Bradley Stoke Voice - December 2022 - Issue 02

bradleystokevoice

Fa-la-la-la-la New gritters ready to launch

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has launched a fleet of nine new gritters as part of a £1 million investment to keep roads safe and traffic moving across the district this winter.

The new fleet uses 20 per cent less salt than the older models by using technology which can be set to spread a more precise measurement to suit the road conditions. This makes them much more

efficient and minimises their carbon footprint.

Vehicles, drivers and staff are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the winter months, to keep schools open, businesses running and emergency services on the road.

Five thousand tonnes of salt is stored at the council depot in Yate, so they are well-prepared for Continued on Page 2

Join the Stokes Singers for some festive carolling at the Willowbrook Centre on the afternoon of December 11. Singing has many positive effects on the body and mind, especially singing with others. The group also meets every Thursday at Holy Trinity, Bradley Stoke at 7.30pm. Newcomers are always welcome.

EDITORIAL

Jane Williams news@bradleystokevoice.com Linda Tanner news@bradleystokevoice.com

PUBLISHER

Brookfield Publishing

Tel 07540 383 870 sales@bradleystokevoice.com

JANUARY DEADLINE

www.bradleystokevoice.com

ADVERTISING

Shaun Edwards

Tel 07540 383 870 sales@bradleystokevoice.com Facebook bradleystokevoice Twitter @BradleyStokeV

To ensure your news or letters are included, please contact us by Wednesday December 14. Advertisers are asked to contact us by the same date.

LOCAL INFORMATION

South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061

Emergency: 999 NHS 111

Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

COMPLAINTS

Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582

Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk Environment/trading standards 01454 868001

Well Aware Health and social care information www.wellaware.org.uk Tel: (Freephone) 0808 808 5252

We Are Bristol helpline Tel: (Freephone) 0800 694 0284 Mon-Fri, 8.30am - 5pm Weekends, 10am - 2pm

n NEWS

Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Bradley Stoke Voice, contact the publisher using the details below. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

A member of the

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Bradley Stoke Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Bradley Stoke Voice is distributed each month to local residents in Bradley Stoke and the surrounding areas. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Brookfield Publishing on 07540 383870 or email news@ bradleystokevoice.com. This month 7,000 copies will be distributed in Bradley Stoke and the local area.

To

Gritter superheroes

From Page 1

winter. The council also spreads salt manually on key town centre pedestrian areas and uses a small spreader mounted on a tractor to treat some of the busier sections of cycle routes.

The new gritters have been given superhero names by school children as part of a competition held earlier this year. The winning names included ‘Super Salter’ by Daisy and ‘Sir Grittalot’ by Isabelle, both of Wheatfield School in Bradley Stoke.

Councillor Steve Reade, cabinet member responsible for transport at South Gloucestershire Council said: “Ensuring our roads are safe is a top priority for the council and we treat 510 kilometres of roads every night during periods of cold

weather to keep people safe and traffic moving. We are delighted that these new, efficient gritters are ready for the winter months as they require much less salt in comparison with the old fleet. This means we can make our supplies go further this winter as well as delivering value for money services for our residents, so it really is about investing our resources wisely to be as efficient as possible.

“I’d like to thank all of the school children who entered the competition to name the gritters and congratulate the winners, there are some very imaginative titles! The new gritters are highly visible with their new reflective decals, so you may see ‘Mr Thaw’ or ‘Walter the Salting Machine’ out on our roads during the upcoming winter months.”

Assault claim after collision

POLICE are investigating an incident in which a driver says she was assaulted by a cyclist after a collision in Frenchay.

Avon and Somerset police said a woman in her 40s told officers she had been punched by a man on Beckspool Road shortly after 8am on Tuesday, October 18.

In November police issued a picture taken at the time of the incident and asked for help in identifying a suspect. A man came forward but no charges have been brought. Police say enquiries into the incident are continuing. Anyone with information should call 101 and quote the incident reference number 5222 250 582.

sales@bradleystokevoice.com

Stoke Gifford branch celebrates success of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal

by Ray Ponting

On October 28, the Stoke Gifford Branch of the Royal British Legion launched its Poppy Appeal at the traditional location of Parkway station. With the foyer decked out in poppies made by local schools, it was a great opportunity to formally launch the appeal and thanks go to the GWR staff team at Parkway for their help.

In attendance were the committee and several members of the Branch, as well as Branch Vice President and local MP Jack Lopresti, as well as Jackie Robertson, current Chair of Gloucestershire RBL.

Several representatives of local organisations attended including the Royal British Legion, Rolling Thunder riders, the Brownies and councillors from South Gloucestershire Council who also attended.

At 2pm, part of the poem ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon was spoken.

This was followed by the traditional Act of Remembrance including ‘The Last Post’, played by Leon Found.

The Poppy Appeal is the most important event in the year for the Royal British Legion. The money collected during this period is used to assist veterans and their families plus serving

personnel in need. The work goes on throughout the year.

A few weeks later, on November 20, there was one of the biggest events locally at the Cenotaph in Patchway. Local Cadets from all services were there, including Scouts, Dignitaries, Jack Lopresti MP, the Mayor of Bradley Stoke, lots of veterans and members of

the police. The Salvation Army provided music for hymns and a trumpeter played ‘The Last Post’ at 11am followed by a two-minute silence.

Anyone can join the Stoke Gifford Branch and there’s no requirement to be a veteran or serving military personnel. Give Tony Peters a call on 07971 242845 for more information.

Primary school is buzzing after bee award win

PUPILS at Wheatfield Primary School in the heart of Bradley Stoke are buzzing after scooping one of the top prizes in the West of England Bee Bold Awards, organised by Metro Mayor Dan Norris.

The mini bee buddies beat off stiff competition to win the award for their impressive project which has seen them turn their school’s grounds into a pollinator’s paradise. The ‘Our Nature Needs’ plan has been driven by the inspirational leadership of the 12 young leaders on the school’s pupil-led, hands-on Eco Council.

The pupils showed the Mayor around the school’s wildflower meadows and pointed out the newly planted nectar-rich fruit trees to help Bradley Stoke’s busy bugs. The Eco Council has created ‘bee hotels’ and even a ‘bee bank’ to help them whiz from flower to flower.

But the pupils aren’t stopping there, as they also plan to add wildflower borders and green roofs so even more pollinator superheroes can make their home there. They will also work with neighbours to develop a hedgehog highway through their and others’ gardens.

Dan Norris said: “Congratulations to everyone at Wheatfield Primary School on winning this Bee Bold Award. Bees and pollinators are amazing - their hard work means we have fresh fruit and veg to eat year-round, not to mention they keep our precious countryside and forests looked after. It has been fantastic meeting everyone from the super Eco Council and hearing how they have got even bigger and bolder plans for the future. It gives me confidence not only that these awards will inspire others to take action, but that thanks to projects like this one - and with such dedicated young people - we can trust our future is in safe hands”.

The Bee Bold Awards will return in 2023 and organisations are encouraged to plan their bee-friendly activities now.

Community school continues link with Kenya

By Tom Hill Olympus Academy Trust School Improvement Team

BRADLEY Stoke Community School, a member of the Olympus Academy Trust, has enjoyed a strong link with Sawa Sawa Academy in Kenya for more than eight years. This link has been incredibly rewarding for both schools and a range of partnership work has taken place as a result.

This work has included mutual projects that students from both schools have collaborated on, including the infamous Sawa Sawa run which saw students from Bradley Stoke Community School run the distance to Sawa Sawa Academy in Kenya and, vice versa, the Sawa Sawa students covered the distance it would take to run to Bradley Stoke Community School.

Some Bradley Stoke Community School Sixth Form

students spent a fortnight in Kenya and were fortunate enough to spend time at the school. We had the privilege of hosting the headteacher of Sawa Sawa, Zablon Maina, for a visit to the Olympus Trust schools where he was able to compare school life between the schools.

The Bradley Stoke community have offered incredible support over the years with this link, and the Sawa Sawa Academy

community are incredibly grateful for this.

Through school activities, we have raised funds to purchase laptops, projectors and stationery for the students at Sawa Sawa. We have also seen rugby shirts and football kits donated, not only by Bradley Stoke Community School but also by local clubs. Bradley Stoke have also sponsored a student, Elsie, through her education and

she is now thriving in secondary school, being given opportunities she never would have received without the support the Bradley Stoke community have given her. The whole Sawa Sawa community is incredibly grateful for the support given – it is making a huge difference.

This year, we will be raising money to continue to fund Elsie’s school fees and also are looking to buy the school some much needed computers. If you would be interested in supporting this programme, please contact Tom Hill: tom.hill@olympustrust. co.uk. More details about the link can be found here: bradleystokecs.org.uk

Hire yourself a heat camera

EASY-to-use thermal cameras will be available to borrow from libraries across South Gloucestershire, giving households the tools to identify areas of heat loss.

Councillor Rachael Hunt, cabinet member for communities at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We are one of the first authorities in the country to introduce these cameras to borrow from libraries, to help people reduce their energy use by identifying areas where they can take action. Not only will this save people money, but it will help reduce energy use and contribute towards the success of our climate emergency goals here in South Gloucestershire.”

Call in to your local library to find out more about the scheme and take the next step on your energy saving journey.

Are you entitled to a £400 energy bill discount?

MORE than 4,000 South Gloucestershire residents using prepayment metres could be missing out on as much as £400 in energy bill support this winter.

Discounts on energy bills were due to start on October 1 for all West of England households, with a reduction of £66 or £67 per month between October and March.

Energy companies will apply the discounts automatically, although users of traditional prepayment meters - which usually requires topping up via a key or card in a local newsagent or post office - who are generally poorer, must actively claim the discounts.

Vouchers have been sent out to get money off bills but only half of the expected number have been used so far, according to PayPoint, one firm that processes the vouchers.

There are around 8,600 households in South Gloucestershire on traditional prepayment meters, meaning 4,300 of them could be missing out on cheaper bills this winter.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris urged West of England residents to get the credit they are owed applied

to their meter as soon as possible as he once again called on the Government to end the “unfair penalty premium on prepayment meter users”.

He said: “It’s so important that everyone gets the support they’re entitled to this winter, so I would encourage all West of England residents on traditional prepayment meters to take action now. If you haven’t received anything from your supplier, make sure you contact them before these vouchers run out. But I’m afraid it comes as no surprise that thousands of Bath and North East Somerset households have not yet redeemed support for their rising energy costs - the Government refused to heed Labour’s warnings about how difficult it would be to ensure prepayment meter customers don’t miss out on support.

“This is yet another example of how prepayment customers are being let down by a government that is so out of touch. They already fork out more for their gas and electricity than those who aren’t, which is a scandalous state of affairs that should shame ministers. The Government must urgently work with energy companies to promote take-up of the energy discount scheme and end this unfair penalty premium on West of England prepayment meter users once and for all.”

If you use a traditional prepayment meter, you should receive vouchers in the post which can be redeemed where you usually top up. The voucher should arrive from most suppliers by the 17th of each month, and it’s only valid for 90 days. You should get in touch with your supplier now if they haven’t already contacted you about how you’ll be discounted.

THE latest census has revealed fascinating details about where South Gloucestershire's residents were born.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show that one in six residents of England and Wales on census day last year - a total of ten million people - were born outside the UK. That is up from 7.5 million in 2011.

In South Gloucestershire, the percentage of residents who were born outside the UK rose from 6.6% to 10.6% over the last decade.

Just under nine out of every ten people living in the district - 259,757 of 290,400 residents in March last year - were born in the UK.

A total of 249,242 (85.8%) were born in England, with a further 7,035 people born in Wales.

The next most common nation of birth was Poland (3,320 people), followed by residents who were born in India (2,958), just ahead of Scotland (2,667).

The next biggest individual nation of origin was Romania, where 2,084 South Gloucestershire residents were born.

However this number was smaller than the 2,551 people from nine other nations, grouped together by the ONS, which joined the EU between 2001 and 2011, including the Czech Republic and Cyprus but

Census figures show changing roots of population

472,400 residents (81.2%) were born in the UK, with 365,336 (77.3%) born in England.

After Wales (11,722), the next most common nation of birth was Poland (8,770), followed by the ONS group of nine EU postmillennium nations (5,303).

The most common non-UK or EU nation of birth in Bristol is Somalia: 4,654 residents of the city were born in the East African country - more than the 4,626 people in the city who were born in Scotland. By contrast, only 85 South Gloucestershire residents were born in Somalia.

The other most common countries of birth outside the UK for Bristol residents were India (4,381 people), Romania (3,782), Spain (3,616), Pakistan (3,586), smaller pre-2001 EU member countries, including Benelux and Scandinavia (3,543), Italy (3,123) and China (2,638).

Nationally, the most common country of birth outside the UK is India, followed by Poland, Pakistan, Romania, Ireland, Italy, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Germany and South Africa.

excluding Poland, Romania and Lithuania, which were counted separately.

Other common places of birth outside the UK recorded

Our average age is 40

SOUTH Gloucestershire's population more closely matches the national average age range than anywhere else in the country, the 2021 census found.

The district's median age of 40 is the same as the England average and the percentage of people in each age group closely matches the distribution of ages nationwide.

By contrast Bristol's median age of 34 is well below the national average: the percentage of people aged between 18 and 41 is well above average, while number of 47 to 85-year-old residents are below average, as are six to 17-year-olds.

B&NES has a median age of 39 and a large spike of 18 to 23-year-old residents, representing the city's large student population relative to its size.

While South Gloucestershire is home to many students at UWE's main Frenchay campus, other parts of the university and accommodation are in Bristol, balancing the numbers of young people who leave the district to go to university.

By contrast, North Somerset and the three districts of Gloucestershire neighbouring South Gloucestershire - Stroud, Cotswold and the Forest of Dean - all have median ages between 45 and 49, with numbers of over-50s noticeably above average and numbers of 18 to 40-year-olds below the England average.

in South Gloucestershire were Germany (1,101 people), non-EU European countries (1,065), South Africa (1,062), South America (997), the Republic of Ireland (977) and Nigeria (841)all of which were above Northern Ireland (800) in the list.

In neighbouring Bristol, the percentage of residents born outside the UK rose from 14.7% to 18.8% from 2011 to 2021.

A total of 383,495 out of

The number of Romanianborn UK residents rose from 80,000 in 2011 to 539,000 in 2021.

Census deputy director Jon Wroth-Smith said: "We can see Romanians have been a big driver in this change, while there have also been increases due to migration from India, Pakistan and Poland, as well as southern European countries such as Italy."

A Diwali celebration was recently held at Bradley Stoke Community School during a year-long council programme to celebrate "the stories of people from India who now call South Gloucestershire home"almost 3,000 residents of the district were born in India. Picture: South Gloucestershire Council.

for mental ‘elf charity

NORTH Bristol Running Club is organising a 6k fun run on Sunday, December 4 to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation.

The run starts at 9am at Meadowbrook Primary School on Three Brooks Lane, and runners have until 11am to complete the course. The run is open to everyone aged 11 years and above, and all participants are strongly encouraged to dress up as an elf! Everyone who completes the fun run will receive a special mug at the end.

It costs £16 to enter the race, with all proceeds going to the charity. And hot drinks and cakes will be available to buy.

There is more information and entry details on this Facebook page: facebook.com/NBRGMentalElfFunRun

Awards hail young people’s resilience and innovation

THE South Gloucestershire annual School Awards took place at Aerospace Bristol, celebrating students in schools and academies who have shown ‘resilience, recovery and innovation’ over the last year.

All schools were invited to take part and more than 80 pupils and students from our primary, secondary and special schools attended, along with parents, carers and teachers.

Councillor Erica Williams said: “We want every child in South Gloucestershire to have the best start in life. Our young people have faced real challenges over the past few years, which is why it is so important for us to recognise the ways in which our students and school communities are succeeding and thriving. The event was a fabulous night, with so many great young people being recognised for their resilience, their innovation and the fact that they’ve supported their other school friends and students throughout what have been difficult years through the pandemic - and they come out smiling.”

She told the children: “The best start in life is about being equipped to become the best you can be. We want to thank you for your hard work, grit and determination – for the great ideas, optimism and perseverance you bring and from which we can all learn positive lessons. We are very proud of your schools too, for helping you thrive during a challenging time for everyone over the past few years.

“Despite the challenges, South Gloucestershire is making great strides with education, as demonstrated by its recent Ofsted reports. Over the last five years, our local schools have moved from 35 per cent Good or Outstanding at Secondary and Post 16, to 71 per cent. And 83 per cent of all schools in South Gloucestershire (including Primary) are rated as Good or Outstanding.”

Mama Bear’s Nursery ‘disappointed’ by Ofsted report

MAMA Bear’s Day Nursery on Great Park Road has been left feeling “disappointed” following a recent Ofsted report that branded the nursery as “inadequate”.

The report noted: “Staff plan for children’s learning across the curriculum. However, teaching does not consistently support children’s learning. Staff do not deploy themselves effectively to ensure high-quality interactions engage children in their learning at all times. Not all staff are confident to deliver specific activities to support children who need additional support in their language skills. Due to the lack of stability of the staff team, some children do not benefit from secure relationships with a key person who knows them well and can plan effectively for their next steps in learning. Managers do not monitor the implementation of some policies and procedures effectively, which leaves children at risk of harm. Managers do not ensure that the food provided to children is sufficient and meets their preferences.”

It continued: “At times, older children engage in focused activities, such as ‘silly soup’. They contribute their ideas, and most develop good communication and language skills. However, staff do not support children learning to speak English as an additional language and those who require more help as well as they could.”

A spokesperson for Mama Bear’s told Bradley Stoke Voice: “We are disappointed with the outcome of the Ofsted report and have written to reassure parents on how we are meeting the actions needed for improvement, which we started immediately.

“The report acknowledged that the nursery manager was newly appointed and noted that she has an accurate evaluation of the setting but due to the timing of the visit not all quality improvements had yet been fully embedded into practice.

“We have ensured all concerns highlighted have been rectified immediately and have put additional support in place to ensure the required improvements are delivered, so we are fully confident the setting will achieve the desired outcome at the re-inspection which will be within the next six months.”

Care agency rated good in inspection

OLIVE Leaf is a care agency based in Bradley Stoke that provides personal care and support to 43 people in their homes.

During the assessment by the Care Quality Commission, it was seen that people received safe care from staff who knew them well. There was a safeguarding policy in place and staff knew how to identify and report any concerns that they might have.

The service had enough staff to meet the needs of the service users. Caregivers had been safely recruited and pre-employment checks carried out. Medicines were managed and administered safely. Staff had received medicines training and regular competency checks were in place.

It was felt that there was a person-centred and positive culture within the service at Olive Leaf. The registered manager looked at ways that they could continuously improve and develop the service.

Inspectors found that the agency continued to be rated as good.

Support from churches in cost-of-living crisis

AS the cost of living crisis and cold weather begin to bite, the churches of Bradley Stoke are here for you and want to make you aware of when they are open.

You may have heard of ‘Warm Spaces’, places where people can gather for free that are warm, welcoming and able to signpost to other resources that can help in times of financial need. We are pleased to be able to offer such spaces in our local churches:

Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church (BSEC) on Baileys Court Road will be open every Monday from 2-4pm. You can come and enjoy free refreshments, charge your devices, make use of the internet and find support and guidance to other available sources of help.

Christ the King on Mautravers Close will be open every weekday morning from 8am until 12 noon. They will be happy to offer a cuppa and a slice of toast.

In addition, the churches run a number of regular activities, where you would find a warm welcome and further support if it is needed.

Carer and baby/toddler

• Trinity Tots - Mondays (term time), 9:30-11am at Holy Trinity

• Busy Bees - Tuesdays, 10-11:30am at BSEC

• First Steps - Thursdays, 1011:30am at Christ the King

Children/Youth Clubs

• Trailblazers (ages 5-11), Wednesdays, 6-7pm at Christ the King (parents are welcome to stay)

• 4mation (ages 11-14), Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30pm at Christ the King

• Boing (school years 3-6), Thursdays, 6.15-7.30pm at BSEC

• Chill (secondary school age children), Thursdays, 6.15-7.30pm at BSEC

• Friday Club (school years 3-8), Fridays 6:30-8pm at Holy Trinity

All ages

• Coffee morning (with children’s play space), Fridays, 9-11am at Christ the King

Sunday services

You are always welcome to attend our Sunday services:

• Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church, 10:30am

• Christ the King, 9:30am

• City Church, 10am

• Holy Trinity, 10:30am

Other churches in our area include City Church at Bradley Stoke Community School, and Holy Trinity on Broad Croft.

n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE

I’m sure many of you reading this have overdone it at some point in your life. Having strained the odd muscle or two, sprained a ligament, a joint or even injured your bones. Over doing it is very popular, as is resting. In life, there is a balance to be had between the two.

A body is healthiest in the sweet spot between underdoing and overdoing it. This sweet spot is technically known as the ‘Training Effect’. The sweet spot is a place where

your body regenerates and repairs. As recently as 2019 researchers demonstrated that even cartilage can regenerate through the Training Effect.

Underdoing it can be just as harmful as overdoing it. The World Health Organisation has put a lack of doing as the 4th leading cause of death! Navigating your person through the sweet spot is a tough task, that requires a certain degree of help to have healthy muscles and joints.

What happens when we add underdoing and overdoing together...?! Is there a net balance or because both are negative, do they accumulatively detract from health...?

In life, you may have noticed you are put under strain and tension, through work, relationships and loss, through over activity and underactivity. To your muscles constant tension deforms them, altering function and posture.

Lee has spent the last 25 years learning about the body and how he can help muscles and joints repair through the ‘Training Effect’. He does this through hands on therapy and advice about what is going to get your body back into your muscle and joint sweet spot. Help and assistance throughout a busy life is valuable, especially as we realise time is of a premium. Do you have someone you can rely on to help you with your muscles and joints...?

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2023.

fasciafirstchiropractic.co.uk

Volunteers thanked at community spaces event

AROUND 50 volunteers were thanked for their hard work by South Gloucestershire Council at a special celebration held in Winterbourne.

The council’s Community Spaces Network hosted the celebration evening and welcomed volunteers representing the many different groups across the area who help to maintain parks, open spaces, nature reserves and public rights of way, as well as carrying out essential duties such as litter picking in these areas.

More than 23 friends and volunteer groups were represented at the event, which took place at Winterbourne’s Medieval Barn and was opened with a welcome from Councillor Rachael Hunt, cabinet member for communities and local place at South Gloucestershire Council.

Councillor Hunt said: “It was a pleasure to be able to thank some of the hundreds of volunteers across South Gloucestershire who work in all weathers to keep our parks and open spaces maintained and clean and tidy. Their hard work and commitment helps to ensure that we are all able to enjoy the best of what our beautiful area has to offer. By working closely with these dedicated volunteers, we are able to share resources and bring working groups together to continue to keep our

much-loved green spaces looking their best for our communities for years to come.”

The event also saw speeches from Simon Hunter from Bristol Avon Rivers Trust and an introduction to the Common Connections project to help restore wildlife habitats and reverse the decline in plant and insect species from the council’s biodiversity team. Chair of the South Gloucestershire Green

Spaces Forum Steph Purser also gave a talk about how volunteers can achieve great things by working together.

This was the first time the council has been able to thank these green volunteers in person since 2019 due to the ongoing Covid pandemic.

The Community Spaces Network is coordinated by the Place Improvements Team at South Gloucestershire Council.

The network has been set up to enable community groups who help care for public open spaces in South Gloucestershire to share knowledge and resources.

The network is free for groups to join and provides support and information, including volunteer insurance, a volunteer support pack and training.

For further information, please email communityspaces@ southglos.gov.uk

Council continues record school investment

LOCAL schools have benefitted from more than £2.3 million in renovation, refurbishment and maintenance work carried out over the summer and the first half of this term by South Gloucestershire Council.

As part of the council’s commitment to ensuring all our young people get the best start in life and have good quality learning environments in which to thrive, it has invested a record £83 million since 2019 on building new and improving existing school buildings, including work to keep school

buildings warm in the winter, cool in the summer, dry and as places where teachers can focus on helping young people to learn and grow.

More than 19 schools have had improvements made this year, including work on new or improved playgrounds at Pucklechurch Primary school and Kings Forest Primary in Kingswood, and major reroofing work at St Michael’s Primary in Winterbourne, St Stephen’s Junior in Soundwell, Broadway Infants in Yate, Barley Close Primary in

Mangotsfield and Hawkesbury Primary.

Oldbury on Severn Primary School had new, modern heaters and LED lighting installed to reduce running costs and environmental impact, while Samuel White’s Infant School in Hanham was partly rewired and also received new heaters.

South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for schools, Cllr Erica Williams, said: “Our number one priority is to give young people in the area the

best start in life and we are backing that commitment up by investing in the school buildings they learn in, with £83 million having been committed since 2019.

“The projects that have been delivered recently, both large and small, all make a big difference. They help provide good places to teach and learn and let school leaders focus on the most important things our schools are there to do, which is helping young people learn and grow and thrive and to achieve their fullest potential.”

Have your say on proposals for new M49 junction link road

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is preparing to unveil plans for the new M49 junction link road following its decision last year to step in and complete this regionally important infrastructure project.

A community engagement session will give the public the opportunity to see the designs for the new link road, which will create direct access from the Severnside industrial and enterprise area to the motorway network.

Residents, business leaders and community leaders are invited along to listen to a presentation and to find out more about the planning application, which is expected to be submitted later in December.

will unlock significant benefits to South Gloucestershire, communities and the wider region. The link road will help build upon the economic potential of the area, relieve congestion on the local highway network and improve road safety.

Councillor Steve Reade, cabinet member with responsibility for planning and transport, said: “Following our decision last year to take on a new role to accelerate completion of this scheme, we are now close to submitting the planning application, so we want to give the public the chance to comment on the designs.

that the new link road is completed, linking the new M49 junction to the Enterprise Zone and unlocking the potential for further economic benefit.”

The scheme is technically complex and the best engineering solutions need to be determined. However, the intention is to deliver the scheme in the shortest reasonable timescales, while keeping the community and stakeholders updated as the project progresses.

December 5

n ASSISTPLUS is a Veterans Community Support initiative, which seeks to enhance the support that our ex-Armed Service men and women living and working in Bristol and South Gloucestershire area receive in the local communities. The Jubilee Centre, Bradley Stoke, 1pm-4pm. December 20

n WINDOW INTO WINTER WONDERLAND! 10.30-11.30 or 14.30-15.30 - Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, Fiddlers Wood Lane BS32 9BS. Age 4 -11 years. Spaces limited. To book, please email: BradleyStoke.library@ southglos.gov.uk or ask at desk. For those who can’t make it, there are free craft bags to pick up and take home.

December 19

The council is working closely with stakeholders to progress the new link road to the west of the M49 junction as quickly as possible. It is a key, strategic transport project which

WB Generic AW.qxp_Layout 1 15/09/2020 21:14 Page 1

“It’s important to us to engage with the public as they are very much part of our vision. We want to share with them what is happening and what the next steps will be. We are moving forward with plans, and we remain committed to ensuring

Once the planning application is submitted to the Local Planning Authority, there will then be a period of public consultation where feedback will be sought. Construction could start in 2023 and the new link road would be opened as soon as possible following completion of the work.

As well as building the link road, improvements will also be made to an adjacent National Cycle Network Route.

n

LEISURE, YOUTH & AMENITIES COMMITTEE MEETING

The Leisure, Youth & Amenities Committee meets approximately six times a year and is responsible for, and promotes, the Town Council policy on sports, leisure and recreational activities within or affecting the Town. Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road, Bradley Stoke, BS32 8HL. 7pm start.

FRENCHAY Christmas Tree Farm is home to 40,000 Christmas trees spread over three fields of around 18 acres of green belt land next to the M32 motorway. This year, the first crop is being harvested from the third and newest field, eight years after it was first planted with sapling trees. Owner Simon Maughan is thrilled at the prospect: “After all the years mowing, tending, pruning and shaping, the Nordmann and Fraser Firs in our new field are looking wonderful, and it’s going to be very pleasing watching families taking them home for Christmas this year.”

The Fraser Fir is a popular alternative to the top-selling Nordmann Fir. Like the Nordmann, it keeps its needles really well over Christmas, but it has a stronger fragrance and a slightly narrower shape, making it a practical choice in a smaller home. They can be difficult to grow and need careful pruning, but because they reach maturity about two years sooner than the Nordmann, they’re much better value.

“While tagging up our trees ready for cutting this season, we found plenty of evidence of

What’s New at Frenchay Christmas Tree Farm

martins will take up home in the newly installed nest boxes, and by letting some Christmas trees grow to maturity, they might not only provide homes for wildlife, but capture carbon dioxide and pollutants from the nearby motorway.

Many people make informed decisions nowadays about the things that they buy, wanting to support local businesses, reduce road miles and be environmentally ethical. Readers can find out more about the wildlife and the Christmas trees, the planting programme and the ethos behind the farm at: www.

frenchaychristmastreefarm.co.uk

thriving wildlife: badger setts, mole hills, mushrooms, wildflowers, bird nests and wasp nests to name a few. We always strive to work alongside nature on the farm, whether that’s leaving wild

grasses and flowers to grow over the summer months to attract insects, or mulching up trees after Christmas to spread on the fields.”

Owner Simon Maughan hopes that one day swallows and house

Frenchay Christmas Tree Farm is open every day from 9am to 5pm from Saturday 19th November. You can visit in person, or order your tree, stand and wreath online either for delivery or click and collect.

Thanks to Alex at Above Horizon Photography for the drone photo

Celebrating our local community’s rich heritage

THIS autumn, I have been focused on some of the key issues for our area, crime and transport. We have also seen the election of a new Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Rishi Sunak, his professional background of being the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the pandemic and knowledge of finance is exactly what we need right now as a nation. He therefore has my full support as Prime Minister.

I was pleased to celebrate Diwali on the same day Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister having been invited to the Indian Heritage Celebration Event at Bradley Stoke Community School with Avon Indian Community Association. At this event I learned about the traditions and great cultural significance of Diwali, especially for the growing community of people of Indian

heritage in our area.

On the 14 of October, I met with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Police, Mark Shelford who gave me an update on the increased police numbers in Avon and Somerset, as well as his strategy to introduce greater levels of leadership training at all levels of policing. We also discussed the importance of cyber policing and computer science education to meet the evolving nature of crime. I will continue to support police in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour to protect our community.

I have also focused on people’s concerns surrounding our local bus services, particularly the cancellations of bus routes and the unreliability of services, I therefore had a discussion with Doug Claringbold, Managing

Director of First West of England who was receptive and understanding of my concerns surrounding service cancellations and reliability. We discussed the challenge of the shortage of bus drivers which is the main cause of these issues with First needing an additional 200 drivers for the region. We also talked about the possibility of using apprenticeships and part-time staff to reduce these pressures.

I will work together on an event with First Bus to help increase driver recruitment which would improve service reliability and could lead to additional services in April with the next service review.

Over the last few weeks I have also been busy supporting the Poppy Appeal and was honoured to be able to help launch the

Jack Lopresti MP for Filton & Bradley Stoke

Poppy Appeal on the 28th of October at Bristol Parkway.

I am very proud to be the Vice President of the branch and to volunteer for such a good cause, I am always encouraged by the great response we get from people and I am thankful for your generous donations to help our veterans.

As always, should you need my help with anything, my office is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. Please telephone me on 01454 617783 or email me at: jack.lopresti. mp@parliament.uk if I can be of assistance or to book a surgery.

Stoke Gifford branch of the RBL’s

n AROUND THE WI s

BRADLEY STOKE WI

BRADLEY Stoke WI has continued to thrive and grow during 2022 and has welcomed several new members which has swelled our numbers to 40 and above the pre-Covid membership level. Our WI has recently been entertained by the Barn Bell Ringers from Downend who played some beautiful tunes on the hand bells. Some members volunteered to have a go, which was great fun.

In September, Rhona Murdoch gave an inspiring and informative talk about the great work undertaken at The Brightwell, The West of England MS Therapy Centre. It was really good to hear more about this great charity that is located here in Bradley Stoke. The WI is always keen to have a good variety of speakers to educate and entertain its members:

in October, Jean Burnett told us all about a Victorian lady’s intrepid travels in the Himalayas and, in November, Stephanie Sidney from Made in Fishponds gave an interactive talk on the origins of soap, during which we were able to smell and touch many samples of the source ingredients and finished products.

Our WI crafters are continuing to keep busy crafting and knitting, crocheting and sewing items in support of several local charities including hats and scarves for the Queen Victoria’s Seamen’s Rest at Portbury and baby blankets for Project Linus.

Bradley Stoke WI is now looking forward to a fun and interesting 2023. Speakers planned include a talk by a retired detective, chair yoga and Wessex Water – so there is plenty of variety!

We are always pleased to

welcome new members to the WI and we meet on the second Wednesday each month in the Oak Room at the Jubilee Centre in Savages Wood Road, Bradley Stoke. Our next full meeting is on Wednesday, January 11 and our meetings start at 2pm, so if you would like to join us, do come along ten minutes before so you can meet the team beforehand. If you would like more information, you can contact our secretary Janet Hunt on 07845 744351.

AVON FEDERATION OF WIS

AFTER an absence of two years, Avon Federation of Women’s Institutes has resumed offering group holidays to members. In April, a group went to Kent, and more recently 27 of us went to Jersey.

We left from Bristol Airport on the morning of October 10 and, within the hour, had landed at Jersey, where a coach and driver was waiting to take us to our hotel in St Helier. The afternoon was free to explore St Helier.

From Tuesday to Friday, there was a busy itinerary, visiting a variety of locations, accompanied by a very knowledgeable Blue Badge guide. A full day island tour on a warm sunny day enabled us to soak up the atmosphere of the island. A visit to the Jersey War Tunnels taught us a lot about the German Occupation during the

second World War. A short stop at St Matthew’s Church, known locally as the glass church, gave us the opportunity to see the beautiful decoration work of artisan glassmaker René Lalique. An afternoon at Samares Manor also had the benefit of sunshine to enjoy the house and gardens.

Also on the itinerary was a visit to the 13th Century Mont Orgueil Castle, the Eric Young Orchid Foundation (home to one of the finest collections of orchids in the world), La Hougue Bie Museum (depicting life in Jersey’s Neolithic community 6,000 years ago), and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The conservation work started by writer and naturalist Gerald Durrell has saved several species from extinction but we didn’t see all of the animals – some had remained indoors and out of the rain!

Our party returned to Bristol on the Saturday morning, all saying the same: our hotel was good, food excellent, trips very interesting, and when is the next holiday? The answer to that is April 21, 2023, to the Historic Houses and History of Cambridgeshire.

If you are not a WI member and this appeals to you, contact our office on 0117 9864782 to find details of institutes local to you.

Publicity Office

Institutes

to vaccinate this winter

AS winter draws nearer, residents of South Gloucestershire are being urged to help protect themselves as much as possible by getting all eligible vaccines before colder weather sets in, and heating costs rise.

Respiratory viruses like flu and Covid-19 are expected to circulate widely after two years of social distancing measures and restrictions in place, which may also lead to lower levels of immunity.

With predicted high levels of both viruses circulating, and the cost of living continuing to rise, South Gloucestershire’s new Director of Public Health Professor Sarah Weld and Councillor Franklin Owusu-Antwi, cabinet member responsible for public health at South Gloucestershire Council, are urging those in eligible groups to take up the offer of free vaccinations now.

Professor Weld said: “This winter could be very difficult with high numbers of flu and Covid cases expected, plus the rising cost of keeping warm and well. “Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from serious illness caused by flu and

Covid and will help protect others around you as well as the NHS from becoming overwhelmed this winter.”

Councillor Owusu-Antwi said: “First, second and booster Covid vaccines are available to anyone over the age of five at local clinics. Autumn boosters are available to people over 50, pregnant women and anyone over five years old with an underlying health condition. Book with your GP or find a local walk-in clinic at www. grabajab.net. Free flu jabs are available to anyone

over 50 (including those who will be 50 years old by 31 March 2023), pregnant women, people with certain health conditions or who work in some frontline jobs. You can book now by calling your GP or through a pharmacy.”

All primary school children and some secondary school children will be offered the flu nasal spray again this year, which is usually given at school. GP surgeries are also inviting children aged two and three years old (as at 31 August 2022) for the nasal spray at their practices.

As well as taking up the vaccines, everyone is encouraged to help stop the spread of respiratory viruses this winter by practising good hand hygiene, covering your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze and staying away from others where possible if you have symptoms.

Support to help keep warm and well this winter is available. The council has a number of financial support schemes and there are national funds and rebates to help with energy bills. Visit www.southglos.gov.uk/costofliving for details or call into one of the council’s One Stop Shops in Kingswood, Patchway or Yate.

Avon Federation of Women’s

Bradley Stoke WI enjoyed a visit from the Barn Bell Ringers

Mutual respect at the core for Little Apples

LITTLE Apples, based at Little Stoke Primary School, has been awarded a ‘good’ rating following a recent Ofsted inspection.

The report on the daycare provision for children aged two to four noted: “Children arrive at the setting happy and separate from their parents and/or carers with ease. They greet familiar staff with a smile and a cuddle. Children are becoming independent. Staff encourage them to put their belongings away for themselves. Children place their lunchbox in the trolley when they arrive. They are proud and responsible.

“Children take turns to be the ‘daily helper’ and enjoy completing specific tasks, such as shaking the tambourine to let their friends know it is time to tidy up. They are valued by those around them and learn to show their appreciation for others.”

The report praised the children’s manners and said mutual respect was helping them improve their self-esteem.

The report continued: “Children freely access the well-resourced outdoor area. They enthusiastically create their own obstacle course from tyres, ladders and planks of wood. Children access running water from the tap and enjoy filling and emptying containers. They pretend this is honey to pour over an ‘ice-cream’ they have made for staff. Children are fascinated by the world around them and excitedly show visitors a worm. They display an accurate understanding of measurement and point out a tiny worm and one that is bigger. Children say, ‘The bug hotel has its lights off’. They learn that worms like the dark because they live underground.”

Catholic primary school remains good - Ofsted

HOLY Family Catholic Primary School in Patchway has again been judged good by the education watchdog Ofsted.

The school in Amberley Road has been consistently judged good since 2012 and an inspector who visited in September praised headteacher Will Harding, staff, governors and pupils.

The school has 202 pupils aged four to 11, of whom a higher than average proportion do not have English as their first language. The inspection report said: “Leaders are ambitious for all pupils. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and the many pupils who speak English as an additional language learn well here. From the start, children learn how to behave well. Adults model the school’s high expectations. Pupils behave well in lessons. Low-level disruption is not tolerated.

“Pupils enjoy learning and want to do well. The small number of pupils who find it harder to behave are supported effectively to improve. Pupils know what bullying is. They say it is very rare at their school. They are clear that they would let adults know about it quickly. They are confident it would get sorted out swiftly. Pupils feel safe and parents agree.

“Holy Family gives a warm welcome to pupils and families from all over the world. Pupils’ different experiences and abilities are celebrated. New pupils and their families quickly become a valued part of the school community. Parents appreciate the commitment and support school leaders give them.”

Helping

high streets thrive this Christmas

WE recognise that our high streets are the backbone of our local communities, providing a focal point for much-needed services as well as helping cater for the shopping and leisure needs of local people.

That’s why I am delighted to announce we are once again running a campaign to encourage people to visit their local high streets and support the hundreds of independent traders we are lucky enough to have in South Gloucestershire in the run up to Christmas.

The festive campaign will highlight everything South Gloucestershire’s high streets have to offer shoppers and families, including an array of free and low-cost festive events across the district to help get you in the Christmas spirit, as well as a

wide selection of local shops and businesses to help tick off those Christmas lists.

And of course, all South Gloucestershire’s council-owned long and short-term car parks offer free parking, making transporting those gifts home that bit easier too.

Our high streets always look so magical over the festive season, which is why we will also be running a photo competition, where we are asking you to capture something that represents the essence of Christmas on your local high street.

For example, this could be a photo of a shop window display, Christmas lights or a Christmas event. We are encouraging people to post their chosen photo on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the campaign hashtag

#SouthGlosChristmas and the relevant hashtag for where the photo was taken e.g. #ChristmasInDownend or #ChristmasInThornbury.

There are some great prizes on offer, including a £50 meal-out voucher, so why not take part?

Full details on how to enter can be found at www.southglos. gov.uk/shopsouthglos and more information will also be shared through the council’s social media channels.

You have until Monday December 12 to share your photos, and winners will be announced on Wednesday December 21.

I hope I speak for all of us when I say I am so looking forward to sharing the Christmas spirit with local people, whether it’s waving at Father Christmas in Thornbury, watching the lights

get switched on in Staple Hill or singing carols in Downend.

Please support your local high street this Christmas - and happy shopping!

For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/shopsouthglos.

With Toby Savage, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council

The Brightwell celebrates 10 years since moving the charity to Bradley Stoke

oxygen therapy and the charity’s support.

The West of England MS Therapy Centre is the main charity under The Brightwell umbrella. It was established more than 37 years ago, to provide therapies to people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It was originally in Nailsea and then moved to its new location in Bradley Stoke, in 2012.

Although the focus of the Brightwell is to support those living with chronic neurological conditions, over the years, people with other health issues, including cancer and sporting injuries, have come to the centre for support, predominantly for oxygen therapy.

The people who use the Centre also have other conditions including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Motor Neuron Disease (MND), Parkinson’s, Stroke and Fibromyalgia. More recently, those suffering from Long Covid have been benefiting from

The Centre, located in Wheatfield Drive, was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal and since then has supported thousands of service users along with their families and carers.

2022 has seen extensive improvements and developments to the facility. Doro Pasantes, CEO, said`; “One of our most exciting developments is, that after extensive fundraising, we now have our own oxygen generation plant. This ensures that we produce the purest oxygen for optimum therapy results, plus we can now guarantee supply as its production is on-site.

“By the end of this year we will be opening our doors to welcome service users, friends, and community supporters to enjoy a coffee, lunch or a snack in our newly refurbished cafe which is incredibly exciting.”

If you would like to find out more about The Brightwell, please visit thebrightwell.org.uk

THE Brightwell is a charity that supports people living with neurological conditions, their families and carers.

Stay alert when Christmas shopping online

AS we start to approach the festive season, when lots of people are furiously trying to get their Christmas Shopping done online, I would like to remind you to remain vigilant and be cautious.

Be on the lookout for fake shopping sites and scams that fraudsters will use to take advantage of you.

Fraud continues to grow significantly and now represents more than a third of all estimated crime.

It doesn’t just affect victims’ finances but can also have an impact on mental health, with 74% of fraud victims reporting being emotionally impacted.

As the national Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) lead for economic and cybercrime, I am passionate about educating local people on how to spot the signs of fraud, to prevent you becoming a victim in the first place. There is lots of information on my website about how to protect yourself. Please do take a

look.

I also want to talk to you about some important things happening in my office over the festive season.

Firstly, we will launch our annual council tax policing precept consultation.

Your police service is funded partly by central government, which gives about 60% of the annual budget, but also partly through your local council tax bill, which covers the other 40%.

This survey asks your opinion on the amount I am going to ask you to pay in addition to your current annual council tax bill in the next financial year, which is one of the main responsibilities of a PCC.

It is very important that you let me know your views, particularly when times are extremely financially challenging for everyone.

Secondly, if you are looking for a new challenge in the New Year, we have also launched a volunteer recruitment campaign

to ask people to empower their communities and join us as independent advisors on one of the OPCC’s four scrutiny panels or other inspection schemes.

It’s an important way to provide transparency and public accountability around the monitoring and scrutiny we do of the service provided to our communities by Avon and Somerset Police.

For more information visit www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov. uk/get-involved/apply-to-be-avolunteer.

Lastly, if you run a community group or you work with an organisation on projects that help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, I would encourage you to apply to my Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund.

Launched earlier this year, the fund is a partnership between the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Somerset Community Foundation and Quartet Community Foundation,

which aims to support community projects and activities across the force area that help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

I know the organisations and groups of residents who have already applied and received a grant have found the extra funds really beneficial in supporting their work to prevent crime in their communities.

Please visit my website to find out more.

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford

The Beautiful Game shows its ugly side

THE World Cup is upon us.

For fans, it’s usually a time of nervous anticipation. I’d like to be having chats about the formation Southgate will play. Have the team been practising their penalties?! Could we follow the success of the women’s team, and this be the year England finally goes all the way?

This time however, sadly like many other West of England sports fans, I find myself with very different questions on my lips.

How can we celebrate the beautiful game in a state that abuses its own people? Why has Qatar been awarded a global platform to promote itself? What is the world doing in the face of Qatar censoring and jailing journalists and cosying up to Putin? How can we best call out the terrible human rights abuses, blatant homophobia and lack of women’s rights?

There wasn’t a single death in the work to build the London Olympics, which should be a huge mark of pride for our great country. It was the safest Olympic

build in history. In contrast, the current tournament has broken bodies, killed dozens and maimed and crushed the hopes of abused foreign workers.

And let’s not pretend the Qataris won the hosting rights through merit alone. FIFA’s decision-Making, 12 years ago, was surrounded by rumblings of corruption and bribery. It’s been controversial from the off, because money talked louder than football.

So, what should we do? Of course, I always want my teams - Bristol City and England - to win.

As Harry Kane leads his men out, I hope we can use the power of football to inspire.

We know the World Cup can motivate young people to go out and exercise. We know great cup runs can bring our nation together. The excitement of Euro 96 or reaching the 2020 final last year. It’s also a great chance to back our hospitality sector at local pubs.

But we must also use this tournament

to keep human rights issues firmly in the public eye and to campaign for stronger workers’ rights.

These high-profile international sporting events come with great kudos and attention for any host country. But it’s the people’s game - so they should come first.

Let’s hope in future the football authorities never place us in this position again where we love our football but are deeply troubled by the circumstances of the tournament.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice