resurfacing work on Brierly Furlong and Hatchet Road between 12th and 20th March. The work will involve planing off the existing surface and the laying of a new surface.

Activity will start at around 8pm each night and continue until approximately 6am.

The council warns that the works will create “a significant amount of noise”.

The road through Parkway Railway Bridge will be closed from the junction of Hatchet Road and North Road to the junction of Brierly Furlong and the bus gate off New Road.

All traffic will be diverted around the area whilst the closures are in place. Access to properties and amenities fronting the site and whose only access is from the closed road, will be available at all times and every effort will be made to keep the disruption to local residents to

a minimum. There will be no access to Parkway Station from Hatchet Road during the closure periods. All access to Parkway will be from the rear entrance (via Hunts Ground Road).

An SGC spokesperson said: “Although alternative routes will be signposted whilst the works

are in progress, it is possible that delays may occur on the surrounding network. Please watch the local press for any further news, but you are advised to avoid the area if possible for the duration of the works.

South Gloucestershire Council apologises for any inconvenience caused by these essential works.”

The Journal understands that the main resurfacing work will take place between 12th and 17th March, with an additional day of supplementary work planned for loop cutting, which will take place overnight on 19th March.

Bus services which normally access Parkway Station and pass under the bridge will be affected, but no details of diversions were available as we went to press.

The council warns that adverse weather conditions or plant / delivery problems may affect the times and dates of the road closures.

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March 2018

News

Contact Us Editor: Stephen Horton info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk 01454 300 400 83 Snowberry Close Bradley Stoke Bristol BS32 8GB

Find us on Facebook: BradleyStokeJournal Follow us on Twitter: @TheBSJournal

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 2018. Content published in our magazines or on our websites may not be reproduced in any form without our express written permission.

W

essex Water says the tunnelling work it has been carrying out from a compound near the ‘duck pond’ in Bradley Stoke’s Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve will finally be completed by the end of March, nearly five months later than originally planned.

The company reports that it has successfully tunnelled beneath the nearby M4 motorway as part of a scheme to build a vital new sewer pipe for future generations in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

The £15 million Frome Valley Relief Sewer (FVRS) scheme will provide additional capacity for large new housing developments in the area, diverting wastewater flows from South Gloucestershire to the Bristol sewage treatment works in Avonmouth.

The section under the M4 forms part of a new 5km-long pipe between Frampton Cotterell

and Bradley Stoke. It completes a “missing link” in the existing FVRS scheme, which was constructed in the 1990s.

The work has involved creating a temporary vehicle access point on Bradley Stoke Way and a temporary footpath alongside the existing track between the Bradley Stoke Way bridge and the Three Brooks lake.

Scrub clearance began in March 2017, followed by the start of construction and tunnelling works in late April 2017.

The work was scheduled to last six months and the temporary access point off Bradley Stoke Way was due to be discontinued and the land returned to its original condition by the end of November 2017.

Asked why the work was still going on in late February 2018 (with no updates having appeared on the town council’s dedicated FVRS webpage since

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News

Late-running nature reserve tunnelling project to be completed by “end of March” Wessex Water sewer work began in earnest in April 2017 and was expected to take six months to complete (continued from facing page)

16th October 2017), a Wessex Water spokesperson told the Journal: “We were required to build an additional sewer diversion in and around the nature reserve, which delayed our connection works to the existing sewer and meant we were working during the winter months when days are shorter and sewer flows are higher.”

“We’ve worked as quickly and efficiently as possible, remaining mindful of the need to protect the reserve and its wildlife at all times.”

“We are in the process of completing manhole and sewer connections in the area.”

“We remain on track to complete work at the nature reserve, including reinstatement

of the roads, by the end of March.”

Speaking about progress on the wider 5km link, Wessex Water project manager Mike Bryant said: “We’ve excavated up to 3.1km and crossed numerous features such as the River Frome, although the sewer is predominantly being constructed across fields and has had minimal impact on the public.”

Wessex Water’s new pipeline, due for completion in June, will enable the company to provide sewerage services to new developments in areas such as Yate, Emersons Green, Harry Stoke and Filton.

Frome Valley is one of many projects included in Wessex Water’s £2 billion investment programme to maintain and improve services up to 2020.

Facing page: Aerial view of the tunnelling compound near the Three Brooks lake (July 2017). Above: Work still going on at the site in late February 2018.

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Wheatfield Drive Bradley Stoke Way

Dewfalls Drive

Starbucks Rearranged car park and access road

McDonald’s

Willow Brook Centre Expansion Plan From the pre-application consultation letter delivered to neighbouring properties.

N.B. This is preliminary information only.

No planning application has yet been made.

Orange outline: Phase one

Willow Brook Centre car park

Two additional (non-food) retail units

March 2018

Blue outline: Phase two.

Poundstretcher

Existing retail terrace

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7

News

Willow Brook Centre reveals plans for McDonald’s and Starbucks Two new food and drink units would be located in north-east corner of car park

A

gents working on behalf of Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre have revealed proposals to erect two drive-through food and drink units (McDonald’s and Starbucks) and two additional (non-food) retail units within the existing boundaries of the site.

Subject to planning permission, the two drivethroughs (which will also include dine-in facilities) would be erected to the north-east of the site, on land which currently comprises car parking – part of which is currently occupied by the Waves hand car wash facility.

The two (non-food) retail units would be added to the end of the existing retail terrace, beyond the Poundstretcher store, also on land that is currently used for car parking.

Car park ”rearrangement”

The work would also include a “rearrangement” of the car park, to recover lost spaces, which would bring the main access road closer to residential properties along the northern boundary of the site.

The expansion proposals were outlined in a ‘preapplication consultation’ letter which was delivered to around 50 neighbouring residential properties in Dewfalls Drive, Little Green, The Pasture and

Wheatfield Drive in midFebruary. It is understood that the letter was also sent to local councillors and Bradley Stoke Town Council.

The communication said the applicants were interested in hearing the “views of local stakeholders” and asked that comments or concerns be addressed to the agents, Alder King Planning, by 28th February.

Planning application expected in March

Alder King said they would endeavour to address any issues raised before a formal planning application is submitted to South Gloucestershire Council, which the Journal understands is likely to be during March.

A further opportunity to make comments will be available during the usual public consultation period of the planning application.

Some of the neighbouring residents who received the letter took it upon themselves to distribute it more widely, through letterboxes and online.

They say they are “very unhappy” with the proposals and have set about coordinating a “community response” (see page 9). It is understood that the letter has also found its way into a number of local schools.

A press release put out by

the centre in late February said the expansion proposals were being brought forward following “a detailed series of technical surveys that have included traffic, parking and utilities” and “positive pre-planning [discussions] with South Gloucestershire Council”.

The document explained that it is intended to deliver the planned development in two phases: “The first phase will see the introduction of an extended food and beverage offer at the centre and is planned to be trading early in 2019. Agents from Willow Brook are in advanced discussions with both McDonald’s and Starbucks to trade in the units, offering seating and drivethrough services.”

Retail expansion likely to come at a later date

“The second phase will see an additional 30,000 square foot of retail space extending the retail terrace strip of retail park style tenants, as well as some reconfiguration to the car park.”

The Journal understands that the proposed extension to the retail terrace and associated reconfiguration of the car park will not be developed in the short term, but will be progressed dependent on occupier demand.

Andy Wynn, Centre Manager at Willow Brook, said: “We

Centre manager Andy Wynn: “Currently there is insufficient food & beverage [provision] with seating.”

have been working on these plans for many months and it is exciting that we can now share them with our customers as we approach the 10th anniversary of opening. Our planning partners wrote to neighbours last week to begin a pre-planning consultation. I would encourage local stakeholders to take part in consultation.”

“We have had so many comments from customers over recent years, asking for more food and beverage (F&B) offers and we are looking forward to being able to deliver these key amenities for the community.

Currently there is insufficient F&B with seating, leading to inconvenience and frustration for our customers.”

● The Alder King Planning

team may be contacted at planningenquiries@alderking. com or by phoning 0117 317 1000.

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March 2018

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News

South Glos council tax to rise by 5.99 percent

S

outh Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) element of the council tax levied on local residents is to increase by 5.99 percent from April, meaning it will have risen by almost 11 percent in just two years.

Meeting on 14th February, councillors agreed to set a revenue budget of £215.9 million, with the increase in the councilcontrolled element of council tax being made up of a 2.99 percent general increase plus a further 3 percent, which is the Adult Social Care Levy. The approximately £9.7 million raised through this levy will be spent exclusively on services supporting the most vulnerable adults in the community. The council says that this only partially covers the additional costs arising in social care from increasing demand and market prices.

The budget papers show that while the council’s finances are

projected to remain in balance for the coming three years, this is only by using reserves set aside for this purpose and delivering additional savings. The council concedes that challenges remain in the medium term, caused by falling government grants and increased costs and demand for services.

Public consultation carried out by the council prior to the budget-setting process showed that 54 percent of respondents were in favour of a council tax rise for 2018/19 of 3.99 or 4.99 percent (inclusive of the Adult Social Care Levy), although none of the presented options were as high as the 5.99 percent finally decided upon.

Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Matthew Riddle, said: “I am determined, for the sake of frontline services, to move forward with a balanced budget.

In doing so, we are prioritising

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our most vulnerable residents with significant increases in funding for services for vulnerable adults and children.”

“These are challenging times, but I believe we have and will continue to meet the challenges before us. The plans approved today will mean that the everyday services we all rely upon will continue to be delivered and we have also made some additional commitments to support schools, care leavers and those looking for a home.”

“I know that some will feel the squeeze of rising council tax, but while we continue to look for ways to be as efficient and cost effective as possible, we must find ways to replace the funding which used to come from government and to meet rising demand for services.”

“We are committed as a council to making best use of taxpayers’ money. Costs are rising, but we are taking steps to keep them under control.”

Leaders from both the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups on the council criticised the ruling Conservative administration for approving a budget which incorporates £36 million of additional savings over the three years from 2019 to 2022, without specifying how the savings will be achieved.

Attempts by the Labour to pin down the Conservatives on the precise nature of these cuts, and their impact on services, charges and staffing, were rebuffed with the response that “directors are working confidentially with the Band

administration”.

Lib Dem group Deputy Leader, Cllr Clare Young, commented: “It seems extraordinary that councillors would commit to such massive cuts without knowing how services will be affected.”

“Cllr Riddle says that belts have to be tightened in these times of austerity, and we accept that, but South Gloucestershire has already tightened its belt pretty damn hard in recent years.

There will come a point, not very long from now I fear, when there will be simply nothing left to cut. I didn’t come into local government to see it stripped to the bone and unable to help people we were elected to serve.

I’m sure he didn’t either.”

In addition to the South Gloucestershire element, bills that will be coming through letterboxes in the next few weeks will include contributions to Avon & Somerset Police (up 6.6 percent) and the Avon Fire & Rescue Service (up 2.99 percent), and the precept raised by Bradley Stoke Town Council (unchanged from 2017/18), producing a grand total of £1,819.77 for a Band D property, an increase of 5.68 percent over last year.

Indicative increases in the total council tax bill which will be faced by Bradley Stoke residents for the following three financial years are given as 2.66 percent, 1.90 percent and 1.89 percent.

2017/18

2018/19

£ Increase

A

£1,147.97

£1,213.19

£65.22

5.68%

B

£1,339.28

£1,415.37

£76.09

5.68%

C

£1,530.61

£1,617.58

£86.97

5.68%

D

£1,721.94

£1,819.77

£97.83

5.68%

E

£2,104.60

£2,224.17

£119.57

5.68%

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F

£2,487.24

£2,628.56

£141.32

5.68%

Email: bradleystoke@happydaysnurseries.com

G

£2,869.91

£3,032.96

£163.05

5.68%

H

£3,443.88

£3,639.54

£195.66

5.68%

subject to eligibility criteria

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% Increase

Total figures for Bradley Stoke residents, comprising contributions to South Gloucestershire Council, Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue and Bradley Stoke Town Council. Figures for other parishes will vary.

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

March 2018

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News Battle-hardened residents’ group vows to fight planned shopping centre expansion

N

ews that the Willow Brook Centre is proposing to build two free-standing food and drink units in the north-east corner of its site (see page 7) has been swiftly condemned by members of a local residents’ group whose properties adjoin the northern boundary of the complex.

The Dewfalls and Wheatfield Drive Residents Association (DAWDRA) is a group that was originally formed in 2005 to influence the development of Bradley Stoke’s new town centre (now known as the Willow Brook Centre). With the help of local councillors, it successfully fought off initial proposals put forward

by Tesco that would have seen the massive main building of the shopping centre stand within metres of the rear gardens of properties in Dewfalls Drive and Wheatfield Drive.

The latest proposals are also likely to rekindle arguments about how vehicles enter and leave the shopping centre. When the plans for the original development were submitted, the town council argued in favour of direct access from Bradley Stoke Way, but was overruled by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC), with the result that those arriving along Bradley Stoke Way have to take a much more indirect route along minor roads to reach the car park.

Commenting on the latest plans put forward by the Willow Brook Centre, a DAWDRA spokesperson said: “As local residents, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the traffic congestion in and around the Willow Brook Centre. The traffic is regularly backed up from Savages Wood Road in both directions to Bradley Stoke Way and Brook Way. Having further development of fast food drivethrough units will encourage more motor traffic into this area, bringing with it further pollution and congestion which will have a detrimental environmental impact to the residents of Bradley Stoke.”

“There are already a number of fast food units within the Willow Brook Centre and the litter from these food outlets is already contaminating the immediate environment and adjacent nature reserve. Further units will only add to this problem.”

“Whilst it is understandable that some Bradley Stoke residents may support fast food outlets at the Willow Brook Centre, DAWDRA’s primary concerns are: (a) the proposed location; (b) to highlight to others, including SGC, the need for careful consideration when submitting planning proposals; and (c) for residents’ interests to be taken into account.”

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March 2018

News Legion looking for more knitters to meet demand for popular poppy line

By Laura Mortimore he Stoke Gifford branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) is looking to recruit more people to knit the famous red flower in readiness for this year’s Poppy Appeal.

Each year, members of the RBL and other volunteers, set up stalls to raise money for their welfare fund. This originally started with the sale of the paper poppies and a pin but has now grown to include brooches, bracelets, hair clips, keyrings and, of course, the knitted poppies. Due to the popularity of the knitted poppies, the RBL needs the help of the local community in order to make enough in time for the next Poppy Appeal.

David Bell, press officer at the Stoke Gifford branch of the RBL, spoke of the need for more knitters: “The branch is very keen to recruit more people to knit the famous knitted Poppies for the Poppy Appeal. The knitted poppies are very popular and raise much money for the Poppy Appeal, and the Branch can’t keep up with demand! There is no pressure to knit a certain number, any amount you can do will greatly help.”

By becoming a poppy knitter, you can also be a part of the work that the RBL do every year. If you are interested, please contact the branch at its email address: rblstokegifford@gmail.com or by

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The Royal British Legion’s welfare fund (for which money raised from the sale of the poppies goes to) is used to give support and help to current and ex service personnel and their families. They provide information, advice and guidance to serving members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and Reservists, all year round. In addition to this, the Legion provides lifelong support for veterans and their families, enabling them to live in comfort and with dignity.

If you, or someone you know, needs help from the Royal British Legion please contact the RBL national helpline on 0808 802 8080.

The Stoke Gifford branch also has its own Facebook Page which you can follow, like and share: www.facebook.com/ StokeGiffordRBL ● www.britishlegion.org.uk

Bikes thefts on the increase again in Bradley Stoke As previously reported, there were 17 bikes stolen in the final four months of 2017. Only one theft was recorded in January, but the first twenty days of February saw another five bikes taken, four of these from the confirmed hotspot of Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre (BSLC). ● On 1st February, a black X Rated mountain bike belonging to an 11-year-old boy was stolen from BSLC between 8.30am and 5pm ● On 6th February, a man’s blue and silver-coloured Saracen Element 1 mountain bike was stolen from Marjoram Place after being left unattended for just a few moments at about 10.40pm ● On 7th February, between 2pm and 3.15pm, a man’s silver-coloured Carrera mountain bike was stolen from BSLC after thieves cut the lock ● On 12th February at about 7.30pm a man’s black Giant TCR Advance 3 racing bike was taken from BSLC after thieves cut the lock ● On 14th February, just before 8am, a man’s black and white Chris Boardman racing bike was stolen from BSLC

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March 2018

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11

News

Ring Road contraflow extended by 7 weeks

T

he highly disruptive contraflow system the A4174 Ring road at Bromley Heath which was due to be lifted by 12th March after being in place for 33 weeks will now not be removed until the last weekend in April (seven weeks later than originally planned).

Announcing the news on 5th February, just five weeks before the restrictions were due to be removed, and following numerous recent progress reports which had said the work was “on schedule”, South Gloucestershire Council blamed the delay on “unforeseen difficulties”.

The contraflow is in place to allow essential repairs and strengthening work to be carried out on one of two viaducts which carry the A4174 over the River Frome at this location. A separate major project to provide a wider shared path and a protective barrier for cyclists and pedestrians

Aerial view of the contraflow and viaduct repair work (mid-February)

using the viaduct is being undertaken at the same time.

The combined cost of both schemes was originally put at £5.9m with the contraflow lasting for 52 weeks, but the council was able to secure £2.8m of additional funding

from the West of England Joint Committee allowing the duration to be reduced to 33 weeks. The recently announced delay means that this 19-week saving has now reduced to 12 weeks.

A council spokesperson said: “We’re now at the stage where

the nature of the work which is left to do must all be carried out consecutively and many of the tasks, such as concreting one of the parapets and plinths, waterproofing and resurfacing the new deck are all weather dependent.”

“The original end date of March for the contraflow to be lifted on the A4174 ring road will need to be extended while work is completed and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience this will cause. We are continuing to work seven days a week to complete the remaining work as quickly as possible so that the contraflow can be removed by the end of April.”

“Due to the unforeseen issues we found, there will be some cost increases but these will be covered within the contingency budget for the project. No additional funding needs to be found to complete the project.”

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13

Schools

Young Enterprise at BSCS: A recipe for success?

L

ocal accountancy firm Dunkley’s has partnered with Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) to launch a new programme for Sixth Form students.

The ‘Young Enterprise’ company programme runs throughout one academic year and enables students to make all the decisions about their enterprise, from deciding on the name and product to creating a business plan, managing the student company finances and selling to the public at trade fairs.

All this takes place with the support of a volunteer business adviser (BA) who brings a wealth of business knowledge and expertise. Dunkley’s marketing manager Nicole Crompton has stepped up to be the school’s advisor for 2017/18.

The company, made up of thirteen Year 12 students, started their enterprise last September.

Over the first few months, the students have been making big decisions from company structure and company name to the product they are going to sell and their individual roles within the board of directors.

The enterprise the students have formed, Phonic Farm, is a literary company which sells phonic inspired cookbooks and recipes to encourage children to learn whilst having fun. Each of their recipes link to a character and, in their newest product launch, some of the characters go on adventures to give the children an additional opportunity to learn and let their imaginations grow with a themed story. The group have chosen an animal theme for the books as they are supporting a local animal charity by giving a proportion of each sale’s profits to them.

During the first term, various milestones were achieved, such as deciding to produce a Christmas cookbook with accompanying festive cookie cutters for their first trade fair experience at St Nicholas Market in Bristol. This took place on a crisp Saturday

The board of directors of Phonic Farm, a Young Enterprise company run by Year 12 students at BSCS

morning in December. Despite the cold start, the company did extremely well selling over £130 worth of product, being placed third within the overall Young Enterprise company competition on the day.

Following this success, the company decided to continue down the recipe route and develop a set of recipe cards.

To add a unique selling point, the students have developed character-based stories to add

to the back of each recipe such as ‘Eli the Elephant’s Escape to the Science Fair’ and ‘Ali the Alligator’s Birthday Mission’.

The recipe cards will be sold in a pick ‘n’ mix pack with a utensil and themed cookie cutter and

were showcased at a second trade fair at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway on Saturday 24th February, where the students sold £70 of product and received very positive feedback about the unique qualities of their product.

The company is hopeful of progressing to the Young Enterprise area heats in March and, with any luck, the finals later in the year. ● Visit the phonic Farm website at phonicfarm.weebly.com

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March 2018

News

February in the Three Brooks nature reserve

By Sara Messenger, Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group

O

ur February workday concentrated on the Tump. I’m told that 24 came out that day, including two newbies. They cleared bramble from the top path and both sides of the steep path leading from the top of the Tump down to the lake to make it a lot wider and allow people to zig-zag up and down if they wish, which will spread the wear on the path.

I’m told that a little owl box was installed and that Robin mapped the paths which criss-cross the Tump, which showed that we have too many paths across the middle – which could explain the loss of our skylarks [they have previously nested here].

I’m informed that by lunchtime they thought of going home but decided that they couldn’t get

any wetter if they tried, so stuck it out until 4pm. I’m also told that if I rub it in that I spent the day in a warm and dry museum celebrating the Chinese New Year with my Rainbow Guides, I will not last the week!

I would like to say thanks to the chap who found the little owl box in his father’s garage and who donated it to us. When I remember his name, I will!

The lake and flooding

On Sunday 18th we had an additional committee-only workday to clean the lake. Rob brought in a couple of canoes and we managed to collect eight bags of rubbish from the water, which sounds a lot but is less than in previous years. We also cut back the overhanging trees

Volunteers with two canoes brought in to help clear litter from the lake

which catch litter and other floating debris, which in turn slows the flow of the water. On the island, we cut back bramble and last year’s reeds, which we used to make two swans’ nests, one in the sun and one higher up. We are hoping that Brooke will take an interest and possibly

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accept a new mate, although, like her, we think he would have to be a pretty special cob to fill the gaping hole left by our Bradley.

Thank to you the homeowner who allowed us to leave our pile of rubbish by her driveway so that it could be easily collected the next day by Streetcare.

MW

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March 2018

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15

In Brief

Andy and Dave with their new toy, ‘Robocut’, brought in to devour scrub

The path up to the Tump had several times been flooded with rapids of water going over the bridge path. Although we think that it can be beneficial at times to hold back some of the water (like a ‘leaky dam’), the water was running so fast that we thought a small child or dog might struggle to keep their footing, added to which we were unable to tell where the edge of the bridge was. These two potential issues persuaded us that we should clear the blockage. Green Gym returned an hour or so later and were amazed to see that the water level had already dropped by several feet.

Green Gym spent a session ‘off-piste’ and headed to the path that runs alongside Braydon Avenue where, through pouring rain and hail storms, we removed several large blockages and five bags of litter. Although this is not

actually on the reserve, clearing it here just means that we don’t have to clear it downstream next week! As well as stream clearing and litter picking, we also cleared paths (well, David N did most of that), cut back bramble, made mud pies, cleaned maps and graffiti and drained paths.

We also got to learn about water spirits, water pollution at Forty Acres and have possibly found someone who could bring to life our very own deity of the Three Brooks, Trolletheus! We stopped only for a quick cup of tea so that we could help Big Dave celebrate his birthday by eating all his cake for him. We then trundled back to the toolstore, litter picking Hawkins Crescent and Snowberry Close as we went.

So, despite the rain and the hail, we had a pretty good day!

You may have seen ‘the boys’ Andy and David on site with

their, now not so shiny, new toy ‘Robocut.’ If you haven’t seen Robocut in action, you’ve missed quite a spectacle. This piece of equipment (Andy declined to say how much it cost) is essentially a large remote controlled shredder which, a little like Pac-Man, devours everything in its path.

The ‘new’ orchard (behind BSCS) doubled in size in just a few hours and, at Bowsland Meadow, the bramble and blackthorn didn’t stand a chance, with the result that the meadow has now returned to almost its original size and the ‘lost’ orienteering post has been found again. They also took him for a stroll along the edge of the paths around the bottom of Savages Wood and in just a few minutes cut back bramble that would have taken us hours to clear by hand.

I know some groups consider it cheating bringing in equipment like this, but it does mean that we then have more time to spend on tasks that require a more delicate touch.

Bradley Stoke Vodafone store ceases trading

The Vodafone store at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre has closed down, with effect from the end of business on Monday 26th February.

A Vodafone spokesperson told the Journal: “We are always looking to expand our presence on the UK high-street. Vodafone has three shops open in Bristol and we have just finished expanding our experience store in Bristol Cribbs Causeway.

The Vodafone store staff who previously worked at the Willow Brook Centre branch have been deployed to other local stores that are most convenient for them.”

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March 2018

Comment

MetroBus update: “Sorry, nothing to report!”

BSJ editor Stephen Horton comments: nother month has passed and we still seem to be no closer to having a MetroBus service running through Bradley Stoke.

In our February magazine, we reported that MetroBus had told us that the much-postponed announcement of which company would be operating the Cribbs Causeway to Hengrove (M1) route was now expected to be made in “mid-February”.

As I write this, we are in the dying days of February and nothing has been heard. Cue the latest update from MetroBus: “We are still waiting for the operators to announce. It is their announcement and unfortunately we have no influence over when they will make it.”

Keen readers will recall that the announcement was originally expected in September 2016.

A

It wasn’t until June 2017 that First Bus was announced as the operator of the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads (M2) route, but there was no mention of the M1 route at that time. In September 2017, MetroBus newsletters began telling us that the M1 announcement would be made in October 2017. It never happened, and MetroBus is now facing the reality that potential operators have it over the proverbial barrel.

Even assuming that an operator has committed to running the service, which it has always been intended would be on an unsubsidised basis (as least as far as its operation is concerned), uncertainty remains over when it will start. Our February magazine reported that this will now be “late summer”, although posters recently put up at some of the new MetroBus shelters in Bradley Stoke are less specific, saying only that

Left: New poster on display at some MetroBus shelters in Bradley Stoke.

Right: Artist’s impression of the iPoint, to be installed at all MetroBus stops

“MetroBus services start in 2018”. Cynics will no doubt be saying: “At least they are committing to a year now!”

Many unanswered questions remain, including the ones relating to the future of the 73 service once MetroBus starts.

All we know if that this will be a commercial decision for the 73 operator (First Bus) and they have told the town council it is too early to talk about it.

On the MetroBus budget front, there have been no updates for nearly a year, and with one of the planned MetroBus routes (Emersons Green to Parkway Station) seemingly now shelved and transferred to phase 2 (CPME; see page 31), the suspicion is that the focus is now on avoiding further overspends by trimming functionality.

Factsheet: MetroBus iPoint The iPoint is an innovative piece of infrastructure developed especially for the MetroBus project in Bristol.

It stands 3.2m high and weighs approximately 0.75 tonne.

Services available at iPoints include: • Buy tickets • Top up smart cards • Real-time bus information • Journey planning • Route information • Emergency point The iPoints allow passengers to purchase tickets prior to boarding. This is essential, as to improve reliability, passengers will be unable to buy tickets from the driver. iPoints will be installed at all 78 MetroBus stops.

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March 2018

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Letters Jim Durlacher: Farewell to a bowls legend JIM was a founder member of Northavon Bowls Club in 1991, where my wife and I first met him and his wife Margaret. We have been very good friends ever since, enjoying card evenings and holidays together.

In 2010, some two years after the demise of Northavon Bowls Club, Jim, with the help of Ben Walker the then mayor of Bradley Stoke, made possible the formation of Bradley Stoke Bowls Club, which was opened on 1st May 2010, by the great David Bryant, three times world champion.

During the eight years the club has been going, Jim was very active in its various operations, being chairman and captain for the first two years, and then becoming president up to 2013. He was awarded life membership for all his hard work, and was recognised by South Gloucestershire Council with a Chair’s Community Award in 2013.

During his bowling career, he played for City & County Bristol and the County of Gloucestershire.

Jim was a past master at organization, and many club members enjoyed his Christmas parties over the years. He was a true blue Scotsman and his Burns Night celebrations were legendary.

Due to failing mobility, Jim did not play much bowls in the past year, but remained very active in a social capacity. He was also very generous in his several gifts, which included a lapel badge for every club member when he was president.

Jim passed away on 4th January 2018. He will be sadly missed by the club in general and by his close friends in particular.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Margaret and all his family.

At the going down of the sun And in the morning, We will remember him Brian Newman, president of Bradley Stoke Bowls Club

Thank you to two good Samaritans THANK you to two very kind people who helped me out during a routine walk back from Tesco Bradley Stoke on Sunday 28th January.

I stepped off the pavement, intending to cross a side road, and fell, ending up flat out in the road.

Firstly, to the chap who was driving past, stopped his car and spoke to me, helping me up; and also to the lady in a nearby house who came over with tissues and gave me a lift home.

I was SO grateful. It took two weeks to get back to normal.

Ros Hewitt, Bradley Stoke

Have your say: Reader letters Do you have strong views about something that’s happening in or around Bradley Stoke?

Want to pass comment on something you’ve read in the Journal or another local publication?

Send your letter to letters@bradleystokejournal.co.uk or post it to: Reader Letters, Bradley Stoke Journal, 83 Snowberry Close, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 8GB Please include a phone number, in case we need to contact you.

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18

www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk Framework Diagram Framework diagram

Cribbs/Patchway New Neighbourhood Development Framework SPD

March 2018

t: 01454 300 400 R

March 2014

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Tu

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Cribbs/Patchway New Neighbourhood Development Framework SPD

March 2014

Patchway

Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood Development Framework SPD (Adopted March 2014) Framework Diagram

Eagle Meadow Gorse Covert

J1 7

Cribbs Causeway

Bus Station

Charlton Hayes Hayes Wood

Haw Wood Charlton Common

Bristol Filton Golf Course

Key Local Centres/ economic development land

Potential GWAAC/NPAS location

18Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 100023410

MetroBus (NFH)

Pedestrian/cycle links

MetroWest proposals

Bus Priority/controlled access junction

Potential train stations

Primary road network

Employment

Existing train stations

Secondary road network

Residential

Improved railway bridges

Access junctions

Heritage Museum

© South Gloucestershire Council, 2014. All rights reserved. © Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 100023410.

www.southglos.gov.uk

Sports Provision

BAWA

Strategic GI

www.southglos.gov.uk

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Filton Abbey Wood

19

March 2018

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19

News

‘Filton Keynes’ framework agreement signed

S

outh Gloucestershire Council (SGC) has announced the completion of an important agreement between developers and landowners which will see thousands of new homes and supporting infrastructure built at the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood (CPNN) over the next ten years.

The new neighbourhood will provide approximately 5,700 dwellings, around 50 hectares of employment land, open spaces, schools, community facilities, a new railway station and a dedicated route for MetroBus. Dubbed ‘Filton Keynes’, this will be a very major development and SGC says it is keen to ensure that work is co-ordinated and that the potential impacts on surrounding communities are identified and addressed.

Development land within the new neighbourhood is in several different ownerships, including YTL Developments, Deeley Freed, Taylor Wimpey and BAE. The CPNN framework agreement will ensure that all future development in the area is carried out in a collaborative and co-ordinated way, specifically that the required infrastructure for the whole site is delivered at the appropriate time, in the appropriate location, rather than on a piecemeal basis on individual disparate sites. It will also make sure that access is gained between individual development sites within

L-r: David Freed (Deeley Freed), Ralph Hawkin (Taylor Wimpey), Steve Evans (South Gloucestershire Council), Hong Yeoh (YTL), Mike Craddock (BAE Systems) sign the CPNN framework agreement on 30th January 2018

the new neighbourhood, and ensure triggers for the timing and delivery of infrastructure, services and facilities. The endorsed framework plan demonstrates how access across the wider new neighbourhood can be achieved.

Colin Skellett, chairman of YTL Developments, said: “Signing the framework agreement is an important step forward in unlocking the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood. Following the granting of outline planning permission in October 2017 for 2,650 new homes and 24 hectares of employment land on our airfield site, YTL is now working on finalising the other planning agreements required to start construction of our new site access in March. We will work with our neighbours, SGC and the local communities to deliver

much needed housing across the area.”

Steve Evans, director of environment & community services at SGC, said: “The signing of the agreement marks another major milestone for the Cribbs Patchway New

Neighbourhood which will create many new homes, jobs, community facilities and vital infrastructure as the development takes shape over the next decade.” ● More info: www.southglos. gov.uk/cribbspatchwaynn

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March 2018

News

By Sara Messenger of Bradley Stoke in Bloom (BSiB)

F

or the last couple of months, we’ve felt like our daffodil bulbs – cold, wet and biding our time for warmer weather! Usually there is not much we can do in the winter months but plan for the spring.

However, this year, this proved a bit harder to do as a third of our committee had gone on a long field trip to New Zealand!

January workday at The Common East

We weren’t entirely idle and our last workday saw us trying our hand at hedgelaying, which for most of the group was a first. The neighbours to the orchard on The Common East have had new fences put in which had opened up the boundaries, so rather than put in dull environmentally unfriendly wooden fences, we re-laid the hedge that had been put in by Patchway Conservation Group more than a decade ago.

It’s quite a hard task, but what is not to like about being able to legally wander about with an axe in your hand! At the back of the orchard we put in what was known as a smugglers’ hedge, which is a double row with a gap in-between (this allowed the smugglers’ ponies to walk between the two hedges without being seen). Before any of you get ideas, it’s only a few feet long so you won’t get too far before you are spotted!

We also put in two hedgehog houses. We know it’s the wrong time of year, but we wanted them to be securely under the hedge before it establishes itself and we

also managed to install another couple of bird boxes. Thank you to Judith H for the gift of two trees; we plan to use the rowan to fill in a gap in the orchard hedge.

Last year was the first year we pruned the orchard and we tried two different techniques. Not that I’m competitive, but judging by the amount of apples that still litter the ground where I did the ‘soft prune’, I think my method is the better one!

The weather was mostly kind on the day, although when Bristol promises rain, it never fails to deliver on its promise! But before we got drenched, we had a good day, made even better with homemade cakes made by the neighbour’s children and birthday cakes for both Rob and Ceri.

Lapwing Close

We’ve started clearing the Lapwing Close side of Primrose Bridge. This is an area that SGC has given us permission to take on and they had suggested a wildflower meadow, but it’s a grassy area popular with dog walkers and parents, so our suggestion to the residents was to get rid of the bramble and plant a live willow wigwam with a small children’s planting area (maybe in painted tyres). They have also asked for tree stumps for the children to sit on and a music tree, so we’ll see what we can do.

It’s been amazing how quickly other plants are able to establish themselves once the bramble has been cleared and it’s already shown a great improvement.

We were lucky enough to be in

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News

In Brief

Bradley Stoke in Bloom update

Grants awarded

the right place at the right time when Ambience Landscapes Ltd were putting down bark chippings and allowed us to have their surplus, which we used to improve the very muddy path here. It’s just a small thing but it’s made a big difference.

Around the path and up the bank we also planted eight trays of primroses (a gift from SGC and Almondsbury Garden Centre), and in the spring we hope to plant wildflowers up the bank.

It’s not good soil there (we needed a small mattock to plant the primroses), but this is ideal for wildflowers, so we’re hoping that by the summer it will be a blooming great area that everyone can enjoy!

Elsewhere

We’re still waiting for permission from SGC to plant our ‘Tree Charter’ Scots pine, and although you may not be aware of it yet, we

Archive photo of BSiB volunteers working on Brook Way in October 2016.

have planted a few hundred tulip and daffodil bulbs around the town. The bulbs we planted last year at the skate park have already begun to flower, so we hope the new ones will soon follow suit.

At the Manor Farm Roundabout corner, (by the

Jubilee Centre) we were very disappointed to find several of our bushes have been cut down which has given the flower bed a rather bare look. We had hoped to use this bed for our judging this year, but we may now have to rethink our plans.

21

Bradley Stoke Town Council’s Leisure, Youth & Amenities Committee approved the following grants at its meeting in February: • Grant Aid of £500 to Bradley Stoke Twinning Association towards hosting and running costs • Larger Grant Aid of £5,000 to Four Towns Summer Playscheme to run the summer playscheme in Bradley Stoke from 30th July to 24th August 2018.

Councillors also agreed that Four Towns Summer Playscheme be permitted to use the Elm Room at Baileys Court Activity Centre free of charge for the duration of the scheme.

● Bradley Stoke Town Council

has a range of grant funding streams which eligible groups and organisations can apply for. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/bstc-grants or phone the town council office on 01454 205020.

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March 2018

News

£2.2m award will help cut bus emissions on Bradley Stoke route

B

uses on the 73 route through Bradley Stoke are set to become less polluting, thanks to a £2.2 million grant from the government’s Clean Bus Technology Fund.

The route is one of 12 across Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire that will benefit from the award which will allow operator First Bus to cut emissions and help improve air quality across the wider region.

The funding was awarded in February by the Department for Transport following a successful joint bid by Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Cllr Mhairi Threlfall, Cabinet member for transport at Bristol

City Council, who led the bid, said: “It is great news that we have been successful in our bid for this funding, which will help us to improve air quality across the region by making vital environmental upgrades to the bus fleet.”

“We will be prioritising these upgrades on the bus routes that we know to be the most polluted with levels of harmful air pollutants that are far too high.”

“This will form part of our continuing efforts to turn around the issues with air quality in our area and make Bristol a healthier place to live and work.

I look forward to seeing this new technology being brought into action over the next year.”

The money will be used to

retrofit emissions reductions technology on 81 buses that run on these 12 routes, which cover some of the most polluted roads on the wider network.

All 81 buses will be upgraded from Euro IV/V standard to Euro VI, which is the best environmental standard available and will cut the release of harmful nitrous oxides from these buses by up to 94 percent.

New engines will be installed on 12 of these buses, which will utilise alternative technologies including EV/hybrid engine refits.

The rest will be fitted with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, which will reduce the amount of nitrogen dioxide and other harmful pollutants being released into the air.

Cllr Colin Hunt, Cabinet member for planning, transportation and the strategic environment at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We know that getting travellers out of their cars and onto buses helps to reduce congestion and makes journeys easier and faster, but it also helps us achieve our pollution reduction goals.”

“By improving our existing buses to reduce emissions, we are working together with bus users to make an even bigger contribution to improving air quality for everyone.”

Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council, in partnership with First Bus, were also successful in securing £4.8 million of grant funding last year, which will unlock up to £30 million of private investment from First to introduce up to 110 new gas-powered buses into the fleet. These buses will start entering service in 2019, providing a further boost to improving air quality in the city.

James Freeman, Managing Director for First West of England said: “We are very excited that this grant aid means that we will have more than 250 buses in our fleet to the very highest Euro VI standard, which means the West of England in general and Bristol in particular will have one of the cleanest and greenest bus fleets in the country, especially when all of these are joined by the bio-gas buses over the next couple of years.”

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Brought to you by

WillowBrookCentre This month, Willow Brook Centre has once again launched its popular annual community awards programme, Stars of the Stokes.

2018 is the third year of the awards, which cover Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford, Winterbourne, Patchway, Almondsbury and Frampton Cotterell and comes on the back of increased nominations in 2017.

Willow Brook Centre works with a variety of local businesses to sponsor and promote the awards, led locally by the Bradley Stoke Journal, and the awards night itself is broadcast live on Bradley Stoke Radio.

Returning sponsors Olympus Academy Trust, Tesco Extra, Aztec Hotel & Spa and Carisway Facilities Services are joined for 2018 by First Bus and Honeyfield Property Services.

How to nominate

Award categories

Members of the public are invited to nominate anyone from the local area who they feel deserves recognition for outstanding community engagement and/or achievement of personal goals. Nominations can be made on starsofthestokes.co.uk or by completing the nomination form overleaf. The glittering awards night will be hosted

by Shaun Williamson at Aztec Hotel & Spa on Friday 15th June. Shaun is best known for his role as Barry Evans in Eastenders, as a contestant in Celebrity Big Brother and as a satirical version of himself in the BBC sitcom Extras

The categories for Stars of the Stokes 2018 remain unchanged: Star Teacher, Pre-School Carer of the Year, Achievement Against the Odds, Young Hero, Champion Carer, Parent/Guardian in a Million, Coach of the Year and Unsung Hero.

Andy Wynn, manager of Willow Brook Centre said: “Willow Brook is at the heart of the community and Stars of the Stokes has become an important part of our annual calendar. It has been two years since we first launched the awards, and we have been delighted to see them grow each year, with over 300 nominations in the first two years, which has been amazing. We are forever grateful to the many local people who have gone out of their way to help us recognise local heroes.

We are delighted to work with our sponsors on this year’s awards, and are looking forward to seeing the nominations start to come in and meeting some more of the leading lights in our community on 15th June.”

Stephen Horton, editor of the Journal, said: “Every month we get to meet and report on a fair few heroes and achievers within our community. It was lovely to see that so many of the winners in 2016 and 2017 had been featured previously in the Journal. We know, however, that there will be many more who support the community or celebrate achievements quietly and under the radar. Please help us to recognise these unsung heroes by taking a few minutes to nominate them.

The presentation night is always such an enjoyable evening and it is a pleasure to meet and chat to the finalists and sponsors. I am really looking forward to this year’s awards night.”

More information and updates on this year’s awards can be found by visiting www.starsofthestokes.co.uk or searching ‘Stars of the Stokes’ on Facebook and Twitter.

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March 2018

t: 01454 300 400

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised for outstanding community engagement and personal achievement in the Almondsbury, Bradley Stoke, Patchway, Stoke Gifford, Frampton Cotterell or Winterbourne areas?

Willow Brook Centre has teamed up with many local services and businesses to launch the Stars of the Stokes awards, a set of community awards to recognise the personal achievement of individuals in our local area.

Brought to you by

WillowBrookCentre

The nominations will close on Tuesday 1st May and the awards evening will be hosted by television celebrity Shaun Williamson on 15th June at the Aztec Hotel.

NOMINATION FORM Please hand in completed entry forms to the Willow Brook Centre Management Office on the first floor or you can nominate online at www.starsofthestokes.co.uk before Tuesday 1st May.

Category (please tick )

STAR TEACHER

YOUNG HERO (UNDER 18 YEARS)

PRE-SCHOOL CARER OF THE YEAR

PARENT / GUARDIAN IN A MILLION

CHAMPION CARER

COACH OF THE YEAR

ACHIEVEMENT AGAINST THE ODDS

UNSUNG HERO

Your name

Your email

Your phone number

My nominee is

My nominee deserves to win because...

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AWARD CATEGORIES Star Teacher Do you know a teacher who works in the area and goes above and beyond what you would expect? Has a teacher you know made a huge difference to your life?

Maybe you know a teacher who has motivated and inspired students to achieve their best and who is always willing to give that extra time and effort.

Pre-School Carer of the Year Can you see the difference your child minder or nanny makes to your child’s development? Does your child have a favourite member of staff at their nursery or pre-school who brightens their day? Maybe your child carer ends up caring for the whole family, or has helped you with short notice cover during family emergencies over the last year.

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Champion Carer Carers, be they family, friends or professionals, are crucial to many families. Does someone you know provide care that is ‘beyond the norm’?

Have they changed lives or put their lives on hold to help and care for you?

Parent / Guardian in a Million What do parents you know do to make them a parent/guardian in a million? Do they collect your children from school every day so that you can work? Do they fight to make sure you have everything you need and deserve? Perhaps something has happened in the last year that you couldn’t have got through without their support.

Coach of the Year

Do you know someone who achieves great things against the odds? Has someone you know overcome illness or disability to return to work, faced a battle to achieve something important to them, or achieved sporting prowess when told that they wouldn’t be able to?

Do you know someone who gives up their free time to coach others? Perhaps a youth football coach or a cycling coach. Maybe you know someone who works in sport but goes above and beyond what would be expected. Perhaps a teacher who runs an out of school exercise club, or a personal trainer who has helped you achieve your goals in the last year.

Young Hero

Unsung Hero

Do you know someone aged 18 or under who is a hero?

Have they spent a lot of free time volunteering?

Perhaps someone you know has achieved great things in sport or started a new hobby and become renowned for it. Maybe they care for their parents, mow the lawn for a neighbour, or have raised money for a cause that is close to them.

Do you know someone who is a hero to you but doesn’t see it themselves? Maybe they give their life to volunteering or have done the same job for many years. Perhaps they run a local sports team, raise money for charity. It may be that they are simply a hero to you and you’d love them to receive some recognition.

Achievement Against the Odds

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Brought to you by

WillowBrookCentre IN ASSOCIATION WITH The

Olympus Academy Trust

SUPPORTED BY

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27

News

Opticians raise £800 for children’s cancer charity

T

he Specsavers store at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre joined with partner branches in Cribbs Causeway and Filton to raise nearly £800 for children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent, as part of the local store group’s pledge to support the charity for 2018.

Staff wore CLIC Sargent t-shirts and the stores were decorated with charity balloons, banners and bunting while collection pots were available for customers to make donations.

Customers and passers-by were greeted with a cake sale, while staff took part in a charity bake-off, in which Katie Perry bagged first place with her carrot cake muffins and Julie Rafferty came second with her chocolate orange cakes.

To help boost the fundraising total, eight-year-old Karolina, whose mum works at the Bradley Stoke store, sold loom bands and other hand-crafted gifts with her friend Anya and raised nearly £30.

Also joining the festivities was Caroline Marshall, a local representative from CLIC Sargent.

“It’s so important for our teams to get behind a good cause and throw every effort into fundraising, and by nominating a charity, we can maximise our efforts,” says store director, Gaurav Patel. “While CLIC Sargent is a national charity, they also have a presence in Bristol, so there is a local link too.”

“All three store directors will be taking part in a fundraising activity and we will be encouraging our customers to give what they can to boost the total. I will be joining a team taking part in Tough Mudder, Ed Stanleigh has secured a place in the London Marathon and Vivek Lakhanpaul is doing a sky dive.”

London 2018 will be Ed Stanleigh’s first full marathon, although he has completed three half marathons in the last couple of years. He says his training is going well and would welcome support via his fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/edstanleigh

CLIC Sargent provides practical, financial and emotional support for children and teenagers who have been diagnosed with

cancer or leukaemia. The charity believes that children with cancer have the right to the best possible treatment, care and support

throughout their cancer journey and beyond. To find out more about the charity, visit www. clicsargent.org.uk

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March 2018

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AVAILABLE NOW AT CITY MOTORS #EndlessPossibilities

Official Fuel Consumption in MPG (l/lOOkm) and C02 emissions (g/km) for the New Citroën C3 Aircross Range: URBAN 62.8-40.9mpg (4.5-6.9L/100km); EXTRA URBAN 76.3-58.9mpg (3.7-4.8L/100km); COMBINED 70.6-50.4mpg (4.0-5.6L/100km); CO2 emissions 104126g/km. MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions.

CITY MOTORS 0117 9723030 CASTLE COURT, ST PHILIPS CAUSEWAY, BRISTOL, BS4 3AX dealer.citroen.co.uk/Bristol-Arnos-vale

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

March 2018

t: 01454 300 400

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

Up to £1,000 Scrappage allowance on a new Duster or Sandero* While stocks last.

Rugged, robust and really good looking New Dacia Duster

Our cross-town cruiser Dacia Sandero

Car shown is a Duster Lauréate TCe 125 4x2 with metallic paint = £13,790

Car shown: Sandero Ambiance SCe 75 with optional metallic paint = £7,890

CITY MOTORS CASTLE COURT, ST PHILIPS CAUSEWAY BRISTOL BS4 3AX TEL 0844 247 9470

S J COOK & SONS STATION ROAD, KINGSWOOD BS15 4XX TEL 0844 247 9473 WWW.CARCOGROUP.CO.UK/DACIA

The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (I/100km) for the Dacia Sandero and Dacia Duster ranges are: urban 35.3 (8.0)– 76.4 (3.7); extra-urban 45.6 (6.2)–83.1 (3.4); combined 41.5 (6.8)–80.7 (3.5). The official CO2 emissions are 155–90g/km. Figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EU legislation and may not reflect real-life driving results. *The Dacia scrappage offers are available to private retail Dacia customers aged 18 or over at participating dealers only, when you trade in any car registered before 31 December 2009 at a Dacia participating dealer. Trade-in vehicle must be registered to the customer for at least 90 days before new vehicle purchase. Trade-in vehicle must be scrapped. Scrappage allowance (£1,000 on Duster; £500 on Sandero) is available when you purchase a new Dacia Duster or Sandero when ordered and registered by 31 March 2018 (while stocks last). This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any finance offers. Limited stock availability, see your local dealer for more information.

Renault Upgrade Event New year, new car

The Renault Crossover range.

Get up to £2,000 extra for your part exchange The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the range shown are: urban 45.6 (6.2)–70.6 (4); extra-urban 48.7 (5.8)–83.1 (3.4); combined 47.9 (5.9)–78.5 (3.6). The official CO2 emissions are 156–95g/km. Figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EU legislation and may not reflect real-life driving results.

The Renault Upgrade offer is available to private retail Renault customers aged 18 or over at participating dealers only, when you trade in any car subject to an appraisal of its roadworthy condition at a Renault participating dealer. Trade-in vehicle must be registered to the customer for at least 90 days before new purchase date. Additional trade-in allowance (£2,000 on All-New KOLEOS, £1,500 on KADJAR diesel and £500 on KADJAR petrol, £500 on New Captur diesel and £250 on Captur petrol) is available when you purchase a new All-New KOLEOS, KADJAR or New Captur when ordered and registered between 2 January and 31 March 2018. This offer can be used in conjunction with all other Renault retail offers.

CITY MOTORS Castle Court, St Philips Causeway, Bristol BS4 3AX Tel 0844 247 9469

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Advertising

Tockington nursery and school children flourish

L

ess than four miles from Bradley Stoke, Tockington Manor School and Nursery provides boys and girls aged 2 to 13 years with an excellent education and fantastic facilities, set within a tranquil countryside location. We strive to enable all of our children to achieve their best in everything they do, encouraged by supportive staff and friends throughout the school. With sport every day and a healthy balanced diet, it’s no surprise that when children leave us at the end of Year 8 they are extraordinarily healthy.

Nursery Open Day Thursday 8th March 9.30am to 12pm

Our Nursery children enjoy the use of all the school’s amazing facilities and grounds - including the Adventure Playground,

woodland, and swimming lessons in our 25 metre indoor heated pool. The Nursery follows a childcentred curriculum and provides excellent early years care with extended days, if required, from 7.30am to 6pm. Children can start in our Nursery from age 2, South Gloucestershire Council vouchers accepted.

Main School Open Day Thursday 26th April 2.30pm to 5.00pm

From Reception to Year 8, our children enjoy small class sizes of only 20 with dedicated teaching and support staff who know the ability and motivations of every child, and deliver lessons that engage all of the children. Being a school of only 180 pupils means that throughout the year groups the children make friendships and are incredibly supportive

of each other. On site we have a swimming pool, a large floodlit Astro Turf, a modern wellequipped science laboratory, and we are currently creating a new Music and Performing Arts Suite.

Our working parents find our mini bus service, ‘early start’ with breakfast and ‘late finish’ with dinner, full-time or flexi-boarding from age 7, combined with our holiday clubs extremely helpful when trying to maintain a career.

Even though we are a nonselective school, the success of our children in the highly praised

Common Entrance Syllabus and Senior School Scholarship examinations is enviable.

Children can start at Tockington Nursery from age 2; they move into the main school at rising 5 for Reception and leave us at age 13 at the end of Year 8.

Children can also join us at any point provided there is a space in the required year group.

To arrange a visit, please call the school on 01454 613229 or email asymonds@ tockingtonmanorschool.com ● See advert on page 17.

Multi-award winning baby development classes packed with sensory delights sounds, smells, sights, textures, music, bubbles, signing and massage.

Running on Wednesdays in Bradley Stoke for babies from 0-13months.

For more information and to book a place: www.babysensory.com/bristol-north Sneak a peek-you’ll have so much fun!

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

March 2018

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31

News

Gipsy Patch Lane rail bridge upgrade slips by a year to 2020

T

he construction of a replacement railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane, which was due to be take place during a 100-hour rail possession over Easter 2019, has been delayed by a year, the Journal can reveal.

The new bridge forms a major element in South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) proposed Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME). Once complete and services start operating in 2021, the CPME will extend part of the North Fringe to Hengrove MetroBus route which is currently being built.

Passengers using the extension will be able to benefit from a direct link between Bristol Parkway Station and The Mall bus station, via the redeveloped Filton Airfield site.

The new, wider bridge will benefit road users and local businesses by relieving the pinch point in traffic flow at this location. Proposals for the new bridge are wide enough to include a shared use path on both sides of the road, a lane of general traffic in each direction and a bus lane in each direction underneath the bridge to encourage people to use more sustainable transport options.

An SGC spokesperson told the Journal: “The [revised] construction programme shows that work to build the new bridge is planned mainly in 2020, which is later than previously stated. This is because we are going through Network Rail’s due process of ensuring that cost estimates that will inform future stages of work on the bridge are as robust as possible. This means that more ground investigation surveys for the bridge have been carried out at an early stage so that we can budget for the bridge’s forthcoming detailed design and construction with

as much certainty as possible.

This has pushed the bridge replacement part of the CPME scheme back, but the overall timescale for completing the extension remains on track and MetroBus services would start operating on the route after construction finishes in 2021.”

As previously reported, SGC has agreed terms with the developers of the former East Works site (now known as Horizon 38) to use land adjacent to the railway bridge as a site compound for the duration of this aspect of the work. The Journal understands that the delay in starting bridge construction means that the council could face significantly higher costs because it needs to rent the land for a longer period.

An SGC spokesperson was unable to confirm this, saying only: “We are currently working through what cost implications might be, and as the cost of securing individual land parcels is commercially sensitive we are not in a position to release further details.”

Artist’ s impression of the new railway bridge, viewed from the Little Stoke side

southbound bus stop on Hatchet Road will be upgraded.

The proposals on Hatchet Road comprise only the upgrading of two existing bus stops. This is in line with the decision taken by South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet in December last year, that the bus lane previously proposed on Hatchet Road be removed from the CPME scheme.

The other two planning applications relate to elements of the scheme at the San Andreas

Roundabout and North Way. Once the planning applications have been validated, a statutory consultation will be carried out on each of them. Subject to securing the necessary approvals for each of the four elements, construction is due to start in early 2019. ● For further details about the CPME project and its construction programme, visit www.travelwest.info/metrobus/ extension

Planing applications

The CPME was due to take a major step forward in late February with the submission of planning applications for four elements of the scheme. The two of main interest to the Stokes are: • Gipsy Patch Lane Railway Bridge and associated highway work: Demolition of the existing bridge and construction of a new railway bridge over Gipsy Patch Lane. This will also include improvements to the road underneath the railway bridge.

• Gipsy Patch Lane and Hatchet Road: Highway works include widening Gipsy Patch Lane between the junction with the Horizon 38 site and the junction with Bush Avenue. In addition, one northbound and one

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Advertising

News You CAN transform your life. Why wait? Website reveals fascinating history of the Stokes area Janet Alexander has spent many years in the caring professions, as a Registered Nurse and practitioner of complementary therapy.

As a course facilitator, Janet has a unique approach to bringing out the best in those who are looking for ‘something more’ than what life has offered them so far.

“It is often an outdated, limited belief that holds us back,” explains Janet.

We miss opportunities to be fulfilled and awesome in our lives, simply because we have little or no self worth, or feel we are incapable of being dynamic and living the life we really want.

These limiting beliefs are often carried throughout life, are reinforced by negative self-talk, and yet, are so simple to transform.

Using techniques developed by Louise L Hay and incorporating neuro linguistic programming (NLP), Janet provides a safe and

Being a ‘new town’, Bradley Stoke might not, at first glance, have a great deal to interest local historians, but the neighbouring parish of Stoke Gifford can trace its origins back to the Domesday Book and earlier.

By Laura Mortimore ocal resident Adrian Kerton has created a website documenting the history of Stoke Gifford and surrounding areas. The wide variety of information on his website offers readers a glimpse into the past, with some of the documents available to view dating as far back as the 13th century.

When Adrian moved to Stoke Gifford in 1985 to work for Hewlett-Packard at Wallscourt Farm, he was intrigued by the farmhouse and outbuildings.

Having always been interested in historical buildings, he began to look into the history of Wallscourt Farm and discovered that it was previously called Starve-All-Farm. Delving into the history of Wallscourt piqued Adrian’s interest and marked the beginning of his journey into discovering the history of Stoke Gifford.

Describing how his interest in local history grew, Adrian said: “When I retired I had some spare time to research the history of the farm and of Stoke Gifford where I lived. The research revealed histories written by Ros Broomhead, the daughter of one of the vicars of St Michaels,

L fun environment in which to move on from the past and create an amazing future.

For information on two-day workshops, ten-week courses (two hours per week) or one-to-one coaching, contact Janet on 07812 383461, email janetalexander86@gmail.com or visit her Facebook page.

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Adrian Kerton, author of the ‘History of Stoke Gifford’ website

and the Rev D Evans, keen local historians. I was also very lucky to be introduced to Sharon Ubank who had created the Stokes Standard, a series of booklets documenting much of the history with residents’ interviews. It was then that I decided to create a website so the history of the village could be easily accessible.”

As Adrian furthered his research into the history of the local area, he went on air with Radio Bristol which led to a meeting with Mike Stanbrook who had studied Stoke Gifford for his master’s degree at UWE.

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March 2018

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News

Photo: Signpost on The Green, Stoke Gifford. Inset: Domesday Book entry.

Adrian explains: “The word ‘Giffarde’ meant one with round cheeks and double chin in Norman times. In Saxon, ‘Stoche’ meant property of, or dependent farmstead, and at the time of Domesday, the Manor was held by Osbern Giffard, a supporter of William the Conqueror. Hence we have ‘Stoche Giffarde’.”

He kindly let Adrian have a copy of his documents which helped to develop the website. Adrian then got in touch with residents living in the older properties within the village and was given plenty of family histories and old photographs to include on the website.

Recalling all of the people who have helped to build up information for the website, Adrian said: “St. Michael’s church office was very helpful giving me access to the documents they held. The archivist at the Badminton archives was also very helpful as the estate had owned the village for more than the last two hundred years, selling it in 1915.”

“I was also very lucky to meet Martin Davis, who had lived at Little Stoke Farm, and whose father had introduced

the naturalist Peter Scott to Slimbridge where Peter later went on to found the now famous wildlife centre. Martin had lots of photographs of the farm and of an excellent memory of local events.”

Although the website has grown considerably to more than 180 pages, Adrian is always on the lookout for more material; he is especially keen to find out more information about the history of Harry Stoke as there seems to be some confusion as to where the name originates from.

To find out more about the history of Stoke Gifford, visit the website at stokegiffordhistory. wordpress.com If you have any historical information that you feel may be useful to Adrian’s research, please contact him using the ‘Contact’ link on the website.

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In Brief

Ask the Doctor with Dr Faisal Siddiqui of Bradley Stoke Surgery Please don’t be a ‘DNA’

T

he NHS is under pressure. Severe pressure. Hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments are full, surgical waiting list times are climbing and wait times for routine GP appointment are rising too. Time and time again in clinic, my patients report to me their frustrations about access and issues in obtaining appointments to see myself or colleagues.

For this reason, my heart sinks and I become a little bit angry when I learn of yet another ‘DID NOT ATTEND’ or ‘DNA’ in our clinics. It is a waste of valuable GP, nurse, mental health practitioner or pharmacist time that could have gone to a sick patient. That DNA could have been an appointment for you, your children or an elderly relative.

It is even more frustrating

to know that these patients have been text messaged or even called prior to their appointment.

In our practice, Bradley Stoke Surgery, for the week 5th to 11th February, there were over 52 DNAs in a single week. In England around 13 million GP appointments and 6 million practice nurse appointments are missed each year. Looking at the whole NHS in England, missed appointments cost the NHS £1bn last year.

Unlike our friends in the dental profession, we do not charge you if you miss an appointment or fail to turn up. If you are very ill, we will still see you. We may be a free

March 2018

resource, but we are a finite resource. This resource must be fairly shared and respected by all. Otherwise, in years to come, there may not be an NHS to utilise any more.

So what can you do if you cannot make your appointment at your GP surgery? Please contact the surgery as soon as possible; this can be by: • Telephone • Text message, if you have been sent a text reminder • Online, if you booked your appointment online If you help us, we can help you.

Maybe, just maybe, we can keep our beloved NHS going for many more years to come.

Dr Faisal Siddiqui Bradley Stoke Surgery www.bradleystokesurgery.nhs.uk

Bowls club to hold Spring Meeting on 15th March

Bradley Stoke Bowls Club holds its Spring Members’ Meeting at 6pm on Thursday 15th March at Baileys Court Activity Centre.

The meeting is an opportunity for potential new members to find out more about the club, and for existing members to receive membership cards and other information.

For more information about the club, visit bsbc.webs.com or call 0117 969 1445.

Send us your news!

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March 2018

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News Appeal for tradespersons to help transform phone box into toy library

D

o you know a carpenter, glazier or cast iron welder who could help transform a disused traditional red ‘heritage’ phone box into a valuable facility for the local community?

The 2nd Stoke Gifford Rainbows would like to transform the phone box at The Green, North Road (near the Beaufort Arms) into a community toy library, filled with good quality second-hand toys and books for local children to borrow.

The idea of converting the phone box came following a visit by the Rainbows to the North Bristol Foodbank in Horfield, where the five- and six-year-olds were inspired to do something with a lasting impact for children not as fortunate as themselves.

In a ‘Rainbow chat’ (discussion round), the girls decided they wanted to do something more long-term, and thought of collecting toys and books.

One of the girls, Ruth, aged 6, said: “Visiting the foodbank made me think about other children. I want to help them and everyone should have toys to play with.”

The phone box at The Green, which stands opposite the Rainbows’ regular meeting place at the St Michael’s Centre, has been out of use for a number of months after BT decided it could no longer justify maintaining it due to its low rate of use. It was recently adopted by Stoke Gifford Parish Council at a cost of £1.

After discussion with the parish council, a local engineer provided a free survey of the box, recommending repairs which would allow the box to be a safe, water tight library.

The Rainbows’ assistant leader Michelle said: “If we can find the right people to help us, we plan to renovate the box, and then decorate it with monthly themes – creating a talking point in the village that not only spreads the word about Girlguiding, but also provides a useful service for families in the area.”

“We work hard with the girls to encourage them to think about their community. This is a perfect way for them to do something visible and positive in their area, and something to be proud of for years to come. We really hope people will be able to come forward and help us make the girls’ ideas a reality.”

Volunteers who come forward to help with the girls’ project will also be asked to talk to them about their jobs, thereby encouraging their interest in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).

The Rainbows are hoping to win funding for their project through the Airbus Community Awards scheme which is being promoted in the Bristol Post.

Offers of help should be sent to 2ndstokegiffordrainbows@ gmail.com – or call the Journal on 01454 300400.

Rainbow Guides outside the phone box in North Road, Stoke Gifford

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March 2018

News

Metro mayor called on to help sort out Aztec West traffic shambles

A

local councillor has called on the West of England Metro Mayor to step in and sort out traffic congestion around the Aztec West Roundabout, which is widely considered to have worsened significantly for the majority of road users since South Gloucestershire Council spent £4.5m on a road improvement scheme that took 18 months to implement.

Speaking at a Bradley Stoke Town Council committee meeting on 19th February, Cllr Brian Hopkinson said he had raised the matter with metro mayor Tim Bowles and asked him to liaise with SGC’s transport lead Cllr Colin Hunt and other members of the SGC Cabinet.

Relaying the story of a lady who works in Filton and frequently takes one-and-a-half hours to get home to Alveston in the afternoon peak, Cllr Hopkinson said: “We’ve had so many roadworks, and for so long. Lots of work has been done, at the M5 J16 roundabout as well, and we hoped it would be sorted, but it’s not. It’s absolute rubbish!”

Another town councillor, Ben Randles, described his own experience of long queues forming in the other direction, for traffic coming off the M5 and wishing to turn left into Bradley Stoke. He reported that he had seen numerous “bumper incidents” and added: “For traffic continuing down the A38, it’s fine, but if you’re heading into

Pedestrian crossing lights hold up traffic coming out of the business park

Bradley Stoke it’s often quicker to pretend you’re turning right to Aztec West and then go all the way round the roundabout.”

It was also noted during the discussion that massive delays are also being experienced for traffic exiting the Aztec West Business Park during the afternoon peak (as reported in our February magazine).

Commuters on this route blame traffic signals on a new pedestrian crossing on the slip road to the A38 northbound for holding up the traffic

unnecessarily, but SGC officers have refused to accept this.

Instead they claim that the timings of traffic signals on the M5 J16 roundabout, which are the responsibility of Highways England, need adjustment to improve traffic flows.

Cllr Randles asked the town clerk to write to both SGC and Highways England (copying in the Department of Transport and Jack Lopresti MP), raising the town council’s concerns and asking them to come up with a joint plan to solve the problem.

Reader responses to the article in our February magazine JM: The situation with the lights and getting out of the Aztec West Business Park is beyond awful. Even when I leave at 6pm, I can be queuing for up to an hour to get out of the park. The lights filtering out that lead onto the lane to get on the southbound motorway are always on green for around 13 seconds and the other lights average around 34 seconds. This causes congestion within the park and I know of several colleagues who have got new jobs out of Aztec to get away from these congestion problems.

NC: Whilst I understand the frustration for workers in Aztec, please remember that the chaos is not just on that side! I live near Pear Tree Road (BS) and the lights are having a knock-on effect for us residents.

My hubby has to allow 45min to get to work when it used to take 20min.

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

Join now – 2018 memberships available New for 2018!

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March 2018

Advertising Reduce your risk of hospitalisation

A

recent British Red Cross report revealed a startling increase in the level of hospital readmissions.

Figures showed a 22.8% increase since last year, with the number of people being readmitted to hospital within 48 hours accounting for one in five emergency readmissions.

In this article John Moore of Home Instead Bristol North offers some advice to help keep your loved one out of hospital.

It is often the case that vulnerable people reach a crisis point before they receive support and this is something we at Home Instead want to help prevent. We want to help older people to live well at home for longer and reduce the risk of them being hospitalised.

CAREGivers are trained to spot ‘red flag’ changes in health such as worsening chronic conditions or unused medication, and can act to remedy this. They can also assist with transportation to appointments and help with medication management.

Get a good GP

Often our appetite diminishes as we age but maintaining a balanced diet is essential.

Encourage your loved ones to eat a diet containing plenty of fresh

Having an excellent GP is essential but equally important is making sure that older people follow their GP’s direction. Our

Keep physically and mentally active

Encourage your relative to keep active where possible. Walking for just five or 10 minutes at a time, several days each week is a great way to begin. Keeping the brain active through pastimes such as drawing, doing a puzzle or learning something new are excellent ways to stimulate the connections between nerve cells.

Maintain a healthy diet

fruit and vegetables, oily fish and starchy foods such as wholegrain bread, pasta and rice. Extra vitamin D and calcium should also be considered to combat osteoporosis.

Keep hydrated!

It is important that your family member stays hydrated, even if they say they’re not thirsty. It is advisable to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.

Companionship

Research shows that loneliness and social isolation are harmful to our health so it’s important to encourage social activities such as attending a lunch club or

memory café or joining a social club. Home care such as Home Instead can help you with all of the above – from companionship visits to preparing healthy meals – so that your family member can live life well and reduce the risk of going into hospital.

We believe that with the right care, the number of unnecessary hospital admissions can be reduced.

For more information about our service or the role of a CAREGiver, please call 0117 989 8210 or visit our website www. homeinstead.co.uk/bristolnorth

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March 2018

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News

Labour party selects local MP candidate

T

he Filton and Bradley Stoke Labour Party has selected an up-andcoming Bristol councillor, Mhairi Threlfall, as its new candidate for the next general election. It is one of the first local parties in the country to choose a candidate, having made notable in-roads into sitting MP Jack Lopresti’s majority at the 2017 snap general election. Bradley Stoke is now ranked as Labour’s 56th most important Conservative target seat and is seen as a ‘must win’ for them to form a majority government.

Mhairi is originally from Scotland and moved to Bristol over a decade ago to study chemistry at the University of Bristol. She then went on to work for the University of the West England (UWE) as an enterprise educator in their Employability service.

Following her selection, Mhairi Threlfall said: “I am honoured to have been selected as Labour’s candidate for Filton & Bradley Stoke and am really looking forward to picking up from where Naomi Rylatt [Labour’s candidate in 2017] left off. I know the constituency very well, having worked at UWE for nearly 10 years and look forward to meeting thousands of Bradley Stoke residents between now and the next general election.”

Ms Threlfall has already been actively campaigning in the

more than just a gym

½ PRICE JOINING FEE MARCH 2018 Mhairi Threlfall, the Labour party’s new candidate for FaBS

constituency and recently met with GKN workers at Filton to discuss their concerns about the current hostile takeover bid from Melrose.

She added: “The Melrose bid for GKN is very worrying and I don’t think the local MP has done nearly enough to raise this issue.

Filton’s extremely successful aerospace industry acts as an anchor for the regional economy, and is an excellent example of long term industry and government cooperation. Jeremy Corbyn has been consistently raising this issue in parliament, and I urge the government to use their powers under section 58 of the Enterprise Act 2002 to intervene on public interest grounds, including the impact on local jobs and our national security.”

Council consults on local plan for South Glos South Gloucestershire Council’s new Local Plan Consultation Document considers how it can deliver the new homes and jobs that are needed, along with the infrastructure, services and facilities to support sustainable growth in our area up to 2036.

It is holding drop-in sessions, where you will be able to talk to officers, learn more and comment on the local plan.

The two closest sessions to our area are: • Friday 9th March, 6pm to 8pm, at Coniston Community Centre, Patchway BS34 5LP • Thursday 15th March, 4.30pm to 6.45pm, at the St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford BS34 8PD Full details of the consultation can be viewed at www.southglos.gov.uk/ newlocalplanfeb2018 in the One Stop Shops and libraries.

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March 2018

Get well · Stay well

by Craig de Groot, chiropractor at Willow Brook Clinic

A key to healthy ageing

T

hese days it is inevitable that chiropractors and physiotherapists see more patients as a result of ‘wear and tear’ or ‘arthritic’ type conditions. This is in part due to the brilliant advances we now have in medicine and therefore an extended life expectancy. Research shows that although older adults are more likely to experience aches and pains, they are less likely to seek help to manage the pain, in the way a younger person would. We can all expect to experience more pain as we age, but there is no reason why that pain should curtail your ability to enjoy life.

Over time, our weight bearing joints are exposed to pressures which cause very small micro injuries. Throughout our lifetime, our body is able to constantly renew and heal these tissues. However, as we age, our capacity to heal reduces and in areas where there has been excessive pressure, the cartilage that protects the joints cannot renew as effectively. This protective layer wears away or the body attempts to stabilise the area by laying down extra bone growth. Together this can reduce the space in which joints have to move, also causing some bone on bone wearing in the more severe cases.

This causes joints to become very stiff and often painful. Once up and moving, your body begins to lubricate these joints and movement becomes easier.

There is no fountain of youth, no cure-all drug, no magical diet, but there are simple and effective ways of keeping your body functioning well, despite age. Keeping active and managing pain with the help of your chiropractor or physiotherapist can make your golden years more productive and more enjoyable. Studies have shown that people involved in physical activity have less pain related disability compared to non-active adults.

Improving nutrition, balance and core strength not only helps with day to day living, but can play a big part in fall prevention.

Your chiropractor or physiotherapist will be able to help you by using manual therapy together with exercise and strengthening advice and a specific rehabilitation programme, if required, to help improve and maintain your condition.

The Willow Brook Clinic www.willowbrookclinic.co.uk

● See our advert on page 15.

The Journal: Serving the community 24/7 since 2008

Commercial

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March 2018

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News

Reception pupils at Bowsland Green Primary School in Bradley Stoke have been celebrating the installation of a new log climber in their garden, thanks to the generosity of a national supermarket chain.

Early Years Foundation Stage lead teacher Wendy Collins was successful in applying for a £4,000 grant through the Tesco Bags of Help scheme. The Friends of Bowsland Green contributed a further sum of money to cover the remaining cost of the project.

Mrs Collins said: “This climbing frame was chosen as the children need an opportunity to develop their gross motor skills. This frame presents a safe challenge for the children who are developing strength and balance. The open ended nature of this frame also supports development of imagination. The children have already been pretending that it is a castle and a ship. We plan to add drapes and big building blocks to further enhance these ideas. We are very grateful to Tesco for their financial contribution and to the Friends of Bowsland Green for the funds that they have raised.’

Bradley Stoke Tesco community champion Dawn Richard (seated) joins Mrs Collins and some of the Reception children to celebrate the installation of a log climber at Bowsland Green Primary School

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Bradley Stoke Beat Team PC Jamie Shiels reports Beware of rogue traders and fraudsters

A

t this time of year, we often get reports of rogue traders offering to do household maintenance or gardening work – before carrying it out unnecessarily, to a poor standard, or overcharging.

We’re grateful for calls about a man offering tree surgery recently. We have no evidence of any offences, but it’s great to see that householders are alert.

Though thankfully ‘doorstep crime’ doesn’t happen often, it does disproportionately affect older people – who are more likely to be at home during the day – and can have a significant impact on their wellbeing as well as their finances.

Please help to protect any vulnerable relatives or friends by helping to find reputable tradespeople and sharing our advice: • Use a door chain with

unknown or unexpected visitors • Check identification – genuine callers expect this and will wait • If you’re not sure, don’t open the door and report it by calling 101 • If you feel threatened or intimidated call 999 straight away • Lock your doors while you’re in your garden or another room • Keep cash in the bank, not at home • Join Neighbourhood Watch • Set up a ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ through South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) • Sign up to utility companies’ password schemes Fraudsters can also contact you online or over the phone.

A local man has recently been scammed out of cash after getting an e-mail purporting to be from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about a

March 2018

t: 01454 300 400

tax rebate. This was followed up by a telephone caller claiming to be from his bank.

Visit the national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre Action Fraud’s website, www. actionfraud.police.uk, for up-todate information on fraud.

Remember: • If you are concerned about your tax status, contact HMRC directly using details from www.gov.uk, the phone book, or HMRC correspondence you know to be genuine • Genuine callers will always be happy for you to get advice and support from family, friends or professionals such as bank staff • If you believe you have been contacted by a fraudster, report it by calling Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or using their online fraud reporting tool www.actionfraud.police.uk/ report_fraud

In Brief Netballers raise over £2,700 for cancer charity Bradley Stoke Netball Club recently welcomed a volunteer from Macmillan Cancer Support to receive a donation of £2,788 as a result of last year’s fund raising efforts by the club.

Two major fundraising events were organised last season by a sub-committee from within the club. The annual charity quiz was very well supported in March, which helped towards the generous total the club managed to donate. The main fundraising event was also tied in with the end of season celebrations and the club’s 15-year anniversary celebrations. Hosted at Ashton Gate Stadium the sub-committee organised a black tie evening complete with a charity auction.

Anyone interested in joining the club is encouraged to visit bradleystokenetball.com or search for ‘Bradley Stoke Netball Club’ on Facebook.

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It’s been a crazy few months for Cloudy2Clear Windows. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has grown rapidly as homeowners take advantage of their services.

Managing Director Graham Bayley feels that it’s all about service. ‘Our product is simple. If your double glazing

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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March 2018

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Sport

News

Great demand for BS 10k Run places

Workshop will help local businesses make themselves ‘dementia friendly’

43

B ENTRIES have opened for the 2018 renewal of the Bradley Stoke 10k Run, to be held on Sunday 10th June as part of the town’s community festival. But you’ll need act quickly if you wish to take part, as more than 470 of the 650 places available have already been snapped up.

Organised by local ladies-only running club Sole Sisters, the race starts and finishes at the Jubilee Centre.

The race route takes in much of the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve as well as stretches along Brook Way and Bradley Stoke Way. As well as supporting the mayor’s charities, Sole Sisters will this year be donating £1 per entry to raise funds for the Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre (BIRU).

Penny Greenwood, Sole Sisters chair explains: “In September 2017 one of our dearest club members Dr Bex Mitchell and her family were involved in a horrific car accident which her partner did not survive. Her two children had extensive internal injuries; thankfully they are now fully recovered and being cared for by close family.”

“Bex herself has a traumatic brain injury. Since November, she has been treated at the BIRU in Frenchay, the unit specialises in the treatment of patients, from 16 years and upwards, who have severe physical and/or cognitive problems resulting from a brain injury. The centre is led by a consultant neuropsychiatrist

who is supported by two consultants in rehabilitation medicine and another consultant neuropsychiatrist. They work with a team of psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses and support workers with decades of experience in neurorehabilitation.”

usinesses in Bradley Stoke and the wider north Bristol area are being invited to take part in a free workshop and networking event that will provide advice on making their organisations ‘dementia friendly’.

South Gloucestershire Dementia Action Alliance (SGDAA) lead Winsome BarrettMuir said: “People with dementia live in all our communities and they and their carers are very likely to be among your clients and customers. That’s why dementia is your business.”

“By undertaking some simple actions, you can make their experience a better one and ensure you are compliant with the Equality Act 2010. Through small, inexpensive changes you can make a big difference to your staff and customers alike. It’s good for business and it’s the right thing to do”.

The event, which takes place at the Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke on Tuesday 27th March, is

being organised by SGDAA and the charity BRACE. It begins at 9am with an opportunity to network followed by three short talks, including one by BRACE chair of trustees Professor Stephen Lisney, who will give an update on progress in dementia research. The managing director of Wiltshire Farm Foods, Adam Michallat-Cox, will then describe the benefits of becoming a dementia friendly business, followed at 10am by Winsome Barrett-Muir taking delegates through the steps needed to make a business dementia friendly.

Places are limited. Book a free place at www.alzheimers-brace. org/Event/southglos-dementiaits-your-business or email admin@alzheimers-brace.org

The Bradley Stoke Journal is an independent newspaper, produced without subsidy from the public purse Sole Sisters member Dr Bex Mitchell

“It is impossible for us to know what the future holds for Bex, but we can only remain positive and have faith in the expert care she is receiving at such an outstanding specialist centre and we hope that our fundraising will help to ensure that the BIRU continues to be sustainable for the foreseeable future.” ● To find out more about the race and how to enter, visit the Bradley Stoke 10k page on the BSJ website: http://bit.ly/bs10k

Exercise With Laili Brooks At Bradley Stoke Community School TUESDAYS IN THE DANCE STUDIO

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What’s On (4th March – 1st April) Sunday 4th March 9.30am: Stokes Cycling Club Medium & Long Distance Bike Rides. Meet outside Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

More info: http://bit.ly/stokescc or phone Bryan on 01454 617560.

[Further rides each Sunday] 10am: Severnside Ramblers’ Walk: Chew Magna and Stanton Drew. 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 11th, 16th, 18th & 25th March and 1st April]

Monday 5th March 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 6th March 7pm: Girls and Young Women’s Night at the Jubilee Centre. Girls-only youth club night. [Weekly on Tuesdays; term-time only]

Wednesday 7th March 10am-12noon: Citizens Advice Bureau Outreach Session at the Jubilee Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/citadbu or phone 08444 111444 [Weekly on Wednesdays]

Thursday 8th March 10.30am: Pre-School Storytime at Bradley Stoke Library. [Weekly on Thursdays; term-time only]

10.30am-12pm: Community Coffee & Cake at Brook Way Activity Centre. Open to all.

Organised by City Church.

11am-12pm: Charity Coffee Morning at the Willow Brook Centre. Tea, coffee, homemade cakes and Bradley Stoke Radio.

Raising funds for Dementia UK. 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]

t: 01454 300 400 For more details and further events, visit: www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/whats-on/

Wednesday 14th March

Saturday 17th March

2pm: Bradley Stoke Women’s Institute (WI) meets at the Jubilee Centre. This month: Medical Detection Dogs More info: Helen on 0117 969 0302

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.

7pm: BSTC Full Council Meeting at the Jubilee Centre.

Agenda: http://bit.ly/bstcfull 7.30pm: Bradley Stoke Lions Club meets at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. More info: Robin Young on 07712 046644

Friday 9th March

Thursday 15th March

9am-11am: Coffee Morning at Church of Christ the King.

Everyone welcome. No charge for refreshments; donations accepted. [Weekly on Fridays]

11am: Walking for Health.

Organised walk (1.6 miles) starting from the town square.

More info: http://bit.ly/sgcwfh or phone 01454 868006.

[Further walk on 29th March]

6pm-8pm: SGC Local Plan Consultation Event at Coniston Community Centre, Patchway. Planning for homes and growth to 2036. See page 39.

Saturday 10th March 10.30am-12pm: Adult Craft Group at Bradley Stoke Library.

Monday 12th March 6.30pm: Bristol Small Business Forum Meeting at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

This month: This Month: Top Tips for Growth. More info: http://bit.ly/bsbf-fb

Tuesday 13th March 7.30pm: Willow Brook Townswomen’s Guild meets at the Jubilee Centre. This month: Easter crafts and bonnet parade.

More info: Jannice 01454 615040

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March 2018

12pm-2pm: Volunteer Centre Drop-in Session at Bradley Stoke Library. Pop in for a chat with a volunteering advisor.

More info: http://bit.ly/vc-pfs or call 01454 868986 4.30pm-6.45pm: SGC Local Plan Consultation Event at St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford.

Planning for homes and growth to 2036. See page 39.

6pm: Bradley Stoke Bowls Club Spring Meeting at Baileys Court Activity Centre. For more details, see page 34.

7pm: South Gloucestershire Decorative & Fine Arts Society Lecture at Bradley Stoke Community School. This month: ‘Contemporary Silver and Metalwork’ by Martin Ellis. More info: sgdfas.org.uk

10am: Chatterbooks Library Group meets at Bradley Stoke Library. For children aged 9 to 11.

Please ask a member of staff for details.

11am-2pm: Table Top Spring Sale at the Jubilee Centre.

Jewellery, books, art & craft work, clothing and homemade produce. Refreshments available.

Organised by Bradley Stoke WI.

Monday 19th March 1.30pm-3.30pm: Sew and So’s patchwork and quilting group meets at the Jubilee Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/sewandsos

Tuesday 27th March 10.30am-11.30am: Easter Fun. Drop-in activity session at Bradley Stoke Library. Parental supervision required.

11am-3pm: Spring Fun Day at the Willow Brook Centre. FREE activities, including a petting zoo.

Wednesday 28th March 7pm: BSTC Planning & Environment Committee Meeting at the Jubilee Centre.

Agenda: http://bit.ly/bstcpec Follow @TheBSJournal on Twitter to receive daily reminders about events taking place in Bradley Stoke

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March 2018

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www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS

Accountants & Bookkeepers C&M Services, Page 44 Dunkley’s Chartered Accountants, Page 7 Alternative & Complementary Therapies Janet Alexander, Page 32 Bathrooms Concept Property Maintenance, Page 10 JJ Plumbing & Building, Page 19 Builders Criterion Construction, Page 4 JJ Plumbing & Building, Page 19 Car Dealerships Carco, Pages 28 & 29 Carpentry & Joinery J. Earle Carpentry & Joinery, Page 45 Northavon Carpentry, Page 38 Carpet Cleaners B Clean, Page 20 Bonne Fresh Clean Ltd, Page 10 Child Care Happy Days Nursery, Page 8 LA Childcare, Page 6 Tockington Manor School, Page 17 Children’s Activities Baby Sensory, Page 30 Babyballet Bradley Stoke, Page 36 Bristol Riding School, Page 40 Jump Bristol, Page 12 Chiropractic Cool Green Planet, Page 5 Willow Brook Clinic, Page 15 Cleaning & Domestic Services Felina Contract Cleaning, Page 27 Computer Services goto iT, Page 10 Cycle Repairs Ride On Cycles, Page 15 Domestic Appliance Repairs Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Care, Page 16 Double Glazing Cloudy2Clear Windows, Page 42 JDC Windows, Page 19 Education & Learning Olympus Academy Trust, Page 33 Electricians Bradley Stoke Electrical, Page 40 Ernest Till, Page 32 Price Electrical Services, Page 44 Entertainers Earthquake Sounds, Page 22 Estate Agents Ocean Estate Agents, Page 1 Financial Services Aspirations Financial Advice, Page 31 Foot Care Willow Brook Clinic, Page 15 Funeral Services F. Woodruff Funeral Directors, Page 36 MW Funeral Directors, Page 14 Furniture Complete Furniture Services, Page 18 Garage Services Filton Central Garage, Page 22 LCM Automotive, Page 38 Gardening Services Garretts Landscapes, Page 13 Painting Petals, Page 45 Plan-It Garden Design, Page 20 Professional Gardening Services, Page 46 Smart Patios, Page 20 Gyms & Health Clubs Riverside Leisure Club, Page 39

Health & Beauty

SP-Makeup, Page 45 The Tanning Shop, Page 2 Home Improvements & Furnishings Door Express, Page 40 Launderettes Wash Shop Plus, Page 47 Mortgages & Financial Advice Aspirations Financial Advice, Page 31 Opticians Specsavers, Page 9 Oven Cleaning Top of the Range, Page 45 Painting & Decorating A. Worsfold, Page 45 Painting Petals, Page 45 Rick Murphy, Page 45 Pest Control Aman Pest Control, Page 45 Pet Services & Supplies New Passage Cattery, Page 47 Rosie Posie Pet Services, Page 47 Physiotherapy Willow Brook Clinic, Page 15 Plant Hire T. Edwards Plant, Page 46 Plumbing & Heating Assist Plumbing and Heating, Page 47 Capricorn Plumbing Ltd, Page 34 Concept Property Maintenance, Page 10 Gregor Heating, Page 1 JJ Plumbing & Building, Page 19 Low Cost Plumbing, Page 47 M.S.M Plumbing & Heating, Page 47 Panache Plumbing, Page 47 Proudfoot Plumbing, Page 47 S. Berryman Plumbing & Heating, Page 47 Property Stoke Gifford Retirement Village, Page 48 Property Maintenance Concept Property Maintenance, Page 10 David Coombs Services, Page 45 JJ Plumbing & Building, Page 19 P.J.R Plastics, Page 47 Recruitment Home Instead, Page 11 Removals & Storage Managed Mayhem, Page 45 Restaurants DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Page 16 Rubbish Clearance Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance, Page 46 Shopping Willow Brook Centre, Page 3 Solicitors Bevan Evemy Solicitors, Page 35 Star Legal, Page 41 Slimming Clubs & Consultants Slimming World, Page 21 Sport & Leisure Bristol Riding School, Page 40 Exercise with Laili Brooks, Page 43 Filton Golf Club, Page 37 MeFit, Page 20 Taxis Z Cars, Page 35 Tiling Services Tileworx Tiling Services, Page 47 TV & Aerials Thornbury Aerial Services, Page 33 Window Cleaning Ultra Clear, Page 47

Visit our online directory: www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/directory

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March 2018

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PLUMBING & HEATING

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Covering north Bristol and South Glos

Tel: 01454 632456 Website: www.catkennels.co.uk

GUTTERING, DOWNPIPES & FASCIA

Advertise in this section for just £20 per month

P.J.R. Plastics

Replacement and Maintenance: ● Guttering, Downpipes ● UPVC Fascia Boards ● Soffits and Cladding ● Unblock & Gutter Cleaning All work guaranteed

Call Paul for free quote 01454 850201 or 07980 001109

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

N 8 I NG 201 I EN MN P O TU AU

STOKE GIFFORD RETIREMENT VILLAGE

Living life to the full.

Come along and join us for a FREE coffee morning, every Wednesday, 10am-12pm.

SHOW HOMES NOW OPEN

Learn about all the opportunities to stay active and independent in a vibrant community of friends and neighbours, enjoying a host of social and leisure facilities and activities designed to help you maintain your independence for longer.

Opening later this year, our exciting new retirement village just 6 miles from the heart of Bristol city centre in Stoke Gifford will have 261 affordable new homes built around a superb range of social, leisure and wellbeing facilities. Life here will be all about staying active and enjoying your independence amongst friends and neighbours, safe in the knowledge that if you need care, now or in the future, it can be provided by a dedicated on-site team in the comfort of your own home.

Join us for a relaxed coffee, and take a relaxed look around the superb show apartments at this new state-of-the-art retirement village.

Stoke Gifford Retirement Village, Off Coldharbour Lane, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS16 1EJ

Contact us today for an informal chat 0117 321 6632 or www.stokegifford@extracare.org.uk

Stoke Gifford Retirement Village An ExtraCare Charitable Trust Village

StokeGiffordVillage

*Subject to availability. Charges will apply. Details of any costs associated with your home, care and village services will be provided as part of your application. The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, registered charity number 327816, is a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales as company number 2205136.

Its registered office is at 7 Harry Weston Road, Binley Business Park, Binley, Coventry, CV3 2SN. Copyright Š 2018 - The ExtraCare Charitable Trust.