Bradley Stoke Journal, July/August 2021

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July/August 2021 • Issue 87

BUSINESS P3, P24 | WHAT’S ON P14, P15, P16-17 | SPORT P19, P26 | DIRECTORY P30 Find us on Facebook: BradleyStokeJournal Follow us on Twitter: @TheBSJournal

PLUS , IN YOUR 32-PAGE BRADLEY STOKE MAGAZINE

New edition of charity scarecrow trail coming to Bradley Stoke in August Gipsy Patch Lane, Little Stoke

Direct access to shops blocked

P16-17

Voi e-scooter trial

P8-9

Issues thrashed out at meeting

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l Green Grant energy savings for local firm l Future of Parkway Bridge shuttle traffic lights hangs in the balance l Three Brooks nature reserve report for June l Luke Wheaton memorial event: New date set l FREE summer play scheme for 5-11s l Bradley Stoke Ladies FC all set for 7th season l Open Access resumes at South Glos libraries l 2021 Summer Reading Challenge launched l Remodelled bus stops now in use at Parkway l Delayed dance school show raises £4,335 for hospice charity l Local swimming club has exciting plans

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3

Business

Green Grant brings energy savings for local firm

M

etro mayor Dan Norris has paid a visit to a Bradley Stoke children’s playground specialist to see how the company is benefiting from a Green Business Grant scheme.

Pentagon Play has received a grant of £3,000 from the West of England Combined Authority, which Mr Norris now leads. The cash injection means Pentagon Play can make energy saving improvements to its premises.

The business, which designs and installs playground equipment Metro mayor Dan Norris (2nd from right) meets business owner James for schools and nurseries, is Collis-Pritchard (centre, seated) and some of the staff at Pentagon Play using its grant to fit eco-friendly LED lighting with sensors to help determine what sort of world managing director and owner save energy. our children and grandchildren of Pentagon Play said: “Our Metro mayor Dan Norris inherit. Thank you to James and business focuses on developing said: “Protecting our planet the team for showing me around learning and play environments whilst saving businesses money Pentagon Play’s HQ. I loved the for children of today to make shouldn’t be complicated, it obstacle course and the sturdy the world a better place for the needs to be child’s play. I’m wooden mud kitchen. The local adults of tomorrow. We believe urging businesses across the team was really enthusiastic and we have clear responsibilities to West of England to answer the clearly proud of their work.” make changes to our practices WB–garden ad.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2021 20:51 Page 3 call decisions taken now will James Collis-Pritchard which support sustainable and

green trading. As well as our lighting improvements we have also purchased electric vehicles to reduce our emissions and are constantly reviewing our methods and implementing changes to the way we operate with the focus on reducing our carbon footprint to zero.”

Green Business Grants are available up to £15,000 to help small and medium sized businesses make energy saving improvements to their buildings and business operations. The grant pays for 50 to 80 percent of costs depending on the business size, location and project. The grant is funded by the West of England Combined Authority’s Recovery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund. ● Pentagon Play installations in the local area include recent play area refurbishments at Jubilee Green, Bradley Stoke and Meade Park, Stoke Gifford.

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July/August 2021

News

T Contact Us Find us on Facebook: BradleyStokeJournal

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

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About the Bradley Stoke Journal The Bradley Stoke Journal 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: September 2021

• Advertising copy deadline: Friday 27th August • Article copy deadline: Monday 30th August • The magazine will be distributed from Saturday 11th September Subject to change due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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

he coral/orange-coloured rental e-scooters that first appeared on the streets of the Stokes in February have certainly divided opinion, with one commentator likening them to Marmite – “You either love them or hate them”.

Those in the former camp see the e-scooters as being ideal for short trips around town, such as commuting between home and a workplace, either for the whole journey or for getting to a transport node such as a railway station or bus stop.

The loathers complain about inconsiderate parking of the e-scooters, under-age riding, inconsiderate and/or dangerous riding and illegal use on pavements.

In response to complaints from local residents, Bradley Stoke Town Council has been pushing for a meeting with representatives from the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), which is leading the local trial; Voi Technology Ltd, which provides the rental scooters; and

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

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC), which has oversight of the scheme in our area.

The meeting finally took place on 25th May, when town clerk Sharon Petela set the scene by stating that while the town council is “always keen to see innovative ideas in projects in the town”, it felt that there had been “poor communications over the project since the start”.

She continued: “If proper consultation involving all stakeholders (including parish and town councils) had taken place prior to the introduction of the Voi scooters into South Gloucestershire, many of the problems and negativity could have been addressed beforehand, rather than constantly playing ‘catch-up’ since the scooters arrived.”

Scooter parking

Town councillors commented that many of the designated parking locations for the scooters are “inappropriate”, and the council does not have an overview of where these are in the town. They added that the apparent dumping of scooters on verges and footpaths is “making the town look untidy”.

Voi representatives explained that users can only park the scooters in designated locations, and that they did do some site visits and reviews (in conjunction with SGC) at the start of the project. They have also spoken to equalities groups in respect of siting drop-off/parking zones.

They said that they can give the town council visibility of the

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News

E-scooter trial issues thrashed out in four-way stakeholder meeting Continued from facing page

parking locations to get input into suitability and appreciate discussions with the town councillors as they are the “local experts”. They added that plans are afoot for SGC to implement some physical infrastructure at parking locations (see statement below).

A parking cap at each parking location (to limit the number of scooters per site, so if a bay is full, the user will have to find another designated zone to end their ride) is currently in development.

Scooters which are left outside of designated parking areas (whether through neglect or running out of battery) are automatically flagged for a ‘pickup and repark’ task by teams on the ground, on a daily basis.

Misuse of scooters

Responding to concerns over the use of the scooters whilst under the influence of alcohol, Voi stated that, after 8pm, hirers must undertake a reaction time test through their smartphone app before commencing a ride.

They added that the scooters cannot be ridden between midnight and 6am.

Councillors raised concerns about the fact that the scooters are silent and so pedestrians do not hear them coming – Voi said they are looking into installing

L-r: Parked e-scooters blocking a path near Sherbourne Avenue; Damaged e-scooter dumped near Braydon Avenue

a mechanism to produce a ‘humming’ sound in the scooters.

On the subject of under-age use, a written reply from Weca pointed to the account setup procedure which requires hirers to upload an image of their driving licence along with a ‘selfie’ photo. Voi deploys ‘ambassador teams’ to areas where anti-social behaviour (including under-age riding) has been identified as a concern.

Where users are found to engage in under-age riding, the hirer’s account will be deactivated.

SGC statement

We review parking locations before they are implemented to identify any safety concerns or issues, such as the locations being

on private land. If we receive queries or complaints relating to a current parking location then we raise these with Voi and if appropriate, make amendments, or remove the E-scooter parking location if necessary.

As part of the trial, Weca, the local authorities and Voi wish to implement some parking infrastructure which will include physical parking racks and painted parking bays to mitigate any e-scooter clutter and increase the tidiness of the vehicles when parked. The review of these locations has now been completed and we hope for the infrastructure to be implemented later this summer.

It is hoped that the implementation will lead to

improved parking of the trial e-scooters and this will benefit both users and local communities as a result of the vehicles being parked more tidily. These e-scooter parking locations will also increase the visibility of the parking locations and especially for those who may not currently be aware of the locations. We must remain conscious that at present the e-scooter trial is not currently a permanent scheme, so any infrastructure needs to have the potential to be removed.

● The new Weca mayor Dan

Norris says he would like to see the Voi e-scooter trial extended in order to make a “proper and informed decision” on the future of this and similar schemes.

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July/August 2021

News

F

ollowing the revelation in last month’s Journal magazine that officers at South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) are pushing for the temporary ‘shuttle’ traffic lights at Parkway Bridge to remain in place for a further 12 months, varying accounts have emerged of a further meeting held in late June to discuss the future of the controversial scheme.

The single-lane traffic system was introduced at the bridge in June 2020 (during the first Covid-19 lockdown) to create extra space for people walking or cycling through the tunnel.

With traffic levels increasing as lockdown measures are eased and the risk of virus transmission for non-motorised users passing under the bridge now seen as less of an issue, the three South Gloucestershire ward councillors for Stoke Gifford have unanimously called for the scheme to be removed.

After a meeting with SGC officers on 26th May, the local councillors reported that the officers had agreed to undertake a “complete appraisal of the traffic throughout the coming weeks to make an informed comparison to what was experienced preCovid”, to aid future decisions on the current measures.

Following the latest meeting with the local councillors on 26th June, an SCG spokesperson told the Journal: “We are still conducting the appraisal, but so far we’ve seen that levels of traffic have remained manageable with no excessive queuing outside of short periods in the morning and evenings.”

“However, we anticipate traffic levels will increase when current Covid-19 restrictions are due to be [further] eased in July. With that in mind, officers are starting to look at options to manage this, which will be presented to members.”

Readers’ letter on the Parkway Bridge shuttle lights

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Thank you for the update in the June issue of the Journal on the current state of play regarding plans for keeping Parkway Bridge traffic lights.

I am writing to voice my and my husband’s utmost objections in continuing with perpetuating this nonsense.

We live in close proximity to the bridge so have cause to travel under the bridge frequently, and I am wondering how many hours/days of our lives have been wasted sat in the traffic jams that are caused by these lights.

We have many objections that I know that have been raised by many other people.

First and foremost, where is the SCIENCE behind preventing the transmission of Covid when we know that the risk of passing it on outside, especially when you are briefly passing someone in the street, is virtually zero.

There is no pandemic in this country now.

The massive increase in pollution in the local area.

Common sense must dictate

that this cannot be beneficial to the health of local people, no doubt accelerating respiratory diseases The massive increase in congestion. At times you can be forced to sit in a traffic jam that extends down to the roundabout at Tesco Express, frustrating and a waste of time, hindering people getting on with their business.

The potential for emergency services’ vehicles being delayed.

To say nothing, of course, of the massive waste of OUR money.

It seems that the council have carried out a survey re: the proposals, and it seems that most people strongly disagree to keeping the lights. Also ward councillors are unanimous in calling for the scheme to be removed, so of course, all these objections are being ignored until another appraisal can be carried out so that perhaps South Glos Council can get the answer that they want. Yes, very democratic.

A & N Farnish

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News

Future of bridge traffic lights hangs in the balance

June 2021 New height restriction warning signs were recently installed at the bridge

June 2020

In a statement to the Journal, Stoke Gifford ward councillor Ernie Brown was a little more forthcoming, saying: “The meeting was quite positive, and it showed that SGC is at last beginning to listen to its ward councillors. The proposal from SGC Highways is for two-way traffic with increased safety

Continued from facing page

Asked when a decision on the future of the scheme is expected to be made, and by whom, the spokesperson added: “A report will be produced following the appraisal and a decision will be made in consultation with members, which is likely to be later this summer.”

measures, plus a possible 20mph speed limit to be in place, by the time the schools go back in September and traffic is likely to increase. [This is] a constructive way ahead, as at the last meeting there was the possibility of the restriction staying in place for a further 12 months.”

New height restriction warning signs were installed at the bridge in late June, necessitating four days of overnight road closures.

Given that the current singlelane mode of operation restricts vehicles to the centre of the archroofed tunnel, thereby removing the risk of bridge strikes, this led to speculation that a decision to return to two-lane operation had already been made.

However, an SGC spokesperson played down the inference, saying the height restriction “would remain the same for either oneor two-lane traffic”.

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July/August 2021

News Road closure blocks direct access to Little Stoke shops from Gipsy Patch Lane

T

he closure of the straight stretch of Gifford Crescent leading directly off Gipsy Patch Lane from Monday 5th July means that motorists travelling from the east are now required to follow a diversion in order to reach the Little Stoke shops and post office.

The road closure is the latest stage in the programme of work associated with the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension

Alun Griffiths schedule of work at the railway bridge June/July 2021 • Water main to be commissioned • Electrical cables to be diverted • BT Openreach and SGC communication ducts to be installed • Road gullies to be installed on northern side • Groundwater lowering scheme (fin drain) to be implemented on the north side • Anti-graffiti coating to structure August 2021 • North side carriageway construction • North side kerb installation • Street lighting • Pumping station preparation works, including procurement

(CPME) scheme, which has seen the Gipsy Patch Lane railway bridge replaced and a start made on creating new bus lanes along sections of Gipsy Patch Lane either side of the bridge.

The circulatory part of Gifford Crescent where the shops are located remains open and pedestrian/cyclist access from Gipsy Patch Lane is being maintained.

The signed diversion route for motorists is via Little Stoke Lane and Kingsway The Stagecoach number 12 bus service is diverting via Little Stoke Lane and continues to serve all stops along Kingsway in both directions.

The closure is initially needed for the installation of highway drainage attenuation pipes in the adjacent triangular grass verge area to support the forthcoming highway widening works on Gipsy Patch Lane, and then it is needed for the westbound oneway system along Gipsy Patch Lane which is planned to be implemented this autumn.

Should the drainage works, which are estimated to last eight weeks, be completed earlier than anticipated, Gifford Crescent may be reopened in the interim.

The railway bridge remains closed to motorised traffic, but there is access under it for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists.

Day one of the Gifford Crescent closure (Monday 5th July)

As previously reported, once the railway bridge is reopened to one-way (westbound) traffic in the autumn, all side roads leading onto Gipsy Patch Lane between Little Stoke Lane in the east and the Rolls-Royce mini-roundabout in the west will be closed.

Further updates on the progress of the CPME work on Gipsy Patch Lane, as provided by South Gloucestershire Council in early July, are reproduced in the sections below.

Tree pruning

The remaining trees on the north side of Gipsy Patch Lane to the east of the railway bridge are being retained. We are undertaking drainage works close to them and are taking the greatest care possible to avoid damaging them.

However, pruning of the trees is needed as they are overhanging the footpath and carriageway and could be struck by vehicles. The pruning will be undertaken by professional tree

surgeons who will ensure that the long-term health of the trees is not damaged, and under the supervision of an ecologist.

The tree pruning is scheduled to begin in August and will last for approximately two weeks.

Traffic management will be needed whilst the pruning is taking place.

To the west of the railway bridge, opposite Rolls Royce, pruning of the remaining trees and the felling of one that is extending into the footpath is also planned to take place at the same time.

Utility diversion works

These are progressing well, with Western Power Distribution having completed their diversion and the current Bristol Water diversion near Smithcourt Drive and Bush Avenue being on schedule. You may have also noticed work taking place under the railway bridge. This is the relaying of a new water main and reinstating of utilities diversions.

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News

Water main diversion on the south side of Gipsy Patch Lane

Fence installation

Starting on Monday 12th July, a temporary wooden fence will be erected along the southern verge adjacent to Bush Avenue and Smithcourt Drive. This is to provide a visual screen of the works area for residents who will be closest to the road widening works on the south side of the highway and to provide some mitigation against noise and dust. It will be removed once the highway widening works are complete in 2022.

Materials storage

We are making every effort to store as much of the material needed for the Gipsy Patch Lane works in off-site compound locations away from the main

works site. However, we now plan to store some material on the verge areas and on the closed carriageway sections of Gipsy Patch Lane because of ongoing national supply chain and haulage delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This will ensure we have the necessary materials ready for when we need them, to avoid programme delay.

Pegasus Park

From Monday 5th July we will be undertaking highway works at the turning circle next to the Pegasus Park access to the west of the railway bridge. Access to the business park will not be affected but there will be additional traffic management in place in that location.

Key milestones from the project programme (June 2021) • One-way reopening for traffic under the bridge: Autumn 2021 • Completion of roadworks at the bridge: December 2021 • Completion of highway works east of the bridge: June 2022 • Two-way reopening for traffic under the bridge: Late 2022 • Completion of highway works west of the bridge: December 2022

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July/August 2021

News

Three Brooks nature reserve report for June

By Sara Messenger of the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group

B

radley Stoke Green Gym continues to meet every Thursday and has even managed to grow, welcoming several new members to our group, some with two legs and some with four! Although we have been hampered at times by the rain, we have managed to complete a huge amount of work, even though we were still required to meet in groups of six or less, which is why, at times, you may see small groups of us heading off in different directions.

Mostly this works well, so I am not going to mention at all that the boys, when left unsupervised by the girls, managed to lose our grappling hook in the lake!

The earth bank near the Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) Primary Phase entrance has had its annual trim, which took a lot longer than expected both because of the weather, the amount of bramble that seems to have sprung up and the number of children keener on chatting to us than finishing their ‘weekly mile’. Although we are not keen on once again replacing the skate park hedge line, as despite the canes and guards they do seem to get mown on a regular basis, we have managed to plant more trees, many donated by local company CGI. Before planting we are requested to get a tree planting licence from SGC and we do try to, but as this often takes so long to arrive, if at all, we choose to use our common sense when planting. Officialdom sometimes appears to move at the speed of the continental drift!

Apple bench

In the community orchard alongside the path behind BSCS we have a beautiful ‘apple bench’ which was carved from a single piece of sweet chestnut by artist Andy O’Neil. Unfortunately, the

structure leans backwards so the rainwater pools and rots the seat.

Although we have repaired it in the past, I was keen on solving the root problem, so I suggested to the ‘boys’ that we could just lift the back an inch or so. “It will be easy,” I said. “It won’t take long,” I said. I cannot tell you what, after a couple of hours had passed and a fingernail or two had been sacrificed, they said!

Who knew that like an iceberg there seemed to be more beneath the surface than above? We had to return the following week with more tools, but with equal parts of muttering and mattocking, the seat has now been tilted forward just enough for the water to run off. I am confident that the boys and I will soon be on speaking terms again!

For a rare change, we spent a session in the water as we spotted that, at the Three Brooks lake, the Stoke Brook entrance was clogged up with reeds, over hanging branches and general debris. Although the shoals of fish didn’t appreciate sharing their space with us, clearing it back has greatly improved the width and speed of the flow into the lake, as well as letting us have some fun!

Water voles

Several of us have undertaken some water vole training and Green Gym are very keen to take forward some ideas on how to improve the brooks and the surrounding habitat for them.

We used to have water voles in the reserve, but we haven’t seen any evidence of them for several years now. Although we don’t know what led to the decline of our colony, we are hopeful that with the right habitat they could return. Sadly, we also learnt that they have been lost from 94 percent of historical sites and that they are on the Red List as they are Britain’s most rapidly declining mammal. In 1989 there were an estimated 7.3 million

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News

Left: Volunteers at the ‘apple bench’ alongside the path behind BSCS. Right: Clearing reeds at the Stoke Brook entrance to the Three Brooks lake.

Continued from facing page

water voles, but today we only have 875,000, with 30 percent of their decline being in just the last ten years. But we also learnt some fun facts: that they migrated from mainland Europe after the last ice age, the much darker Scottish voles coming over around 15,000 years ago and the

English ones 12,000 years ago; and although they made their way to Wales, none are found in Ireland. And the best fun fact?

Their poo is green and the size and shape of a Tic Tac!

Other news

There is news regarding the lake desilting project but South

Gloucestershire Council is keen to inform you of the update themselves. [Ed: The last we heard was that the project will start in November 2021 after being postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.]

The long-awaited Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group AGM was planned for Thursday 8th

July at the Jubilee Centre but has now had to be rearranged. As soon as we have the new date, we will let you know. ● Contact the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group… t: 07497 006676 e: info@three-brooks.info w: www.three-brooks.info and on Facebook too!

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July/August 2021

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News

Pre-school’s forest school adventures prove a hit ABACUS PRE-SCHOOL at Baileys Court, Bradley Stoke is proud to share with you some photos of our fantastic forest school sessions. We are so fortunate that our manager, Layla, is forest school trained.

We are therefore able to offer our older children a block of ten enhanced summer sessions where they are able to experience a wide range of outdoor activities, just before leaving us to transition to primary school.

The exciting adventures include collecting large sticks from a local field to create a campfire and then toasting marshmallows around a real fire.

We have been learning about campfire rules, safety and how we risk assess activities. Squeezing oranges was a very popular activity too, followed by delight at

tasting the fruits of our labour!

The children have had fun digging for mud which was used with pots and brushes to create paintings. Also on the agenda was planting flowers and herbs to attract bees. We are focusing on creating a bee-friendly environment at the moment and increasing the children’s knowledge of bees as our topic of the term. The children have absolutely loved learning facts about bees and playing a pollen transfer game once back inside.

If you would like to find out more about the experiences our wonderful pre-school offers, we would love to hear from you.

Please call us on 07718 974235 as soon as possible, as we are filling up our spaces for September. ● See the Abacus Pre-School Bradley Stoke advert below.

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

Left: Abacus Baileys Court manager Layla guides a child who is popping corn over a campfire Below: Layla guides the children as they take turns using a bow saw to cut branches

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July/August 2021

What’s On Luke Wheaton memorial event (new date)

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A community, family-oriented picnic event has been organised by local volunteers who would like to put on a traditional themed event for all to enjoy this summer. Join us on Saturday August 14th for traditional children’s games, including a tug of war, music from Bradley Stoke Radio, ice cream vans and coffee available. Please bring your own picnic and blanket or chairs to enjoy being outside and together.

All weather permitting! Find out more on the Bradley Stoke Carnival page on Facebook.

uke’s memorial event will now be taking place from 5pm on Friday 23rd July at North Bristol Rugby Club in Almondsbury. The event, which includes a BBQ, live music and a grand prize draw alongside activities to keep the children entertained, is looking to be a fun evening for all.

Organisers had planned to hold the event a week earlier, but due to the delay in lifting Covid-19 restrictions the event had to be postponed. Luke’s dad Matt said: “We decided to move the event so it could be as big as Luke would have wanted it to be. We would like to thank everyone involved in making this event possible.

It’s also been amazing to have so many great prizes donated towards the grand prize draw.”

The event is being held in support of The Luke Wheaton Legacy Trust, a charity which was recently setup in Luke’s memory.

Luke 16, who was sadly killed

in the Avonmouth explosion in December 2020, had recently started an apprenticeship at Wessex Water and played rugby for North Bristol.

For more information on this and future events, or to make a donation, visit the Luke Wheaton Legacy Trust page on Facebook.

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What’s On

In Brief

FREE summer play scheme for 5-11 year-olds in Bradley Stoke

Recent grants awarded by the town council

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he South Gloucestershire Playscheme (formerly Four Towns Play Association) is pleased to be delivering the FREE summer play scheme in Bradley Stoke again this year.

We will be delivering fun activities for 5-11 year-olds to include sports, arts & crafts, games and singing. Each child will be provided with a packed lunch. Please provide a drink for your child.

We have four themed weeks – Robots, Mini Beasts, Olympics & Fairy Tales. We will take part in the South Gloucestershire Libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge, have visits from Bristolian Productions and write and record a song with Notivate.

We will be based at Bowsland Green Primary School, Ellicks Close, Bradley Stoke BS32 0ES

from Monday 2nd August to Friday 27th August. Sessions will run from 10.30am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday, each week.

Booking is essential. A link to the bookings page, once live,

will be available on the South Gloucestershire Playscheme website www.sgplayscheme. co.uk and on the South Gloucestershire Playscheme page on Facebook.

Bradley Stoke Town Council’s Leisure, Youth & Amenities Committee approved the following grants and service level agreements at its meetings in April and June 2021: • Grant Aid of £500 to Avon Pickleball Club towards the cost of nets, paddles and the annual booking system fee • Grant Aid of £300 to Paul’s Place (South West) Ltd towards the provision of disability sports to users of their organisation • Larger Grant Aid of £4,000 to South Gloucestershire Playscheme (formerly known as Four Towns Play Association) to fund the Bradley Stoke element of the Summer 2021 scheme ● Bradley Stoke Town Council has a range of grant funding streams which eligible groups and organisations can apply for. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/bstc-grants or phone 01454 205020.

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July/August 2021

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What’s On

New edition of charity scarecrow trail coming to Bradley Stoke in August An invitation from mayor Michael Hill to take part in a great summer holiday activity for the whole family

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t is here again! Following the success of last year’s “Wizards and Witches” scarecrow trail held in October 2020, which raised almost £2,000 for charity, it will be returning for two weeks in the school summer holidays, from Saturday 14th August to Saturday 28th August 2021.

Bradley Stoke will host dozens of scarecrows all around the town; all will have been designed to fit in with this year’s theme; characters from children’s books, films or nursery rhymes.

Trail maps will be available to buy for £2 from 7th August from the town council offices at The Jubilee Centre, Baileys Court Activity Centre, The Hollow Tree public house and the Willow Brook Centre management suite.

Please bring cash (bank transfer is also available).

Trail followers may vote for their favourite scarecrow on the bottom of their trail maps. These will be totalled up and the most popular will receive a prize of £100; there will also be some smaller prizes of £50 and £25.

Handing in your completed trail map also enters you into a prize draw that could win you £50!

Entries must be handed back in by Monday 30th August; winners will be announced by Monday 6th September.

We would love it if you would like to make a scarecrow for the trail. We are inviting all the local schools, any local businesses and all Bradley Stoke residents to join in. If you would like to be a scarecrow creator please email angela.morey@ bradleystoke.gov.uk for entry forms and more information or visit www.bradleystoke.gov.uk/ scarecrow21 (tip: you can scan the QR code, right)

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Cllr Michael Hill, mayor of Bradley Stoke for the civic year 2021-22

The character chosen can be your own idea or can come from a list prepared by the town council. If it is your own idea, it will need to be approved so that it fits the theme and does not duplicate another entry.

Each scarecrow will need to be identified and display its number in the trail.

There is a suggested minimum entry fee donation of £10 for each scarecrow, with the money going to the mayor’s charities – Dogs for Good, which provides assistance dogs for people with major medical problems, and St Peter’s Hospice, which provides end of life care for the people of Bristol.

Please take part and enjoy discovering a wide variety of characters scattered around the town.

Starting school in September 2022?

Register your interest with us today and we will contact you when our ‘open days’ are set.

Email: office@wheatfieldprimary.com Leave your name and a contact phone number Or call us on 01454 868610 We also have spaces in our current Year R, 1, 2 & 4 classes – contact us to find out more.

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Get well · Stay well

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July/August 2021

by Moira de Groot, foot health practitioner at Willow Brook Clinic

Summer shoes

hey may be fun to wear, but flip-flops are not good for your feet. They are fine when you walk across the changing room or from your deck chair to the pool. But, if they become your everyday footwear, even just in the summer, your feet and ankles could pay the price.

Most flip-flops don’t offer much in the way of arch support. A lack of support can lead to inflammation and a condition called plantar fasciitis, which makes walking painful and can stop you getting the exercise you need.

Flip-flops don’t hold your feet in place very well. You are at risk of developing blisters and calluses on your feet and between your toes.

To keep a flip-flop on your foot, your toes must constantly grasp the shoe. Your toes have to do extra work to pick the flipflop up and move it forward.

That means that your feet and toes are not working correctly.

In flip-flops your feet are more exposed. Many people suffer with callouses and can develop corns. As your toes are not protected, it is more likely that you can damage your nails.

Constant walking in flip-flops can be the start of musculoskeletal problems with your feet, knees and even your back and hips. You change the way you walk when you wear flipflops. Therefore, your entire body must adjust. Changing

your gait even slightly can lead to problems. Wearing the correct footwear will restore your body’s function and free you from pain. Find sandals with an ankle strap and a strap across your forefoot. Find a summer shoe that has an arch support and a small heel.

If your feet hurt or you need treatment to help your skin and nails, give your foot health practitioner a call and they will give you the best treatment and advice tailored for you.

Most importantly, enjoy the warmer weather, make sure you wear the right shoes and give your feet a chance to breathe in the fresh air.

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

● See our advert on page 9.

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July/August 2021

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19

Sport

Bradley Stoke Ladies FC all set for 7th season

By Martin Lee, manager of BSLFC t Bradley Stoke Ladies Football Club (BSLFC) we are really looking forward to playing in the Gloucestershire County Women’s Football League for the seventh season since the club was first established in 2015.

Training has continued since the last league match was finished and we plan to continue running training for the rest of summer.

The girls are looking forward to a fresh start come September when the league starts again, after two very strange Covidaffected seasons.

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Sponsorships & new kit

We are pleased to announce that Bradley Stoke Ladies has secured sponsorship for new kit and new jackets for the 2021/22 season.

The kit is being sponsored by local office installation company LSI Workplace, based at the Horizon 38 business park in Patchway. The jackets will be sponsored by local digital marketing agency Digital NRG, who are based not far from where the team play, at Apex Court in Bradley Stoke.

We are extremely grateful to both businesses for their support in sponsorship of the club and

everyone is excited to see the kit and jackets return to the club’s original colours, black and orange! Keep an eye on our social media for the official reveal once the kit arrives.

Player recruitment

As part of the planned rebuilding season in 2021/22, BSLFC are looking for experienced players to join the squad. If you played football as a kid and are looking to get back into it or are simply looking for a new team to join, we would love to welcome you to our club. We offer a friendly environment for all players to

enjoy their football.

Training is on Tuesdays at Bradley Stoke Community School. Matches are on Sundays when the league starts back up again in September. We have lots of friendlies lined up for July and August to get the squad back to full fitness ready for the new season. Please get in touch if you would like to get involved! We’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch via our website www. bradleystokeladiesfc.co.uk or email Martin Lee at mlee1@ btopenworld.com ● Find us on Facebook: ‘Bradley Stoke Ladies FC’

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July/August 2021

News

Open Access resumes at South Glos libraries

South Glos Council Cabinet member Cllr Rachael Hunt outside the new Open Access door at Patchway Library

Use during unstaffed hours now also possible at Patchway

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scheme which allows registered users to access library buildings during unstaffed hours and make use of a range of services has been reintroduced across South Gloucestershire.

Open Access is available on a limited basis while operating with Covid-19 restrictions in place, initially on Saturday afternoons until 5pm and on Sundays between 8am and 5pm.

The service is now available at all libraries – with a new, external door having been installed at Patchway Library to enable access when Patchway Hub is closed. A full range of services will be available to customers, including selecting books and DVDs, access to IT and printing facilities.

Customers will be required to follow Covid-19 guidance on social distancing and asked to wear a face covering while visiting. Anyone who is not registered to use Open Access can now book an induction session ahead of a visit.

South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet member for communities and local place, Cllr Rachael Hunt said: “It’s wonderful to see that our libraries are beginning to return to normal as they provide such a highly valued service to our communities.”

“With people leading busy lives, Open Access provides flexibility around when and how our customers access library services so I am really pleased that the extended facilities at

Patchway will mean people have even more choice.”

“I’d like to thank the staff for continuing to deliver services over the last 15 months in difficult circumstances and also our customers for following the Covid-19 guidance as we emerge from lockdown.”

All libraries are open during advertised hours for people to choose their own books and there is a substantial range for all ages and interests. Libraries are also reintroducing ‘Rhymetimes’ for younger children, with sessions needing to be booked in advance.

For details of all the services available from South Gloucestershire libraries, including Open Access, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/ librarychanges or call 01454 865022. ● Rhymetime: Have fun and learn new rhymes to share with your little one aged 0-17 months. Now at Bradley Stoke Library on Mondays between 9.45am and 10.15am. To book your place and for more details, email BradleyStoke.Library@ southglos.gov.uk with your name and contact phone number.

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July/August 2021

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21

News Summer Reading Challenge for 2021

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ack your bags, we’re headed to the library to join Wild World Heroes, the Summer Reading Challenge for 2021!

To get involved, children read six books over the summer holiday and collect stickers to complete their special Wild World Heroes poster to get a medal and certificate. It’s FUN and FREE to take part.

Join the Wild World Heroes for the Summer Reading Challenge at a South Gloucestershire library from Saturday 10th July to Saturday 11th September, and discover how you can make a difference to the environment too.

Please encourage your children to visit the library and sign up and see the difference the Summer Reading Challenge makes to their reading.

“My child’s reading abilities have grown leaps and bounds!” said a parent of a youngster visiting Patchway Library.

“My children love doing the reading challenge each year.

Getting the medal and certificate is a real incentive to keep reading,” said another parent.

NEW this year, there is also the Mini Challenge specially designed for pre-school children.

Pick up your FREE craft bag of awesome animal activities to make at home when you join Wild World Heroes. Find out more at www.southglos.gov.uk/ librarychanges For the latest Wild World Heroes updates, follow South Gloucestershire Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.

Why is reading for pleasure important?

• Currently, 1 in 5 children in England cannot read well by the age of 11. We know that reading for fun improves literacy.

• Reading for pleasure is more important to a child’s academic success than their parents’ level of education or socio-economic status.

Source: From the website summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

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July/August 2021

News

Remodelled bus stops now in use at Parkway

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ew and remodelled bus stops have been brought into use at Bristol Parkway railway station as a £650k scheme of improvements to bus/rail interchange facilities nears completion.

The project, which has been jointly funded by the West of England Combined Authority and station operator GWR, has seen upgrades to two existing bus stops and the installation of two new MetroBus specification stops.

The station forecourt has been remodelled to accommodate the new bus stops and permit new bus movements.

The scheme has also included re-alignment of the access road to the station from the east, which has allowed the routes of the 19 and Y6 services to be altered to pass straight through the station

and serve the stops near the park & ride on Hunts Ground Road.

Implementation of the scheme began on Monday 3rd February 2020 but has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Temporary bus stops located further down the station approach road were in use until Monday 5th July 2021.

The Journal understands that buses could now potentially enter from the east and make a U-turn to exit the same way, although First Bus has said there it has no plans to divert the M1 MetroBus to serve the station.

The two new MetroBus-style stops will eventually be used by buses running on the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension, although this is not planned to be running until 2023, subject to a commercial operator being found.

D

A

B

C

Locations of the new and remodelled bus stops at Bristol Parkway Station

Service 10 10 11 11 12 19 19 73 73 Y6 Y6

Destinations Bradley Stoke, Aztec West,Thornbury UWE, Southmead Hospital, Severn Beach Aztec West (morning peak only) UWE, Southmead Hospital, Avonmouth Little Stoke, Cribbs Causeway, Severn Beach Little Stoke, Stoke Lodge, Cribbs Causeway UWE, Kingswood, Bitton, Bath Bradley Stoke, Aztec West, Cribbs Causeway Filton, Bristol city centre, Bristol Temple Meads Winterbourne, Yate, Chipping Sodbury Little Stoke, Stoke Lodge, Southmead Hospital

Stop B A B A B B D B C D B

A bus waits at Stop A on the forecourt of Bristol Parkway railway station

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News

Bradley Stoke Rainbows enjoy outdoor meetings

By Catherine Dixon, leader he 1st Bradley Stoke Rainbows have finally been able to return to regular face-to-face meetings following the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions. We started the summer term meeting outdoors on alternate weeks and since June have been meeting together weekly.

Typically, our first outdoor meeting took place in the pouring rain, but this didn’t stop us! We all arrived in our waterproofs and enjoyed umbrella dancing; the Rainbows then took the umbrellas home and decorated them.

We have also been doing activities from the ‘Have Adventures’ theme of the Girlguiding programme, such as making sun dials, creating our own maps and finding out about famous explorers.

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For Insect Week (21st-27th June) we visited the allotment at Southmead Hospital where we spent the evening looking for and identifying bugs in the allotment meadow and surrounding trees and building a bug hotel to help support biodiversity. We returned to the allotment a couple of weeks later when Phoebe (Nature Recovery Ranger) taught us all about the different fruits and vegetables growing in the allotment and then helped us to plant seeds.

As well as our outdoor meetings we also had the opportunity, along with other Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers from across the local area to take park in a virtual planetarium session with an astrophysicist. ● To find out more, follow us on Twitter: @BSRainbows

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July/August 2021

Business Aspirations IFA announce the launch of their new brand New corporate image for financial planning firm based at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre ASPIRATIONS IFA have recently announced the launch of their new brand. Now known as Aspirations Financial Planning, the firm has undergone an extensive rebrand, showcasing a new logo, website, and a strong reaffirmation of their commitment to their clients and their values.

“We are no longer the company we were a year ago, or even six months ago,” says Adam Palmer, Managing Director of Aspirations.

“We’ve grown quite considerably in terms of the number of clients and employees we have, as well as our proposition and we knew we needed our branding to reflect these changes.

We’re very proud and excited to launch our new identity and brand.”

The firm looked at potentially changing its name but ultimately stuck with ‘Aspirations’ as it’s understandably a word that crops up time and time again in meetings and correspondence with clients.

Aspirations’ new logo, a ‘flowing’ ‘A’ illustrates the journey that their Financial Planners take and the key milestones that they navigate together with clients, to achieve Financial Independence and other financial

Sam Lane talks through the Aspirations financial planning process with two new clients

objectives along the way, whilst increasing the confidence and freedom to live life to the full.

Over the years, Aspirations have been building a strong team with a variety of specialisms and skills, whilst investing in leading cash flow forecasting software to

assist with the above.

“Our team’s expert knowledge combined with our sophisticated software solutions help in delivering proper financial planning to our clients and empower them to enjoy tomorrow by planning today.”

Plan today.

Enjoy tomorrow.

We’ll make your money work for you with proper financial planning, taken personally.

01454 501 959 | aspirationsfp.co.uk 1st Floor, West Offices, Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 8BS

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July/August 2021

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25

News

Delayed dance show raises £4k for hospice charity

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tudents from a local dance school have finally managed to stage the annual show they had planned for 2020 after it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ‘All the World’s a Stage’ show by Sharon Phillips School of Dancing was originally scheduled to take place in April 2020. It was planned to include elements of the many styles of dance practised at the school, including tap, modern, ballet, contemporary and commercial.

Around 200 students, ranging in age from 3 to 18 years, had been

rehearsing for several months and had all their costumes ready when the first Covid-19 lockdown was announced last March.

With lockdown restrictions now being gradually eased, the school was finally able to stage its show at the end of May 2021, albeit in a modified format to comply with government guidelines.

Dance school owner Sharon Phillips explained: “Our idea was to film the show. It was very different just having one group at a time and no parents in the audience, but we made it work.”

Clean

“We then streamed it to family and friends of the students in June. It has been a huge success and it was great to be able to show how talented our amazing dancers are, just in a slightly different way.”

“We always support a charity with our show and this year we chose Children’s Hospice South West who do amazing work with families of children with life limiting conditions. Through the show, a raffle of hampers, zoom lessons and donations we have raised £4,335.”

“I am so thankful to everyone

who donated as it has been hard for charities to maintain their funding during the pandemic, so it is great to be able to give such an amazing amount to a wonderful charity.”

The school runs classes at St Chad’s Church Hall in Patchway on Fridays and Saturdays.

Further classes are held throughout the week, and on Saturdays, in Alveston.

For more information, call Sharon on 07989 652780, visit www.sharonphillipsdance.co.uk or search for ‘Sharon Phillips School of Dancing’ on Facebook.

Call for a free, no obligation quote today!

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July/August 2021

Sport

Local swimming club has exciting plans

By Steph McNally, BNSC club chair t’s been a tough year for grassroots sports. Like many other community groups up and down the country, Bristol North Swimming Club (BNSC) has had to adapt to survive and find new ways to keep its members fit, healthy and engaged.

The commitment of our coaches and young swimmers during lockdown was nothing short of staggering, dialling in week after week for strength and conditioning, psychology, nutrition and even yoga sessions; the community spirit was alive and strong. But when April finally rolled around, we were delighted to see the back of the Zoom sessions and embrace the water once again.

I

Now we’re back in our chlorinated happy place, we’re getting ready to race again. The Swim England Level X racing series kicks off for our older swimmers on Monday 28th June and we’ll be hosting club time trials for our younger swimmers so everyone can work towards new PBs and qualifying times for the 2021-2022 competitive year.

We’ve seen a healthy intake of new members during 2021, from our learn to swim school right up to our ever growing Masters squad and are thrilled to count Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford as one of our most popular catchment areas. As a North Bristol club we train at multiple venues across the district, from the Winterbourne Academy to Badminton School using Filton as our centrally located

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“Take your marks” – Members of Bristol North Swimming Club on the start blocks

home pool. We’ve also teamed up with Soundwell Swimming Club who cover a large part of East Bristol to create the North Bristol Network. The aim of the network is to do something we feel is currently missing in Bristol; create a more cohesive and collaborative approach to swimming. By sharing our resources, knowledge and passion for swimming we hope to unite and inspire our young athletes and create pathways for development that everyone can benefit from.

Looking ahead to 2022 we’ve got a lot to be excited about. We hope to welcome the return of county, regional and national competitions, something our squads have been missing a lot this year. And as a club, we’ve got a big birthday coming up as Bristol North turns 100, making us the oldest and most established club in Bristol. We have lots of plans in the works to

mark this very special year and we hope our friends in Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford will help us celebrate in style!

If you’re looking for a local, friendly and competitive swimming club, then we’d love to hear from you. We welcome swimmers of all ages, from 4 years old right up to Masters (18+) and offer a wealth of coaching knowledge, expertise and guidance along with excellent social events (when permitted!).

Contact us at headcoach@ bristolnorthsc.org.uk

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July/August 2021

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News

Fundraiser Rob gets in tune for children’s hospice

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Bradley Stoke resident is raising funds for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) through online sales of a song he has recorded.

Rob Berry, accompanied by pianist and vocalist Amy Parker, has recorded a cover of Alter Bridge’s Wonderful Life – a poignant song about loss and a celebration of life lived.

Rob and Amy collaborate under the band-name, RoAm. Rob said: “We chose to record this single as the lyrics are stunning; it’s such a moving, emotional song and I think it has real synergy with the work of CHSW.” Rob has been championing the work of CHSW for many years, having first heard of the charity through its partnership with housebuilder Persimmon Homes where Rob is employed as a surveyor.

He said: “Representatives of

CHSW came along to a coffee morning at Persimmon’s offices in Portishead and told us about the vital work they do at its local hospice, Charlton Farm – based a few miles away in Wraxall. I visited Charlton Farm before the pandemic with my daughter and was blown away by the quality of care offered to families whose children have life-limiting conditions.”

Since then, Persimmon has

Far left: Promotional image for Rob’s cover version of ‘Wonderful Life’.

Left: Rob Berry. Above: Amy Parker.

donated over £11k to CHSW and Rob has taken part in numerous fundraising events for the charity, including its annual cycle challenge, Ride for Precious Lives.

Rob, a keen cyclist, will be taking part in Ride for Precious Lives again in July. He said: “It’s something so special, I

can’t really put it into words.

The camaraderie, the laughs, the stories make it an incredible event to be part of and I’m absolutely hooked. You will not find a better bunch of people to ride with and a better charity to raise money for.” ● Wonderful Life by RoAm is available to download now from iTunes or Apple Music for £0.79

No painting or repairs for 25 years?

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

28

www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk

t: 01454 300 400

In Brief

Ask the Doctor with Dr Faisal Siddiqui of Bradley Stoke Surgery General Practice in the pandemic

L

consultations. We may ask you to send a photograph. The prime aim of this is minimize risk and help reduce the risk of spread of Covid-19.

We have also introduced e-consults. This is well suited at straightforward problems such as lower urinary tract infections or even medication reviews. The team at the surgery has continued to grow and I would encourage utilizing not only the GPs but my well qualified colleagues. At Bradley Stoke Surgery we now offer appointments with paramedics, mental health practitioners, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and physiotherapists.

However, even with a growing team and various tools at our disposal, matching demand can be difficult. General Practice has never closed during the pandemic and we do not have waiting lists. We are a finite

resource.

I would therefore request thinking about how you access our service, such as who would be best to help you? Could you utilize other resources such as the NHS website, 111 or a community pharmacy? But if you do need us, please treat the whole team with respect and they will do their best to help you. By doing this can we all say goodbye to the worst of this pandemic together.

Stay safe everybody!

Dr Faisal Siddiqui www.bradleystokesurgery.nhs.uk

Veterans’ advice sessions restarting in Bradley Stoke Local community interest company Assistplus is restarting its Veterans Advice Support Hub sessions in Bradley Stoke.

The hub is a drop-in centre initiative established to offer a supportive and informal place for members of the armed forces and the veterans’ community to access, better understand and navigate local services.

Support can also be offered during the transition period on leaving the armed forces.

The hub will be open at the Bradley Stoke Jubilee Centre from 1pm to 4pm on Monday 26th July 2021 and on the first two Mondays of each month thereafter.

Advice can also be provided by phone and online (including Zoom), depending on client need.

To make contact with Assistplus, phone 0800 678 5618, email info@assistplus.org.uk or visit www.assistplus.org.uk

EX CL U O SI VE VE R LY 55 F s OR

ife prior to the pandemic seems a distant memory.

However, there finally seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. As a GP, I am immensely proud of my team and colleagues, as primary care has provided the vast majority of vaccinations in the UK. Locally, the Stokes Primary Care Network (of which Bradley Stoke surgery is an active member) has had some of the highest numbers of vaccinations in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

However, our day job of treating our patients has not changed and is now getting busier. In April 2021, General Practice provided 31.5 million patient appointments in England.

To help manage this demand GPs have started to work differently. We now offer telephone triage and video

July/August 2021

. ..

E M I R P E M I T Y N DISCOVER A A S S! WITH A FREE 1 DAY P

A new scheduling system to book your gym visit

Reduced numbers of people allowed in club

Regular deep cleaning

Increased sanitisation stations

Equipment spaced out

Masks recommended upon entry & between stations

Anytime Fitness Bradley Stoke, Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 8BS // 0117 927 7225 ANYTIMEFITNESS.CO.UK/PRIME

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

July/August 2021

t: 01454 300 400

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

29

In Brief Ladies’ running group resumes weekly sessions Sole Sisters are back! You may have spotted us back running on the streets of Bradley Stoke, writes Karen Gaman.

It’s been 67 weeks since we have been able to run as a club and this week (21st June) saw 42 ladies turn up to run/walk, which was awesome. Obviously, we have had to make some changes, so we met outside, there was a staggered start with small groups leaving between 6pm and 7pm, and we asked for subs to be paid in advance by BACS so there is no handling of cash.

Unfortunately, our annual Bradley Stoke 10k Run was cancelled for the second time, so we offered participants three options: transfer their place to 2022, receive a partial refund or run a virtual 10k. A huge well done to all the runners who completed the virtual 10k and uploaded their results. T-shirts and medals are in the process of being posted/delivered.

The next beginners’ running course will be in January 2022.

For more information, visit www.solesistersrc.co.uk or ‘Sole Sisters North Bristol Running Club’ on Facebook.

Local community radio to go digital on the airwaves Bradley Stoke Radio is one of a group of three community broadcasters in Bristol and South Gloucestershire which has won two licences to start digital radio services across the area.

Collaborating with Ujima Radio and BCFM as Bristol Digital Radio and Severnside Digital Radio, the trio have been awarded new licences by OFCOM to broadcast digitally across the City of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Keynsham.

That means those stations, along with SWU.FM and KTCR in Keynsham, will soon be on DAB digital radio.

Being on digital radio means the community stations will be available on the same basis as the larger commercial and BBC stations in the city, removing some of the barriers to audiences discovering their unique output.

The community stations will also benefit by selling some of their spare digital radio space to other stations, which will support their funding.

Monday night taster visits on offer at bowls club Now is the time to try green bowling at Bradley Stoke Bowls Club!

Why not join a number of people who have already booked a bowls taster visit to the club on a Monday evening via the club’s website bradleystokebowls.com/ contact-us ?

The club continues to welcome

PEST CONTROL SERVICES

new members, both experienced bowlers and those who are complete beginners.

Even with the continued Covid restrictions, the members have been able to enjoy the resumption of the friendly fixtures against local clubs. The Men’s and Ladies’ league teams are competing well in both their leagues and cup matches.

The members are looking forward to the lifting of the restrictions so that they can run the September Fun Day. We are looking forward to all restrictions being removed and we hope to hold club competitions and our annual charity day.

New racquet sport for all ages at the Jubilee Centre Avon Pickleball Club hosts ‘turn up and play’ sessions from 10am to 12pm every Monday at the Jubilee Centre, Bradley Stoke The ‘just for fun’ sessions are held on the outdoor hard court area on which four pickleball courts have recently been marked out by the town council.

Pickleball is a relatively new sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis and is said to be a great way to get fit, have fun and make new friends.

Players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball over a net.

Everybody is welcome – there is no upper age limit. All equipment is provided, just wear comfortable clothing and trainers.

RUBBISH CLEARANCE

Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance Licensed waste carrier Free quotations Rats, Mice, Wasps and Biting Insects our speciality Hygiene cleaning ● Loft clearances Solar Panel Bird Proofing Vegetation and Wildlife Control ● 20 years experience ● Fully insured ● BPCA RSPH Level 3 trained

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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

Pickleball ‘turn up and play’ session

Your first session is FREE! Find more details at www.avonpickleball.club

Nominations sought for young volunteer award Do you have a youngster aged between 8 and 18 at home who does volunteer work, whether helping an elderly neighbour, visiting people in hospital, mentoring younger pupils at school or caring for a younger sibling or parent?

Bradley Stoke Lions would like to put these young people forward for a Young Leaders in Service Award to recognise the work they do in our society.

For more information on how this can benefit your youngster, please contact Ailsa Young on ambyoung29@yahoo.com or phone 07737 106836.

The Journal Send us your news!

September magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 30th August info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

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

30

www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk

Directory of Advertisers Accountants & Bookkeepers Dunkley’s Accountants, Page 5 Bathrooms JJ Plumbing, Page 13 Little Bathroom & Boiler Co., Page 18 Builders Criterion Construction, Page 18 Car Dealerships Drive Bristol North, Page 32 Motorline Toyota Bristol North, Page 12 Carpentry & Joinery J. Earle Carpentry & Joinery, Page 31 Northavon Carpentry, Page 17 Steve Corris Carpentry, Page 31 Carpet Cleaners Bonne Fresh Clean, Page 25 Carpets & Flooring Trinity Transformations, Page 7 Child Care Abacus Pre-School, Page 13 Banana Moon Day Nursery, Page 1 Children’s Activities Bristol Riding School, Page 25 Bradley Stoke Town Council, Page 16 Chiropractic Fascia First Chiropractic, Page 17 Willow Brook Clinic, Page 9 Curtains & Blinds Trinity Transformations, Page 7 Cleaning & Domestic Services Niko’s Mobile Cleaning Ltd, Page 18 Domestic Appliance Repairs Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Care, Page 9 Education & Learning Kumon Study Programme, Page 14 Olympus Academy Trust, Page 10 Wheatfield Primary School, Page 17 Electricians Ernest Till, Page 21 More in directory on BSJ website Estate Agents Ocean Estate Agents, Page 6 Financial Services Aspirations Financial Planning, Page 24 Foot Care Willow Brook Clinic, Page 9 Funeral Services F. Woodruff Funeral Directors, Page 22 MW Funeral Directors, Page 20 Garage Services LCM Automotive, Pages 1 & 22 Tyres Direct, Page 19 Gardening & Landscaping Services ColourFence, Page 27 Painting Petals, Page 30 Professional Gardening Services, Page 29 Smart Patios, Page 9

Gyms & Health Clubs Anytime Fitness, Page 28 Body and Mind Combined, Page 15 Healthcare Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Page 8 Home Improvements & Furnishings Door Express, Page 26 Launderettes Wash Shop Patchway, Page 31 Mortgages & Financial Advice Aspirations Financial Planning, Page 24 Painting & Decorating A. Worsfold, Page 30 Digby Decor, Page 30 Painting Petals, Page 30 Rick Murphy, Page 30 Personal Trainers Body and Mind Combined, Page 15 Pest Control Services PestBGone, Page 29 Pet Services & Supplies Furever Dogs, Page 4 Rosie Posie Pet Services, Page 31 Physiotherapy Willow Brook Clinic, Page 9 Plasterers B & D Plastering, Page 4 Plumbing & Heating JJ Plumbing, Page 13 Little Bathroom & Boiler Co., Page 18 Low Cost Plumbing, Page 31 M.S.M Plumbing & Heating, Page 31 S. Berryman Plumbing & Heating, Page 31 Property Maintenance David Coombs Services, Page 31 Mark’s Gutter Cleaning, Page 31 So Clear Gutter Clearing, Page 31 Rubbish Clearance Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance, Page 29 Self Storage Admiral’s Yard Self Storage, Page 26 Shopping Willow Brook Centre, Page 3 Slimming Clubs & Consultants Slimming World, Page 11 Solicitors Bevan Evemy Solicitors, Page 21 Davies and Partners, Page 2 Star Legal, Page 23 Sport & Leisure Bristol Riding School, Page 25 Taxis & Private Hire See directory on BSJ website TV Aerials & Satellite The Aerial Man, Page 31 Window Cleaning Ultra Clear, Page 31

t: 01454 300 400

July/August 2021

PAINTING & DECORATING

RICK MURPHY PAINTING & DECORATING  Based in Bradley Stoke  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!

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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

July/August 2021

t: 01454 300 400

31

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

PLUMBING & HEATING

WINDOW CLEANING

CARPENTRY & JOINERY

Tell advertisers you found them in the Bradley Stoke Journal!

LAUNDERETTES

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

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Poor Reception Problems Solved TV Aerials and Satellites - Free Home Visit Additional TV Points - Fully Guaranteed Repairs - OAP Discounts Complete WiFi Solutions Available

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