Frome Valley Voice April 2025

fromevalleyvoice

Bridge bites the dust

Workers use heavy mechanical claws and pneumatic drills to demolish the bridge.

THE bridge that carried the main road between the Frome Valley and Bristol over the M4 has been reduced to rubble after a round-the-clock demolition operation.

The motorway was closed between the Bristol and Bath junctions for nearly 60 hours

while a team of 45 contractors worked in 12-hour shifts to bring down the concrete and steel Badminton Road bridge, which was closed to motor traffic after being declared unsafe by inspectors in 2023.

Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians now face another

year of waiting until the replacement bridge is expected to be ready to use.

During that time a 50mph limit will be imposed on the M4 past the site, and there will be at least one and possibly two more weekend closures to install the new bridge. Turn to page 3

Cup winners again!

FRAMPTON Cotterell

Rugby Club are celebrating after winning the Bristol Combination Vase for the second year in a row.

PAGE 30

Outrage over school

demolition plan

PLANS to demolish a historic Victorian school building in Frampton Cotterell have sparked a wave of opposition.

PAGE 4

'Inspiring' school is praised by Ofsted

A WINTERBOURNE school has been praised for leaving "no stone unturned" in its drive to improve standards.

PAGE 5

Robber jailed

A MAN who robbed a Winterbourne pharmacy of prescription drugs at knifepoint has been given a long prison sentence.

PAGE 2

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Six years' jail for pharmacy robber

A MAN who robbed a Winterbourne pharmacy of prescription drugs at knifepoint has been jailed.

Daniel Bennett left staff in fear and unable to sleep after threatening violence unless they handed over the medicines.

Outside his accomplice Natasha O’Driscoll waited in a getaway car, before driving off with a child leaning out of a window.

Bristol Crown Court heard 41-year-old Bennett, of Wedmore Vale, Bedminster, went into Shaunak’s Pharmacy Flaxpits Lane on the afternoon of August 8 last year armed with a knife.

Daniel Bennett

An Avon & Somerset police spokesperson said: "He forced staff to the rear of the store, where he threatened to harm them unless medication was handed over.

"Bennett then fled the scene, leaving in a car being driven by O’Driscoll who had a child with her leaning out the passenger window."

Police said officers responded quickly and stopped O’Driscoll with a "large amount of prescription drugs" in her car.

Bennett had left the car but was soon found in the car park of a nearby pub, with a knife and more prescription drugs.

Staff were left shaken by what happened.

One said: "I was on my lunch break when I heard the commotion.

"I grabbed my bag and phone and walked behind the guy who was holding my colleagues at knifepoint. I made it out and called the police.

"I stayed in work until the following Thursday but I had to take time off work due to lack of sleep, because I was getting flashbacks to what happened.

"This is not something any of us will be able to get over.

"We feel unsafe and I will always be looking over my shoulder."

Bennett was jailed for six years and nine months on March 7 after he pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article. He must serve an extended three-year licence period after his prison sentence.

O’Driscoll, 34, of Northwood Park, Old Gloucester Road, Winterbourne, was given a one-year community order and ordered to pay a fine after pleading guilty to assisting an offender and neglecting a child aged under 16.

Investigating officer DC Craig Bennett said: "Bennett’s actions that day were reckless and dangerous.

"He appeared to give no thought for how his behaviour would harm those around him; he was focused on stealing those prescription drugs for his own benefit.

"The victims have been left feeling vulnerable and fearful following the incident, and I have to commend them for the strength they have shown in supporting our investigation.

"O’Driscoll acted as the getaway driver for Bennett’s scheme.

"She not only endangered her own life, but also that of a child.”

Bridge is brought down and crushed

From page 1

The operation to remove the bridge, which carried the A432 across the M4 next to the Wick Wick roundabout, started at 7pm on Friday March 21, when the motorway was closed to traffic so that workers from contractor Taylor Woodrow could move in.

National Highways, which is responsible for the bridge and M4, says the closed stretch of motorway usually carries 3,000 to 4,000 cars per hour at peak weekend times.

Although drivers had been advised to avoid the area if possible, over the weekend there were queues along the diversion route on the M32, the Avon Ring Road between Hambrook and Warmley, on the A420 between Warmley and Wick, and on the A46 approaching Tormarton.

Traffic was also heavy on roads used by drivers trying to avoid the official diversion, with queues on Westerleigh Road in both directions approaching the Henfield Road and Westerleigh traffic lights, and between Codrington and the A46. Drivers also queued on Cotswold Way, between Hinton and the A46.

Once the M4 shut, piles of railway sleepers stacked next to the hard shoulder were moved onto the motorway to create a 1,600 square metre "mat" under the bridge to protect the road surface.

Workers added 400 tonnes of aggregate and placed a row of shipping containers on top of that, to absorb the impact and break up the concrete bridge as it came down.

Excavators with pneumatic drills and claw-like crushers moved in to cut through the concrete sand steel cable bridge, which was built in 1966 and intended to last 120 years.

Work to take down the deck lasted throughout the Saturday, and the sound of pneumatic drills could be heard across Downend into the early hours of Sunday morning.

By lunchtime that day most of the structure had disappeared, as rubble was taken away to be separated into concrete and steel for recycling.

National Highways' engineering manager for structures Terry Robinson said about 2,500 tonnes of material had to be removed.

Workers took asbestos pipes out of the bridge before demolition started.

Although an exclusion zone was set up around the demolition site, National Highways set up a temporary building nearby where passers-by could watch a live video feed.

Many people walked onto the Church Lane bridge between Downend and Moorend to watch.

Mr Robinson said a new bridge has been designed and National Highways is close to choosing a UK-based firm to build it.

The cost is expected to be around £20 million.

He said the new bridge's beams would be made from lowmaintenance 'weathering steel', which has a specially-formulated layer of stable rust that seals off the rest of the metal from the elements.

It is being designed to last 120 years - the same as the old bridge, which was condemned after “accelerated deterioration

and cracking” was found in the concrete and steel cable structure.

The new one will not have moving parts such as bearings and joints that need to be replaced, as the whole structure

is designed to expand and contract as temperatures change. It will be 4m wider than the old bridge, with the same space for road traffic but extra room to carry wider cycle and pedestrian paths.

Mr Robinson said: "When it's finished it will be a better facility for everyone. "It should never need painting, although it will look rusty!"

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A giant mechanical claw crunches through concrete and steel

Now you see it: the bridge on the day before the motorway closed

Now you don't: Rubble being cleared three days later

n NEWS

PLANS to demolish a historic Victorian school building in Frampton Cotterell have sparked a wave of opposition.

South Gloucestershire Council has applied for a demolition notice for the former Watermore Infant School in Woodend Road, which was previously known as Brockeridge Infants.

The council sold the site to housing association LiveWest to help fund the new Watermore Primary School building in Lower Stone Close, which opened in 2020.

LiveWest's original plans for the site, which were unveiled in 2021 and approved the following year, included keeping the Victorian school building and converting it into six flats.

But the affordable housing provider now wants to demolish the building, and the council has applied to its own planning department for permission to knock down the building where generations of villagers went to school.

The building is 'locally listed', which means the council considers it to "have good quality design, historical significance or contribute to the character and appearance of the area"but does not give it any legal protection.

The plan has caused a furious backlash, with 200 residents writing individual objections on the council's planning website as the Voice went to print. Just two people had written in favour.

Resident Kirstie Bidwell wrote: "The building has stood soundly for 179 years and is of great local historical importance and part of the area's heritage, with its local listing confirming this.

"It is an attractive, characterful landmark at the heart of the community. It is hugely admired and cherished by the many generations of locals that went to school there (and those that didn't), myself and my children included."

Ian Haddrell, of Frampton Cotterell Local History Society, said: "Built in 1846 by nonconformists for the education of local children, the building has played a significant part in the lives of generations of local residents for over 150 years."

Julia Flook said: "Local people clearly object, and this should be considered before allowing another monstrosity to

Outrage at plan to demolish historic school building

be built in its place.

"If this were a privately owned building they wouldn't even be considering allowing this to be demolished."

Frampton Cotterell Parish Council held a special meeting on March 24 to discuss the plans.

All three of Frampton Cotterell's South Gloucestershire ward councillors have also spoken out.

Tristan Clark said: "It is very disappointing that, years after the initial drop-in event about the redevelopment of the site at the Brockeridge Centre, residents only became aware of the proposed demolition when a Site Notice appeared outside of the former school building.

"It is important that LiveWest engages with the community to arrive at a regeneration scheme that enjoys the broad support of local residents."

Jon Lean said: "I backed the original proposal from LiveWest, and was frustrated when it was later announced that LiveWest would only be able to keep the facade. I'm doubly frustrated that they have now announced that the facade will also need to go.

"I share this frustration with the huge numbers of residents who see the locally listed Victorian school building as a valuable community asset which enhances the character of the area. Those residents and I have objected to the current prior notification application to demolish the building."

David Goodwin said: "I was saddened to learn that the proposal is now to demolish the building entirely and, alongside local residents, feel that this is a step too far. It’s vital we provide local, affordable homes but this must be balanced with respect for the history and heritage of the village. I would encourage LiveWest to find that balance."

Explaining the council's decision to make the application, a spokesperson said that when it sold the site it chose an affordable housing provider to "achieve three objectives; provide the required capital

receipt to fund the new school, maximise affordable housing and to keep the original Victorian school buildings".

The spokesperson said: "Despite all options being considered by the selected provider, LiveWest, site constraints have restricted the ability to achieve the first two objectives whilst keeping the original school buildings.

"The council therefore needed to make the very difficult decision to submit a Demolition Notice for the remaining buildings in order for LiveWest to proceed with a planning application for their proposed form of development.

"The reasons behind this

decision and design options proposed to offset loss of the existing buildings will be presented by LiveWest at a public consultation event."

The council said the event would be held in Frampton Cotterell on April 7, at a time and venue to be announced.

The Voice has asked LiveWest for a comment on its plans and an explanation of why it believes the old school building needs to be demolished.

The demolition plans can be viewed and commented on by searching for application P25/00620/PND on South Gloucestershire council's planning website or using the address tinyurl.com/y66rkeh6

LiveWest's original plans showed the Victorian building converted into flats

The former Watermore Infant School building on Woodend Road

'Inspiring' school is praised

A WINTERBOURNE school has been praised for leaving "no stone unturned" in its drive to improve standards.

An inspector from Ofsted visited Elm Park Primary School, in Nicholls Lane in February.

The regulator no longer gives one-word overall ratings for routine inspections but said that Elm Park, which has 185 pupils aged from four to 11 on its roll, is maintaining the standards identified during the last visit in 2019, when it was rated 'good' in all areas.

Inspector Tonwen Empson said: "Elm Park Primary School is all about kindness. Pupils experience kindness and respect from staff and each other each day.

"A tangible family ethos ripples through the life of the school. Each day starts with a warm welcome and kind words."

She said pupils are inspired by the experiences and activities created to ensure learning is "interesting and relevant", including ‘bang’ days to kick-start a topic and 'wow' days to show what they have learned.

The inspector said most pupils achieve well, adding: "The school leaves no stone unturned as staff continue to drive forward standards. They are driven by the vision of ‘inspiring, enriching and achieving’."

The report says the school has “an accurate understanding of strengths and areas to improve [with] staff determined that every pupil will achieve the very best".

It has redesigned its curriculum to develop pupils’ understanding from Reception class up, and has changed its approach to teaching phonics to ensure every pupil, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, will learn to read.

The inspector said: "The school carefully checks how successfully pupils are improving early reading skills. Fewer pupils need extra catch up due to the successful programmes now in place."

The report says staff are confident in their knowledge of the curriculum and "provide clear explanations and models" for pupils, with particularly skilled support for pupils with SEND.

Improved engagement with parents, who now have “frequent opportunities to engage in the life of the school", were highlighted.

The inspector said: "The school sits firmly and proudly at the heart of the local community."

To further improve, Ofsted said the school should continue work to improve learning and quality of handwriting to make sure it is consistent and more pupils become confident writers, including those unable to write legibly and comfortably at length.

Head teacher Carol Bond said: "We are incredibly proud of the report, which recognises the ongoing kindness, dedication, passion, and hard work of our staff, pupils, and wider school community.

"The report highlights the nurturing and ambitious environment we have created, ensuring that every child is supported to thrive both academically and personally.”

"We are focused on further enriching our Connected Curriculum, providing even more opportunities for our children to explore, learn, and grow."

Carol Bond and deputy head Sarah Lugg with Year 2 children at Elm Park

Huge sewage tanks ready to help protect river

A £5 MILLION project to build giant water tanks to help keep untreated sewage out of the River Frome has finished "on schedule".

Wessex Water started work last April to build three underground storage tanks, capable of storing 885,000 litres of water between them, at Church Road in Frampton Cotterell, and at Nightingale Lane and near Cloisters Road, Watley's End.

They have been built to hold excess rainwater flowing through sewers back from the rivers during heavy downpours, so it can be properly treated later.

Wessex Water, which is in charge of the region's waste water, has been heavily criticised over the amount of discharges from combined sewage overflows (CSOs), which automatically discharge combined rainwater run-off and foul waste water from homes into waterways during times of heavy rain, to mitigate flooding.

Last year the Voice reported Environment Agency figures that showed the river suffered a total of 4,058 hours of spills from eight CSOs between Iron Acton and Winterbourne.

The new tanks store flood water to keep it out of the three CSOs with the most hours of

overflows in recent years at Church Road, Nightingale Bridge and Sunny Acres, off Cloisters Lane.

Pollution in the river, which flows through the area on its way from Dodington to Bristol, has become a political issue, with clean water campaigner Feargal Sharkey visiting during the last general election campaign and Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey describing the number of sewage overflows into the river as a "disgrace" during a visit in October, when he and Thornbury & Yate MP Claire Young walked through the water in Frampton.

Wessex Water says the Church Road tank can hold as much as 225,000 litres of water, the

Nightingale Lane tank holds 180,000 litres and the tank on private land at a farm off Cloisters Road holds 480,000 litres.

Project manager Andy Roberts said: “This substantial investment in Frampton Cotterell will help to protect the River Frome by reducing times when untreated water reaches it via the automatic operation of storm overflows.

“Instead, our tanks will hold back the combined foul and rainwater, which is later returned to the network via

WINTERBOURNE

The Greenfield Centre Park Avenue Winterbourne BS36 1NJ

Tuesdays at 5.30pm Call Deb on 07597 425210

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Wednesdays at 7.00pm Call Gemma on 07471 319226

the Frome Valley Relief Sewer, when the storm has subsided and onward to a nearby water recycling centre for safe treatment.

“This is an important part of Wessex Water’s commitment to progressively reduce how often storm overflows operate, something we’re currently spending £3 million a month to do, with plans to significantly increase this.

“We’d like to thank the community in Frampton Cotterell for their patience and understanding while these projects were completed and we will continue to test the tanks to ensure they are operating as intended, while some of the restoration of land around the work sites will continue into the next few months, given the current wet ground conditions.’’

Wessex Water is also working on similar schemes along the River Avon, including at Hanham, Saltford and Bradfordon-Avon.

Wessex Water workers inside one of the giant tanks in Church Road.

For more information visit

FRAMPTON COTTERELL

The Church Road tank covered over after the end of the work

Jack gives stranger a second chance of life

FRAMPTON Cotterell man who has given another person a new chance of life by donating his stem cells says it is "one of the best feelings in the world".

IT worker Jack Parsons made the donation for a transplant which took place in February.

Jack, 34, signed up to the DKMS charity stem cell register soon after his mum Rose had received a stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor.

He said: “It just felt like the right thing to do.

"Someone had stepped up for her, and I wanted to do the same if I ever got the chance.

"The process was really simple - I had to just take some cheek swabs and answer a few health questions before posting off my sample."

Rose had suffered a stroke on Boxing Day 2012, and doctors then discovered she had chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Jack said: "Thankfully, she was able to receive a stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor almost straight away with someone who was already signed up to the stem cell register, which gave her a second chance at life."

He said it was “overwhelming” finding a match for his mum so quickly, adding: "We were still in shock that she had a stroke, brought on by chronic myeloid leukaemia; other than that, she had always been fit and healthy.

"It was a huge wave of relief and hope: someone out there had signed up to the register and was willing to donate, and that meant my mum had a real

chance at survival.

"I’ll always be grateful for that person’s kindness.”

After 12 years on the register, Jack was able to give back.

He does not know the identity of the recipient, due to strict anonymity regulations for both parties, but knows the transplant was a success and the male recipient lives in France.

When he was told he was a match for someone in need, Jack said: "Mentally it was a mix of emotions – there was excitement, responsibility, and a deep sense of purpose.”

Following a couple of rounds of tests, and a week of special G-CSF (Granulocyte ColonyStimulating Factor) injections to prepare Jack’s body ready to

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donate, the transplant took place in February.

Jack said: "The injections made me feel a bit weak and tired but it was manageable.

"Then I donated via a simple, outpatient procedure similar to giving blood at a clinic in London.

"I was there for a few days before coming home to fully recover.”

Jack returned to work after a week and, just five weeks later, ran the Bath Half-Marathon on March 16.

He said: "I know what it’s like to be on the other side and now I’ve had the chance to give someone that same hope and opportunity.

"I feel incredibly grateful that someone gave that chance to my

mum, so that my daughter Poppy could meet her nanny.”

Jack is urging others to sign the register.

He said: "If you’re able to do it then please do so, you could literally save a life.

"I signed up years ago never expecting to be called and then one day, I got the chance to help someone.

"You never know when you might be that one person someone is desperately waiting for."

The DKMS or German Bone Marrow Donor File register is the biggest stem cell register in the UK, and can be found at www.dkms.org.uk/register

Jack with mum Rose.

Jack Parsons giving his stem cell donation

PLANS to turn a family house in Winterbourne into a children’s home have been unanimously approved by councillors, despite objections from neighbours and the parish council.

South Gloucestershire Council's development management committee granted permission for a change of use of the five-bedroom property in Dragon Road, Winterbourne, in March.

Three looked-after children will live there, along with two overnight staff.

Winterbourne Parish Council and 29 residents opposed the application by the council, with concerns about traffic, parking and the impact on the Grade II-listed Perry Almshouses next door, which accommodate older and vulnerable people.

The decision follows approval in February for two other conversions of five-bedroom houses to children’s homes, in Frampton Cotterell and Rangeworthy.

Winterbourne resident David Dewey told the meeting: “We understand the need for children’s care homes but we

Children's home plan approved

do not consider the application site to have the same character as the schemes you considered recently.”

He said noise from the children’s home would travel to the next-door almshouses.

Mr Dewey said: “Ofsted protects the children but we request that you protect the residents.”

Ward councillor Nic Labuschagne (Con, Winterbourne) said: “What’s really important for the children in a home like this is community ties, fitting into the community.

“While many of the residents fully understand that, and would be as welcoming to anyone as they usually are, we really need to look at what residents need and give them assurances in order for the young people to fit into this area.

“We don’t want to create a situation where there is some unhappiness around what’s happened.”

If youʼre 75 or over, or you have a weakened immune system, you can book your free COVID-19 vaccination. Make sure youʼre protected this spring. Book your vaccination appointment by 17 June at nhs.uk/get-vaccination or by calling 119.

He said that during staff changeovers, someone would have to park in the road.

South Gloucestershire Council service director for quality assurance, strategic safeguarding and commissioning Catherine Boyce said: "By establishing local children’s homes we can ensure children remain close to their families and familiar surroundings.

“Staying close to family members can significantly reduce the emotional trauma often associated with being placed in care.

“By keeping children within the local area, the council can reduce costs associated with outof-area placements.

“We do not envisage any increase in safety, security, noise or privacy issues for neighbours as the address will be home to only three children and the required members of staff.”

At a site visit by councillors, residents requested the

installation of CCTV and a stronger, taller fence.

Cllr Katrina Al-Hassan (Lab, Emersons Green) said: “It’s not a secure children’s unit.

“I’m a bit disappointed by some of the comments.

“Both of my children are disabled and have additional needs.

“If my neighbours wanted CCTV and a higher fence, I would be pretty heartbroken.

“We need to remember that this is going to function the same as a family house.”

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

The house in Dragon Road which will become a children's home

Sheriff is a top dog at Crufts

A FRAMPTON Cotterell trainer is celebrating after his dog won an agility trophy at Crufts.

Mark Douglas and his border collie Sheriff won The Kennel Club Large Novice Agility competition at the prestigious international dog show at Birmingham's NEC in March.

Sheriff - kennel name Montaki Fly Guy - won the overall Novice Cup for large dogs after coming first in the jumping round and second in the agility parts of the contest.

Mark said: "This was my 10th time competing at Crufts, but my first time in 10 years.

"I’d thought my competition at the highest standard was long behind me.

"Sheriff is my first border collie to compete at Crufts and it was his first ever time there. At two years old, he was the youngest dog in the competition.

"I am beyond proud of his win in the Large Novice cup.

"It sets him up beautifully for his career now in the Grade 7 Championship classes

– we hope to be back at Crufts again in the future."

As well as working full-time as a complex wound specialist for a wound care company, Mark trains and competes internationally in his spare time.

He said: “I have done this for about 25 years now, and I have been part of Team GB.

"I do all Sheriff’s training, though I do go to be trained/taught by other professional trainers regularly."

Mark entered his first Crufts in 2005 with an Australian shepherd dog named Amber, who qualified for the ABC (Anything But Collie) agility event, and again in 2006 and 2008.

Mark also ran his dog Ruby at Crufts Agility champion in 2008 and 2011, which she won, and also for the International event in 2010 and 2011, when she came third.

Ruby also qualified for the Crufts Singles event in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Ruby’s son Puck qualified for the Crufts ABC event in 2012, 2013 and 2015 and the International event in 2012.

Now Mark has his sights set on getting the wins required to compete in the Championship classes and to try to qualify for more big events, at Olympia and Crufts.

But the main thing, he said, is "to have as much fun as we can playing at this sport that we both love".

For more information and results from the show, visit crufts.org.uk.

Frampton Garage

Mark Douglas and Sheriff after their win. Picture: The Royal Kennel Club/Beat Media

n METRO MAYOR ELECTION

Metro Mayor candidates Q&A

ON May 1

voters in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and B&NES will choose the region's next Metro Mayor.

The leader of the West of England Combined Authority has the task of coordinating the region’s transport, housing, infrastructure, jobs, skills and business support strategies.

Whoever wins the election is expected to be given extra powers in the years ahead, as the government promises to devolve more spending and decisionmaking to regions.

They will be responsible for delivering the region's Local Growth Plan, to drive economic growth over the next ten years.

The mayor has to work with the leaders of the three councils that make up WECA to deliver policies.

Current Metro Mayor Dan Norris is standing down after being elected as a Labour MP last year.

Aiming to succeed him for Labour is Helen Godwin, a former Bristol City Council cabinet member.

The Conservatives, who held the post from 2017 to 2021, have also picked a former Bristol city councillor, Steve Smith, to try and win it back.

The Greens, third in 2021, have selected Mary Page, a community activist who was their candidate for the Bristol North West seat at the last general election.

Bath & North East Somerset councillor Oli Henman is the Liberal Democrats’ choice.

South Gloucestershire councillor Ian Scott is standing as an independent. He initially applied to be Labour's candidate but accused the party of discrimination after being removed from its shortlist.

As they ask you to vote them into a new job, the Voice asked each candidate to answer three interview questions to find more about who they are, their priorities and plans.

As the Voice went to print, Reform UK had not announced a

candidate. We invited the party to contribute to this article.

Nominations opened on March 26 and will close on April 2.

Question 1: What are the 3 biggest issues facing the region?

Helen Godwin: The three top issues facing our region are:

The lack of a smart, integrated transport network that effectively connects communities and meets local needs.

The critical shortage of affordable homes in communities with essential services.

The need for sustainable economic growth that delivers quality jobs and training opportunities across our entire region.

As your Labour Mayor working alongside a Labour government, I'll bring together stakeholders and private companies to tackle these challenges with my proven track record of delivery.

Oli Henman: The top issue is the need to improve public transport. This includes rapidly expanding reliable buses, alongside an integrated approach to trains and mass transit as well as improved cycle routes.

Secondly, we have an opportunity to build the jobs of the future, we need pathways through training and into employment in key areas such as renewables, net zero construction, engineering and technology innovation.

I would also highlight the need for genuinely affordable housing in locations with good transport connections.

Mary Page: We need a New Green Deal for the West of England.

Public transport is unreliable or non-existent. We are experiencing biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, conflict between development versus nature yet also a lack of affordable housing.

I will prioritise making public transport accessible and available 24 hours a day. Improve our environment and sustainability policies, support communities with local plans and upskill our people. Work with social housing developers and use the Green Infrastructure Fund to unlock private investment.

Ian Scott: Government Funding – Give us our money back. The West of England is a net contributor to the economy, so why is it not in the first tranche of the Integrated Settlement, like West Yorkshire? West of England or West Yorkshire? West of England voters will want to get fair funding and gets its money back to fund local services.

Mass transit system – We are the biggest city in Europe without a mass transit system Cheap bus fares.

Steve Smith: Ending local councils' war on the motorist who are hitting people with new parking charges and wasting limited regional funding on closing off roads.

Transforming public transport by opening at least five new local train stations (three in South Glos), increasing service frequency. And prioritising bus services to improve coverage for communities affected by cuts like Chipping Sodbury.

Championing our Green Belt by promoting a “brownfield first” approach to housing and promoting higher density development in the centre of Bristol.

Question 2: If you win the election, what would your first action be?

Steve Smith: To stop frittering away regional transport funding on schemes that close and curtail road access. The first to go will be the Labour Mayor’s planned congestion-creating and deeply unpopular A4 Bus Lane on the Keynsham Bypass between Bath and Bristol.

Ian Scott: Call in the bus operators to plan better bus

Helen Godwin

Oli Henman

Mary Page

Steve Smith

Ian Scott

n METRO MAYOR ELECTION

routes to increase bus usage and keep bus fares as low as possible, whilst demanding a fair funding system from the government for the West of England.

Mary Page: Meet all staff to outline my plans and hear theirs. Instruct an audit of policy documents and ways of working to ensure a sustainability first approach. Start investigation into Franchising and set up outline brief for a Freedom travel card.

Oli Henman: This is a key moment to rebuild trust in the role of the Mayor to drive new opportunities for our region. I would start by bringing together all the key stakeholders to listen and design a shared strategy on transport, housing and jobs.

Helen Godwin: If elected, my first action will be assembling a top-tier team at the West of England Authority - professionals demonstrating clear regional value while delivering immediate results. No wasted time, just tangible outcomes for our communities

from day one.

Question

3:

What prior experience do you believe qualifies you for the job?

Mary Page: Worked in community development support at Shirehampton Jobs, Training and Enterprise, Jobs 22 Marketing Manager, DWP Work Coach, National Composites Centre Business Development, South Gloucestershire Council political advisor, National Union of Journalists SW Exec, Trustee and Residents’ Association Chair.

Steve Smith: I’ve worked in business, the NHS and local government. Crucially I have a proven track record of campaigning on local issues. This includes taking the fight to Lib/Lab South Gloucestershire Council against their Green Belt destroying, congestion creating Local Plan.

Helen Godwin: As a deeplyrooted local with generations of

LOOKING FOR LEGAL ADVICE?

family across the West Country, I've proven my ability to deliver real change as both a business leader and Bristol cabinet member. My reputation for getting things done by bringing together key stakeholders will secure the investment our region deserves.

Oli Henman: I have local roots and an international outlook. I have experience as a local councillor in the leadership at Bath & NE Somerset and

deep expertise in sustainable development. I can deliver locally, raise the profile of the region and draw international investment.

Ian Scott: I have been a councillor 25 years - Filton 15 years and South Gloucestershire 10 years. I worked as a local government policy advisor for South Gloucestershire Council two years, Bristol 10 years, and South West councils Local Governance Assessor.

Voting in the election

POLLING day is Thursday, May 1. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm.

The deadline for registering to vote is April 11.

Postal vote applications have to be made by 5pm on April 14 and proxy vote applications have to be made by 5pm on April 23. Voters will need to photo ID, including a passport, driving licence or older person’s bus pass, to vote in person on the day. Anyone without photo ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, also by April 23.

More information on voting can be found on the WECA website at tinyurl.com/2s468mh6, the South Gloucestershire Council website at tinyurl.com/2mwsnmxt or by calling 01454 863030.

Murder still unsolved after 15 years

THE murder of a man at his Iron Acton home remains unsolved, 15 years after his death.

Barry Rubery, who was 68, was found dead at Crossing Cottage in Latteridge Road on the morning of April 29, 2010.

He had been tied up and beaten to death.

Despite a series of public appeals for information in the years since his Barry's death, as the 15th anniversary approaches no-one has been charged over the crime. Two men arrested and questioned in 2014 were released without charge.

Avon & Somerset Police say they know Barry was killed after returning to his home from a night out at about 10.45pm on April 28.

He was found in his porch at 8am the following day by a friend.

His wrists had been bound together with large, white cable ties and then tied, with a long extension lead, to his ankles.

Police say there was clear evidence of a struggle in his back garden and a post-

mortem examination confirmed he had suffered fatal head injuries during a violent assault.

His home had been ransacked but, apart from his Nokia 3310 phone and a set of keys, very little was taken. Cash, jewellery and a safe were left behind.

Detectives particularly want to hear from anyone who:

• Saw suspicious vehicles, particularly a Land Rover or black Mitsubishi L200 pickup, parked nearby

• Was connected to the crime but has not come forward out of fear or previous loyalties.

• Noticed a change in a friend or relative's behaviour after the crime, or someone "showing a particular interest" in the investigation.

• Knows where the stolen property might be – it may also include a gold Masonic pocket watch, a Makita drill and an extension lead.

• Knows about trouble Mr Rubery was having at his yard.

• Has any other information they think might help police identify his killers.

During an appeal in 2012 linked to a BBC documentary about the case, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Almond said police "remain as determined and committed as ever" to finding the killer, or killers.

He said: "This case has been subject to a number of hypotheses over the years, but I

firmly believe those responsible for Barry’s murder had detailed knowledge of his movements and lay in wait for him to come home that night.

“In the weeks leading up to his death, Barry was described as being ‘uncharacteristically short or distracted’ and he made reference to problems at the yard, which included a dispute. We still need to know what this dispute was about and who it involved."

He appealed for those who know who was responsible to "do the right thing" and tell police what they know.

Anyone with information can contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.

Barry Rubery was found dead in April 2010

Dog show adds to carnival attractions

WINTERBOURNE Down Village Carnival organisers have revealed details of this year's event - including its first ever dog show.

The main carnival procession and entertainment will take place on the May Day Bank Holiday on Monday May 5, with events starting the previous day.

The carnival committee promises "excitement, entertainment, and heartwarming moments", with live performances, stalls and fairground rides among the returning attractions.

The Winterbourne Down Dog Show will take place on the main carnival say.

Kathryn Hopes of Winterbourne Down Village Carnival committee said: "Whether your pooch is the cutest, best-behaved, or most talented, there’s a category for every canine competitor.

"A great way to celebrate the village’s furry friends, this addition is sure to be a crowd favourite."

Festivities kick off at 10am with the carnival procession, which sets off from Bradley Avenue shops.

This year’s carnival theme is Storybook Nostalgia, and people are being invited to dress as their favourite childhood book characters to bring classic tales to life for the crowd.

The parade will be led by the Bristol Pipers.

Kathryn said: "A particularly special moment will be the presence of a family recently supported by Young Lives vs Cancer, highlighting the carnival’s commitment to giving back and raising awareness."

The day's live music performances from local bands and performers will take place once the procession reaches the lawn of the Methodist Church.

There will also be food stalls offering a variety of treats, market stalls with handmade crafts, gifts, and locally-produced goods, fairground rides and a raffle and auction with a variety of prizes up for grabs.

Kathryn said: "And, of course, no village carnival would be complete without cream teas, available throughout the event for those who want to relax and enjoy a classic British treat.

"The Winterbourne Down Village Carnival is more than just a day of fun—it’s a time for the community to come together, celebrate local talent, support Young Lives vs Cancer, and create wonderful memories.

"Whether you’re a long-time resident or visiting for the first time, don’t miss this fantastic day out!

Tony Bundy.

"Mark your calendars, dust off your favourite storybook-inspired costume, and get ready for a magical day of nostalgia, joy, and community spirit."

On the day before the main event, Sunday May 4, there will be a treasure hunt starting at 2pm from the Methodist Church Hall.

Later, at 6pm, the community will gather there for Songs of Celebration, an uplifting event to set the tone for the main carnival day.

For more information visit winterbournedowncarnival.co.uk.

Winterbourn Down Border Morris at last year's carnival. Picture:

Backlog in monitoring sex offenders

A HUGE backlog has built up in Avon & Somerset Police checks on hundreds of registered sex offenders.

Police officers are supposed to regularly visit sex offenders to assess the risk they pose to the public and the chances they might commit another crime.

Inspectors from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services found a lack of resources was causing delays, meaning the police might be “unaware” of the risk of the more than 1,000 registered sex offenders in Bristol, Bath, Somerset and

South Gloucestershire. Inspectors said: "Delays in visiting or risk assessing registered sex offenders means that the constabulary may be unaware of the risk these offenders pose. This restricts how well it can protect the public."

Windows, Doors, Fascias, Conservatories and Roofs

The force is managing around 1,600 registered sex offenders, who should be visited and assessed for the risk of reoffending.

Chief constable Sarah Crew was grilled on the backlog by Clare Moody, the Labour police and crime commissioner, in late February.

The chief constable said: “Somebody who is a high risk will have very regular visits. When people are convicted, they become registered sex offenders for us to manage.

"In January 2024, our backlog was 283 out of 1,521 registered sex offenders. Now it’s 185 out of 1,600.

“So I think we have solid progress there. When we look at our very highest [risk] offenders, we have a backlog of less than 10 now, and it’s coming down every day. We are making progress, but it’s against a tide of rising demand.

“The public might not realise that the police do this. It’s a very unseen part of our work, necessarily because of the risk posed by some of these individuals and the need to maintain discretion and confidentiality."

Police are also struggling to cope with rising cases of child sexual abuse images and understaffed teams.

Inspectors said that police officers felt overworked, just one officer identifying victims, whose absence can have a disruptive impact.

They called on the force to invest further resources in a growing area of crime.

Ms Crew said the force deals with over 70 cases a month, and expects that figure to double next year.

She said: "But it’s not just about volume. As our digital world becomes more complex, how we respond to these also becomes more complex. It requires real specialism."

As the volume of cases is increasing, the police are struggling to keep up, allowing a backlog of referrals to grow. Staff have been redeployed from other areas and trained on tackling child sexual abuse images.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Protesters call for slaughterhouse to close

ANIMAL rights campaigners are calling for the closure of an abattoir where they say up to 3,000 pigs a day are slaughtered.

Protesters are holding regular vigils outside the Pilgrim's Europe plant at Westerleigh, near Coalpit Heath.

They believe the method used to stun the pigs before slaughter, using carbon dioxide gas, is cruel and that the animals suffer "immense distress" during transportation to the plant in trucks.

The protests, which take place every other Monday

morning outside the plant and on nearby Westerleigh Road, are coordinated by the Bristol Animal Rights Collective, and also involve members of other groups, including Bristol Animal Save and We The Free.

People had travelled from as far as Evesham, Swindon and Weston-super-Mare to take part in a demonstration seen by the Voice in March.

Carol Sharpe, from Downend, has been attending the protests, which happen fortnightly on Monday mornings, since 2018, a year after the first one was held.

Car park charge work starts

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has started work to install payment machines in car parks where charges are being brought in.

The council has yet to confirm a date for the introduction of charges in many of its car parks, including the Flaxpits Lane car park in Winterbourne.

A spokesperson said: "While the scheme will go live later in the year, work to prepare for installation of machines that will accept contactless and chip and pin payments is being carried out now."

The plan to introduce charges, which was agreed by councillors last year with the aim of raising £800,000 per year in revenue, has been widely opposed in many areas, including Thornbury, where the Thornbury Town Centre Partnership wrote an open letter last year calling on the council rethink the plan due to its potential effect on businesses, residents and visitors.

Flaxpits Lane will have a mix of short and long stay spaces.

In Yate, charges are being introduced at the Kennedy Way long stay car park and Yate Leisure Centre (South), which will have a mix of short and long stay spaces.

Yate Shopping Centre's car park is not owned by the council and so is not affected by the charges.

Short stay car parks will have any some spaces available for free for stays of up to 30 minutes: charges will range from 70p for an hour to a maximum of £5 for up to four hours.

Long-stay charges will range from £3 for up to four hours to £5 for more than six hours, with season tickets charged from £20 for a week to £840 for a year.

Disabled Blue Badge holders will be able to park in any space free, for up to four hours.

Charges will apply on weekdays from 8am-6pm.

More details on the charges can be found at tinyurl. com/2j3yp8bp.

She said: "We do it to raise awareness.We ask passing drivers to beep in support and one of us uses a clicker to count how many we get - some weeks it's over 250."

Jody Wilkins, who travels from Weston to regularly take part, said: "We also go there as a mark of respect to the pigs, to bear witness to the trucks coming in and raise awareness to the public that the facility is there.

"The industry tries to keep this side of it secret."

Jody said carbon dioxide is

used on 90% of pigs slaughtered in the UK and was "an extremely painful way to die".

The campaigners are calling on people to watch a documentary called Pignorant, released last year, which includes undercover filming at an abattoir using carbon dioxide.

The Voice has contacted Pilgrim's Europe to request a comment on the protests, the campaigners' claims that the use of carbon dioxide is cruel and that animals suffer distress during their journey to the abattoir.

Protesters film pigs inside a lorry arriving at the plant.

Animal rights protesters outside the abattoir in Westerleigh

n LOCAL MP Claire Young Thornbury

Bridge demolition was a huge operation

IT'S finally down - the Badminton Road bridge over the M4 has been demolished.

It was a huge operation that saw the motorway closed for more than 55 hours.

I visited a few days before it happened to hear about the operation. Already on site were 100-tonne breaker machines, which hammered away at the concrete beams.

The M4 itself was shielded by hundreds of sleepers with aggregate on top.

Shipping containers were positioned on the motorway so when the middle of the bridge finally broke, the containers cushioned the fall, as both ends pivoted towards the centre.

The bridge material is being crushed on site and recycled, the aggregate being used in cycle lanes and other rights of ways.

Many people have commented on how long this process is taking, something I questioned National Highways about on site.

Twenty one different options were considered at the outset, but experience told them a complete replacement was the most likely outcome.

So, at the same time they were inspecting the current bridge, they designed the new one. It meant they were able to move more quickly once the bridge was finally ruled irreparable.

Diverting four major services was a big task, requiring the motorway to be closed for a

weekend. Things outside their control also came into play – such as the discovery of dormice on the site. It’s a criminal offence to disturb them, so the site now has a dormouse licence.

During the time the bridge has been closed, it has been useful in one respect - research.

Engineering teams from Italy and Strathclyde University have used it to test out new bridge safety monitoring systems.

Plans for the new bridge are

well advanced, but it will take a year before it opens - assuming all goes to plan.

The 48m steel beams take 20 weeks to make and the weather has to be right for them to be installed. Piling starts in June and the beams should be in put place later this year - the last time the M4 will close for this project.

The new bridge will have a wider cycle lane and higher parapets, but crucially it will sit on a similar footprint, meaning no planning process was needed, or extra funds for land buying. This has ensured no extra delays in the project.

The good news is the new bridge will be of a low maintenance design, making it easier to repair and reducing the need for prolonged closures in the future.

Hopefully, the bridge saga will be brought to a close in spring next year, and we can look forward to an easier journey into Bristol.

Claire Young with National Highways staff under the bridge

n RECIPE OF THE MONTH

A retro dessert with eggs for Easter

EASTER time is obviously when kids (and lots of adults!) think of chocolate Easter eggs.

This month my recipe showcases eggs in a classic, retro dessert from the ‘80s.

Crème caramel is a delightful combination of indulgence and lightness.

It seems to have been overtaken in the popularity stakes by crème brulee, another classic French dessert.

But for me, there is nothing better after a rich meal than my old favourite crème caramel.

This time I’ve given it a twist and an extra lightness by using orange juice rather than milk. This would be perfect for a special Sunday lunch, or indeed Easter Sunday, when you crave a little sweetness but not too much!

It should be prepped ahead, so that means you don’t have to think about it on the day of your special meal.

Crème Caramel With Orange

Preferably, make this the day before or at least in the morning when you are eating it later.

Makes 4 individual ramekins

Ingredients:

For the crème:

Grated zest of one orange Eggs – preferably free range and as fresh as possible -3 whole plus 3 egg yolks

Caster sugar- 3 level dessertspoons Fresh orange juice or good quality orange juice (not from concentrate)

10 fl oz or half pint

For the caramel:

Caster sugar – 100g

To serve:

A jug of single cream - optional Preheat the oven to 180C, gas mark 4

Finely grate the zest from the orange and leave it to steep in the orange juice.

Meanwhile, warm the ramekins and make the caramel. Make sure that you have a full kettle of boiling water ready, to clean any residual caramel from the pan in which it has been cooked.

For the caramel - put the 100g of caster sugar and 4 dessertspoons of cold water in a heavy-based saucepan.

Using a low heat, stir gently using a metal spoon until the syrup is clear which means the sugar has dissolved.

Turn up the heat and allow to bubble. Without stirring, leave the syrup to cook until golden brown. Watch the syrup carefully and when it starts to turn golden brown at the edges, swirl the pan to ensure an even colouring. Remove from the heat.

Pour a little caramel into each ramekin and twist quickly to coat the bottom. Use heavy duty oven gloves as the ramekins will be very hot.*

Then make the orange cream. Whisk the whole eggs and yolks and the 3 dessertspoons of sugar until creamy.

Heat the zest and orange juice gently in a separate pan.

Once the juice is almost boiling,

Ann Murray founded the Cooking4 Cookery School based in Chipping Sodbury. She’s teamed up with Frome Valley Voice to pass on her wealth of experience in the kitchen.

turn off the heat and strain the orange mixture into the eggs, stirring briskly until well combined. (otherwise you could end up with orange scrambled eggs!)

Pour carefully into the ramekins. The mixture should come near to the top of the dish, as it will settle a little in cooking. Cover each ramekin with buttered greaseproof paper.

Set the ramekins in a roasting pan with one inch of hot water.

Bake in the oven for about 30 mins or until lightly set. (When you jiggle the roasting tin, the cream shouldn’t wobble too much. If in doubt, a cocktail stick inserted in the middle should come out clean.)

Set aside in a cool place (not the fridge). Once cooled completely, transfer to the fridge.

Remove from the fridge 10 mins before serving.

Unmould the crèmes onto individual plates and serve with a splash of single cream to taste.

*Cook’s Tip – Once you have poured the caramel out of the saucepan, pour in the boiling water and leave for about 10 mins to make cleaning the pan easier.

Don’t be disappointed the finished crèmes don’t look overly orange. They will taste of orange and you can add some fresh orange segments to add colour and extra flavour if you wish.

Council scraps community forums

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is set to replace its system of Community Engagement Forums to bring residents and decisionmakers together, after they attracted an average of just four attendees.

The council says it will scrap the 14 CEFs and replace them with four new area committees, which will cover a larger area.

Residents, town and parish councillors, police, the voluntary sector and community groups will be invited to attend the expanded area committee sessions when the 18-month pilot project launches in May.

As well as low public attendance, organisations like the police and fire service have struggled to attend CEFs because there are so many of them, each meeting four times a year.

A cabinet member from the council’s Lib Dem/Labour administration will chair each of the four new committees, which will broadly mirror the district's parliamentary constituencies but with Thornbury & Yate split into separate East and West committees and the South Gloucestershire areas of Bristol North East combined with North East Somerset & Hanham.

They will not have decision-making powers but the local authority says they are a way of increasing its Community Conversations agenda to truly listen to the voices of the public.

The idea is that residents can speak directly to council leaders so their views can be considered earlier in the process to determine policy and potential service changes.

At present the Frampton Cotterell and Winterbourne council wards share a single forum, the Frome Valley CEF.

After the changes, Frampton would be part of the same area committee as Thornbury, while Winterbourne would join areas including Bradley Stoke and Downend.

By

Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Great business opportunity arises as Terry calls it a day!

Rapid Mounts are makers and providers of mounts to suit all photo and picture mount styles. With our in house lab fitted with the latest Valiani computeroperated machinery, we can supply designs to suit all requirements all with a high standard of workmanship.

Rapid Mounts & Picture framing has had pleasure in supplying frames & mounts for people since 2000.

The majority of our work comes from the internet with several large contracts including over 7,000 followers on ebay we have been pleased to fill.

Time has come for us to hang up our last frame and call it a day. So as well as a BIG Thank You to all our existing customers- there is a fabulous business opportunity for someone to invest in! All training would be given and help along the way for you to succeed in this profitable business.

If

Waste collector fined

£15,000 for bonfires

A WASTE collector who burned waste at a disused historic Manor House and hotel has been ordered to pay more than £15,000 in fines and costs.

South Gloucestershire Council prosecuted Waste Bristol Limited and owner Mark Stephens, 59, of Barrowmead Drive, Lawrence Weston, Bristol for a series of offences.

He appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on March 17 and pleaded guilty to unauthorised treating, keeping or disposal of waste; fly-tipping and failing to produce waste transfer notes.

His company was fined a total of £12,000, and he was also told to pay costs to the council of £1,288, and a victim surcharge of £2,000, totalling £15,228.

The court heard that in April last year, residents became aware of fires being lit in the car park of Rangeworthy Court in Church Lane, Rangeworthy.

A council spokesperson said: "A white Transit sized tipper truck would arrive after dark and tip waste within the hotel car park.

"The occupants of the truck would then arrange the waste into a bonfire and set it alight.

"This would happen on a weekly basis, with the men using an accelerant to ignite the fire. The fire would burn intensely, and the men would remain at the bonfire for up to 45 minutes before driving off to leave the fire to burn out unsupervised."

In July last year a local resident observed a large plume of smoke and called the fire brigade before going to the car park and finding the ‘Waste Bristol’ truck in front of a bonfire.

Another fire was spotted in the car park of Rangeworthy Court burning unattended in September.

South Gloucestershire envirocrime officers found the remains of three further bonfires and traced the owner, who said no permission had been given for them.

In October, Stephens confirmed he was the director and sole worker of Waste Bristol Limited and admitted regularly going to Rangeworthy Court.

The spokesperson said: "Stephens stated that his subsequent visits to the site were to relax and connect with ‘spirits’ that he sensed were present there."

"When shown the photograph of a Waste Bristol truck in front of a bonfire, he denied any involvement stating that the fire was already lit when he arrived there."

Council cabinet member for environmental enforcement Sean Rhodes said: “This case saw an unscrupulous waste company ignore all of their legal responsibilities and set alight vast amounts of potentially harmful waste at the historic Rangeworthy Court.

“Our advice to residents, is to be wary of businesses or people advertising waste clearances on social media sites such as Facebook."

Illegal fly-tipping can be reported by contacting the council’s StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, emailing streetcare@ southglos.gov.uk or visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/flytipping.

One of the bonfires at Rangeworthy Court

New chief for firefighters

AVON Fire & Rescue Service has announced a new chief fire officer to take charge of the organisation.

Matt Cook was most recently the deputy chief fire officer at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

His new employers say he "brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the role," which has a salary of £164,351 per year.

He will take over from Simon Shilton, who is retiring after 32 years as a firefighter, in the coming weeks.

Mr Cook joined Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service as a firefighter in 2001 before transferring to London Fire Brigade.

He has served as assistant chief fire officer in Oxfordshire before being appointed interim deputy chief in 2023 and then moving to West Sussex as deputy chief fire officer.

Mr Cook said: "I am honoured to take on the role of chief fire officer at Avon Fire & Rescue Service.

"Simon’s leadership and distinguished 30-year career have left a lasting impact on

this service, and I wish him all the very best for the future.

"I look forward to working alongside the dedicated people that make up our service and the wider community to ensure we provide the very best service we can.

"I am committed to ensuring we remain resilient, responsive, and innovative, always striving to deliver the highest level of Service for the communities we serve."

Interim Avon Fire Authority chair Paul Goggin said: "Matt’s extensive experience and forward-thinking approach make him the ideal leader for Avon Fire & Rescue Service.

"His commitment to innovation, public safety, and workforce development will be instrumental in driving the service forward.

"On behalf of the Fire Authority, our communities and the Service, we would like to thank Simon Shilton for his invaluable contributions."

The leadership change was announced shortly before the publication of a consultants' report to the fire authority, which found morale at the fire service control room at Lansdown, Bath, was at “rock bottom” and the department is at risk of a mass exodus through resignations.

The consultants said there had been allegations of bullying, discrimination and misogynistic language, and staff also complained of heavy workloads and lack of opportunities for career progression.

Mr Shilton said the service has developed a "staff-led action plan" to address concerns and "positive changes are already taking shape".

He said: "We are dedicated to ensuring that all staff in our control and communications team feel valued, supported, and heard.

“Our leadership team is fully committed to driving this transformation, and we are passionate about creating an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to the success of the service."

Incoming chief fire officer Matt Cook

WEST OF ENGLAND MAYORAL ELECTION

THURSDAY 1ST MAY

A common sense plan for our region

Let’s get our region moving (at last!) with a Mayor who will:

End the war on the motorist

Sort out our bus services

Expand railway services

Champion the Green Belt

Grow our regions’ economy and jobs

HOW TO USE YOUR VOTE FOR:

A Mayor who will move quickly to protect bus routes and keep fares low , through franchising and investment.

STEVE SMITH Vote

Georghie's gonks help Paul's Place fix roof

A MEMBER of disability centre Paul’s Place is doing her bit to help the charity pay to repair the roof of its new home.

Georghie Porter has been making and selling gonks to raise money for the charity for physically disabled adults, which is currently based at Coalpit Heath Cricket Club, despite only being able to use one hand.

Paul's Place is preparing to move into its own premises at the former Shire Way Community Centre in Yate in the summer, giving it space to support more physically disabled people with improved facilities and a wider range of services and activities.

Last year, thieves stole lead from the roof of the former community centre - the only part of the building that hadn’t been in need of any work.

Georghie, of Kingswood, decided to support the appeal to pay the cost of repairing the roof by making and selling the woolly gnome-like mascots.

So far, she has made over 100, raising £335 towards her £500 target.

A Paul's Place spokesperson said: "It’s a delicate craft, where Georgie can only use her

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group

OUR March Open Homes event was a lovely chance to chat with people about easy ways to make their homes greener and warmer.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and to Winterbourne Library for hosting our hub. We had 16 people come along to visit us there to find out how to save energy and reduce heating bills with green solutions, such as better insulation, home made draught excluders and renewable energy options.

Nine local homes opened their doors to show off the changes they’ve made to improve energy efficiency. It was fantastic to see these ideas in action and hear from people who have made their homes more eco-friendly.

On March 15 we hosted our Big Spring Clean and Repair Café - a brilliant day, made all the better by the delicious cake from Daisy's

one hand to thread wool to create a small and woolly gnome figure.

"It's a huge achievement, despite having a physical disability which affects her hearing, sight, legs and arms."

Georghie started making gonks during the covid lockdown years when a support worker introduced the activity at Paul’s Place.

Since then she has made them for members and staff at Paul’s Place, for carers, family members and friends of friends.

As word spread, care workers requested Georghie’s handmade gonks for other clients, with themed versions for Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day to Valentine’s Day.

She even made 25 for a junior football team in their blue and yellow colours.

Georghie said: "My favourites were the

Cafe!

We had 12 bags of litter collected around the community, making the area cleaner and brighter for everyone.

A huge thank you to the volunteers who helped with this –you made a big difference.

At the Repair Café we had 18 broken items brought in by local residents, and were able to repair 16 of them.

It’s amazing how much can be saved from landfill when we take the time to fix things instead of throwing them away.

It was a fun and friendly way to learn new skills and meet people of all ages.

Christmas Gonks, because they had glitter, and the first eight I made came out fluffier than I expected.

"I get asked, ‘how do I make them with one hand? I reply that you find a way.

"I love making gonks. The end product is so satisfying and it’s a project I can do myself.”

After reaching her £500 target for Paul’s Place, Georghie intends to keep making gonks to raise money for Cancer Research and plans to make a batch of them with multi-coloured hair for the Disability Pride event in July.

Anyone who would like to help the charity make the new Paul’s Place Hub ready can visit its website at www.paulsplace.org.uk/ hub for more details.

We’re already planning more exciting events, including a stall at the Winterbourne Down Carnival, where we’ll be sharing more tips on sustainable living and green solutions.

We’re also working on a directory of local homes that have been retrofitted to make them more energy-efficient, like adding insulation, updating heating systems, and installing renewable energy technologies.

This directory will allow people to connect with others who have made these changes and learn about their experiences.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. Your involvement makes all the difference, and we’d love to see even more of you at future events.

Kate Macdonald

Winterbourne Down Ladies Probus Club

AT our meeting in March we were entertained by Jo Richardson, a

Professional space educationalist.

Jo founded her company Space Detectives in 2013 and is also one of the current UK European Space Education Office Champions. Her high profile work has included the Tim Peake Primary Project.

During her informative and enthusiastic presentation we learned about the formation and decay of stars, the importance of the sun and how to view the night sky safely, among many other things.

I’m sure many of the audience were inspired to further their knowledge of astronomy.

In April we have a trip to Caerphilly and the Brecon Beacon Railway, with future trips and events also being investigated. Please come and join us at Winterbourne Down Ladies Probus Club. Visitors are always welcome. We meet monthly at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down, and our next meeting will be on April 14 at 2pm.

For more information, please contact 01454 773647.

Sue Humphreys

Some of Georghie's gonks

The Repair Café

Georghie Porter

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

Love shine a light

THE festival of Easter always falls at some point between March 23 and April 23, depending on the paschal moon, so this year it is almost as late as it can be.

By the time we start tucking into our Easter eggs, spring has well and truly sprung, the lambs have put on weight, the daffs are almost over, and the evenings are quite light and bright. Summer is just around the corner!

Easter is one of the great Christian festivals of light, with the new paschal candle being blessed at the ‘Easter Vigil’ on Holy Saturday.

The lighted candle is brought into a darkened church, a symbol of the risen Christ shining brightly in the world, bringing both love and hope to all humanity.

However, when the evenings are lighter, it is so much harder to create, within the church building, the symbolic image of this fragile light of hope and love, so strikingly represented by the paschal candle, being brought into a place of total darkness.

Nonetheless, the message is clear: it matters not how dark the world is, how much it is laden down with the impact of evil, the struggles of poverty, the impacts of human

greed, the thirst for power and control being exerted by the tyrant over citizens and neighbours.

Despite all of this, we are reminded afresh each year that true human fellowship will always be stronger than hate, justice and hope will endure, and that love and peace will abound.

Christians firmly believe that Easter shows us all that, through the sacrifice and pain of the cross, in the enlightening and glory of the resurrection, the ‘Love of God’ is unconditionally bestowed on the whole human family and is within touching distance for us all.

More than ever when we look at our world - the horrors of the conflict in Gaza, Ukraine and in much of the developing world, the marginalization of so many and the increasing levels of poverty even in wealthy countries like our own - the message of Easter and all it represents is both relevant and significant; it is as desperately needed today as it has ever been.

Whether late or early, whether we are believers in God or not, Easter reminds all of

us that the gift of love is what truly lights up the darkness of our world.

So, as you tuck into your Easter eggs this year, perhaps take a moment to recall these words from Katrina and the Waves' hit Eurovision-winning song Love Shine a Light, which captures in its own way what our response to the Easter story might be:

Love shine a light in every corner of the world

Let the love light carry, let the love light carry

Light up the magic, for every boy and girl

Let our love shine a light in every corner of the world

Malcolm Strange Rector, Fromeside Benefice

n FRAMPTON NATURE

Join the City Nature Challenge

FROM April 25 to 28 Frampton Cotterell Nature will once again be taking part in the City Nature Challenge.

This is an annual global bioblitz, where people from all over the world try to record and identify as many different species as they can in their local area.

Taking part is fun and easy to do. You just need to download the iNaturalist app to your phone or tablet, and then use this to share photos of any wildlife you see.

The app will give you suggestions to help identify what you’ve found, and an online community of experts will then verify your sighting.

By taking part, you’ll learn more about the wildlife around you, and help us find out more about local biodiversity.

You can record wildlife anywhere, but why not start off by doing a bioblitz in your own garden?

If you look carefully on flowers and leaves, and under rocks and logs, you’ll be very likely to find species you’ve never seen before.

We’re holding two free events as part of this year’s bioblitz.

On Friday April 25 we’ll be leading a guided nature walk, and seeing how many species we can record along the Black Rocks Nature Trail.

We’ll meet at 9am at the end of Mill Lane, between The Globe and St Peter’s Church.

The route includes styles and uneven ground, which can be muddy, so please wear stout footwear. Sunday April 27 sees the first Moth Club of the year, at the Brockeridge Centre Garden from 10am. We’ll be opening up the traps from the night before and viewing and identifying the moths we’ve caught. Come along and meet the moths!

These are great opportunities to have a close encounter with local wildlife.

There's no need to book for

Winterbourne Medieval Barn

WINTERBOURNE Medieval Barn has a busy month ahead with live shows, talks, food and drink workshops, and craft sessions for all ages.

On April 4 at 7.30pm Sisters of Swing return to the barn for another fantastic evening of live music with their 20-plus piece all-female swing band, playing up-tempo vocal and instrumental big band and swing classics with a sprinkling of more modern songs and tunes.

On April 7 at 7pm there will be a talk on the architecture of houses in South Gloucestershire, from Medieval to the 1600s. Architectural Historian Linda Hall looks at the building styles and materials, showing how they give us clues about a building's age.

Naturalist Steve England will lead a foraging walk on April 13, from 10am-2.30pm.

Walk in a small group and gather wild foods, guided by Steve's expertise on what to pick - and what not to pick!

The Barn holds a free open afternoon on Sunday April 27, from 1-4pm.

There are also various craft activities, including Craft and a Cuppa for adults on April 5 from 1-3pm and Easter Family Crafts on April 8 from 10am-noon, aimed at five to 11-year-olds, with an adult.

Booking for all events is online at Ticketsource or via the Barn website at www.winterbournebarn.org.uk.

Free walks

THREE free guided walks are being held in April, led by Sandie Lowe.

The first is on April 6: Meet at 11am in the centre of Biddestone for a walk to Slaughterford, with refreshments half way at The White Hart.

The second is on April 13, meeting at 11am at The Swan in Winterbourne High Street for a walk visiting Monk's Pool and Bradley Brook.

The third is on April 27: Meet at 11am at The Grenville Monument lay-by, at Lansdown Hill for a flat walk along the Cotswold Escarpment picturesque views over the river Severn.

For more details call Sandie on 0786 659 7104.

either event - just turn up on the day.

Families are welcome - sorry, no dogs except assistance dogs.

We’re hoping that hedgehogs are one of the species recorded over the bioblitz weekend.

We’d really like to get more local records to help us monitor the population and target the work we’re doing to help them. If you’ve seen a hedgehog this year then please email me with your name and the date and location of the sighting.

If you’re not sure whether you

have hedgehogs in your garden, then why not try setting up a trail camera?

Frampton Cotterell Parish Council have a brilliant library of wildlife recording equipment, which residents can borrow free of charge.

As well as trail cameras, this includes bat detectors and a moth trap.

If you’d like to borrow something please email me at wildlife@framptoncotterell-pc.gov. uk

David Hanks

Loft Boarding & Insulation

Scarlet tiger moth found in the author's garden during the 2022 bioblitz. Picture: David Hanks

n WHAT'S ON

APRIL 5

n SATURDAY NIGHT

ENTERTAINMENT from Bennie Vee, with dancing at Frampton Cotterell & Coalpit Heath RBL Club, Ryecroft Road, Frampton Cotterell, 8pm. Also Falcons on the 12th, City Limits on the 15th and Shayne Driscoll on the 26th. New visitors welcome. £6 entry - cash only.

APRIL 5

n EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA at Beesmoor playing field, Frampton Cotterell, 1.30-3.30pm. Easter egg hunt, children’s crafts, and games including an egg and spoon race. Refreshments on sale to raise funds for the park.

APRIL 14

n ARTS SOCIETY SEVERN VALLEY

LECTURE at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, 10.30am and 1.30pm. Cantiones Sacrae 1575: The Lives and Music of Tallis and Byrd. Explore the lives of the two men who created the first ever volume of English printed music and listen to some of its treasures. Non-members welcome, £6. Contact memb@tassv.org.uk.

APRIL 17

n ARTS APPRECIATION GROUP meets at The Greenfield Centre, Park Avenue, Winterbourne, 2pm. Illustrated talk on artist Maggi Hambling, by Justine Hopkins. More details from Sally on 0794 650 8316.

MAY 1-5

n SEVERN VALE ART TRAIL. Diverse range of arts and crafts on show across bank holiday weekend in venues from Berkeley to Frampton

Cotterell and from Slimbridge to Wickwar. Artist and venue details at www.severnvalearttrail.org.

REGULAR EVENTS

MONDAY

n WINTERBOURNE FLOWER CLUB

Meets 2nd Monday of the month at WADCA, Watleys End Road, 2-4pm. Call 01454 776753.

n WINTERBOURNE DOWN LADIES

PROBUS CLUB meets 3rd Monday of each month at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down, 2pm. Talk and refreshments. Visitors £3.50. Call 01454 773647.

TUESDAY

n WINTERBOURNE SHORT MAT

BOWLS CLUB meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1.30 until 4.30 pm at WADCA, Watleys End Road, Winterbourne. All welcome. Free trial and tuition available. Call 07542 052837.

n WINTERBOURNE DOWN METHODIST CHURCH Drop in for free cup of tea and chat or play board games, every Tuesday from 2-4pm.

n SUNRIDGE GOLF CROQUET

CLUB meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Coalpit Heath has players at all levels. Learn how to play, club equipment is available to use. Contact croquet@wilko.eclipse. co.uk or call 07977 201440.

n CRAFTING: Come and join our group of crafters on the first Tuesday of every month in the Red Brick Annexe, Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath, BS36 2TG from 2-4pm. Bring your

Winterbourne library

WINTERBOURNE Library is holding a free Easter holiday craft activity for primary school-aged children.

Marvellous Mini Beasts takes place on Friday April 11 from 10.30am, and is suitable for children aged from four to 11. You can also take a free craft bag to make at home.

The library will be closed Good Friday, April 18, to Easter Monday April 21. It re-opens on Tuesday April 22.

Lego club meets on April 26 from 10-11am, for children aged four and over – all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Adult craft group meets on April 12, from 10am-noon: join a friendly group, do your own work and chat – refreshments available by donation.

Children's Rhymetime (up to 18 months) takes place on Wednesday at 10am; story time (18 months to four years) is on Fridays at 10am. Both sessions are term time only.

Coffee morning is at 11am every Wednesday: coffee, chat, friendship and crafts.

Adult games club takes place on April 9 and 23 from 2-4pm - play board games and make new friends.

Staffed hours are Tuesday from 10am-3pm, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday from 9.30am-12.30pm.

Open Access, when the library is unstaffed, is between 8am and 7.30pm, every day.

For more details, visit the library, phone 01454 868006, email Winterbourne.library@southglos.gov.uk, or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/ libraries.

own project. £4 per session: Kay 07792189276.

n OPEN DOOR at Winterbourne Down Methodist Church, Down Road, every Tuesday 2-4pm. Social gathering - enjoy tea, coffee, cakes, games, music and friendship, especially for those who live on their own.

WEDNESDAY

n G ENTLE SHIBASHI TAI CHI AND RELAXATION, accessible to all, 10.30-11.30am, 11.45am12.45pm and 1.30pm to 2.30pm, Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne. Contact Jenny on 07855 560257 or jksmith@blueyonder.co.uk for more information.

n SINGALONG WITH THE JAYS AND JOY, first Wednesday in the month at Crossbow House, School Road, Frampton Cotterell, 2-3.30pm. Themed singalongs, friendly welcoming group with live music, refreshments. £5 carers free. Details from Hilary, 07515 351813.

n TABLE TENNIS Henfield Hall, Ram Hill on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 2-4pm. All abilities welcome. Equipment provided. £2 per session including tea, coffee, biscuits. Details email henfieldhall@ yahoo.com or call 0785 119 8434

THURSDAY

n FRIENDSHIP AND EXERCISE GROUP FOR SENIORS St Saviours Church: Thursdays 101130. A friendly group, exercising for over 5 years together. We aim to improve balance, strength and fitness in a fun and friendly environment. An hour of gentle exercise, followed by a cup of tea or coffee and a chat. £5 per session. Contact Adam: 07875503586 Adam@alwaysdeveloping.co.uk

n WINTERBOURNE WINDS, friendly amateur wind band rehearses at Holy Trinity Church, Bradley Stoke, every Thursday from 7.30-9.30pm. New members welcome. For information email winterbournewinds@yahoo.com. n WINTERBOURNE DOWN WI meets on first Thursday of each month in All Saints Church Hall, Church Road, Winterbourne Down, at 7.30pm. Speakers, demonstrators & craft evenings. Guests welcome. Details from aspbury.m@gmail.com.

n WINTERBOURNE DOWN ART GROUP meets on Thursdays from 2-4pm at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Friendly non-profit making group welcomes new members of all abilities. More information from Alison Sansum on

01454 775133

n COELIAC UK LOCAL CAFÉ MEETUP, every third Thursday of the month, 10-11.30am, at Iron Acton Garden Centre cafe. Join us to share experiences of living gluten free. For more details email volunteering@ coeliac.org.uk.

n CROSSBOW CAMERA CLUB meets every Thursday evening at 7.45pm at Crossbow House, School Road, Frampton Cotterell. Small friendly group who enjoy looking at and taking pictures. Call 0789 026 6650 or just turn up for free taster sessions.

n HAMBROOK MEN’S PROBUS CLUB meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 10am-noon at Whiteshill Chapel, Hambrook, with a speaker at each meeting. Friendly group, new members welcome. Details call the secretary on 07788 882386

n VALE OF FROME MEN’S PROBUS CLUB meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month, 10am-noon at the Miners Social Club, Coalpit Heath. Friendly group, guest speakers, free refreshments. New members welcome. More information from 0117 956 4259 or 07521 613154.

FRIDAY

n FROME VALLEY ART GROUP meets at the Greenfield Centre, Winterbourne each Friday 2-4pm or 7-9pm. Thriving club with demonstrations and workshops from visiting professional artists. More details online at winterbourneart.uk or email fromevalleyartwinterbourne@ gmail.com.

n FRIDAY LAUGHTER CLUB at St Peter's Church, Frampton Cotterell, every week from 10am-noon. Tea, coffee, cake and chat. All welcomedonations only.

SATURDAY

n WINTERBOURNE AND FROME VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP repair cafe, every third Saturday of the month, 10.30am, All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Free electrical, textile and woodwork repairs. Voluntary donations towards group's work.

Discover the power of colour and pattern! Learn how they shape our moods and spaces, and unlock the secrets to crafting a stunning, one-of-a-kind home

SATURDAY 3RD MAY 10AM - 3PM BEACON ROOM ZION CHURCH, BS36 2HY

Find out more

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir

FRAMPTON Cotterell Male Voice Choir's centenary concert takes place in April - and our preparations have unearthed a surprising link to the past.

The nascent choir’s very first musical conductor was Mark Dutfield.

One of the choir’s baritones, Mel Everleigh, had a grandfather called Edwin Dutfield. The assumption was that they may be somehow related to each other, but a search through family history has not been able to establish a link.

It is known that Mark Dutfield had a son, Oliver, who lived in Frampton Cotterell and there may be a descendant still living in the local area.

Any relatives of Oliver Dutfield would be most welcome to attend the centenary concert at the St Michael’s Centre auditorium in Stoke Gifford on April 26 as guests of the choir.

Relatives can get in touch via the choir website, www.fcmvc.com.

The choir is delighted to announce that the master of ceremonies for the centenary concert will be Ali Vowles, whom you may know from her time presenting the BBC Points West programme.

Her ready charm and wit will enhance what is already set to be a fabulous and memorable evening.

The choir is deep into rehearsals, the development of the concert’s souvenir programme is gaining momentum, with sponsorship from several local businesses, and excitement is mounting towards what will be a spectacular and unique event in the history of the choir.

David Nelson

Crossbow Singers

THE Crossbow Singers have been put through their paces recently

by guest conductor Sian Walters, while our musical director Carolyn Dutton has been enjoying a welldeserved holiday.

The songs rehearsed will be ready for the 50th anniversary concerts in July at Crossbow House.

The Crossbow singers are very grateful for Sian’s expertise, enthusiasm and encouragement.

We will next meet up for our AGM, which will be held at Crossbow House on April 14.

Refreshments from The Crossbow bar always help the business of the evening go with a swing and it promises to be a friendly, lively and sociable evening.

After Easter the choir is planning a variety of social events to celebrate the Golden anniversary and some photographs from the archives will help take a trip down memory lane for all those connected to the Crossbow Singers over the years.

Anne Angus – April 2025

Winterbourne Musical Theatre

THIS year Winterbourne Musical Theatre celebrates its 50th year of bringing fun and affordable shows to the Winterbourne area.

Featuring a wealth of local talent aged 10 to 75, the society will presents the comedy Shrek the Musical from May 14 to 18 at WADCA Community Centre, in Watleys End Road.

The show is based on the Dreamworks Animation film and the book by William Steig, and is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International.

The show has all the humour of the original film, with Lord Farquaad sending Shrek and Donkey to rescue Princess Fiona from her dragon-guarded tower, while dumping a crowd of fairytale characters in Shrek's swamp.

But Farquaad's plan goes awry, and the story reaches its Happy Ending with the well-known Neil Diamond song I'm a Believer.

Wednesday to Friday performances are at 7.30pm. Weekend performances are 2.30pm matinees. Tickets £15 are available from Ticketsource online or by calling 0333 666 3366.

More information can be found on Facebook.

Frome Valley Art Group

SPRING has arrived and already members of the SAA (Supporting All Artists) Frome Valley Art Group are busy preparing for their 29th annual art exhibition over the weekend of May 10-11.

This year their chosen charity to benefit from any sales, raffles and refreshments is Mind.

Established over 30 years ago, this thriving art group has over 60 members of varying talents, who meet on Friday afternoons and evenings at the Greenfield Centre in Winterbourne to paint in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere creating works of art in various mediums including watercolour, acrylics, oils and pastels.

The group enjoys art demos

and all-day workshops by visiting professional artists, many of whom donate their paintings to the exhibition raffle.

Several members also host in-house workshops for members, which are always popular and frequently oversubscribed.

New members are always welcome, whether beginner, hobbyist painter or more experienced artist.

Afternoon sessions currently have a waiting list, but there is capacity in the evening sessions.

To find out more visit www. winterbourneart.uk or email fromevalleyartwinterbourne@gmail. com.

Sylvia Dyer

Sian Walters with the choir

An art group workshop

Beesmoor Road Playing Field

trees this spring.

The trees will take some years before they are ready to produce fruit.

Bristol-based The Window Hub progresses on green goals

Bristol-based home improvement company, The Window Hub, is aiming to plant 3,000 trees over the next three years as part of its commitment to being a climate conscious business.

The playing field is run by unpaid volunteers and gets most of its income from fundraising, grants and donations.

Frampton Cotterell Parish Council has awarded a grant of £4,000 to help pay for the annual insurance, and twice-yearly maintenance contract with Touchwood, who built the wooden play area.

The money has also paid for essential tree safety work – a large tree had to be reduced down because of ash die back - and the twiceyearly hedge trimming.

Floral Friends of Frampton

The working party

The trees will be planted at Boyd Valley Lake, which is located in Bitton. This is in addition to continuing its policy of recycling all old frames so they don’t end up in landfill.

Planting the community orchard

BEESMOOR Road Playing Field could be offering free healthy snacks for local families in years to come from its new community orchard.

A team of volunteers joined Frampton Cotterell Parish Council's community nature officer David Hanks planting apple tree varieties Scrumptious, Red Windsor, Katy, Rosette and Bramley. They are all eating apples except for the Bramley, which is a cooker.

The window installation company was launched during lockdown in 2020 by seasoned industry professional Danny, who wanted to create a business that was “built on quality rather than greed”.

We were awarded £1,300 from South Gloucestershire Council’s Member Awarded Funding scheme from councillors David Goodwin and Jon Lean, which will go towards repairs to play area equipment, including replacement chains and grass mats for the swings and repairing a section of the barrier log.

On behalf of everyone in the village we’d like to thank them for their continued support.

In fact, a new showroom is scheduled to open this month.

Beesmoor will be hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza on April 5 from 1.30-3.30pm.

WELL, we didn’t expect all that sunshine did we? Wasn't it wonderful?

90% of reviews for The Window Hub on Trustpilot are for five stars, with customers celebrating the company’s professionalism, friendliness, tidiness, and attention to detail.

The hard work of Danny and his company was also recently recognised and commended, with The Window Hub being named the ‘Best in the South West’ at the G24 Awards last year.

David said: "Apple trees are great for wildlife and will benefit bees, butterflies and birds."

From humble beginnings, The Window Hub now operates from a head office and showroom in Staple Hill in Bristol with offices, showrooms and installation depots across the South West.

The trees were donated by cider maker Thatchers as part of the company's Community Orchard Project helping community groups, schools and charities across the UK plant 500

Danny launched The Window Hub because he wanted to be much more than just a double glazing company.

Come along for an Easter Egg Hunt, children’s crafts and games including an egg and spoon race. Refreshments to raise funds will be available. Look forward to seeing you there!

“We know that choosing new windows and inviting someone

If you'd like to get involved with the future of your park, please contact us at field@beesmoor. uk

into your home can be stressful, so we have introduced as many initiatives as possible to be fair and reasonable in our approach to give our customers the best experience possible,” he said.

Our volunteers wasted no time in tidying up the Beesmoor flower border and we hope that you can see the results of their hard work, cutting back last year's dead wood and reducing the weeds. Just to be out in the sunshine with our friends lifted our spirits, and hopefully you’ve been able to enjoy the blue sky and spring flowers too, both around the village, in the planters and, of course, at home.

We hope to add more spring bulbs in the autumn, so if you have any ideas as to where you’d like to see more daffodils, and perhaps bluebells, please let us know via our email address, floralfriendsofframpton@gmail.com.

“Sales begin and end with treating customers properly. And

Phil Kerswell

In 2025, The Window Hub will grow to cover domestic homes between Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and Lands End in Cornwall.

For more information, please visit TheWindowHub.co.uk.

Pat Densley

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Frampton Cotterell WI

OUR talk for the end of February was fascinating to say the least, and very well attended.

Neil Smart from Medical Detection Dogs came along with his specially trained dog to tell us more about the charity’s work.

The ability of these dogs is simply amazing. They have been shown in trials to recognise many illnesses, ranging from cancer to Parkinson’s disease, malaria, covid, bacterial and urinary tract infections and more.

Many people have benefitted from being able to adopt MD dogs into their lives. Queen Camilla is a patron of the charity.

Our next talk is on April 22, about the Bristol Hippodrome with Katie Bell.

After that we have a meeting to discuss WI resolutions and a quiz, on May 27.

We have many other events lined up for the year ahead, including a trip to see Moulin Rouge at the Hippodrome in July and various meals out, garden/historic visits, etc. We also have a monthly “lunch club”, open to all members and held at a different local venue each time.

Special interest groups that meet separately including a book club, craft group, gardening group and our skittles team.

Visitors and new members are welcome to our monthly meetings at St Peter’s Hall on School Road, at 7.45pm on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

There is a charge of £4 for the evening, or you can join by paying a membership fee.

If you’re interested in joining us please let us know and get in touch via our Facebook page.

Winterbourne Down WI

AT our March meeting we welcomed Trevor Carter, who stepped in at the last minute.

This was his second visit to our group but he always puts on an entertaining evening!

Trevor won a ‘Storyteller of the year’ competition, although he isn’t actually a

storyteller but a poet and writer: some of his poems are narrative and written in verse in the Iambic style.

He takes part in shows and festivals during the summer and took part in the Lansdown Cabaret performing as a ‘Circus Poet’.

Trevor presented several of his stories, including a love poem to his wife, which was inspired by two dragonflies, a poem about daffodils which was inspired by a visit to Wordsworth’s cottage and a poem called 'Counselling', which was inspired by a course he had attended.

There were several other poems and parodies, including a refrain called Wooing, which was very amusing and kept us all on our toes.

Next month our speaker is Shelly from the Animal Rescue Centre, with a talk called “Paws & Claws”.

We have many entertaining speakers in the coming months, a skittles team that takes on other WI groups and are always looking for new players. We also hold regular coffee mornings in our local cafes: another opportunity for us to get together with fellow members.

If you think this is something you would enjoy, we make all visitors very welcome.

We meet on the first Thursday of the month at the All Saints Church Hall in Winterbourne Down, at 7.30pm.

Carol Tremlin

Coalpit Heath WI

For those who had arrived in the village's more recent history, it was fascinating trying to place where the numerous pubs would have been, imagine the tennis club on the Manor field and the cycle speedway track behind the church.

Interesting to note, too, that in 1965 the village was cut in two as the River Frome overflowed!

Ian assures us he has many other photos, so we are looking forward to hearing more.

Sadly, our skittles team were unable to progress to the next round, but captain, Marcia, thanked all for being such good sports - we might enjoy some social matches over the next few months.

We will be having an Easter raffle, and have started planning our next themes for the Badminton Road fence.

If our meetings sound like something you would enjoy, why not come along and meet us?

You would be most welcome (visitors £5).

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month in St Saviour’s church hall at 7.45pm.

Our next meeting is on April 2 with Tony Griffith, on the Inner Magic Circle, with F A Burroughs talking about the Victorian gardener on May 7.

Programme updates can be found on Facebook @WICoalpitHeath or Instagram @ coalpitheathwi. Caroline Johnston

Winterbourne Evening WI

Our March speaker, David Hardill is Community Heritage Officer at Yate District Heritage Centre. He was able to tell us about the Berkeley and Poyntz families, who were the two major landowners during Tudor times.

Yate dates back to the 8th century and during the Tudor period, the landscape was of enclosures, commons for grazing, deer parks and large fields. Cloth and wool contributed to the economy.

Within the Yate area, the Berkeley family owned Yate Court and were known for their great feasts. Dishes included game, venison, lamb and larks' tongues!

The Poyntz family owned Acton Court. Religion played a major part in the influence that both families had at Court.

As the English Reformation brought changes from Catholicism to Protestantism, the monarchs reflected these changes. The Berkeley family were Catholic and enjoyed more prominence during Mary's reign whereas the Poyntz family were Protestant and their influence grew during the reigns of Edward VI and Elizabeth I. Nicholas Poyntz the Elder, a friend of Thomas Cromwell, acquired Kingswood Abbey during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and was made High Sheriff of Gloucestershire.

WE had a fascinating evening hearing about local history with Ian Haddrell.

Photos of the area showing local businesses and families created lots of reminiscences of the past, and members added extra details that could only be known if you were from the area.

The interesting talk highlighted the development of Yate and the surrounding area during the Tudor period. Its historical importance is still evident today at both Acton Court and Horton Court.

Our next meeting will be on April 10 at St Michael's School in Linden Close, Winterbourne, when we will enjoy an Easter Dance.

Visitors are always welcome.

Margaret Timms

Medical Detection Dogs speaker Neil Smart.

Poet Trevor Carter

Ian Haddrell

Frampton retain trophy with big win

FRAMPTON Cotterell

Rugby Club are celebrating after retaining the Bristol Combination Vase cup.

The club repeated their 2024 success over the same rivals, Old Colstonians.

But while last year's match was a tight affair, ending 21-18, this year's final on March 15 ended with a comprehensive 5521 win at Lockleaze.

The club had gone 20 years without a cup win before last year's success but now have back-to-back successes in the competition.

It comes after Frampton coaches Nigel Smith and Olly Slym were awarded the prestigious GRFU monthly coaches' award for leading Fram on an incredible winning run.

A 12-game unbeaten run going back to early November and sees the first team sat in second place in the Counties 2 Tribute Gloucestershire South league table, with two games to go.

Even without the cup final in late March, it’s been a great season .

Nige steps down this year

Winterbourne Tennis Club

WINTERBOURNE Tennis Club club celebrated International Women’s Day in March with fun tennis and free cupcakes.

The club has recently resurfaced the tennis courts and has new power saving LED lights, making a big difference to the tennis experience.

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to our long-standing friend and coach, Imed Hamrouni, who has been pivotal in growing the tennis club to where it is today.

Junior tennis thrived under his leadership and the club has produced top players over the years. Rachel Cockcroft, who has been a member of WTC for many years and at times stood in for Imed, has been appointed the new head coach.

This made the transition smooth, with no disruption to the junior or senior coaching. As secretary of the WTC committee, Rachel has been working hard

after coaching for seven seasons, starting with the club's colts team and moving onto seniors.

Nige has been an inspiration to the players and club and was awarded a signed Fram shirt by First team captain Zak Smith as a thank you.

Mike Weaver

March, 2025

in the background with the day to day running of the club and launched many new initiatives.

As a latest addition to our activities, the club has just introduced Pan-Disability sessions inclusive to disabled, deaf and neurodivergent individuals between the ages of eight and 18.

The club offers a wide range of activities suited to all ages and abilities.

For more information visit the website at clubspark.lta.org. uk/WinterbourneTennisClub or contact Rachel Cockcroft on 07980 901967.

Elsa Looij

Frampton Cotterell Cricket Club

FRAMPTON Cotterell Cricket Club grounds team has been hard at work with pre-season preparations on our two squares at The Park. Pre-season friendlies are due to be played from April 12, with league games starting on May 3 and continuing with home games every Saturday until September. Full fixture lists can be found online at FramptonCotterell.Play-Cricket.com

Our All-Stars (5-8 years old) and Dynamos (8-11 years old) programs are now open for bookings. Sessions begin on May 11 and can be booked online at ecb.clubspark.uk by searching for Frampton Cotterell. George Foulger

Above: Frampton Cotterell players celebrate with the Bristol Combination Vase

Right: Zak Smith presents coach Nigel Smith with a signed shirt

Club members on International Women’s Day

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