Bradley Stoke Journal, February 2019

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

February 2019 • Issue 68

WHAT’S ON P23 | SCHOOLS P27 | BUSINESS P28 | DIRECTORY P38

PETITION LAUNCHED TO INCREASE BY-PASS SPEED LIMIT

Freedom of Information request reveals that more than 300 speeding fines have been issued in less than four months Page 16

Neighbourhood policing

Willow Brook planning application

Where are our PCSOs?

Councillors agree site inspection visit

P2-3

P4-5

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PLUS , IN YOUR 40-PAGE BRADLEY STOKE MAGAZINE l M1 MetroBus: 15 months late, but finally running l Former Bradley Stoke mayor fined for breaching building regulations l Received a ‘fine’ for driving through Bristol Parkway? Read this… l Play park equipment condemned as unsafe l Concerns over revised plans for 763 new homes on land at Harry Stoke l Opticians raise £1,000s for children’s cancer charity l Have you ever attended or worked at Wheatfield Primary School? l Charity lights fundraising target smashed! l Paralympian trains councillors for mental health awareness ride l New parking restrictions introduced at Co-op

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February 2019

News

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

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About the Bradley Stoke Journal The Bradley Stoke Journal website and magazine are published by North Bristol Press, a trading name of Snowberry Media Ltd; company number 8451178 (registered in England and Wales); registered office: 7 Chelford Grove, Stoke Lodge, Bristol BS34 6DD. Our other publications include the Patchway Journal website, the Stoke Gifford Journal website and the Filton Journal website.

North Bristol Press is independent of any other media company or network operating in the Bristol area.

We accept no responsibility for anything stated by advertisers, who are themselves responsible for complying with all relevant legislation.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or article author. © North Bristol Press 2019. Content published in our magazines or on our websites may not be reproduced in any form without our express written permission.

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von and Somerset Constabulary’s commitment to neighbourhood policing has once again been thrown into question with the news that 2019 has started without a single Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) on active duty in the Stokes.

The diminishing number of PCSOs first came to light back in March 2018 when a meeting of the Stoke Gifford Community Engagement Forum was informed that beat manager PC Julie Rudyard was currently the sole officer covering Stoke Gifford because one of the two PCSOs assigned to the beat was on maternity leave and the other was unavailable.

The matter surfaced again at a Stoke Gifford Parish Council meeting in April 2018, when Cllr Keith Cranney raised concerns about “the lack of police resources in the Stoke Gifford police beat team”. The parish clerk was requested to write to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Avon and Somerset, Sue Mountstevens, “about the force’s future commitment to neighbourhood policing in the local area”.

At around the same time, the Bradley Stoke beat team lost one of its (then) three PCSOs through the transfer of one team member to Patchway.

Later in the year, after the town had seen its highest crime figures for many years recorded in June, a second PCSO was lost after successfully applying to

join the regulars, leaving just one PCSO. Christopher Baker, on the team.

PCSO Baker was well known for running a popular Facebook profile offering advice and responding to queries from members of the local community in Bradley Stoke and beyond. On days when he was on duty, he would often make several posts on his own Facebook profile and respond to issues raised in posts on local Facebook groups.

However, the last update was made to his profile page on 28th November 2018 and nothing has been heard from him on any online channels since then, leading to speculation about whether his is still around.

More recently, at the Bradley Stoke Community Engagement Forum on Thursday 17th January, a member of the public asked Sgt Adrian Fallows what had happened to PCSO Baker.

Sgt Fallows replied “He’s not working with us at the moment”.

In response to puzzled looks from some of the audience, he then added: “That’s all I can say.”

Collectively, over the so-called Five Stokes area (Bradley Stoke, Stoke Lodge, Little Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Harry Stoke), this means that ALL of the five PCSO positions are currently unfilled or inactive due to absence.

Speaking at a meeting of Stoke Gifford Parish Council on 8th January, where the matter was once again brought up, chair Ernie Brown was insistent that “the parish must have its own PCSO”.

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News

New year starts without a single PCSO in the Stokes Continued from facing page

In Bradley Stoke, town mayor Ben Randles seemed rather less concerned when asked for his views on the matter at the January meeting of Full Council, replying that it was “not an issue for the town council as we don’t fund PCSOs”.

Last year, PCC Mountstevens took advantage of new rules

which allowed her to increase the policing component of council tax by £1 a month for the average Band D household. She recently reported that this had enabled the force to commence an ambitious programme of police officer recruitment, adding that it would “protect neighbourhood policing, the police officers and PCSOs in your local area”.

Statement from Avon and Somerset Constabulary We are committed to maintaining our neighbourhood teams who are at the very heart of their communities but there will always be periods when we have vacancies.

This will be for a variety of reasons. PCSOs can transfer between beats or take up other roles within policing, such as becoming police officers. As with any other role, there can also be occasions when we have long-term absences for personal reasons such as maternity leave or illness.

When roles are vacant, PCSOs from neighbouring beats provide support as necessary as part of a wider area team.

Left: Message placed on the Facebook profile of PCSO Christopher Baker (above) following two months of inactivity

We currently have two vacancies in Bradley Stoke. PCSO Alicia Harvey transferred to Patchway. A PCSO currently in training has been allocated to the post. The second vacancy has come after PCSO Tom Allen was successful in his application to become a police officer. We are aiming to recruit to that post as soon as possible and are currently recruiting PCSOs. PCSO Baker is currently absent from duty for reasons we are unable to discuss at present.

Unfortunately in the Stoke Lodge /Stoke Gifford / Little Stoke beat, we have two current vacancies. One will be filled by a PCSO currently in training and we’re committed to recruiting for the other post.

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February 2019

News

Local councillors win site inspection concession Decision on “sensitive” planning application deferred for planning committee to consider physical context of site

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decision on whether the Willow Brook Centre will be allowed to construct two drive-through food units in the north-eastern corner of its car park, just 25m away from residential properties in Wheatfield Drive, has been deferred for at least a month.

The delay, to allow time for councillors on South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) Development Management Committee to undertake a site inspection visit, was agreed after planning officers who had recommended approval were faced with a barrage of criticism from a spokesperson representing residents of nearby properties, supported by Bradley Stoke Town Council’s deputy town clerk and three South Gloucestershire councillors representing wards in Bradley

Stoke and Stoke Gifford.

The controversial food units, which are anticipated to be occupied by McDonald’s and Starbucks, form phase 1 of the proposed development, for which full planning permission is being sought. The application also seeks outline permission for phases 2 and 3, which include the addition of two new units on the end of the existing retail terrace (beyond Poundstretcher) and rearrangement of the car park.

Meeting in Kingswood on 24th January, the committee heard first from the developer’s agent who stressed that the council’s officers now have no objections to the scheme after minor amendments had been made to the plans and a specialist report on night time noise had been commissioned and its conclusions accepted. He

added that the new food units are essential to maintain the viability of the centre at a time of declining retail sales on the high street.

The meeting then heard from a representative of the Dewfalls and Wheatfield Drive Residents Association (DAWDRA), who summarised some of the points raised in the 145 public objections lodged against the scheme, which include concerns over noise, litter, cooking smells and anti-social behaviour. The representative said her group had met with the developers, but they had shown no willingness to compromise, in particular with regard to the question of why the food units weren’t being built closer to the main buildings at the centre (and thereby much further away from residential properties).

The latter point was echoed

by Cllr Sarah Pomfret (Bradley Stoke Central and Stoke Lodge) who had forced the holding of the meeting by ‘calling in’ the application. She pointed out that keeping the centre buildings away from residential properties had been a design objective of the original Willow Brook Centre masterplan.

Next up was Cllr Brian Hopkinson (Bradley Stoke Central & Stoke Lodge) who pointed out that residents in Dewfalls Drive and Wheatfield Drive would also suffer through the main access road into the centre being realigned, in phase 2, to “come right up to the backs of houses”.

He also questioned whether the centre needed extra retail space when it currently has vacant units and said he feared

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5

News

in row over McDonald’s and Starbucks plans Continued from facing page

large volumes of late night traffic would be attracted up the recently opened Stoke Gifford By-Pass to access the new drivethrough units.

Cllr Keith Cranney (Stoke Gifford) also echoed the sentiment that the application went against the design principles that were campaigned for many years ago and said the town centre was at risk of being turned into a “glorified food court”.

With submissions from the public (and councillors not on the committee) concluded, attention turned to the nine-member committee who would be asked to make the final decision.

At this point, the principal planning officer issued advice against arriving at a split decision (i.e. approving just part of the application and refusing the rest) as this would be considered to materially change the application due to the interdependency of the phases.

Cllr Dave Hockey (Frampton Cotterell) picked up on the earlier references to the original masterplan and asked how it envisaged additional retail units at a future date, but the principal planning officer was having none of it, saying that the centre had been built in accordance with approved plans and all conditions attached to the permission had been satisfied.

Next to speak was Cllr Roger Avenin (Bradley Stoke South) who proceeded to tear into the

The application is now set to be reconsidered on Thursday 21st February

case officer’s report, questioning the acceptance that there would be little impact on traffic flows and describing the transport officer’s assessment as “pure Alice in Wonderland” fiction.

The case officer’s assessment that the location of the proposed drive-through units “may not be ideal but is to some extent dictated by the operational demands of the facility” was, in Cllr Avenin’s opinion, another way of saying “what they want, they get”.

After going on to trash several other aspects of the report, sometimes with reference to specific policies of the council, Cllr Avenin then moved a motion, against previous advice, to agree a split decision that refused permission for the food units but granted permission for the shops.

Before a vote was taken, the meeting heard again from the principal planning officer who corrected Cllr Avenin on some of

his policy references and pointed out that drive-through food units were defined as an “appropriate use” for a town centre location.

At this point, Cllr Michael Bell (Rodway) interjected to suggest that members of the committee carry out a site inspection visit before refusing any or all parts of the application, as such a decision could leave the council

open to challenge through a formal appeal.

The suggestion received support from Cllr Dave Hockey, who described the application as “very sensitive”, adding: “It’s vital that we make the right decision”.

On being put to a vote, the motion to carry out a site inspection visit was passed by seven votes to one.

The Journal understands that the site inspection visit is likely to take place on Friday 8th February, with the application set to be reconsidered by the committee on Thursday 21st February.

Under SGC’s revised system for handling planning applications, introduced on 1st November 2018, members of the pubic are no longer permitted to attend site inspection meetings. Instead, all important local information is expected to be put forward by local ward members and town council representatives.

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February 2019

News

M1 MetroBus: 15 months late, but finally running

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orth Bristol’s longawaited M1 MetroBus service finally launched on Sunday 6th January, around 15 months later than originally planned and 39 months after the start of what eventually turned out to be more than two years of highly disruptive roadworks to construct new bus lanes along Bradley Stoke Way. The M1, the third and longest Bristol MetroBus route, connects Cribbs Causeway, Bradley Stoke, UWE, the city centre, Bedminster and Hengrove Park.

It is operated by Bristol Community Transport (BCT), under contract to First West of England, using a fleet of 21 biogas buses. Up to 60 new driver and support positions are said to have been created at BCT’s Bedminster depot.

The very first timetabled M1 MetroBus to enter Bradley Stoke arrives at the Patchway Brook southbound stop at 9.12am on Sunday 6th January 2019

To reflect the importance of the new service in supporting local communities, artwork featuring community groups and organisations based on the route

The Only Cure for Litter is YOU KEEP Bradley Stoke

features on the inside rear panels of the vehicles. These range from youth organisations such as Scouts, Army Cadets and theatre groups to services for the elderly and environmental charities, as well as landmark independent businesses.

Eight of the new buses were already liveried and on the road on launch day. The remaining 13 murals will be unveiled in the next coming weeks. Local groups that will be featured on the buses include Bradley Stoke Scouts, Bradley Stoke Active Lifestyle Centre, Bradley Stoke Cricket Club, Bradley Stoke Library and Safe Space.

Eight of the 21 groups featured are members of Bristol Community Transport, using their community minibuses.

These groups will directly benefit from the operation of MetroBus as BCT will be using the proceeds to support their community transport services in the city.

James Freeman, managing director of First Bus West of England, said: “The vehicles and drivers that BCT are committing to the new M1 MetroBus are providing a vital service supporting local communities.

We wanted to reflect this on the new buses by showcasing just a few of the many organisations and groups along our route that contribute so much to making the community a more inclusive place to live and work.”

The M1 operates every 10 minutes between 6am and midnight (Mon-Sat) and every 20 minutes between 9am and midnight on Sundays.

MetroBus fares are simple and all tickets are ‘buy before you board’, for faster journeys.

Single trips are £2.00 (£2.07 for an individual ticket via the First mTicket app) and a day ticket allowing unlimited travel is £4.

Ahead of the launch, households along the M1 route were mailed a timetable and a set of discount codes allowing the purchase of four free single MetroBus tickets via the First mTickets smartphone app.

On launch day, the first officially timetabled southbound M1 MetroBus arrived in Bradley Stoke on time (9.12am) at the Patchway Brook stop. However, the first northbound service was running six minutes late by the time it arrived at the Willow Brook stop (10.01am).

Each MetroBus stop along the M1 route should have an iPoint (combined ticket machine and information display) installed “by the start of February”. A missing shelter at Harry Stoke northbound is scheduled to be installed by the same date. If for whatever reason an iPoint is not present or operational, drivers will temporarily accept contactless payment on the bus at this stop until the iPoint is operational.

Speaking two weeks after the M1 MetroBus service started, Rob Pymm, commercial director, First West of England, said: “We are very pleased with how the service is running to date.

The launch went very smoothly and we have so far carried well over 70,000 customers, with some very positive feedback about the facilities available on the new buses. The iPoint screens and smartphone apps are now displaying real-time information, rather than the timetabled data shown on the first day.”

A report prepared for a meeting of the West of England Combined Authority on 23rd

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News Feedback on the first week of the M1 MetroBus service (from the Bradley Stoke Journal’s Facebook page) Andy: “I use it daily. I used to use the T1. It does take a little longer than the T1, but it’s far more regular, seems to be mostly on time and is making my daily commute to and from the centre from Bradley Stoke more bearable. Once they iron out the technical glitches, it will be very good.”

Swapna: “It is a great service, but I see most of the buses are empty during the day time, which will mount up the costs, Better to have good frequency during the peak hours 6-10 in the morning and 4-8 in the evening. Rest of the time the frequency can be reduced.”

Tracy: “I actually don’t mind the extra walk to get to the bus stop, the journey times are much reduced from the 73 journeys. Have had no trouble with availability.”

Will: “The ticketing system is bizarre. They should have made it like the park & ride where you can buy packs of tickets and save some money.

Also don’t agree with M1 going through Frenchay UWE Campus. If they added an M1X service that skipped it, then it would actually be worth using.”

Jonathan: “Not helpful for Little Stoke folk. I still use 73 to get to town and home. The 73 frequency is frustrating. X73 was a great service it’s not like the times were great but still better than it is now.”

Mike: “It seems to me most buses are empty. I’m still in the camp that it’s a total waste of money and will be a money drain for years to come.

Paul: “It appears that only regular bus users use it. No one said they have left their car at home!”

January said all MetroBus services were “generally operating well”, but noted that the M3 (Emersons Green to city centre) is “not meeting its timetable due to AM peak time traffic congestion on the A4174 Ring Road”. The report added: “South Gloucestershire Council

have been monitoring this, and are considering the available options for improving M3 punctuality.” Service M1 was said to be “experiencing some issues with driver route familiarity, as well as congestion around Bedminster Bridge”. ● metrobusbristol.co.uk

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February 2019

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Take advantage of our twoweek Free Trial and find out what your child can achieve through the Kumon maths and English programmes. The Kumon Bradley Stoke Study Centre is located upstairs at The Willow Brook Centre in the West Offices, with classes running on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after school and on Saturday mornings.

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News Former Bradley Stoke mayor fined for breaching building rules

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former Bradley Stoke district councillor and town mayor has been prosecuted for breaching building regulations by the local authority where he served as vice-chair in 2011/12.

The prosecution was brought

by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) against Ben Walker (a builder trading as Monkeyfist Construction), 40, of Ferndene Road, Bradley Stoke after he was found to have ignored building regulations and carried out unsatisfactory work at a property in Yate.

Walker was ordered to pay a total of £11,689 in fines and costs after being found guilty of breaching the rules.

The court heard that Walker carried out building work to extend a property in Yate and had assured the homeowners that he could deliver the project within their budget before Christmas 2017. However, after some

months, the homeowners noticed little progress given the length of time passed and amount of money exchanged from them to the builder.

The homeowners sought the advice of an independent builder, which ultimately led to alerting South Gloucestershire Council’s Building Control team that no application had been made for the work. A number of serious failures were found with the construction design and build and these required significant remedial work to ensure the stability and weather resistance of the building.

The case was heard at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 16th January. Walker was found guilty in his absence and was convicted of five charges, receiving a £2,000 fine for each. He was also ordered to pay the council’s costs of £1,519 and a victim surcharge of £170.00, bringing the combined total to £11,689.

Cllr Paul Hughes, SGC’s Cabinet member responsible for communities and tourism, said: “This case demonstrates the importance of ensuring the correct route is followed when undertaking any building work.

Construction is a complex arena where unscrupulous individuals can take advantage of customers’ unfamiliarity with legislation, and profit from cutting corners.

If a contractor, homeowner or member of public are not sure of their responsibilities then they should contact our Building Control team and we will offer help and guidance to all of our residents.”

Residents who see or are affected by illegal building works are encouraged to report it by telephoning 01454 868004 or emailing building.control@ southglos.gov.uk The building control process exists to make sure that buildings are properly designed and

Ben Walker as SGC vice-chair (2011)

constructed. For more info visit www.southglos.gov.uk/ buildingcontrol Walker served as a Bradley Stoke town councillor from 2007 to 2015 and was town mayor in 2010/11 and 2011/12. He was elected to represent Bradley Stoke North ward on South Gloucestershire Council in 2011 and served as the authority’s vice-chair in 2011/12.

He defected from the Conservatives to Ukip in 2012, but was unsuccessful in seeking re-election for the Bradley Stoke North ward in 2015.

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February 2019

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11

News

GB Olympian supports Aldi store’s charity efforts

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ldi’s colleagues and customers in Bradley Stoke received a special visit from Team GB athlete Sam Murray after topping the supermarket’s charity cycleathon in the South West.

Colleagues at the store cycled more than 250km in the weeks before Christmas to raise money for Aldi’s charity partner, the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Their endeavours helped raise nearly £1,000 and modern pentathlete Sam Murray was on hand to help them celebrate.

The pre-Christmas fundraising push was part of Aldi’s five-year partnership with the Teenage Cancer Trust to raise £5 million in an effort to ensure no young person faces cancer alone.

Speaking about the visit, Sam Murray said: “It’s been great to spend time in store today and with the community that has supported this activity. The huge distance cycled by the team here goes to show that a bit of healthy competition and a good cause can help to achieve big things.”

Fritz Walleczek, managing director of corporate responsibility at Aldi, said: “This fantastic effort raised more

Team GB modern pentathlon Olympian Sam Murray (back row, third from left), pictured with staff of the Aldi store in Bradley Stoke, on a visit to promote the supermarket chain’s fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust

than £75,000 across the UK for the Teenage Cancer Trust. We are proud to support the work that the trust does across the country, and we look forward to continuing our fundraising in the

new year.”

The Teenage Cancer Trust works in partnership with the NHS to provide highly-trained expert staff and specialist cancer units in NHS hospitals across the

UK. The charity is there at every stage from diagnosis, through to treatment and after treatment.

It also brings young people with cancer together so they can support each other.

We hand-deliver 9,200 copies of this magazine As well as being delivered to ALL of the 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke, a further 500 copies of this magazine are left at public locations in Almondsbury, Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, Patchway, Stoke Lodge, Stoke Gifford and Winterbourne.

These include community centres, shops, medical centres, takeaways and pubs.

Larger quantities are left at Bradley Stoke Library and on the customer service desk at the Bradley Stoke Tesco Extra store.

Residents of Stoke Lodge may pick up copies from the newsagents in Chelford Grove.

The Journal is proud to be Bradley Stoke’s ONLY locally edited newspaper!

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News

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otorists who have recently received ‘fines’ in the post for what they have assumed is an ‘offence’ of using Bristol Parkway Station as a through road or ‘cut through’ are urged to double-check their notification letter to see if they have instead been wrongly accused of a parking violation.

The station can be accessed from both the west side (off Hatchet Road) and the east side (Hunts Ground Road) but is clearly signed as a ‘private road’ that is also a ‘no through road’.

However, station management company Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western) confirmed to a member of the public back in 2015 that the rule was not currently being enforced (see facing page). Furthermore, numerous people have reported driving through on a regular basis over many years, right up to the present time, without any issues.

However, reports on social media suggest that early January saw a flood of letters sent to people who regularly drive through the station without stopping (or who only stop for a moment to drop off or pick up a passenger) notifying them of a £50 ‘fine’.

Analysis of these reports by the Journal reveals that most of the ‘fines’ relate to the period 6th to 9th December 2018 and that they have been received by people who make regular ‘through and back again’ journeys through the station, for example to take a child to school in the morning and to collect the child in the afternoon.

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The clearest sign that they are, in fact, not a ‘fine’ for violating the ‘no through road’ condition can be seen in the title of the letter: ‘Parking Charge Notice’ (PCN).

However, anyone overlooking this might easily be misled by the fact that the letter, instead of stating both the entry and exit times for the alleged parking offence gives just a single event time. Furthermore, the letter includes two photographs of the offending vehicle entering and

leaving the car park, but does not state the locations at which the photos were recorded. Because the backgrounds of the photos inevitably look different (as there as separate cameras pointing in opposite directions at each end of the car park), the reader can easily assume that they were recorded at different ends of the car park, thereby reinforcing the assumption of a ‘drive through’ violation.

In reality, the date and timestamp of each photo is shown in tiny white print on a thin black strip along its top edge, which many recipients say they hadn’t noticed or found illegible.

The timestamps, which are key to understanding the details of the alleged offence are, however, clearly readable in the online version of the PCN, accessible via the parking contractor’s website.

Pattern detected

Of five contested PCNs that the Journal examined in detail (thanks to the recipients sharing details of the PCNs and their own accounts of journeys made on the days in question) it is clear in each case that a fine has been issued because of the parking management system’s failure to detect a vehicle exiting the station at the Hunts Ground Road end, after having entered the station at the Hatchet Road end a few minutes earlier.

This means that the vehicle is considered to have remained parked within the station grounds until it is next seen exiting, i.e. when the vehicle next drives through, which could be hours or even days later.

Anyone who has received a PCN but not parked at the station, particularly if they make regular ‘through’ trips in both directions, might wish to examine the alleged entry/ exit times in detail to ascertain whether an exit event at another time may have been missed.

In the light of the previous statement from 2015, we approached GWR with a set of questions relating to enforcement of the signed ‘no through road’ rule. Instead of providing answers to our specific questions,

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News

Received a ‘fine’ for driving through Bristol Parkway?

Are you sure it’s not just a parking charge notice (PCN) that may have been issued in error?

Continued from facing page

a GWR spokesperson responded as follows: “We only use Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to enforce parking restrictions at the station car park (both short and long stay). A significant grace period is allowed before any enforcement action, ensuring plenty of opportunity to pick up/drop off even at the busiest times.”

The spokesperson said there had been no camera or power issues on the dates in December which we had mentioned, adding: “Where there is a power supply issue (at any one of our managed stations), enforcement would be suspended until the issue is resolved.”

“Other possible reasons for failure to detect a vehicle include the licence plate not being readable because of dirt or being too close to the vehicle in front for the plate to be read.”

If you have received a PCN despite only driving through the station and are unsure about the locations of the entry/exit photos shown, or are having trouble determining the alleged dates and times of entry/exit, guidance can be found on this page of the Stoke Gifford Journal website: http://bit.ly/bpw-ntr The drop-off zone at the station has a maximum stay limit of five minutes. There is a small short stay car park where vehicles can stay for up to 20 minutes, but a ticket must be obtained from a machine, which involves entering the vehicle registration number.

N.B. No information in this article should be interpreted as being an encouragement to motorists to use the station as a through route or a guarantee that doing so will not result in a penalty of any kind.

Email from GWR to member of the public in April 2015 I can confirm that the road that goes through Bristol Parkway station is not a through route, and this has been clear from signage going back to 2001.

As ANPR cameras have been installed we have recently updated our signage to comply with local conditions relating to this change, confirming that ANPR cameras enforce the land.

Above: Sign displayed on the access road into the station from Hatchet Road: “No through road. Station access only. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) in operation.”

Passengers are welcome to use the station to both park and pick up/drop off using the new ANPR database, which a ticket can be issued for. Currently the system does not enforce any conditions against road users, but this is something we have already discussed with the local authority and is something that will be introduced in the future. This will be done in consultation with the local authority and not brought in without prior warning.

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February 2019

News

Positive start to the year for the Bradley Stoke in Bloom volunteers

By Sara Messenger of Bradley Stoke in Bloom (BSiB) irst of all, I must say a big welcome to our newbies, Tom, Stevie and Suzanna.

I’m just hoping we didn’t put them off on their first day with the huge amount of work we all accomplished, although they were well rewarded in biscuits, and the rain did finally stop!

After a slightly late start (mix up with the padlock keys) we began at the Manor Farm Corner (Brook Way / Savages Wood Road). Or maybe that should be corners, as we’ve taken over the adjacent corner as well. The established corner was weeded and pruned and we put in some of my personal favourites: hostas and irises which were a gift from Almondsbury Garden Centre. The ‘new’ corner saw

F

the remaining bramble dug up, an ongoing and thankless task, and the border weeded.

Before we knew it, Suzanna had whizzed round and put in a very neat looking edge, so now not only does the dogwood add a welcome splash of winter colour, but it all looks so much more professional. Under the trees, we have left the dandelions, as these are one of the first plants to flower in the spring and they give the newly woken bees a much needed boost. And we have finally installed the insect hotel, which was made during a skate park working day. Although we have kept it low, so that it can’t be used to climb over the wall, it is still large enough for many insects and there is even space underneath for a hedgehog ‘desres’. There are special places for

butterflies to overwinter and for solitary bees to lay their eggs, as well as many snug hiding places for all manner of creepy crawlies to enjoy, although I do find that they tend to ignore our carefully designed plans and just go where they feel like! Tom added the finishing touches to Stevie’s roof, while a young Max helped us to put in a few more bee homes and then the job was done.

We then split the group, with two going off to the rose garden (near the doctors’ surgery on Brook Way) and spreading some more bark and pruning the roses, of which a surprising number still are in flower. The others headed off to The Common East, to remove the length of rusty barbed wire we found running along the hedge line, and we also found time to put up another four

bird boxes.

We then regrouped at the Aztec triangle (on Bradley Stoke Way, opposite the Woodlands Lane junction) for some more weeding and planting. We also managed to plant some daffodils at the bus stop and put down some wild flower seed around the back. We are hoping that the bin will soon be re-installed here, as at present there is nothing. I had a really great day and I hope everyone else did too.

We have finally received a reply from the RHS and we hope to soon be able to re-register for the ‘In your neighbourhood’ scheme.

Volunteering isn’t all rain and muddy boots– sometimes we can scrub up well and get invited into the warm and dry lecture

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NEED A NEW BOILER? BSiB volunteers with the newly installed insect hotel at Manor Farm Corner

theatre at Bristol University to hear a wonderful talk on bees by the biologist, conservationist and professor of biology, David Goulson. David has moved on from his doomed youthful attempts at bee rescue (you’ll have to read his book to know the full story) and now specialises in the ecology and conservation of bumblebees, when he isn’t planting new wild flower meadows on his farm. He gave us plenty of tips for what we can do here to help our wild bees thrive (don’t worry about the honey bees; apparently there are three trillion of those) and also took the time to congratulate us on our own Bees’ Needs award.

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February 2019

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Petition launched to increase Stoke Gifford By-Pass speed limit Mobile police speed cameras trap over 300 motorists exceeding speed limit in less than four months

I

t’s a wide stretch of road with good visibility, sweeping across open countryside for half-a-mile from its junction with Hambrook Lane to the A4174 Ring Road, yet it has a speed limit that is lower than the main road through densely populated parts of nearby Bradley Stoke.

Travelling south from Parkway North Roundabout (near Nuffield Health), the Stoke Gifford Transport Link (SGTL, now officially named Rosedown Avenue, but more commonly known as the ‘by-pass’) initially has a 40mph speed limit before changing to 30mph shortly before the traffic light-controlled junction with Hambrook Lane.

Between Hambrook Lane and the Oxleigh Way traffic lights (entrance to Highbrook Park) the road has the appearance of one which might be expected to have a higher speed limit of at least 40mph, save for the presence of street lighting columns, and it seems that many motorists are choosing to drive at or above this speed.

Anyone who attempts to stick to 30mph risks being tailgated or subject to dangerous passing manoeuvres, as witnessed by one driver writing in the newsletter of

the Bristol Advanced Motorists group: “Driving at 30mph, I had flashing headlights behind, then a car overtook me on the right, as another overtook in the bus lane on the left!”

However, anyone taking a chance by exceeding the speed limit risks being snared by a police mobile speed camera van, which has been paying visits to the site since September 2018. A recent Freedom of Information request has revealed that 307 notices of intended prosecution have been issued for speeding offences on this stretch of the road in the last four months. Of those threatened with prosecution, 182 have been offered the alternative of attending an education courses.

When the Journal raised the issue with South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) in September 2018, we were told that the speed limit had been set in consultation with road safety professionals, taking into account the likelihood that housing will eventually be built adjacent to the road.

One frequent user of the road, Alex Hosking, feels so strongly about the issue that he has launched a petition on the SGC website, titled: ‘Raise the

Start of the 30mph limit, just before the Hambrook Lane crossing (going south)

Reader comments from the Stoke Gifford Journal website AD: “I’m absolutely gob smacked! Just received a speeding summons (doing just under 40)! Never realized that such a road was restricted to 30. It’s ludicrous!”

Hayley: “I have recently received a speeding fine and points on my licence as I was doing just over 40 in the 30 zone. I honestly believed it was 40 on this entire road. Went down the road today (from Ring Road heading towards Bradley Stoke) and could only see one 30 sign.”

Sophie: “I was very upset to have received a fine and three points on my licence for going at 44mph on this road. The road is not in a residential area and did not appear to be a road where a 30mph limit is needed for any particular reason.”

speed limit on the Stoke Gifford By-Pass’. In his foreword to the petition, he writes: “The bypass appears to have a speed limit that quite drastically does not match the engineering standard of the road. DfT guidelines state that ‘Speed limits should be evidenceled and self-explaining and seek to reinforce people’s assessment of what is a safe speed to travel. They should encourage self-compliance. Speed limits should be seen by drivers as the maximum rather than a target speed.’ These guidelines do not seem to have been followed on this road and it’s more characteristic of a road you might otherwise expect to have a speed limit of 50mph.”

Speaking to the Journal, he added: “It almost seems like the council are trying to set speed limits that won’t be taken seriously. By setting it really low, you don’t punish people who really put their foot down.

On the contrary, you just make it more difficult for the police to concentrate on them as they are forced to pursue people driving at

much more sensible speeds.”

The online petition can be found at petitions.southglos.gov. uk/petitions.ti/bypasslimit In the light of the high number of speeding tickets being dispensed and the launch of the petition, we invited SGC to provide a further comment. A council spokesperson said: “A review of the reported SGTL. No injuries have been reported as taking place on the road since it opened in late 2017. As the safety record of the SGTL is currently good, and bearing in mind that the character of the road will change when new junctions associated with approved development are constructed, the council has no plans to review the current speed limits.

“National regulations do not permit the installation of more permanent signage for the 30mph speed limit, since the road is lit by a system of street lighting. However, a vehicle activated speed reminder sign will be positioned on the road periodically to remind road users of the 30mph speed limit.”

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February 2019

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Jack Lopresti MP: News round up for January

J

ust before Christmas, I was delighted to visit the Royal Mail Sorting Office in Patchway, where they were working hard to handle the Christmas peak of 6 million cards, letters and parcels throughout the festive period.

Everyone working for the Royal Mail delivers a vital service for everyone ensuring that we all receive our much wanted Christmas post. It was also great to meet with Rob Patterson, the site manager, to receive an update on a multi-million-pound investment in the facility over the next year that will ensure local jobs, as well as continuing to provide great service for our area.

I was extremely pleased about the recent government announcement that funding for the police will increase by up to £970 million next year, which is the biggest increase since 2010.

I met with The Rt Hon Sajid

Jack Lopresti MP (right) with Rob Patterson, site manager at Royal Mail

Javid MP, the home secretary, to discuss what these increases will mean for our area. Local police funding will be increased by 7.5 percent, meaning Avon and Somerset Constabulary could receive over £21m in the next financial year.

Furthermore, the Home Office has also committed to fighting serious and organised crime, including economic crime and drug trafficking, with a £90 million investment in national, regional and local capabilities.

This increased funding, alongside

other measures, will help ensure that police have the powers and resources needed to keep our communities safe.

It is great that the M1 MetroBus route finally began operations at the start of January. It offers a much needed link between Bradley Stoke and the city centre, with regular services that cut journey times. The M1 runs from Cribbs Causeway, stopping in Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and at UWE before heading into the city centre.

If you would like to discuss anything with me, be it as a resident, organisation or business, please contact my constituency office in Bradley Stoke on 01454 617783 or email me on jack.lopresti. mp@parliament.uk to arrange a suitable surgery time, or to arrange a visit to your premises.

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February 2019

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News

Play park equipment condemned as unsafe

T

wo major features of the Beacon Play Area on Bradley Stoke’s Jubilee Green were removed at the beginning of January after being condemned as unsafe during an annual inspection carried out by a specialist company.

The large wooden bridge and the teen shelter were found to have deteriorated beyond repair, according to a report presented to January’s meeting of Bradley Stoke Town Council.

Premises manager John Rendell explained that the structure of the equipment had deteriorated significantly, with timber beams “rotting away above ground level and even more so underground”.

Mr Rendell added: “Lots of time and effort has gone into keeping the equipment safe over recent years and it didn’t come as a major surprise when we received the news.”

The Jubilee Green Beacon Play Area is one of a number of non-traditional play areas that were constructed across South Gloucestershire in 2009, with the help of a £454,400 grant awarded to the local authority by the Big Lottery Fund.

At that time, South Gloucestershire Council’s play development officer told the Journal: “These projects aim to provide a different approach to creating places to play for children. This is based on the idea of designing a whole landscape, which is fun to play

Safety barriers erected at the Jubilee Green play park after the bridge (left) and teen shelter (right) had been removed

in, combining natural and manmade features. The result should be attractive, usable by people of all ages and unique to the site.”

The Jubilee Green park was officially opened by the then town mayor Cllr Mark Forsyth on 24th July 2009. A charity, Friends of Jubilee Green, was formed to oversee further development of the park and organise community events, but this has not been active recently due to the group’s trustees being unable to commit time due to increasing commitments at work and home.

Outlining future plans for the facility, Mr Rendell said: “We have already started the [remedial] works and we aim to replace the pea gravel with a tiger mulch safety surface (funded by Friends of Jubilee Green), which will vastly improve the outlook.

We will shape and mould the mounds where the bridge once was and we will be adding some much-needed new active play equipment into the play area

itself, giving users a much more diverse play option.”

He added: “We are looking into the possibility of installing a ‘community seating area’ on the village green to ensure we cater

for all age groups going forward.”

Detailed proposals are likely to be brought to a council meeting in February. It is hoped to have all the works completed before the summer months.

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February 2019

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News

Drop-in session to address concerns over revised plans for 763 homes at Harry Stoke

R

esidents of Harry Stoke have expressed concern over revised plans for a proposed housing development that would see 763 homes constructed on land immediately east of Harry Stoke Road.

The greenfield site forms part of a wider area which was designated in South Gloucestershire Council’s Local Plan, adopted in 2006, for the construction of a total of 1,200 homes. Outline planning permission for the whole site was subsequently granted in 2007.

So far, only 166 of the 1,200 homes have been built, at Crest Nicholson’s Highbrook Park development further to the east. A third block of 263 homes, planned for the area immediately south of Highbrook Park, makes up the total allowed by the Local Plan.

A reserved matters (detailed) planning application for “763 dwellings, community building, nursery and retail units with parking, landscaping and associated works” on the land closest to Harry Stoke Road was submitted by Muben Investments in December 2017. However, the land has recently been acquired by Crest Nicholson, who submitted a swathe of revised plans in late November 2018. In a covering letter submitted with the new plans, Crest explains that the changes have been necessary to substitute its own housetypes.

Concerned residents gather at a field gate near the junction of Westfield Lane and Harry Stoke Road, from where part of the proposed development site can be viewed

It concedes that there are many other plans that still need to be updated, but argues that these should not hold up determination of the planning application as they can be addressed through ‘pre-commencement conditions’.

Speaking at a meeting of Stoke Gifford Parish Council on 8th January, local residents expressed concern that the style of housing proposed along Harry Stoke Road had been “completely changed” and was out of keeping with the existing architecture in Harry Stoke hamlet.

Residents were also angered by the fact that the consultation period coincided with the festive

break and expired before the parish council could properly consider it at a formal meeting.

One resident expressed the view that Crest were “trying it on”, while a councillor said the submission of new plans “completely trashed” the results of previous consultations.

Speaking to the Journal near the site a few days later, residents added that they are concerned about the height of properties (up to 4-storeys) on the highest part of the site, the altering of contours (land levelling), the preservation of a historic moat and a reduction in the number of retail units proposed.

In response to an enquiry from the Journal, a Crest Nicholson spokesperson said: “We are working closely with the parish council and the local community with regards to the reserved matters planning application for 763 homes on land in Harry Stoke. In line with this, we’re hosting an information session on Tuesday 5th February from 4pm to 8pm at St Michael’s Centre in Stoke Gifford. The community event has been set up to provide further information and answer any questions. We welcome all residents in the surrounding community to attend.” ● Planning ref: PT17/5810/RM

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February 2019

News

Conservation group update for January

By Sara Messenger of the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group

Annual New Year hedgelaying weekend

We are now in our ninth year of hedgelaying along the entire length of Bradley Stoke Way and I think we’re getting the hang of it! Green Gym went in over Christmas and cleared 65 paces along the fence on the reserve side and Robocut was bought in to clear some of the large blackthorn patch that has in recent years crept across the verge. This, combined with the weather being kind to us, meant that we managed to lay 65 paces of hedge, which is a new record for us; we only stopped because we ran out of trees! Last year (2018) saw 42 paces and 2017 saw 32 paces, so we’re taking bets as to how far we get next year!

As always, on the Sunday a

hot lunch was cooked for us on site by our quartermaster Rob Williams, and as dusk began to fall we toasted our new hedge with his homemade sloe gin.

We have taken down our

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hedgelaying banner and replaced it with one of our generic reserve banners. Apart from our banners, the reserve now has no signage, as all the wooden reserve signs and the large Run England sign were removed many months ago by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) and have yet to be replaced. Our notice board at the lake was disposed of by Wessex Water, and although SGC promised us several new boards, they have yet to make an appearance.

We have asked that the reserve be signposted on the brown information sign as you enter Bradley Stoke from Aztec West, but it was suggested that we don’t have enough footfall to warrant that (although I’m fairly sure we match the library for visitors), so we will have to remain for the moment a hidden gem!

The fallen one in Savages Wood

Savages Wood is the largest of our woodlands and the earliest record we have of it is on an Ordnance Survey map of 1880. On other maps it appears as Savers Wood, so we’re not sure when or how the name changed. As well as the oak by the skate park we have another bigger oak with a wide spread.

This is unusual for a woodland tree, which suggests that in its youth it may have stood alone at the edge of a farmer’s field.

Sadly, one of our oldest trees has come to the end of its life and in the recent winds came crashing

down. At over 60ft ‘tall’ it is far too big to move, so apart from clearing a few branches to clear the path we have left it as it is. In the future I think it would make a wonderful carving, but for now it will be left in peace. If you want to see the fallen one for yourself, go through the gate behind the leisure centre and follow the path, take the first left and you will very soon see the tree on your right.

Lake life

Our lake is in a very different state to this time last year. Last January, it was bursting its banks and there were concerns that if the water rose much more the Wessex Water construction site would be flooded. This year, there are no such concerns as we have more mud than water; I’m told the weir has been left open, which may be the cause.

I’ve also been told that Brooke (our female swan) is often alone on the lake. It is possible Nugget is hiding, or, more likely, as he is now an adult, he may have flown off in search of a mate; whether he returns with his new bride or if Brooke will accept another mate now all the kids have left, we have yet to see. Although Bradley was a really big character and is greatly missed, life moves on and it would be wonderful to see the lake again brimming with new life. t: 07497 006676 e: info@three-brooks.info w: www.three-brooks.info

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February 2019

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23

What’s On Business networking event at MS centre

T

Top: Volunteers taking part in the hedgelaying weekend toast their work with homemade slow gin. Above: Reserve sign visible from Bradley Stoke Way.

he West of England MS Therapy Centre in Bradley Stoke is inviting local businesses to a networking afternoon on Thursday 14th February, from 3pm to 5pm.

The afternoon will include an inspiring talk from Invictus Games 2018 silver medallist Jeff Robinson (pictured), along with canapés, drinks and plenty of time for networking with all the local businesses.

Sarah Vincent, events and community officer, will also be talking about the benefits to businesses when they work alongside a charity. A study carried out by Deloitte found that employees were “twice as likely to rate their corporate culture as very positive” if their company was involved with a charity.

“We are really looking forward to bringing local businesses together to share our fantastic work with them and to enable the businesses themselves to create

new relationships with each other,” said Sarah.

The West of England MS Therapy Centre has been caring for people with multiple sclerosis and neurological conditions, their families and carers since 1985.

If your business would like to attend this FREE event, please contact Sarah Vincent to book your place on 01454 628723 or sarah.vincent@ mstherapybristol.org.uk

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February 2019

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Council offers free loan of litter-picking equipment to any group registering an organised clean-up event

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Bradley Stoke resident Andrea Devlin and her “troops”, who recently organised a litter pick using equipment loaned from South Gloucestershire Council

S

outh Gloucestershire Council is once again calling on volunteers to help clean up their neighbourhoods by joining its annual Spring Clean initiative.

This year’s campaign will run from Monday 11th February to Friday 10th May, when local groups, individuals, schools or town councils are invited to hold a litter pick of a targeted area in their community.

A litter pick does not have to be a big organised event – you and your friends, neighbours or family may just decide to have a clean up of your local park, street or pathway. However big or small, the council can lend out equipment to help you run your litter pick successfully.

The South Gloucestershire Spring Clean is the perfect opportunity for everyone to help keep their town, village, high street, woodland or park free from litter and clean for all to enjoy. Friends, families, neighbours, parish and town councils, community and voluntary groups, church groups, schools, students, youth clubs, scouts, cadets, brownies, guides, and businesses are all invited to take action against litter.

Volunteers can request free

bin bags and gloves and can also borrow litter pickers and hoops.

Groups are asked to book any equipment required as far in advance as possible as there are limited numbers available and high demand during peak weekends throughout the Spring Clean campaign.

All items must be returned to the council after your event.

A spokesperson said: “We provide clear bags for recyclable waste. Please separate your litter as you collect it – it’s much easier and less messy to separate recyclable and non-recyclable litter into different sacks during your tidy up rather than after.

To help you recycle as much as possible, you can order clear plastic bags for your group on the booking form. For more information about recycling please visit the recycling page on our website.”

“If you cannot dispose of the litter you collect, we can arrange to collect the bags for you.”

Booking forms can be downloaded from the council’s website at www.southglos.gov. uk/springclean Alternatively, you can request a form by emailing streetcleansing@southglos.gov.uk or calling 01454 868000.

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February 2019

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25

News

Opticians raise thousands for children’s cancer charity

A

busy year of fundraising by the staff of three local optician stores has seen children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent benefit from a donation of almost £7,000.

The teams from Specsavers stores in Bradley Stoke, Cribbs Causeway and Filton came together to nominate CLIC Sargent as their charity of the year for 2018. In a bid to raise as much money as possible, staff worked tirelessly, taking part in challenges and hosting events throughout the year.

Activities included team members taking part in a sky dive, a store director running the London Marathon, a team braving a Tough Mudder obstacle course, a static spinathon and events being held in store, such as staff bake-offs, cake sales and raffles. The cumulative total of £6,870 was announced at the Specsavers’ Christmas party, where staff celebrated their efforts alongside CLIC Sargent representative Caroline Marshall.

“Some of the activities have been pretty tough - it’s been a real team effort from everyone and it’s safe to say we’ve all thoroughly enjoyed the

MARCH ISSUE Do you have a news item that you think would be of interest to our readers?

Do you have an event planned for the period Sunday 2nd March to Sunday 30th March?

We would love to include your news in the next issue of our magazine.

Please get in touch by the copy deadline of Monday 18th February Telephone: 01454 300400 Email: info@ bradleystokejournal.co.uk Or send us a message via our Facebook page: ‘Bradley Stoke Journal’

Specsavers staff proudly show the amount raised for CLIC Sargent. L-r: James (optometrist), Maria Matuszak (manager), Sue (receptionist), Julie Rafferty (PR coordinator), Gaurav Patel (store director) and Donna (optical assistant).

fundraising,’ said store director Gaurav Patel.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be donating such a great amount to CLIC Sargent. We couldn’t have reached this total without our hard-working and committed members of staff, and our thanks extend to the incredible communities surrounding all

three stores, who always get behind us when it comes to fundraising.”

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 The participating Specsavers stores are located at the Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke; The Mall, Cribbs Causeway; and Church View, Filton.

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February 2019

News

Time to nominate your local ‘community hero’

W

ould you like to thank a volunteer who has gone the extra mile?

Nominations are now open for the South Gloucestershire Council Chair’s Community Awards 2019.

The annual awards recognise and celebrate the valuable contribution local unpaid volunteers and community groups make to life in South Gloucestershire.

The next celebration of community work and volunteering takes place in April and you have until Thursday 28th February to nominate your local ‘community heroes’.

Suggestions for nominations include individuals and groups who have contributed to community development, promoting equality, arts, sports, play, environment, working with older or young people, advice and advocacy or someone who has

Local winners of Chair’s Community Awards in 2018 (l-r): David Baker; Mary Oliphant & Sue Peard; Alfred Sollars

simply been a good neighbour.

From charity fundraisers to local football club managers, sports coaches and arts festival organisers, these awards have seen South Gloucestershire Council honour the dedication and commitment of hundreds of unsung heroes across the district.

Council chair Cllr Rachael Hunt said: “Our Community Awards have been running since 2003 to celebrate the contribution local people make to life in South Gloucestershire and since then over 400 people have

received an award.”

“During my year as chair of the council it has been an absolute honour to meet so many people from across our area who work tirelessly, and without financial reward, for the benefit of their communities. These awards are a small way to recognise the importance of volunteering and to thank a few of our local community heroes.”

“I am really looking forward to seeing this year’s nominations and hearing about all the wonderful work going on in

South Gloucestershire.”

You can nominate your community hero online at www.southglos.gov.uk/ communityawards If you are unable to access the internet or have any questions, please call 01454 863019.

Any supporting documents or forms can be sent to: Member Services, Community Awards, South Gloucestershire Council, PO Box 1953, Bristol BS37 0DB. All award winners will be invited to a prestigious awards ceremony in April.

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February 2019

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27

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

Schools Have you ever attended or worked at Wheatfield Primary?

L-r: Former Wheatfield headteachers Chris Dursley and Lois Haydon join present head Phil Winterburn in cutting a cake to mark the start of the school’s 20th anniversary celebrations

B

radley Stoke’s Wheatfield Primary School is celebrating its 20th anniversary and is trying to locate as many past pupils and staff as possible to join them for a special event.

The school will be holding an ‘open afternoon’ on Saturday 16th March between 3pm and 6pm. Past pupils and staff are welcome to ‘drop in’ and catch up with faces past and present – there will also be an opportunity to take a tour of the school and see what the current crop of pupils have been up to.

Ahead of this event, Wheatfield is encouraging past staff and pupils to get in touch and share some of their memories. The school is especially keen to use the experiences of past pupils as inspiration for those now

attending the school and would very much welcome hearing from anyone who is willing to share their story. They have set up a template to capture some key information (and maybe the odd photograph) which can be downloaded from the school’s website.

There are several ways to get in touch if you would like to be part of this event: Search for the Facebook page ‘Wheatfield at 20’, visit the school website www.wheatfieldprimary. com and follow the link on the homepage or email Wheatfield20@gmail.com Everyone at Wheatfield is hoping that word will spread and the event will well represented by each cohort that has passed through the school’s doors over the last 20 years.

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February 2019

Business

Local florist’s new online shop proves a hit

A

n independent florist which has been trading successfully in the Stokes for the past 19 years has opened an online shop to make it even easier for customers old and new to place an order.

Tiger Lily, based in the parade of shops at Chelford Grove, Stoke Lodge, is owned and run by local resident Tina Bignell, who has built up the business over nearly two decades after previously working in the hospitality industry.

Tina describes Tiger Lily as being “more contemporary than a high street florist” and promotes the business with the tag line: ‘Simply the most stylish flowers around’.

Historically, around threequarters of her work has been with corporate customers such as high-end local car dealerships (e.g. Aston Martin, Maserati and Rolls-Royce) and within the

hospitality industry, for which it is essential to be “up with the trends”. She is also the first port of call for many large offices when they need a bouquet to present to an employee.

Tiger Lily also specialises in weddings, providing flowers for around 45 events in a typical year. In contrast to a high street florist, Tina says she has more time to sit down and talk with brides, allowing them to explore more creative designs.

The new online shop is targeted at the younger generation who like to do most of their shopping via the internet. It currently offers around 30 selections, with options to customise available in most cases. A range of gifts such as chocolates and soft toys is also available.

Tina describes her online range as “a contemporary collection, with options to personalise”. She adds: “If you can’t find what you

Tina Bignell, proprietor of Tiger Lily florist, pictured in her Stoke Lodge shop

like online, I’m here in the shop, so give me a call or drop me an email!”

“The aim of the online shop is to offer an upmarket product at a competitive price. There are no hidden charges and delivery is available in the local area at a very competitive flat rate, or customers can just call in to the shop to collect.”

The online shop went live last September, and Tina says it is going “really well”. It has attracted a fair amount of international business, from customers looking for a local florist in the north Bristol area.

The ‘click and collect’ option has also proved popular with people who are travelling to an event and wish to call in on the way to collect their order.

Orders placed before 11am can usually be delivered the same day. Customers receive an email to confirm their order and a second when it has been delivered to the specified address.

Tiger Lily is at 3 Chelford Grove, Stoke Lodge BS34 6DD. The online shop can be accessed via the website at www.tigerlilyflowers.co.uk The number for telephone orders is 01454 856 737.

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News

New weekly toddler group in Stoke Lodge

Ride On Cycles The Mobile Cycle Workshop That Comes to You

A

local pre-school and nursery has started a new weekly toddler group on Monday afternoons.

Bright Sparks Pre-School in School Close, Stoke Lodge (adjacent to Stoke Lodge Primary School) runs the group between 1pm and 3pm and parents are welcome to drop in with their children at any time during the two-hour session.

The group makes use of facilities within the pre-school building and has access to the well-equipped outside play area.

There is also a dedicated space for babies.

Children can explore the wide range of toys and activities on offer, such as bricks, trains, playdoh and painting. They can also

visit the various themed areas within the pre-school rooms, such as ‘curiosity corner’, ‘small world’ and ‘home corner’.

The large outside space offers more fun things to explore, including a wooden climbing frame, a pirate ship and a kitchen.

The toddler group is open every Monday (term-time only).

There is a charge of £1.50 per session, which covers milk/ water/squash and a healthy snack and biscuit for the children.

For more details, contact Hannah on 01454 615577, email brightsparkstoddlers18@gmail. com or search for ‘Bright Sparks Toddlers – Stoke Lodge’ on Facebook.

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Get well · Stay well

February 2019

by Craig de Groot, chiropractor at Willow Brook Clinic

Let’s talk about the benefits of walking

G

oing for regular walks is one of the best and easiest things you can do for your health. Walking is the number one exercise recommended to improve health because it is easy to do, requires nothing but a pair of shoes and has mental and physical benefits.

Walking is our primary means of mobility. It is easy to take the biomechanics of this process for granted. Walking is a dynamic series of actions that calls upon bones, joints, muscles and nerves to work together throughout each stride and footstep.

The primary muscles that facilitate walking include the quadriceps and hamstrings in the thighs, the calf muscles in the lower legs and the hip adductors. The gluteal and the abdominal muscles also play a key role in walking. The entire body’s muscular system contributes to the movement of walking at any given point.

The bones that support walking include those of the feet; the ankle bones; bones in the legs that include the femur, fibula, tibia and patella; and the hipbones. All of these bones support the movement of walking.

The spinal nerves in and at the base of the spine directly

affect the walking motion. The specific nerves that support the body’s fundamental mobility are the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal nerves. All of these nerves send neurological messages that allow you to propel yourself forward when you choose to.

Walking without pain and, just as importantly, for pleasure, may just be the cornerstone of good basic health. Eat a healthy diet, maintain a good weight, strengthen your bones and joints by exercising regularly with weight-bearing activities.

Make sure you wear good walking shoes and replace them regularly.

So, grab a pair of comfortable shoes and go for a walk. The natural light will lift your mood and being outdoors will fill your lungs with fresh air. Every step you take will be one more towards you managing your wellbeing.

If you have any pain or restriction in your range of movement, consult a chiropractor or physiotherapist for advice.

The Willow Brook Clinic East Offices The Willow Brook Centre www.willowbrookclinic.co.uk

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31

News

Collectors needed for Marie Curie appeal

T

erminal illness charity Marie Curie is seeking the help of volunteers from across the Stokes to give two hours of their time to hand out the charity’s iconic daffodil pins, in return for donations.

The charity’s annual fundraiser, the Great Daffodil Appeal, takes place in February and March, and Marie Curie are hoping to get more people than ever wearing the daffodil pin.

This year, the local Marie Curie Five Stokes Fundraising Group will be collecting at: • Friday 15th February – Thornbury Tesco • Friday 22nd February – Bradley Stoke Tesco Extra • Thursday 28th February, Friday 1st & 2nd March – Cribbs Causeway Morrisons • Thursday 28th February – Patchway Asda • 28th, 29th & 30th March –

the toughest of times.”

“Could you please spare an hour or two to help us collect?

If so, please contact the Five Stokes Fundraising Group on 07909 966367 or email thefivestokesfundraisinggroup@ gmail.com” To find out more about what the Marie Curie charity does to help those with a terminal illness, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk or to find out more about the Marie Curie Five Stokes Fundraising Group, visit their Facebook page.

The Journal Members of the Marie Curie Five Stokes Fundraising Group

Filton Asda • Saturday 6th April – The Mall Cribbs Causeway Jane Marshal, fundraising group chair, said: “I collect

every year for the Great Daffodil Appeal. It is a fun and easy way to get involved in your local community whilst at the same time knowing you are making a big difference to families facing

Send us your news!

March magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 18th February info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

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February 2019

News

Charity lights fundraising target smashed!

A

charity Christmas lights display at a home in Watch Elm Close, Bradley Stoke has raised almost three times its intended fundraising target, thanks to an incredible run of media interest which culminated in it being voted second best in the UK in a national TV poll.

The extravagant display, created by house owners Terry James and Mike Checkley, contained over 30,000 lamps.

To attract even more visitors, the couple staged a series of special ‘meet, greet and sweet’ nights where children were allowed into the garden to have their photo taken with costumed figures and receive a gift.

The display also attracted massed visits from local community groups, including Sole Sisters, North Bristol Running Group, the Scouts and a local gymnastics club.

Left: Mike Checkley and Terry James, hosts of the charity lights display. Above: Banner on the gate showing amount raised. Below: Visit from Sole Sisters ladies’ running group.

When the display was first switched on in early December, the target was to raise £4,000 for St Peter’s Hospice, a Bristol charity which cares for adults with life-limiting illnesses.

However, the attention generated by numerous media appearances meant that this was soon surpassed, resulting in the target being progressively raised to £9,000. Christmas Eve saw an

astonishing £1,019 collected on one night alone and by the time the lights were switched off for the season on 1st January, the total collected had reached an astonishing £11,223!

Mike said: We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends, family, neighbours, the local community and the wider community too. The total raised has surpassed our

wildest expectations and we understand that it is one of the largest amounts ever raised for Christmas charity lights in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.”

“We would like to sincerely thank everyone, but especially the local and national media, our sponsors and our neighbours who have been so supportive of the fundraising, despite a few traffic jams in the road!”

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February 2019

Ask the Doctor with Dr Tim Garrod of Bradley Stoke Surgery Uberdoc will see you now

Y

ou will all have seen the self-service tills at supermarkets, where you can swipe your goods over a scanner, pay your bill, collect your receipt, and all without the need of a shop assistant. We are told they are simple, quick, convenient, and will have you on your way in no time at all.

And I hate them. I always end up with the apple with no label, my slightly crumpled £5 note gets spat back at me, and my change ends spewed across the floor, all assuming that the touch screen hasn’t frozen. In less time than it takes to say, “but I’ve already blipped that!”, I can feel myself flushing with awkwardness as the tutting starts to echo round the queue building up behind me. I look dolefully for an assistant to dig me out with their magic key to silence the alarm, and switch off the flashing light which announces to the world I

am an incompetent muppet. It is the reason why I prefer to stand in the queue for the manned till, and interact with a sentient human being with a name badge, who knows the subtle intricacies of the retail trade.

The current secretary of state for health, Matt Hancock, is from an IT background, and has claimed that the way to improve

and less politically awkward that recruiting thousands of new doctors, nurses, and carers to address the national shortage of community staff.

If only general practice were that simple. The interaction between a health professional and patient relies on a subtle blend of mutual trust, professional knowledge, and the

“In nearly thirty years, I have never met a patient with a barcode tattooed on their buttock” the quality of NHS community care, and improve access to your general practitioner, is through mobile phone apps, Skype consultations, with online access to appointment lists, and personal records. Sounds like a technophile’s paradise.

No doubt Mr Hancock has also considered that silicon and plastic are certainly cheaper,

unquantifiable continuity of care that comes with a relationship developed over time. Even if the greatest software engineers on the planet could provide an accurate diagnostic algorithm for a bland list of symptoms, I very much doubt they would be able to support the emotionally drained son of a dementing elderly parent, or explain to

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Reducing this very human experience, to the level of a bleep-bleep ‘click and collect’ service is to do a gross injustice to the patient and the doctor, and reduce quality of service and clinical outcome. In nearly thirty years, I have never met a patient with a barcode tattooed on their buttock, so please, Mr Hancock, there may be a great many benefits that modern technology can bring us, but do not forget what we may also lose.

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35

News

Paralympian trains councillors for mental health awareness ride

S

outh Gloucestershire Council’s leader and deputy leader are set to embark on a tough 220km challenge: cycling to every school in the district to mark Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (4th to 10th February).

Cllrs Toby Savage and Jon Hunt, who also serve as Cabinet members for schools, skills and employment and for children and young people respectively, will ride across South Gloucestershire to visit its 121 schools on 7th & 8th February for leading national children’s mental health charity Place2Be. The task is particularly challenging for the pair as they are inexperienced in cycling, with Cllr Savage not having been on a bike in around a decade prior to training. By taking on an active challenge, they hope to reflect the awareness week’s message of ‘Healthy: Inside and Out’, demonstrating the link between physical wellbeing and positive mental health.

The Council has issued grants this year of £1,000 or £2,000 to ten schools taking part in the South Gloucestershire Schools Mental Health Award and the councillors will stop off along the ride to visit some of those schools to see how they are using the money to make a difference and improve mental health amongst their students.

Cllr Savage said: “We firmly believe that any child failing to fulfil their potential is a tragedy, particularly when it is due to poor mental health.”

“This ride will be tough, but I hope the positive message it brings will help highlight the challenges schools face around student and staff mental health, as well as the work being done to support and improve

good mental health in South Gloucestershire schools.”

Cllr Hunt said: “To be truly healthy, it’s not just what we see but the hidden factors. Fifty per cent of mental health problems are established by the age of 14 and we need to tackle this growing issue to allow the best start in life for all our children.

“Nearly every classroom will have a child suffering with some form of mental health issue.

We are taking on this physical challenge to help highlight the problem, with a route that encompasses every school in South Gloucestershire.”

Helping the councillors in their training is Paralympic gold medallist Andy Lewis MBE, who has been offering his experience and knowledge to prepare them for the journey ahead.

As part of the preparations, the reigning Paralympic, World and European champion took the pair through their paces during a public training session at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre on 16th January.

Andy said: “As someone who has personally suffered from mental health issues, I know the positive impact being active can have. Working in schools over the past few years has given me the chance to promote the importance of wellbeing, but there is always more that can be done.”

“It is amazing that Toby and Jon have committed to completing this challenge, it is a big ask for novice riders to tackle such a distance, but their attitude has really impressed me and so I wish them the best of luck.”

The bike ride is being sponsored by local businesses, including South Gloucestershirebased aerospace firm GKN, with a donation being made to Place2Be.

Photo: Paralympic gold medallist Andy Lewis MBE (centre) gives training tips to Cllrs Jon Hunt (left) and Toby Savage at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre

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February 2019

News

New parking restrictions introduced at Co-op

M

onday 14th January saw the introduction of new parking restrictions in the car park of the Co-op store, located on North Road, Stoke Gifford. The restrictions include a two-hour maximum stay with the risk of a £100 parking charge notice if breached.

A spokesperson for Southern Co-op said: “Colleagues at our Stoke Gifford store were regularly receiving complaints from customers who were unable to find a space in our car park. They were aware that cars were often parked all day yet the average shopping time in our store is considerably less. Colleagues noted that there were periods when our car park was full but very few people were in our store or using the neighbouring businesses.”

“From 14th January, the car park will be limited to two hours

of parking. This is to deter all day parking. The car park will remain free to use.”

Although Southern Co-op are unaware of the reasons behind the all-day parking, many residents have suggested that the car park was being used by railway workers, along with train passengers who should be parking at Parkway Station.

Local residents seem to have welcomed the change as many commented positively on the SGJ Facebook page, saying: • “Good about time” • “Not before time and I hope this is rigorously enforced.”

• “Good. Now genuine customers will have somewhere to park.

Instead of railway users trying to avoid paying to park.”

The new restrictions have now been in place for a couple of weeks and so far it seems like the

The Co-op store (formerly Parkway Tavern) on North Road, Stoke Gifford

changes are being well received and finding a space in the car park has now become a lot easier.

It is too soon to know whether any fines have been issued but Southern Co-op were able to provide this update: “Introducing

a parking policy has made a significant difference. Feedback from customers has been 100 per cent positive and it has freed up spaces in our car park for customers throughout the day and evening.”

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February 2019

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Directory of Advertisers Accountants & Bookkeepers C & M Services, Page 22 Dunkley’s Chartered Accountants, Page 33 Bathrooms Concept Property Maintenance, Page 29 JJ Plumbing & Building, Page 16 Builders Criterion Construction, Page 32 JJ Plumbing & Building, Page 16 Car Dealerships Motorline Toyota Bristol North, Page 10 Carpentry & Joinery J. Earle Carpentry & Joinery, Page 37 Northavon Carpentry, Page 37 Carpet Cleaners B Clean, Page 36 Bonne Fresh Clean Ltd, Page 8 Child Care Ambourne House Day Nursery, Page 2 Banana Moon Day Nursery, Page 1 Children’s Activities Bristol Riding School, Page 5 Razzamataz Theatre School, Page 27 Chiropractic Willow Brook Clinic, Page 5 Cleaning & Domestic Services Felina Contract Cleaning, Page 18 Mariola’s Angels, Page 35 Cycle Repairs Ride On Cycles, Page 29 Domestic Appliance Repairs Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Care, Page 15 Double Glazing A Plus Windows, Page 19 Education & Learning Kumon Study Programme, Page 8 Olympus Academy Trust, Page 7 SGS College, Page 40 Electricians Ernest Till, Page 24 Estate Agents Ocean Estate Agents, Page 4 Financial Services Aspirations Financial Advice, Page 30 Crystal Clear Financial Planning, Page 25 Foot Care Willow Brook Clinic, Page 5 Funeral Services F. Woodruff Funeral Directors, Page 28 MW Funeral Directors, Page 34 Garage Services Bristol Caravans, Page 23 Filton Central Garage, Page 22 LCM Automotive, Pages 1 & 24 Gardening Services Garretts Landscapes, Page 11 Painting Petals, Page 37 Plan-It Garden Design, Page 37 Professional Gardening Services, Page 38 Smart Patios, Page 29 Gyms & Health Clubs Riverside Leisure Club, Page 12 Hairdressers Reflections, Page 26 Healthcare Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Page 15

Home Improvements & Furnishings Door Express, Page 30 Garolla Roller Shutter Doors, Page 36 Launderettes See directory on BSJ website Mortgages & Financial Advice Aspirations Financial Advice, Page 30 Crystal Clear Financial Planning, Page 25 Opticians Specsavers, Page 13 Painting & Decorating A. Worsfold, Page 37 Digby Decor, Page 37 Painting Petals, Page 37 Rick Murphy, Page 37 Pet Services & Supplies Rosie Posie Pet Services, Page 39 Physiotherapy Willow Brook Clinic, Page 5 Plant Hire T. Edwards Plant, Page 38 Plumbing & Heating Assist Plumbing and Heating, Page 39 Concept Property Maintenance, Page 29 Gregor Heating, Page 15 JJ Plumbing & Building, Page 16 Low Cost Plumbing, Page 39 M.S.M Plumbing & Heating, Page 39 Panache Plumbing, Page 39 Proudfoot Plumbing, Page 39 S. Berryman Plumbing & Heating, Page 39 Property Crest Nicholson, Page 17 Property Maintenance Concept Property Maintenance, Page 29 David Coombs Services, Page 37 JJ Plumbing & Building, Page 16 M & D Property Maintenance, Page 37 Mark’s Gutter Cleaning, Page 39 P.J.R Plastics, Page 39 Public Notices Bradley Stoke Town Council, Page 6 Recruitment Clover Health & Homecare, Page 28 St Monica Trust, Page 14 Rubbish Clearance Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance, Page 38 Self Storage Admiral’s Yard Self Storage, Page 21 Shopping Willow Brook Centre, Page 3 Solicitors Bevan Evemy Solicitors, Page 30 Star Legal, Page 31 Slimming Clubs & Consultants Slimming World, Page 9 Sport & Leisure Bristol Riding School, Page 5 Razzamataz Theatre School, Page 27 Taxis & Private Hire Bradley Stoke Cabs Ltd, Page 39 Z Cars, Page 19 Tiling Services Tileworx Tiling Services, Page 37 Window Cleaning Ultra Clear, Page 39

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

February 2019

t: 01454 300 400

PLANT HIRE

T. EDWARDS PLANT Digger and Driver Hire • • • • • • •

Site/garden clearance Footings Drainage/soakaways Driveway preparation Stump removal Fencing & turfing Narrow access equipment

Price or day work

t: 07900 372349

t.edwardsplant@gmail.com CPCS/CITB qualified & insured

GARDENING SERVICES

Professional Gardening Services • Fencing, Decking, Sheds, Greenhouses (supplied & erected) • Driveways, Patios, Pathways, Turfing • Garden Maintenance, Tree Lopping Free quotes & friendly, trustworthy service (work references supplied) Please call: 07804 608053 Email: profgarden60@yahoo.co.uk Website: profgarden.vpweb.co.uk

RUBBISH CLEARANCE

Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance Licensed waste carrier We load and clear Same day service Household, garden, garage & sheds cleared Single item jobs Cheaper than a skip No VAT

Contact Stuart or Sue on 0800 0234 995 (Freephone) or 07770 944727 stuart.thistlewood@yahoo.co.uk

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

February 2019

t: 01454 300 400

PLUMBING & HEATING

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk PLUMBING & HEATING

39

WINDOW CLEANING

PANACHE

BATHROOM, SHOWER & PLUMBING SPECIALIST

• Complete bathroom refurbishment • Ceramic tiling • Heating & general plumbing services • Clean & tidy workmanship • Competitive rates

“Always on tap”

Call Darren on 07901 910361

Find Panache Plumbing on Facebook & FreeIndex

www.panacheplumbing.co.uk

Tell advertisers you found them in the Bradley Stoke Journal!

Advertise in this section for just £20 per month

Your Local Gas, Boiler and Heating Engineers • Boiler Installation • Central Heating Installation • Gas Boiler Servicing

• Boiler Repairs • Gas Fires • Safety Certificates

Call Dan on

assistplumbingandheating.co.uk Advertise in this section for just £20 per month

Taps, Washers Toilets, Cisterns Leaks, Blockages Tanks, Overflows Lead Pipes, Stopcocks….etc….

OAP DISCOUNTS and NO VAT

0117

957 5092

LEAFLET DELIVERY

Leaflet Delivery in Bradley Stoke

0117 214 0949

Tell advertisers you found them in the Bradley Stoke Journal!

TAXIS & PRIVATE HIRE

Bradley Stoke Cabs Ltd • • • •

We are open 24 hours & 7 days a week

Tel: 0117 901 2565 Bradley Stoke Cabs Ltd www.bradleystokecabs.co.uk GUTTER CLEANING

Mark’s Gutter Cleaning All types of repair and replacement work Evening and weekend appointments available Fixed rates - no job too small

07967 567 394

• Gutter clearing • Gutter cleaning • Fascia cleaning

Gutter Clearing Gutter Cleaning Fascia Cleaning

Call or book online

Call or Book online

www.marksguttercleaning.co.uk www.marksguttercleaning.co.uk Tel: 8528 Mob: 056558 Tel:0117 0117 370 3708528 Mob: 07543 07543056558

Covering north Bristol and South Glos

Serving North Bristol &Bristol South Glos Based in Downend,

GUTTERING, DOWNPIPES & FASCIA

PET SERVICES

P.J.R. Plastics

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

We deliver 8,700 leaflets for £220 Contact the Journal on 01454 300 400

Airport transfers Private trips Parcel deliveries Accounts welcome

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

FREE day trips for the over fifties If you are over fifty and want to discover exciting new attractions as well as meet new people, then SGS College has the course for you.

Held over a weekend, the Discover course will allow you to explore different locations and gain a qualification in English or maths at the same time.

The real fun begins on a Sunday, when you and your peers will be driven by coach to one of the exciting venues around the region. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a culinary connoisseur or a green-fingered gardener, you will find an experience that is right for you.

Booking is essential, as there are a limited number of places.

Locations and dates available: • Tate Britain Gallery – 23rd/24th March – English course • Exeter Food and Drink Festival – 4th/5th May – Maths course • Malvern Spring Festival – 11th/12th May – Maths course For further information and to book your place please visit www.sgscol.ac.uk/discover or contact Sarah Kopera on 0117 909 2327

FREE COURSE AND DAY TRIP

50+ W OF L EEKEN D EAR DISC NING, O AND VERY TRA VEL