emersonsgreenvoice www.emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk
August, 2021 Edition—Issue 55
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Bee a winner on our high street trail Your chance to win a share of £10,000 and support local traders THIS summer, 16 bright and beautiful bees will be buzzing about on our local high streets and community spaces. Over the next eight weeks, you can ‘collect’ these bees by taking a photo of yourself with them and entering a weekly draw to win £150 vouchers per South Gloucestershire high street to spend with our independent traders. The trail is part of South Gloucestershire Council’s campaign to support local high street traders who have so much to offer customers: whether it is food and drink with friends and family, shopping for essentials, leisure, learning or looking good. Pete Scragg, from Melanie’s Kitchen, said, “Covid-19 has been a difficult time for traders. We now want people from across South Gloucestershire to rediscover their high streets where most restrictions are now removed. Come and see what we have to offer. The bee trail creates something for everyone to enjoy and win vouchers to spend in independent shops. “All the traders in Downend and Staple Hill are buzzing for you to spend time here.” All the fibreglass bees are very different and have been decorated by local artists.
South Gloucestershire artist Emma Beavis painting Astronobee – one of sixteen bees on the trail challenge
Enter the bee trail challenge Follow some simple steps to be in to win £150 of high street vouchers for independent traders - also, learn more about how your high streets are changing.
Page 2 Which traders are accepting vouchers A list so far of the business where you could spend the high street vouchers if you enter and win - and where you can find the latest list online.
Inside back page
Where are the bees on your high street? Find out in which locations you can discover the bees, take a selfie and win prizes.
Back page
buzzing to summer
We are see you this 2704 Voice Header.indd 1
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2 SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Your high streets are changing Your high streets are changing – now its time to get behind them, says South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage
How to take part in the Bee Trail challenge Our sixteen bees buzz onto South Gloucestershire high streets from Saturday 24 July and will remain until 18 September. Step One: Find your two bees on a South Gloucestershire high street. Use the Bee Trail map on the back page to discover the location of the bees on the high street or visit southglos.gov.uk/shopsouthglos where you can also find full terms and conditions.
Step Two: Take a selfie with your mobile device at the first bee. You can then scan the QR code or website URL displayed on the information panel (see right) to access our competition site. Upload your photograph and name/ details.
Step Three:
‘Everyone at the council is proud that we are funding the bee trail challenge. I cannot thank the local artists enough who have decorated the fibreglass bees that will become a colourful, vibrant part of our high streets and community spaces for the next eight weeks. Ultimately, the challenge is about supporting our high streets to thrive. They were already changing before the pandemic. Covid-19 has simply accelerated that change and we are supporting them in that reinvention. Shopping is part of the picture. But following the pandemic, people increasingly use high streets for leisure, learning, meeting up with friends, family, and work colleagues. The different high street uses all reinforce each other. For example, a family may take out books at the library, visit a café for lunch, buy hardware items for a DIY project, and finish their trip at the local play park. So, I’d like to ask all Voice readers to please participate in the bee trail. Take the opportunity to explore the wonderful changes taking place on the high street driven by the dedication and enthusiasm of our traders. Good luck winning high street vouchers!”
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEE TRAIL CHALLENGE Help create a buzz around South Glos and take a selfie with the two bees in Staple Hill for a chance to win £150 of shopping vouchers! TO ENTER VISIT OR southglos.gov.uk/stapletrail
SCAN THE QR CODE
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Repeat Step Two but at the second bee at the same town location. You are now entered into the competition. You must be over 16 years old to submit a photograph.
Step Four: Enjoy the hive of activity in the high street and repeat the process on a different high street for a chance to win again. Now, take time and rediscover your high street. If you are a winner, we will let you know in the next 10 days.
Find out how more visit www.southglos.gov.uk/shopsouthglos The South Gloucestershire Bee Trail is part-funded by European Regional Development Fund.
emersonsgreenvoice
August, 2021 Edition—Issue 55
www.emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk
FREE EVERY MONTH IN EMERSONS GREEN, LYDE GREEN, SHORTWOOD & PUCKLECHURCH
Primary school unveils new logo
New benches at skate park Gordon Clapp, whose son died in a light aircraft crash 14 years ago, has raised money to buy two benches for the skate park at Emersons Green. PAGE 8
What about the zigzags? Year 6 pupil Lois Brown won a competition at Emersons Green Primary School to design a logo reflecting its values. She is pictured with headteacher Karl Hemmings. Full story: Page 9
World’s longest covid case A RETIRED driving instructor has recovered from the world's longest recorded case of coronavirus. Dave Smith, quizmaster at the Langley Arms in Emersons Green, caught Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic and the virus remained active in his body for 290 days. During that time he was taken to hospital seven
times and even arranged the music for his own funeral as he came close to death. He finally recovered after being given the same cocktail of antibiotics used to treat Donald Trump – and his case has made headlines around the world. Full story: Page 7
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emersonsgreenvoice Publisher Gary Brindle 0117 907 8585 07799 461169
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Letters to the publication can be sent to the above e-mail address or by post to Letters, Emersons Green Voice, 6 Elkstone Walk, Bitton, Bristol BS30 6JT. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter. DEADLINES September edition deadline is August 18. 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 Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582
Rubbish dumped on Henfield Road
‘ Brazen’ fly-tipper blocked road
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August, 2021
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 PUBLISHER’S NOTE Emersons Green 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. Fishponds Voice is distributed each month to local residents. 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 Gary Brindle on 0117 907 8585 or news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk.
COMPLAINTS 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 Emersons Green 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 found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.
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A MAN left a huge trail of rubbish on a country road near Lyde Green after setting up a waste disposal business on Facebook. Jordan Payne, of Arnold Road, Siston, fly-tipped waste including a sofa, breeze blocks and double-glazing at Henfield Road in August last year. An investigation by South Gloucestershire Council’s environmental enforcement team found some of the waste had been removed from the home of a resident who had paid Payne to dispose of it. Payne was given an 18-week suspended jail sentence, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay a total of £2,391 in prosecution and clear-up costs when he appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on June 28. The council said Payne had obtained a registered waste carriers licence last July and created a Facebook page to advertise his business, called Jordan’s Waste Clearance. Over the next six weeks, he travelled across Bristol and South Gloucestershire collecting waste in return for payment, often storing it outside or near his home before moving it elsewhere. A council spokesperson said: “During an interview, Payne produced a pre-prepared statement admitting that he had dumped some of the waste at Henfield Road – but not all of it. “He claimed to have disposed of the waste at a waste management business in Bristol
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A sofa dumped by Jordan Payne but stated that his records had been thrown away when his vehicle was recently sold. “No Bristol-based waste businesses had record of him disposing of anything at their premises.” Payne was prosecuted for fly-tipping, not holding any waste transfer notes and storing collected waste in and around his home address. Council cabinet member for communities Rachael Hunt said: “This was a brazen act of flytipping on the public highway, without any thought given to the impact it would have on our residents, or the hazard and disruption it would cause to road users. Waste businesses can be checked by calling the agency on 08708 506506 or visiting its website at bit.ly/2VnBpM3. Unwanted goods, household or garden waste can all be disposed of at Sort It centres. Anyone who sees illegal flytipping should report it via the StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, emailing streetcare@ southglos.gov.uk or at www. southglos.gov.uk/flytipping.
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August, 2021
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n NEWS
Safety warning over unfinished zebra crossing SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has been accused of creating a safety risk after failing to replace ‘keep clear’ markings around a zebra crossing. The council resurfaced the busiest stretch of Emerson Way at the end of April and during May, as part of a five-month road works programme in the area. But while the striped crossing between the library, village hall and retail park was repainted, none of the zigzag and double yellow lines which stop vehicles from parking nearby and blocking views for pedestrians and traffic were. Emersons Green town councillor Matt Palmer says he is “astounded” that the safety markings were not repainted at the same time – and at the council’s lack of urgency about finishing the work. He says parking has been “horrendous”, with cars and vans frequently left very close to the crossing and vehicles pulling
Parking near the crossing without zigzag lines over on it to let buses pass by, as it is the only place with enough space. Matt has heard of at least three “near-misses” at the crossing. The situation was reported to the council on June 14 but as of July 20, the lines had still not
been replaced. Matt said: “It’s deeply disappointing that safety has not been made paramount in this situation. “This is a crossing that has a very high amount of footfall, across a busy road. Lots of
children and parents use the crossing to cross over to Emersons Green Park, the library and the village hall. “I am astounded that a crossing would be painted and not the zigzags that go with it. “I will continue to contact South Glos Council until the lines are painted. The log number is 1655635 – I would encourage residents to report their concerns. “Even when the lines are painted I will be asking for answers as to why there has been a delay.” A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately we were not able to complete both sets of road markings at the same time; our priority was to install the zebra crossing and we will be returning as soon as possible to complete the zigzags. “It is anticipated that this work will be carried out before the end of July.”
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n NEWS THE leader of South Gloucestershire Council has defended £30 million plans to widen the Avon Ring Road, which opponents say would create “monstrous megaroundabouts”. Toby Savage said he wanted to put the record straight after criticism that the money would be better spent on other services, improving the environment or on public transport and active travel. He told a West of England Combined Authority committee meeting that the money for the scheme would come from the Government and would only be allocated if a business case for the changes to five roundabouts on the A4174 was accepted by the Department for Transport. The £30 million scheme would see Lyde Green roundabout, near the Bristol and Bath Science Park, and the Rosary roundabout, by Emersons Green shopping centre – have extra lanes added. Three other roundabouts – Siston Hill near Mangotsfield, Deanery Road near Warmley and Kingsfield, at Longwell Green – would have six new lanes built across the middle to take through traffic, transforming them into what the council calls “throughabouts”. South Gloucestershire Council has launched a public consultation on the plans, which it says are aimed at tackling congestion on the A4174 and stopping drivers using nearby residential roads as rat-runs. But they have come under fire from the area’s Green Party, which called them “five monstrous mega-roundabouts will do nothing to tackle the
August, 2021
Council leader defends ‘mega-roundabout’ plans
How the Rosary roundabout next to Emersons Green shopping centre would look if the plans went aheada climate emergency and will instead cause environmental damage and an increase in car dependency”. New West of England metro mayor Dan Norris also said there was a “strong possibility that just widening roads simply causes increased journeys by car and does not alleviate congestion”. And transport campaigner David Redgewell asked the Weca committee why the plans had gone out to public consultation with “very little if any reference to the importance of walking and cycling and improving bus lanes or priority measures”.
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Cllr Savage told the Weca meeting on June 25: “We are doing the consultation to understand how it can benefit as many transport users in getting around the area in their preferred way as much as possible. “I want to be very clear that it is the DfT that has invited us, as the highways authority, to bid for funds that support improvements through the major routes network. “The debate isn’t about whether it’s £30m we should be spending on something else, the debate is whether this £30m will
come into the West of England area. “The idea that this can just be moved around and spent as we see fit as a combined authority is an erroneous statement.” The meeting heard pedestrian and cycling improvements and bus priority measures at the junctions were included in the plans. People can have their say on the proposals until August 16, after which the council could make amendments before submitting them to Whitehall for approval. A public event at Emersons Green Village Hall to give people a chance to see and ask questions about the plans was postponed from its original date of July 10 due to the delay in relaxing covid restrictions and is now due to take place on August 3 from 5pm-7.30pm. The consultation can be found online at consultations. southglos.gov.uk/ A4174Improvements. Anyone not online can call 01454 868 000 for more details. An animation of traffic movements now and under the proposed scheme can be found at bit.ly/3Br0vdw. If the DfT approves the project, work is expected to begin in 2022 in phases and take three years to complete. By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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August, 2021
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n NEWS
Dave has world’s longest case of Covid-19 AN Emersons Green pub’s quizmaster has had the world’s longest recorded case of coronavirus. Dave Smith caught COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic last year, falling ill in March. He had only been given the all-clear from leukaemia a week before he first became ill. The chemotherapy treatment he had taken for leukaemia left his immune system weakened to the extent that he was unable to fully recover from the coronavirus, which remained active in his body for almost a year. One of the things that kept Dave going during his months of illness was good wishes from regulars and staff at the Langley Arms in Guest Avenue, where he has been setting the questions for weekly quiz nights for 22 years. Dave, 72, of Downend, was a driving instructor for 43 years and his EL Passo cars were once a familiar sight on local streets. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 around a month after first falling ill with symptoms of the virus. Over the course of the next 290 days he underwent 43 tests before he was finally clear. He was taken to hospital seven times, for stays of between one and three-and-a-half weeks. Suffering chest infections, sepsis, pneumonia and an abscess, he was close to death several times and even arranged the music for his funeral service. Antibiotics were able to get rid of some of the infections but the covid was still there and kept causing more. Dave joked: “They even kept a room for me at the hospital.” When he was discharged he was looked after by his wife Lyn at home, where one of the bedrooms was transformed into what was effectively a hospital room. Lyn, who herself tested positive twice but had only mild symptoms, said the whole experience had been “absolutely horrendous”. It was only after Dave, who was part of a covid research programme run by Bristol University and North Bristol NHS Trust, was given the same experimental cocktail of
Lyn and Dave Smith antibodies used to treat former US President Donald Trump that he was able to fight off the disease. He received his first negative test in early March, 45 days after the treatment, and has stayed clear during regular tests since. Dave has now had two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and, with his immune system recovered, is confident he will not be infected again. News of his case has been reported around the world, with a Russian TV company getting in touch and reports published in India, Australia and New Zealand, where Dave has family. But the world’s longestknown covid infection has left its mark. Dave, who has two sons, four grandchildren and a great-grandson, as well as three stepchildren and seven stepgrandchildren, still has no sense of smell. He has been left with pulmonary fibrosis, a form of lung disease which leaves him short of breath and from which he has been told he will never recover. He is only able to walk short distances, joking that there “has to be a tea shop, for tea and a bun, at the end”. Dave said: “My mind feels that I’m getting better but my body sometimes disagrees.” Nevertheless he has returned to his weekly nights at the Langley Arms, and says the pub’s community had been “fantastic”. He added: “When I did my first quiz back there in June they gave me a standing ovation.” Dave also hopes to go back to singing and playing guitar, having performed for 57 years,
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Dave with Lyn back at the Langley Arms pub quiz including a long stint in the house band at Bristol’s Locarno club in the 1970s. NBT consultant in infectious diseases Dr Ed Moran, who treated Dave, said it was “wonderful” that the research team had been able to help him using the laboratory-engineered antibodies, which were supplied on a “compassionate use basis” by US firm Regeneron. He said: “Whilst such cases
are rare, there will be a number of people across the country in similar situations. The small numbers make it difficult to perform trials of experimental therapies. “However, it is important that we find a way to access and develop treatment regimens for these individuals, both for the well-being of the individual and to protect public health.”
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August, 2021
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Dad's appeal buys skate park benches THE dad of a boy who was killed in a plane crash has raised the money to pay for new benches at a skate park built in his memory. Gordon Clapp, from Mangotsfield, wanted a lasting memorial to his son Jamie, who was only 13 when he died in a light aircraft accident in 2007. Mangotsfield School pupil Jamie and his friends loved skateboarding and BMX riding, and Gordon campaigned to secure the £100,000 for a skate park in Emersons Green from local councillors, South Gloucestershire Council and the Big Lottery Fund's People's Millions partnership. The park has now been open for 10 years and is popular not only with teenagers but with much younger children, trying out the ramps on scooters. Gordon, who still regularly visits the park, noticed that many of the younger children were accompanied by parents and grandparents who did not have
Gordon Clapp (left) and Clive Heath on one of the two new red benches at the Emersons Green skate park. enough places to sit. So he set up an online fundraising campaign to find the £1,500 needed to pay for two new metal weatherproof benches. The money was raised in two
months, largely thanks to £1,000 from a donor who asked to remain anonymous. Gordon said: "I've seen a lot of parents and grandparents struggling after coming to watch
their kids enjoy themselves. "It was about time something was done. There were people having to sit on the edge of the flower beds." With support from Mangotsfield Residents Association chairman Clive Heath, Gordon worked with South Gloucestershire Council and Emersons Green ward councillor Rachael Hunt to ensure the benches could be installed, on the 14th anniversary of Jamie's death on July 8. Gordon's next project is a bigger one – park users have asked him if he can raise the £20,000 needed to build a halfpipe to practise skateboard and BMX tricks. He is also waiting for the park to be handed by South Gloucestershire to Emersons Green Town Council, so work to reclaim the overgrown BMX track next to the skate ramps can begin.
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Lois’s logo sums up school values A PUPIL who is leaving Emersons Green Primary School has left a lasting parting gift. The school has decided on a new set of school values to mark its 20th anniversary year. Head teacher Karl Hemmings said the values “underpin the vision, aims and curriculum for the school, as well as providing staff, pupils and families with a clear message about what the school believes is most important for the children, so that they can grow to become great citizens”. The new values – kindness, enthusiasm, Lois Brown with the new school logo. respect, inclusivity, perseverance, curiosity and creativity – were decided upon following consultation with the whole school community. To help get them across in a memorable way, the school held a competition for all pupils to design a new logo. The winning design, which incorporates the school’s rainbow theme, was created by Lois Brown, who has just finished Year 6 and is leaving to go to secondary school from September. The new logo will be displayed around the school site and the new values shared with staff, governors, pupils and families. Mr Hemmings said: “We are really pleased with our new school values and extremely proud of Lois for creating this amazing logo, which will be a legacy she leaves for our school community to enjoy.”
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August, 2021
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One in ten off school as Covid cases surge AROUND one in every 10 school pupils in South Gloucestershire was having to selfisolate and learn at home as the summer term came to an end. The council said an increase in infections in school-aged children was in line with neighbouring areas and national trends, as Covid-19 surged to its highest recorded levels in the area. Public Health England figures for the week to July 20 showed that 2,548 people in South Gloucestershire had a confirmed positive test result – up 83% on a week before. In Emersons Green there were 107 confirmed cases in the week to July 15, up from 73 a week before and 22 four weeks previously. In Mangotsfield the number of confirmed cases was 46 in the week to July 15, more than double the 20 cases reported a week earlier. In Pucklechurch & Westerleigh, 87 cases were recorded in the week to July 15, up from 56 in the previous week and 17 in the week to
June 24. The case rate in Emersons Green was 881 per 100,000 people on July 15, representing one in 113 people across the population testing positive for Covid-19. The ending of lockdown restrictions on July 19 also coincided with the end of schools being responsible for tracing contacts of confirmed cases among pupils, as the summer term entered its final days. Downend School told all pupils to learn from home for the final two days of term after an increase in positive tests among staff and problems with recruiting supply teachers to cover for them. A message to parents on the school website said: “Quite simply we do not have the staff we need to be able to operate safely for the next two days.” There was also an increase in reported cases among Year 7 and 10 pupils at the end of the last full week of term. Mangotsfield School reported six cases in the two weeks to July 13 but a council spokesperson said these involved a number
of staff having to isolate as close contacts, adding: “Following this, an operational decision was taken by the school to move some year groups to remote learning due to staffing capacity. “The positive cases and staff identified as contacts, both in schools and through the Test and Trace app, have followed a similar pattern to other secondary schools within South Gloucestershire during June and July. “The Academy Trust has acted quickly with support from local and South West public health and health protection teams to contain transmission in the two schools.” Unions said they had heard “many anecdotes of parents starting to keep children off – trying to avoid their child having to selfisolate for the first days of a planned holiday” National Education Union joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “According to the latest Government data, covid cases amongst school children are now at higher levels even than the autumn term peaks.”
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August, 2021
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n NEWS
Housing plan for pub wins approval A DEVELOPER will be allowed to turn a historic Pucklechurch pub into seven homes and a ‘micropub’. The controversial proposals for the Fleur de Lis pub in Shortwood Road were approved by a South Gloucestershire Council planning committee with little debate, despite dozens of objections from residents, the parish council and a local ward councillor. The Fleur de Lis dates from the early 19th century and lies in the heart of the village, close to Grade I-listed Thomas à Becket church. But owner UKS Group said the traditional pub was “non-viable” and applied to turn it into a four-bedroom home, with an old toilet block and function room converted into a micro pub, with no indoor seating. It also submitted a second application to replace the pub’s rear extension with six three-bedroom homes. The homes application received 54 objections and four comments in support, while 19 residents objected to the pub plans. Gail Boyle, chair of Pucklechurch Parish Council, told the committee on June 24 that the proposed 20 parking places were not enough and the homes’ rooms and gardens were too small.
The Fleur de Lis Boyd Valley councillor Steve Reade said the loss of a traditional pub was a “net loss to the community”. He said: “A micropub is an urban concept, not a rural one. If approved, you will force some of the current clientele into a degree of social isolation.” But UKS’s agent said micropubs can work in villages, as demonstrated by a “successful” example in Charfield, adding: “The reality is, the pub has been struggling for a long time, mainly relying on wakes from funerals from
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the church.” Two of the four parking spaces originally allocated for the converted four-bedroom home will be designated for the micropub under a condition added to the planning consent by councillors. A planning officer said parking provision met council policy and the design of the new houses was in keeping with the character of the village. Planning committee members unanimously voted both applications through at a meeting on June 24. Michael Bell (Lab, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield) said: “I do feel sad supporting the application but, unfortunately, that’s the times we live in. “Pubs are closing and the pandemic has closed more pubs, and we are where we are.” Brian Hopkinson (Con, Charlton & Cribbs) said: “I think the houses have got the village feel. I really do like the application.” Conditions include retaining the Fleur de Lis coach gates and a £10,000 contribution towards double yellow lines on the road outside. By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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n NEWS PATIENTS at all of the area's surgeries are finding it increasingly hard to get through on the phone, an NHS survey has found. Fewer same-day appointments were also available, although the proportion of patients having to wait more than a week to see their doctor was also falling. The annual NHS GP Patient Survey, published in July, found that the majority of patients still rated their experience of using their GP practice as good overall, although there were marked differences between practices. The majority of patients of all surgeries said it was "not easy" to get through on the phone to their practice, with 59% of patients of Downend Health Group, which includes the Willow Surgery and Christchurch Family Medical Centre, reporting problems - up from 44% three years ago. That number rose to 76% among patients of Leap Valley Surgery, which has been plagued by problems with its phone system for several years. It installed a new system
August, 2021
GP patients still left hanging on the phone
Emersons Green Health Centre last year but complaints from patients have continued and the proportion reporting problems had gone up by 6% this year. Emersons Green Medical Centre was the only practice in the area where the percentage
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of people telling the survey they had problems getting through on the phone was lower this year than in 2020, when it reached 88%, but at 71% it still represented nearly three quarters of patients. The percentage of people receiving a same-day appointment at Downend Health Group surgeries was 37% - down 9% on 2018. The number of people waiting more than a week was down to 20% from 30% last year - but still higher than the 16% reported in 2018. Most people waited more than a day but less than a week. At Leap Valley Medical Centre, 25% of patients were able to book a same-day appointment - up from just 7% in 2020. And
numbers having to wait more than a week for an appointment plunged from 62% in the last two years to 25% this year. The percentage of patients offered same-day appointments at Emersons Green Medical Centre was 21% - down from 34%% last year. But numbers having to wait more than a week were also down, from 55% in 2018 and 46% last year to 35% . Some patients responding to the survey couldn't remember the length of their wait. Overall satisfaction levels for the surgeries were 81% good and 9% poor for Downend Health Group, 58% good and 21% poor for Leap Valley, and 66% good and 19% poor for Emersons Green, where the percentage of patients who were satisfied was up 18% on last year. Some patients gave a neutral answer. The survey was carried out by polling group Ipsos MORI for NHS England and NHS Improvement, and was based on around 850,000 responses to questionnaires sent out nationwide from January to March this year. The Voice has asked the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group to comment on the survey on behalf of the surgeries.
Hundreds wait for cancer checks WEEKEND “mega clinics” are being used to tackle a “horrifying” backlog of breast cancer checks for South Glos and Bristol patients. Less than one in six women who showed potential symptoms of the disease, such as a lump or pain, to their GP in March were seen by a specialist at Southmead within two weeks. By April North Bristol NHS Trust’s figures had plummeted further still, with only one in 16 women seen within a fortnight – down from a rate of nine in 10 last year. The poor performance – described as “horrifying” by the trust’s own chair, Michele Romaine – has been blamed on a national shortage of radiologists, which could soon be addressed by using artificial intelligence. Peter Brindle, the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group’s medical director of clinical effectiveness, told its governing body on July 6: “Although we reached a really difficult peak of 798 people in a backlog waiting for an appointment, the figures out this morning have come down to 294. “The trajectory towards improvement is good. They’re running a seven-day service, with mega clinics at the weekend.” By Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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n NEWS
Ava's courage inspires big haircut A GROUP of primary school girls have donated their long hair to a charity which helped one of their friends after she lost hers during chemotherapy. Lyde Green Primary School pupil Ava Maynard, from Downend, found a lump on her head last July. Doctors sent Ava for a scan and discovered that the lump was a tumour, caused by a rare condition called Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, or LCH. The condition causes histiocyte cells, which normally help protect the skin, to build up and start to move around the body, causing damage to bones and organs. It is diagnosed in about 50 children in the UK each year and fortunately has a high survival rate. Carly said it had been a huge shock for her and husband Nathan, who also have two sons, Teddy, 7, and Chester, 4. She said: "When we first saw the scans it was an unimaginable thing as a parent." Ava's first tumour was removed in August but in October - on the day after her tenth birthday - another tumour was found and she had to start weekly chemotherapy. By Christmas she had lost her hair. Ava's mum, Carly, said:
Ava Maynard (centre, in pink) with friends who donated their hair "When you're a little girl of ten, that's a big deal." Ava was helped out by the Little Princess Trust, a charity providing wigs made from donated hair for children in her position. What would usually be inperson fittings had to be carried out online and Ava, who had previously donated to the charity herself, was sent a wig which she wore when she returned to school in March. Ava is still undergoing chemotherapy until this October and after that will go for regular
check-ups until she is an adult. But she has continued to go to school for most of the time, and her bravery inspired another mum at the school, Nesta
Francis, to organise a sponsored hair cut which involved 11 girls in Years 4, 5 and Reception, and one mum. The hair was donated to the trust, and a sponsorship page had raised around £1,400 as the Voice went to press. Nesta said: "Ava has been really courageous and just got on with things throughout her illness. "It occurred to me that my daughter's hair was unbelievably long after lockdown - it seems such a waste to grow that hair for such a long period of time and it just end up on the hairdresser's floor. Carly said the event was "a lovely afternoon, very emotional," adding: "Ava couldn't believe all her friends would do it." To donate to the event visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ lydegreenprincesstrustcut.
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August, 2021
n PETER'S VISION
Celebrate together
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Reassuringly Thorough Eye Care - Glasses Studio Book Online or Call to Book Your Appointment Now
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O what a month it’s been. We’ve lots to be proud of, whichever of the national football teams you were supporting! If like me you have family from more than one home nation then we’ve even more to be proud of! It’s got me thinking a lot this month. I appreciate that at times thinking can be considered a dangerous thing, but this was reflective thinking. As it led to a feeling of genuine & heartfelt appreciation for my team and all they do in caring for our patients, I think I can be excused for this line of thinking! I’ve written before, on just the odd occasion, about how much I enjoy the work I do. I genuinely feel blessed to be able to meet and care for so many of you year after year as patients. It’s also my privilege to be able to lead the superb team of professionals who look after you in our practices. Now before you think that I’m going to take the credit for carefully and painstakingly hand picking each of them, for who they are, and what they bring to our team, don’t worry I’m not! That honour belongs to our practice manager Nikki, who as operations manager has been central to so many aspects of our success as a team. So to my personal experience. I have recently been experiencing long arm syndrome, or perhaps starting to realise that I was born enough decades ago to need a little extra help focussing up close. With so many clear focus lens options to choose from, again I took the dangerous route of thinking! I decided to try a two pronged approach. For much of my work looking close up at eyes I use a sophisticated microscope. I decided a single vision pair of midrange lenses would work well here, which unsurprisingly they do! For everyday I decided that my general vision would be best suited with a pair of our superb relax lenses - which I can now highly recommend from personal experience. If you’ve yet to try these, they have a relaxed focus at the bottom so you can see your phone or small print easily as well as seeing clearly from the rest of the lens for sharp viewing such as the sports scores on the TV. This second pair will be particularly useful for watching the Olympics, which we shall now be watching, for the first time, in ultra HD multi-screen view. I particularly like the harmony & unity of our home nations competing together under the banner of team GB at the Olympics. Our family can all support the same team for a change! With around 350 hours of competition to watch, there is definitely something for everyone to cheer for. When it comes to your eyes, our vision is that each of you receives world class eye care, which we firmly believe you deserve. Don’t forget, whether it’s for reassuringly thorough eye care, or to make sure you’re definitely getting the best out of the Ultra HD Olympic broadcasts, we’re here when you need us, six days per week. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to see how we can help you. We continue to offer COVID safe ways to choose your new glasses too! To help us keep you all safe, we’re still asking you all to telephone first to book a time to come in. Please call our Henleaze practice on 0117 962 2474 or our Fishponds practice on 0117 965 4434.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Peter
Peter Turner is a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, and also works part time as a Senior Optometrist at the Bristol Eye Hospital.
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n NEWS
'Significant concerns' over secure unit SCAFFOLDING poles and other objects that “could be used as weapons” were found lying around by inspectors at a young offenders’ unit. Education watchdog Ofsted raised “significant safeguarding concerns” over issues including the use of physical restraint at Vinney Green secure children’s home, between Mangotsfield and Emersons Green. The inspectors’ concerns were so serious that they demanded South Gloucestershire Council, which runs the unit, take “rapid action” to protect children there from the risk of harm. Their report from the first inspection, in April, found there were “serious failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded”. Ofsted gave the lowest overall rating of “inadequate” to the unit, which is home to 24 of the country’s most troubled youngsters aged between 10 and 18, although they said children’s education, learning support and health was good. The report said: “Dangerous items had accumulated over time in the forest area and outside the cycle maintenance workshop. These items were accessible to children and
included scaffolding poles, and pieces of wood and metal. “These could be used as weapons and therefore pose a significant risk to the children and the staff. “Although these items were removed during the visit, it is of serious concern that this risk was not identified by the home’s staff or managers.” Ofsted said managers had failed to notify it as required on two occasions about concerns raised by youngsters about staff practice. Their report also said the unit’s “use of physical restraint was not justified” on all occasions, although there had been an overall reduction in the practice. Inspectors said: “The children’s behaviour has improved. However, the staff use sanctions that do not link meaningfully to the incident and therefore do not support restorative practice.” It said the managers’ monitoring and oversight failed to identify the serious shortfalls found at the inspection and there were times when the children were not safeguarded and were at risk. Ofsted returned to reinspect the unit in
early June and found action had been taken on its most serious concerns, changing its rating to “good” overall, although managers’ effectiveness still required improvements. It said the children were positive about their experiences of living at the home, felt well supported and safe, and had “trusting relationships” with staff. A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said the April report’s findings had been “fully accepted”, adding: “We have been able to take swift action to improve in the areas identified. “We are very pleased that this work was recognised when Ofsted reinspected those areas in June. “We were also most pleased to see in the reports the recognition of the importance of the children’s own words, which described how they feel supported and well cared for. “We are also pleased by the recognition of the positive approach we take, and the results achieved by the children in terms of their learning health and well-being, to ensure they leave with the absolute best prospects for the future.” By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
New homes for Vinney Green PLANS to build hundreds of homes on land owned by South Gloucestershire Council have taken a big step forward, with a scheme in Emersons Green on the list. Cabinet members have formally approved a deal to team up with Bath & North East Somerset Council’s construction company Aequus, saying the building programme would meet the needs of communities, Caption: Vinney Green House was get local people on the housing demolished in 2019 ladder and build high-quality, energy-efficient, affordable homes. The link-up with Aequus will earn the authority income from the development of the site at Vinney Green, between Emersons Green and Mangotsfield, as well as others in Frenchay, Thornbury, Filton and Warmley. Another site at Mulgrove Farm, Hambrook, will be developed by Wain Homes. The deals will be subject to planning permission and full business cases, with the council having the option to cancel the arrangement at any point. Malmains Drive in Frenchay will be the first site developed, and a planning application for 30 homes has already been submitted. The cabinet decision on July 12 gives the green light for Aequus to draw up proposals for a similar scheme on the site of Vinney Green House, which stood next to the Vinney Green Secure Unit and was demolished in 2019. Councillors also approved an extra £400,000 for costs of securing planning permission, making land ready for sale and legal advice. By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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n WHAT’S ON August 18 n THE WOMEN’S SECTION OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION is re starting and are looking for new ladies to join us. Our August meeting will be August 18th the 3rd Wednesday We meet the 3rd Wednesday every month. We meet at 2pm at the old school hall now known as the YOU Foundation by the car park in Page Road Staple Hill. Speakers, quiz’s and handy craft afternoon finish’s with tea. We have planned fund raising events and are looking for any one willing to give us ladies a hand. If you are interested please telephone Madeleine Bills Secretary. 0117 9560805. Sunday n EMERSONS GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH has now resumed normal face-to-face church services. Church services are held every Sunday morning from 10.30am-11.30am w at Emersons Green Village Hall, Emersons Way. During the service there is an activity for younger children. A weekly Rainbow Tots (for pre-school children and their parent/s, carers, etc) run by Emersons Green Baptist Church will recommence on Friday September 10, from 10-11.30am. Cost: £4 for first child, £2 for each additional child. For information contact Rev Kevin Donaghy 0117 9575418, e-mail church.egbc@outlook.com or visit www.emersonsgreenchurch.org
August, 2021
n NEWS Librarian Helen Buick with some of the volunteers
Getting to work in the library MANGOTSFIELD School pupils made the most of a rare chance of some work experience by helping out at the school library. With most companies not able to offer a taste of working life due to covid restrictions, there was an open invitation for Year 11 students to come and work in the school library once their GCSEs were completed. Eight Year 11s and a Year 12 took up the challenge and spent six weeks volunteering. Literacy & Library Co-ordinator Helen Buick said: “Their enthusiasm, creativity and hard work has meant the Learning Resource Centre at
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Mangotsfield School has had a makeover. “Books have been repaired, micro libraries across the school site have become a reality, there are fresh new, informative wall displays and many new books have been donated and added to our catalogue, thanks also to the Facebook Page BS16 Books for Good. “But most importantly, these students have been reading buddies to our Year 7 students. “It has been a privilege to work with these fantastic students for the past six weeks. Their work as reading buddies has given a great boost to some of our Year 7s, too!”
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n NEWS
Recycling posters
17
Colourful trees
Children’s art goes on display ART from children at three schools is going on display at Emersons Green Village Hall. Pupils from Reception to Year 6 at Mangotsfield Primary, Blackhorse Primary and Emersons Green Primary have contributed paintings and drawings to the exhibition, which is free to visit. A total of 190 pieces are on display, all with an environmental theme.
Children from Mangotsfield Primary have created posters about recycling, while Emersons Green and Blackhorse pupils have contributed pictures of trees. And village hall manager Viv Roberts will be encouraging visitors inspired by the exhibition to recycle any crisp packets they have at the collection point at the hall’s reception. Viv said: “It’s nice to get the
Emersons Green Village Hall manager Viv Roberts with some of the art on display times, which can vary, so anyone planning to visit can check on the hall website at www.egvh. org.uk, call reception on 01454 862182 or email reception@ egvh.org.uk.
schools involved and get the parents in over the summer, so the children can show off their artwork.” The exhibition will be open during village hall opening
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n NEWS FROM OUR MP
August, 2021
Have your say on some big changes
Chris Skidmore writes for
Emersons Green Voice
AS your local MP, I wanted to let you know about changes that are being proposed to the boundaries of Parliamentary constituencies – including our own constituency of Kingswood – and how you can have your say. It is an important democratic principle that everyone’s vote should mean the same. The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) therefore needs to ensure that the number of voters in each constituency is more equal. The commission has now published its initial proposals for new constituency boundaries – and our area will see significant change. If you live in the Emersons Green council ward you will become part of the existing Filton & Bradley Stoke constituency. Residents of Kingswood, Woodstock, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield and New Cheltenham wards will become part of the proposed new Bristol
North East constituency. Those residents living in Hanham, Longwell Green, Bitton & Oldland Common and Parkwall & Warmley will become part of the new Keynsham & North East Somerset constituency. And people living in the council ward of Boyd Valley will become part of the existing Thornbury & Yate constituency. It is important to say that these changes will not affect the delivery of local services. Although your Member of Parliament may change, we will all continue to be part of South Gloucestershire Council and have our services provided by them. We are now in the midst of an eight-week consultation period, in which the BCE invites comments on the proposals from the public. Members of the public can view and comment on the initial proposals online at www.bcereviews.org.uk. Another consultation that I
wanted to remind you all of is on the council’s proposals to improve traffic flow at the A4174 ring road roundabout junctions – similar to the changes currently under construction at the Wraxall Road roundabout. The consultation is open until August 16 and would inform a bid to be submitted to the government for the required funding. This funding that the government is potentially making available can only be used to upgrade major roads. Even as we improve public transport, walking and cycling routes, cars will continue to be many people’s only realistic way of getting around our area. And as more and more cars become electric, their carbon emissions will continue to reduce, in line with our climate commitments. You can find out more at consultations.southglos.gov.uk/ A4174Improvements.
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n NEWS
Josh goes an extra 16 miles to help school A TEACHER went more than the extra mile when his school needed money for sports equipment. Josh Boulton, who is in his first year of teaching at Pucklechurch Primary School, walked 16 miles into work – and his fundraising trek has raised more than £500 so far. Josh set off from his home in Chippenham at 1.30am to ensure he reached the school in time to take a full day’s teaching. He completed the challenge in just under six hours, on the last day of the school’s sports week in June. Josh set out to raise money for some tennis balls so children could practise their throwing and catching skills. But the amount raised means the school has also been able to buy footballs, basketballs, netballs and athletics equipment. Josh came up with the idea after doing some long walks during lockdown and, after noticing several footpaths crossing the main roads on his journey to school, started to wonder how easy it would be to do the journey on foot. He decided to turn it into a fundraiser after noticing the school was in need of more equipment to enable all pupils to learn
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throwing and catching. Josh said: “It worked out perfectly that it was the week of the summer solstice, when
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I’d have the most daylight, during our PE week, which meant that people had sport on the brain and the children were having some fantastic experiences at school. “The walk itself was a bit surreal – starting your day at 1.30am in the dark was a little unnerving at times and my Fitbit definitely recognised my quick early pace in the dark! “By the time I reached school I had already completed 35,000 steps – and eaten my breakfast and lunch. “I highly recommend a brisk morning walk to start your day – perhaps not 16 miles – it is a relaxing time of day to take in the countryside that we are lucky to be surrounded by.” Head teacher Alex Capel said: “We are very proud of Josh and his dedication to the school and the children. “By doing this, he demonstrated the value of setting yourself a challenge, believing he could do it and achieving it – showing our school vision of aspire, believe and achieve.” Josh’s crowdfunding page is still accepting donations at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ joshua-boulton.
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21
n ADVERTISING FEATURE
Theatretrain to re-open its centres
at Mangotsfield Secondary School and St. Mary Redcliffe and Temple School THEATRETRAIN are delighted to announce that both their performing arts schools will be re-opening on Saturday 11th September offering classes in dance, acting and singing. After closing both centres last March due to the pandemic, Theatretrain are offering a free trial to prospective new students. Theatretrain is an award winning leading local performing arts school for young people, and widely regarded as one of the leading schools in the country. Established in 1993, it has been providing amazing opportunities to perform locally, in London’s West End and internationally, including Disneyland Paris and New York. Theatretrain has been leading a campaign to help young people get their ‘MOJO’ back after such a difficult time, especially for children and young adults who have missed out on so much and perhaps need
a place to improve social skills, build confidence and have fun in a safe environment. Being part of Theatretrain has such a positive impact on a child’s wellbeing, being able to come into classes for three hours and just forget about
everything going on around them. Lots of local schools have also been on board with the ‘MOJO’ mission, as we believe ‘every student matters’. Suzanne Silcox, Theatretrain’s Centre Director says “As much as
we pride ourselves on high-end performing arts training and the skills that we teach, it is also the friendships that people treasure during their tenure with us. So many of our former students will not only recount their favourite shows and numbers but also the friends they shared the stage with. At Theatretrain, we do not just create magnificent shows but once in a lifetime opportunities and memories.” Classes are held on Saturdays at St. Mary Redcliffe and Temple School between 10am and 1pm and at Mangotsfield Secondary School between 2pm and 5pm. We operate both in term time and during half term. For further information and to book your free trial, contact bristol@theatretrain. co.uk or call 07850 479674. (Please note: The photograph was taken before COVID-19)
Higher Education
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SGS College is within the top 10% of all UK universities for overall degree student satisfaction, ranking number 1 for satisfaction in Bristol in 2020. SGS Bristol has been a centre for artistic expression, creativity, and discovery for over 150 years, our degrees are designed with exploration in mind and work with industry to launch a career into one of the fast-growing sectors of the UK economy, which contributes £13million to the UK every hour. Creative degree programmes available full and part-time: • • • •
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n NEWS
August, 2021
School 'community fridge' opens A PRIMARY school in Mangotsfield is working with a Downend supermarket to provide free food for people who need it. Barley Close Primary School has linked up with the Co-op in Downend to be part of the national Community Fridge Network. The school has bought a fridge
for chilled foods and has shelves and a table set aside for other food. Head teacher Jo Williams said: "A community fridge is a space where everyone can share surplus food, including donations from local food businesses, producers, households and gardens.
Foodbank acts on holiday hunger THE Resound foodbank in Blackhorse Road has launched a 'School Holiday Hunger' project to provide food over the holidays for children who usually receive free school meals. The scheme is in addition to the Mangotsfield-based project's summer shopping list. In a message to supporters, organisers said the scheme would help provide extra food to families with school age
children during the summer break, when children are not in school to receive meals. It has launched a list of suggested donations including tinned macaroni cheese, ravioli, meatballs or baked beans with sausages; pasta-insauce sachets; cup-a-soups; peanut butter; custard sachets. For its summer shopping list the foodbank is looking for donations of tinned fish (not tuna); mashed potato
sachets/drums; long-life milk; long-life fruit juice; orange or blackcurrant squash; coffee (in small jars); shower gel; female deodorant; razors. Donors are asked not to donate pasta or baked beans, as they have plenty, bottled fizzy drinks or water. Donations can be taken to the foodbank every Friday between 10am and noon. Call 0117 305 0969 for more information.
"The Co-op donate all their food on a Tuesday night which normally would end up in the bin. "The school collects it and then families are able to collect what they need – there is usually plenty of bread, fruit and fresh veg. "The community are encouraged to take what they need and anything they don’t require at home can be donated, helping everyone reduce food waste." Mrs Williams said many families were benefiting from the school's community area, which also includes a community library and second hand school uniform collection point. The fridge project is part of the Hubbub Community Fridge Network, which includes 150 venues around the UK. For more details visit hubbub. org.uk/the-community-fridge. Above left: Food donations at Barley Close Primary School
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n NEWS
New building for Lyde Green Primary School
LYDE Green Primary School is set to add a new building to its site in Willowherb Road to help it accommodate more children. The trust that runs the school has just been given approval by the Department for Education to run the new primary in Honeysuckle Road, which is due to open next year. But until then, the school needs more space than it currently has at Willowherb Road to accommodate the everincreasing number of primary school-aged children in the area. From September it will create two new classrooms in what up until now have been the school’s staff room and music room. As a result the school has applied for planning permission to put up a new building on an area currently used as a paved “quiet corner”, on the part of the site next to Happy Days nursery. Although the building will
Computer image of the new building be a modular one, built off site in the “quickest possible time frame”, architects Kendall Kingscott have told South Gloucestershire Council’s planning department that the intention is for it to “become a permanent asset to the school”. There were no objections to the plans as the Voice went to press. Will Roberts, chief executive of the Castle School Education Trust, which runs the primary school, said: “Since 2019 we have
supported the local community by accepting additional children for two years running to accommodate local demand for places. “In doing this we have filled up classroom space faster than originally planned and as a result, we now need to have temporary additional classroom space built on site.” Mr Roberts welcomed the government’s approval for the trust’s plan to run the Willowherb Road and
Honeysuckle Road buildings as “a single school operating over two sites” from September next year. He said: “We are pleased to be asked to do this as it ensures local school places for Lyde Green children, wherever they live in Lyde Green. “The school will have a single curriculum. Assessments, resources and teaching techniques will be replicated across both sites.This will enable us to provide a high quality educational experience to all children across the school.” Mr Roberts said children and teachers would not have to routinely move between the two sites, although he added: “We will make the most of the opportunity for children to take part in activities across the whole school, given that it is only a few minutes’ walk between the two sites.”
n NEWS
Innovation hub opens A £2.4 MILLION centre for tech firms has opened at the Bristol and Bath Science Park. The Innovation Hub officially opened its doors at the beginning of July. Software and technology consultants TP Group, electronic design specialists Spark Product Innovation and automated production systems provider INSPHERE are the first occupants of what South Gloucestershire council, which jointly owns the park, described as “state-of-the-art new facilities”. The science park looks for tenants in the fields of science, technology, research and development. The new 5,000sq ft Innovation Hub has been designed to complement the park’s existing buildings and allows each floor to be subdivided into two or three individual office areas if needed. Before the coronavirus
South Gloucestershire Council’s Ben Burton, representatives of the companies moving in to the Bristol and Bath Science Park Innovation Hub and officials at the opening ceremony lockdown all of the previous space at the science park was fully occupied, with a waiting list for most sizes of office. Funding of £1m came from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership Economic Development Fund and £1.4m from the council’s cabinet to provide the new high-spec office space, furnished and ready to move in to. The council says every aspect of the design of the park is “designed to encourage and facilitate collaboration”,
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connecting sectors and industries that might not otherwise have worked together. Council cabinet member for corporate resources, Ben Burton said: “I am delighted to be able to formally open these impressive new facilities and to see that they are already driving new investment and expansion in our high-tech sectors. “The Science Park is already a world-class centre for science and technology businesses to grow and as we look towards the future, I have no doubt this
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new space will encourage even more innovation, investment and job opportunities for our community.” All three companies previously occupied smaller spaces on the science park and are expanding as they move into the hub. Ben Adeline of INSPHERE said: “The new facility will allow us to establish a new metrology and robotics research laboratory as well as provide much needed office capacity to allow us to expand our team.”
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August, 2021
n LYDE GREEN OPEN SPACE COLUMN
Sponsoring is a blooming great idea FIRSTLY, all at Lyde Green Open Space wish you well and, now there is a little normality in the world, we hope this has eased some of the pressures on everyone. This month we are talking about sponsorship and what it means to us. We are a community group run by volunteers and residents, and with that in mind, funds are often difficult to come by. One way of tackling this is reaching out for donations from local businesses. We feel that to make it inclusive, everyone should be a part of the community – and what better way than to build planters and fill them with beautiful flowers, season after season, then have some plaques installed to advertise our
wonderful local businesses. We have had the planters for a few years now and, with the help of a few volunteers, we have managed to keep them looking great, year after year. This year is no exception, as the wonderful flowers in there at present are in full Bloom and looking fantastic.
We have to have a special mention to Paul, who is our regular volunteer overseeing the planters, and to Julie, who helped plant the summer plants. We have to say a big thank you for this season’s sponsors, MVS Autos, Botteginos at Emersons, and Happy Days nursery adjacent to school square. We would also like to remind you all that we have plenty of opportunities to volunteer for us and we would love for you all to get involved, as we move forward. If you are interested, send us a message or email to find out more. We have plans for some events in the coming months: please keep an eye on our social media for more information. You can find us on Facebook @ lydegreenopenspace.
If you would like more information about sponsoring a planter or donating to us for our future projects, please send us an email at lgopenspace@gmail.com. We wish you all well from us at Lyde Green Open Space, as we continue to serve you all in our wonderful community. Laurence Binks
n AROUND THE WIs MANGOTSFIELD WI HAVING had a number of informal gatherings at the Lamb in Mangotsfield, we are now gearing up for our return to regular meetings. As traditionally we don’t meet in August, as it’s school holiday time, all our members are looking forward with anticipation to our first meeting in the hall for almost a year and half, on Monday September 27. We think that everyone will have such a lot of catching up to do that we have entitled the evening ‘Over to You’, where members will have the opportunity just to chat and to have a say in how we restart our WI experience. Reading together, craft evenings and walking events are all activities within our WI that also need to begin again. There is a recognition that some of our members will have, over this long period, got out of the habit of going out and perhaps lost confidence. We therefore want to create an easy, relaxed feel, to encourage ‘small steps’ back to normality.
Eagle-eyed among you will have spotted from our logo that this year is our sapphire celebration of the first meeting, which was held in St James Church Hall on July 26, 1976. It would have been rash indeed to have organised something on the day this year, but we plan to hold a sapphire Christmas. For more information, take a look at our Facebook page @ MangotsfieldWomensInstitute or go to our website www. mangotsfieldwi.org.uk. If you are not a member but would like to join us, please let me know by emailing president@ mangotsfieldwi.org.uk. Carol Coombs
SHORTWOOD VILLAGE WI HELLO again everyone! After a forced break due to covid restrictions, we have at last been able to have real life inperson meetings. Our June meeting was planned to be held in Diane’s garden but due to rain we had to decamp into the chapel, where we managed
to successfully socially distance. During the first part of the meeting we discussed this year’s WI resolution, which is to raise awareness of the signs of ovarian cancer and this was voted for unanimously. Our new member, Charlotte, had organised a ‘riddle quiz’, where the riddles were hung around the trees in Diane’s garden. When we had to move into the chapel, due to rain, we only had 19 riddles instead of the original 20, and to this day the other one is still hanging in Diane’s garden somewhere. The winners of the quiz were rewarded with chocolate. The meeting ended with a catch-up on WI news, a cuppa with lovely home-made cake and a raffle. On July 5, we celebrated the NHS Anniversary with a tea party, in Caroline’s garden this time. We are so lucky to have large gardens in Shortwood, and Caroline’s was looking lovely. We had sandwiches and home-made cake and raised a toast to the NHS with a glass of non-alcoholic bubbly. In July, Caroline kindly hosted our meeting again and by keeping the gazebo in place
after our tea party, we were ready for the weather, no matter what. After warning the neighbours, Philomena came to see us with her ‘beat box’ to give an exhilarating session of seated Zumba. We have had a visit from Philomena a few times now, and her enthusiasm is inspiring. Some of us, me included, realised that lockdown had not done us any favours in the fitness department. It has been a case of “the less you do, the less you want to do”. The evening finished with an update on the WI news, a cuppa and the raffle. For our August meeting, we will be welcoming Daphne Watkins to tell us about ‘life below stairs’. So if you would like a taster of a WI meeting, we would love to see you. We are a friendly and relaxed bunch, and meet on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the chapel in Shortwood Village. Our next meeting is on August 12, and you are welcome to join us. For further details please email me at millhousejoinery@aol.com with the heading Shortwood Village WI. Thank you. Lynne Miller
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n LOCAL HISTORY
Mangotsfield's lost golf course Once popular with Bristol’s wellheeled, Rodway Hill Golf Club has now vanished from all but the longest of memories. David Blackmore of Mangotsfield Residents Association tells its story. FOUNDED in 1899, Rodway Hill Golf Club’s chief attraction for its members from across the Bristol area was its location. The clubhouse and course were just 200 yards away from Mangotsfield station, which itself was a few minutes by train from Temple Meads and St Phillip’s stations. Its founders included Phillip Fussell, a colliery owner from Bitton, and three Bristolbased Scots: George Imlay, a doctor living in St Andrews, and insurance company managers William Hewat Riddell and Walter Dodds Kellar, of Westbury-on-Trym. The Horfield and Bishopston Record and Montpelier & District Free Press noted: “Doubtless the convenience of getting to and from Mangotsfield from the city, with the additional advantage of returning direct to Clifton Down, accounts in a great measure for the large number of Bristol gentlemen joining the club and becoming regular members.” Originally an 18-hole woodland course, the front nine holes were on land that Mangotsfield School and Pomphrey Hill playing fields now occupy, with one hole going down towards the Bridge Inn at Shortwood. Six holes were played over Charnhill and three over Rodway Hill. The ‘Donga Hole’ – a 300 yard par 4 – played down to a green near the railway bridge at the bottom of Manor Road. A number of the original holes were on Henry Young’s Rodway Hill Farm, which are now part of Mangotsfield Secondary School’s sports field; Young ran the farm and was the estate manager for the club’s landlord, Sir Charles Daniel Cave. In June 1899 the club successfully applied to the parish council to fence in part of the course to stop cattle straying onto it. By its first spring meeting, in April 1900, the club had nearly 200 members. The clubhouse had a large dining/club room, locker, drying and dressing rooms, with hot and cold water, a committee room and a large kitchen. From the large verandah there were views of the surrounding countryside, from Monmouthshire to Lansdown. The clubhouse’s formal opening in June 1902 – attended by notables such as club captain and Kingswood boot manufacturer Edwin Woodall Pratt, and newspaper owner and club secretary Charles W Bennett – featured a 36-hole exhibition match. Taking part were two of the most famous British golfers of the era: Harry Vardon, whose record of six Open wins between 1896 and 1914 still stands today, and James Braid, who would retire a five-time Open champion. They had finished third and second respectively in the 1902 Open, just two days before visiting
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Aerial view of part of the front nine holes of the Rodway Hill Golf Course with the Carson's Chocolate factory in the background.
The Club House, Rodway Hill Golf Club Rodway Hill. Followed by about 500 enthusiastic spectators, in the morning round Vardon beat Braid 2 and 1, but in the afternoon Braid, in addition to winning 5 and 4, also set a new course record of 70. By November 1902 the club was raising its annual subscriptions for new members to £2 a year and entrance fee to £3 3s, as its membership increased. The 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook recorded that its membership had reached 300 and described Rodway Hill as “an interesting course, laid out over common and pasture land”. However by January 1909 the club’s finances had diminished to the extent that it wrote to Mangotsfield Parish Council asking to be relieved of a £5 debt – a request turned down after councillor and Mangotsfield C of E School manager Mr Penny described the club as a “nuisance” and said the sum should be doubled rather than written off. By November the club had turned its losses around and made a profit of £11 from an income of £930. The membership stood at 243, including men and women. The Western Daily Press recorded in July 1910 that 30-year-old club professional Alfred Rowland White, of Railway Terrace, Fishponds, had broken the course record with a round of 68 strokes, only to go one better later in the month. The clubhad to close three greens to make way for the shows and roundabouts of the May Fair on Rodway Hill in 1912. As the First World War began in 1914, Rodway Hill’s autumn meeting saw all proceeds from competitions, amounting to £5.6s.0d,
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donated to the War Distress Fund. A scheme was adopted for the donation of sweaters for soldiers and sailors, and a ‘War Medal’ fundraising competition was played over the course. Members of many clubs volunteered for the Armed Forces and notices were being displayed in clubhouses appealing for magazines and periodicals for serving troops and sailors to read. In June 1915 the Coliseum Volunteer Corps of the Bristol Volunteer Regiment, which guarded many important industrial sites around the city, was granted the use of Rodway Hill for manoeuvres. The club emerged from the war with a reduced membership – of 225 by 1922 – but had added new holes by 1924, increasing the course’s length. However in December 1926 members decided to close the front nine holes, reducing the course to the nine holes over Charnhill and Rodway Hill. The following April, at an extraordinary general meeting, a proposal was made to wind up the club. Donations from members appear to have saved it, however, and during the 1930s Rodway Hill was listed as a 9 hole course with a membership of 250 and Sunday play now allowed, without the use of caddies. It made the news when in November 1930 the club house was broken into by Soundwell man Kenneth Wallington, who had earlier burgled a local shop. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour at Gloucester Sessions. The arrival of the Second World War saw the clubhouse in Rodway Hill requisitioned by the War Ministry in 1941, with an anti-aircraft gun emplacement sited nearby as a response to German bombing raids on Yate’s aerospace factories, which had claimed 56 lives in February and March. Bombers would follow the railway line through Fishponds past Mangotsfield to guide them to their target. Throughout the war years the course was still maintained by greenkeeper Harold Bressington, of Shortwood. But the club never fully recovered from the effects of the war and, with a shrinking membership, was forced to close in 1947.
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n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE
Camping can hurt your back
S
LOWLY but surely, we’re getting back to normal. It’s great isn’t it? We can get out for a bit of retail therapy and go to the pub or our favourite restaurant. But many of us are still not sure about taking that considerable leap onto an airplane to jet off to our place in the sun. That’s why the staycation was invented! Now we’re all set to take advantage of all the beautiful seaside escapes and countryside retreats this great country has to offer. However, as every caravan and Airbnb seems to have been booked up for months, many people will be taking the family off to a campsite this summer. So as you do your best to get yourself ‘tent ready’, consider a few of these tips to avoid an emergency chiropractic trip halfway through your well-earned break away. Apart from being,
quite literally, a pain for you, the rest of the gang won’t be too happy either. First of all, take your time to pack the car – it won’t get you there any quicker and rushing around is a sure way to injure yourself before you’ve even driven out of your street. Check that your blow-up beds haven’t suddenly sprung a leak before you travel… waking up on a hard floor is a short cut to getting a bad back. Once you’ve checked the equipment, get some help to put the heavy tent into the car. Tents come in all sorts of awkward shapes and sizes and are normally quite bulky. So it’s time to set off and battle it out on the motorway and those picturesque country lanes. Driving can be tiring, both mentally and physically, so make sure you take regular breaks on the journey. Get out of the car
for some fresh air and a stretch – perhaps grab a coffee or a cold drink. When you’re settled in at your destination, don’t forget that regular exercise – even if it’s only a short morning walk around the campsite – will keep things ticking over. You could even try some yoga or Tai Chi while you’re away. The main thing is that you enjoy a relaxing holiday. If you get stuck for help and advice away from home in a far-reaching part of the country, search for a chiropractor using the BCA website here: https://chiropractic-uk.co.uk/ find-a-chiropractor/ There’s sure to be someone not too far away who can help. As the country negotiates through the ‘relaxing’ of some regulations, we’re continuing to take a cautious approach at Cleve Chiropractic. We’re adopting the same precautions that have kept our patients and staff safe throughout the pandemic. We ask you to be patient and carry on wearing masks in our clinic, unless you are exempt. Lastly, for those of you interested in my new found golfing hobby, I can tell you that I
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have managed a lesson with the very patient Emma Brown, one of the highly experienced coaches at The Kendleshire. She figured out that I was holding my breath when I took a shot… turns out that is daft as it completely restricts your swing! So now I breathe while I’m playing golf – an eminently sensible idea and a huge leap forward when I hit a ball.
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n COUNCIL NEWS
27
Restoring nature South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage explains how people can work together to make a real difference for our wildlife WE are lucky to have such beautiful open spaces, communities and landscapes in South Gloucestershire and we must safeguard them for the health, well-being and enjoyment of future generations. Restoring nature in our communities is critical, not only for wildlife but also for people, and it is a central part of our response to the climate and ecological emergencies. As our population grows, more pressure is put on nature. The effects of intensive farming, pollution, urbanisation, climate change, nonnative species and overfishing can be seen in declining species, with numbers of hedgehogs falling by a third since the year 2000, for example. The good news is that by acting now and working together, we can make a real difference. Between us we can do an enormous amount to protect and restore nature. As a council we are working with residents and landowners to plant thousands of new trees and managing grassland to support wild flowers
and pollinators. You can also create habitats and support nature in your own gardens, at work, or on land you own. Here are just some of the ways you can help: • Put up a nest box for swifts or other birds • A log pile in your garden provides shelter for insects, amphibians and hedgehogs. Use a mixture of fallen branches or offcuts from pruning, bark and twigs, and locate it under a bush or in a quiet corner • Leave your grass to grow over the summer to encourage more plant life and insects • Planting a fruit tree will provide an incredible year-round resource for wildlife - and food for you • Take part in litter picking. If you are a regular walker, take a bag and pick up litter as you go • Set your outside lights on a motion sensor, angling them downwards, and turn off any decorative lights overnight, to save energy and
reduce light pollution for nocturnal wildlife • Avoid using pesticides and weedkiller, which can harm wildlife • Use peat-free compost or try producing your own, with a composter or compost heap • When buying plants, aim for native, UK-grown species • Save rainwater in water butts and barrels. Pond life will much prefer natural rain water if you need to top up your water features These initiatives will not only support nature and the environment but help to keep our communities as pleasant and healthy places for everyone. For more information about gardening for wildlife visit the Creating a Wildlife-friendly Garden section of the RSPB website or ptes.org/ get-involved/wildlife-action/. A free online climate emergency training course is available at bit.ly/2UDeL1K
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August, 2021
n SPORT
Club is thriving in centenary year THERE are a handful of members who have very special reasons to enjoy the centenary celebrations planned this summer by Carsons & Mangotsfield Cricket Club. Just 15 years ago, the club was struggling to survive, as chairman Andy King well remembers. He said: “Our numbers began dropping away and there were several weeks when we had only seven players for our seconds. “We knew that if went down to just one team, we would be in real trouble, so four of us got together and decided that we had to get our youth section up and running again to make sure we had a proper future.” The plan was a huge success, with wave after wave of youngsters and new arrivals transforming Carsons & Mangotsfield into one of the most vibrant clubs in South Gloucestershire. They are now able to field four Saturday sides, a regular
Back row, left to right: Girls coach Chloe Micklethwaite, president Colin Angell, first XI captain Sam Brayley, chairman Andy King, vice chairman Ian Coles. Front: Under-17 players Jack Woodland and Oli Clatworthy. Sunday XI with an occasional 2nds, a midweek team along with a full set of youth squads, from U19s competing in the GCB Blast for the first time right down through to Dynamos and All Stars. Andy, who is in his 35th season with the club, added: “The big thing this year has been establishing a girls’ section to cope with the interest in cricket. It’s been fantastic.” The Carsons and Mangotsfield clubs merged in 1999, and the
Tough start for Mangos MANGOTSFIELD United face a tough opening month to the new Southern League season, which kicks off at Cossham Street on Saturday August 14. The opening day visitors are Hampshire outfit Sholing, who dropped down to the Wessex League for financial reasons a couple of seasons ago but who have now returned and - like every other club after two cancelled seasons because of Covid-19 - will be raring to go on the opening day.
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centenary celebrations honour the formation of Carsons in 1921 to provide cricket for the chocolate factory workers on a ground at the bottom of Rodway Hill. Mangotsfield could trace their history back even further, to the 1840s when Dr Henry Mills Grace, father of the legendary WG, established the club on facilities at Rodway Common before it moved, probably in the 1920s, to Cossham Street, close to where the football club is now
Two days later, the Mangos travel up to Worcestershire to face Evesham United, who have been one of the stronger clubs in the division for several years now. Saturday August 21 sees the return of FA Cup action to Cossham Street, as the Mangos entertain either Tavistock or St Austell in a Preliminary Round contest. Those two clubs meet each other in an Extra-Preliminary Round qualifier on August 7. Whoever wins will be making their first visit to Cossham Street. The August Bank Holiday weekend provides the Mangos with two extremely tasty fixtures. Highly-rated and newly-promoted Plymouth Parkway visit Cossham Street on Saturday August 28 and this, too, will be their first visit to Cossham Street. Parkway will
based. That the merged cricket club should move in 2011 to new facilities so close by at Pomphrey Hill seems perfect. And, fittingly, current president Colin Angell keeps alive the proud connection with Mangotsfield during this special year. A match with the MCC was staged on July 11, with former youth team player Richard Trotman captaining the world’s most famous club side. There are also plans for the club to face a team of former players, including Glen Cambridge, Asif Bala, Graham Knight, Paul Dagger and Mark Frost, on August 29. Carsons & Mangotsfield will be taking 30 players on a fourmatch tour of South Wales in August, and also hope to host a centenary dinner in September. For details of how to join the club, visit the website at carsonsmangotsfield.playcricket.com. Steve Hill
arrive in Mango Land with possibly one of the best playing budgets in the entire division and could well prove to be a very strong side in the coming season. To complete the Bank Holiday weekend, the Mangos will then make the short trip over to the Portway to face old rivals Bristol Manor Farm in the first local derby of the season on August Bank Holiday Monday afternoon. Early pre-season results saw the Mangos win 4-2 at Cadbury Heath & then 4-0 away at Odd Down, with new manager Ray Johnston, assisted by Terry Moore, using 20 players so far. Check the club’s website for news of further pre-season fixtures to be played. Dave Smale
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Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk
FENCING
DOWNEND FENCINICGE) (ERECTING SERV types of e - All 45 years experienc arance etc. cle fencing, repairs, L AL SM O TO NO JOB
TEL: 0797 3381663
GUTTER CLEANING
Mark’s Gutter Cleaning Gutter Clearing Gutter Cleaning Fascia Cleaning Call or Book online
www.marksguttercleaning.co.uk Tel: 0117 3708528 Mob: 07543056558 Based in Downend, Bristol
Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579
emersonsgreenvoice
30 HOUSE & RUBBISH CLEARANCE
August, 2021
PLUMBING & HEATING
PLUMBING & HEATING
Garden, Clearance House, Garden, Office Clearance House,House, Garden, OfficeOffice Clearance
House, Garden, Office Clearance - all Plus all other Plus All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too! House, Garden, Office Clearance -- Plus other House, Garden, Office Clearance Plus all other Plus Plus All All Your Your Other Other Waste Waste Removal Removal Needs Needs too! too! On-average Average cheaper than a skip. On OnAverage cheaper cheaper than than aa skip. skip. removal On average cheaper waste removal On cheaper than aa skip wastewaste removal -Average On average cheaper than than skipa skip
07592 003 Tel: 07592 506 003003 Tel: 07592 506 Tel:Tel: 07592 506506 003 1/4 Load 1/4 £89 1/4 Load Load £89 £89 Half Half £139 Half Load Load Load £139£139 3/4 Load 3/4 £179 3/4 Load Load £179£179 Full Load Full £199 Full Load Load £199£199
www.junkmonsters.co.uk www.junkmonsters.co.uk
OVEN CLEANING
We would be pleased to help you with your
Boiler/Heating systems installed Unvented Cylinders Electric Boilers Underfloor heating Boiler repairs Boiler servicing Gas & PAT safety testing
0% FINANCE AVAILABLE*
CREST HEATING & PLUMBING
BOILERS, BATHROOMS AND GENERAL PLUMBING
OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE HONEST & RELIABLE
TEL: 07765 250816
56746
PLUMBING
Contact us via:
0117 9600269 info@blueflameservice.co.uk www.blueflameservice.co.uk FULLY ACCREDITED WITH
0117
*FINANCE PROVIDED BY INPROVEASY
PLUMBING
Boiler installation, servicing and repairs 10 Year Warranty’s available Finance also available
Wigs Bristol
LOCATED IN DOWNEND
We have been supplying all types of wigs and hairpieces for fashion and medical purposes for 45 years. Wigs can be purchased off the peg or made to measure in hair or synthetic fibre. We stock many styles and makes.
Please book an appointment on:
0117 956 6556 518308
PLUMBING
JJ PLUMBING BOILERS • BATHROOMS • KITCHENS MOBILE: 07989 072976 TEL: 01454 859474 www.plumber-in-bristol.co.uk
To advertise, contact Gary on 07799 461169
957 5092
WIGS
PLUMBING & HEATING
Tel: 0117 9676268 info@arheatingservices.co.uk
* TAPS, WASHERS * BALL VALVES * LEAKS, WASTES * OVERFLOWS, DRIPS * LEAD PIPES * TOILETS, FLUSHES
Taps, Washers Toilets, Cisterns Leaks, Blockages Tanks, Overflows Lead Pipes, Stopcocks….etc… OAP DISCOUNTS and NO VAT
Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk
www.wigsbristol.com
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS From as little as
£18.30 +VAT
Per month EMAIL
sales@ emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Ken On 07715770377
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
We’re excited to have the support of our local independent traders. They are ready to welcome you and may also have some extra fun activities for you to get involved with.
More businesses are signing-up all the time to accept vouchers over the eight week campaign. For the latest trader lists in Downend and Staple Hill and beyond visit:
southglos.gov.uk/shopsouthglos
They include: Chipping Sodbury • Card Boutique • Toll House Clinic • Marshfield Mobile ice cream • The Hamptons Delicatessen • Koala Kreations - Fabric And Haberdashery • Natural Treats Ltd • The Health Shop • Amigos Cocina • Swagger Gifts • Brook’s Bar
Downend • Melanie’s Kitchen • Fabrics Plus Ltd • Craig Anthony • Good Frydays Filton Station Road • Crocsrus • Bristol Pet Stop Ltd • Goto - IT • Little Bathroom and Boiler Company Hanham • Eclectic Gift Shop • John Woods Cycle Repair Centre
• 54A Hair & Beauty • A.S.Golding • Fleurtations Florist • Artime - Vincent Brown • Sassy hair studio • Travel Buddy UK • Hanham Florist Ltd Kingswood • Fuzchias Hair Staple Hill • Hair and Beauty @ the Square • American Candy Bristol • Farleys Pet food • Dury and Tippett Eyecare Ltd
Thornbury • Beespoke • Castle Crafts • Celebration Fairs • Rosie & Rex • Bristol Coffee Company • Shampooches • Swan Thornbury Ltd • Castle Crafts • Rosie & Rex • Papilio (Heritage) Ltd Yate • Del’s Café Station Road • Pisces Station Road
3
THORNBURY High Street/ Castle Street BS35 2AQ High Street/ Chapel Street BS35 2AN
YATE Cranleigh Court Road/ Station Road BS37 5DH
FILTON Community Gardens Gloucester Road North BS34 7PF
Church Road/ Gloucester Road BS34 7BQ
The YMCA – garden at the rear of the hall Station Road BS37 4PQ
CHIPPING SODBURY Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church High Street BS37 6AH
DOWNEND King George V Playing Fields Westerleigh Road BS16 6AH
The Horseshoe Downend Road BS16 6BA
Hatherell’s Yard Market High Street BS37 6BA
STAPLE HILL Page Park Park Road BS16 5LU
KINGSWOOD Kings Chase Shopping Centre Regent Street BS15 8LP
Kingswood Park High Street BS15 4AD
Fountain Square Broad Street BS16 5LN
HANHAM The Maypole High Street BS15 3AB
Laburnum Road Car Park BS15 3DU
# SGBeeTrail The South Gloucestershire Bee Trail is part-funded by European Regional Development Fund.
2704 Bees High Streets Trail - Voice.indd 1
southglos.gov.uk/shopsouthglos
21/07/2021 10:41