Fishponds Voice February 2023

Outcry over bid to fell more trees

New charges for car parks

collections from £32 to £50 as it tries to raise extra money with this year's council tax increase limited to 4.99%.

Pupils enjoy outdoor learning

The car parks at Beechwood Road and Stoke View Road are among ten across the city where people will have to pay to park for the first time.

The council is also planning to raise council tenants' rents by 7% and the price of garden waste

But the council has shelved plans for some previously-proposed cuts, including to the city's parks and libraries services.

Turn to Page 4

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Ken McCormick

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Linda Tanner

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LOCAL INFORMATION

Bristol City Council http://www.bristol.gov.uk

0117 922 2000

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general enquiries: 101

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Shop closes permanently

THE Fishponds branch of Shaws the Drapers has closed permanently after the company went into liquidation.

The shop in Fishponds Road, near the Manor Road junction, closed with no notice or explanation in early December, following a sale in which stock was sold off at half price.

It was one of 28 stores nationwide run by the Cardiff-based company, which had been trading for more than 100 years, selling soft furnishings and craft supplies, including wool and yarn.

The last of the stores closed two days before Christmas and the company's website, Shawsdirect.com, also shut down.

An email from the company, shown to the BBC, told staff they would be paid in full up to Christmas Eve and thanked them for their service.

It said: "I hope that you will understand that after 100 years of trading, this hasn't been an easy decision for us to make, and we fully appreciate the consequences for you, but the business simply is not viable and we cannot see a way of making it so."

A spokesperson for Stones & Co confirmed that the company had been instructed by the directors of Shaws to help place it into creditors' voluntary liquidation, under which the company would be formally closed.

Its remaining assets would be valued and sold to help meet its debts.

Ex-employees entitled to redundancy pay or pay in lieu of notice were being referred to the government's Redundancy Payments Service.

Pilates classes in Fishponds Suitable for all levels

Mondays 18:45 & 19:55 at The Life Church

Saturdays 9.15 at All Saints Church Hall

Please contact Emily to book your place on 07974252486 email: info@teachmepilates.co.uk or find me on facebook and Instagram: Emily Osborne Pilates

To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870 Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

The Shaws branch in Fishponds Road has now shut for good

Pre-school's outdoor learning praised

A PRE-SCHOOL where children explore and develop in a "nurturing and welcoming environment" has been praised by the education watchdog.

Ofsted visited Sticky Fish Pre-School, which is based at Fishponds Baptist Church off Downend Road, in November.

Inspector Rachel Howell said the preschool, which has 39 children aged from two to four on its roll, was 'good' in all areasquality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

The inspector highlighted the strong relationships between staff and both children and their parents, high staff morale and work to ensure all children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, reach their potential.

She said children "develop positive attitudes to learning and make good progress", praising the pre-school's use of outdoor areas, including an obstacle course, play kitchen and a wild garden, developed with Avon Wildlife Trust, where they learned about nature.

The inspector said: "Staff are caring and provide a nurturing and welcoming environment at the preschool.

"Children receive lots of sensitive and

thoughtful support to help them settle.

"Children learn to take turns, play cooperatively, and begin to manage their emotions.

"The thoughtfully set up environment motivates children to explore and develop their skills. "Children are busy and active in their exploration. They develop their physical skills well.

"Staff get down to the children's level,

New scooter scheme

A NEW e-scooter rental scheme in Bristol will see parking spaces move onto roads in designated spots, instead of on pavements.

Expected to be introduced during the spring or summer, the new scheme is also likely to include electric bikes.

Swedish company Voi has run a scooter rental scheme on a trial basis since October 2020.

But a new long-term scheme is now planned and the West of England has opened the contract to other bidders, with a "significant number" expressing an interest in e-bike rental.

Bristol City Council plans to address some issues on “parking and rider behaviour” with the current Voi e-scooters by shifting parking spaces from virtual spots on pavements onto clearly marked areas on the road, as already introduced in London.

A council cabinet report said: “It’s proposed to formalise rental parking hubs, bringing them under Bristol City Council control and physically marking the parking locations.

"The current model of unmarked virtual parking spaces on pavements selected by the e-scooter operator resulted from the original trial being set up at short notice, and only being planned to run for 12 months.

“With government plans to legalise e-scooters and for rental schemes to operate in the longer term, a more effective parking management regime is required. It’s proposed that the majority of parking hubs are sited on roads rather than pavements."

Pavement parking will still be used where this does not obstruct pedestrians and where parking is not possible on the road.

The council still needs to find funding for new on-road parking hubs.

Voi, whose trial scheme has clocked up more than seven million rides so far, will carry on running e-scooters in Bristol until a new contract for the scheme starts, so there will be no gap in provision.

The cabinet report said adding e-bikes would improve the range of options available and attract a wider range of people.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

using clear speech and modelling words to ensure that children understand and develop their skills.

"They listen to children and value what they have to say, and ask questions to encourage thinking and conversation."

The report also highlighted the use of singing and storytelling and opportunities to explore books.

Manager Liz Tomlinson said: "I was delighted at how well the inspection went, but we were confident at the outset that we would be able to convey what an excellent pre-school we are."

She said the inspector "witnessed firsthand the loving, caring and nurturing values that govern our pre-school" and praised the "amazing" staff.

Liz said that since the start of the pandemic children had predominantly been learning outdoors,

"It's been absolutely brilliant for the children - their behaviour and social skills have improved and we've seen so many improvements in all of their areas of development.

"We don't have to tell people to stop running around when they are outside.

"There's a much calmer atmosphere, and it's a lot more cooperative and healthy."

Sticky Fish

Pre-school manager Liz Tomlinson and early years teacher Tanya Bashford with children at one of the outdoor learning tables

Fishponds car parks to bring in charges

From Page 1

Plans to introduce a charge of £1 an hour at the currenty free Beechwood Road and Stoke View Road car parks were announced by the city council's cabinet in January, ahead of a meeting where budget proposals were due to be finalised.

Beechwood Road, with 96 spaces, is close to the busiest part of Fishponds Road and in walking distance of dozens of shops, cafes, pubs and other businesses, as well as Fishponds Park. It currently has a three-hour time limit between 8am and 6pm.

It is next to the Fishponds Health Centre, which is home to two GP practices.

The biggest car parks nearby are run by supermarkets and other private businesses, with restrictions on use by non-customers and shorter time limits.

The Stoke View Road car park, behind Fishponds Road near the McDonald's drive-thru, has 40 spaces and the same time restrictions as Beechwood Road.

Blue badge holders will be exempt from paying.

The cost of installing pay and display machines in ten car parks is estimated to be £80,000 and, if signed off, the changes would come into effect in the autumn.

The council is planning to sell four car parks, in Avonmouth, Stockwood, Withywood, and Lawrence Weston, which

have "low occupancy" and antisocial behaviour problems.

A cabinet report said: "The occupancy levels at 10 of the other free district car parks are relatively high, so there is a reasonable degree of confidence that the introduction of pay and display in these will enable improved management, by making enforcement more efficient, discouraging all-day parking, maximising the use of space, and ensuring effective turnover of spaces.”

The Beechwood road car park is in the council's Frome Vale ward, while Stoke View Road is in the Eastville ward.

Labour ward councillors Marley Bennett and Amal Ali said money raised by the fees "will be directly reinvested into local transport infrastructure, giving the council more funding for repairing potholes and building active travel infrastructure".

They said: "Charging fees also mean these car parks are regularly monitored, helping to deter antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping.

"We appreciate there will be mixed views on these charges and would encourage local residents to contact us to make their views known."

Eastville ward Green councillor Lorraine Francis said she had not been told of the plans before they appeared in cabinet papers, which gave her no chance to "assess the viability" of the car park.

Tax and rents to rise

COUNCIL tax will rise by five per cent and council tenant rents by seven per cent under new budget plans by Bristol City Council.

The council tax hike, comprising the maximum allowed 2.99 per cent for general services and two per cent for adult social care, means a £94.87 increase for band D properties - before the charges levied by the police and fire authorities are added to the final bill.

Council tax is also set to double on second homes and houses left empty for one year, if the proposals get the go-ahead at full council in February.

The council wants to take advantage of powers in the Government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to add premiums of up to 100% on second homes, which would raise an estimated £3 million per year.

Mayor Marvin Rees said every penny of the 7% rise in council rents, to £90.76 a week, would be spent on repairs and improvements to tenants’ homes.

He said: “This includes our sprinkler installation scheme, communal fire alarms and the ‘waking watch’ for homes with Expanded Polystyrene cladding."

Mr Rees said the rent increase would be absorbed for around two-thirds of tenants by the local housing allowance, while others should see the rise offset through the council tax reduction scheme.

Residents face a price hike of more than 50% for garden waste collections, from £32 to £50 a year, with a £3 discount for direct debit payments and £24 charge for people on benefits, to raise an extra £144,000 a year.

The council also plans to introduce a collection charge of up to £5 for Christmas trees for residents not signed up to garden waste collections, and charges for replacement black bin and garden waste bins, recycling containers.

A hike in fees and charges for using Bristol’s harbour will hit ferries and boat dwellers from April, with several charges doubling.

She said that, on visiting the Stoke View Road site, she spoke to a user "who suggested any charges could stop people using the space altogether".

Cllr Francis said: "However, ‘free’ parking on tarmac does cost the council money in terms of lighting and cleaning, and it encourages car use, so this type of decision does have to be made.

"Active travel, safe paths, cycle stands and having access to buses should be our priorities."

Cllr Francis said that while the council was under pressure to save money, projects like the Bristol Beacon refurbishment seemed to be "exempt".

Frome Vale ward Conservative councillor Lesley Alexander said she was "horrified" that charges were being proposed for Beechwood Road.

She said: "It is well used by patients for the doctors' surgery and for volunteers for charities using the Beechwood Club, which will put some of those at risk as volunteers are not paid and a charge would be unacceptable and unaffordable for many.

"It is also well-used by people shopping in Fishponds and probably would affect viability if people decide to go elsewhere.

"There has not been any consultation with councillors or the public."

Parks cuts reversed

PROPOSED cuts to Bristol's parks, libraries and the council tax reduction scheme, which helps the poorest families, have been shelved following a backlash.

The city council originally proposed £45.7 million of cutbacks in its original draft budget, which included £1.5m less for parks, a £1.4m cut for libraries, including the potential relocation of Bristol Central Library, and £3m savings on the council tax reduction scheme.

All three have been reversed following a public consultation, and with some more money announced from the government to help the worst-off.

A further £8.8m will be used from reserves over the next three years to balance the books.

Despite the extra income, the authority still faces a £20.3m budget gap in 2023/24, going up to £40.2m in four years, with cabinet papers saying the worst-case scenario by 2027/28 is a £125m black hole.

The council has now proposed savings totalling £16.2m in the 12 months from April, and £30.2m overall.

Mayor Marvin Rees said: "The consultation showed that people felt particularly strongly about the proposed savings for parks and libraries. Central Library will remain in its current home and we will not move ahead with the other aspects of those savings proposals. Instead, we will work with the city to find ways to sustainably run these departments with less government funding in the long term.

“This budget protects funding for all of our 22 children’s centres and all of our 27 libraries. We remain the only core city to maintain the 100 per cent reduction band of the council tax reduction scheme.

“Likewise, the Local Crisis Prevention Fund – which provides cash grants to the worst-off for emergencies – is unchanged for 2023/24.”

Includes reporting by Adam Postans and Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

'Marvel' Mary honoured for community work

A PILLAR of the community in Stapleton and Begbrook has been honoured by the King.

Mary Golledge has given her time as a volunteer for more than 50 years, helping found the Stapleton and Begbrook Community Association and Duchess Ladies Club, volunteering for a local medical charity and collecting shoeboxes filled with presents for disadvantaged children.

Her tireless work was recognised with the award of the British Empire Medal in the latest New Year Honours list, for services to the community in Begbrook and Stapleton.

Mary celebrated the news with family and friends at her 90th birthday party on January 2 at the Stapleton and Begbrook Social Club - the community centre in Frenchay Park Road she helped create more than 40 years ago.

At the party she received birthday messages from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and her

local MP, Kerry McCarthy.

Mary said: “It is such a surprise to get this honour from the King. Never in a million years did I think something like this would happen to me.

"All I have ever tried to do is to help others in whatever way I can, no matter how small.”

Mary has lived in Stapleton since 1954, moving there after she and her late husband Stan married.

A community association founder member, she fundraised

to help build the club and has continuously served on the association’s committee since it was founded, including long stints as secretary and treasurer.

The Duchess Ladies Club ran for 50 years from 1971 to 2021, for women to socialise and raise thousands for good causes.

Mary volunteered at Headway Bristol, which was based at Frenchay Hospital, for 26 years between 1990 and 2017, helping survivors of brain injuries relearn how to speak, read and cook.

And she has sent more than 1,500 shoeboxes of donated gifts to disadvantaged children in countries including Bulgaria and Romania over 25 years - sending 70 last Christmas.

Club chair Pam WilliamsLock is a long-time friend, neighbour and committee colleague.

She said Mary still volunteers at the club every Sunday for bingo night, and attends karaoke nights on Tuesdays.

Pam said: "She worked on the bar for many years until she was no longer able to stand for long periods, but still organises fundraising raffles, as well as her Christmas box collections.

"She's an absolute marvel, and she's still working for the community at 90.

"Everyone knows Mary. You will always find her sat on the door on a Sunday - I've never known her to miss it or take a holiday.

"You don't get them like her any more."

Mary Golledge at her 90th birthday party

n TURNERS VISION

Not a dry eye in the house

0117 962 2474

0117 965 4434

Now I’m not referring to either Meat Loaf’s ballad of the same title or an audience at a Peter Kay gig, but a recent dry eye survey that revealed that around a third of people didn’t know the symptoms of dry eye despite around half of them having experienced dry eye symptoms! So what is dry eye?

www.turnersopticians.co.uk

Dry eye is a mild inflammatory condition that usually results from a reduced or incomplete tear layer on the surface of your eyes. What are the symptoms of dry eye?

The most common dry eye symptoms include, not unremarkably; a dry, sore or mildly painful feeling in the eyes. You might also experience burning, gritty or an itching sensation from your eyes too, as well as sometimes your eyes looking a little red.

What can I do if I get dry eye symptoms?

Firstly an easy option is to ensure you drink plenty of water, approximately 1 to 1.5 litres a day, in addition to tea / coffee. If you’re drinking alcohol then you may well need to up your water consumption too!

Another often overlooked good tip, which only takes a tenth of a second, is the humble blink. If reading, try blinking every time you swipe or turn the page. When looking at a display screen, it’s recommended you blink every 3-4 seconds, for example blink when scrolling a web page or sending an email. They key seems to be consciously forming good habits which then become second nature after a few weeks practice.

What else can I do to help dry eye?

The next step is to try artificial tears. These days there is no shortage of options, you can buy eye drops, gels and even eyelid sprays. With so many to choose from we’re often asked where you should start. Good options these days contain sodium hyaluronate, a poly glycol derivative or carmellose sodium.

How can we help you?

If you’ve tried the tips above, and perhaps even more, and still experience dry eye type symptoms then you might be interested in our dedicated Dry Eye Clinic. You can benefit from a specialist dry eye assessment. In the Turners Opticians Dry Eye Clinic we will take the time to listen to your symptoms, carefully inspect your eyelids, tear film and ocular surface to understand the nature of your dry eye, the composition (or lack thereof) of your tears and explain our findings. From there we’ll recommend a personalised dry eye treatment plan.

To book an appointment, or to discuss how at Turners Opticians we can help you, please call our Henleaze team on 0117 962 2474 or Fishponds team on 0117 965 4434

Marta

Former physiotherapist Marta joined Turners Opticians having re-trained as an optician. She has a particular interest in helping patients achieve relief from their dry eye symptoms.

Harnessing the heat beneath our feet

DISUSED mine workings under the Fishponds area could start providing energy again - without removing a single lump of coal.

Mines in Bristol and the surrounding area, including pits in Easton and Speedwell, produced millions of tons of coal, but the last of them closed in the 1930s.

Some left their mark in some place names - Deep Pit Road is named after a mine which stood near the junction with Knapps Lane, on what is now part of the Fishponds Trading Estate.

Others vanished - another colliery stood on the site later occupied by Speedwell fire station, next to Bristol Brunel Academy.

But another potential legacy is now set to be investigated: many mine workings are flooded with water that is naturally heated by underground geological activity. It is believed this heat could potentially be tapped, using pumps to raise the temperature to the level needed

and provide heating and hot water.

The government's Coal Authority has made an initial study of records of local disused and abandoned coal mines, which identified a number of "areas of interest".

Top of its list was an area stretching from Old Market to Straits Parade and Eastville to Speedwell.

Hillfields is part of the third

area of interest identified by the authority, covering the workings of the Kingswood pits.

The two other areas identified are between Hanham and Oldland Common, and in the area around Lyde Green and Emersons Green.

South Gloucestershire Council has shown an interest in the potential of the mines for renewable energy.

It is now looking to secure

funding to undertake a further study to see whether tapping the heat is a viable prospect.

The council believes it could potentially supply either "single buildings such as schools, hospitals and offices, or a heat network serving multiple buildings or a district".

South Gloucestershire climate emergency manager Barry Wyatt said: "What we need to understand now is just how big the energy resource is and how we could make best use of it."

Council leader Toby Savage said the mines "may yet be part of the solution to the climate and our move towards becoming carbon neutral".

As yet, there has not been any physical investigation of any of the mines.

The Voice has asked Bristol City Council if it has been in discussions with the Coal Authority and South Gloucestershire Council or is also carrying out research about the potential viability of the idea.

Mine workings under Eastville, Fishponds, Hillfields and Speedwell are marked as 'areas of interest' on a map produced by the Coal Authority.

Outcry over new attempt to fell trees

THE owner of a mobile home park next to the River Frome has applied to fell more trees - months after dozens were chopped down without permission.

Wyldecrest Parks Management Limited has asked for permission to fell 26 trees at the Riverside Drive park homes estate, which sits in a wooded area between Frenchay, Downend and Oldbury Court.

More than 75 people objected to the application within the first week of its publication, with opponents describing the plans as "unnecessary destruction" and "vandalism".

The trees Wyldecrest has applied to remove include a hedgerow of 15 cypress close to the Frome Valley Walkway, and three sycamores and eight cypress trees next to Frenchay Road, in an area where up to 39 trees were felled last year.

In a report accompanying its application to Bristol City Council, a tree consultant employed by Wyldecrest says the sycamores are in "poor structural condition", citing "wounds and scars" on the trunks and "imbalanced forms" after some of the trunks were removed.

But opponents of the plans say this damage was caused during the work carried out in May, and the trees could recover if left

alone.

Wyldecrest insisted at the time that its previous work was legal and necessary for safety reasons, even though the city council ordered it to stop and started an investigation.

Wyldecrest's tree expert said this had resulted in "a written warning but not a penalty" after officers decided an offence was committed but no formal action would be taken.

The entire site was made subject to a tree preservation order by the council after complaints from residents, neighbours in Glenside Close whose gardens backed on to the woods, and Frome Vale ward councillor

Lesley Alexander.

In a statement to planners, the company said it wanted permission to remove the trees "partly in response to the condition of the trees as explained in the report, and partly because of the recognised risks of damage to those occupying the caravans and using the nearby highway".

The application has brought a deluge of objections.

One opponent said: "It's an absolute disgrace what trees have already been felled and the whole site is now an eyesore. To remove any more trees would be an absolute tragedy."

Others spoke of the "needless destruction of trees and wildlife habitats" the felling would cause and said the removal of the trees and their roots could affect the structural integrity of homes in Glenside Close, which stand above the edge of the former quarry.

Another objector said: "As far as I'm concerned this is vandalism and is also contrary to the aims of reversing climate change and protecting natural sites, for a variety of positive reasons."

The application can be viewed on the planning section of the Bristol City Council website by searching for the reference number 22/05707/VP.

Some of the trees Wyldecrest wants to fell, pictured in the background

New classroom opens lessons to nature

AN Eastville primary school has opened a new outdoor classroom and learning space after a fundraising campaign.

The new space helps pupils to connect with nature at Glenfrome Primary School and is being used in subjects across the curriculum, as well as for bird and wildlife watching. It is sited next to the orchard in the grounds of the school in Cottisford Road.

Supporters group the Friends of Glenfrome raised £5,000 towards the project, including a sponsored wing walk by school administrator Jo Edkins and a 'crazy hair day'.

With views out over Purdown, the outdoor classroom is already a hit with pupils, who have been spotting different types of birds, making observations for nature and science lessons, and enjoying being outside more.

Head teacher Inger

O'Callaghan said: "It is a valuable addition to the school, and

means that outdoor learning sessions can be even more inspiring.

"We have six acres of grounds, and use them to really enrich the whole curriculum.

"We can inspire children

to be writers, historians, mathematicians, scientists and geographers by getting out and doing practical, fun activities in the grounds.

"All we need to do now is confirm the name for the

classroom - watch this space!"

The school held an outdoor learning day at the end of January to celebrate the completion of the project.

Census provides first snapshot of sexuality

DETAILS of the proportion of people in Bristol who identify as straight, gay or bisexual have been revealed for the first time.

A question on sexual orientation for people aged 16 and over was added to the 2021 Census by the Office for National Statistics.

A question on gender identity - whether a person identified with their sex as registered at birth - was also included among the questions for the first time ever.

The ONS says the information it has received as a result will be "vital in helping shape services in years to come".

However, as the questions were voluntary, one significant factor is the number of people who declined to answer either of them.

In Bristol, 85.45% of respondents said they were straight or heterosexual - the lowest proportion in the South West, and below the national average of 89.4%.

The city had one of the highest proportions of residents who identified with a sexuality the ONS described as LGB+, totalling 6.06%, which was more than double the percentage in neighbouring South Gloucestershire, almost twice the national average and the highest outside London, Brighton, Manchester, Oxford, Cambridge,

Norwich and Lincoln.

In Bristol 2.2% of residents said they were gay or lesbian; 3.08% said they were bisexual; 0.49% pansexual (defined as attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender identity); 0.11% asexual (no sexual attraction to others); 0.13% queer (nonconventionally defined sexuality) and 0.05% stated what the ONS described as "another sexual orientation".

However, almost one in every 11 Bristol residents - 8.48% - did not answer the voluntary question, a higher proportion than those who identified as LGB+.

In neighbouring South Gloucestershire, 90.64% of residents said they were heterosexual and 2.82% identified with an LGB+ sexuality: 1.29% gay or lesbian; 1.24% bisexual; 0.19% pansexual; 0.07% asexual, 0.02% queer and 0.01% stating another sexual orientation.

Those who declined to answer the question made up 6.53% of the population.

Nationally, 43.4 million people (89.4%) identified as straight, 1.5 million people (3.2%) identified with an LGB+ orientation and 3.6 million (7.5%) did not answer the question.

In response to the gender identity

question, 92.45% of Bristol respondents identified with their sex at birth, 6.73% did not answer the question and 0.82% - around one in every 122 people - identified with a different gender.

Of those, 0.29% said their gender was different to birth but did not give any specifics, 0.12% identified as a trans woman (registered female at birth, but now identifies as a man), 0.11% as a trans man (registered female at birth, but now identifies as a man), 0.2% were non-binary (not identifying as a man or woman), and 0.1% wrote in another gender identity.

In South Gloucestershire, 94.59% of residents identified with the gender they were registered with at birth, 0.38% said it was different and 5.02% did not answer the question. Nationally, 262,000 people in England and Wales or 0.5% of the population identified with a gender different from their sex registered at birth.

ONS director Jen Woolford said having a "first snapshot" of gender identity and sexual orientation at a local level was crucial to "better understand the extent and nature of disadvantage which people may be experiencing in terms of educational outcomes, health, employment, and housing".

One in four rents privately

MORE than one in four Bristol residents lives in a privately-rented home - the highest proportion in the region.

Figures from the 2021 Census show 26.4% of people live in a home they rent privately - almost as many as the 29.7% who have a mortgage, other loan or shared ownership, and more than the 25.2% of residents who own their homes outright.

Another 18.7% rent from a social landlord, such as Bristol City Council or a housing association.

In neighbouring South Gloucestershire, 36.6% of residents own their homes outright, while 36.8% have a mortgage, 10.8% rent socially and 15.8% rent privately

The Office For National Statistics says that across England and Wales, the number of people renting privately has risen by 1.1 million since the previous census in 2011, from 3.9m (16.7%) to 5m (20.3%). The percentage renting socially has fallen from 17.6% to 17.2%.

The percentage of people with a mortgage has fallen from 33.5% to 29.7%, while the percentage who own their homes outright is up from 30.8% to 32.8% of households - overall 62.5% of people are homeowners, down from 64.3% in 2011.

Other facts about Bristol and South Gloucestershire the ONS has revealed include:

• In Bristol more than a quarter of households (26.1%) have no car or van; 45.8% have one, 21.6% have two and 6.4% have three or more. In South Gloucestershire 12.3% of households have no car, while 40.1% have one vehicle, 34.1% have two and 13.4% have three or more.

• The percentage of Bristol residents aged over 16 who were "economically active and in employment", including self-employed, rose from 60.3% in 2011 to 61.2% in 2021.

In South Gloucestershire, 62.2% of over-16s were working, down from 64.4% in 2011.

A total of 3.6% of Bristol residents said they were economically active and unemployed, compared with 2.5% in South Gloucestershire. For more Census information visit www.ons.gov.uk/census. Rent controls: Page 12

Ancient tradition for young orchard Clean Air Zone fine errors

A YOUNG orchard growing in Hillfields Park received a traditional wake-up call for the new year, in a celebration organised by residents.

Hillfields Community Garden supporters planted an orchard of 18 fruit trees at the end of 2021.

In January the group held the park's first wassail event, including singing, morris dancing and a ceremony where toast is attached to the tree branches.

Community garden cofounder Becca Jenkins, who was the event's Wassail Queen, said: "Wassailing is an old English tradition which involves waking the sleeping tree spirits and frightening off any evil demons that may be lurking in the branches.

"During the ceremony the wassail King and Queen led a procession through the orchard whilst participants banged pots and pans to wake up the tree spirits."

The idea of the traditional

blessing was to ensure a good harvest for the year, and it is believed to date back to Saxon times or even earlier, surviving down the centuries in cidergrowing areas.

The toast is seen as a gift to the tree spirits.

The Hillfields Community Garden event included traditional wassail songs led by community singer Sorrel Wilde, a performance form

There were also hot drinks and cakes, and donations from the crowd of residents who came along will help support the garden's upkeep.

For more information on Hillfields Community Garden visit hillfieldsgarden. fishpondsbristol.uk or the group's Facebook page.

BRISTOL City Council says a "small number" of drivers have been charged for entering the city's new Clean Air Zone, despite having exemptions.

The Voice was contacted by a driver with a 'blue badge' disability exemption who was sent a penalty charge notice after entering the zone for a hospital appointment in an older diesel car on November 28, the first day of the charges.

The letter was sent on December 12 and arrived on January 2, by which time the initial £9 charge had risen to £129.

A council spokesperson said a "small number" of PCNs had been sent to drivers with valid CAZ exemptions but had now been cancelled, adding: "This was an isolated issue, which has now been rectified."

Anyone affected can call the customer support centre on 0117 903 6385.

violinist Marietta Kirkbride and traditional dancing from Pigsty Morris.

More bus services axed as subsidies cut

BUS passengers face further cuts after a vote on subsidised services left 42 of them facing the axe from April.

They include the 17 service, which links Fishponds to Southmead Hospital, Kingswood and Keynsham.

The service cuts were signed off by the West of England combined authority on January 18, as the region’s political leaders blamed each other and the government for the cuts.

The axed bus routes form 60% of the region’s 69 subsidised services. Many link rural areas to towns and cities but, in addition to the 17, there are several that run within Bristol.

During the meeting, West of England mayor Dan Norris blamed the leaders of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and B&NES councils for not paying enough, with this year’s increase to their transport levy less than inflation, while council leaders accused WECA of wasting money.

Mr Norris said: "We have £20 a head per year for our transport levy, and that compares to the ones at the top of the combined authorities in other parts of the country, that are £60 a head."

From April, passengers in many areas will be able to use a new ‘demand responsive transport’ minibus services, called West Link, to connect areas with little or no scheduled service to main routes.

The service will not serve Fishponds but will run in some parts of south Bristol, as well as large parts of North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The Metro Mayor stressed that West Link was not a replacement for subsidised services, despite launching at the same time many subsidised routes are withdrawn. He said funding came from a government scheme which could only be spent on "new and innovative" forms of transport.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Council considers rent controls

RENT controls could soon be needed in Bristol to stop housing costs becoming “increasingly unaffordable”.

The council does not have legal power to introduce rent controls, but City Hall chiefs are lobbying the government to change the law.

In a council debate in January, Labour and Greens councillors backed the idea of bringing in controls, while Conservatives opposed it.

According to council figures, the cost of privately renting a home in the city has increased by more than 50 per cent over the past decade and is considered to be a huge factor in the increase of homelessness.

About 16 councillors did not take part in the debate, as they were landlords or tenants.

Other measures agreed in the debate include the option of creating a rogue landlord database and an index of rental prices.

Welcoming Spaces set to stay

BRISTOL'S Welcoming Spaces programme to provide warm places for people struggling with heating bills could become a permanent fixture.

There are now 82 places in the city council coordinated scheme, which launched with 22 in October. In the Fishponds area they include the Vassall Centre, Hillfields Community Hub, Hillfields Library, Oldbury Court Children's Centre, Speedwell Children's Centre, Shahjalal Jame Mosque and Colliers Gardens Extra Care Home.

Eastville ward councillor Marley Bennett told a recent council meeting that the warm places had provided a “lifeline to families across Bristol” and asked if they could continue permanently.

Deputy mayor and Hillfields councillor Craig Cheney said the council was conducting a survey to understand how successful the programme had been before deciding any future plans for the concept.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

New year, new NHS career?

Pupils on the radio

CHILDREN from a Stapleton school were the stars of the show when they were invited to talk on breakfast radio.

Year 3 and 4 pupils at Begbrook Primary Academy were asked their views on everything from movie stars to beards and annoying brothers for a segment on BBC Radio Bristol in January.

Breakfast presenter James Hanson visited the school to record interviews for the weekly topical slot, called The Kids v The News, and the results were broadcast on the show.

The subjects were inspired by news stories including Prince Harry's accounts of fall-outs with Prince William in his book and the Golden Globes awards.

Begbrook assistant principal Laura Horner said: "They were a great bunch of children, who had strong opinions and hilarious ideas about the topics raised!

"I would like to thank James for visiting us here at Begbrook Academy.”

A link to the broadcast can be found online at clf.uk.

£6m for flood works

A SERIES of projects to help protect homes and businesses near the River Frome from flooding has won £6 million in government funding.

The city council has been working with neighbouring South Gloucestershire Council, Wessex Water and the Environment Agency on the programme, now known as Resilient Frome.

There are six areas where work will be carried out over the next five years to help better protect areas in Bristol at risk of flooding and ensure any new building projects on 'brownfield' regeneration sites are safe.

Some of the projects in South Gloucestershire include creating new 'storage' ponds and woody dams to hold back flood water.

Near the mouth of the river, at the Floating Harbour, 'flow monitors' will help understand when there is a flood risk, with a regeneration project called Frome gateway near St Paul's.

Work on making sure

developments on all parts of the river - which flows through Frenchay, Oldbury Court, Snuff Mills, Stapleton and Eastville Park before heading underground after passing under the M32 - minimise flood risks will also be carried out.

There will also be funding for sustainable drainage systems, or SUDs, to enable better management of rainwater to prevent surface water and sewer flooding and overflow discharges.

Council cabinet member for resilience and floods, Nicola Beech, said: "By working together across local authority borders, we can improve the entire catchment area at the same time as creating multiple benefits for Bristol’s residents and businesses."

The issue of untreated sewage entering the Frome through storm overflow drains recently sparked a political row in South Glos Council over whether to toughen rules on new surface water drain connections.

Phone mast plan thrown out Concerns over care home plans

A BID to build a 17 metre (56ft) phone mast on the main road through Oldbury Court has been refused.

Operator CK Hutchinson Networks, which operates the 3 mobile phone network, asked the city council whether it needed approval before installing the mast, which would have been capable of hosting up to six antennas, including new 5G technology, and a GPS module, outside the Vassall Centre.

The scheme also needed equipment and electricity cabinets for the mast, which the company wanted to put up between the junction of Gill Avenue and Vassall Road and a bus stop, outside the Vassall Centre car park.

Agent Clarke Telecom said the site was "identified as the most suitable option that balances operational need with local planning policies and national planning policy guidance", adding: "It will deliver public benefit in terms of the

mobile services it will provide."

The agents said the application was prepared in accordance with the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England.

However the planning department rejected the application, saying it would "result in unjustified harm upon the character and appearance of Gill Avenue and the surrounding area". An officer's report said 23 people had objected to the proposal.

Reasons given included that it would be "an eyesore, overbearing, out of proportion to all the other buildings in the area", that there was already a mast in the area, that it was too close to homes and Vassalls Park and would "bring house prices down and cause anxiety to residents".

The company has six months to lodge an appeal against the council's decision, which was made by officers rather than a planning committee.

PLANS to convert a former care home into two separate bedsit blocks and build seven homes behind it have sparked dozens of objections.

Concerns have also been raised by the Coal Authority, the government body which oversees former mine workings, over the plans to redevelop Chasefield House, at the top of Fishponds Road.

Developer HAS 7 Limited has submitted two separate applications for the site, which is at the junction with Staple Hill Road.

The first plan would see the former care home, which shut in 2020, turned into two houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), with a total of 19 bedrooms for rent.

Agent Stokes Morgan said HAS 7 planned to manage the HMOs, with tenants given short-term contracts and advice on how to interact with neighbours, not to use the garden at night and to "avoid parties on a frequent basis".

But 47 people have objected to the plans, including neighbours who say the planned HMO would have an "unacceptably high density of potential tenants", with only three car parking spaces proposed and a potential for "noise and disturbance".

A further 20 objections have been lodged against HAS 7's plans to build seven two-bedroom houses on land behind the care home currently occupied by a garden and outbuildings, which would be accessed via neighbouring Chasefield Lane.

Neighbours say the seven homes would be "crammed" onto the site and Chasefield Lane is unsuitable to become a well-used access road.

The Coal Authority has not formally objected but raised concerns over a coal seam close to the surface which could "pose a risk of ground instability and may give rise to the emission of mine gases". The HMO application can be found by searching for reference 22/04673/F on the council's planning website, while the new homes application is at reference 22/02990/F.

1 to

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Time to sow some seeds

IF, like me and most of the rest of the horticultural world, you’re chomping at the bit to get some seeds in soil, then you’re now free to get sowing.

February is really the first time that you can think about planting some radish, spinach and autumn cabbages, to name a few.

It always seems such a long wait from the start of the winter months until now, but the wait is over and we can start properly looking towards the year ahead.

That said, beware the cold weather: while we may be looking at some lovely spring days in only a few weeks, frost can strike as late as May. There have been several years that I’ve known whole crops of potatoes

prick them out before they get too tall.

Etiolation is the name for what most of us call legginess. It’s the fast weak growth that plants put on when there’s a lack of light, as the leaves search for better light to grow. This growth, however, is prone to disease and being easily damaged, so should be avoided if at all possible.

In an ideal world, having a heated propagator would be the best solution: this way you can regulate the heat and keep seedlings in a greenhouse during the cold weather.

Without this, a conservatory or a leanto with a clear roof will do just as well: something with good light, that can be kept frost free and that you can keep an eye on. If you have neither of these, then just a well lit window sill will suffice.

One issue with this situation is that the seedlings will want to grow out towards the window, and again can end up getting leggy.

If you make a simple curved reflector with foil-covered card that reflects the light back towards the window from behind, this will

Another horticultural principle that I have been guilty of overlooking is that of hardening off plants before giving them a

You may think that, as the weather has

City Gardener with Tim Barton

warmed up, you can take your plants outside, especially if they’re hardy. The reality is that they don’t like the sudden change in climate; they may survive but will be far happier with a gradual introduction to the great outdoors.

Start by taking them out or simply opening a greenhouse during the day, then close them up again in the afternoon.

Repeat this process for a couple of weeks, then move them to a cold frame or a sheltered area until all risk of frost has passed.

After this, they’ll be happy as anything to get planted out and to give you all the joy they can.

Bike Repairs

Harry inspires studies

CHILDREN at a Fishponds school had a magical experience to inspire their science and English topics.

Year 4 pupils at Chester Park Junior School visited the Harry Potter studios in Watford at the start of the new term in January.

The trip was timed to give the children a "brilliant beginning" to their English studies reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and a topic on the 'magic of science'.

A school spokesperson said: "The children had an incredibly exciting and magical experience, and returned to school with plenty of inspiration ready for their English and science lessons.

"It is wonderful to be able to offer the children these experiences that bring their topics to life."

School's resource base

WORK on a new facility to provide extra support for pupils with disabilities has finished at an Eastville school.

The resource base at May Park Primary School is purpose-built to provide children with autism spectrum condition and speech, language and communication difficulties with the " best possible learning experience". The base has three new classrooms, each designed to meet the specific needs of pupils and equipped with the latest technology. Facilities include a sensory room and therapy areas.

A school spokesperson said: "All the classrooms are bright, airy, and spacious, providing a comfortable and stimulating learning environment. They are also fully accessible, providing equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their individual needs.

"This is an exciting time for May Park Primary School, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming students into these new classrooms and facilities. We are proud to be able to serve our community with this new resource base, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this facility will have on children’s learning and development.

"We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the project, including the contractors and school staff, for their hard work and dedication in making this happen. It's clear that this new resource base is a great investment in the future of our pupils and we can't wait to see them flourish in their new surroundings."

Children from Chester Park Junior School jump on the Knight Bus at the Harry Potter studio

Plastics ban welcomed Join up to help children

A FISHPONDS campaigner has welcomed a ban on singleuse plastics after years of campaigning on the issue.

Naseem Talukdar founded Projects Against Plastic (PAP) to find ways to reduce singleuse plastic, starting in the hospitality sector, building on his experience of working in takeaways.

A ban on single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and some other polystyrene cups and food containers will be introduced in England from October.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs says around 3.4 billion pieces of single use cutlery and plates are currently used in England every year.

Earlier bans on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds have cut the amount being washed up on beaches.

The government is considering further measures on wet wipes, tobacco filters and

sachets, and a deposit return scheme for drinks containers.

Naseem said: "This is a huge step towards the reduction of single-use plastic. Plastic blights our oceans, wildlife and environment and we welcome any action which will helps to reduce its use and protect future generations.

“But the details around plastic substitutes are still not clear and I think it’s important that they find financially viable options."

“We continue to work with the hospitality sector to explore more sustainable options.”

Bristol-based group City to Sea raised a petition of more than 100,000 names calling for action. Policy manager Steve Hynd said the group had also spent years campaigning for a ban, which has come more than two years after the EU implemented one.

He said: "Even if it is playing catch-up, it is also a step in the right direction."

A CHARITY that supports children and their families after burn injuries is looking for people to help its work.

Frenchay After Burns children's club (FAB) is run by volunteers, receiving no government support for its work to help young burn survivors make friends, build confidence through free activities, from days out, parties and pantomimes to international residential camps.

Any child aged under 18 with a burn injury can join and the charity aims to support them "from injury through to adulthood".

FAB relies on fundraising to meet its costs of about £25,000 a year, and as well as volunteers to help on camps, it is looking for people to help raise money. It also needs administrators, event organisers, and online and social media support.

Anyone who would like to find out more is welcome to attend FAB's annual meeting at Christ Church Hall in North Street, Downend, on February 7 at 7.30pm, or visit the charity's Facebook page, website www.fabclub.org.uk, email mail@fabclub.org.uk or call 07821 989845.

• A SCOUT group is looking for leaders to help its members on new adventures.

Camping, rifle shooting, axe throwing, ice skating, paddle boarding, archery, woodwork, hikes and code breaking are just a few of the activities that members of the 78th Scout Group in Downend have undertaken in the last year.

The 78th Kingswood group is one of the oldest in the area, having been founded in 1959. The group's beavers, cubs and scouts meet at Downend Methodist Church on Badminton R0ad every Wednesday.

For more information on the group visit its website at www.78thkingswood.org.uk, which includes links to pages with many of its previous activities, or email 78thkingswood@gmail.com.

Life-saving campaign

A CAMPAIGN to provide a new defibrillator has been launched by a city councillor.

Lorraine Francis, who represents the Eastville ward for the Greens on the city council, hopes to raise £5,000 to fund a defibrillator at The Star pub in Fishponds Road. Any surplus funds will go to support the vital work of the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.

The fundraising effort was prompted by the death of 24-year-old rugby player Sam Polledri following a cardiac arrest in the city centre last year.

At a council meeting, a motion to make Bristol a "CPR-friendly city" was passed, with Councillor Francis speaking in support.

She said: "As with many good ideas it often takes a tragedy and a family’s grief to bring the issue to the forefront. The Polledri family, through their grief, have been instrumental in making us think about the positioning of these potentially lifesaving instruments to make them accessible and visible to all."

Councillor Francis and the GWAAC also plan to provide training to diverse groups throughout the community, so that more people are prepared to administer vital assistance if needed, and have already provided training to a group of women in Eastville.

She has also secured separate funding for another defibrillator, and says she will be looking for a suitable location in the ward to place it.

Councillor Francis said: "If we have a defibrillator within a threeminute walk, and people with knowledge of how to save a life, we can give someone the best possible chance to survive until the advanced care they need is provided. Please support this vital cause."

Donations can be made online at bit.ly/3ZT72K3.

Dark side in church

A FISHPONDS church is bracing itself for an invasion by Darth Vader and his stormtroopers.

The Star Wars baddies are set to descend on a special session of Fishponds Baptist Church's Dads and Tods group on February 11.

Dads and Tods group leader Marcus Phillips invited the 501st UK Garrison (pictured), a group of volunteer re-enactors who visit charity and community events, to the church in Downend Road to kick off a range of half-term activities.

Their visit, from 10am-11.30am, is open to fans aged up to 18, accompanied by a parent, with fancy dress optional.

Marcus said that despite turning out for the dark side of the Force, one of the stormtroopers is actually a Baptist pastor, who is set to return to the church the following morning at 10.30am as a special guest speaker.

Other events during the week include open play cafes for children aged up to 10 from 10am to noon on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (£2 charge), a pancake evening from 7pm on Friday and an all-age family service on Sunday February 19, with messy play from 4-6pm.

The Dads and Tods group, which has been running for over ten years, usually meets on the second Saturday of the month from 10am and is for dads, granddads and carers and toddlers aged up to three.

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Lorraine Francis

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n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

Getting through times of great change

HOW do we get through times of rapid change and readjustment?

What wisdom does God have to offer us for such times?

In my local area there has been a great deal of distress over the cutting of the Y5 bus route.

Its ‘replacement' is not seen to be a replacement for those who have relied on the service.

Various reasons for the lack of bus drivers and increased costs of running buses have been put forward: bus journey numbers are still well below 2019 levels; HGV driver shortages have meant that those with training have filled these job positions as they pay better; bus and HGV driver working conditions and bus drivers’ pay are described as being unattractive by union Unite.

Combine this with the need to operate cleaner energy bus services, and one quickly sees that there are two sides of an equation which do not add up.

Money is short, so cuts have to

be made and working conditions kept antisocial. These conditions mean that there are fewer drivers available, so this form of public transport dwindles further when we would all like to see it grow: paralysis of a system.

I could go into similar nonequations when it comes to national services like NHS.

Let us just say that a series of circumstances, including Brexit, Covid, war in Ukraine and climate change have required speedy adjustment.

While systems remain the same as pre-2019, they are dislocated. To be radical and propose something quite new is necessary, but carries with it riskand most people are cautious.

You may say here, what in the world is a churchman doing talking in such terms? Especially one from the C of E, where the churches offer much the same as they always did?

I would have to admit my lack

of credentials to offer a solution. At least, however, I can say, along with those involved with virtually every other institution in society, I face the same or similar difficulties.

So, with some temerity, I wish to offer a pointer to God’s wisdom on such matters:

Anger and aggression are not the best ways to work for long-term peaceful outcomes. Compassion, and dealing with people as each being a special person, is key to effective communication and care.

Personal responsibility in doing the little bit that each of us can do to help is not a fairy story, it works.

Giving people real hope, not fantasy dreams, is a way towards real improvement of their situations.

These four sentences have not my authority, but I believe God’s authority, as wise.

Lest this ‘thought for the

month’ become just more words, let me refer you to the bible.

Google or look up these verses, and may you be equipped to help set the world and your neighbourhood in a good direction: James 1:20, Leviticus 19:17-18, Proverbs 24:30-34 and Matthew 11:27-30.

Rev Charles Sugden Rector of Frenchay and Stapleton parishes

Our NHS is in a state of emergency

LAST year was nothing if not eventful, with the cost-ofliving crisis, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and 10 Downing Street’s revolving door all dominating headlines.

But as we look forward to 2023, the ongoing NHS crisis remains the issue on everyone’s minds.

The extreme and unprecedented pressures on Bristol’s emergency services this winter led to both of Bristol’s major hospitals and its ambulance trust declaring critical incidents in December. Meanwhile, patients needing routine care battle through 8am call queues for their lucky chance at getting a GP appointment, and many have given up on seeing an NHS dentist at all. Our NHS is now not on its knees, but on its face.

One constituent in Fishponds recently wrote to me in a state of shock. The ambulance she called for her husband, a dementia

patient, when he was taken unwell took three hours to arrive.

Medics apologised for "treating him out of the back of a truck", where he remained for the next ten hours, because A&E didn’t have room for him.

Another constituent waited two hours for an ambulance, while suffering a heart attack at his GP surgery. When it became clear the ambulance wasn’t coming, doctors made the lifesaving decision to drive him to hospital instead.

In Parliament, I’ve raised concerns that constituents who call an ambulance in their hour of need can no longer expect one to arrive. These testimonies are among the most alarming I’ve heard in my time as an MP, but they’re sadly the tip of the iceberg. People are losing their lives as problems that have undermined our NHS for years have now come to a head.

This NHS emergency is far

from an accident – services have been starved of Government funding for over a decade.

I certainly don’t doubt efforts among Bristol’s healthcare teams to prepare for the worst winter ever anticipated, though little can be done locally to fix national shortages of 47,406 nurses and 9,053 doctors.

And while the Government incinerated £4 billion of unusable PPE last year, overworked staff have similarly been left feeling burnt out after the pandemic, with many leaving the sector entirely.

Early signs are showing that in Bristol, things are beginning to look up. But it’s unsustainable for our NHS to lurch from crisis to crisis, every single winter.

When we consider its future, the country faces a crossroads. Time will tell whether voters pick the path towards privatisation, where striking staff are sacked, or choose for our NHS to be properly

funded and workers rewarded with the fair pay they deserve.

As always, if you need help from me and my team, please email kerry.mccarthy.mp@ parliament.uk or call 0117 939 9901.

Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East writes for Fishponds Voice

n LOCAL HISTORY

Mike Jempson contrasts two exhibitions, a century apart

A FEW weeks before Christmas, while visiting friends in Germany, I came across an intriguing little museum in Heidelberg. Its sole purpose is to house and display works of art created by people who spent time in mental hospitals prior to 1922.

Its current exhibition coincided with the Looking To The Light project at the Glenside Hospital Museum.

The Bristol exhibition featured works by artists who drew their inspiration from the museum, which catalogues the development of mental health treatments, as well as the patients and staff of what began in 1861 as a municipal lunatic asylum.

The Heidelberg exhibition focused on a collection of works by patients, put together by art historian Hans Prinzhorn (18861933). Having also trained in England to be a singer, he took up psychiatry after his second wife became ill. Combining his interests, he produced a seminal work, Artistry of the Mentally Ill. First published in 1922, an English translation had to wait 50 years.

Prinzhorn was more interested in the aesthetic value of artefacts made by patients than in their diagnostic potential.

His book was a sensation at the time, but not for being a breakthrough in the treatment of mental illness. Instead it influenced the artistic movements of the early 20th century, especially Dadaism and Surrealism, and gained notoriety among the fascists of National Socialism.

It became a source of inspiration among the avant-garde when multi-talented German

Inspired by 'insane art'

artist Max Ernst showed it to his contemporaries in Paris. Many were fascinated by the theories of Sigmund Freud and saw the collection as a window into the subconscious.

This 'art of the outsider' led French painter and sculptor Jean Dubuffet to form the Art Brut movement, a term that also came to be associated with Hitler’s notion of "degenerate art".

Despised by Nazis who sought to promote a heroic form of German culture, examples of ‘modern art’, including some of Prinzhorn’s collection, were put on display as evidence of this degeneracy. It was a prelude to censorship and the destruction of artworks.

Another sickening consequence was Aktion-T4, the Nazi policy to eradicate those who did not fit their notion of 'the norm'. More than two dozen of the artists featured in Prinzhorn's book would be murdered in ‘nursing homes’ set up to kill those regarded unfit to be citizens of the Third Reich. Bristol artist Liz Crow explored this in her short film Resistance, which can be found at www.roaring-girl.com/ work/resistance.

The patients’ fate was sealed when Prinzhorn was replaced at Heidelberg hospital by Carl Schnieder, a Nazi sympathiser. Prinzhorn himself would throw in his lot with the National Socialists, evidence perhaps of his naïveté.

By contrast, the sophistication of the artworks prepared for Looking To The Light adds meaning to the structure, history, and artefacts of Glenside Museum. They are reflective pieces based on what the artists saw and thought about

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while visiting the museum.

The exhibition’s title was inspired by a photograph taken in 1897 of bearded local furniture salesman Charles West looking towards the sky during a short stay at the hospital. He features in several of the artworks, which range from drawings and photographs to textiles, and installations. Despite many dissimilarities, there are some extraordinary resonances with items from Prinzhorn’s collection.

On the reverse side of Anna Rathbone’s quilt, made from cutup images photographed in the museum, is a poem stitched into an NHS sheet:

From the tangle of infinite fragmented echoes we tug at the threads of what might be stories fraying with each retelling trying to stitch a knotted history of a person, a place, a thing into a fabric of guesswork unravelling as we sew

fibres pulled loose by time, memory, perspective leaving a single strand of truth How can we ever really know?

The concept and the content reminded me of a handmade jacket on display in the Prinzhorn Collection. By Agnes Richter (18441918), it is embroidered inside and out with memories from her life.

There is great wit in the Glenside artists’ pieces, as there is in many of the Prinzhorn artefacts.

The fact that some of their creators were commenting on the madness of the world outside the asylum appears to have been lost on their curator. He would die of typhus, a recluse, just as Hitler came to power in 1933.

The exhibition booklet Looking To The Light is on sale at the museum, which is open on Wednesdays 10-11 pm and all day on Saturdays.

• Extended versions of these history columns can be found at www.mikejempson.eu

Agnes Richter's handmade jacket, embroidered with memories

'Bigger and better' International Women’s Day event planned

A VOLUNTEER group organising this year's International Women’s Day event in Bristol is looking for more people to get involved.

Bristol Women’s Voice members are working together on a "bigger and better than ever" programme for the flagship event on March 8.

The free event at City Hall will bring hundreds of women from different communities across Bristol together, with more than 100 contributors and partners running workshops, performances, exhibitions, activities and talks.

Activities on health, nurture, poetry, music, film and photography, dance and visual arts are planned.

The event will also include an evening programme of entertainment, as well as a march through the centre of the city for women to "show their support for one another and make their voices heard".

A spokesperson for the charity, which is based at the Vassall Centre in Oldbury Court, said: "There is something for everyone, and we can provide support to help you get there via free public transport, a crèche and translation services.

"There’s a lot people don’t know about this small charity that packs well above its weight.

"In building their vision of equality for women in Bristol, the work they do includes working with transport companies

A CLUB for model aircraft enthusiasts is hoping to spread its wings.

Landit Radio Control, which promotes modelling, maintenance and flying of radio controlled aircraft, was founded by Mark Holmes and Ricky West in 2014.

They wanted to bring together people with a shared interest to pool their knowledge and enjoy indoor flying.

Now the club, which meets fortnightly, has members aged between 10 and 80.

Last year's International Women’s Day event in Bristol. Picture: Mireya Gonzalez.

and the council to lobby for urgently-needed improvements in women’s safety on public transport in Bristol.

"Bristol Women’s Voice holds the police to account and acts as a critical friend via the Women’s Independent Advisory Group.

"They support and work with women’s organisations, members and other allies across the city to renew and strengthen their call for change."

The group also want to recruit volunteers to run women-only

Ready for take-off

It has evolved over time and includes people who are mastering the latest technology such as drones, which can range from the size of a cup coaster to machines capable of lifting over a kilo in weight.

Club secretary Ricky has written guides to help others understand the equipment they are using and get the best results.

He said: “Flying models is great fun, it’s just one part of what the hobby is about. The maintenance and model programming is another and we have some talented members who are always on hand to help other members. It’s a brilliant atmosphere.”

Landit is not only for those with plenty of

time slots within the 70 citywide welcoming spaces and is compiling a single directory of services for women across Bristol.

Anyone who would like to help with the International Women’s Day event should email: VTcoordinator@ bristolwomensvoice.org.uk.

For more information on Bristol Women’s Voice visit the website: bristolwomensvoice. org.uk.

experience. Beginners are welcome and free tuition is always available.

Balanced teams are arranged for competitive events so that novices can improve their radio control skills. The club even has a computer flight simulator.

It also arranges joint sessions with enthusiasts of radio controlled cars and hovercraft.

Landit is open to anyone aged 10 or above, or eight if accompanied by a parent.

Anyone who wants to see what the club is all about is invited to attend up to three meetings free before the start of April, on February 3 or 17, March 3, 17 or 31.

Meetings are held on a Friday, fortnightly, from 7pm to 9pm at 37th Kingswood Scouts HQ, Deerhurst, Kingswood.

n FRIENDS OF EASTVILLE PARK

NOW that we look to be past the worst of the recent wet and miserable weather, it’s lovely to see so many people returning to the park to enjoy some of the crisp sunny days that are cheering us all up a bit!

The recent heavy rains really did change the landscape, with flooding of the fields and the river coming up so high to make some of the pathways impassable.

December and early January saw a very cold snap that made the paths quite treacherous, and it was even cold enough for the lake to freeze over.

This came as several children’s lives were lost while walking on frozen lakes across the country, so we were very worried about something terrible happening here - but thankfully, there were no incidents this time.

We are discussing with the council the idea of warning signs that can be put out when the lake is frozen.

This time of the year, we start to notice more activity in the wildlife of the park - most notably the return of our favourite birds.

Who better to ask to tell us what’s going on than Eastville park’s resident guru, Larry Sweetland?

He writes: "Eastville Park is at the centre of an urban 'local patch' that in 2022 produced sightings of no less than 108 species of bird!

"Last year's highlight happened in Eastville Park in October, when a yellow-browed warbler appeared.

"This little bird would have been born somewhere in Siberia, most of its kind heading down to Southeast Asia for the winter.

"The year kicked off with a nice surprise when a firecrest was found in the overgrown cemetery on New Year's Day.

"The goldcrest is a familiar bird in the park throughout the year, but this firecrest was the first one I'd seen in the park for more than four years.

"The river Frome's high water level meant that one of the park's special birds, the dipper, was readily found along the smaller stream, Fishponds Brook, sometimes being remarkably approachable, along with the park's grey wagtails.

"Joining the lake's more familiar waterbirds were two little grebes, much to the delight of many onlookers.

"At this time of year the leafless trees make it

Watching birds in the park

easier to see some of our woodland birds. Great spotted and green woodpeckers, displaying stock doves, and shy redwings have all been noticeable recently, as well as rather vocal nuthatches, tree-creepers, song thrushes, and the screeching tawny owls after dark.

"On a less cheerful note, some birds that were seen more regularly in the park a few years ago, such as various finches, are decreasing or even on the verge of disappearing.

"Sightings of bullfinch and mistle thrush are very few and far between now.

"This winter has also brought us considerably fewer black-headed gulls than we usually get, with the reason for this still being unclear."

We’ve had some exciting news following the Friends’ application to the Social Action Small Grants programme.

An award of £4,100 means that we can open up the Nissen hut as a 'warm place' for three months, starting at the beginning of February.

We’ll be open two days a week, providing a warm cosy space to sit, read a book or chat with friends. There’ll be hot and cold drinks and snacks to keep you going, too!

The funding supports a coordinator post and running costs for the project, as part of Bristol

Council’s Warm Places initiative to help tackle the cost of living crisis in our area.

More details will soon be available on our Facebook page and website, www.eastvillepark. org.uk.

Elsewhere in the park, One Tree per Child have been planting saplings in the fields.

A small area of orchard varieties has been planted near Everest Road, and native tree saplings have been planted to extend the woodland area further down the field; the grass will no longer be cut where the planting has taken place.

In Redhill Drive field, some oak saplings have been planted to ensure a succession of these magnificent trees for the centuries ahead. Some of the naturally-seeded acorns will also be given protection and thinned out over time.

At the time of writing, we hear the cuts to the Parks service that were contained in city council budget proposals may be reversed. This appears to be in no small way due to the response to the public consultation and, if confirmed, will be great news for Bristol’s parks.

The Parkie

A firecrest has been seen in Eastville Park.

Picture: Curro Gonzalez

n PLANNING MATTERS WITH CHRIS GOSLING A matter of opinion

ONE of the main functions of the planning system is to engage with the community.

There is a long history of attempting to ‘do better’ in this area.

This aim to improve engagement runs through the whole history of planning. It is a forum where the private sector, putting forward proposals, meets the community that is likely to be affected by them.

Of course there are assumptions held by users on either side. Developers often believe that the system is stacked against them because of the bureaucracy, delay and difficulty in even getting to speak to decision makers.

The public, as Douglas Adams parodied brilliantly in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, often feel that the system is stacked against them: they are just individuals or small groups, standing alone, quite possibly wearing dressing gowns (in Arthur Dent’s case, anyway).

While both views can’t be true

in every case, there is at least a grain of truth in each.

One of the more mundane, but still important, tasks of a development management case officer is reading the consultation replies that a planning application generates.

These can be anything from blunt comments like "I don’t like it" to a stream-of-consciousness rant. I recall one comment from a neighbour horrified that cleaning products on the windowsill of a new bathroom facing the street in a proposed extension would be visible to passers-by.

However bizarre the responses may be, everyone is entitled to an opinion.

I could add that the more people who are engaged enough to respond, the better. There would be little point in attempting to reach local people if they either ignore the letters or believed they would have no influence on the decision to be made.

In some cases, developers are required or encouraged to carry

out consultation in advance of submitting an application, to focus and refine objections, if not overcome them.

This may do no more than screen out neighbours’ natural first response that the development will reduce the value of their house, which is never a legitimate planning consideration.

Recently, a potential development in my own street brought home the issue.

I received three letters, none of which saw fit to offer any clue as to what was about to be proposed.

At best, this generates a cloak of mystique. The googling that I undertook appropriately took me to a rather opaque organisation.

Then the engagement was opened up a little, as residents were invited to come to an inconveniently-timed midafternoon drop-in event. A further letter - surely the last - graciously extended this to early evening, but gave no more clues.

It is likely that I will now

end up having to respond on the day, rather than having a chance to give the matter some thought. Admittedly this is an initial consultation only, and will most likely be followed by the chance to respond to a planning application.

The developer will have the opportunity to amend their proposal on the basis of public consultation, but for now it strikes me that this process has been an object lesson in how not to engage.

I sincerely hope that no planners were involved!

Chrisgoslingplanning@gmail.com

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

A new solution to our bus crisis

LAST year I held scores of mayor events across the West of England to meet thousands of local people face-to-face to discuss buses.

For me, this was all about listening. It quickly became clear the severe bus driver shortage nationally is impacting hard locally.

For the individuals and communities hit by route changes or cuts, this is a very big deal.

The old ways don’t work. It needs new and innovative solutions as soon as possible.

I am proud to announce that a fleet of green minibuses called WEST link will form a new ‘on-demand’ service within the West of England, starting this summer.

Passengers in designated zones will be able hail a ‘WEST link’ minibus by using an app on your smartphone, visiting a website or by phoning up.

Unlike traditional buses, WEST link will be unrestricted by a timetable. Instead, clever tech will use algorithms to link up

several people’s needs, combining them into one trip as efficiently as possible.

The 7am to 7pm Monday-Saturday service will cover much of North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and parts of Bristol including Windmill Hill, Knowle, Brislington and St Anne’s. Within this overall area, there will be local zones. Passengers will be able to use a WEST link minibus in their local zone to get to key transport corridors to then pick up another bus or train.

Vitally, using more minibuses will help address the acute bus driver shortage. How? Well, it’s easier and quicker to train to drive a smaller vehicle and for most people, it is far less daunting!

It also allows drivers already qualified to get behind the wheel of large double-deckers to focus on the busy routes. On demand minibuses also better meet the needs of our more remote or isolated communities.

You have been telling me the status quo hasn’t been working and that unrelia-

ble buses cannot be tolerated.

You have said things must improve to help you get to where you need to travel and to meet our vitally important and ambitious 2030 Net Zero targets.

I agree – so there will be changes.

Change is hard: it’s disruptive and takes time.

I, my staff, and the bus companies, will have to learn lessons as we work hard to put things right. Please play your part by trying WEST link, so we can grab this positive opportunity to shape our transport future for the better.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA

February 2

n SPEAKER MORNING, Lincombe Barn. Sort It Suez, with Andy Paterson and Hugo Jacobs. Coffee from 10.15am, talk 10.45-11.45am. Talk £2.50. Coffee extra.

February 8

n WILD WOMEN, Hillfields Library, 7-9pm. Group open to women of all ages, free of charge. For more information contact hillfieldswildwomen@gmail.com.

February 14

n MINI EXPLORERS at Hillfields Library, Summerleaze, Hillfields, 10-11am. Free playgroup for pre-school children aged two to four - siblings also welcome. Songs, activities and nature-based crafts, drinks and biscuits. No need to book. Email hillfieldscommunitygarden@gmail.com for more details.

February 18

n CARE FOR YOUR PARK GROUP, Hillfields Park, 10.30am-noon. Friendly volunteer group to help look after the garden. No tools or experience needed - volunteers of all ages welcome. Open to all, with activities for children. Email hillfieldscommunitygarden@gmail.com for more details.

REGULAR EVENTS

Monday

n BARTON HILL RFC CHARITY CAFE, Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, from noon until

3pm. Food and drink, bargain donated goods, friendly and welcoming place to meet, staffed entirely by volunteers raising money for charity.

n WELCOME SPACE at Hillfields Library, Summerleaze, Hillfields 12.15-6pm. Open to all, with free hot drinks, food, newspapers and magazines, games, information on support services and after-school homework club. Every Monday until April.

Tuesday

n PHOENIX ART CLUB meets on Tuesdays at Stapleton Church Hall, Park Road, from 10am to midday.

n TAI CHI Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, BS16 2RW. A gentle introduction to Tai Chi - a relaxing peaceful art, recognised for increasing health and vitality of mind and body. These weekly classes will offer beginners the opportunity to learn Qi Gong and traditional Yang Style Tai Chi. Suitable for most abilities.

Tuesday 7.30-8.30 - starting February 7th. All welcome £7 per class or £35 for 6 classes. Contact Georgina Green on 07845 748568 or georginagreen@mindfultaaichi.org.uk

Wednesday

n BARTON HILL RFC CHARITY CAFE, Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, from noon until 3pm. Food and drink, bargain donated goods, friendly and welcoming place to meet, staffed

entirely by volunteers raising money for charity.

n DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB meets at 7.30pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month from September to June, at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, Downend. Call Genise on 0777 245 1217.

n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcome- first visit free so come along and give us a try. For further information contact Sheila on 01179570792 or 07435316458 or email shinett@blueyonder.co.uk

Friday

n EASTVILLE PARK FOODCLUB OPEN FOR COLLECTIONS, every Friday 121.30pm. To enquire about membership, email eastvilleparkfoodclub@gmail.com or call 07591 748548.

n FRIENDS OF HILLFIELDS LIBRARY Silver Explorers social group for retired people living in Hillfields. Weekly group running until April, 10am-noon. Activities include talks, music, crafts and history. Free tea and coffee. More information at friendsofhillfieldslibrary@gmail. com or friends' Facebook page.

Saturday

n LU LIFE CHURCH 'SHARED SPACES', Fishponds Old Library, Fishponds Road. Every 3rd Saturday of the month, 2-3pm. Singing, dancing and drumming. All welcome. For more details email LULifeChurch@gmail.com or call Rev P on 0750 839 0298.

Quarry House in Fishponds offers safe and nurturing care

We are now enabling close contact visits in the home, every resident is able to have an essential care giver, and there is no isolation required for new residents from the community. We still have a varied activity schedule which keeps life interesting and happy.

We also ensure:

• Strict Infection Control measures approved by Public Health England are fully implemented

• Care staff wear PPE at all times and we have ensured a high volume of supply

• Skilled nurses are on site 24/7 and respiratory equipment is at hand

• Safe face-to-face visits where possible

n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE

Skiing and injury

IT’S never too late to set your goals for a healthier, happier new year – even in February!

Most of us start off January with the very best of intentions but how long does it last? As usual, I have made many resolutions – all the familiar ones, from eating more healthily, drinking less and exercising more. I normally last a month.

However, as I get older, I guess I am drinking less, going to the gym more regularly and even my golf is coming along. This time last year, I took up the guitar and I’m still going with that.

Having three young children forces me to go to bed early, because they are guaranteed to run into our bedroom every morning at 7am, no matter what we have done the day before. Which leads me nicely to Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s four pillars of health that I reckon we should all consider. The popular physician, TV broadcaster and author recommends a focus on relaxation, food, movement and sleep.

We can’t be perfect all of the time and I would argue that we shouldn’t even try, because we would become boring. However, in this busy, hectic and stressful

n SPORT Bowls club

in running for top award

A BOWLS club is in the running for a prestigious national award.

Begbrook Green Bowling Club has been shortlisted for Bowls England's annual Club of the Year award, and is up against three other clubs from the 2,700 affiliated to the sport's governing body across the country.

Representatives of the club, which is based just off Frenchay Park Road in Stapleton, will find out if they have won the overall title at an awards ceremony in Leicester on February 25.

world that we often find ourselves in, I would urge you all to consider improving in these four key areas of your life.

Try different methods to reduce your stress, eat healthily where you can, make sure you exercise properly – even regular walking outside in the fresh air has huge benefits. Think about your sleep routine… read a book before bed instead of your phone and try to settle down at the same time each night, to allow your body to find a rhythm.

Anyway, enough preaching from me – let’s talk about something that’s far more fun… now is the time to think about the skiing season. I’m actually writing this the day before I join the British Chiropractic Association ski trip to Chamonix in France.

We are ready to hear two of the greatest sports chiropractors in the world lecturing us each evening after we finish skiing. There’s nothing like coming off the slopes, having a beer with friends and learning from the best.

Apart from the obvious positives, we all know that skiing can be a hazardous occupation. Take a look at the five most common injuries from people

who take part:

1. Head injuries

2. Medial collateral ligament (MCL) or knee sprains

3. Anterior cruciate ligament (also knee) sprains

4. Wrist injuries

5. Shoulder injuries

I was slightly surprised to see head injuries at number one but a lot of the research was based on downhill race skiers – and they definitely rattle their brain when they crash! Now MCL injuries, we certainly see plenty of those with regular skiers, as patients twist their knees when they fall on and off the slopes.

In essence, it’s the same injury that we treat footballers for when they get tackled, then strain and twist their knees. I know how painful it can be as I suffered an MCL injury on the first day of a trip a few years ago, when I was skiing too fast down a black run.

A serious MCL injury will take 6-8 weeks to heal and it’s so important to get it right. Treatment varies as the ligament gradually gets better. In general, this might consist of rehab, laser work and instrument-assisted therapy – this features a special metal tool to manually stimulate the ligament and break down the scar tissue that forms in the wrong place.

Treatments typically take place once a week and then ‘voilà’! – the pain has gone and the knee is as good as new. Of course, the best way to avoid skiing injuries is to get fit before you go. Make sure you are exercising your legs for a couple of months if possible.

My favourite skiing prep is going to HIIT classes at the gym. Failing this, try regular squats, running up and down stairs, or going on your bike.

Let’s hope I’ve managed to get it just right…

Big Weekend and Bowls Bash initiatives.

Ken said: "All this by voluntary members, who have worked particularly hard for the past year.

"Bowls is truly a sport for all – whether you are young or young at heart. There is no age barrier.

"It is a very social activity, which only takes a minute to learn but a lifetime to master.

"The club welcomes those that have never tried the game as well as more experienced bowlers."

The new season commences in April and the club is inviting anyone who would like to find out more or is interested in some free coaching to get in touch.

Ken Maynard, from the volunteer-run club, said it had had an "outstanding" year, attracting many new

members, providing coaching and introducing newcomers to the sport through fun and open day events including the Bowls

For more details visit the club's Facebook page, call Jane Warburton on 07712 315981 or email jewarburton12@gmail. com.

Marie Jeffries, Ellie Jeffries, Kasey Phillips-Knight and Ryan Beebee after winning an open competition at Begbrook Green Bowling Club.

Boxers ready for international challenge

FOUR contenders from Downend Boxing Club are flying out to an international competition in February.

The Golden Girl Championships take place in Borås, Sweden, from February 3 to 5.

The International female box cup features 300 contenders from 22 nations in various age, experience and weight classes.

Making her international debut will be 10-year-old Lacey Holloway, who takes part in the diploma section which, under Swedish rules, does not allow power punching for children under 15 years old: the winner is decided on skills and technical ability.

Sixteen-year-old Mya Das seeks to add to her National Novice title alongside clubmate Alexa Smith, 18, who is returning following a break from competition.

Jasmine Poole, 22, is also competing abroad for the first time, and is tipped to do well

following great performances at last summer's Riviera Box Cup in Torbay.

Preparations began on January 15 at a very cold Clevedon Marine Lake, where

the incredibly brave Downend coaches Tracey Hayne and Claire Holloway braved the sleet and bitter cold to raise funds to travel to Sweden with a sponsored cold-weather swim.

The temperature was 5 degrees Celsius as the two intrepid ladies entered the water - their amazing effort raised £800 for the trip.

Craig Turner

Jasmine Poole, coaches Tracey Hayne and Claire Holloway, with Lacey Holloway and Mya Das, pictured at Clevedon Marine Lake