Bradley Stoke Journal, March/April 2021

Delivered FREE to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke

March/April 2021 • Issue 84

WHAT’S ON P16 | SPORT P24 | SCHOOLS P25 | POLICE P35 | DIRECTORY P38

WILD WEST SCOOT OUT

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Roll-out of e-scooter trial in the Stokes sparks confusion & controversy

PLUS , IN YOUR 40-PAGE BRADLEY STOKE MAGAZINE l How lockdowns 2 & 3 played out in the Stokes l Permission refused for new access into Parkway Tavern site l Six-year-old completes 50km charity challenge in memory of auntie l Natural world unfazed by pandemic worries l Accessible path network extended in local woods l Updates from South Gloucestershire Council l Little Stoke fly-tip costs culprit almost £3,000 l Revised plans submitted for Premier Inn, Aldi and Costa in Stoke Gifford l Dog returned to owner following theft report l The story behind the white paper birds in a tree on Brook Way

Pages 4 & 5

Gipsy Patch Lane Bridge

Parkway North / Hambrook

Work under way on 327-home site

P8-9

Drainage issue causing concern

P12-P13

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How lockdowns 2 & 3 played out in the Stokes Contact Us Editor: Stephen Horton info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk 01454 300 400 83 Snowberry Close Bradley Stoke Bristol BS32 8GB

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

About the Bradley Stoke Journal The Bradley Stoke Journal magazine is published by North Bristol Press, a trading name of Snowberry Media Ltd; company number 8451178 (registered in England and Wales); registered office: 33 The Courtyard, Woodlands, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 4NQ. Our other publications include the Stoke Gifford Journal magazine and website, the Patchway 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 2021. Content published in our magazines or on our websites may not be reproduced in any form without our express written permission.

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

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

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

Our next issue: May 2021

• Advertising copy deadline: Friday 16th April • Article copy deadline: Monday 19th April • The magazine will be distributed from Saturday 1st May Subject to change due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Please check www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/magazine for latest information.

T

he ongoing coronavirus crisis means it’s been a while since we’ve been able to distribute a magazine, so we thought we’d run through a brief timeline of what’s happened in the meantime!

The second national lockdown began on 5th November, just days before our November/ December magazines were delivered. On coming out of lockdown on 2nd December, South Gloucestershire and neighbouring Bristol were placed in Tier 3 (Very High alert).

The first weeks of December saw worrying developments in Bradley Stoke with the 7-day infection rate in the town peaking at around 600 per 100,000 – the highest in the West of England at the time and well above the national average.

Bradley Stoke’s Wheatfield Primary School experienced what is thought to be one of the worst outbreaks seen anywhere is South Gloucestershire with 61 cases among pupils and staff on Friday 14th December. With the situation deteriorating further over the following weekend, the school decided to close for the remainder of the term.

There was disappointment on 19th December when the government decreed that South Gloucestershire must remain in Tier 3, despite neighbouring Bristol being dropped down

Pandemic timeline 5th November 2020 Start of 2nd national lockdown 2nd December 2020 Three-tier system introduced 8th December 2020 First vaccination in the UK 14th December 2020 61 virus cases recorded at one Bradley Stoke primary school 18th December 2020 Bradley Stoke’s virus rate is the highest in the West of England at almost 600 cases per 1,000 19th December 2020 Government decrees that South Glos must remain in Tier 3 5th January 2021 Start of 3rd national lockdown 7th January 2021 First vaccinations given at a GP hub in the Stokes 18th January 2021 South Glos Council opens a community rapid testing unit at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre 22nd February 2021 Prime minister announces roadmap for relaxing restrictions 1st March 2021 Community surge testing begins for residents of five postcode sectors in the Stokes 8th March 2021 Primary school pupils resume school-based learning 15th March 2021 All secondary school students expected to be back at school

OPEN AS USUAL during bridge works Access from A38 side!

Patchway - 0117 906 2277 Covid-Secure

Gipsy Patch Lane, BS34 6QD

Yate - 01454 315566

24/26 Station Road, BS37 4PW Work completed while you wait, or pre-book and drop your vehicle off to us for a later collection

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News

L-r: Vaccination centre at Concord Medical Centre; Rapid testing centre at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre; Surge testing drive/walk-in site at Parkway North P&R.

to Tier 2. However, this soon locally (out of just six in the UK), became academic as the country leading to the introduction of was forced into a third lockdown community surge testing. from 5th January.

News of the first vaccine doses Schooling in lockdown being given at Concord Medical The Olympus Academy Trust Centre in Little Stoke on 8th has kindly provided a few words January provided some welcome about how it has supported cheer as did the announcement learners and their families of a roadmap out of lockdown on during these difficult times…

22nd February.

Since the first lockdown However, our area found in March 2020, the Trust itself unexpectedly thrust into and school staff have worked the national spotlight on 28th tirelessly across all nine primary February when it was announced and secondary schools to provide that two cases of the Brazilian education in school in a safe WB Essentials 15:56 Page 1 (P.1) mutant hadAW.qxp_Layout been identified 1 09/02/2021 environment for vulnerable

children, those with a care plan and children of key workers.

On average across all schools, attendance for the current (third) lockdown has been recorded at around 700 learners (just over 10 percent of total roll), but significantly more in primary than secondary, each day.

To support children’s learning at home, the Trust bought 160 Kindles for primary schools to issue for home use and provided at least 300 laptops for home use by secondary school students.

The Department for Education provided a further 400 laptops

(with another 160+ on the way) for schools to issue for home use as well.

The Trust also provided 50 families with internet access or additional data allowances.

Trust CEO Dave Baker said: “It has been a remarkable effort to support every family in need of devices or internet access that we knew about. Participation levels have been high and where lack of access and/or engagement at home was too difficult to overcome, learners were provided with places in school to be able to be supported with their learning.”

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March/April 2021

News

Roll-out of e-scooter trial in the Stokes sparks confusion and controversy

R

esidents of the Stokes are now able to hire ‘hop-on, hop-off’ e-scooters after a trial scheme established in Bristol city centre in October 2020 was expanded to cover Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Filton.

Clusters of coral-coloured e-scooters began appearing at MetroBus stops and other key locations in the area on Friday 12th February 2021.

The first few weeks of the scheme have seen significant numbers of people hiring the scooters but also a steady flow of (mostly) negative comments on social media. There have also been critical comments from local councillors peeved at not being consulted prior to the start of the trial.

Concerns raised have related to under-age riding, anti-social and dangerous riding, inconsiderate parking, confusion over where the e-scooters are permitted to be ridden and the clarity of hire charges and penalties.

As previously reported, the scheme forms part of a government initiative to support

a ‘green’ restart of local travel and help mitigate reduced public transport capacity during the coronavirus emergency. It is being led locally by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) which has signed a deal with e-scooter provider Voi Technology Ltd, Europe’s fastest growing micro-mobility operator.

The trial’s expansion has seen the number of scooters available increased to 400 in Bristol and 200 in South Gloucestershire.

The trial e-scooters can be rented by anyone over 18 with a full or provisional driving licence. Within the designated geographical area the vehicles may be used on roads, cycle lanes and designated cycle paths (including shared-use paths) but not on regular pavements.

In line with the Department for Transport’s guidance, Weca recommends wearing a cycle helmet when using an e-scooter, but their use is not mandatory.

Hiring a scooter on a casual basis costs 99p to unlock the vehicle and thereafter 14p per minute. There are also a variety of

subscriptions available, including a day pass for £4.99 and a monthly pass for £34.99.

With these passes, the first 45 minutes of every ride are free (anything beyond this is charged).

Third-party insurance cover is included within the hire charge.

To hire an e-scooter, users need to first download the ‘VOI Scooters: Get Magic Wheels’ app onto their smartphone, register with the service and add a payment method (credit/debit card or Paypal). They can then locate an available e-scooter using the map function within the app.

Once at the e-scooter’s location, the hirer uses the smartphone app to scan the QR code on the vehicle’s handlebars or footpad to ‘unlock’ it and commence the hire period.

The Voi e-scooters use geofencing technology to limit access to some places, such as parks, nature reserves and play areas. Geofencing uses GPS technology to restrict use or limit the speed of e-scooters within geographically defined zones.

The maximum speed achieved

by the scooters is between 10 and 15.5mph (the legal maximum).

At the end of a ride, the e-scooter must be ‘parked’ in one of the approved ‘parking spots’ shown on the map within the smartphone app. Although these spots are described in the app as a “good” place to park (suggesting that other places might also be acceptable), within the Weca trial area parking at these spots is mandatory and users are unable to end their hire at other locations.

Riders are required to take a photo of their scooter as part of the hire-termination process and are warned that “improper” parking may result in a £25 fine.

Notwithstanding these rules and procedures, social media is awash with complaints about “abandoned”, “dumped” and inconsiderately parked e-scooters. Investigation by the Journal suggests that e-scooters abandoned far away from the mandatory parking spots are likely to be a consequence of the vehicle running out of power (i.e. low battery level).

Safety measures to protect riders against Covid-19 include equipping all handlebars with anti-bacterial tape and ensuring the vehicles are regularly disinfected.

Personal e-scooters, outside of the trial, remain illegal except when used on private land with the permission of the landowner.

How to report issues Voi’s support channels for the general public to report incorrectly parked scooters or for any other questions or concerns are: e: support@voiapp.io t: 0800 376 8179 w: voiscooters.com/report/uk General feedback about the Weca trial should be directed to: escootertrial@ westofengland-ca.gov.uk

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News Readers’ comments on the Journal’s Facebook page RB: I’ve only seen children using them on the pavement, too young to have a licence, seen dads passing them over to their kids to use and leave them to it. Like the idea, but assuming all people are responsible is a mistake.

AD: Dreadful idea. These are being trialled in the wrong area, they won’t stop anyone driving, and the only people I’ve seen using them are young people who are enjoying the ‘gadget’ syndrome. They are an eyesore, inappropriately left anywhere, and are not needed.

CO: They are located by bus stops, the leisure centre and Willow Brook etc. If you get off a bus and use one to get home, who returns it?

MS: Used these a few times now here and abroad, they’re great for short journeys where using the car doesn’t seem worth it (like for driving less than a mile etc.), definitely worth it.

Comments made by councillors on Bradley Stoke Town Council’s Planning Committee (from draft minutes of February meeting) • There was no consultation with the town council before the scooters were installed. The first that was known, was when social media posts were seen once the scooters had arrived. If councillors had been consulted before the scooters were introduced, suitable locations for the scooters could have been identified.

• Scooters are being left/abandoned by people in unsuitable/dangerous locations which are obstructing public footpaths/pavements causing hazards to footpath users.

• Proper parking bays/cycle racks need to be installed for the scooters • All scooters need to be collected at night and relocated to the correct places. This is not necessarily happening at the moment.

• Scooters should only be used on shared-use paths (not pavements) and on the roads – this is not happening. There is clear evidence of them being used on pavements and people observed scooting down the middle of roads, sometimes with more than one individual on a scooter.

Photo tweeted by Neil Curry (@NeilSKN) on the second day of the trial: “@voitechnology your scooters have been left in a dangerous spot by your employees in Bradley Stoke on Baileys Court Road. On Fri 12th there was one scooter today (13th) there are all these blocking the pathway preventing mobility scooter and pram users.”

Voi’s reply: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention and I deeply apologize on the behalf of our hunters. I’ve just reported these scooters to the responsible team and they’ll be taken care of as soon as possible.”

• No enforcement of usage is being carried out – if this scheme is to continue, Weca/SGC need to fund the local police to be able to address this issue. Apparently, police do have concerns about the usage, but are apparently not in a position to be able to act on these concerns.

• The introduction of the scooters is ill-timed given the current Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions in place for everyone.

Enforcement, incident reporting and agreed actions All Voi e-scooters have number plates displaying a four-character registration mark. As part of its operating licence, Voi has committed to deploying ‘ambassadors’ on the streets to enforce safe behaviour. The ambassadors are required to work with the police to restrict or ban non-compliant users.

When reporting incidents (see contact details on facing page), members of the public are requested to include the registration mark and ideally provide photographic evidence.

Following a videoconference called by South Gloucestershire Council on 25th February to address concerns raised during the first days of the trial, the following actions were agreed: • The travelwest.info and Voi websites should be improved

to make organisational contact details more prominent and facilitate better triaging of comments and feedback to the relevant organisation.

• A mechanism to upload photos and videos should be provided • Better communication within the community regarding future expansion/changes • Discussions with Voi to improve parking compliance through enhanced incentives (in-app and on-street) • Discussions between Voi and South Gloucestershire Council to trial on-street markings to improve parking compliance • Increased ambassador presence in Cheswick Village, Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford.

• Ongoing liaison with Avon and Somerset Police about possible increased activity in the area

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March/April 2021

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C

ouncillors sitting on South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) Development Management Committee have refused planning permission for the creation of a new vehicular access point directly off Hatchet Road into the site of the former Co-operative food store near Parkway Station.

The decision was made despite the council’s professional planning officers recommending that the application be approved.

Detail from a drawing showing the proposed new site access point The applicant, Danolly Limited, had withdrawn a the results of a formal desktop access from Hatchet Road is previous application for a similar road safety audit and makes “imperative to facilitate the scheme in July 2020 after SGC’s use of data from a traffic survey ongoing occupation of the site for transportation development conducted in February 2017 in retail uses”. control department raised an connection with the planning Fears that queuing traffic on objection grounded on five key application for the Gipsy Patch Hatchet Road might restrict concerns.

Lane bridge replacement project. drivers from being able to make A revised planning application The report repeats a claim right turn manoeuvres into and was submitted in October 2020, made in the first application out of the site were countered accompanied by a new technical that a “lack of direct vehicular by reference to traffic modelling report in which the applicant access from Hatchet Road” was data showing that the impact responds to the concerns the primary reason for the Co-op on journey times along Hatchet previously raised by the council’s choosing not to extend its lease Road would be negligible. transport officers. in January 2020. It also claims The positioning of ‘no Winter BSJ ad.qxp_Layout 1 26/10/2020 16:24 of Page 1 vehicular The technical report includes that delivery direct deliveries’ signage at the new site

A HAPPY RETIREMENT IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER

access would avoid large vehicles having to make sharp turns in a constrained space immediately after entering the site.

Concerns that two vehicles might struggle to pass / manoeuvre through the new junction, potentially impacting traffic flow on Hatchet Road, were countered by the submission of tracking plans, The placement of a speed bump across the width of the new access would reduce vehicle speeds entering the site, thereby addressing concerns about the safety of pedestrians walking within the site car park.

Fears that the proposed new junction might create a short-cut for vehicles travelling between Hatchet Lane and Hatchet Road would be addressed by positioning ‘deliveries only’ signage at the Hatchet Lane access.

Responding to the revised application, the council’s transport officers noted that the access layout had been “subject to a modest rearrangement” but

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info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk Advertisement

Permission refused for new access into Parkway Tavern site

The former Co-operative food store on Hatchet Road, Stoke Gifford Continued from facing page

added that they considered it to be “broadly the same”. However, they conceded that the results of the applicant’s Road Safety Audit suggests that their original concerns were unfounded, meaning they could no longer object on road safety grounds.

Following publication of the recommended decision, Stoke Gifford councillor Ernie Brown invoked the ‘call in’ mechanism to force determination of the application by a committee of councillors.

Several speakers at the ensuing committee meeting contested the claim that poor vehicular access was the reason why the Co-op closed. Rather, it was due to the store’s inferior product range and high prices. Other speakers stated that the two existing vehicular access points are sufficient and that improving pedestrian access was more likely to have a positive effect.

With many students walking to and from school and college along Hatchet Road, and other pedestrians heading to and from bus stops, concerns were expressed about the increased risk of accidents.

Local councillors pointed out that with a new MetroBus service due to be introduced along Hatchet Road, it is imperative that additional impediments to

traffic flow are avoided.

Cllr Ernie Brown drew attention to the fact that within the space of 100m on Hatchet Road there are two sets of traffic light crossings, two roundabouts and two bus stops (of which one is a MetroBus stop), with a further mini roundabout 30m away and restrictions under Parkway Bridge.

His comments found support from Cllr Brian Hopkinson, who asked: “How much more can you pack into a few hundred yards?”

Following a lengthy discussion, councillors on the committee voted 7:0 to refuse permission.

There were two abstentions.

The formal reasons for refusal were agreed as: “Notwithstanding the submitted road safety audit, the proposed development would result in a severe highway safety impact due to the creation of a new access and box junction on a busy classified road, in close proximity to a bus stop and pedestrian crossing to the detriment of visibility, traffic flows, pedestrian safety and would encourage the use of the car park as an informal route between Hatchet Lane and Hatchet Road.”

The applicant has the option of appealing the decision within 12 weeks. An invitation to provide a comment for inclusion in this article was declined.

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Stop furlough cliff edge says Labour's Dan Norris New analysis estimates that 6,058 people in the Filton and Bradley Stoke are still furloughed by their employer.

Labour Metro Mayor candidate Dan Norris is calling for a plan to ensure these jobs don’t fall off an economic cliff-edge when furlough ends in April.

The former local MP said: We need urgent reform to make furlough smarter, plus training to help workers improve their skills."

If elected as Metro Mayor, Mr Norris will implement his plan for jobs including bringing 15,000 new green jobs to the area.

Dan Norris's plan to vote safely by post in May's elections

No one knows what the pandemic will look like by the time of the elections for Metro Mayor in May. Will people be asked to take their own pens to vote? What you can do right now is apply to vote by post by visiting www.labour.postalvote.org.uk and we will send you an application form.

Then you can make your local postbox into the ballot box.

Promoted by Paul Tucker on behalf of Dan Norris both at 136a Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BG

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www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk Outline of the Wainhomes land, to the north-west of the site

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March/April 2021

News

Work starts on 327-home development on land just south of Bradley Stoke

S

treams of soil-laden tipper trucks passing through Bradley Stoke and construction activity at Parkway North Roundabout at the northern end of the Stoke Gifford By-Pass are signs that work has now begun in earnest on a 327-home development site on the borders of Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford.

The site, which is being marketed under the name ‘Mulgrove Farm Village’, lies south of the Winterbourne Road (i.e. on the opposite side to the Winter Stream Farm pub restaurant) and north of the main railway line.

It forms part of the planned East of Harry Stoke New Neighbourhood where a total of 2,000 homes are to be built over the next seven or more years.

The current work is being carried out by Churngold on behalf of Wainhomes Severn Valley, who last year acquired part of the site from Crest Nicholson in a £38 million deal.

The remainder of the site, around the now demolished Mulgrove Farm buildings, is in the ownership of South Gloucestershire Council.

In November 2018, Crest Nicholson secured full permission for a site-wide earthworks strategy and the construction of 150 homes on its part of the site. Outline permission was also granted for 177 homes on the council-owned

Work at Parkway North Roundabout

land, along with a primary school and nursery.

The council recently revealed that it is to explore the possibility of delivering the other 177 homes on the site via a joint venture with another developer.

As the land on the site consists of a domed-shaped hill, extensive earthworks are required to create a level plateau to enable development. These earthworks comprise levelling the site at its highest point and infilling areas on the lower slopes, a process which requires the excavation of 200,000 cubic metres of material.

Councillors who approved the 2018 planning application were told that all excavated material would be relocated on site, with “no requirement to import or export material“. However, new site owner Wainhomes later submitted revised plans as part of the ‘discharge of conditions’ process, indicating a need to transport 20,000 cubic metres of earth off site. Council officers deemed the new plans acceptable after “assessing them against the original reasons for imposing conditions, as well as planning policy and guidance”.

The work that has started in recent weeks at Parkway North is to create a new arm off the roundabout to form one of two permanent access roads into the development. The other access point will be on Old Gloucester Road.

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East of Harry Stoke New Neighbourhood Wainhomes / South Glos Council land north of the railway line Approved planning application PT16/4928/O

Winterbourne Road Great Stoke (Rabbit) Roundabout

North

O ld

Blue Bridge

G lo d oa

R ter es uc

Hybrid planning application for the demolition of farmhouse and agricultural buildings and erection of 327 dwellings with a primary school and nursery; along with site access/spine road, car parking, public open space, landscaping, drainage infrastructure and associated infrastructure; of which full permission is sought (with no matters reserved) for a site wide earthworks strategy and drainage infrastructure together with 150 no. dwellings (of the 327 total) and associated landscaping, layout, infrastructure and access; and outline permission is sought for the erection of 177 dwellings, primary school and nursery (Use Class D1) with access to be determined and all other matters reserved.

Parkway North Roundabout

Vehicular access to the site will be from a new arm off Parkway North Roundabout in the west, and via a new junction on Old Gloucester Road, 90m south of its junction with Winterbourne Road in the east.

SGTL

The proposed new primary school and associated playing fields lie in the centre of the site, due east of Parkway North Roundabout.

Railway Line

Pending planning application P20/03681/F Erection of 150 no. dwellings, associated landscaping, infrastructure and vehicular access

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Railway Line

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March/April 2021

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Six-year-old completes 50km charity challenge in memory of auntie

Four Towns and Vale Link Community Transport

Vacancy for a part-time Passenger Assistant Passenger Assistant required by local community transport provider. Escorting children on a mini-bus to and from school, am and pm. 20 hrs per week Monday to Friday term time only.

Full training provided, successful candidate must be prepared to have full DBS (security checking), immediate start. Full PPE will be supplied, Covid compliant, competitive rates of pay.

For more info email your details to info@4tvl.org.uk or phone 01454 250500

A

six-year-old girl from Bradley Stoke has raised more than £3,000 for a national cancer charity after taking part in a challenge to run 50km in a single month.

Brooke Hobbs decided she wanted to raise money for charity in memory of her Auntie Laura who sadly passed away in 2017 from leukaemia. She chose Blood Cancer UK and decided to take part in the ‘Run 50 in February’ challenge.

Brooke started the challenge to run 50km on 6th February and asked/persuaded her mum and Auntie Becky to join her. They set a target of £300, but within two days they had raised £800 and in just seven days they had raised over £2,500!

After completing 49km in the cold snow and rain, the last kilometre was completed with a lap of Little Stoke Park on Sunday 28th February, when the sun was shining.

Brooke was extremely happy to complete the challenge and had a smile from ear to ear all day.

The total raised now stands at an astonishing £3,185. Further donations can be made via a secure Facebook fundraising page: ‘Run 50 in February Vikki, Becky and Brooke’

Above: Brooke Hobbs sporting a “running for Auntie Laura” poster

Brooke said: “Thank you everyone for supporting me and thank you very, very much for all of the donations. It will help the doctors buy more medicine for the people who have cancer and help them get back to their families. I really enjoyed the running and I’ve loved doing this for my Auntie Laura.”

Brooke’s mum Vikki Hobbs added: “As a family we are incredibly proud of Brooke and the amazing amount of money that has been raised for a charity so close to our hearts. All of the money raised will go towards the fantastic research that the charity does and hopefully help find a cure for this awful disease one day, or in the words of Brooke ‘buy more medicine’.”

“Mummy and Auntie Becky are enjoying having a rest for our exertions, but Brooke has already said she would like to do it again!”

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Advertising

In Brief

Abacus: “Expanding our horizons through the use of technology”

Resuming outdoor bowls in Bradley Stoke

ABACUS PRE-SCHOOL continues to provide quality childcare regardless of the national pandemic.

The team are delighted to share some photos to highlight how both our staff and children are adapting to changes and are enhancing our development through the use of new technology. Both our sites at Baileys Court and Meadowbrook have been fitted with giant interactive boards.

The children have loved investigating all the different ways this technology can be utilised! Firstly, our families have kindly uploaded photos of special occasions via an app called Tapestry. (Such as recent snow adventures). We were then able to share these pictures using the large screens. This helped to promote the children’s communication skills and selfconfidence as they showed them to their friends.

Lots of fun has been had accessing physical activities such as yoga and moving to music. We have also been able to participate through Lockdown 3 in live lessons provided by Baby Ballet and live workout sessions with Joe Wicks. Watching Chinese New Year dragon dances was a very insightful start to our own celebrations before we proceeded to make masks and have our own procession!

Our children have eagerly taken part in maths games, drawing on the screens and have been keen to find answers to their own questions. Thoughts such as “What does a unicorn look like?” and “How is a rainbow made?” have started lots of investigations to find answers on the internet, with adult support.

We are now filling up our September places and would love to hear from you if you are interested in joining us. Please call 01454 867285. We also have sites at Stoke Gifford and Mangotsfield which also offer amazing opportunities. We hope to see you soon.

Please see our advert below!

The Abacus Team

From Arthur Allan, Bradley Stoke Bowls Club Working on the assumption that the government’s roadmap out of the coronavirus lockdown will be achieved, Bowls England is consulting with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport on the guidelines for resuming bowls.

If everything goes to plan, we already know that, from 21st June, all restrictions will end in the UK, so hopefully bowls would be able to resume as normal after that date.

The question is what restrictions will be in place for outdoor bowling from 29th March up to 21st June? The club has already arranged a full season of fixtures in the hope that bowling could resume as normal or in a Covid-safe way from around mid-April.

For further updates and membership details, visit www. bradleystokebowls.com or search for ‘Bradley Stoke Bowls Club’ on Facebook.

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March/April 2021

News

Bridge reopening could be further delayed as drainage pumps deemed inadequate

T

he projected date for reopening the road under the new railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane looks likely to be further delayed after engineers decided a larger pumping station will be required to prevent flooding.

The road under the bridge has been fully closed since March 2020, when it was anticipated that it would reopen within eight months. However, the coronavirus crisis forced the installation of the new preconstructed concrete bridge to be postponed until October 2020, leading to the projected road reopening date being pushed back to July 2021.

Network Rail and its contractor Alun Griffiths Ltd are currently carrying out works to lower the road below the new railway bridge, as well as installing an improved drainage system, including a new pumping station.

The pumping station is needed to ensure that the lowered highway under the bridge does not flood.

The highway lowering is necessary to meet national design standards that must be complied with whenever a new bridge is built and will permit double decker buses to pass under the bridge.

Explaining the issues surrounding the pumping station capacity, council spokesperson said: “Resolving the historic

Pedestrian & cyclist route under the new bridge in early March 2021

issues with flooding on Gipsy Patch Lane is one of the benefits of the CPME. The improved drainage system will make the road more flood resilient in the future and make the site more able to cope with extreme weather causing less disruption to all users.”

“Following ongoing survey and investigations, a larger pumping station and drainage system than previously envisaged is now required to help future-proof this key stretch of road from flooding.”

“We are working closely with Network Rail and its contractor to understand the implications of these changes to the new drainage system and pumping station and how they may impact on the project’s programme and the partial reopening of Gipsy

Patch Lane in the summer.”

“We will update the community when we have more information. These changes are not expected to cause any delay to the overall completion of the CPME project.”

Readers will recall that last October’s bridge move didn’t exactly run to plan, with the new bridge getting stuck tens of metres short of its intended position. It was eventually freed by a fleet of heavy haulage units.

The railway had to remain closed for two weeks longer than originally planned, incurring penalty charges thought to run into millions of pounds.

In response to an enquiry from the Journal, council spokesperson said: “A ‘lessons learnt’ review has been completed by Network Rail

with recommendations still being worked through. The primary cause of the incident was identified as the failure of the temporary roadway [over which the new bridge was transported].”

The spokesperson added: “The full and final cost is still being finalised. The extra cost will fall to Network Rail to manage and resolve as the manager of these works. It is the council’s view that the authority will not be liable for the additional costs and penalties arising from the delay experienced during the bridge installation.”

A route under the new bridge for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists was reopened on 10th December 2020. This initially ran close to the north wall of the bridge but was realigned into the centre in late January (see photo).

Elsewhere on Gipsy Patch Lane, the controversial felling of 20 mature trees on the south side of the road, necessary to create space for a new bus lane, was carried out in the week commencing 25th January. In mitigation, the CPME project has already provided funding for 53 trees of various species to be planted along Winterbourne Road and Orpheus Avenue and there are proposals to eventually plant 24 new trees along Gipsy Patch Lane.

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News A further restriction on traffic flow along Gipsy Patch Lane came into force on Monday 8th March with the closure of a section of the westbound carriageway just west of the Little Stoke Lane junction.

A signed diversion route for westbound traffic is available via Little Stoke Lane, Kingsway, and Gifford Crescent (see map, right).

Additionally, the eastbound carriageway on Gipsy Patch Lane at the same location has been reduced to a single lane.

The carriageway and lane closures, which are expected to last for approximately eight weeks, are needed as part of work to upgrade two existing bus stops to MetroBus specification.

Two further bus stops which serve Pegasus Park and RollsRoyce will be upgraded later in the CPME construction programme as part of works to the west of the railway bridge.

● SGC project webpage:

southglos.gov.uk/CPmetrobus

One of 20 trees felled

Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension Construction programme (Showing Gipsy Patch Lane only)

Traffic management during bus stop works

2021 AprJun

JulSep

2022 OctDec

JanMar

AprJun

Gipsy Patch Lane bridge & associated road works Road works at bridge, including road lowering Gipsy Patch Lane east of bridge (Little Stoke side) MetroBus stops Road widening Gipsy Patch Lane west of bridge (Rolls-Royce side) MetroBus stops Road widening

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JulSep

OctDec

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March/April 2021

News Three Brooks: improved paths Primrose Bridge

Footpath improvements 2020

Footbridge replaced with culvert Key

Entrance: Accessible gate (RADAR key)

Entrance: Replacement footbridge

Key: The yellow paths are the paths most recently surfaced. The red paths show the extent of surfaced paths in the woodland.

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News

Accessible path network extended in local woods

T

he results of a project to improve access to the popular Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve in Bradley Stoke have been unveiled.

The project builds on the success of a scheme last year to install 500m of woodland paths which received a £25,000 grant from Enovert Community Trust.

The Trust has once again stepped in to provide a further grant of £25,000 to fund the installation of an additional 300m of accessible woodland paths.

Several footbridges have also been replaced to accommodate mobility vehicles.

South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet member for regeneration, environment and strategic infrastructure, Cllr Steve Reade, said: “We are delighted to have worked alongside Enovert Community Trust once again to extend the network of footpaths at Three Brooks Nature Reserve so more people can enjoy the beautiful surroundings all year round. During the winter, wet weather sometimes caused the previously unsurfaced paths to become muddy and impassable and meant access was limited

during some of wettest months.”

“This project to extend the footpath network will greatly improve accessibility for visitors, while helping to protect the flora and tree roots from trampling.

We hope the upgraded paths will enable people to use the reserve throughout the year.”

The project was initially proposed by the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group to make the reserve more accessible for visitors whilst protecting the woodland and wildlife.

Three Brooks is a popular nature reserve covering 60 hectares of tranquil woodland and meadows and lies at the heart of the town of Bradley Stoke. Some of the woodland dates back over 400 years, with a rich mix of habitats that provide valuable food and shelter to a wide range of wildlife, including great crested newts and slow worms.

Angela Haymonds, trust secretary at Enovert Community Trust, said: “Three Brooks Nature Reserve provides the community of Bradley Stoke with vital access to the natural environment. As a popular public

Accessing the improved paths (see map on facing page) • Entrance to woods just north of the skate park • Entrance to woods near toucan crossing on Bradley Stoke Way • Entrance to woods west of stone bridge near Ormonds Close • From the metal ‘tank’ bridge near Ellicks Close • Gated entrance behind the leisure centre (RADAR key required)

Before

After

open space, accessibility is key to ensuring year-round access for local residents. The trustees are delighted to provide this second grant towards the footpath improvement project, which will encourage greater use of the reserve.”

Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve is situated in Bradley Stoke, not far from Enovert’s Shortwood Landfill Site in

South Gloucestershire. For more information on Enovert Community Trust, please contact Angela Haymonds on 01753 582513 or ahaymonds@ enovertct.org, or visit www. enovertct.org ● More information about the nature reserve can be found on a dedicated page of the South Gloucestershire Council website at http://bit.ly/sgc-tblnr

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March/April 2021

In Brief Easter family fun in Bradley Stoke Keep your children entertained in the fresh air over the Easter holidays by joining our family Easter Egg Hunt around Bradley Stoke, writes Claire Wingate of The Brightwell.

Following a trail map, you will need to collect the letters displayed on each egg which will spell out an Easter message.

Once you have solved the puzzle, return your trail map and enjoy a yummy chocolate egg. Each completed form will be entered into a prize draw to win even more Easter treats!

All proceeds from the Easter Egg Hunt will be donated to The Brightwell in Bradley Stoke, a charity which provides therapies and support to local people living with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, stroke, chronic fatigue and cerebral palsy.

After a very difficult year when all our events were cancelled owing to Covid-19, your support is greatly appreciated.

Trail maps will be available to download for a £2 donation online at www.thebrightwell. org.uk from Monday 29th March.

For further information, please contact claire.wingate@ thebrightwell.org.uk or phone The Brightwell on 01454 201686.

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Ask the Doctor with Dr Sian Langdon of Bradley Stoke Surgery General Practice at forefront of Covid-19 vaccine delivery

T

his time last year I celebrated my birthday as the world was becoming aware of a new threat and a whole new vocabulary, and within weeks we had all changed the way we lived significantly as we entered the first National Lockdown. It was hoped that the threat would be short lived and that with extreme measures we would soon get back to ‘normal’.

Sadly, with recent outbreaks and new strains, the social distancing measures and limited social contact have had to continue, along with more National Lockdowns.

There is, of course, hope on the horizon with one of the biggest vaccination campaigns the NHS has ever seen being rolled out and successfully delivering millions of doses of vaccine in such a short space of time. General Practice has been at the forefront of this, delivering

thousands of doses locally using new pathways and collaborative working whilst also continuing to deliver primary care to our community.

One of the most interesting things for me has been how the science and evidence have become part of discussion about who should be given the vaccination and in which priority. Evidence-based medicine is something that clinicians have been using for the last four decades and is defined as “the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients”.

The latest guidance on the inclusion criteria for the Shielded patient list (Clinically Extremely Vulnerable/Group 4) and for Group 6 (clinically vulnerable group) is a good example of this. The NHS, Public Health

departments and the JCVI have been reviewing hospital data regarding deaths and admissions throughout this pandemic.

They have used this data to highlight the individuals who are most at risk from Covid-19 and therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination. It is this guidance which is being used by the NHS and your GP practice to invite people in for their vaccinations. The evidence is being used to identify society’s most vulnerable. The latest evidence suggests that risk of serious Covid-19 disease is strongly related to age, and risk of Covid-19 mortality is low in those aged under 40 years, even for individuals with clinical risk factors. Put simply, the older you are, the more likely you are to have serious infection.

We all want to reduce our risks and protect our nearest and dearest. The vaccination

programme continues to evolve at pace and soon we will be doubling our efforts by giving the first vaccination to more people as well as starting to offer the second dose to the most vulnerable in society. Your GP practice remains busy and the vaccination campaign is putting additional strain on it.

The NHS or your practice will contact you when it is your turn for vaccination. Help us by responding to invites promptly, including letting us know if you have an appointment elsewhere so we don’t have to keep sending invites. Ultimately we all want to get out of lockdown and see our friends and family again. I am hopeful that our amazing NHS will allow this to happen but until then please wear you face masks, wash your hands and keep your distance.

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The Only Cure for Litter is YOU KEEP Bradley Stoke

March/April 2021

In Brief Three Brooks lake desilting postponed South Gloucestershire Council has announced that its £250,000 project to desilt the lake at Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve in Bradley Stoke has been delayed until November 2021.

The work was supposed to take place this winter, but has now been rescheduled for 2021/22 due to delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

A council spokesperson said: “We have appointed a contractor to carry out the project and over the winter [of 2020/21] we will proceed with the minor works needed to prepare the site.”

“The desilting activity has to take place during the winter months to minimise the impact on protected species.”

“We have completed a successful tendering process and have appointed an experienced contractor to carry out the work”.

A briefing note issued last December explains that site visits with the Environment Agency were delayed from March until September because of the pandemic. This left insufficient time for the agency to complete its full assessment of the scheme.

The briefing note concluded: “It is disappointing that the project cannot be completed this year. However, given the environmentally sensitive nature of the works involved, it is essential to meet the required environmental standards set by the Environment Agency and ensure the project is completed safely and effectively.”

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Council unveils recovery budget S

outh Gloucestershire Council has agreed a budget of more than £400million to deliver public services in the next financial year, focusing on helping people to recover from the pandemic and rise to meet the challenges of the future.

 Vital support The budget allows for vital support for residents hit hardest by Covid-19. It includes a £1million resilience funding package to widen the support net for those who had previously been ineligible; £102,000 “surge funding” for expanding welfare debt advice; more support for domestic violence victims, and a pay boost targeted at the lowest paid council staff.

VIEW FROM THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL, Cllr Toby Savage

 Adult social care The council tax rate will rise by 4.99 per cent, which includes three per cent to be focused on boosting adult social care services. As normal life returns, the pressure on adult social care services will continue. The remaining 1.99 per cent increase will go towards protecting wider services. This means the South Gloucestershire Council element of Council Tax for a Band D property for 2021/22 will be £1,620.39 – an extra £1.48 per week.

Welcome – We’re proud to partner with the Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford Journals, great local newspapers, for this special edition which brings you our latest news. Spring is on its way and hope is on the horizon. Last month, the Government announced its roadmap for how the country is to emerge from lockdown. This month our children and young people are back in school.

Our new ‘Recover and Rise’ budget is designed to help you get back on your feet too, while prudently managing our finances on your behalf. We know the pandemic is particularly tough on children and young people.

To help them, we’re launching the next phase of our trail-blazing Recovery Curriculum, a new Youth Employment Hub and significantly increasing record investments in school buildings, including rebuilding Frenchay Primary School. The budget also triggers infrastructure projects to further improve local communities, including regeneration of Kingswood Town Centre, purchasing the Thornbury Hospital site to secure its future, and the completion of the Yate Park and Ride. We will also continue record investment in highways and improve how we get around the area.

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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Improving school standards remains the council’s top priority. Following last year’s launch of its trailblazing Recovery Curriculum, the budget includes a £1.2million investment to launch phase two. This phase will continue to help schoolchildren to catch up and support their general wellbeing.

The council’s capital investment into school buildings hits a new record with funding committed to upgrade and improve many schools and new primary school buildings in Winterbourne, Frenchay and Lyde Green which will be low carbon, reflecting the council’s climate emergency commitments.

 Boosting communities The budget includes investment in major projects such as purchasing the Thornbury Hospital site for plans for a brand-new healthcare facility for the town plus £25million regeneration plans for Kingswood Town Centre.

 Getting around The council will continue its record investment in the local highway network, with millions more to be invested in resurfacing roads and filling potholes. It is also supporting sustainable travel options and improving cycle and pedestrian routes.

 Platinum Jubilee To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the council has allocated £50,000 to prepare an activities programme across South Gloucestershire.

Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Employment Cllr Erica Williams at Courtney Primary School in Kingswood.

Successful local vaccination rollout Last month (February), saw the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area reach a major milestone, as all care homes had been offered the Covid-19 vaccination. As of 21 February, in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) area, nearly 250,000 people had received their first dose. That success continues. To keep up to date on the rollout, please visit the BNSSG Healthier Together’s website  bnssghealthiertogether.org.uk To find out if you are eligible and to book your vaccine appointment visit  www.nhs.uk/ coronavirus or call  119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.

PROTECTING WELLBEING Social distancing and self-isolating can be daunting for all of us so it’s really important that we look after our mental and physical health. The South Glos One You service for adults, offers advice and support to help keep well, covering a range of topics, from how to stay active at home, to maintaining mental health, tips on sleeping well, quitting smoking, healthy eating and getting enough to eat. The website is  oneyou.southglos.gov.uk or people can call  01454 865337.

The South Glos Mind You website  www.mindyou.org.uk has advice and information on mental health for young people and children and their parents and carers, including videos and webinars, and contact details of where to get more help.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adults and Housing, Cllr Ben Stokes visiting the Vaccination Clinic at West Walk Surgery in Yate.

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Getting around: Major project updates GETTING around in South Gloucestershire is set to be safer, quicker and greener, thanks to major projects which are currently underway. These include: Patchway Metrobus Extension: The bridge  Cribbs move, the heaviest ever bridge lift of its kind in the

UK, has now been completed as part of this project. Once the remaining works are finalised, the metrobus route will travel through the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood, on the former airfield site, and link with Highwood Road at the San Andreas roundabout, next to the Mall at Cribbs Causeway

Road roundabout: Work is underway on  Wraxall South Gloucestershire’s first through-about (a

roundabout with lanes of traffic through the middle). The improvements will reduce traffic congestion and increase capacity at the busy junction on the A4174 Avon Ring Road

Park and Ride site: Opening later this year, the  Yate £3.5million park and ride on Badminton Road will

help reduce traffic by encouraging people to use other travel options such as public transport, cycling or car sharing. It will include 192 parking spaces, 38 electric vehicle (EV) charge points, and secure cycle storage for 46 bicycles. Existing bus routes and services, ahead of the expansion of metrobus services to the area, will take passengers into Bristol and Yate

vehicle charging hub at the Bristol and Bath  Electric Science Park in Emersons Green: the council has

installed a 12-charging bay hub complete with a solar canopy, with six EV charge points, as part of the Revive vehicle charging network

between Lyde Green and Emersons Green:  Links A £6.5million project to improve pedestrian and cycling

routes between Emersons Green and Lyde Green

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure, Cllr Steve Reade next to the new electric vehicle charging hub at Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green

resilience: The Government has awarded  Flood £3.2million to help improve the drainage of roads

in South Gloucestershire. The council is also contributing a further £500,000 to the scheme from existing maintenance budgets

E-scooters: Following the successful launch of the West of England e-scooter trial, the trial area for the ‘hop-on hop-off’ rental e-scooters is expanding to include areas such as Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Filton in South Gloucestershire.

FREE SUPPORT FOR SOUTH GLOS BUSINESSES Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Gloucestershire, and residents considering setting up their own business, can get up to 12 hours of free business support from the South Gloucestershire Business Support Service.

It is offering group webinars, and one-to-one business coaching (subject to assessment and availability). The publicly funded programme forms part of Universal Business Support – a West of England Combined Authority initiative, delivered in partnership with the council.

Webinars cover topics such as starting and planning a business, business strategy, digital marketing, social media, finance and more. All the webinars can be viewed on this webpage:  www.coolventures.co.uk/training

FINANCIAL SUPPORT Many people are struggling financially at the moment. We have a range of financial support and welfare grants for those in immediate need of help. For support on looking at which options are available, please book an appointment to speak to one of the South Glos One Stop Shop customer advisors  www.southglos.gov.uk/contactus or call  01454 868009.

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 Think NHS 111 first TAKE PART Households across South Gloucestershire will be asked to take part in Census 2021 this month. Census day is Sunday 21 March, it is a once-in-adecade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales.

Understanding the needs of the nation helps everyone from central Government to organisations, such as councils and health authorities, plan and fund public services across England and Wales. Census outputs inform where billions of pounds of public funding are spent on services such as transport, education and health.

Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

 Land purchased for new Thornbury healthcare facility South Gloucestershire Council is to purchase the Thornbury Hospital site to support the development of new healthcare facilities.

In a landmark agreement with North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), South Gloucestershire Council will secure the land to advance long term proposals to deliver improved GP primary care,

outpatient and social care services for Thornbury. This follows a £13.3 million bid to Government for the redevelopment of the site. It will also provide a new home for the town’s local GP practices, enhanced mental health support, social care and NHS beds and a proactive ‘frailty hub’ which would focus on the elderly community receiving care in their own homes.

Keep in touch with the latest South Glos news Sign up now for our weekly update on the latest Covid-19 news for the local area and council service updates:  www.southglos.gov.uk/covid19newsletter If you are not online and would like a printed copy, please call us on  01454 868009

Businesses can also sign up for weekly updates on Covid-19, support grants, and other local resources and updates:  www.southglos.gov.uk/covid19businessupdates www.southglos.gov.uk/coronavirus

IF you have an urgent but non-lifethreatening medical need, make sure you use NHS 111 first rather than going straight to A&E. NHS 111 will help you right away. If you need urgent care, the NHS can book you in to be seen quickly and safely at an appropriate local service such as a minor injury unit or the out-ofhours GP. If you need an emergency ambulance, one can be dispatched immediately.

Clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists and paramedics, play an increasingly important role in NHS 111. In many cases clinicians in the service can assess patients and provide the advice you need over the phone without having to visit a physical service.

You should still dial  999 if you have a life-threatening illness or injury. Just think 111 first. When you think you need A&E, contact NHS  111 by phone or online.

 EU Settlement Scheme: REMINDER If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family members need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK. To be eligible, you need to have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020. The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021.

You can apply and find organisations that can help with your application on this website  www.gov.uk/settled-status-eucitizens-families

March/April 2021

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News

Covid won’t wilt Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal Charity urges supporters in the Stokes to spring into action

E

nd of life charity Marie Curie is calling on residents of the Stokes to support its flagship fundraising campaign, the Great Daffodil Appeal – which has reached its 35th anniversary this month – but has, for the first time, had to cancel all of its iconic public collections.

After an extremely difficult 12 months, the charity is facing a potential loss of over £3 million due to the cancelled collections, but it has a variety of creative ways that people in the Stokes can support the campaign this year, including donning their trainers and ‘stepping up for Marie Curie’ by walking or running in March.

All donations from the Great Daffodil Appeal will ensure that Marie Curie nurses can continue working on the frontline, providing end of life care in people’s homes throughout the South West.

Jane Marshall, Marie Curie volunteer group chairperson of The Five Stokes Fundraising Group, said: “The Great Daffodil Appeal is so important to the Marie Curie charity. Our fundraising group normally organises collections in the local area and each volunteer raises an average £80 from collecting. This amount would pay for four hours of vital nursing care.”

“This year we are unable to hold any of our collections so we have organised a JustGiving page where people can get involved,

donate and find out how we are raising money in other ways: www.justgiving.com/campaign/ MCFiveStokes” “Volunteers from our group are stepping up for Marie Curie in March by walking 10,000 steps every day in the month. You may even see one of us out in our yellow hat!”

“We will also be holding an online Facebook auction, so we’d love to hear from local businesses that are able to donate an item that can be included.”

“The 2nd Stoke Gifford Rainbows have kindly decorated the Stoke Gifford Toy Library for the Great Daffodil Appeal and volunteers have displays outside their homes. See if you can spot any! This year more than ever we need people’s support, so please spread the word.”

Alison Steadman, actor and Marie Curie ambassador, said: “I have seen first-hand the incredible difference Marie Curie makes and just how important their work is in caring for people with a terminal illness and their families. The loving care they gave my mum when she was dying is something that I’ll never forget. I don’t know how we would have managed as a family without the Marie Curie nurses and doctors and dread to think about what it would mean if they weren’t there for all the families that need them.”

“The work Marie Curie does is needed now more than ever

Far left: Volunteers from the Five Stokes Fundraising Group Left: Alison Steadman, actor and Marie Curie ambassador

as the Covid pandemic has had a big impact on their ability to fundraise. That is why I’m encouraging people across the whole of the UK to show their support in any way they can in March for this year’s Great Daffodil Appeal. Every donation means that when the time comes, Marie Curie can be there for people and their loved ones when they need it most.”

During the Great Daffodil Appeal, the first annual National

Day of Reflection will take place.

Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions of people have been bereaved. Join Marie Curie on 23rd March, the first anniversary of the start of the first UK lockdown, for a day to reflect on and commemorate this tragic loss of life.

For more information, please contact Jane on 07909 966367 or thefivestokesfundraisinggroup@ gmail.com, or visit www. mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil

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March/April 2021

Sport

Young footballers raring to go post-lockdown

By Marcus Fisher of BSYFC radley Stoke Youth FC (BSYFC) have been busy preparing for the safe return of football across all age groups, after a prolonged break due to the national lockdown.

The return to training and games from April onwards will provide a much-needed platform for boys and girls to re-unite with teammates and friends to play football in a fun, safe environment.

However, during the lockdown coaches have continued in earnest to keep the children engaged, active and developing their football skills. Many teams have been running online Zoom training; either with fitness sessions or ball control sessions.

Our newest team, the U9 Girls, who only formed just before the lockdown, have participated in weekly training sessions of ball control and fitness, which they

B

have thoroughly enjoyed and have allowed them to continue to get know each other. Other teams have run online quizzes and provided football education whilst they haven’t been able to

train as normal.

A big thank you to the coaches for providing ongoing support to their teams during the lockdown, and for their continued support as we return to football.

Bradley Stoke Youth FC is an FA Charter Standard Community Club who provide football for boys and girls from U6s to U18s.

For further details, please visit our website www.bsyfc.co.uk

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March/April 2021

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25

Schools

School’s breakfast club crowned ‘best in the South West’ by Kellogg’s

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school in Stoke Gifford has been judged to have the best club in the South West in the annual Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Awards.

Abbeywood Community School has received a cash prize of £1,000 to spend on its breakfast club as well as a special party pack for the students to celebrate in the coming months.

The Kellogg’s panel of judges selected winners based on the inspiring individuals and activities that transform the mornings of children across the UK and with so many amazing stories submitted, the competition was tough. Abbeywood Community School’s commitment to ensure every child has breakfast to start their day and their ability to adapt to regulations during the pandemic impressed the panel.

During the first national lockdown, on top of free school meal vouchers, the breakfast club team collected donations and created food packages which provided support for any family who needed it. In addition to this, the club stayed open throughout lockdown and school holidays to support vulnerable and key worker children.

The breakfast club highlighted the work of Lisa Bamford who worked tirelessly to ensure food parcels reached the most

vulnerable families during lockdown and continued this throughout the summer holidays.

Since the schools reopened in September, Lisa and the pastoral team created an appeal for food bank style donations which helped to create Christmas food parcels for students.

Sharon Beesley, assistant head at Abbeywood Community School said: “We are thrilled to have our breakfast club and the commitment of Mrs Bamford recognised by the Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Awards. We strive to ensure all our students have everything they need to prepare them to learn, including a healthy breakfast. We are so proud to share this award with our students, staff and wider community and can’t wait to be back together in school to celebrate.’’

Abbeywood Community School will put the winnings towards setting up a long-lasting outdoor breakfast provision that would be immediately Covid-safe.

Chris Silcock, VP and chief of Kellogg’s UK & Ireland, said: “I have had the opportunity to see the amazing work breakfast clubs do first hand. The pandemic has proven that now, more than ever, breakfast clubs are vital for so many families. They support working parents, offer a sense of

normality when it is needed most and provide the essential fuel children need to learn.”

“The Kellogg’s Breakfast Club awards provide a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the incredible and vital difference these clubs make across the UK.” This year, Kellogg’s is donating more money to support breakfast clubs than ever before. Along with their grants programmes which will provide funding for a minimum of 500 schools, Kellogg’s is pledging more investment – in cereal and money – to help the Magic Breakfast charity support 167,000 children every morning.

Abbeywood School’s Lisa Bamford holding products for a food parcel

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March/April 2021

News

Natural world unfazed by pandemic worries

By Sara Messenger of the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group

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hat’s one of the amazing things with nature – she doesn’t seem fazed by a pandemic, she cares not one bit who resides at No. 10 and she certainly has no interest in what we think she should be doing. Instead, she quietly and resiliently goes about her business, keeping her head down when it benefits her, then seemingly overnight leaping forward and blowing us all away with her blousy exuberance and her wholehearted commitment to bringing on the next generation as best she can. I guess that’s why this season is called spring!

I certainly hope to take a leaf (no pun intended) out of her book and put behind me the chill of both winter and Covid and focus on what we all can now do

to build on the ruins of 2020, creating a lasting legacy, and to manage and enhance all those wonderful green spaces which so improved our well-being and lifted our spirits during all those interminable lockdowns.

But to do this we are going to need help (you knew there would be a catch didn’t you). When restrictions permit, we would love to have a few more of you on our workdays so that you can see how we manage and protect your green spaces. And then, at 7pm on 8th July, you can join us at the Jubilee Centre for our slightly overdue AGM. To join our workdays, just email us at info@three-brooks. info and we will add you to the list. You don’t need to be very knowledgeable or green-fingered to join us, all that is required are a pair of stout boots and an interest in doing your bit for nature.

Heritage trees?

What seemed like an age ago, leaves from our fruit trees were sent for testing to the company NIAB-EMR and we have now received the results. The apple tree in Primrose Cottage garden is a Blenheim Orange, or a relation of it, but the two nearest the old Bowsland Farm are unknown. This implies they are not in the National Collections and may be a seedling, or a lost heritage variety. In order to preserve these rare fruit trees, a member of SGC staff will be taking grafts to establish a new stock of trees which can then be planted out on the reserve and elsewhere in South Glos. They will also be working with other local friends groups to help establish an orchard network so we can share our knowledge and experience. This does also give us the very rare opportunity to be able to name these two new varieties. If the committee can’t decide on the new names, we may open it to a public vote so get your thinking caps on!

Good connections

For childredn age 18mthss to 6yr

In further good news, we have made it onto the Bristol Greenground Map which shows the connecting parks and open spaces in and around Bristol.

You can download the map from the website of Helen Ilus Design (helenilus.com).

We were also charmed by a Girl Guide into agreeing that she could, as part of a badge

challenge, install a geocache on the reserve.

Several of the group have been busy attending online training sessions on topics that included ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, ‘Ruins and Risk’, ‘Hedgehog Ecology and Care’, Introduction to Water Voles’ and ‘Amphibian Identification’. And right on cue our ponds have burst into life and are full of wannabe-Pavarottis ‘froggie-a-wooing’ – although I was a bit disappointed to learn that the male isn’t serenading his love, he’s warning the other chaps that he is a chap too and not to be messed with. And not to be outdone, we have the male newts emulating John Travolta in a 1970s disco, waggling their tails in an attempt to impress the ladies!

Around the lake

As I’m sure you all know the desilting project has been put back and is now scheduled to take place this autumn. Nonetheless, some preparation work has taken place in recent weeks. An external tree team was employed to coppice and pollard a selection of willow trees around the north edge of the lake, trees to the west of the main viewing area, and others to the west of Juniper Way stone bridge. To widen the path around the lake, the Robocut machine was brought in to cut back the encroaching scrub from the bottom of the Tump. They were told to take it slow and steady in case there was anything lurking in the scrub. I’m

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News

not sure what they expected to find, but many years ago Green Gym installed two hibernacula here. However, they were so well hidden we soon lost them.

I’m hoping that if the Robocut did find them we aren’t sent the repair bill!

None of my suggestions for lake improvements have been included in the final plan. Neither was it felt that the proposed bird hide was feasible. Personally, I do wonder if this opportunity to create something inspirational, something that will engage with the next generation, is going to be squandered, leaving us an area furnished with the cheapest and easiest options – something that is bland and boring, and doesn’t interest or address the needs of the community.

It would be helpful if the landowners could improve their investment, not only in financial terms but in support and meaningful engagement with their army of volunteers, and manage their assets instead of their liabilities.

Bird watching group

Although we were unable to install our new bird boxes or to continue with the bird ringing, as had been planned, we were asked by Keith if we have a bird watching group. The answer is that we don’t, but soon hope to!

I wasn’t sure that we would have enough all-year-round to interest the twitchers, so suggested to other friends groups that we could take it in turns to host a monthly bird watch, a suggestion eagerly taken up.

Each year on National Dawn Chorus Day we run a free public walk. This year it will be on Sunday 2nd May and we are hopeful that this could be our first bird group event. If you are interested in joining the group, email Robin (of course!) on info@three-brooks.info and put ‘Bird Watching Group’ in the subject line. ● Contact the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group… t: 07497 006676 w: www.three-brooks.info and on Facebook too!

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Above: A stack of logs from felled trees near the Juniper Way bridge at the lake.

Left: The Robocut machine on a previous visit to the reserve

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Get well · Stay well

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March/April 2021

by Craig de Groot, chiropractor at Willow Brook Clinic

Walk yourself to fitness

alking has proven to be a ‘lockdown’ lifesaver for so many of us. It has been encouraging to see so many people out and about, throughout the day and night, pounding the pavements and footpaths. How many steps we have done easily slips into conversation.

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise available to us. It gets our heart rate up, it is gentle on the knees and hips and you don’t need any fancy equipment to walk. In Bradley Stoke and the surrounding areas we have lots of footpaths and parks to walk in – we should take advantage of them.

Walking daily is a good habit to get into. You don’t have to go far, a little and often is easier for most people, fitting in a longer walk when you can. Walking is not only good for your physical health, it does wonders for your mental health too. Hopefully, we will soon have some glorious sunshine – a daily walk in the sun will boost your vitamin D levels – it’s a win-win situation.

Here are a few tips to help you walk better, and if you are starting to walk regularly these tips will help you to stay injury free and enable you to get maximum benefit from your walking: • Hold your head high • Look forward and not at the ground • Move your shoulders naturally

Craig de Groot

• Keep your chin parallel to the ground • Keep your back straight, not arched forward or backward • Gently tighten your stomach muscles • Swing your arms freely with a slight bend in your elbows • Walk smoothly, rolling your foot from heel to toe • Walk in comfortable shoes • Enjoy walking and learning about your environment as your walk If you find any of these points difficult to achieve, and you are suffering neck, shoulder or back discomfort, consider seeing a chiropractor or physiotherapist to help with your posture and alignment and to set you on the path to pain-free walking.

Remember that walking is good for everyone, whatever your ability or talent.

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

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29

News

Little Stoke fly-tip costs perpetrator almost £3,000

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man has been ordered to pay a total of £2,950 in fines and costs after being prosecuted for waste related offences following the discovery of a fly-tip close to the Little Stoke Sort It centre.

Abishek RavindranVaidyaingham, 36, of Wood Street, Patchway was prosecuted

by South Gloucestershire Council’s environmental enforcement team after a flytip consisting of baby clothes, garden items (including a trampoline), plastics and black bin bags of household waste was discovered in Station Road, Little Stoke on 2nd February 2020.

The fly-tip was reported to South Gloucestershire Council and environmental enforcement officers attended the location, took photographs and seized evidence in the form of documentation with the defendant’s address on, which was found amongst the waste.

Officers attended the home address of the defendant on 4th February. He was not at home at the time, but they spoke to him by telephone to make arrangements to formally interview him at a later date.

He admitted his responsibility for the fly-tip and after returning home that same evening, he went to Station Road and cleared the waste himself.

Ravindran-Vaidyaingham was interviewed under caution on Thursday 6th February, where he admitted the offence. He explained that on Sunday 2nd February he was moving address and had completely filled his car with household waste. He said that he went to the local recycling centre in Little Stoke but it was closed when he got there, and as he required his car for work the following day, he emptied the waste into a nearby entranceway. He also explained that he had intended to return and dispose of the waste properly but was unable to do so on Monday 3rd or Tuesday 4th

February, which is when he was contacted by the council.

Appearing at Bristol Magistrates Court on 22nd February 2021, RavindranVaidyaingham pleaded guilty to the illegal disposal of waste and was fined £1,996, along with £773 in costs and a victim surcharge of £181.

Cabinet member for communities and local place, Cllr Rachael Hunt, said: “Each one of us has a responsibility to correctly dispose of our household waste and there really is no excuse for this type of behaviour. This gentleman should have made sure that he was able to legally dispose of his waste before loading his vehicle. Fly-tipping blights our countryside and has a negative impact on our communities and local environment.”

“Our zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in South Gloucestershire means that anyone who fly-tips here is up to five times more likely to be prosecuted than anywhere else in the country. Our award-winning environmental enforcement team has a 100 percent record of securing successful prosecutions for this type of offence, so if you fail in your duty of care and allow rubbish to be fly-tipped in South Gloucestershire, you can expect to be caught and brought before the courts.”

You can carry out these simple steps to make sure your waste is disposed of legally: • Ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask where the waste is being taken. Legitimate firms will be happy to provide this information.

• Do not be tempted to use people offering cheap waste clearance on sites such as Facebook and Gumtree unless you have confirmed that they are registered with the Environment Agency.

• Check whether the waste carrier is registered by calling the Environment Agency on 08708

Fly-tipped waste in the entrance to a business property on Station Road

506506 or using the search facility on their ‘Register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers‘ webpage.

• Ask for a registered trading address and telephone number for the trader, and get a receipt.

Unwanted goods and household or garden waste can all be

disposed of at no cost via the council’s Sort It centres.

Residents who see illegal fly-tipping are encouraged to report it using the online form available at www.southglos.gov. uk/flytipping or by contacting the StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000.

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News

t: 01454 300 400

March/April 2021

News

Another town councillor resigns By-elections scheduled for Thursday 6th May

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by-election has been called for the Bradley Stoke North parish ward after former mayor Elaine Hardwick resigned her seat in January.

The resignation has created a second vacancy on the town council, following the earlier resignation of Nikki Hallur, who represented the Bradley Stoke South parish ward.

The vacancy for the South ward seat was scheduled to be filled at a by-election called for 26th March 2020, but that poll was postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

By-elections for both seats will now take place on Thursday 6th May 2021, the same day that residents will be called to elect a new West of England metro mayor and a new police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset.

Former mayor Elaine Hardwick

In her letter of resignation, Ms Hardwick explains that she has now moved away from South Gloucestershire and can no longer represent residents in Bradley Stoke North. Reflecting on her year as mayor (2016/17), she says one of her main achievements was to “adhere to the public’s wishes and convert the tennis courts in Brook Way into further car parking”.

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The pre-loved solar panels arrive

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Solar panels installed on the roof

olarsense, one of the UK’s most trusted clean energy advisors and solar power installers, has chosen Bradley Stoke charity The Brightwell, home of The West of England MS Therapy Centre, to be its charity of the year for 2021.

Solarsense and The Brightwell will be working together over the next twelve months to improve the centre’s carbon footprint and reduce its on-going energy costs.

This will help to ensure more funding can be allocated to the charity’s mission of helping its members to live an independent life whilst providing a sustainable centre for years to come.

As a charity, The Brightwell has been helping people manage their long-term chronic neurological conditions for more than 35 years and currently supports close to 400 local people. The World Health Organisation found that neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s

disease, stroke, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia continue to be the leading cause of disability worldwide. For people who have one of these conditions acclimatising to a different life takes a team, and The Brightwell is an invaluable part of that team for both its members and their families.

The turmoil of 2020 highlighted the need for the charity to become more sustainable, whilst minimising its operating costs. Many of the charity’s normal fundraising activities were cancelled, cash donations ceased entirely, and inkind donations have faded away.

With a wide range of equipment and facilities to run, including a state-of-the-art physiotherapy gym and oxygen therapy suite, the operating costs of The Brightwell are currently in excess of £300,000 per year.

Solarsense will be working closely with the organisation throughout 2021 to identify and

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News

‘Project Green’ under way at The Brightwell Continued from facing page

implement a number of energy efficiency measures that will cut its operating costs considerably and for the long-term.

The key areas that have been identified in order to help the charity are solar panels and LED lighting to offset the charity’s enormous electricity bills, an air source heat pump to reduce heating costs and charge points for electric vehicles to help those who often struggle to access charge points in the usual locations due to limited mobility.

A specialist team from Solarsense has already installed a refurbished 30kWp solar panel system, which was recently removed from an office building (due for refurbishment). The system will generate 30,000kWh of clean electricity per annum; saving the charity around £4,000 per year. As well as saving the charity vital funds, the clean energy system will offset 7,328kg of carbon emissions per year; significantly improving the organisation’s carbon footprint.

Doro Pasantes, centre manager at The Brightwell said: “We are absolutely delighted that Steve Barrett and Solarsense have chosen The Brightwell as their charity of the year for 2021. In December a donation of 114 Solar PV panels were installed on the roof of the Therapy Centre. A very smooth and professional installation from start to finish, no mess, no fuss and all over in six business days. We now have a

Solar panels on the roof of The Brightwell, which is located between Bradley Stoke Way and Wheatfield Primary School

30kW peak output system which will reduce our reliance on the National Grid and significantly lower our energy bills. Reducing our expenses will enable us to help even more people who live with long-term debilitating neurological conditions.”

With the charity witnessing diminishing donations due to the pandemic and still providing their members the therapies and support needed Solarsense are looking for help with contributions towards this amazing cause. Any donation, big or small will go a long way in ensuring The Brightwell can continue their life saving work.

Solarsense are now fundraising towards Phase 2 of ‘Project Green’, which includes funding a heat pump, LED lighting and

EV charge points. If you or your organisation would like to contribute or get involved in any way, please visit thebrightwell. org.uk/project-green, where you will find more information.

Alternatively, if you would like to get involved in any other way, please get in touch with Doro Pasantes, centre manager, who will be delighted with your support.

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March/April 2021

News

Revised plans submitted

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Above: Aerial view of the proposed mix-used development site, clearly visible as the large grassed area surrounded by trees (centre of image)

Bradley Stoke Journal

he company behind proposals for a new mixeduse development on vacant land to the rear of Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford has submitted a suite of revised plans in an effort to address concerns raised by planning officials at South Gloucestershire Council (SGC).

The development site lies between Great Stoke Way (the dual carriageway leading to Abbey Wood Roundabout) and Fox Den Road (the road providing access to Sainsbury’s, The Range, Lidl, Bargain Buys and Everlast Fitness Club).

The proposals include an Aldi supermarket, a Costa drivethrough, a Premier Inn hotel and

a Beefeater restaurant, Vehicles would enter and leave the site via a single access point off Fox Den Road, close to the Sainsbury’s delivery yard.

After assessing the original plans, SGC’s planning policy department raised “significant concerns” over the type of retail space being proposed and questioned whether the scheme would make efficient use of the land.

Concerns were also raised over the number of mature trees that would be felled around the perimeter of the site and the “particularly bleak” appearance of the proposed 265-space car park.

In the revised plans, the hotel

Site plan (phase 1)

Hotel

Park

Aldi Costa

Sainsbury’s

Vehicle access Car park of The Range

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for Premier Inn, Aldi and Costa in Stoke Gifford has been moved further away from the eastern boundary, allowing an increased landscape buffer to Fox Den Road.

Additional tree planting is proposed along Great Stoke Way and some of the better-quality existing trees will be retained.

The number of parking spaces has been reduced to 240 and there will be a minimum of one tree for every six parking bays with additional planting along the main pedestrian route through the car park.

The original 16 disabled and nine parent/child spaces are retained and the number of electric vehicle charging points is increased from three to ten.

The external elevations of the hotel building have been given more interest through the use of copper and bronze coloured panel in focussed areas.

Additionally, glazing has been introduced into a stair core that

Left: Approach from the Aviva roundabout. Right: Aerial view of phase 1, showing ‘pocket park’ between hotel and Aldi.

faces the Aviva roundabout, to reduce its prominence and “present activity to the street”.

At the request of highways officers, the applicant has also agreed to fund improvements to an existing informal pedestrian crossing on Great Stoke Way, close to the Aviva roundabout.

In relation to a council policy which calls for a significant element of ‘comparison

shopping’ (for more expensive goods bought less frequently) to be provided within the district centre, the applicant repeats a previous claim that this requirement is “out of date, does not reflect the changing retail market, and is not achievable in this location”.

A suggestion that a residential element might be included to improve “efficiency of land use”

is dismissed by the applicant on the grounds of “lack of market demand … or viability constraints”.

The plans include an additional two-story ‘multi-use building’ but this would not be built until justified by market demand.

In the interim, it would be substituted with a ‘pocket park’. ● Planning application reference: P20/05916/F

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Police

Dog returned to owner following theft report

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dog reported stolen in January has been returned to its thankful owner by police after being missing for nearly four weeks.

Thieves broke down a large fence to take two male Shetland sheepdogs from a property in the Almondsbury area between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday 31st January.

One of the dogs was found two days later running loose in the Portway area of Bristol the following week and safely returned.

The other dog, which is three years old, was found in late February at an address in Stoke Bishop. It had been shaved, but following analysis of its microchip it was revealed to be the dog taken from Almondsbury at the end of January.

Three other dogs (pictured below) – a lurcher, Jack Russell and Chihuahua – were found at the same location. Enquiries are ongoing to ascertain who owns them.

PC Alex Higham of Avon and Somerset Police’s Operation Remedy team said: “Our investigation into what happened is continuing. A 53-year-old woman was arrested and has since been released under investigation at this time.”

“Dog thefts are thankfully rare but this investigation shows how important getting your pet microchipped is. Without that, we may not have been able to return one dog to his rightful owner, who was understandably

delighted to have him back safe and sound.”

“Anyone with information relating to the theft back in January, or who can assist us in verifying who owns the other dogs, is asked to call 101 quoting reference 5221021985.”

Despite the recent incident, police say there have been only a relatively small number of dog thefts in Avon and Somerset in recent years. They advise owners to observe the following crime prevention advice: • Keep your dog’s microchip details up-to-date and ensure they wear a tag with your name, address and phone number – but not the dog’s name • Have lots of photos of your dog, including some together with you • Make sure your garden is secure • Train your dog to come to you when called • Vary the time and routes of your walks, if you can • Use a reputable kennels or dogsitting service, ideally through recommendation, and always check references Statistics released by Avon and Somerset police show that in South Gloucestershire there was just one recorded dog theft in each of the years 2016, 2017 and 2019. A higher number of eight was recorded in 2018,.

In the first nine months of 2020 (the latest period for which detailed data is available) there were five incidents - two from a house, two from a garden/shed and one on a walk.

Shetland sheepdog ‘Sonny’: Before and after his return (having been shaved)

Lurcher, Jack Russell and Chihuahua found at the same location as Sonny.

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“Let me know what matters to you,” says MP

By Jack Lopresti MP he changing nature of a pandemic of a new virus has meant that one of the most challenging aspects of the last year has been the difficulty to plan. The Government has had to respond quickly to changing circumstances while also trying to protect lives, the NHS, the economy and jobs. Unfortunately, this has so often meant that plans have had to change quickly, and obviously we haven’t been able to do many of the things that we normally would.

It’s absolutely right to be cautious; we can’t afford to let the virus run out of control and have to lock down again. But it’s also right to give as much certainty as we can, so that we can see and plan a way through to life returning to a new normal.

That’s what the Prime Minister did with his roadmap, which charts a course for us to get back

T

Jack Lopresti MP with staff of Concord Medical Centre, Little Stoke

to seeing family and friends and going out do to the things we love. From restaurants to Rotary Clubs, and sports stadiums to salsa dancing, if the numbers keep going down and the vaccine programme continues at the rate it has been, we can hit the four steps of reopening that the Prime Minister has set out.

As we look towards the end of lockdown and beyond, it’s entirely natural that our perspectives may have shifted.

We have seen a remarkable growth in people getting involved in and supporting their

communities and I have no doubt that this will continue long after we’ve beaten the coronavirus. I want to make sure that, as your representative in Parliament, I am responding to the issues that constituents care about most.

A lot of that engagement comes through my email inbox.

Already this year, my team have dealt with thousands of emails from constituents on almost every topic you can think of. But there are many who either don’t need my immediate help, or who might not have considered getting in touch with me.

That’s why I’ve launched my 2021 Residents’ Survey, to find out more about the issues that really matter to you, both in your local community as well as nationally. I’ve always worked to make sure that I am responsive to the needs of our residents and I’m excited to hear what you’re passionate about, so we can work together to make our area even better.

You can find the survey on my website at www.jacklopresti. com/survey. Please do share this link with friends and family who live in the constituency; I want to hear from as many people as possible ,so please spread the word!

If there’s anything else my team or I can help you with, please don’t hesitate to email me on jack.lopresti.mp@parliament. uk, or call the team on the number above between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

PART TIME JOB OPPORTUNITY: ASSISTANT MOBILE HOUSEKEEPER Felina Contract Cleaning is an established local company, of sixteen years trading. Currently, we are looking for bright and bubbly people to join us – could you be the right person for our friendly team?

We provide professional cleaning services to private client households, in and around the North Bristol area. We love our work and we take great care of our valued clients.

Don’t worry if you have no previous cleaning experience – You won’t be working on your own and we’ll give you full training and support, throughout.

We have a part-time position available, for one day weekly. Full contract and employment rights will apply.

Shifts start daily from our Bradley Stoke office and we generally work a 9-5 o’clock day.

Our daily tasks are carried out in very pleasant environments, and we offer excellent working conditions and competitive rates of pay.

Full work kit, staff uniform and protective equipment will be provided to you, and a company pool car is provided for daily rounds.

Candidates should please present with a bright and outgoing attitude. As we operate a mobile service, we also require that you hold a clean driving licence.

Take a peek at our website before you call: www.felina.biz We look forward to hearing from you! t: 01454 201562 ● m: 07790 050187

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

March/April 2021

t: 01454 300 400

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

37

News

The story behind the white paper birds in a tree on Brook Way

By Sara Messenger, Rainbow Guide leader or those of you whose Brownie or Scout days are just a distant memory, or those who weren’t lucky enough to join us for scraped knees and jamborees, 22nd February is a special date for members of Guiding as it is our World Thinking Day, an annual event which is celebrated in 150 countries around the world by over 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. On this day, we celebrate Guiding and its impact on girls and young women.

The date was chosen as it is the birthday of both our founder, Lord Baden-Powell (1857) and his wife Olave (1889) Our theme this year is ‘Stand Strong, Stand up and Stand Together’ for peacebuilding.

Peacebuilding is at the heart of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting and is as vital and relevant in today’s complicated and fractious times as it was 100 years ago. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), together with the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) have even been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, for outstanding contributions which have empowered millions of young people in their

F

communities for more than a century.

Although we couldn’t all celebrate together this year, South West England Girlguiding organized a virtual sleepover from 20th to 21st February where thousands of us were able to ‘visit’ all of our five WAGGGS World Centres, where the activities included everything from a tour of the centre, cooking local food, playing traditional games, building models of famous landmarks, traditional crafts and dancing ‘Bollywood’ style! The weekend started at 10am with a welcome from Carole Pennington, Region Chief Commissioner and ran until 8pm when the day finished with an international campfire and bedtime stories. On Sunday morning at 7am many of us renewed our Promise although I’m not sure if Carol knew at that point just how many of us were still in our PJs! And the day concluded at 11am with a closing ceremony. The girls had a great time and despite the huge amount of organisation and logistics needed the day went without a hitch, unlike You Tube’s subtitle software which put Bristol in South Austria and called Kusafiri our African World Centre everything from ‘Coo’s the theory’ to ‘Kiss the fairy!’

PEST CONTROL SERVICES

At a local level, parents were emailed ‘Wishing you a world of peace’ posters to put in their windows and in Bradley Stoke a tree was decorated with over 40 peace doves made by girls and their leaders, all with the word ‘peace’ written in different languages.

Although many units have adapted to life under Covid and are meeting via Zoom, we are hopeful that we may return to face-to-face meetings after Easter, although it will be up to

RUBBISH CLEARANCE

Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance Licensed waste carrier Free Quotations ● All Pests and Wildlife covered Reactive & Preventative Control Rodent and Bird Proofing Works Hygiene Cleaning and Vegetation Control Rodents, Wasps, Bed Bugs, Fleas are our speciality! ● 19 years experience ● Fully insured ● BPCA Level 2 trained

Contact Andrew on 01454 219296 www.pestbgone.co.uk

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

each unit or venue when they do return. But Girlguiding remains hugely popular and wants and needs more volunteers so that we can offer girls even more exciting adventures and experiences.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, age groups and abilities, so if you would be interested in joining us, visit girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved To register your daughter’s interest in Girlguiding, visit girlguiding.org.uk/informationfor-parents 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

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

38

www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk

Directory of Advertisers Accountants & Bookkeepers C & M Accountants, Page 27 Dunkley’s Accountants, Page 16 Bathrooms JJ Plumbing, Page 31 Little Bathroom & Boiler Co., Page 26 Builders Criterion Construction, Page 32 Carpentry & Joinery J. Earle Carpentry & Joinery, Page 39 Northavon Carpentry, Page 30 Steve Corris Carpentry, Page 39 Carpet Cleaners Bonne Fresh Clean, Page 15 Carpets & Flooring Trinity Floors and Blinds, Page 14 Child Care Abacus Pre-School, Page 11 Banana Moon Day Nursery, Page 40 Children’s Activities Babyballet Bradley Stoke, Page 26 Bristol Riding School, Page 35 Chiropractic Willow Brook Clinic, Page 5 Curtains & Blinds Trinity Floors and Blinds, Page 14 Cleaning & Domestic Services Niko’s Mobile Cleaning Ltd, Page 29 Domestic Appliance Repairs Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Care, Page 32 Education & Learning Kumon Study Programme, Page 15 Olympus Academy Trust, Page 28 Electricians Ernest Till, Page 35 Estate Agents Ocean Estate Agents, Page 1 Financial Services Aspirations Financial Advice, Page 8 Foot Care Willow Brook Clinic, Page 5 Funeral Services F. Woodruff Funeral Directors, Page 10 Memorial Woodlands, Page 9 MW Funeral Directors, Page 24 Garage Services Filton Central Garage, Page 18 LCM Automotive, Pages 1 & 31 Tyres Direct, Page 2 Gardening & Landscaping Services ColourFence, Page 33 Garretts Landscapes, Page 4 Painting Petals, Page 38 Professional Gardening Services, Page 37 Smart Patios, Page 25 Gyms & Health Clubs See directory on BSJ website Healthcare Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Page 30

Home Improvements & Furnishings Door Express, Page 25 Garolla Roller Shutter Doors, Page 10 Launderettes Wash Shop Patchway, Page 39 Mortgages & Financial Advice Aspirations Financial Advice, Page 8 Painting & Decorating A. Worsfold, Page 38 Digby Decor, Page 38 Painting Petals, Page 38 Rick Murphy, Page 38 Pest Control Services PestBGone, Page 37 Pet Services & Supplies Rosie Posie Pet Services, Page 39 Physiotherapy Willow Brook Clinic, Page 5 Plasterers B & D Plastering, Page 28 Plumbing & Heating Fastfix Plumbing & Drainage, Page 23 JJ Plumbing, Page 31 Little Bathroom & Boiler Co., Page 26 Low Cost Plumbing, Page 39 M.S.M Plumbing & Heating, Page 39 Panache Plumbing, Page 39 S. Berryman Plumbing & Heating, Page 39 Politics Dan Norris (Labour), Page 7 Property Maintenance David Coombs Services, Page 39 Mark’s Gutter Cleaning, Page 39 So Clear Gutter Clearing, Page 39 Public Notices Bradley Stoke Town Council, Page 18 South Glos Council, Pages 19-22 Recruitment Felina Contract Cleaning, Page 36 4TVL Community Transport, Page 10 Retirement Homes Abbeyfield Bristol & Keynsham, Page 6 Rubbish Clearance Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance, Page 37 Self Storage Admiral’s Yard Self Storage, Page 12 Shopping Willow Brook Centre, Page 3 Slimming Clubs & Consultants Slimming World, Page 13 Solicitors Bevan Evemy Solicitors, Page 27 Star Legal, Page 17 Sport & Leisure Bristol Riding School, Page 35 Taxis & Private Hire See directory on BSJ website Window Cleaning Ultra Clear, Page 39

t: 01454 300 400

March/April 2021

PAINTING & DECORATING

RICK MURPHY PAINTING & DECORATING (formerly of Inside Out) Interior and exterior painting All work guaranteed Call Rick for a free quote on

07816 854978

Email: r_murphy35@hotmail.com Advertise in this section for just £20 per month

Tell advertisers you found them in the Bradley Stoke Journal!

Advertise in this section for just £20 per month

Visit our online directory: www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/directory To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

March/April 2021

t: 01454 300 400

39

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

PLUMBING & HEATING

WINDOW CLEANING

CARPENTRY & JOINERY

Tell advertisers you found them in the Bradley Stoke Journal!

LAUNDERETTES

Advertise in this section for just £20 per month

WASH SHOP Launderette 11 The Parade,Patchway Bristol BS34 5LP Tel : 0117 947 0284 www.patchwaylaunderette.co.uk

NOW OPEN with social dist. measures Self service, Service washes, Duvets, Bedding, Curtains & Sleeping Bags washed, Fast Dryers. Ironing service.

Mon - Fri 10am to 4pm, Sat 10am to 1pm. (last service 1 hour prior to closing times)

FB:Stevecorriscarpentryandhomeimprovements

GUTTERING, DOWNPIPES & FASCIA

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

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

• • • • •

www.soclear.co.uk

Find Panache Plumbing on Facebook & FreeIndex

www.panacheplumbing.co.uk

• Gutter clearing • Gutter cleaning • Fascia cleaning • Patio cleaning

Call or book online

No too job sma ll

corriscarpentry@gmail.com

info@soclear.co.uk ● 07851 847 079

Mark’s Gutter Cleaning

Call Darren on 07901 910361

07523 961 869

Experienced cleaners Gutters cleared up to 5 storeys high Fully Insured Telescopic camera check Competitive prices – free quotation

PANACHE

“Always on tap”

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

Local, friendly and reliable professional

So Clear

Tell advertisers you found them in the Bradley Stoke Journal!

BATHROOM, SHOWER & PLUMBING SPECIALIST

Steve Corris Carpentry & Home Improvements

PET SERVICES

Gutter Clearing Gutter Cleaning Fascia Cleaning Call or Book online

www.marksguttercleaning.co.uk www.marksguttercleaning.co.uk Tel: 8528 Mob: 056558 Tel:0117 0117 370 3708528 Mob: 07543 07543056558 Serving North Bristol &Bristol South Glos Based in Downend,

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

Banana Moon Day Nursery in Bristol provides a safe, caring environment for children from three months to five years of age •

Open from 7.30am to 6.30pm, 51 weeks of the year

•

Home-cooked food

•

Secure environment with extensive CCTV and a fingerprint biometric entry system

•

Outdoor learning environment

•

Friendly and highly experienced staff.

To find out more and arrange a visit, call

0117 969 1662

Homecooked food

Fully equipped outdoor play area

Register your interest at

info@bananamoon-bristol.co.uk

Fingerprint biometric access

operates throughout our nurseries

Banana Moon Day Nursery in Bristol Pinnacle House, 166a Gloucester Road North, Patchway, Bristol BS34 5BG Call us on 0117 969 1662 or visit bananamoon-bristol.co.uk