Fishponds Voice June 2022

fishpondsvoice June, 2022 — ISSUE 87

FREE EVERY MONTH IN THE GREATER FISHPONDS AREA

We are the champions!

Bristol Metropolitan Academy’s Under-14 girls basketball team has won the national championship for the first time.

Sport: Page 29

Outcry after trees are felled Neighbours are outraged after dozens of trees were chopped down at a mobile home park near the river Frome. Bristol City Council is investigating.

PAGE 7

Park supporters get the go-ahead

New vision for Vassall Centre THE charity that owns the Vassall Centre in Oldbury Court has unveiled its vision of how the site could look in five years' time, if a major redevelopment goes ahead.

New pictures and details of more than 80 homes, workplaces and a "landscaped

heart" for the middle of the new neighbourhood have been published by Bristol Charities, as it asks for people's comments on the scheme before making a formal planning application.

Consultation meetings have been held and an exhibition, which is open to the public, runs

at the centre in Gill Avenue until June 6.

People are also being encouraged to go online or drop in to the Vassall Centre reception to pick up copies of the consultation.

Turn to Page 4

Two groups, Friends of Eastville Park and the Eastville Park Lido Steering Group, have been given the chance to take their plans for the park forward.

PAGE 12

Bravery award for pond rescue PC A PC who helped save the ife of a teenager found in a pond in Vassalls Park has been given a national bravery award.

PAGE 17

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EDITORIAL Ken McCormick 07715 770377 news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

ADVERTISING Shaun Edwards Tel 07540 383 870 sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Linda Tanner news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk PUBLISHER Brookfield Publishing Tel 07540 383 870 sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk Facebook fishpondsvoice

Twitter @fishpondsVoice Instagram fishpondsvoice

JULY DEADLINE To ensure your news or letters are included, please contact us

by Wednesday June 22. Advertisers are asked to contact us by the same date.

LOCAL INFORMATION Bristol City Council

http://www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000

Police

www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999

NHS 111

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

Anti social behaviour team

asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Environment/trading standards

Fire

www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999

01454 868001

Well Aware

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

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 Kingswood Voice, contact the publisher using the details below. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

A member of the

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Fishponds 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 in Fishponds and the surrounding areas. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Brookfield Publishing on 07540 383870 or email news@fishpondsvoice. co.uk. This month 8,000 copies will be distributed in Fishponds and the local area.

To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870

June, 2022

n NEWS

Woman could be key to sex assault investigation POLICE believe this woman could be a key witness in a sexual assault investigation.

Officers have released a CCTV image of her in the hope that people can help to identify her or she sees it and comes forward.

It was taken at the Tesco Eastville petrol station on Eastgate Road on Friday, July 23 last year, before another woman was subjected to what police described as a "serious sexual assault".

Police believe the woman in the picture may have seen the offender and spoken with the victim before the assault took place.

Police want to trace Detective Inspector Alan Smith said: this woman “We’ve been keen to progress other lines of enquiry prior to releasing this image to the public. We’re now at the point in our investigation where we need help identifying this woman, who is someone we believe could potentially be a key witness.”

Anyone who recognises the woman in the CCTV image should call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5221 166 740.

Police say the victim of the assault is being given specialist support and is being kept informed about the progress of the investigation.

Man, 37, questioned after teenage boy attacked on bus A MAN has been questioned by police over an alleged assault on a teenager on a bus.

Avon and Somerset police issued CCTV images and an appeal after the 15-year-old boy was hit "multiple times" on a Y5 service, which had travelled through Fishponds on its way to Chipping Sodbury.

The victim needed hospital treatment after the incident, which happened on April 12 at about 7pm between Staple Hill and Pucklechurch, where the attacker was ordered off the bus.

Police say the boy is now recovering at home but still needs treatment for his injuries.

A spokesman said: "The victim was approached by a man who appeared intoxicated and demanded money. When the victim refused, the man struck him to the face multiple times, causing facial injuries which required hospital treatment. The offender got off the bus in the Shortwood Road area of Pucklechurch after the driver ordered him to leave."

Following an appeal in May, which was shared on the Voice Facebook page, police say more than 25 people got in touch providing a man's name in connection with the images.

"A 37-year-old man has since voluntarily attended a police station for interview. We'd like to thank all those who contacted us as well as everyone who helped by sharing our appeal," police said.

Enquiries into the incident are ongoing, and anyone with information who has not yet contacted the police should call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5222 086 969.

Burglars strike at paint centre PAINT, brushes and rollers worth thousands of pounds were stolen from a decorating business in Fishponds.

Police say electronic equipment and clothing were also taken in the break-in at the Crown Decorating Centre on New Station Road, close to the Royal Mail depot, between 2.15pm on April 30 and 7.30am on May 2. The burglars got in through a rear fire door, before loading the stolen goods into a vehicle through the large shutters at the front of the warehouse. Witnesses and anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage which could help the investigation should call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5222 103 350.

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

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June, 2022

n NEWS THE education watchdog has praised a primary school which is "determined" that every child will succeed.

Three inspectors from Ofsted visited Fishponds Church of England Academy in March.

Their report, which has just been published, rates the school in Fishponds Road, which has 384 pupils aged four to 11, as 'good' in all categories, from education quality and leadership to pupil behaviour.

A previous inspection in 2018 had said the school required improvement, and the trust that runs it said the new rating was a "significant change", brought about by the hard work of children, staff and previous principal Debbie Coker.

The inspectors said: "Pupils enjoy their time at school. They are confident and successful in their learning. They are proud to live up to the school’s Christian values.

"Pupils are polite, collaborate well in their learning and show respect for each other’s opinions.

"Staff have high and consistent expectations of pupils’ behaviour.

"Pupils say that staff help them to restore relationships when there have been fallingsout or rare cases of bullying."

The report said children enjoyed a wide range of afterschool activities and taking on responsibilities, from being school councillors to fundraising.

Inspectors praised the curriculum which saw pupils "learn well across a full range of subjects", with the "clear and structured" phonics programme, maths teaching and encouragement of a "love of reading" highlighted.

The inspectors said: "Leaders

School's pride as changes earn Ofsted 'good' rating

Pupils at Fishponds CE Academy 'enjoy school', say inspectors are determined that each child in the school will succeed.

They have brought about many improvements in the curriculum and in managing pupils’ emotional and social needs. As a result, the quality of education that pupils receive is good."

Learning for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities and pupils' "positive attitudes to respecting people’s differences" were also praised.

The inspectors said: "They know that it is wrong to judge someone based on their gender, appearance or beliefs.

"They know that it is their responsibility to seek help if they are aware of anyone being harassed. This prepares them well to be responsible citizens."

The report made recommendations for further improvements in assessments in some subjects.

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Support from governors to the school's leadership, and from leaders to staff, was praised.

The inspectors said: "Staff say they love being part of the 'Fishponds family'."

The school is run by the

Diocese of Bristol Academy Trust, which said that since the previous inspection it had "redeveloped its vision and values".

Changes included designing and implementing a new curriculum tailored to the school, a new phonics scheme to develop early reading and a new library.

Mrs Coker, who left after six years to take on a senior role at another education trust, thanked families for their support and "continued belief in my leadership to bring about the changes needed".

Trust chief executive Jez Piper said: "We are absolutely delighted with the outcomes at Fishponds CE Academy and so proud of the children and the staff. This judgement marks a significant change for Fishponds CE Academy and should very much be celebrated.”

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June, 2022

n NEWS

Charity plans 'accessible, inclusive' Vassall From Page 1 Bristol Charities first announced plans to demolish the existing Vassall Centre buildings – put up during the Second World War as a military hospital – and redevelop the site late last year.

It describes the proposed development as "an accessible, inclusive, new neighbourhood centre for multi-generational living and working, with facilities for the wider community".

People living nearby raised concerns over the density of the buildings, which they said could "dominate" the area and block sunlight from neighbouring homes, as well as the loss of on-site parking and ground-floor space for the organisations which currently use the centre, many of which have employees and clients with disabilities.

Bristol Charities says it has taken these comments into account in its updated designs,

including moving buildings away from boundaries to preserve sunlight for neighbours and ensuring the new buildings are more accessible than the current site.

The key features of the project are: *40 one-bed and two-bed flats for older people, to be let

by Bristol Charities at affordable rents. *41 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership: a mixture of two and three-bed houses with gardens, and one and two-bed apartments with balconies, operated by housing association Brighter Places. *A nursery connected to the sheltered flat development, "to encourage social interaction between different generations". *A café and 'gateway building' with bookable community spaces. *Accessible workspace hub for existing Vassall Centre and new tenants.

*A landscaped central "heart", with outdoor seating and recreational space to "encourage interaction between everyone using the centre".

Announcing the latest plans, Bristol Charities said: "The plans are designed to encourage people of different ages and social backgrounds to come together to create an integrated, balanced community."

If the plans are approved, work on the site would take place in two phases, with the existing buildings on the west of the site, next to Vassall Road, demolished next year to build the hub, cafe, gateway, nursery and housing for older people.

Phase one is expected to take two years to complete, after which the tenant charities would move into the new hub.

The eastern half of the site, next to Willow Bed Close, would then be flattened to make way for the affordable housing in phase

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two of the development, with the intention of the entire project being finished by 2027.

Two consultation sessions were held in mid-May for existing Vassall Centre tenants and members of the public, and attended by around 30 people.

Others have dropped to the Vassall Centre to look at the consultation displays.

At one of the consultations Bristol Charities chief executive Julian Mines said every organisation currently based on the site would be able to stay and have a place in the new hub if they wanted it, adding: "We would love everybody to stay."

He said the prime aim of the new hub was to ensure it was as accessible as possible, and that being on three floors would be no bar to this, with lifts and other features similar to those found in modern hospitals making access better than the existing Vassall Centre buildings, many of which have steps and need ramps to

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June, 2022

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Centre development make them accessible.

Meetings with current tenants and advice from a specialist accessibility consultant have led to the inclusion of features such as a wide central corridor to allow wheelchairs to pass and improved visibility with glazed ‘shop fronts’ for hub tenants.

Mr Mines added that the number of new homes proposed for the site was lower than the number allowed under planning guidelines, which meant that the finished neighbourhood would be much less crowded than a commercial housing development.

He said: "We have listened carefully and our revised approach responds to the views and concerns of tenants and the local community, providing much more detail about what the proposed development will look like and how the different elements will work together.

"The redevelopment of the Vassall Centre provides an

important opportunity to retain and improve on the existing services, whilst making more effective use of the site for tenants, people with disabilities, older people and families in need of affordable housing, and local residents."

The latest plans include separate parking for the affordable housing, gateway building and to the rear of the hub building.

The affordable housing plans include a play area, 'community growing space' and other areas with a diverse range of plants, with more greenery and wildlife spaces planned around the site.

The aim is for the new buildings to be sustainable, with high standards of insulation and use of renewable energy such as solar panels.

One of the concerns raised was the loss of buildings which residents said were of historical importance.

Bristol Charities insists the

The landscaped 'heart' at the centre of the development existing buildings "are at the end of their practical life-span and have very poor environmental performance".

It says it wants to "commemorate and celebrate" the centre’s legacy with an exhibition on its history – and could re-use materials from demolished buildings to make public art or raised beds in the

new landscaped area.

The current consultation runs until June 6 at the centre and on the vassallcentre.org.uk website.

People can request more information by calling 0117 977 2002 or emailing info@abc-pr. co.uk.

A formal planning application is likely to be made later in June or July.

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June, 2022

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June, 2022

7

n NEWS

Neighbours outraged as trees are 'butchered' NEIGHBOURS of a mobile home park next to the river Frome say a woodland area has been left "devastated" after dozens of trees were chopped down without permission.

The trees overlooked the Riverside Drive park homes estate, near Oldbury Court.

People living in neighbouring Glenside Close say workers for site owner Wyldecrest Parks turned up on a Sunday to start cutting down the trees.

They have complained to Bristol City Council, which has ordered work to stop and has started an investigation.

Wyldecrest bought the estate from original owners the West family last year.

It started a revamp earlier this year, evicting tenants of rented homes, which have been demolished and are set to be replaced by more modern park homes. Those residents who owned their homes are still living on the site.

The company was given planning permission to remove smaller trees and saplings below the canopy level, some lower branches from mature trees, and to clear hazel, sycamore, ash trees and brambles up to 5 metres from the cliff face between Riverside Drive and Glenside Close.

But residents believe a note on the council's permission notice saying that a tree preservation order was not required at the site – which already has legal protection as a conservation area – has been interpreted by the company "as saying they can do what they like across the site".

Wyldecrest insists it has acted legally and the work was necessary for safety reasons.

Glenside Close resident Viv Keast said: "It has devastated the area.

"They have taken down flowering trees, including damson and horse chestnuts.

"We had a lot of birds around here before – where are they going to go?

"I tried to speak with the people cutting down the trees but you couldn't deal with them – they just laughed."

Residents say tree surgeons did some pruning in March and April in line with the planning

planning offence, which could lead to prosecution.

The officers said up to 39 early mature and mature trees had been damaged or felled and that the "poor quality" of the work indicated the tree fellers were not suitably qualified.

Wyldecrest Parks chairman Alfie Best said: "We can confirm work was carried out over four days; this was absolutely necessary as the trees were dangerous, following a report to us.

"At Wyldecrest it is of the utmost importance to protect our residents and the public from any type of danger. As these trees were in a position next to homes on a cliff bank, with unstable roots where one had already fallen down, the decision was taken to take down the trees in which there was a danger. The council on their visit did not indicate any breach in legislation, as alleged by the next door neighbours."

Residents of Glenside Close and Riverside Drive in front of the felled trees, at an old entrance to the park home site investigating. permission but different workers A notice sent to residents arrived to start cutting down said the council had placed a trees on the first weekend in six-month tree protection order May. on the site, which could be made David Langbridge saw two permanent. large conifers behind his garden It has also served notice wall chopped down and left on on the landowners that it is the ground. investigating them for a potential He said: "Demolition is the word I'd use to describe what happened to these trees. It looks like a wasteland now.

"One reason we bought the property here was the view of the valley and the privacy of the trees. One of them is right on the boundary."

Residents invited Frome Vale ward city councillor Lesley Alexander to see the state of the DAY TRIPS 2022 trees. from only £22 with local pick-up points Councillor Alexander said the trees had been "butchered" and • Moreton-In-Marsh (Market Day) & • The 3 B’s of the Cotswolds Tour residents were "very angry".

Bourton-on-The-Water Tues 12th April Tues 9th Aug She said: "The scale of the • Abergavenny (Market Day), Caerphilly • River Dart Round Robin Tues 23rd Aug work and the manner in which & The Brecon Beacons Tues 26th April • Barry Island or Porthcawl Sun 28th Aug it was carried out appears to • Mystery Tour Mon 2nd May • Bournemouth (Air Show Weekend) be outside work allowed in the • Malvern Spring Flower Show Sun 4th Sept Sun 8th May conservation area and far more • Brecon & The Welsh Mountains Scenic • Black Country Living Museum Drive Sun 18th Sept than that applied for to the Tues 10th May • Salisbury & The New Forest Scenic planning department.

• The Royal Mint Experience & Cardiff Drive Sun 2nd Oct "It appears that the original Bay Tues 24th May • Wye Valley & The Forest of Dean work applied for was carried • Exbury Gardens in Spring Colour & Scenic Drive Sun 16th Oct out by competent tree surgeons Scenic Drive through The New Forest • Savernake Forest Autumn Tints & Tues 7th June but subsequently mature and Marlborough Sun 30th Oct • Windsor with Riverboat Cruise healthy trees have been cut down • Winchester Christmas Market Sun 12th June Sun 27th Nov which were not authorised, and • Compton Acres Gardens & Poole • Cardiff Christmas Shopper in such a way as to endanger Tues 21st June Sun 4th Dec property and life.

• Weymouth • Webb’s of Wychbold Garden Centre at "The area has always been Sun 24th July and Sun 21st Aug Christmas & Worcester Tues 13th Dec a quiet and beautiful place • Lyndhurst, Beaulieu, and The New • Winter Wonderland @ Hyde Park & Forest Tues 26th July but now looks appalling, and Oxford Street Shopping Sun 18th Dec • The Donkey Sanctuary & Sidmouth residents and I hope that the (Folk Festival week) Tues 2nd Aug council will take action against the owners."

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June, 2022

9

n NEWS

Law will be lasting legacy of Ross and Clare

THE family of a Fishponds couple who were killed by a speeding disqualified driver have finally won their campaign to toughen sentences.

Ross and Clare Simons, who lived in Hillfields, were killed as they cycled their tandem in Hanham in January 2013.

Ross, who was 34, and Clare, 30, were hit by a speeding car driven by Michael Lovell, who by the age of 38 had already built up 69 previous convictions, including four for dangerous driving, and 13 for driving while disqualified. He fled the scene, leaving Ross and Clare to die in the road.

Later in 2013 Lovell was jailed for ten and a half years, after admitting causing death by dangerous driving. The maximum sentence at the time was 14 years but he received a 'discount' on his sentence for pleading guilty. He served five years and was released in 2018.

Ross and Clare's relatives launched a campaign to toughen

Clare and Ross Simons pictured at their wedding, 18 months before they were killed.

Picture courtesy of Kelly Woodruff

sentences to a maximum of life imprisonment, backed throughout by Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore, in whose constituency the incident happened.

The Justice 4 Ross and Clare campaign has now seen this become law with the passing of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act at the end of April.

A 2014 petition calling for strengthened laws on dangerous driving gathered 15,000

signatures and Mr Skidmore scheduled a Commons debate on the subject.

He also raised the issue with the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, who met Ross and Clare’s family in 2015.

Ross's sister Kelly Woodruff said: “Myself and all of my family are delighted to bring a very long nine-year campaign into its final stages.

"After losing Ross and Clare in 2013 we have always felt we needed to achieve something

positive out of an awful situation.

"Changing the death by dangerous driving law from 14 years to life means the world to us, knowing we will be helping future victims and their families.

“We’d like to thank Chris Skidmore and his team for all their help and dedication over the years on this campaign.

Without them this wouldn’t have been possible.”

Mr Skidmore said: “I am delighted that the change which Ross and Clare’s family and myself have campaigned for during the past nine years has now become law.

“For far too long, drivers who killed either through reckless or careless driving have not faced sentences which reflect the terrible damage and harm that they cause to families and local communities.

“Ross and Clare’s family should be immensely proud of what they have achieved and the positive change that has come from their tireless campaigning.”

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Please ask one of our experienced team for details Chapel Lane, Fishponds Trading Estate, Bristol BS5 7EY Tel: (0117) 951 7717 email: bristolcarpets@gmail.com web: www.bristolcarpet.co.uk facebook: @BristolCarpets To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870

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Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

fishpondsvoice

10

June, 2022

n TURNERS VISION

UV sun protection optimise your eyes with sunglasses from zeal optics

using plant-based polaroid technology for superb optical clarity and visual comfort

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To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870

With our British version of a summer fast approaching it's time to start thinking about the sun and possible holidays ahead.

When packing for holidays or days out in the sun, one of the first things you think about taking is sunscreen.

We all know now how harmful the sun's UV rays can be and how they can negatively impact us. We spend time researching the best sun creams for our children and ourselves. What volume of SPF to wear? 20? 30? 50+? Cream or Spray? Waterproof or non sticky?

People put so much effort into protecting their skin from UV - but I wonder how much thought goes into protecting their eyes?

The effects of UV light damage can be life-changing Although much of the UV light we are exposed to is absorbed by the eyes without any damage, overexposure to UV can build up over years and have a damaging effect on eyes and eyesight. Possible long-term issues can include cataracts.

Cataracts are where the lens inside of the eye becomes cloudy in patches and can make your vision appear misty.

Luckily enough there is a simple step you can take to protect your eyes in the best possible way and that is by purchasing UV400 protective sunglasses, wearing proper eye protection and a hat to block the UV rays.

The science behind the sunglasses Ultraviolet, or UV rays are electromagnetic radiation from the sun. While invisible to the naked eye, UV light penetrates the Earth’s atmosphere and reaches your eyes (and skin) as UVA and UVB waves.

Sunglasses labelled UV 400 provide almost 100% protection from those harmful ultraviolet light rays. The 400 element refers to them blocking wavelengths up to 400 nanometers - which includes the UV-A and UV-B rays.

Your sunglasses should: •B lock out 99 to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation • S creen out 75 to 90% of visible light •B e free of distortion and imperfection •A llow proper colour recognition, particularly for drivers.

Lastly, don’t forget about protection for your children and teenagers, as they tend to spend more time in the sun.

Choosing your sunglasses We have an array of sunglass frames including Ray-Ban with authentic Ray-Ban lenses (with or without prescription) and our other fantastic range of polarising sunglasses by Zeal Optics.

These stunning polarising lenses eliminate glare, such as when you see a wet road in bright sunshine or when the visor in your car just doesn’t seem low enough.

The Zeal range uses plant-based technology for superb optical clarity and visual comfort. Their frames come with discrete and comfy nose and side grips that activate as they respond to your body heat. No more sunglasses slipping down your nose on hot summer days just when you need to see clearly!

If you would like expert advice on sunglasses, Billie-Jo our Senior Dispensing Optician can help you. If you have any concerns about your vision, please book for an advanced eye exam with one of our specialist Opticians Ginny or Marta. All can be reached on 0117 965 4434 or 0117 9622 474.

Billie-Jo

Billie-Jo Britt is a Senior Dispensing Optician, and has enjoyed styling the eyes of her patients at Turners Opticians for over 10 years.

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

11

n NEWS

Bristol Brunel wins baking challenge

A TEAM from Bristol Brunel Academy triumphed in a baking battle involving hundreds of school pupils.

The team from the Speedwell secondary school had to produce a cake to impress a judging panel including Channel 4 Junior Bake Off runner-up Robbie Hedges and Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton in the "fiercely competitive" second annual Big Bake organised by the Cabot Learning Federation.

Pupils from each secondary and primary school in the academy federation went to King’s Oak Academy in Kingswood to bake their cakes, with the teams judged on their creative flair and technical ability by Robbie, who is from Pucklechurch and was a finalist in last year's Junior Bake Off, and Josh, who won a Michelin star for his Chew Valley pub the Pony and Trap and also runs Root, Salt & Malt and the Kensington Arms in Bristol.

Representatives of the winning teams with Robbie Hedges of Junior Bake Off, CLF chief executive Steve Taylor and Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton.

Federation chief executive Steve Taylor was also on the panel, who blind-tasted the cakes

and gave bonus points for bakes linked to the CLF’s HEART (high expectations, equity, all children,

resilience and togetherness) values.

There were also Bake Offstyle technical challenges of biscuit decoration for primary pupils and scone-making for secondary school teams, which were marked by the judges and added to each school's overall score.

Bristol Brunel won the secondary section while the primary challenge was won

by Summerhill Academy of St George.

CLF Executive Principal Kate Richardson said: "It was a fantastic afternoon to show our children that they are a part of something bigger; our Cabot Learning Federation family.

"We thoroughly enjoyed the baking, talking to the inspiring judges, being together again following the pandemic and of course, tasting the bakes!

"Congratulations to all of the pupils who took part.”

A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT QUARRY HOUSE NURSING HOME Providing top quality, best value, holistic care 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

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Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

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fishpondsvoice

12

n NEWS

June, 2022

Park projects get the go-ahead TWO groups bidding to run facilities in Eastville Parks have been given the green light by the city council to take their projects forward.

Both the Friends of Eastville Park and the Eastville Park Lido Steering Group have been told that their expressions of interest in running facilities in the park have been successful under the council's Bristol Future Parks project.

The Friends' proposal is to develop a Community Hub and Activities Centre based around the Nissen Hut, next to the park's bowling green.

The group has already carried out extensive renovation work and has a programme of events planned for the summer and beyond.

The Eastville Park Lido Steering Group proposal is to build a new outdoor swimming pool on the nearby old bowling green site, opposite the Nissen hut and next to the basketball court.

Announcing the bid last summer, the group said the lido would be run as a not-forprofit social enterprise, with any surpluses put back into the community.

The overall cost of the scheme at the time was estimated at about £1.6 million.

Both groups are now waiting to hear what the next steps will be having made it through

the first stage, with the council planning workshops for successful applicants in the coming weeks.

Looking for new ways to fund the upkeep of the city's parks, the council invited community groups and businesses to make bids to manage facilities in Eastville Park and four others across the city when it launched Future Parks last autumn.

It said: "The Bristol Future Parks project will not involve selling off parks or green spaces but is exploring ideas that could help generate income from which parks, and the people who use them, can benefit.

"This will include exploring a variety of commercial opportunities to generate revenue that will be used to maintain parks and fund improvements, such as bike hubs, splash parks, cafes, lakeside activities and tree top adventures."

Eastville Park was identified as one of three parks with "specific commercial potential".

A statement on the Future Parks website said: "We've had an excellent response to the pilot phase of Bristol Future Parks and look forward to sharing more details of the successful projects soon."

The website said seven "small scale projects", eight medium scale projects and six projects had been chosen across the five parks.

Of these, 16 are community projects and five are commercial projects.

The council declined to officially confirm which projects it has chosen and how many relate to Eastville Park, although a spokesperson confirmed all applicants had been contacted to tell them the outcome of their submissions.

Housing Forums

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Evening:

Afternoon:

Monday 20 June 2022, 6–8pm

Wednesday 22 June 2022, 1–3pm

Your opinions help us make decisions!

If you’re a council tenant, you can have your say on how the housing service is run and make suggestions about improvements. For Summer 2022, we are hosting online meetings focussing on issues we know matter most to tenants.

● Come along and hear some top tips from the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) on how to reduce your energy bills and save money. You can also find out more about the types of support available to you if you are worried about the effect of the national price hike.

To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870

● Places must be booked, you can do this online at: www.bristol.gov.uk/LocalHousingForums

● If you are not online but would like to take part, there is also a free dial-in option which you can join using your phone. For more information about how you can access the meetings contact Tenant Participation 0117 352 1444 or email tpu@bristol.gov.uk

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

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fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

n FRIENDS OF EASTVILLE PARK JUNE sees the arrival of summer – but you’d be forgiven for thinking that it had already arrived, as May gave us some glorious sunshine that brought many visitors to the park.

There was certainly plenty to see at the lake, with newly-born swans, geese and ducks venturing out from their nests on the islands and exploring their new world on water and along the pathways.

Aside from the natural threats to young chicks from gulls and larger fish, there is always a risk to their well-being from our own activities, and there have already been many scary moments when they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The overwhelming majority of cyclists take great care and slow down to give way but a few choose not to and it can lead to injury and death of young chicks.

We hope that we can help to avoid this and have placed some warning signs at the lake to encourage everyone to take care.

The growing season is a couple of weeks earlier this year, and we are already collecting Elderflowers for our Eastville Park cordial.

We’re busy bottle washing at the moment and once it’s labelled up, it will be on sale and helping to raise funds for the park.

The monthly pop-up café at the Nissen Hut is in full swing, and we’ve been blessed with gorgeous weather, great live music and a humongous number of customers at each café.

We love the atmosphere on the day and, despite all the hard work, we all really enjoy seeing everyone and bringing people together.

Our next café on June 19 sees us joining with the Bristol Refugee Festival, celebrating the refugee and asylum seeker community.

13

Summer comes early to Eastville Park

Elderflower is blossoming early this year There’ll be some exciting food from around the world and live music that’ll have you dancing all day!

Our Future Parks proposal to develop a thriving Community Hub has been successful through the assessment stage and we are now looking forward to further discussions with the council in preparation for implementing the programme of changes that we are all so excited about.

We are so grateful for all the support we have received from our members and friends in the local community – we certainly wouldn’t have come this far without your encouragement and kind words.

As if the troubles of the last couple of years weren’t as awful as they’ve been, it seems certain that more pain is heading our way, with many people already struggling to cope with the cost of living increases that will impact especially hard on lower income households.

We are all familiar with food banks and other initiatives to support those of us facing hard times. The Friends of Eastville Park have been thinking about how we could offer our support to the local community and we are busy working on a plan to run a food club at the Nissen Hut. We are well placed in our location and have teamed up with FareShare to redistribute surplus food from manufacturers and supermarkets.

The scheme is very successful and makes things just that little bit easier for people who need a little help.

We intend to open Eastville Park Food Club weekly, at the beginning of July, for a trial period and then more often if there is increased demand.

It’s easy to join: members pay an annual membership fee of £1

Friends of

EASTVILLE PARK

and receive a bag of groceries worth around £15/£20 for just £3.50.

There is a wide selection of items to choose from each week, too. We will shortly be sharing information about how to join but if you have any questions about the club, please contact us at friendsofeastvillepark@gmail.com.

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fishpondsvoice

n NEWS

June, 2022

Warning that HMOs are ‘worsening Bristol’s housing crisis’ DEVELOPERS converting family homes into shared houses are “worsening Bristol’s housing crisis”, a councillor has claimed.

The city council was slammed for having “no idea” how many houses of multiple occupation or HMOs there are in the city, despite recent efforts to address the issue.

Concerns came to the fore during a debate on May 18 over an application to the council’s development control committee to convert what was originally a two-bed house in Bishopston into a six-person HMO, drawing more than 200 objections.

Fishponds and Eastville have also seen a rise in the number of applications to convert conventional homes into HMOs, where several separate households share communal facilities.

Since the start of the year applications have been made for conversions or lawful use certificates in Freemantle Road, Pound Drive, The Greenway, Oldbury Court Road, Fishponds Road, Manor Road, Forest Road and Brentry Road.

The council has been trying to control the number of HMOs in the city, with a policy allowing an application to be refused if it means more than one in 10 homes will be HMOs. But the meeting heard the council cannot immediately force a landlord of an HMO without a licence or planning permission to convert it back, as this would mean evicting tenants – and it also does not know how many HMOs there are.

Asked what proportion of HMOs in Bristol are licensed, development management service manager Gary Collins told the meeting: "I’m sorry, I have no idea.

"I would suggest it’s quite high, but I have no evidence to base that on."

Cotham ward Green councillor Guy Poultney said: "I do not know what more councillors can do to control the proliferation of HMOs in the city.

"It’s hugely damaging to the quality of life for our residents and it’s reducing the number of family homes in circulation. It’s worsening the housing crisis.”

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Licensing scheme will not be renewed A SCHEME to inspect rental properties in Eastville will not be renewed.

The Property Licensing scheme was introduced by the city council in 2016 in the area and St George, to raise standards and take action against landlords who fail to adhere to them.

Since then, more than 3,400 inspections have been carried out: 88% of properties were found to breach licence conditions, 752 notices were issued to resolve serious hazards, and legal action resulted in fines exceeding £62,000.

However the scheme has a five-year limit and, having been judged to be a success, it is now being tried in other areas of the city.

A council spokesperson said the law governing the scheme meant it could not be extended without new consultations, but licences remain in force for five years beyond their issue date.

The spokesperson said: "The scheme means we now have a database of landlords, and tenants who have been made more aware of the powers the council have to deal with poor housing conditions.

"Even though the scheme has ended in these areas, we still respond to any complaints and work with tenants and landlords to improve conditions and resolve disputes."

Plans for city-wide licensing could be introduced later in the year.

To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

15

n NEWS

City votes to scrap elected mayor BRISTOL'S elected mayor will be scrapped after voters decided to bring back committees to run the city council.

In a city-wide referendum in May, 59% of voters opted for the committee system, with 41% voting to keep the mayor.

It means that from 2024, when the city next holds elections, councillors will have full responsibility for deciding policy and running the council executive.

Opposition councillors backed the Scrap the Mayor campaign.

Green group leader Heather Mack said it would end important decisions being made "behind closed doors by just one person whom the public and elected councillors cannot easily challenge".

She said: “In the future, we look forward to a fairer, more open way of doing business, where decisions are made collaboratively, at open meetings the public can attend and scrutinise.

“I’m not going to pretend it will be perfect – and we won’t always agree on everything – but that’s fine. Debate and discussion don’t undermine democracy, they are the essence of it."

Current mayor Marvin Rees had already said he would stand

Opposition leaders Heather Mack, Mark Weston and Jos Clark celebrate the referendum result with Mary Page, who led the campaign to scrap the mayor down in 2024. He will remain in charge at City Hall until then.

Mr Rees said the referendum had been "a distraction with major consequences for the city".

He said he hoped his fears for the committee system were not warranted as the city needed to be "focused on making decisions and focused on delivering, not focused on internal wrangling and posturing, and politics that gets sucked into City Hall".

Just over a quarter of the city's eligible voters – 94,937 out of an electorate of 332,028 – took part in the referendum.

That was below the 41% who voted in last year's mayoral election, but higher than the 24%

who voted in the referendum that led to the creation of the post in 2012.

Bristol will now go back to using the system used during the 1980s and 90s, where decisions were made by a series of committees.

A new working group of 12 councillors – four Labour, four Green, two Conservatives, one

Liberal Democrat and one from the Knowle Community Party – will be tasked with exploring how the new system should be set up, and report back by the end of the year.

Its job will include deciding the committee structure, roles and responsibilities, the functions of full council meetings, democratic engagement and public participation.

The committee will also have to decide how the council is represented on the West of England Combined Authority, which has strategic transport, employment and planning responsibilities.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who is in charge of WECA and has had disagreements with Mr Rees and other council leaders, said having only one elected mayor would "make things more straightforward".

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

St Mary Redcliffe Church Stained Glass Design Competition And Who is My Neighbour?

A competition to redesign four small panels of one of the major stained-glass windows of St Mary Redcliffe Church

Snub to Greens 'sealed Mayor's fate' EX-Mayor George Ferguson says his successor's refusal to share power with the Greens is the main reason the city voted to scrap the role.

Mr Ferguson became Bristol's first directly-elected mayor 10 years ago, but campaigned to abolish the position in the referendum. He believes Marvin Rees’s insistence on having an all-Labour cabinet after his re-election last year, despite Labour and the Greens having 24 councillors each, was the “biggest influence for change” among the "myriad of reasons, both positive and negative", for the vote.

Green demands for a share of cabinet positions were turned down

by Mr Rees, who cited a lack of trust between the parties after "some very adversarial relationships" over the previous five years.

In an online blog Mr Ferguson said the single-party cabinet failed "to respect the make-up of the council". He said: "The referendum was neither about me, as the previous mayor, or Marvin Rees, the current mayor – or at least it shouldn’t have been! However it is inevitable that voters’ decisions will have been affected by their perception of the success or failure of both our terms of office, and a chance, as Marvin put it, to ‘have a pop’ at one or the other of us – or both."

Mr Ferguson, elected as an independent in 2012, had a 'rainbow' cabinet from across the political parties. He said the political situation had "changed hugely" since then.

A spokesperson for Mr Rees said: “Like all elections and referendums the reason for people voting will be various and diverse.

It is over simplistic to allocate any one reason for the result."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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Contact parish.office@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk or visit our website for further information

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

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fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

17

n NEWS

Pond rescue PC earns bravery award A POLICE officer who helped save the life of a teenager found in a pond at Vassalls Park has been given a bravery award.

PC Adam Jones was one of nine officers involved in the rescue of a 19-year-old man who was found in the water at the Oldbury Court estate on a cold night in December 2020, after a call raised concerns.

Calling on his local knowledge to find the pond, PC Jones and a colleague were first on the scene, finding the student in the dark and dragging him out of the muddy water.

By that time the teenager had stopped breathing and PC Jones immediately started CPR to revive him, carrying on until an ambulance crew arrived.

He said: "It goes to show that it’s vital that police are trained in first aid, as we are often the first on scene.

“Paramedics arrived soon afterwards but if we hadn’t got to him in time and performed CPR,

PC Adam Jones with PCC Mark Shelford, High Sheriff of Bristol Jennifer Duke and Chief Constable Sarah Crew I’m not sure he’d still be with us.”

Police tactical support officers arrived with a defibrillator and helped the ambulance service with continued CPR on the man for almost an hour, before helping to get him to hospital.

PC Jones and his colleagues have received the Royal Humane Society Award, for acts of bravery while saving or attempting to save a human life.

Avon and Somerset police said the man’s life had been saved "as a direct result of the officers’ outstanding actions".

The awards were presented at a ceremony attended by chief constable Sarah Crew, police and crime commissioner Mark Shelford and High Sheriff of Bristol Jennifer Duke.

Ms Crew said: “These awards provide an important

opportunity to recognise and celebrate exceptional investigative work, outstanding dedication to duty and extraordinary acts of bravery.

“The stories behind the awards are simply inspiring. At the heart of policing is a desire to make a difference and it is clear that our winners have gone above and beyond to do exactly that.

I am proud to work alongside them.”

PC Jones said: "I was updated a few months after the incident that the young man had recovered well. It was lovely to receive recognition for the work we do and for saving someone's life and I am delighted that he is doing ok."

PC Jones, who says he has wanted to be in the police since he was 14, added: "I honestly look forward to going to work every day and I feel very lucky that I get to investigate crime, help others and sometimes save lives for a living."

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Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

June, 2022

18

n NEWS

Liz awarded civic medal 'People's uni' on the move A CHARITY volunteer from the greater Fishponds area is one of this year's recipients of the Lord Mayor’s Medal.

Liz Corrigan was among 16 people and two organisations to receive awards from outgoing Lord Mayor Steve Smith in May. Liz was a volunteer on the Old Girls' Guild of Redland Junior High School and its chair for many years, also chairing the school's parents' Liz Corrigan receives her award from association and serving as Lord Mayor Steve Smith a governor and trustee of the school, maintaining cooperation when the school merged with Red Maids in 2016.

She has also served as a magistrate, a volunteer governor at Bristol Royal Infirmary and is currently volunteer secretary of the South West regional committee for healthcare provider Benenden Health, chair of the committee for Abbeyfield House in Redland and has skydived to raise money for the Department of Obstetrics at St Michael’s Hospital.

This year’s Lord Mayor Medals have been awarded to people who have dedicated their time as volunteers to community, youth and charitable organisations.

Councillor Smith said: "These awards are a timely reminder of the resilient Bristolian spirit, and shine a light on the volunteers, fundraisers, and charity organisations across Bristol. I am grateful for the incredible work that they do to make our city a better place."

From

A GROUP which broadens the horizons of Fishponds people with talks, walks and activities is moving to a new home.

The People's University of Fishponds aims to provide interesting accessible, affordable and friendly events each month.

Subject for upcoming talks and workshops range from history to belly dancing and dog psychology.

PUF has recently moved its base from Glenside Museum to the Nissen Hut community hub at Eastville Park, which is more accessible and has space to fit more people in to events.

After a live link up with a Brazilian rainforest tribe at the Star Inn on May 29 at 5.30pm, the first event in the park is a guided history walk in Eastville Park on June 26, which is already fully-booked.

After that comes a belly dancing performance and workshop at the hut on July 31 from 7-9pm, a talk on the psychology of dogs and humans on August 21 from 7-9pm and a talk on the history of the tea break on September 25, from 7-9pm.

In May PUF worked with Fishfest, the organisers of Party in the Ponds, on a fundraising disco for charities PROPS and Aid Box Community. The group also ran pop-up book and toy ‘shops’ and helped supply the local foodbank during lockdown.

Kate Brooks, of PUF, said: "Over the six years we’ve been going, we’ve heard from our local MP, from drag queens, film makers, musicians, and refugee poets and writers.

"We’re really looking forward to our new location, as the Nissen hut is a fabulous community resource, and the Friends of Eastville Park will be running their cafe on those dates too, so it’s great to be able to collaborate with them and plan some more exciting and probably quite random events!"

For more information visit the website peoplesuniversityoffishponds.com or the group's Facebook page.

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fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

n NEWS

19

Have your say on improving M32 flyover Marvin Rees takes part in a French lesson at May Park Primary School

Mayor Marvin visits May Park BRISTOL Mayor Marvin Rees took part in a French lesson when he when he visited May Park Primary School.

The Mayor was invited to the school in Eastville in May, as Year 5 pupils took part in activities hosted by a visiting teacher from Bordeaux University, as part of the Bristol-Bordeaux ‘Mini Assistant’ scheme.

A school spokesperson said: "It was a fantastic opportunity for children to meet the Mayor, and to learn from his journey and experiences – and, of course, to practise their French.

"At May Park, we are dedicated to nurturing curiosity. We are thrilled that Bristol’s Mayor embodied this value by joining in with the lesson. Bon travail!"

The school is helping its pupils to learn more about the wider world by renaming all of its classes after places near and far, around the world.

The project aims to help children to broaden their horizons during their journey through school, starting close to home in the nursery’s Easton and Eastville classes to Year 2 classes named after Rome, Berlin and Paris then on to New Delhi, Tokyo and Beijing by Year 6.

A CONSULTATION has been launched asking for ideas about how to improve the area under the M32 Eastville flyover.

People who live or work near the flyover, which passes through Eastville over Stapleton Road and Muller Road, or visit or travel through the area, are being asked to say what they think needs to change and how it might be done.

The consultation is being carried out on behalf of National Highways, which has responsibility for the motorway.

Eastville ward city councillor Marley Bennett recently met with urban design group Streets Reimagined, which has been asked to help develop ideas to improve the spaces under the M32, and is encouraging residents to take part in an online survey, which can be found at bit.ly/3wzwF5Y. He said: "I've long thought the motorway has been an eyesore and am pleased to see this commitment which brings with it the possibility of 'greening' the concrete monolithic structure."

Issues to be addressed include more plants, better lighting, tackling rubbish, fly-tipping, noise and air pollution, and making more leisure use out of the spaces under the flyover.

A recent project to decorate several pillars under the flyover was organised by charity LitterARTI with community street art group Peace of Art Bristol, with £20,000 of funding from National Highways and the council.

A National Highways spokesperson said: "This exciting study represents early feasibility to see what is possible, involving a targeted consultation with community groups and stakeholders.

"If things progress past this preliminary stage, the expectation would be for a much wider consultation in conjunction with the city council, who own the land under the M32."

Are you a passionate, empathetic, hardworking person, who likes to make a difference in children’s lives, if so, we have exciting opportunities to work at our rapidly expanding Special School in a variety of roles.

Briarwood is a Bristol Special School, based in Fishponds and Barton Hill, committed to providing a high quality of education, care and life skills for children and young people with severe learning difficulties and complex needs including autism and sensory impairment from 3-19 years.

Please visit our careers page on www.eteach.com/schools/briarwood-school-25106 or contact us via emal on HR.briarwoodsp@bristol-schools.uk Are you looking for a way to get involved with your local community?

Have you considered being a School Governor? If you are interested please contact Deborah Smith for more information chairbriarwoodsp@bristol-schools.uk Briarwood School, Briar Way, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 4EA To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870

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Get ready for Bristol’s Clean Air Zone

Summer 2022

Bristol is introducing a Clean Air Zone to reduce harmful pollution. Older and more polluting vehicles will be charged to enter the zone.

Check your vehicle online and find out how we can help you prepare for the zone.

bristol.gov.uk/cleanairzone

fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

n NEWS

Calls for bus cuts rethink METRO Mayor Dan Norris has called on bus operator First to reassess recent timetable changes after passengers complained they had been left delayed or stranded.

New timetables were introduced at the end of April to improve reliability as the company continues to deal with the impact of the pandemic on passenger and driver numbers.

Changes included the withdrawal of the Y2 service which linked Fishponds to Yate and Chipping Sodbury.

Mr Norris said he had heard reports of "chaos at the beginning" of the new timetables, with long delays and people who usually travel between Yate and Fishponds having to use the rail service via Temple Meads instead.

He said transport campaigners had also reported cancellations, cuts and delays on the 5, 48, 48a and 49 services.

Mr Norris said: "We need to know if this is teething troubles or terminal.

“We were told that with a new timetable in place it would be much easier for the buses to run on time. But that doesn’t appear to be what’s happening. Passengers are frustrated, and even worse, angry.

So we need the bus companies to revisit their plans and reassess them with urgency.”

A spokesperson for First West of England said the first week of the changes was "always going to be difficult", but added: "Since then we have seen a marked improvement in reliability.

"We still have some challenges in Bristol due to the ongoing driver shortage but we are actively recruiting and filling that shortfall.

"We apologise to any customers who have been inconvenienced in recent weeks and want to reassure them that we are doing everything possible to provide a reliable service at this time."

BAGS of HOPE

21

E-cargo bikes hit the streets ELECTRIC cargo bikes could become a more familiar sight on the streets of Fishponds thanks to a new trial scheme aimed at cutting emissions from freight transport.

A year-long trial run by the West of England Combined Authority will launch in June, with the bikes Dan Norris tries out one of the bikes replacing diesel vans for organisations including the Bristol Royal Infirmary and the University of the West of England.

A "try before you trial" event at WECA's offices was held in May, with four different varieties of e-cargo bikes, available under the £920,000 scheme, put through their paces.

Using GPS trackers, the trial will monitor the use of the bikes and the amount of carbon emissions they save.

The BRI plans to use them for medical supply deliveries.

Recent estimates suggest e-cargo bikes can make city deliveries about 60% faster than diesel vans and cut carbon emissions by 90%.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "I’ve spoken to many smaller businesses who sing the praises of electric bikes, but getting these larger organisations to sign up is a significant step."

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22

June, 2022

n NEWS FROM OUR MP

Queen’s Speech: a missed chance to address issues DESPITE the unveiling of a hefty package of bills, there was little in this year’s Queen’s Speech to address the real issues facing this country. It’s a relief to finally see proposed legislation that protects access to cash, promises a football regulator, and will look at improvements to social housing.

But generally, it missed the mark in what had the potential to be a watershed moment for Britain.

I welcome the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, somewhat cautiously after a decade of areas being lost in managed decline.

If it’s genuinely able to deliver more power to local communities rather than developers, it’ll be a brilliant thing for the whole of Bristol, helping us build highquality, zero-carbon, affordable new homes in the places where they are desperately needed, but also giving us greater powers to protect green spaces.

Conversely, it’s been hugely

disappointing to see the privatisation of Channel 4 play out, something I’ve fiercely opposed. Channel 4 invests more in independent production companies outside London than any other broadcaster, including through our regional hub in Bristol. This move threatens the future of over 60 of these independent companies and a £1 billion loss in investment. There is no need to privatise it.

It was good to see the Renters Reform Bill, and the scrapping of no-fault evictions, although the delay has been inexcusable.

The legislation was promised three years ago, and in that time the number of people evicted in Bristol from private rented property through no fault of their own has more than doubled.

The most glaring omission from the speech was any action to address the cost-of-living crisis.

The Government hasn’t seemed

to grasp the immediacy or severity of the situation.

It’s the Government’s responsibility to mitigate the hardship and determine who pays the cost of this crisis. A Windfall Tax on the likes of BP and Shell would hardly make a dent in their billion-pound oil tankers, and yet instead, it’s ordinary people who continue to bear the brunt.

Each week MPs hear from constituents resorting to using transport or shopping centres to stay warm, visiting libraries to get internet access, or taking up second or even third jobs to put food on the table.

In this regard, the Queen’s Speech was a massive missed opportunity. The Government continues to be more interested in stoking up culture wars than in genuinely trying to help people.

When you consider that the Food Foundation is saying that one in seven adults now live

Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East

writes for Fishponds Voice in homes where people have skipped meals, eaten less, or gone hungry, it becomes abundantly clear that an Emergency Budget is essential.

I hope that growing pressure will force the Chancellor’s hand.

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fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

n HISTORY Mike Jempson peruses the autograph books of nurses at the Beaufort War Hospital ALMOST 30,000 soldiers from around the world, seriously injured in World War I, were brought to Fishponds to recover.

The War Office had refashioned the old Bristol Lunatic Asylum on Manor Road as the Beaufort War Hospital.

Opened in May 1915 it could treat almost 1,500 patients at a time until its closure in 1919.

Most of the men had broken bones or shrapnel wounds, some had been poisoned by mustard gas. There to greet and treat them was an equally international team of doctors and nurses.

Among them were masseuses Agnes Mary Witts and a Miss B. M. Williams. Inevitably, among so many men far from home and receiving intimate care, they caused hearts to flutter. The autograph books the nurses kept reveal the thoughts, thanks and yearnings of patients.

Irish seaman Private Daniel Lynn from New South Wales opened Miss Williams's book with a warning Steal not this book my honest friend For fear the gallows will be your end Up the ladder down the rope There you will hang until you choke.

Later he would reveal his feelings: When you read this think of the writer Always bear him in your mind Until you find one liked you better And that is one you will never find.

(Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all) Former Queensland miner Private J. M. Axelsen was similarly smitten I cannot love my neighbours wife His ox I must not slaughter.

Thanks be to God, its not a sin, To Love Mr William’s daughter’ There was clearly a twinkle in the eye of Rifleman J. Maclean from the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 7 April 1917 Some girls are sweet little dears And some will give you deliriums Now I don’t I wish to cause any blushes or tears But have you ever heard of Miss Williams?

Not all of them were quite so enamoured. On 27 May 1917 Lance Corporal Albert John Tout from the Australian Imperial Force sounded a tad bitter with his Warning to the Unwary Attend ye patients to my tale of woe!

(Miss Williams) of Beaufort, massaged me so That my right foot, dislocated, Assumed forms variegated And tried, I assure you, the left t’outgrow.

In terror, dear reader, of such consequences I sought to become a true amanuensis,

23

Love in a time of war And save you, O patient, From a Fate now grown ancient: Do not be massaged by the masseuse in parenthesis.

Others were more cautious about expressing their feelings. On 1 July 1916 H.E. Stokes of the London Regiment had written Remember, you remembered be By me, with a remembrance true And oft as you remember me Remember, I remember you.

It was an oft-repeated sentiment, though Private P. Rosewell of the Kings Liverpool Regiment was not quite so romantic When you are old and cannot see put on your specs and think of me.

Several composed long poems about their masseuse, some slightly risque. Here’s the Manchester Regiment’s Private G. Folds Still and this is confidential And I don’t mind telling you It is really rather pleasant Those who’ve had it know its true In comes sister like a whirlwind That you’ve read about in tales And she’s really rather decent Even when the battery fails

A witty if poignant memento

Alex Anderson of the 1st London Scottish regiment who had lost the use of his legs was lost in admiration.

Yet I’d gaze upon those gentle hands with wondering eyes and dim, whose magic work would soon restore strength to the shattered limb.

My thanks to you!; while man with hate seek life and limb to kill, destroy; Your chosen work to reinstate for pain: life, health and joy!

There were plenty of laughs at the War Hospital with soldiers and staff keeping morale high with entertainments and even a Gymkhana with music supplied by Kingswood Reformatory Band.

One of the oddest diversions was the mounting of mock weddings. It was great opportunity for playacting, crossdressing and adopting funny names.

Hymns sung included ‘When there’s a girl about’ and ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag’.

After the ceremony the makebelieve vicar would advise people to “behave themselves” at the wedding breakfast and an evening of music and dancing. Least said, soonest mended.

• There is a permanent exhibition about the Beaufort War Hospital at the Glenside Museum https://www. glensidemuseum.org.uk/about-us/ visit-us/

To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870

Many men displayed their artistc flair

A wartime wedding with a difference; a good time was had by all

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Open Evening Wednesday 12th October 2022 - 6.30-8pm Do you have a child born between 1st September 2018 and 31st August 2019? If so, we will be holding an Open Evening for you to view Chester Park, the Headteacher will give a talk at 6.30pm and you will be able to tour the schools and talk to teaching staff.

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fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

25

n NEWS

Church celebrates roof project

Chester Park pupils are getting closer to nature at their forest school

Forest school opens PUPILS at Chester Park infant and junior schools have been experiencing the benefits of outdoor learning at their new forest school.

The two schools have been working on the forest school in a grassy area behind an embankment at the junior school.

Described as a "tranquil environment, where you can hear birds singing and bees buzzing," the wooded area has rope swings, hammocks, and a fire pit for cooking.

Nearby is a wild grassy area with plants and a host of minibeasts for children to find and study.

Saplings have been planted to extend the wooded area and both a bird hide and a pond are planned.

A school spokesperson said: "In the winter, a part of this area becomes boggy and then the children delight in stomping in the muddy puddles.

"There are many opportunities for the children to follow their own interests, from making concoctions in the mud kitchen to using nails and hammers to create their wooden trains.

"The space is always changing, not just through the seasons but as the Forest School leads come up with new ideas.

"Come rain or shine it is always a brilliant morning outside."

A model of Holy Trinity church attracted attention during the celebrations A CONCERT, exhibition, picnic and services helped mark the completion of a Stapleton church's £277,000 project to replace its roof.

The money was raised to repair the slate roof and lead gutters at Grade II* listed Holy Trinity church, Bell Hill, by the congregation, community and church charities.

To celebrate the end of the seven-year project, a grand opening was held at the beginning of May, followed by tours, children's activities, and a concert with performances by pupils from nearby Colston's School.

Among those visiting the church for the celebrations were Bishop of Swindon Lee Rayfield and Eastville councillors Lorraine Francis and Marley Bennett.

Jackie Lewis, from the church, said: "There was a real feeling of community and it gave everyone the opportunity to have face to face discussions and meet both Rev Charles Sugden and Rev Ruth Harding."

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26

June, 2022

n PLANNING MATTERS WITH CHRIS GOSLING

Planning, building and the economy WE are all currently experiencing a crisis, another in what seems like a never-ending string of them.

This time it is the cost of living crisis, prompted by inflation rates hitting 9% and forecast to go into double figures, which is not much different.

Even if inflation disappeared altogether, we will still be living with the 9% increase that has already happened over the past year. That means that a few years of pay increases would be required to make up the difference over the last year, in the best case. That is of course only a possibility if you are working.

In the same way as pay rises are averaged out across the whole population, masking winners and losers, the same happens with inflation. Among the current biggest losers (in comparative terms) are those who are buying or looking to buy building materials. Coming out of the worst of the covid crisis (that word again), delays in production

and supply chains led to price increases of 40% or more for timber. This has spread to other materials, as supply fails to keep up with demand worldwide.

That is the immediate context in which the recent Queen's Speech put forward the government’s legislative aims for the remainder of this parliament’s term. The Planning Bill, which went out of fashion due to by-election swings against the government, has now been lumped in with the 'Levelling Up' agenda. We now have some idea what levelling up means – providing opportunity regardless of geography seems to be the latest definition. But planning tends to follow the money rather than distribute it, which is the form levelling up has to take if it is going to have any effect.

There is very little available detail on the ‘reformed’ planning reforms, except one of them – the Infrastructure Levy that will replace the Community

Infrastructure Levy.

This is set to be trialled in a few council areas to see how it works and make changes before a nationwide rollout.

This illustrates not just a lack of detail but also a lack of vision driving government policy. I can’t be entirely critical, as trying something out before committing the whole country to it does give a chance to resolve teething problems. However, I can’t imagine many hard-pushed councils will be volunteering to take part in this grand experiment.

For now what we know is that there will/may be changes to planning, only we don’t have much idea what they will entail.

We do know that inflation is set to continue and there is every chance that the economy will descend into recession, and the building industry is likely to feel it first.

It will most likely start with an increase in mothballed and

cancelled orders; that doesn’t necessarily mean that the cost of building will decrease significantly.

This is the climate in which the left-behind areas will need to be levelled up. A difficult enough task is going to get more difficult still, and planning has now been put under the same heading.

Maybe that was more by luck than design. And not necessarily good luck.

Chrisgoslingplanning@gmail.com

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fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

27

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

Strength will arise (Isaiah 40:29-31)

WE are in unprecedented times where the world is struggling with different challenges. Two years of Covid-19 has drained the strength of individuals, social services, the National Health Service and the Government. The impact of Covid has caused many to suffer mentally with depression, anxiety, stress and this has drained strength and robbed people’s emotional resilience. The war in Ukraine has added another strain on individual’s strength and their capacity to hope for a better future. Faith communities have struggled with different challenges over the pandemic and this has affected many .Many have been bereaved and made homeless or redundant in jobs.

The situation seem bleak with lots of unanswered questions.

Regardless of these challenges, there is hope that strength will arise for those who wait on the Lord. God is able to

renew our strength and cause us to rise again with strength and hope . We are reminded in the book of Isaiah 40:29-31 that he gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. You may have lost so much including your job, precious family members, colleagues at work, members of your congregation etc. There is hardship with the rising cost of living due to inflation but strength can arise as we trust in the Lord and rest in him. He will heal our wounds and brokenness.

Jesus encourages us in Matthew 11:28 to come to him if we are weary and burdened, and he will give us rest. Rest from our fatigue, emotional distress and psychological challenges. He can

give you rest and if you come to him with your burdens and vulnerabilities. He understands our pain and struggles and he beckons on us to come with all our burdens and he will give us rest. He is able to give you strength as you find space to reflect and to hand over your challenges to him.

A great example is the woman with the issue of blood who was challenged, weary and burdened with her condition. She may have felt abandoned by friends, weak physically and emotionally. She tried all she could to help herself but finally decided to reach out to Jesus and was made whole.

She decided to go to Jesus and lay all at his feet and strength arose for her again. As you seek support from your networks, local church, social services, health services, continue to trust God. He is able to do far exceedingly and abundantly, above what you think

Gifty Markey Bread of Life Ministry (Bristol)

and even imagine. As you hold onto him, he is able to strengthen you and make you strong again.

May the peace of God continue to rest on you as you trust in the Lord this month amidst your challenges. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Hope will arise and your strength will be renewed again.

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28

June, 2022

n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE

Acupuncture with Jennie HELLO! My name is Jennie Abraham and I work for Tim Button at Cleve Chiropractic as his acupuncturist. He’s asked me to write a guest blog to explain all about acupuncture – so here goes.

Simply put, acupuncture is a healthcare system that works on the mental, emotional and physical aspects of a person. It can help with a huge array of conditions, ranging from pain to anxiety.

Acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM for short) and is one of the world’s oldest medical systems that’s used for diagnostic, treatment and preventative purposes.

There are all sorts of reasons why people come to see me at the clinic. They include: • Headaches and migraines • Stress/anxiety • Women’s health (PMS,

menopause, fertility) • Pain • General health and wellbeing The latter is for people who have reached a place where they are happy physically and mentally and don’t necessarily have any particular symptoms.

However, they like to come and see us once a month or so to keep in tip-top condition.

Acupuncture works by stimulating sensory nerves just under the skin and in muscles which trigger the body to produce natural substances, such as endorphins and serotonin, in the central nervous system and brain. Enhanced levels of these chemicals have a positive effect on mood and provide pain relief.

From a TCM point of view, acupuncture works by restoring the free flow of a person’s Qi (pronounced ‘chee’), which loosely translates into ‘energy’.

A Team approach to healthcare.

Supporting Premiership Football, Rugby, 2012 Olympics and World Athletic Championship 2017 Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Back & Leg Pain, Sciatica Sports Massage Headaches & Migraines Trapped Nerves Repetitive Strain Injuries Occupational Injuries Sports Injury Specialist Competitively priced

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To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870

with Tim Button, Doctor of Chiropractic at Cleve Chiropractic and Next Step in Mangotsfield

0117 957 5388

drtimbutton@cleve chiropractic.com www.clevechiropractic.com facebook.com/clevechiro twitter.com/clevechiro

treatments and is safe to use with medicines.

Next month I will pass the reins back to Tim but for now I hope you enjoyed reading about what I love to do!

To book a consultation with Jennie or any of the friendly health and fitness experts at Cleve Chiropractic, call 0117 957 5388.

n NEWS 'Strobe light' driver banned A MAN who was arrested after driving a car with blue and red flashing lights on Fishponds Road has been ordered to carry out unpaid community work.

Thomas Cox, 21, was originally charged with impersonating a police officer, after being seen driving “unusually” on December 12 last year, with what a court heard was strobe lighting in his car.

He denied the charge, which was dismissed after the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence. However Cox, of Quantock Close in Warmley, was also charged with driving while disqualified and without insurance. He admitted both of those offences and at Bristol Magistrates Court he was sentenced to a community order and 120 hours' unpaid work, with a further four-month driving ban.

Cox must also undergo a 42-day programme to address offending behaviour, pay £350 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Charge after M32 crash

The practice of pain relief Member of the British Chiropractic Association

When a person’s Qi doesn’t flow smoothly around their body illness, disease, unbalanced emotions and pain can occur. In these cases, acupuncture aims to restore the free flow of energy to help bring the individual back to good health.

If you do book to come and see me, I will ask lots of questions about how you’re feeling and your general health.

I’ll look at your tongue and take your pulse to try to find out the root cause of your symptoms.

This will help to paint a picture of what’s causing your problems so I can select which of the 300-plus acupuncture points across your body to use. The insertion of ultra fine acupuncture needles will then trigger the free flow of Qi and the release of natural substances for your body to begin the healing process.

Acupuncture has a cumulative effect, meaning that each session builds upon the last – as your treatments progress, your symptoms become less severe. Acupuncture can be used alongside other practices such as physiotherapy or chiropractic

A MAN has been charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a high-speed pursuit that led to a crash on the M32.

Macauley Tomlinson, aged 25, from Midsomer Norton, was arrested after police chased a car from Bristol city centre, where two pedestrians were injured, to Keynsham via the M32 and Avon Ring Road on the night of April 30 to May 1.

While on the M32 between Eastville and Hambrook one of the police cars struck another car, injuring its three occupants.

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

fishpondsvoice

June, 2022

29

n SPORT

Bristol Met girls are national champs after crushing win FOR the first time in Bristol Metropolitan Academy’s history, our U14 girls are national champions. This is an incredible achievement and is a result of the dedication, commitment and hard work of our players and staff over the past five years.

The team performed well during the knockout stages of the competition, beating some wellknown basketball schools.

The girls played the final in Manchester on May 13 against Trinity CE school, who are coached by an ex-GB international and have one of the best girls’ programs in the country.

It was an unbelievable start, with the team sticking to the game plan and dominating from the outset, quickly going up 13-4.

The BMA team continued to push, to eventually win by a huge 74-48 margin.

All the girls contributed to the team, especially defensively,

Action from Bristol Metropolitan Academy's national championship win limiting the opposition’s scoring opportunities and causing plenty of turnovers.

Intelligent and stand-out defence from both Megan Mills

and Eadie Ellis Jones locked down the international player from the other team and enabled us to extend our lead further.

Kamilah Yakubu and Angel

Whyte were outstanding on the offensive end, combining for 62 points.

It was a tight-run contest between the two for the most valuable player title but Kamilah's impressive 34 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals helped her secure it.

I could not be prouder of the girls. The commitment and dedication they have put into this season has been outstanding and they deserve all the success they have had.

This title is the result of the hard work that has gone into the program in the past five years from players, staff and parents.

As we continue to grow our program, I am looking forward to seeing more girls staying active and enjoying sport – and hopefully there will be a few more titles along the way too!

Hannah Wallace PE teacher and coach

Riley follows in father's footsteps DOWNEND Boxing Club debutant Riley Catley has some big shoes to fill – his dad is former WBC World super middleweight champion Glenn.

But 18-year-old Riley made a perfect start, with a points win over Tez Weale of the Sweatbox boxing club, Bedminster, in Stroud on May 7.

Onlookers could not believe it was either boxer’s first appearance, as a great, skilful contest flowed. Long-range boxing kept the strong attacks of 22-year-old Weale at bay, and a fast rear hand from Catley brought a standing count from the referee.

Earlier 10-year-old Kadon Smith, making his second competitive appearance, lost on points but gained valuable experience against the talented southpaw Preston Davey of St Austell.

Newly crowned Western Counties schools champion Tommy Pring conceded some months to Jaylen Powell of Gloucester. On the back foot in the first round, Tommy re-set successfully i the second but an all-action third round saw Jaylen turn up the pace, taking the judge’s decision.

Riley Catley with coaches Tracey Hayne, Conor White, Craig Turner and proud dad Glenn.

Eloise Edwards, 17, took to the ring for the first time in eight months against Isobel Price, of Norfolk, in a scrappy contest.

Eloise displayed quality long range boxing on her way to a points win, with Isobel warned by the referee for wrestling.

On the same night in Southampton 12-year-old Elijah Sanchez was contesting his quarter final in the national

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schools championships.

Elijah, nicknamed ‘Magic’ due to his defensive movement used every bit of his talent with a slick performance to outpoint tough Kent boxer Raymond Hanrahan.

The following weekend Elijah and Tommy Pring went to Banbury in Oxfordshire for the semis and finals.

Tommy, who had amazingly secured his place in just seven

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bouts, was outpointed by James Baker from the famous Repton boxing club in London, despite overcoming a nervous start and gaining confidence as the contest went on.

A walk over put Elijah straight into the final the following day – but what happened next will always remain a mystery.

Facing Ivor Lee of Sheffield in the final, Elijah utilised his boxing ability and fast hands to score unchallenged in places, and after three rounds seemed to have won the contest.

To everyone’s amazement, a 3-2 split decision went against the Downend boxer. With no appeal system, the reasoning of the three judges will never be clear.

Bitterly disappointed, Elijah displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout, and we are immensely proud of him.

In Bristol, 15-year-old Mya Das made her third competitive outing against southpaw Emily Palaky of Wye boxing academy.

Mya quickly adapted to score with long right hands and lead hooks, leading to a unanimous points win.

Craig Turner

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June, 2022

30

nW HAT’S ON IN OUR AREA June 2 n JUBILEE COFFEE MORNING, Staple Hill Salvation Army, Broad Street, Staple Hill, 10am-noon.

June 6 n JUBILEE EVENT for over-50s, free at Hillfields Community Hub, 3-6pm, entertainment and refreshments.

June 6 n WILD WOMEN GROUP for women of all ages, Hillfields Community Garden, Hillfields Park, 7-9pm.

June 10 n GARDENING FOR WELLBEING GROUP, Hillfields Community Garden, Hillfields Park, 10.30am-

midday.

June 17 n LUNCHTIME CONCERT FEATURING FRENCHAY FOXES, St Marys Church, Manor Road, 12.301pm, refreshments 1-2pm. Entry free, retiring collection.

June 18 n VOLUNTEER GROUP, Hillfields Community Garden, Hillfields Park, 10.30am-midday.

June 19 n CLIFTON SINGERS perform choral songs, including works by local composers John Marsh and Nicolas Barlow, at Frenchay Parish Church, starting at 3pm. Have tea and meet

the choir afterwards.

June 24-August 20 n INSANE ROOT THEATRE presents Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the old lido, Eastville Park. Open air performance at 6pm and 8.30pm, Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays, 7.30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. suitable for ages 10+, tickets from insaneroot. org.uk/midsummer with special discounts rate for residents.

June 26 n PAGE PARK PRAISE with Staple Hill Salvation Army Band and musicians, 3pm.

June 27

n MINI EXPLORERS friendly playgroup offering gardening, stories, songs, crafts and activities for children aged 2-4, 10-11am, Hillfields Community Garden, Hillfields Park.

July 9 n Frenchay Flower Show, on Frenchay Common by the Friends' Meeting House, from 12.30pm.

Selection of plant, charity and food stalls. Frenchay Vintage & Classic Vehicle Show on the main showground. Cream teas in the village hall. Admission £2.50 for adults, children under 16 free. More details and entry forms from www. frenchayflowershow.com.

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