October 2014

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

October 2014 • Issue 18

LETTERS P8-9 | POLICE P24 | QUIZ P29 | SCHOOLS P32 | WHAT’S ON P36-37 | DIRECTORY P38-39 Find us on Facebook: BradleyStokeJournal Follow us on Twitter: @TheBSJournal

PLUS , IN YOUR 40-PAGE BRADLEY STOKE MAGAZINE

Tour of Britain P20-21 Sir Bradley whizzes through The Stokes Traveller encampment site

Bradley Stoke Judo Club

Town council deploys boulders P30-31

Youth Olympics bronze for Peter P14-15

l Future of Willow Brook Centre Phones 4u store remains uncertain l SGC consults on ideas for achieving a further £40m of cost savings l Superfast broadband outcome imminent for EO line subscribers l MetroBus planning application gets green light from councillors l Source of “annoying noise” traced to solar farm on Trench Lane l MP runs Bristol Half Marathon in aid of air ambulance charity l Successful Bikeathon set to raise £6,000 l Trench Lane lake a big draw for triathletes l Everyone’s welcome at Bradley Stoke’s friendly running group

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October 2014

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News

Future of Phones 4u store remains uncertain

T

he shutters stayed down at the Phones 4u store in Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre on Monday 15th September after it was announced that the mobile phone retailer had been put into administration.

The picture was the same at more than 550 other Phones 4u stores across the country, leaving a total of 5,595 employees (including those at concessions within Currys and PC World stores) with an uncertain future.

The store closures followed a decision by mobile network EE to stop selling phones through the Phones 4u chain, following similar moves by Vodafone, O2 and 3.

Accountancy firm PwC, appointed as administrator for the Phones 4u business, issued a statement saying: “This is a very sad day for the business and the many people working there. In light of our impending

Closed since 15th September: The Phones 4u store at the Willow Brook Centre

appointment the directors understandably took the decision to close all the shops today and sent many staff home.”

“Our initial focus will be to quickly engage with parties who may be interested in acquiring all or part of the business, and to better understand the financial position and options for the

company. The stores will remain closed while we have these conversations.”

Willow Brook Centre Manager Andy Wynn commented: “It is always a sad situation when large chains face problems.

In particular the Phones 4u situation nationally has come fairly out of the blue and was

CTOBER O 1 3 Y A D I R F M 11AM TO 3P

played out in the national media last night and this morning, before staff could be informed.

The Willow Brook store is no different to the rest of the Phones 4u estate in that it remained closed today and, as it stands, the team are waiting to hear from the administrators on a plan of action for the future.”

The administrators issued a statement on 19th September confirming that 140 Phones 4u stores had been sold to Vodafone. This was followed by a further announcement, on 22nd September, that 58 stores had been sold to EE. The locations of the acquired stores were not revealed in the two announcements, but a list of the 362 unsold stores issued on 23rd September did not include the Willow Brook store, leading to speculation that it might soon re-open under either the Vodafone or EE banner.

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October 2014

MetroBus: The only option available

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

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

About the Bradley Stoke Journal The Bradley Stoke Journal website and magazine are published by North Bristol Press, a trading name of Snowberry Media Ltd; company number 8451178 (registered in England and Wales); registered office 19 The Park, Bristol.

Our other publications include the Patchway Journal website, the Stoke Gifford Journal website and the Filton Journal website.

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

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

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or article author. © North Bristol Press 2014. Content published in our magazines or on our websites may not be reproduced in any form without our express written permission.

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outh Gloucestershire councillors’ recent approval of the North Fringe to Hengrove Package MetroBus planning application leaves the project with just one more hurdle to clear – final approval from the Department for Transport.

Assuming that is achieved, Bradley Stoke residents will then have to endure two-and-a-half years of roadworks before the new “high quality” express bus service is introduced.

We are told that MetroBus will reduce the journey time to Bristol city centre by 22 minutes, compared to the no. 73 route, but that is a ridiculously unfair comparison because quicker options are already available in

Editor’s comment

the form of the X73 and X74.

It also takes no account of the extra time passengers will need to walk to the MetroBus stops, as the new service will only run along Bradley Stoke Way. Many people have questioned the point in spending £102m on what is effectively a discontinuous network of new bus lanes.

A system is only is strong as its weakest link and there seem to be plenty of those in the proposals that have recently been approved.

We are getting MetroBus because it was the only possible option left on the table after our local councils failed to agree over a tram system and the potential of our local railway network was totally overlooked.

We deliver 9,450 copies of this magazine As well as being delivered to ALL of the 8,650 homes in Bradley Stoke, a further 800 copies of this magazine are delivered in the neighbouring areas of Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. We also leave around 500 copies at public locations in Bradley Stoke, Patchway and Stoke Gifford.

Find out more and get interactive!

So that you can find out more about the topics included in this issue of the magazine and/or take part in online discussions about them on our website or Facebook page, we have set up an online reference page listing all the related links. Visit: http://bit.ly/bsj-mag-links or scan the QR code.

Get involved with your local newspaper!

If you have news that you would like to see featured in the magazine and/or on our website, please get in touch by email, phone or post (see contact details on the top left of this page).

We are also looking for people to get involved in the production of the town’s new local newspaper, so please contact us if you are interested in writing articles or taking photographs for us.

2 Gloucester Road North Filton, Bristol BS7 0SF Call: 0117 914 5400 Website: www.estillsouthwest.co.uk Email: info@estillsouthwest.co.uk

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October 2014

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News

SGC consults on ideas for achieving a further £40m of cost savings Services reviewed in response to austerity measures

B

radley Stoke residents are being invited to have their say on possible service changes being considered as part of South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) six-year savings programme.

The council says it needs to reduce its spending by £40m by 2020 as it responds to national austerity measures, and will be consulting residents as part of a range of service reviews in the coming months.

Recently-launched public consultations include: • A review of the council’s Private Sector Housing service, including landlord accreditation and empty homes management, with a

target saving of £168,000. The deadline for comments is 10th October 2014.

• A review of the council’s Trading Standards service, including Lorry Watch, consumer advice and trader approval, with a target saving of £50,000. The deadline for comments is 5th November 2014.

• A review of the council’s Community Engagement service, including the priority neighbourhoods scheme and safer, stronger community groups, with a target saving of £200,000.

The deadline for comments is 30th November 2014.

• A review of the council’s Community Safety and Anti-

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Social Behaviour service, including council-funded Police Community Support Officers and funding and support for anti-social behaviour measures, with a target saving of £277,000.

The deadline for comments is 5th December 2014.

The council’s savings programme was approved by councillors in February this year and sets out the savings needed to help the council balance its budget as it adapts to national austerity measures and public sector spending reductions.

Through the programme, the council will work with local people to review its priorities and ensure that its more limited resources are focused on its core activities,

including improving educational outcomes, safeguarding vulnerable children and adults and delivering the jobs, homes and infrastructure that will be needed in the coming years.

Options to retain other services by delivering them in more innovative and cost-effective ways – e.g. in partnership with the local community or by sharing them with other organisations – will also be explored.

Details of council savings programme consultations are available to view on the council website at www.southglos.gov. uk/consultations. Alternatively, contact the council’s consultation team on 01454 868154.

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Open Days Celebrating the launch of our new bathroom display area Friday 17th & Saturday 18th October 2014 The Open days will include a competition to win a Kitchen & Bathroom. (T’s & C’s Apply) We will be having a Home Economist from Bosch along with a Kitchen & Bathroom accessory Lucky Dip. We will also be holding a raffle with prizes to include, wine cooler, granite chopping boards, sink & taps + much more. All proceeds going to My Heart C.R.Y. Charity Open Hours: Friday 17th 9.30am-6.00pm, Sat 18th 9.30am-5.00pm

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October 2014

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News

Superfast broadband outcome imminent for EO line subscribers

T

he occupiers of around 1,700 homes in Bradley Stoke that are served by exchange only (EO) telephone lines from Almondsbury (01454 numbers) are expected to find out within the next few weeks whether they will be given the opportunity to order superfast broadband as a result of the state-subsidised infrastructure upgrade programme being carried out by BT on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council (SGC).

As previously reported in The Journal, four new fibre-enabled street cabinets specifically for EO lines are being installed in the town, and all of these are now in position, with one, no. 31 (corner of Brook Way and Savages Wood Road), already announced as being “live and ready for service”.

The council reports that “good progress” is being made with cabinet nos. 30 (at the top end of Bradley Stoke Way, near the Hilton Hotel) and 36 (corner of Bradley Stoke Way and Brook Way, near Oaktree Crescent). The fourth, no. 38, has recently been “stood” on Brook Way, opposite the junction with Dewfalls Drive.

SGC is currently predicting that cabinet nos. 30 and 36 will become “live and ready for service” during October, with cabinet no. 38 following sometime later.

A number of readers who know that they were previously on EO lines have reported on The Journal’s website that they are now seeing cabinets 30, 31 or 36 appearing in their BT Broadband Availability Checker result. However, at the time of writing, none of these readers have the ‘fibre to the cabinet’ (FTTC) service showing as being available on their lines, which is a prerequisite for ordering superfast broadband from any

internet service provider.

Other readers, mindful of SGC’s previous statement that “not all EO lines connected to the Almondsbury exchange will be upgraded as part of the council’s project,” have expressed concern that they are still not seeing a cabinet number showing up in their checker result. These include residents of Kemperleye Way and Linden Drive, whose closest EO cabinet is the now “ready for service” no. 31.

Elsewhere in the town, it is now looking increasingly unlikely that consumers in Honeysuckle Close and Primrose Close will benefit from the current SGC project, despite being within the defined ‘intervention area’.

Cabinet no. 23 (on Bowsland Way), which serves these two roads, is “not currently in the plans to be upgraded,“ according to the postcode checker on the SGC website.

Kingfisher Close, also served by cabinet no. 23, is another road that looks likely to miss out, although it is doubtful whether it would have been eligible for upgrade anyway, as SGC’s maps show it as being outside the ‘intervention area’, which is thought to be the result of incorrect coverage data being supplied by Virgin Media.

A small number of Bradley Stoke properties connected to the Filton telephone exchange (0117 numbers), which was upgraded as part of BT’s commercial rollout programme, are still unable to order superfast broadband.

These include those connected to fibre-enabled cabinet no. 44 (corner of Baileys Court Road and Ellan Hay Road), which has been “out of capacity” for months, and those on EO lines (readers have reported such cases in Shiels Drive and Pursey Drive).

Is fibre broadband available to you? Are you on an EO line?

To find out, visit: www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/superfast

Recently-installed EO cabinet no. 38 on Brook Way (opposite Dewfalls Drive)

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October 2014

Letters and Opinions “Arrogance” of our town councillors Like many of your readers, I was amazed at the arrogance shown by our town councillors in ignoring the will of Bradley Stoke residents, who voted in favour of extra car parking at the Brook Way Activity Centre & Bradley Stoke Surgery site, in place of the existing tennis courts (also the cheapest option).

Still, this is something we have experienced for many years – the cronyism, the secret meetings and the cosy little ‘Conservative club’ who think they can walk on water and spend our tax as they wish.

We have the same stale old faces year after year who have gained their seats with marginal votes and have not been challenged by the electorate, so we are all to blame.

Town councils have very little power anyway, and have to obtain permission from South Gloucestershire Council for anything of any significance, and

the budget money goes back and forth to pay for services provided

by South Gloucestershire anyway. So what’s the point of a town council? Democracy?

Accountability? That’s a joke! It’s just another layer of bureaucracy, which we pay for, and an ego trip for most of the councillors.

What we need is more independent councillors at all levels, who have the interest of the public who voted them in, and not their political masters. It should also be compulsory that you live in the area you represent.

Remember, we get what we deserve. Use your vote, it was fought for! And have your say!

Fred Hillberg Bradley Stoke

Breakdown help greatly appreciated Received via our Facebook page on Thursday 18th September.

This afternoon, I managed to burst a tyre driving along Pear

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Tree Road (towards the Toby Carvery roundabout). Stranded in the road, two very kind gentlemen who were passing by stopped and helped to push the car on to the verge.

I don’t know who they were, but I really am grateful for the assistance and in the chaos of it all (with my baby in tow too), I only managed a very quick “thank you” before they went on their way.

If you could put a shout out to them (or someone who knows them) to say a very big thank you to them both, that would be great. I was also appreciative of the numerous people who stopped to see if we were OK or needed any help.

It’s so nice to know that Bradley Stoke is full of lovely people who are happy to stop, and even though the tyre had gone, my faith in the Bradley Stoke community has not!

Thanks very much again.

Adrienne Wheeler Bradley Stoke

Youngsters are a credit to the town Residents at Bluebell Gardens, the Merlin-owned ‘independent living’ complex in Savages Wood Road, have expressed their admiration for the friendliness they have experienced in Bradley Stoke, especially amongst young people.

Beset as they have been with their own difficulties in “settling in” and adjusting to a new life-style that a number of them experienced in leaving Filton, it has shown them predominantly what the town has to offer.

Shopping regularly in the Willow Brook Centre, they have been met with a high degree of respect and attention. This has been particularly noticeable amongst young people. Those who have a little difficulty getting around have been helped in many ways.

It is pleasing to see children thoroughly enjoying the good life in the centre. Whilst there is noticeably a predominance of cycles and scooters there, those using them have, in the main, balanced responsibility without causing pedestrian annoyance.

Each Christmas, residents at Bluebell Gardens partake of a visit to the pantomime at Bristol Hippodrome. This has always been a well enjoyed occasion, particularly amongst those who resided at Filton. Besides providing entertainment, usually by well-known TV personalities, it gives a real advantage in group booking which reduces costs in the best available seats.

This offer is open to anyone to come along with us at an agreeable date. Interested? Then call 01454 201987. We will keep you ‘in touch’.

Again, thank you Bradley Stoke for making us very welcome in your ‘new community’. We are thankful for the friendliness and respect that is being shown to us here, particularly from the town’s younger residents. It points well for the future, which will go from strength to strength. It is a tribute to the upbringing by parents and teachers alike.

Cllr Douglas Daniels Bradley Stoke

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October 2014

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9

Letters and Opinions Gracias Bradley Stoke!

We recently celebrated our first anniversary of living in Bradley Stoke and this beautiful country. We came because my husband studies and works at the University of Bath and, for some inexplicable reason, we choose to live in Bradley Stoke.

We are so happy and comfortable living here. We love the Three Brooks nature reserve and we enjoy walking along the paths there. Most importantly, we appreciate the neighbourhood and all the people we have met here.

People have the power of change and do magic to everyone’s life.

Because of these reasons, it is a good moment and opportunity, through the pages of the Bradley Stoke Journal, to say thank you: • Thanks to Marie N. and his son who immediately invited our son to play together.

• Thanks to Denise and Kirsty, who opened their heart to all our family.

• Thanks to Irene, Monica,

Laura who planned trips and playground sessions with children and pub getaways, some evenings only for women.

• Thanks to Jean H., Bill Mc. and Izzie, who supported me in my sad moments and work so nicely for the community.

• Thanks to the Bowsland Green Primary School headteacher and her team for taking care so successfully of our son.

• Thanks to Karen H L., Sara B., Sara H., Corrinna V., Kerry Cl., Isa B., Serena H., Kirsty B., Emma H., Paola S. and Tanit M for every Thursday mums’ breakfast and our chats.

• Thanks to Kath A., Lorna, Raquel and Gail V. for their professional encouragement.

• Thanks to all the cats that we can stroke. They comforted the absence of our cat that sadly could not come with us.

We always will remember some of the questions that our son asked when we arrived; in fact I

Enjoying a warm welcome in Bradley Stoke: Assumpta Canals-Tomás & family

wish to publish a children’s story about all his surprising reactions.

“Mum, why is it raining again?”

We answered: “Do you like the green grass and all the nature surrounding us?” “Yes, I love it,” he said and we added: “So if we like it this green, it needs to be irrigated a lot!” He was happy with this explanation.

“Mum, why can’t I understand anybody – I have no friends!” he said in tears. We told him: “Dear, you are so lucky to have the opportunity to make new friends, learn a new language, experience new landscapes, manners, religions and foods. Join them with yours and you will be a richer and happier boy.”

Some months later, when his birthday came along, he had no fewer than 18 new English friends to invite and we can assure you that he says that the squirrels and snails, our garden and the flowers, the BBQs, and especially Halloween and Santa all are the best things ever!

We have three hearts: one with our loved Barcelona (my town), a second with our loved Canary Island (my husband’s town) and the third with our new loved Bradley Stoke (my kids’ town).

We are doing our best to correspond and to reciprocate this big gift. Thank you all.

Assumpta Canals-Tomás Bradley Stoke

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October 2014

News Feature: MetroBus

Operational from: End of 2017

Journey time - Bradley Stoke to city centre: 26 minutes

10-minute frequency 7am-7pm New branded buses Smartcard ticketing The planning application predicts that the MetroBus journey time from Bradley Stoke to the city centre will be 26 minutes (saving 22 minutes over the 48 minutes that the current no. 73 service is expected to take in 2017).

MetroBus routes proposed in the planning application. Asked about the apparent lack of a direct service between Aztec West / Bradley Stoke and Bristol Parkway Railway Station, a spokesperson told The Journal: “The service will be commercially operated and therefore it will be the decision of the operator(s) to define the services that operate across the network.”

Bradley Stoke Journal

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October 2014

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News Feature: MetroBus

MetroBus planning application gets green light from councillors Two-and-a-half years of roadworks in the Bradley Stoke area set to start next spring

S

outh Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) approval of the planning application for the £102m North Fringe to Hengrove Package (NFHP) MetroBus on 9th September, following a similar decision by Bristol City Council on 27th August, has cleared the way for plans to be submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) for full approval.

According to a report published by SGC in June, a decision from the DfT can be expected by February or March next year, and, subject to this being positive, construction will start in “spring 2015”, with the first MetroBus services running by “summer 2017”.

Within Bradley Stoke, the project will see a number of sections of new bus lane constructed along Bradley Stoke Way, including a long stretch running from the end of the existing bus lane adjacent to the Willow Brook Centre up to Patchway Brook Roundabout (near Aldi). There will also be major changes on the approach to the Aztec West Roundabout and reconfiguration of the Woodlands Lane junction.

The proposed £14.5m Stoke Gifford Transport Link (SGTL, known locally as the Stoke Gifford By-Pass) will form a crucial section of the MetroBus

route, linking the southern end of Bradley Stoke Way with the A4174 Avon Ring Road, between UWE and junction 1 of the M32.

South Gloucestershire councillors have agreed that delivery of the SGTL will proceed even if the DfT fails to confirm funding for the MetroBus project.

An indicative construction timeline submitted with the MetroBus planning application suggests that construction work on the Bradley Stoke section of the route could start as early as April 2015 and last for 30 months. Construction of the SGTL is likely to start in summer 2015 and be completed by summer 2017.

Noting that all planning permissions for the MetroBus network - NFHP, Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and the South Bristol Link - have now been granted, Cllr Brian Allinson, Chair of the West of England Joint Transport Board said: “This is a hugely important day for the MetroBus project. With the entire MetroBus network now approved, we can rapidly move forward in delivering these vital public transport improvements.”

“The MetroBus network will link key areas through a modern public transport network that is faster, more reliable and more comfortable than existing bus services.”

“The success of the Greater Bristol Bus Network shows how improvements to public transport can increase passenger numbers and customer satisfaction, and MetroBus will build on this to create a step-change in public transport provision in the West of England.”

“Construction on the MetroBus network will begin later this year, and the project will work closely with local residents to keep them informed as work commences”.

The councils funding the MetroBus network say it will improve journeys to locations that are currently poorly served by public transport, enabling thousands more people to access key employment, education and leisure destinations.

It is also claimed that

MetroBus journeys will be significantly quicker than existing bus journeys. For example, by 2017 the 73 service from Bradley Stoke is predicted to take 48 minutes to reach Bristol city centre, whereas MetroBus journeys are expected to take only 26 minutes - a saving of 22 minutes for every passenger.

Organisations that wrote in support of the NFHP applications include Business West, Bristol International Airport, Invest Bristol and Bath, the University of Bristol, the University of the West of England and North Bristol SusCom.

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New police centre opens The new Patchway Police Centre, located on Gloucester Road (A38), in front of the Rolls-Royce works, became operational on Tuesday 23rd September.

The public enquiry desk at the centre is open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

October 2014

News in Brief Ladies’ lunch club meets monthly from October South Glos Ladies’ Lunch Club would like to invite you to join us at The Old School Rooms, Lower Almondsbury for a monthly lunch and speaker on the second Thursday in the month, October 2014 through to March 2015.

Annual membership and monthly lunch fee payable. All guests welcome.

For further details and information contact: Hilary Broad, 01454 619554 or 07876 666458, email: hilaryb66@ btinternet.com

Working together to improve your community

Bring a copy of this advert when joining and receive One Month Free LivingWell Health Club Hilton Bristol Woodlands Lane Bradley Stoke BS32 4JF 01454 893420 / anca.leru@hilton.com

The next meeting of the Bradley Stoke Safer and Stronger Community Group takes place on Thursday 30th October at Baileys Court Activity Centre (7pm start).

South Gloucestershire’s 20 Safer and Stronger Community Groups are all about working together to improve your local community.

The groups also enable you to have your say about the services that your community receives.

These groups have been set up as part of the Neighbourhood Policing Model and South Gloucestershire Council’s Community Engagement initiative. Their members include people who live and work in the area and representatives from Avon and Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue, South Gloucestershire Council, town and parish councils and other local organisations. ● Agenda: http://bit.ly/bs-sscg

How to report graffiti Graffiti on one of the ‘Welcome to Bradley Stoke’ signs was removed within hours of it being reported on The Journal’s Facebook page last month, after the message was forwarded to the town council.

The council has agreed to act as a clearing house for graffiti reports, forwarding them, where necessary, to the correct agencies. ● Report online at http://bit.ly/ bstc-graffiti or phone the town council office on 01454 205020.

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

October 2014

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Through the camera lens by Becky Ward

Becky Ward Photography

Y

ou may have noticed the skies being lit up in a rather dramatic fashion recently. The thunder storm on the night of 18th/19th September was the most impressive I have seen in this country, as well as being the first time I have experienced fork lightning first hand.

Being a photographer, as

you would expect, my first instinct was to grab my camera.

However, one small issue stood in my way. Whilst my natural curiosity came to the fore, it was sadly somewhat overwhelmed by my abject fear of thunder and lightning and it took over an hour of small forays to the back door of our house trying not to jump out of my skin each

Did the thunder and lightning wake you? time the lightning struck or the thunder boomed.

As I’m sure most of Bradley Stoke’s residents will agree, it was indeed a spectacular thunder storm, eclipsing certainly anything in my living memory!

Having steeled my nerves, I spent quite some time taking multiple shots as the sky lit up sometimes jumping back from the door until I was able to pluck up the courage to stay still long enough to get the photo I was looking for.

I used a slow shutter speed to capture the entire fork of lightning. I used my camera in high-speed continuous mode to ensure that I wouldn’t miss my opportunity, taking several hundred frames until I finally got what I was hoping for.

Hopefully, I’ve gotten over my fear of thunderstorms now; you could say it most certainly was a baptism of fire, but I hope you will agree the end result was worth it!

13

News in Brief Tracking ‘app’ leads police to stolen iPad Switching on the tracking device on your mobile, tablet or laptop really can deliver results, say Avon and Somerset Police.

“Early on Wednesday 24th September, we were called to a reported burglary in Bradley Stoke where an iPad had been stolen. Our officers traced it to an exact address in a street in Southmead and found it inside.

A man was arrested on suspicion of burglary.”

Neighbourhoods Manager Sgt Bob Eveley said: “This is some really good news and a great piece of work by the team. It just goes to show that if people have the tracking switched on for their devices, we really can get them back.”

November magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 20th October

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

14

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October 2014

Sport

Youth Olympics bronze for Bradley Stoke Judo Club player Peter Miles

Peter Miles receives a hero’s welcome on his return to Bradley Stoke Judo Club

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25% off glasses for over-60s plus free eye test Bradley Stoke The Willow Brook Centre. Tel 01454 275 020 specsavers.co.uk

Applies to one pair of glasses, from £69 range or above. Includes all frames, lenses and Extra Options. Excludes reglazes, safety eyewear, contact lens products and non-prescription sunglasses. Cannot be used with other offers. Discount not transferable in whole or part for cash. Free eye test funded by the NHS. SKU 25634648. ©2014 Specsavers. All rights reserved.

ifelong member of Bradley to have achieved a bronze at the Stoke Judo Club, Peter Youth Olympics is the icing on the Miles, has returned cake. I would like to thank Pete triumphant from the Nanjing Douglas and Nick Brace for their 2014 Youth Olympic Games with help and support in preparing a bronze medal in the Team GB me for the games and the team at mixed Team Judo.

Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre for Peter, who is coached by fivehosting the club.” time British Judo Champions, “Judo is a fantastic way to Pete Douglas and Nick Brace, stay fit and healthy and I am returned from China with a privileged to have been able Youth Olympic medal to add to to travel around the world to his already impressive collection. represent my country in the sport The young hopeful won that I love.” bronze at the European Cadet Pete Douglas, coach at Championships, silver in the Bradley Stoke Judo Club, said: 2013 European Youth Olympics, “Peter has worked so hard and Miami and gold at Junior U20’s we are extremely proud of his European Cup in 2013 alone. achievements in Nanjing. His Peter’s judo journey began success at the Youth Olympics is when he was very young, testament to the hard work and originating from his joy of determination which will help wrestling going on to join Bradley him go far in his judo career.”

Stoke Judo Club. Now in sixth “We hope to see even greater form and recently accepted successes for Peter and the other into Oxford University to study members of Bradley Stoke and mathematics, he hopes to build England players, many of whom on his successes. plan to emulate Peter’s success in On his return from China, Peter coming years.” received a hero’s welcome from Bradley Stoke Judo Club younger members of his club, who runs sessions for all ages and train at Bradley Stoke Leisure levels from beginners to world Centre. The Youth Olympian medallists. The club is always shared his stories with the looking for new and talented youngsters in the hope of inspiring players with ambition to make it them to similar successes. to the top. If you are interested Peter said: “It has been an in joining, please visit: www. incredible couple of years, and bradleystokejudoclub.com The Journal: Serving the community 24/7 since 2008

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

October 2014

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Youth Olympics bronze medal winner Peter Miles (centre) with coaches Nick Brace (left) and Pete Douglas. See story on facing page.

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October 2014

News South Glos Design & Fine Arts Society to welcome Tom Denny on 16th October

By Liz Jarvis of SGDFAS he first meeting of South Glos Design & Fine Arts Society’s (SGDFAS’s) new programme will be held on Thursday 16th October at Bradley Stoke Community School, Fiddlers Wood Lane, BS32 9BS. We start at 7pm with refreshments followed by a welcome from Chairman Sally Kitching. The slide illustrated talk begins at 7.30pm. This month, Tom Denny will talk to us about ‘New Stained Glass in Ancient Buildings’.

Born in London Tom Denny was fortunate to attend King Alfred’s School, Hampstead where his evident artistic gifts were nurtured, and then art college in Edinburgh with a strong emphasis on the drawing and painting traditions, which was unusual in the 1970s.

Although there was a stained glass department, Tom’s involvement with this media did not begin until sometime later.

After leaving college, he established a reputation as an up and coming painter. Working in stained glass began when he was commissioned to create a stained glass window for a church near Stirling in Scotland. Today, although regarding himself as a painter, Tom’s work in stained glass has a reputation which puts him among the country’s leading exponents of the medium. His work is seen all over the country, from Gloucester Cathedral to

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tiny village churches, to a grotto in the garden created in memory of the late Queen Mother in the Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh.

Usually meeting on the third Thursday of the month, this year, South Glos DFAS will hear talks from experts, usually illustrated with slides, that include The History of Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey), Hans Christian Anderson, The Shakers, Art Deco Ceramics, Picasso & Cubism and David Hockney.

Members come from all over the South Glos and surrounding area, so don’t feel you need to live in Bradley Stoke to join us.

For further information please contact our Chairman, Sally Kitching by phone on 01454 774401 or by email to sallykitching@googlemail.com

Mike Thompson windsurfing in the 70s (see story on facing page)

Advertising feature

Is it only pictures that can be framed?

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ike Royall loves a challenge and is always being asked to frame the unusual. Since he started his picture framing business in Hortham Lane, Almondsbury he’s framed such strange things as a skeleton of a seahorse, carpenter’s tools, a 60-foot flag, three black bras, a piece of toast, a boxing glove, a masonic banner, a packet of crisps, a voodoo doll and even a pair of stripper’s knickers!

“I’ve stopped being amazed at the sorts of things that my customers want framed and, up to now, I’ve never had to say no to anyone,” said Mike, who was the first picture framer in the Bristol area to become a qualified Guild Commended Framer.

Many of Mike’s loyal customers still remember the bureaucratic problems he had when he opened

his framing business in 1990 – when he wasn’t allowed to use his own surname for his business without asking the Home Office first. It seems that the regal name “Royal” or any similar spelling of it was on a list of sensitive words that needed official permission before it could be used.

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

October 2014

t: 01454 300 400

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17

News

Trench Lane lake a big draw for triathletes

By Angela Belassie n eleven acre man-made lake near Bradley Stoke has made a name for itself as a specialist triathlon training centre, attracting thousands of athletes from across the South West each year.

Award winning windsurfer Mike Thompson, 74, set up a training school at Bristol Open Water (also known as West Country Water Park) nearly 40 years ago. Today, the site in Trench Lane also hosts canoeing, jet skiing, a 400m Go-Karting and 960m running track, which runs around the edge of the lake.

And the number of people swimming at the centre has increased to 5,000 this year compared to just 1,500 in 2011.

The married father of two, who has lived in Bradley Stoke since he opened the school in 1982, said: “I’m over the moon.

This is the perfect job as there’s no pressure and it keeps me fit and healthy. I work a 12 hour day during peak season then go away during the winter holidays.”

Mike, who lives in Westfield Way, took up windsurfing in his 30s when it was a new sport.

He went on to win numerous trophies, including coming third in the world speed championships. He also travelled the world to test professional equipment and write reviews.

In 1976 he opened a school at Bristol docks but decided he needed somewhere cleaner and moved to the current site - which

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is just over the motorway bridge from Bradley Stoke and between Woodands Golf Club and St Mary’s RFC. Farmland was dug out to create a 600m swimming lap course with fresh water.

People training for triathlons can swim and run at the centre and maps are provided for nearby cycle routes. Many also train to swim the English Channel.

The centre has featured on TV numerous times, including in scenes from Casualty, Skins, Rescue 999 and the film Escape from Berlin.

Plans for expansion

Mike hopes to get investment to expand the business after being granted planning permission for a new club house, including a 60-seater restaurant. He said: “It needs to have money pumped into it, but a restaurant overlooking the lake would be fantastic. We would also like to put in new changing rooms and a shop to sell watersports equipment and clothing.”

While he would ideally like to sell the business, Mike says he has no plans to slow down: “I would like to move on… I could be on a beach in Barbados. I would also like to go climbing and do more snowboarding.

There are so many things to do!”

“However, if I can’t sell, I will carry on, as the job keeps me fit.”

Mike, who was the first person in the country to somersault through the boom while

Bradley Stoke resident Mike Thompson, owner of West Country Water Park

windsurfing, still keeps active.

He said: “Windsurfing seems to have been replaced with kitesurfing, but it’s possible to still do it here if people ask.”

“Jet-skiing is popular and I love the adrenalin from it.”

The centre is for all people, not just triathletes, and visitors include children and those training for mini triathlons.

For more about the lake and the other attractions on the site, visit bristolopenwater.co.uk

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

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October 2014

Sport

News in Brief

Mixed start to the season for BSTFC

Grants awarded

By Connor Summers radley Stoke Town Football Club (BSTFC), who play their football at the Jubilee Centre, have had a mixed start to the season. The three Saturday teams: the First Team, Reserve Team and A Team have been playing football in different divisions of the Bristol and District league, the highest being the First Team in the top tier of the league.

The Firsts are the stand out Saturday side, topping the first division having won four of their last five games, their latest victory being an 11-3 win over local Rivals Frampton Athletic.

They stand at the top of the league with 12 points, level with Lebeq Saturday in third and Rangeworthy in second. The Firsts will be hoping they can continue their strike rate after scoring 31 goals in the first five games of the season.

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Bristol And District Football League – Division 1 POS

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W

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GD

PTS

1

Bradley Stoke Town

5

4

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Rangeworthy

4

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12

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St Pancras

4

4

0

0

10

12

4

Lebeq (Saturday) FC.Res

5

4

0

1

8

12

5

Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves

4

3

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Mendip United Reserves

5

3

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2

2

9

7

Cribbs ‘A’

4

2

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-7

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Frampton Athletic Reserves

5

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9

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Seymour United Reserves

5

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-7

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Soundwell Victoria

3

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Bendix

4

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-9

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Winterbourne United ‘A’

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Totterdown United Reserves

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The Reserves have also had a solid start to the season, winning three of their first four games and they stand in third place in Division 4 of the league, with 9 points. They sit behind Old Sodbury Reserves, but are two points clear of Westerleigh Sports in third. With promoted manager Matt Burch in charge, the Reserves

will want to push on and maintain their good start to the season.

The only Saturday team holding BSTFC back is the A Team, who have not managed to win a game this season and sit second from bottom of Division 5 of the league, above Bendix Reserves, who are also yet to put a point on the board.

Bradley Stoke Town Council’s Leisure, Youth & Amenities Committee agreed the following grants at its meeting in August:

● A Service Level Agreement of £4,000 for 2014/15 to Bradley Stoke Youth Football Club.

● A Service Level Agreement of

£1,158 for 2014/15 to the Patchway, Filton and The Stokes Volunteer Centre.

● A Grant Aid award of £500 to the Rotary Club of Bristol Aztec towards the cost of rebranding.

● A Grant Aid award of £400

to South Gloucestershire Over Fifties Forum towards the cost of hiring a sound system.

Interested in applying for a grant for your group or organisation?

For details visit: http://bit.ly/ bstc-grants or phone the town council office on 01454 205020.

Ocean Letting & Management have developed a unique, customer focused lettings experience. We understand the real importance of developing and maintaining a relationship with both landlord and tenant.

At Ocean our landlords are offered a bespoke service ensuring we provide a product that suits their requirements.

Once we understand the needs of our tenants, we will make every effort to find their ideal property. We want our tenants to feel they have found a home not just a house.

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October 2014

t: 01454 300 400

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19

News

Successful Bikeathon set to raise £6,000

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ith a new name, a new venue and the beautiful weather, this year’s Bikeathon brought the cyclists out in force. Over 100 people entered, which is the most the Bikeathon has ever had in its four-year history.

The event this year was renamed the Martin Dean Bristol Bikeathon in memory of Martin who was an avid cyclist, and also a founder member of the Stokes Cycling Club who helped to organise the event. Sadly, he lost his battle in 2012 from CLL, a form of Leukaemia. This event is to remember Martin and get more people out on their bikes, which he would have loved to have seen.

The biggest group set off at 9.30am in a sea of red to cycle the 50-mile route, which took them all the way over to Castle Combe, returning back at The Willow Brook Centre, the venue for the day. Next, the families all got ready to leave at 10am, for their 15-mile journey around the local area. There were children of all ages taking part on their own bikes and also tagging along on the back of Mum or Dad. It was a fantastic sight to see so many taking part.

Once all the cyclists had left the start, the team set to work on setting up the venue for a family day. There was a teddy tombola, a book stall, a bouncy

castle, face painting and games for the children to keep everyone occupied and most importantly raise extra funds for the charity.

Bradley Stoke Radio were also on hand for the whole day, interviewing the cyclists before they left and helping everyone to cheer the cyclists as they arrived back from their challenges.

The first 50-mile route cyclist turned up unexpectedly after just three hours, which is amazing.

Mark took part because he had suffered with Lymphoma in the past and wanted to give something back.

The overall amount raised from this year’s Martin Dean Bristol Bikeathon is expected to be over £6,000. Jo Bray from Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and the Stokes Cycling Club said: “Today has been fantastic, it’s wonderful to see so many cyclists turn up to our event. Martin would have been so chuffed to see the sea of red t-shirts and everyone on their bikes raring to go. I can’t thank everyone enough, the entrants, all the companies who have helped us, including The Willow Brook Centre, Giant and Tesco and also everyone who kindly came along on the day and donated. We will be back for next year, so keep an eye out!”

To find out more information about the Bristol fundraising group for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, please

BS Man and Van £20

Local Run Any Job

£60

Half Day

Call Mike

Riders line up at the Willow Brook Centre on Sunday 21st September

visit their facebook page www. facebook.com/llrbristol For more information about

the Stokes Cycling Club and local cycling in Bradley Stoke, visit www.stokecyclingclub.org.uk

Bradley Stoke Journal: 3,600 fans

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Tel: 07883 605185 bsmanandvan@hotmail.com To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

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October 2014

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t: 01454 300 400

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2

3 1. Fans on Rabbit Roundabout 2. Schoolchildren line Winterbourne Road 3. The leading group on Gipsy Patch Roundabout 4. The leading group approaches Rabbit Roundabout 5. The peleton approaches Rabbit Roundabout 6. The peleton on Rabbit Roundabout 7. Sir Bradley Wiggins (left) and a Sky team mate 8. Employees from the Stoke Gifford office of race sponsor Friends Life 9. Mark Cavendish fans on Gipsy Patch Roundabout Credits: 1, 4, 6 & 7 Steve Gower Photography; 5 Andy Burrows

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Sport: Tour of Britain

Sir Bradley whizzes through The Stokes

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phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

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ycling enthusiasts and sports fans were out in force in The Stokes on the afternoon of Wednesday 10th September when the Tour of Britain professional cycling race passed along the Winterbourne Road, which separates Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford.

Stage four of the eight-day race saw 117 riders tackling a marathon 184km route between Worcester and Bristol, passing through Evesham, Cheltenham and Stroud, taking in some steep Cotswold hills on the way.

Big names in the field included Tour de France and Olympic time trial winner Sir Bradley Wiggins and sprint star Mark Cavendish.

Hundreds of people, including children from Bradley Stoke Community School, Baileys Court Primary School and St Michael’s School in Stoke Gifford lined the Winterbourne Road, with scores of fans also taking up viewing positions on ‘Rabbit Roundabout’ and Gipsy Patch Roundabout at either end of the road.

After speeding down Beacon Lane from Winterbourne, the leading group of eight riders arrived at Rabbit Roundabout almost precisely at the predicted time of 2.51pm. The peleton (chasing group) of over one hundred riders followed around 1min 50secs later, taking just eleven seconds to stream past, followed by scores of team cars

carrying spare bikes.

After passing along Gipsy Patch Lane, the riders turned south down the A38 and made their way through Filton, Southmead, Brentry, Henbury, Shirehampton and along the Portway before making the steep climb up Bridge Valley Road and on to the stage finish on the Downs.

The stage victory eventually went to Polish rider Michal Kwiatkowski, with Sir Bradley and Mark Cavendish in 34th and 35th places repectively.

‘Wiggo’ went on to win the individual time trial stage in London four days later and he finished the tour in third place.

An article in the Baileys Court school newsletter later summarised the experience of the 300 pupils who were taken to watch the race and it concluded: “Everyone agreed that it had been an exciting and memorable experience, and the behaviour of all of our children was exemplary. Many thanks to all of the many volunteers who made this possible - let’s hope that lots of our children ‘get the cycling bug’. Who knows – perhaps the next Sir Bradley will come from Baileys Court!”

A big thank you to the many Journal readers who sent in their photos of the race. Some of the best are reproduced here; many more can be found on our Facebook page.

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October 2014

News Rowe Vets take charity raft race by storm

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team of ten vets, nurses and reception staff from The Rowe Veterinary hospital in Bradley Stoke took part in the 49th annual Monmouth Raft Race on Sunday 7th September.

The race takes place on the beautiful River Wye from Monmouth to Whitebrook and is 6.5 miles long. There was a record number of entries this year with 105 rafts, in many sizes, shapes and speeds all competing.

The Rowe team was called Rowers Ark and was themed as an ark manned by pairs of animals; rabbits, reptiles, dogs, cats and chickens.

After many months of preparation, the team were really pleased to complete the race in just over 2 hrs placing them 44th out of 105 entries. Additionally, the team won the prize for the most sponsorship money raised, a total of £2,255! The money raised will be used to support St David’s Hospice and other charities supported by the Monmouth Rotary Club.

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

October 2014

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23

News

Source of “annoying noise” traced to solar farm on Trench Lane

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n “annoying beeping noise” heard by hundreds of Bradley Stoke residents for more than two weeks in early September was almost certainly coming from a site on Trench Lane where a massive solar farm is being constructed.

The irritating noise was commented on by more than a hundred readers on The Journal’s Facebook page, who variously described it as: “loud and annoying”, “like aliens (or a spaceship)”, “a strong beeping”, “like drilling through marble with a blunt pneumatic drill”, “like a movie sonar ping” or “like the Apple Facetime ringing noise”.

Independent investigations by The Journal’s editor and Journal reader Gary Lewis on 12th/13th September both traced the noise to Grange Farm on Trench Lane (between West Country Water Park and St Mary’s Old Boys RFC), where a 19MW solar farm is being constructed on a ninefield 37ha (91 acre) site.

According to a planning application approved by South Gloucestershire Council in January, the facility will comprise up to 95,000 solar panels mounted on metal frameworks.

The noise, which could be heard through the working day Monday to Friday and also on Saturday mornings, is believed to have

come from machines that were used to hammer thousands of metal stakes into the ground, to a depth of between 1.2m and 1.5m.

Readers reported hearing the noise in Bowsland Way, Campion Drive, Cooks Close. Dewfalls Drive, Grange Close, Perrys Lea, Westfield Way and near the Willow Brook Centre.

In response to an enquiry from The Journal, Conergy, the company that is constructing the solar farm, provided the following statement on 12th September: “There has been much speculation recently about strange noises heard in the Bradley Stoke area.

We wanted to make sure that everyone is aware of what is happening at the site where we are building a solar plant.”

“We’re operating six pile drivers during the day and on Saturday mornings. These provide the ballast for the solar panel mounting systems that we will put in place. Pile drivers are a bit like large hammers, and every time we drive a pile into the ground, there is a rapid tapping noise, of metal on metal, which may be heard in Bradley Stoke, certainly if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction.”

“On site the noise is not high pitched as many people are describing so we’re going to check whether that noise is

linked to our work. We’ll let you know what we find out. In the meantime we apologise for any inconvenience over the tapping noise. Unfortunately, there’s no way of silencing them.”

“Most of the work on the piles is compete (70%) but we’d like to clarify that we won’t be finished with this for at least another week.

We’re going as quickly as we can to avoid disruption and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The Grange Farm site lies within the civil parish of Frampton Cotterell and the parish council there will receive, from the operators of the solar farm, a

‘community benefit contribution’ of £1,000 per MW produced per year, which could amount to £450,000 over the 25-year period of operation for which permission has been granted.

South Gloucestershire Council is currently considering a planning application for a second (15MW) solar farm on land off Trench Lane, at Hammond Court Farm. This site, on the opposite side of the road to the one currently under construction, is closer to Bradley Stoke, but lies in the parish of Winterbourne. Both sites are separated from Bradley Stoke by the M4 motorway.

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Junior Entry Assessments Saturday January 24 2015 (9am - 12.15pm) Further information from Denise Sollis Tel 0117 965 5207 denisesollis@colstons.bristol.sch.uk

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

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October 2014

Bradley Stoke Beat Team Advice for students starting the new term

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t’s that time of year when we welcome the students back – and when we, the police, do all we can to remind young people how to keep safe and protect their property.

Whether you’re studying at Bristol, Bath or UWE, if you’re now calling a shared house or flat home in the Bradley Stoke area or elsewhere, you need to take time to avoid being targeted by burglars.

Sorry for the miserable message, but the fact is, a burglar thinks he’s got lucky if he gets away from the average house with one TV, laptop or phone. House shares like yours could be his dream come true!

So, here’s what you need to do – and make sure you share this with your housemates: Love it? Then log it!

• Make sure you register your phone, tablet, laptop, TV and any other valuables on www. immobilise.com It helps us find owners of lost or stolen property every day.

• Show your bike some love and register it on www.bikeregister. com so if it’s ever stolen, you can flag it up to police and, if recovered, they can find you.

• Download and install tracking software onto your phone and laptop. That way, we can do our best to catch the thief redhanded and get your property back to you.

Lock it!

• Close and lock your windows – one in five burglars walks straight in.

• Don’t leave valuables on show.

If you are going out, put them away out of sight.

• Know who’s at home - never let anyone into your house unless you’re confident you can trust them – including at parties. We get a lot of thefts reported the morning after.

• Avoid ‘letterbox burglaries’: never hang or leave your keys anywhere near your letter box or window • Don’t leave spare keys under obvious places like mats, pots or bricks – thieves know about these places.

Beat surgeries at the Willow Brook Centre: Wednesday 8th October – 5pm to 6.30pm Wednesday 22nd October – midday to 1.30pm Thursday 6th November – 5pm to 6.30pm Wednesday 19th November – 5pm to 6.30pm Wednesday 3rd December – midday to 1.30pm Wednesday 17th December – 5pm to 6.30pm Social media channels: ASPolice Bradley Stoke @ASPTheStokes

www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

Young helpers Tillie (left) and Bea, with mum Luci, get stuck in at the Bradley Stoke in Bloom workday at The Common East (see story on facing page)

Bradley Stoke Journal Advertising feature

South Glos ‘stop smoking’ specialist launches electronic cigarette store

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South Gloucestershire health psychologist has launched an electronic cigarette service to provide smokers with a healthier and cheaper alternative to tobacco.

Justin Boult, from Bradley Stoke, is using ten years of health sector experience to continue his crusade against smoking Justin explained: “Whilst working for the NHS I helped thousands of smokers to quit with conventional medications, but became increasing aware of the possibility that a superior alternative to smoking was not offered by the Stop Smoking Service”.

When research conducted

by Professor Robert West, the Director of the National Centre for Smoking Cessation discovered

“those who use e-cigarettes are more likely to report continued abstinence than those who used a licensed NRT product… while toxicity testing suggest they are safer by orders of magnitude than cigarettes”. Justin was inspired to develop the company ‘VaperVapour’ to provide “innovative and satisfying products alongside expert advice and support”. Justin says “VaperVapour’s electronic cigarettes produce a realistic, smokelike vapour that perfectly mimics cigarette smoke without tar and other toxins.”

VaperVapour offers free trials at their Bradley Stoke clinic and provide home visits. They have a stall at the Willow Brook Centre every Friday. Alternatively you can visit their interactive website: VaperVapour.com

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

October 2014

t: 01454 300 400

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

25

News

Workday makeover for The Common East

By Sara Messenger of Bradley Stoke in Bloom (BSiB) ur September workday was part of the Discover Festival and the plan was to reinstate The Common East to its former glory. One day wasn’t enough to complete all our rather ambitious plans but we did manage to complete a considerable amount of work.

Thanks to Dave and Andy, the pond island has reappeared, as has the pond! At the end of the day, we were all very impressed by the amount of smelly mud Andy had dug out, although we found it was best to thank him from downwind!

Unstable dead trees were taken down and turned into hibernacula and the bramble and nettles that were crowding the paths were also removed. Graffiti was cleaned from the Royal Mail box and the sign posts (thank you to the town council for supplying the equipment) and we collected quite a haul of interesting litter (a printer anyone?).

Bradley Stoke in Bloom (BSiB) is a very small group; we only have three committee members, Sara, Andy D and Sarah, together with Rob & Ceri, our two regular workday helpers. Two members were away on Saturday so we were delighted to have join us for the day many extra helping hands: Sandy, Nikki, Dave, Rob, Suchetha, Luci, Paul, Gill, Chiara,

O

Catherine, Vikram with lots of younger helpers too. Thank you as well to the residents who came out, Sandy for her excellent fishing, the lady who donated some tools, the builder who donated bricks and to the lady who brought us afternoon tea and biscuits!

We also managed to inspect the orchard which we have been asked to take over, it has been badly neglected and requires of a lot of attention but we are interested and are already looking at ideas for it, which may include some involvement with local bee keepers!

In the afternoon, under the watchful eye of a very friendly robin, an imposing insect hotel was created with the children’s help. Although called an insect hotel it isn’t just for insects; individual habitats were created, each tailored to suit the different needs of hedgehogs, frogs, bees, butterflies and bugs, with several very keen to move in even before we’d even finished. The top has been planted with red clover, vetch and other low growing bee friendly plants. We registered the event in advance with The Wildlife Trust / RHS and were delighted to receive from them some free seeds for the project, the hotel has now been entered into their Wild about Gardens competition and can been seen on their Facebook page. If you

Every need catered for: The new ‘insect hotel’ at The Common East

have a chance, please remember to ‘like’ our pictures.

We have met up with the Willow Brook Centre Manager, Andy Wynn, who has been very supportive and who has lots of exciting ideas and interesting projects in the pipeline. Our first joint venture will be a

children’s ‘Best Carved Pumpkin’ competition to be held on the 31st October. Our competition will run alongside the other children’s activities already planned by the Willow Brook Centre. We will update our Facebook page with more details as soon as we can.

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October 2014

Ask the Doctor with Dr Norman Douglas of Bradley Stoke Surgery The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

T

hat is how John Keats described this time of the year. I prefer to think of it as: “The season of coughs with yellow fruitiness.” And so I begin my monthly musings on treatment, investigation and diagnosis of these symptoms.

We all get “Colds”, runny noses, tickly coughs, congestion.

They are a nuisance but they are self limiting and normally we can work through these episodes with remedial measures such as lots of fluids, simple over the counter remedies you get from your chemist, lots of tissues and plenty of self pity, especially for us males. Children get coryzal symptoms, as previously described, much more frequently. These are normally caused by minor viral infections and as they fight these with their own immune system it becomes stronger, so when they are older they have better defences and

The

get fewer illnesses. As a parent we often want treatment such as antibiotics for these symptoms but they are generally of no benefit and they detract from the body’s own defence system and its development.

Some of us have Asthma where we get breathing difficulties, increased coughing and wheezing. Asthma is often precipitated or made worse by a cold or simple upper respiratory viral infection. If Asthma symptoms are not controlled by the normal treatment with inhalers it will need assessment and possibly an increase or addition of medications. This type of exacerbation of asthma should really be assessed by your GP or Asthma nurse.

Sometimes a cough can indicate a more serious problem such as a lower respiratory infection, chest infection, bronchitis, pleurisy or pneumonia. These will normally

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be accompanied by shortness of breath, a fever, possibly coloured phlegm, occasionally chest pain and some blood staining of the phlegm. These symptoms do need to be assessed and possibly some investigation carried out to make a diagnosis and then various treatments including antibiotics will be considered. Shortness of breath, fever and blood stained sputum needs to be seen.

Very rarely does an acute onset of cough indicate a lung cancer problem. It is usually prolonged periods of coughing, blood in the sputum, weight loss, appetite loss, a history or exposure to smoking or industrial pollutants that would give cause for this concern.

Prolonged coughing and these other symptoms do need to be investigated.

So what about the fact that I cough up this bright yellow phlegm? Surely that

is a bacterial infection? Not necessarily. Most people who cough in the morning will produce yellow sputum. Not because it is infected but because it has been lying in the lungs, throat or sinuses all night. If you cough up clear phlegm in to your hanky and leave it for 2 hours it will turn yellow too. A fever and breathing issues are of much more relevance than the yellow fruitiness.

“For summer has o’er brimmed their clammy cells.”

This is the last line of Keats’ poem. So maybe we are not that far from nature ourselves. Maybe our clammy cells have become overfilled during the summer and this is why we produce our yellow fruity coughs.

Have a great month.

Norman Douglas

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October 2014

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27

News

Lots to ‘discover’ in our local nature reserve

By Sara Messenger of the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group n our September workday, using traditional scythes, we cut the long grass on the small meadow behind the Bradley Stoke Community School playing field, only stopping to pick blackberries and to move small toads to a place of safety.

The toads seemed to be playing Russian dolls with us, as each toad found was smaller than the last! We wish we could say the same of the spiders but they just seemed to be growing in size, some of them measuring a whopping 1.5cm across the body!

As well as our usual workdays the group have, as part of the Discover Festival, planned four bats walks, a reptile ramble and an autumn walk.

O

Bat Walks

The first bat walk was on August 29th and saw 18 intrepid bat watchers braved the wet weather in their search for furry friends.

The walk was led by Laura Plenty of Avon Bat Group, who gave everyone an interesting insight into the life of a bat, and knowledgeably answered everyone’s questions, only being stumped by one. “What is the gestation period of a bat?” It seems that no one knows, as female bats can delay fertilization

until the conditions are most favourable. Who ever knew! The next walks on the 5th & 19th September saw much better weather and with many more bats making an appearance.

If you can’t get along to one of our guided bat walks, you can always borrow from Bradley Stoke Library, for free, one of our bat detectors, which comes with leaflets and a bat guide.

Reptile Ramble

Our Reptile Ramble on 13th September had much better weather. The walk was led by Amy Schwartz, a conservation volunteer with Avon reptile and amphibian group which is part of the ARGUK network of volunteers. Although on the day, the reptiles and amphibians were scarce, (only a couple of toads and one adult slow worm made an appearance), the 34 people who came all enjoyed the ramble and everyone got the chance to stroke an adult female slow worm and to admire her black tongue.

I’d like to say thank you to Nathan from the Water Board, who during the walk kindly lent me some tools from his van and helped to remove some wire that had appeared in the path. The wire wouldn’t have caused an injury but would have punctured any bicycle tyres that went across it.

There have been only two reportable incidences of vandalism

Children stroke a slow worm

this month, the notice board by the skate park was damaged and all the notices ripped off and part of the Bowsland Meadow pond dipping platform has been damaged by fire.

We do seem to be having a bumper crop of blackberries this year, so do come and pick them soon as according to old British folklore they should be picked by 10th October.

The story is that 10th October is Old Michaelmas Day which is also called “Devil Spits Day”

This is known as the day that the Devil came to earth; he fell from the skies, straight onto a blackberry bush, scratched and bruised by the bush, he cursed the fruit, scorched them with his fiery breath, stamped on them and then spat on them making them unfit to eat and each year he returns on that day to do the same all over again!

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October 2014

News

Mayor appeals for charity support

I

am Cllr John Ashe and I also have the honour of being Mayor of Bradley Stoke this year. All previous Mayors have nominated a charity or charities to receive funds from various events held in Bradley Stoke and I have chosen two…

The first being the Great Western Air Ambulance which is based in Filton. You will all have seen the helicopter flying overhead, going to help someone in an emergency. This service is funded solely by charitable donations and does not receive a penny from the government.

The air ambulance also has a scheme to recycle ladies bras and this also helps to raise funds.

There is a pink plastic bag at the Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road BS32 8HL for donations.

For further information, visit: http://bit.ly/gwaac-bras My second charity is the Poppy Appeal – Royal British Legion,

which is a well known organization that helps service men and women from all generations.

There are three major events that enable me to raise funds.

The first was the Bradley Stoke Community Festival, which had another well attended, successful year and the second was the Bradley Stoke Carnival, which, even though only in its second year, was again a success, and

both events were very lucky with the weather. The third event is the very popular firework evening which this year will be held on Sunday 2nd November. The fireworks are free of charge to watch, but I would ask everyone to give generously to the bucket collectors that will be on site Monies from all these events are split 50/50 for my charities.

Also in November, you will see me in the Willow Brook Centre collecting for Poppy Day. The money I collect there is all for the Royal British Legion.

If you see me at the fireworks or the Willow Brook Centre, please come up and say hello.

Best wishes, Cllr John Ashe

Bradley Stoke Town Council invites all residents and neighbours to a public fireworks display on Sunday 2nd November at the Jubilee Centre. Gates open at 4.30pm; hot food served from 4.45pm; firework display starts at 6pm.

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October 2014

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Quiz Quiz for all, No. 13 (easy/hard, old/new) Another ‘just for fun’ general knowledge quiz, compiled by local Mastermind contestant Paul Philpot. Answers on page 33.

1. George Washington was the first president of the United States of America. Who was the second president?

2. Belgrade is the capital city of which country and former Yugoslav republic?

3. Frappuccino, is a registered trademark that is owned and used by which chain of coffee shops?

4. Which US city was home to Motown Records, famous for producing artists such as The Four Tops, The Supremes and The Jackson Five?

5. The magical children’s nanny Mary Poppins, was created by which novelist?

6. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, Carina Vogt became the first woman to win a gold medal in which sporting discipline?

7. In 1603, who became the first English monarch to represent the House of Stuart?

8. Which chemical element is represented by the letter ‘P’ in the periodic table?

9. In terms of both land area and population, which is the largest of the Dodecanese islands?

10. Which actor played ‘the Ugly’ in the 1966 Spaghetti Western film, ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’?

11. In which US city are the main headquarters of the United Nations found?

12. Which former Children’s Laureate has written popular books such as ‘Room on the Broom’ and ‘The Gruffalo’?

Journal quiz setter: Paul Philpot

13. Which sea is also the world’s largest lake by area?

14. Which English Premier League football team play their home games at the King Power stadium?

15. In which century did Leonardo da Vinci complete his famous ‘Mona Lisa’ painting?

16. Who was the first female winner of the X-Factor TV series, doing so in 2006?

17. How is the chaparral cock, a ground cuckoo native of Mexico, better known?

18. Represented by Conchita Wurst, which country won the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest?

19. What makes the monotreme order of mammals, different to all other mammals?

20. Which wonder of the world was located around fifty kilometres south of the modern city port of Izmir, in Turkey?

Read Paul’s blog at www.justquiz.org

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October 2014

Advertise in this * News: Traveller Encampment space for just £30 Statement: Councillors take further

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Promptly after the unauthorised encampment was vacated for the second time, Bradley Stoke Town Council took action to clear up and further protect the site from any future incursions.

The clear up involved the removal of biological and physical waste, and further efforts to secure the site have involved the installation of three one tonne boulders.

Bradley Stoke Town Council fully supports the previous decision to install wooden posts to ‘deter’ the return of the encampment; however this was sadly to no avail.

It was a proportionately measured response hoping that the persons, who decided to establish the unauthorised encampment, would respect our green space and would get the message not to return. The council stands by the initial efforts; as the cost of the posts were of considerable good value, the posts were never intentioned to stop persons returning to the site but rather slow them down, acting as a deterrent and assist the legal process where criminal damage would have to be committed to gain access, expensive ground works that could have been implemented would have

been reversed within a short timeframe; as the installation of a bus lane that is scheduled to pass through the area subject to South Gloucestershire Council’s planning approval.

Addressing the pressing question of why boulders were not initially installed after the posts, but rather two trees?

This is because, this stretch of the public highway is South Gloucestershire Council’s land and their responsibility, they felt installation of the trees was just as satisfactory and could be achieved a lot faster. Bradley Stoke Town Council had little choice but accept this view.

However as this has proved a false economy, Councillor John Ashe and Bradley Stoke Town Council officers had a site meeting with an officer from South Gloucestershire Council and insisted that, as the trees failed, South Gloucestershire Council must provide boulders.

The current installation of boulders means they can be used on the site until the point of further development (i.e. the installation of a bus lane) and can be moved to other parts of the town to protect areas that are assessed to be of risk to the establishment of unauthorised encampments.

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October 2014

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31

News: Traveller Encampment

Council agrees measures to deter travellers Boulders and long grass at recent encampment site. No measures to be taken elsewhere in town.

A

set of three boulders has been placed on the access ramp leading to a grassed area alongside Bradley Stoke Way that was, on two recent occasions, used as the site of an illegal traveller encampment.

The move came two weeks after defences consisting of four wooden posts and two young trees, installed after the first traveller encampment in June, failed to stop travellers moving onto the site for a second time, over the August bank holiday weekend.

Bradley Stoke Mayor John Ashe had wanted to have a ditch dug to prevent travellers returning for a third time, but his ‘Plan B’ (following the ineffective wooden posts) was thwarted by the presence of an underground high-pressure oil pipeline in the vicinity of the access ramp.

The precise cost of installing the boulders is unknown, but an estimate of £369 for two one-ton rocks was tabled by officers at the August meeting of Bradley Stoke Town Council’s (BSTC’s) Planning Committee. This compares with the sum of £97 spent to have the four wooden posts installed in June.

It is understood that South Gloucestershire Council (SGC), which owns the land, has agreed to refund the cost of installing the boulders.

The Planning Committee also agreed that the grass on the entire site be left to grow long, “as a deterrent to further

Boulders now block the ramp used to access the site of recent encampments

unauthorised encampments”.

During the August meeting, Cllr Ashe warned that there are several other verge areas further down Bradley Stoke Way that could be vulnerable to unauthorised encampments, once the site recently used had been secured. He suggested that the council should consider letting the grass grow long on these areas as well and asked that the matter be placed on the agenda for a future meeting.

When councillors considered the issue at BSTC’s September Full Council meeting, most expressed the opinion that travellers would be unlikely to camp on verges on either side of Webbs Wood Roundabout, due to the closeness of housing – this being the advice given by the traveller liaison officer at SGC.

Cllr Ben Randles commented that the two recent encampments were the first in the town for the 17 years he has lived here, and he warned against spending money for short term success, noting that any defences installed might

have to be altered when Bradley Stoke Way is remodelled as part of the MetroBus project.

Cllr Keith Cranney said allowing grass to grow long everywhere would make the town look “terrible” and increase the risk of fire, adding that it would be better for the land owner to use existing and new legislation to deal with illegal encampments as and when they occur.

Cllr Tony Griffiths surprised his colleagues by saying he had been in contact with “various travellers” and when told about the plan to grow the grass long as a deterrent, “they just laughed”.

In the end, councillors agreed by a majority of 7:1 that: “… the grass be left to grow long in the area of the recent unauthorised encampment on Bradley Stoke Way and to leave the rest of the verges in the town as per their [usual] grass cutting regime”.

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Schools Reading wave washes over Holy Trinity

By Jane Johns, headteacher staff. Even the staff participated Pupils and staff took part in the without feeling guilty about National Reading Day on 8th ‘relaxing’ on the job!

September by participating in a It proved to be another way ‘reading wave’, which involved all to highlight the importance of schools in the local area. reading for all sorts of purposes From 9.30 until 10.00am – on this occasion it was mostly the school fell almost silent as pleasure and the 30 minutes children from all year groups seemed to fly by. opened their books and indulged Families were invited to a love for reading. Some pupils donate books which will be brought in books from home to passed on to charities in order read, others had their Kindles, that less fortunate children whilst the very youngest pupils might have access to good quality had a story read to them by reading materials.

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October 2014

Around the schools

by Judith Summers of Bradley Stoke Radio

E

veryone is now settled back into the routine of school after the long summer break and the primary schools in Bradley Stoke have welcomed in a new intake of reception children.

There was an exciting start to this term at Bowsland Green Primary School. During the summer holidays they had some major building works in the Reception unit. Little Acers have moved into the front of the building and they have expanded the reception area. It is now huge!

They are very lucky to have lots of lovely new equipment to play with. The children particularly love the role play area and the giant sandpit outside. The reading corner is now a lovely inviting space with comfy cushions and the creative area is now an open space that children can access at all times. They are having great fun creating lovely paintings and models.

It is lovely to hear new visitors to the Reception unit utter a ‘wow’ as they first enter, particularly the older children in the school. The Reception children themselves are also very impressed. One was overheard saying: “Mummy, I really like my new classroom.

Come and look at the new toys.”

As there is now such a large space to learn in, the parents are able to ‘stay and play’ for a short while every morning to ensure that their children are settled and happy. This also gives parents a chance to see the learning that the children have been engaged in.

Meadowbrook are celebrating the success of their Sports Coach, Miss Deborah Benjamin who has begun training with the Team GB Athletics Development Squad in preparation to potentially compete at senior national level.

Deborah is a specialised 800m runner and regularly trains with Cardiff Athletics Club.

She will be starting an athletics

with their y3/4s soon so other schools beware when it comes to summer inter-school events!

This summer seven Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) students, accompanied by two members of staff, were fortunate enough to spend two weeks in Watamu, Kenya.

The purpose of their visit was to spend time at its twinned school, Sawa Sawa Academy, BSCS first twinned with Sawa Sawa Academy about 18 months ago and has achieved a huge amount in that time – from setting up a pen-pal system, to raising over £3,000 to support the school, all culminating in the visit.

Watamu and Kenya couldn’t have been more welcoming to the group and the students thrived at the school, teaching lessons and interacting with students out of lessons. They were able to donate a wide range of resources including educational supplies, sporting equipment as well as a wireless router, introducing the school to the internet.

The value and enjoyment of the trip was tremendous and next year’s visit is already being planned.

Finally, hundreds of children took part in the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge run by the South Gloucestershire libraries.

Primary schools across the area have been busy presenting medals and certificates to children who read the required six books in the holidays. Over a thousand children registered for the challenge at Bradley Stoke Library.

The Bradley Stoke Radio Schools Show covers all schools in the local area and beyond. We play children’s music and have children reading their poems, topic work and stories - in fact anything they feel they want to share. It is aired on Monday evenings during term time, between 6pm and 7pm.

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October 2014

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33

Sport

Everyone’s welcome at Bradley Stoke’s friendly running group

By Sheila Wilcox orth Bristol Running Group meets regularly in Bradley Stoke and consists of a local and friendly group who enjoy running together and supporting each other to train.

Training runs set out at 6.30pm from Bradley Stoke Doctors’ Surgery on Brook Way and we communicate our training plan via the ‘North Bristol Running Group’ Facebook page.

The group is completely free of charge and members can attend as and when they can.

Runs on Tuesday evenings are generally aimed at those new to running and runs tend to be longer and faster as the week progresses.

We have enjoyed a great summer of running through the Bradley Stoke nature reserve and

Quiz answers (page 29) 1. John Adams 2. Serbia 3. Starbucks 4. Detroit 5. PL Travers 6. Ski Jump 7. James I 8. Phosphorus 9. Rhodes 10. Eli Wallach 11. New York 12. Julia Donaldson 13. Caspian Sea 14. Leicester City 15. 16th Century 16. Leona Lewis 17. Roadrunner 18. Austria 19. They lay eggs 20. The Temple of Artemis

N

Send us your news! 5

North Bristol Running Group meets at Bradley Stoke Surgery

have taken some of our runs to other parts of Bristol as part of a series of ‘Summer Sizzlers’.

It’s time now to buckle down to winter training and it’s a great

time to start running regularly.

If you are interested in joining us please join our Facebook page or contact Alan Wilcox on 07890 182387. Everyone is welcome!

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Sport Another successful season for cricket club

A

s the mornings start to get a little colder and the nights draw in, Simon Page, Secretary of Bradley Stoke Cricket Club has been reflecting on another successful season.

The club, which is only 23 years old, runs four sides on a Saturday, who all compete in the Bristol and District league structure, two on a Sunday and has youth teams at under 9, 11, 13 15 and 17 levels.

The 2014 season saw promotion for the Third and Fourth teams, who both play at Bradley Stoke Community School. The Fourth team, captained by Nick English, were champions of Division 12, while the Third team, captained by Alan Cotterell, came second in Division 9 to secure a second successive promotion.

Simon commented: “This was particularly pleasing, as both teams contained a number of players who still play youth

team cricket and hopefully will progress to the Second and First teams over the next few seasons” The Second team finished midtable in Division 3, while the First team competed at the top end of the Senior Division and finally ended up a creditable fourth.

Simon added: “The club prides itself on giving as many of its youth players opportunities in the adult teams as possible. This season, for the first time, the club has had six youth team players go forward for trials with the county, which is a massive achievement”.

As the season draws to an end, the club is looking forward to its presentation night in October, where they will celebrate the season and to the Bristol and District League dinner, where they will pick up their trophies.

After the winter break though, indoor nets start in February at the Winterbourne International Academy, and then outdoor nets for pre-season training.

t: 01454 300 400

October 2014

Ask the Podiatrist

with Olivia from the Willow Brook Clinic What is a Podiatrist?

Podiatrists provide preventative care, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of problems affecting the feet, ankle and lower limbs. This includes the management of the “high risk foot” be it regular foot care health checks or simply advice to those with diabetes, arthritis, neurological or vascular conditions.

Day-to-day foot problems such as corns, calluses, verruca’s, athletes foot, heel pain, hammer toes, sores (blisters/ulcers/cuts and general wounds), thickened or fungal nails, all form part of a Podiatrist’s role.

However, more complex issues pertaining to the way in which joints, muscles and ligaments are aligned and function (known as biomechanics) can also be addressed by a Podiatrist.

What is the difference between a Podiatrist and a Chiropodist?

Podiatry is the modern name for Chiropody. Both are protected titles requiring appropriate training and qualifications (usually a 3-4 year degree course) leading to registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Those individuals who have chosen not to, or are not eligible to use the title Podiatrist or Chiropodist will often adopt the

term “Foot Health Practitioner” or similar. Please be aware these titles are not protected by the law meaning that anyone can use them regardless of training or qualifications.

When do I need to see a Podiatrist?

Some aches and pains in our feet and lower limbs may go away in a day or two, others do not and this is when you should see a Podiatrist. Many people suffer with foot pain or discomfort for months or years and a vast majority of these problems can be alleviated with a single Podiatrist treatment.

Numerous issues ranging from basic nail cutting or footwear advice to minor surgery using local anaesthesia are all undertaken by Podiatrists.

A Podiatrist may also be the first port of call for preventative care which can improve mobility, independence and quality of life. www.willowbrookclinic.co.uk ● See our advert on page 19.

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

October 2014

t: 01454 300 400

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

35

News

MP runs Bristol Half Marathon in aid of air ambulance charity

R

unning the Bristol Half Marathon a couple of weeks ago was a very big moment for me as it was the first time that I had run a half for two years. As many readers will know I was ill last year and even though I have been training over the summer, which included three ten mile runs, I wasn’t sure how my body would react to just over thirteen. However, I needn’t have worried as Sunday turned out to be a great day and I was able to get round in just under two hours, which for me was a reasonable time.

Bristol looked beautiful in the glorious sunshine and it was great to see so many people enjoying the efforts of the runners and cheering them on as we got round the course.

I ran the Half Marathon to raise funds for the Great Western Air Ambulance (GWAA). They are based in my constituency at Filton Airfield and are essentially an airborne accident and emergency department due to the presence of a Critical Care Paramedic and Doctor on board whenever they

attend an incident. They receive no funding from the Government or the National Lottery to carry out this work, and operate seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The run took place at the beginning of National Air Ambulance Week, in which the work of Air Ambulances across the country and the time given by volunteers is celebrated.

The helicopter that GWAA have been using is over forty years old and is no longer fit for purpose.

Fortunately, they will be taking delivery of a new medicalised Eurocopter 135 model next month, which will bring a great improvement to the standard of medical care that they can provide.

Whilst I am delighted that they have been able to improve their services, it does mean that their costs will soar from £1.5 million a year to £2 million. It was for this reason that I was determined to support their efforts by running the Half Marathon.

The men and women who staff and run voluntary organisations such as the Air Ambulance are hugely important in assisting the

Bradley Stoke Journal: 3,600 fans

JACK LOPRESTI MP

Member of Parliament for Filton and Bradley Stoke

Jack has surgeries on Fridays at locations across the constituency – please make an appointment: 01454 617 783 or jack.lopresti.mp@parliament.uk Jack’s drop-in constituency office is at 2B, 1st Floor East, The Willow Brook Centre, Savages Wood Road, Bradley Stoke, BS32 8BS Open 9-6 weekdays

Jack Lopresti MP with his finisher’s medal in Bristol’s Millennium Square

emergency services. Around 2.1 million people live in the area covered by the Great Western Air Ambulance, and so I was delighted that the money I raised will go towards keeping it flying.

I’ve caught the running bug

again and will be running the Stroud Half Marathon on 26th October to raise more funds.

Any readers who wish to donate can still do so via my Just Giving page, www.justgiving. com/jackloprestimp

At Four Towns and Vale Link Community Transport we can help you get out and about, with our door to door accessible vehicles.

All you need to do to use our service, is complete a form and pay a registra�on fee. To nd out more, or to request a registra�on form contact our friendly team in the office.

We can help people get to the:

• • •

Shops

•

Social events

G.P visits Medical appointments

Contact Details Call: 01454 868 529 Email: info@4tvl.org.uk Registered office: Norman ScoƩ park, Coniston Road, Patchway, BS34 5JR Website: www.4Ʃ.org.uk

Why not book up for one of our community transport trips?

Whether you enjoy a pub lunch, trips to the garden centre, browsing round the shops or even bingo. It’s good to get out and meet new friends.

Registered charity No 1084874

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

36

www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk

What’s On Come and have a great time and raise some money for local charities!

B

ristol Aztec Rotary Club is holding a barn dance on Friday 24th October at St Mary’s RFC, Trench Lane.

Tickets for the event, which gets under way at 7.30pm, are £10 each (including supper) and are available from Roger Worth on 07860 555394.

Another opportunity to help support the Rotary Club will come at the Bradley Stoke Town Council Firework Display on Sunday 2nd November at the Jubilee Centre. Once again, we will be providing hot food while you watch the fireworks. Come and try our delicious burgers and sausages, which are all freshly barbecued on the night! Food is served from 4.45pm, with the fireworks starting at 6pm.

Some more exciting news is that the Bristol Aztec Rotary Club will be changing its name to Bradley Stoke Rotary Club on

1st January 2015. We are doing this, with the help and support of Bradley Stoke Town Council, so that the community we serve will find us more easily recognisable as your local club.

We are interested in welcoming new members to our club, so if you live in the Bradley Stoke area and wish to find out more or get involved, please contact Peter Randall on 07860 1678994 for details. We meet weekly on Fridays at Bristol Golf Club (Cribbs Causeway) for breakfast at 7.30am.

If you would like to join us, please let Peter know so that we can ensure you have a nice breakfast to go with a warm welcome.

Other events taking place before the end of 2014 include the Music Rules event in October, the Young Chef competition in November and the Young Photographer competition, all sponsored by your local Rotary club.

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We seek good condition house, modern or modernised, 4-5 beds or larger, guaranteed 3 year contract, company let, excellent references.

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October 2014

Discover Festival events in Bradley Stoke Friday 10th Oct 10.30am - 2pm at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre World Mental Health Day event Come along and celebrate World Mental Health Day with us. Take part in a range of FREE exercise activities such as swimming, badminton, tennis and much more. FREE buffet lunch and refreshments will be provided. Stalls and information so you can find out what’s happening locally and where you can go for help and support. To book call 01454 868274 or email cchengagement@southglos.gov.uk Sunday 12th Oct 11am - 3pm at Brook Way Activity Centre Bradley Stoke Radio – BSR 103.4FM open day Visit your local community radio station. Meet our volunteers, have a look behind the scenes and watch and listen to live radio. The studios are not suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.

Monday 13th Oct 10am - 1pm at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre Gentle exercise with the Alzheimer’s Society Sports & Social Club Join us for a gentle exercise session; low impact moves for a healthy active lifestyle. This weekly club is for people with dementia and their carers. No dogs allowed except guide dogs. Not suitable for children.

Thursday 16th Oct 7.30pm at Bradley Stoke Library An evening with best selling author Tim Weaver Featuring missing persons investigator, David Raker, Tim Weaver’s books have topped the best selling and Kindle charts – discover more about his work and writing. Suitable for age 16+. Cost: £2 payable on the door. Refreshments available Thursday 23rd Oct 3pm - 5pm at Bradley Stoke Library Meet Bristol DAWG rescue (Greyhound and Lurcher rescue) Bristol DAWG rescue, rehabilitate and rehome ex racing greyhounds and ex working lurchers. Please pop along and meet some of our dogs.

Thursday 23rd Oct 7.30pm at Bradley Stoke Library Battlefield: The History of Polio – a talk with Gareth Williams Gareth Williams tells the incredible story of polio since ancient times to today’s front line of the battle to exterminate polio. Age: 16+. Cost: £2 payable on the door.

Saturday 25th Oct 2pm - 4pm at Bradley Stoke Library Get writing with Ali Bacon and Pauline Masurel Join local authors Ali Bacon and Pauline Masurel for a fun and informal workshop for those with some writing experience or anyone who would like to make a start. Age: 16+.

For more information, visit: www.southglos.gov.uk/discover

Ride On Cycles The Mobile Cycle Workshop That Comes to You Full range of servicing & repairs carried out by a City & Guilds quali�ied mechanic Contact Andy on: 01454 880872 07443 333219 andy@ride-on-cycles.co.uk www.ride-on-cycles.co.uk

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

October 2014

t: 01454 300 400

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What’s On (5th October – 2nd November) Sunday 5th October

appointment necessary.

9am: Severnside Ramblers’ Walk: Sherston. Meet in the Blue Zone car park at Aztec West – a car-sharing scheme is operated. More info: http://bit. ly/ssramb [Further walks on 10th, 19th, 24th & 26th October and 2nd November]

7pm: BSTC Finance Committee Meeting at the Jubilee Centre. Agenda: http:// bit.ly/bstcfin

9.30am: SCC Medium Distance Bike Ride to Ashton Court. Meet outside Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/bsj-scc or phone Bryan on 01454 617560 [Further SCC rides on 12th, 19th, 25th & 26th October and 2nd November] 10.30am-4.30pm: Wedding Showcase at the Willow Brook Centre. Open air wedding showcase in association with Aztec Hotel & Spa. More info: http://bit.ly/bs32wbc

Friday 10th October 10am-12pm: NCT Bumps and Babies Group meets in the cafe at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

More info: http://bit.ly/nctsglos [Weekly on Fridays] 10.30am-2pm: World Mental Health Day Celebration at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. Free activities, lunch and refreshments. Stalls and information. More info: http:// bit.ly/bs32wmhd 1.15pm-7.15pm: Blood Donation Sessions at the Jubilee Centre.

More info: www.blood.co.uk [Further sessions on 31st Oct]

Tuesday 7th October

Monday 13th October

7.30pm: Willow Brook Townswomen’s Guild meets at the Jubilee Centre. More info: Janine 01454 617645

6.30pm: Bradley Stoke Small Business Forum Meeting at the Aztec Hotel. More info: www.bssbf.co.uk

Wednesday 8th October

7pm: BSTC Leisure, Youth & Amenities Committee Meeting at the Jubilee Centre.

Agenda: http://bit.ly/bstclya

10am-12noon: Citizens Advice Bureau Outreach Session at the Jubilee Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/citadbu or phone 08444 111444 [Weekly on Wednesdays] 2pm: Bradley Stoke Women’s Institute (WI) meets at the Jubilee Centre. More info: Maureen 0117 904 6099 5pm-6.30pm: Police Beat ‘Drop In’ Surgery at the Willow Brook Centre. No

Thursday 16th October

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

activities for the whole family.

More info: Jenny 01454 628725

Monday 20th October 1.30pm-3.30pm: Sew and So’s patchwork and quilting group meets at the Jubilee Centre.

Wednesday 22nd October 12pm-1.30pm: Police Beat ‘Drop In’ Surgery at the Willow Brook Centre. No appointment necessary.

7pm: BSTC Planning Committee Meeting at the Jubilee Centre. Agenda: http:// bit.ly/bstcpec

Friday 24th October 7.30pm: Barn Dance at St Mary’s RFC, Trench Lane.

Proceeds to Rotary causes. More info: Roger Worth 07860 555394

Monday 27th October 11am: Walking for Health: Bradley Stoke ‘Roads & Reserves’. Organised walk (3.5 miles) starting from Bradley

Stoke Leisure Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/sgcwalk or phone 01454 868006.

Thursday 30th October 10.30am-11.30am: Autumn Antics children’s craft activity at Bradley Stoke Library.

7pm: Safer and Stronger Community Group Meeting at Baileys Court Activity Centre.

Friday 31st October 11am-3pm: Halloween Fun at the Willow Brook Centre. For details, see advert on page 3.

Saturday 1st November 10am-4pm: Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group Workday. Meet at the tool store, behind Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. More info: http://bit. ly/bsj-tbncg or call Hannah on 07971 426266

Sunday 2nd November 6pm: Fireworks Display at the Jubilee Centre. See page 28.

Advertise in this * space for just £30 Get your business noticed

7pm: South Gloucestershire Decorative and Fine Arts Society lecture at Bradley Stoke Community School. See page 16.

EVERY MONTH

Saturday 18th October

Circulation: 9,450 delivered plus 500 left at pick-up points

11am-3pm: Autumn Fair at the MS Therapy Centre, Wheatfield Drive. Games, crafts and

37

We’re the only publication delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to all homes in Bradley Stoke

*Price of a one-eighth-page display advert, when committing to six monthly issues.

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 TJS Business Solutions, Page 23 Builders Richard Joseph, Page 11 Business Opportunities Haley Prosser, Page 38 Cake Makers & Decorators Sweet Tracey Cakes, Page 39 Car & Van Sales Vanarama, Page 40 Carpet Cleaners B Clean, Page 17 Bonne Fresh Clean Ltd, Page 30 Clean Pros, Page 8 Carpets & Flooring Lanes Carpets, Page 37 Trade Floor, Page 31 Child Care Ambourne House Day Nursery, Page 17 Banana Moon Nursery, Page 2 Happy Days Nursery, Page 30 Chiropractic Cool Green Planet, Page 5 Willow Brook Clinic, Page 19 Computer Services goto iT, Page 34 More in directory on BSJ website Cycle Repairs Ride On Cycles, Page 36 Domestic Appliance Repairs Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Care, Page 8 Double Glazing JDC Windows, Page 31 Imperial Windows, Page 29 Education & Learning Colston’s School, Page 23 Learndirect, Page 25 Redland High School for Girls, Page 28 Electricians Ernest S Till (South West), Page 4 RJ Electrical, Page 22 Electronic Cigarettes VaperVapour, Page 24 Estate Agents Connells Residential Lettings, Page 29 Freeman Residentials Page 36 Lifestyle Property Services, Page 1 Ocean, Page 18 Foot Care Georgina’s Foot Clinic, Page 29 Lotus Foot Health Clinic, Page 27 Garage Services Filton Central Garage, Page 20 Westlec, Page 10 Gardening Services Plan-It Garden Design, Page 27 Professional Gardening Services, Page 38 Gyms & Health Clubs LivingWell Health Club, Page 12 Hair & Beauty Visit directory on BSJ website

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Hire Services

Stop and Hire, Page 4 Launderettes & Dry Cleaners Wash Shop Plus, Page 39 Mortgages & Financial Advice Aspirations Financial Advice, Page 7 Opticians Specsavers, Page 14 Pet Services & Supplies Friends for Pets, Page 30 MadDogz, Page 36 New Passage Cattery, Page 39 Physiotherapy Bradley Stoke Physio, Page 9 Dr Praveen Kumar, Page 21 Willow Brook Clinic, Page 19 Picture Framers Royall Framing, Page 16 Plumbing & Heating Capricorn Plumbing Ltd, Page 15 Concept Property Maintenance, Page 10 Richard Joseph, Page 11 S. Berryman Plumbing & Heating, Page 39 Property Maintenance Concept Property Maintenance, Page 10 JB Property Maintenance, Page 39 Richard Joseph, Page 11 Property Management BakerReed Properties, Page 32 Connells Residential Lettings, Page 29 Lifestyle Property Services, Page 1 Ocean, Page 18 Restaurants Eastwood Park, Page 33 Room & Facilities Hire BSCS Lettings, Page 26 Rubbish Clearance Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance, Page 39 Self Storage Simply Self Store Ltd, Page 39 Slimming Clubs Slimming World, Page 13 Soft Furnishings Janet Smith, Page 30 Sport and Leisure Carrie Vinson Equestrian, Page 34 Takeaways & Food Delivery Visit directory on BSJ website Taxis Bristol Parkway Taxis, Page 39 South Glos Taxis Ltd, Page 39 More in directory on BSJ website Transport BS Man and Van, Page 19 Four Towns and Vale Transport, Page 35 Tuition Alpha Maths Tuition, Page 38 South Glos Music Tuition, Page 38 More in directory on BSJ website TV & Aerials Image Aerial Systems, Page 39

October 2014

t: 01454 300 400

Mums and Dads - Work from Home Recruiting Now! I’m a mum of four beautiful children 12, 10, 7 and 3. I have a business that I work from home around them. I’m currently looking for mums or dads who would like to work from home too. All I ask is that you have great people skills and are willing to learn.

Income ranges from £300 to £2,500 per month Please call for more info or find me on Facebook: Haley Prosser Call 07838 144157 or 01454 270806 GARDENING SERVICES

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Professional Gardening Services

Fencing/Fence Painting/Pressure Washing Hedge Cutting/Grass Cutting Weeding/Garden Clearance Strimming/Small Trees Lopped Excellent rates and a free quote Friendly and trustworthy service (special rates for pensioners) Please call on me on 07768 241198 or e-mail at profgarden60@yahoo.co.uk TUITION

Alpha Maths Tuition Experienced, qualified, DBS registered, expert tutor (BSc, PGCE) Key Stages 1–3, GCSE, A-Level etc.

Telephone: 07815 860618 Email: terry@cattaway.com Advertise here for just £20/issue; phone 01454 300 400

Looking for a service or tradesperson in Bradley Stoke?

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

October 2014

t: 01454 300 400

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PLUMBING & HEATING

39

TAXIS

Business Directory Advertise here for just £20 per month (when you sign up for three issues) Phone us now on 01454 300 400 TV AERIALS & SATELLITE TV

CAKE MAKERS & DECORATORS

Advertise here for just £20/issue; phone 01454 300 400

Sweet Tracey Cakes Stoke Gifford - Bristol

Wedding Cakes, Cake Pops, Cupcakes and all types of Celebration cakes, all beautifully handmade to order. www.sweettraceycakes.co.uk Contact Tracey on: 07821 436907 Email : sweettraceycakes@yahoo.co.uk LAUNDERETTES

WASH SHOP PLUS

11 The Parade,Patchway Bristol BS34 5LP Tel : 0117 947 0284

www.patchwaylaunderette.co.uk

Self service, Service washes, Duvets, Bedding & Curtains washed, Dry cleaning Tailor repairs/alterations, Ironing service.

PET SERVICES

New Passage Cattery Friendly, local cattery 10 mins from The Mall

LEAFLET DELIVERY

Leaflet Delivery in Bradley Stoke

• Quiet rural location • Viewing welcomed

Mon - Fri 10am to 4.00pm, Sat 10am to 1pm.

(last service 1 hr. prior to closing times)

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

8,650 leaflets delivered for £200 Tel: 01454 300 400

RUBBISH CLEARANCE

SELF STORAGE

PROPERTY SERVICES

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

Freephone Stuart or Sue on 0800 0234 995 Licensed waste carrier

JB Property Services • • • • • • •

Fitted bathrooms Walk in shower/wet rooms Fitted kitchens Floor & wall tiling Plumbing Electrics General home improvements

Call Jason now on 07788 845134 to book in your free estimate Email: jb.propertyservices@hotmail.co.uk Website: jb-propertyservices.co.uk

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