Frome Valley Voice May 2024

fromevalleyvoice

Charlie's dream call-up

4,000 hours of

RAW sewage was flushed into the River Frome for thousands of hours last year, the Environment Agency says.

The river, which flows through the area on its way to Bristol, suffered a total of 4,058 hours of spills from eight combined sewer overflows (CSOs), where rainwater and foul waste water from homes is washed into waterways, between Iron Acton and Winterbourne.

Most of the spills were in Frampton Cotterell, where Wessex Water, the company responsible for

sewage spills

the area's waste water disposal and treatment, started work on a £5 million project in April to alleviate the problem.

It is building three huge storage tanks to collect rainwater during heavy storms to keep it out of the overflows.

But campaigners say the works will not reduce spills from all of the area's sewer overflows.

Turn to page 3

Carnival time

WINTERBOURNE Down's Carnival Queen and King have been selected ahead of this year's parade.

PAGE 7

Response blasted

THE owner of a village convenience store has criticised the police response after a robbery.

PAGE 2

Planning row

PLANS to build five houses on the corner of two roads in Frampton Cotterell are being strongly opposed by local residents.

PAGE 4

School praised

INSPECTORS have praised a Frampton Cotterell school's ambitious curriculum and "welcoming ethos", after their first visit for nearly 12 years.

PAGE 6

TEENAGER Charlie Isaacs, pictured with dad Paul, has been selected to represent his country at the under-20s World Coarse Angling Championships. Full story: Page 5

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Local information

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

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

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

Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Environment/trading standards 01454 868001

Complaints

Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk

general enquiries: 101 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk

General enquiries: 0117 926 2061

NHS Health Call 111

Well Aware health & social care information

www.wellaware.org.uk

Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

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A member of the

n NEWS Shopkeeper criticises police response to robbery

THE owner of a convenience store in Coalpit Heath has criticised the police response after £400 was stolen and a member of staff assaulted.

Edwina Pennell, who owns the Budgens store on Woodend Road, says officers didn’t attend the incident despite her calling following the robbery. Instead, she was told to log the incident online.

She said: "What horrified us more than anything was that obviously we rang the police, because I got down there within 15 minutes, and we were told that we could only report it online.

“It’s the first time in 35 years we’ve ever had anything like this happen.

"We couldn’t even talk to a policeman or anybody."

The attack happened at 8.30pm on February 20, when a man wearing a motorbike helmet came into the store.

He appeared to pay for an item, but when the till was open, he reached over and grabbed cash.

An 18-year-old shop worker tried to stop him but was punched in the chest.

Another member of staff ran after the man, but he had an accomplice waiting at the side of the shop and they made off on a scooter.

Ms Pennell says the robbery and attack have left her very angry.

She said: "I’m appalled really, especially as it was a very young member of staff. It’s really shaken him up and upset him, because you just don’t expect that to happen in Frampton Cotterell at 8 o’clock at night."

Extra precautions have now been taken, including guards on the tills and a ban on people entering the shop wearing helmets.

A police spokesperson told the Voice: "When operational demand is high, we prioritise attendance at incidents in which there is reported violence or a suspect has been detained.

"Because of the time

between the incident taking place and the report being made, and no injuries having been reported, the risk to the public was deemed lower.

"We fully appreciate the concern these incidents can cause, and officers have spoken with the victims, who continue to be updated as the investigation progresses.

"Our neighbourhood team is committed to working proactively with businesses to provide them with support and crime prevention advice, particularly where shop staff or customers have been threatened."

Ms Pennell said she was having to deal with an increase in crime at the shop, with "a lot of shoplifting".

Police released a picture of the suspect in April, along with an appeal for information from the public.

A spokesperson said the suspect they want to trace is white, about 5ft 10in tall and in his 30s or 40s.

He was wearing a black helmet, a black motorbike jacket with 'Frank Thomas' written on it, navy blue trousers and purple shoes with yellow laces.

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote crime reference number 5224 046 181.

The suspect

n NEWS

'Disgraceful' increase in sewage entering rivers

From to page 1

The Environment Agency released details of spills from CSOs at the end of March.

It showed that for the eight CSOs discharging into the Frome between Iron Acton and Winterbourne – at New Cog Mill, Church Road, Bridge Way, Clyde Road, Rectory Road, Nightingales Bridge, Sunny Acres Footbridge and Harcombe Farm – a total of 520 separate spills were recorded by monitoring equipment.

The total number of hours when discharges were recorded was 4,058 – equivalent to 169 days.

The most discharges were recorded at Sunny Acres Footbridge near Watley's End, with 124 spills lasting a total of 1,155 hours, and Church Road in Frampton Cotterell, with 104 spills totalling 1,137 hours.

The Environment Agency said nationally, storm overflows rose by 54% compared with 2022, partly due to wet weather.

Water Minister Robbie Moore said sewage pollution in waters was "unacceptable".

He said: "We demanded that 100% of overflows were monitored by the end of last year as part of our drive to improve transparency. The data shows water companies must go further and faster to tackle storm overflows and clean up our precious waterways."

David Hanks of volunteer conservation group Frampton Cotterell Nature said: “It is disgraceful that the amount of sewage entering our rivers has increased.

"I feel very sad that the Frome in Frampton is no longer fit for children to play in, and that the poor water quality is damaging local biodiversity."

He said that, while Wessex Water was working to reduce overflows at three CSOs, the others did not have to meet government targets until as late as 2050.

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

chief executive Simon Hunter said the figures did not provide the full detail needed to show the impact spills are having on the environment, as a concentrated discharge into a small stream would have a worse effect than more diluted sewage going into a large river.

The charity carries out its own volunteer monitoring project, RiverBlitz, where people collect samples to test for pollutants, every summer.

Simon said: "An even greater concern for me is the treated "continuous discharge" from water recycling centres, which seems to have been missed in the discussion on water industry impacts."

He said these were allowed but are not required by law to be safe for bathing, and continue to discharge even when river flow levels are low.

Wessex Water, which is in charge of the region's sewerage systems, said "exceptionally wet weather" was the main reason

for the increase in discharges, which were "mostly rainwater to protect properties from flooding during the fourth wettest year since records began".

A spokesperson said: "Licensed storm overflows automatically operated more frequently in 2023, releasing mostly rainwater to protect properties from flooding during the fourth wettest year since records began.

"Storm overflows are legal but outdated, which is why we’re investing £3 million a month to progressively improve them –with plans to more than double that investment if approved by our regulators.

"Locally, we’re investing more than £5 million in a trio of projects to separate and store rainwater at Frampton Cotterell. This will ease pressure on the combined sewer system and further protect the River Frome."

Frampton Nature: Page 23

Storage tanks 'will help protect river'

WORK on a £5 million project to stop excess rainwater from swamping sewers that overflow into the River Frome is has started in Frampton Cotterell.

Wessex Water, which is in charge of waste water disposal and treatment in the region, is building three underground storage tanks, capable of storing 885,000 litres of water between them, at Church Road in Frampton Cotterell, at Nightingale Lane and off Cloisters Road, Watley's End.

Work on the first, in Church Road, started in April, with the Nightingale Lane project starting in May and Cloisters Road in July. All three are due to be completed by next January.

They cover the three combined sewer overflows which discharged the most last year: 1137 hours at Church Road, 923 hours at Nightingale Bridge and 1155 at Sunny Acres, off Cloisters Lane.

Wessex Water says the tanks will "ease the flow of large amounts of rain into sewers during heavy storms, helping to significantly reduce the automatic operation of storm overflows".

The company says CSOs were designed

Work underway to build the first tank in Church Road, Frampton Cotterell

as a "relief valve" to protect homes from flooding, and have been part of the UK’s sewer system for more than a century.

Project manager Andy Roberts said: "These are substantial investments into our sewer system in Frampton Cotterell which will help to protect the River Frome by reducing times when untreated water reaches it via the automatic operation of storm overflows.

“The combined sewer system can be

overwhelmed by rain in heavy storms but, by holding this excess water back in these tanks, we can then return it to the system later, via the Frome Valley Relief Sewer, so it can go onward to a water recycling centre for treatment."

Mr Roberts said the works involve diverting a "small section" of the Frome Valley Walkway along Meadow Mead and Rectory Road.

He said: "We’ll be reinstating the area, including a memorial bench we will carefully remove while work takes place, when completed. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

Wessex Water says it has committed "towards progressively and substantially reducing the discharge of untreated wastewater by 2025", and is focusing on priority projects where overflows discharge most frequently or have environmental impact.

The company says the Environment Agency "does not list storm overflows among the reasons for potential deterioration in water quality in the rural catchment".

Residents oppose 'overdevelopment' of bungalow site

PLANS to build five houses on the corner of two roads in Frampton Cotterell are being strongly opposed by local residents.

Developer Brushwood Homes has submitted plans to build five homes on the plot, on the corner of Ryecroft Road and Rockside Gardens near the Rising Sun pub.

It previously withdrew an application to South Gloucestershire Council for three homes on the site.

As the Voice went to press there had been 41 objections to the project, with only one person supporting it.

Nearby residents have raised concerns about increased traffic, parking problems and overdevelopment of the site.

Under the plans the two bungalows currently on the site would be demolished to make way for five detached, fourbedroom houses. Three would face onto Rockside Gardens and two would face onto Ryecroft Road.

The developers claim that the development would make efficient use of the land, arguing the current two bungalows do not provide this.

The two houses on Ryecroft Road would be three-storey: the developers say this would match nearby roof levels and developments.

The plans include an updated

layout from the withdrawn plans, which now include land at 96 Ryecroft Road.

In a statement supporting the application, the developers said: "Given that Rockside Gardens is a residential culde-sac, and each dwelling can be expected to generate four to six trips per day, it is not considered that there would be any significant impact on the local highway network.”

However people living near the site have left an avalanche of objections to the plans on the council's planning website.

And 23 residents attended April's meeting of Frampton Cotterell Parish Council, when councillors discussed the scheme and drew up an official objection.

Writing on the planning website, resident Lucy Bentham said she was “quite simply fed up of seeing good sized plots being bought and developed into tiny houses with no garden space," adding: "Profit over the well-being of residents who might just be able to afford these tiny spaces."

John Cooke said: "Building

One of the bungalows that currently stands on the site where developers want to build five homes in Frampton Cotterell

Teenage angler lands himself an England spot

A 13-YEAR-old boy from Henfield has been selected to represent England in fishing.

Charlie Isaacs, who goes to Chipping Sodbury School, will compete for the England U15 team at the World Championships in Serbia in August.

He won his spot after impressing at a final selection match in the Midlands. Charlie is part of a team of five who will compete in the week long championships on a canal in Serbia.

Charlie said: "It’s brilliant – it’s my dream."

Fishing has been been part of Charlie’s life from a very young age. His dad Paul is the manager at Bitterwell Lake in Henfield, and they live on-site.

Charlie has been fishing since the age of four, but has only been focusing on match fishing for the last three years.

Whilst other teenage boys might be interested in more mainstream sports, Charlie’s focus is solely on angling.

He said: "I watch football every now and then, that’s about it really – fishing is my main sport.

"What I like most about it is it’s a bit like puzzle-making.

"You’ve got to work out the feed, how the rigs are – I love it.

"Just catching fish, getting the end result, it’s brilliant.”

Paul was there when Charlie qualified for the England team and said on the day he was "the proudest dad on the planet".

He said: "I’m really proud because I know how much work has gone in.

Do you know this man?

POLICE investigating a burglary in Hambrook are appealing for help in identifying this man.

He was recorded on CCTV in a shop where a bank card stolen during the incident was used.

Officers say tools and food were stolen from the garage of a house in Bristol Road between 10pm on February 20 and 5.30am on February 21.

The bank card was stolen from a car parked on the drive.

Police say they hope the man in the CCTV picture, which was recorded in a shop in Lockleaze, Bristol, "can assist our enquiries".

He is white, between 40 and 50 years old and has dark, receding hair.

Anyone who recognises the man, or believes they may have witnessed the burglary, should call the police on 101 or online, quoting the crime reference number 5224 047 478.

Teens arrested

POLICE arrested four teenagers after an attempted break-in at a home in Winterbourne.

Officers received a report of an attempt to break into the garage of a house in Huckford Road, where motorbikes were stored, shortly before 1.30am on April 15.

A spokesperson said four people, all male and aged between 16 and 18, were arrested within about half an hour of the report. They were later released on

conditional bail.

Sergeant Richard Humphrey said: “The victim reported what happened in the early hours after a security alarm they had installed was activated.

“Officers were quickly dispatched to the scene and following an area tour arrested four suspects.

“CCTV enquiries are ongoing."

Sgt Humphrey called on witnesses or anyone else with information to call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5224 095 350.

"It’s not the sort of thing you just do overnight; you’ve got to start and keep at it, you’ve got to learn and it takes time to learn fishing. To get to that level takes a lot of dedication.

"He’s very good, but I try not to tell him he’s that good, because there’s always room for improvement.

"He’s got his foot in the door, but now he needs to get his head down and really dedicate himself to becoming even better."

Living just a few metres from the peaceful oasis that is Bitterwell Lake has certainly been very helpful, and Charlie appreciates what he has on his doorstep.

He said: "The fishing is lovely, the fish quality is nice, it’s a nice depth and the weather is nice most of the time – it’s quite a nice fishery to be fair.”

Charlie's ambition is to make it to the adult England ranks in time. He’s making waves in the angling community and already has a couple of sponsors supporting him.

As for August’s World Championships, he doesn’t seem too overawed.

His prediction?

“Hopefully, we will win it.”

Charlie Isaacs at Bitterwell Lake

Inspectors praise 'warm, welcoming and ambitious' school

INSPECTORS have praised a Frampton Cotterell school's "high expectations for what all pupils can achieve".

Regulator Ofsted says Watermore Primary School has an ambitious curriculum, "welcoming ethos" and warm relationships between pupils and staff.

The school has been rated 'good' in all areas – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and Early Years provision.

A team of three inspectors visited the school in Lower Stone Close, which has 414 pupils aged from four to 11, in February.

It was Watermore's first inspection for nearly 12 years, since it was rated 'outstanding' in 2012.

Since then the school has moved to a new building, changed head teacher and a new inspection regime has been

introduced.

Ofsted said that until November 2020, the school was exempt from routine inspection, so "there has been a longer gap than usual between graded inspections". There has also been a backlog of inspections due to lockdown.

The inspectors said: "Watermore Primary is a happy place, where pupils enjoy learning.

"Parents speak highly about the school’s welcoming ethos and the care it shows to both pupils and families."

The report said pupils have "warm relationships with one another, and with staff", and know that adults listen to them and help them with any worries they may have.

They also appreciate the activities on offer, from sport and sign language to singing and dance, and opportunities to contribute to school life.

The inspectors said: "The school has high expectations for what all pupils can achieve.

"An ambitious curriculum has been designed well. It considers what pupils need to know and when they need to know it.

"The school has established systems in place to monitor and evaluate the impact of its actions. In many areas, these are well used to further improve the quality of education that pupils receive."

Inspectors highlighted the "love of reading" promoted at the school from the start, with pupils becoming "increasingly confident and fluent" readers as they progress.

They said training to help staff develop subject knowledge and expertise helps them "deliver the curriculum well", and cited teaching of maths, where pupils moved from understanding concepts well to solving more complex problems.

The inspectors also praised the "effective and timely systems" to identify pupils with special educational needs or disabilities, and the support they receive to ensure they can learn the same curriculum as other pupils.

To improve further the inspectors recommended that the school ensure that its systems to monitor what pupils had learned were effectively used across all subjects in the wider curriculum, where in some subjects knowledge is "less secure".

Head teacher Lisa Rawcliffe said: "We are extremely pleased with the outcome of our recent OFSTED visit.

"The staff work incredibly hard to make sure the curriculum is inspiring and it was lovely to hear our pupils echo this when asked.

"The inspector stated Watermore is a happy place that parents speak highly of and I am proud of everyone involved."

Carnival's royal party unveiled

LAST-minute preparations are underway for this year's Winterbourne Down Village Carnival.

The Carnival Queen and King, and four attendants, have been selected by the organising committee using a random "whizzy wheel" and are ready to lead this year's parade on the morning of Monday, May 6.

This year's Carnival Queen is Emmy Bell of Elm Park Primary School, while the King is Sohrab Rostam-Shirazi, who also attends Elm Park.

Their attendants are Finn Smedley and Olivia White from Hambrook Primary School, Isabella Millard from St Michael’s CofE Primary School and Ruby Millard, of Elm Park.

Committee spokesperson Kathryn Hopes said: "We’re expecting bumper footfall this year, as the Iron Acton celebrations are not happening.

"With this in mind, we have arranged for extended parking restrictions in the village, especially on Harcombe Hill and Down Road, from the Badminton Road approach.

"This will increase pedestrian safety and ensure traffic flows easier."

The organisers have arranged for extra

Winterbourne Carnival Queen and King Emmy Bell and Sohrab Rostam-Shirazi with attendants Finn Smedley, Olivia White, Isabella Millard and Ruby Mullane

parking to be available at Winterbourne Academy's sports centre in Flaxpits Lane, and at the Greenfield Centre in Park Avenue, which is a seven-minute walk from Bradley Avenue, where the carnival precession is due to start at 10am.

Kathryn said: "The procession is hoping to see a variety of costumes. The theme this year is ‘films’, so it’s easy-peasy, and it’s open to all ages!"

The fancy dress competition will be

judged by representatives from the carnival's chosen charity, Suicide Prevention, on the Methodist church green in Down Road, at the end of the procession.

Kathryn said: "We’ve been inundated with stall bookings this year – if only Down Road was longer!

"Come prepared to see a great selection of live entertainment and music, have your taste buds ready to experience foods from all cuisines and be ready to shop a variety of stalls, from upcycled artefacts, sweets and treats to jewellery and plants, naming just a few.

"Just one final request…please can everyone keep their fingers and toes crossed for dry weather, dare I say it but the appearance of the sun would be the icing on the cake!"

The parade follows two carnival events on Sunday May 5, the first of which is a maypole trail and treasure hunt starting at 2pm.

Youth groups and schools have decorated maypoles which will be on display throughout the village, with maps available from Winterbourne Methodist church.

Later in the evening, at 6pm, Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir will sing at the carnival's Songs of Celebration event, also at

n ADVERTORIAL

ELIGIBLE people are being invited to have a top-up Covid-19 vaccination this spring. The NHS is offering Covid-19 vaccines to people who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus – including those aged 75 and over (by 30 June 2024), residents of care homes for older adults, and those aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system.

Eligible people can make an appointment at a GP vaccination clinic when invited. People can also book an appointment at a GP clinic, a local pharmacy or at a community vaccination clinic in the following simple ways:

• Download the NHS App and make an appointment

• Visit www.nhs.uk/get-vaccine to use the online National Booking Service

• Call 119 for free if you can’t get online (translators are available)

The Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) NHS area is also offering walk-in vaccinations in community clinics. For details

Top up Covid-19 vaccination on offer for high risk people

and more information about the spring campaign, visit www. grabajab.net.

Vaccinations for people living

in the community began on 22 April 2024 and local GPs have also started visiting adult care homes. Spring vaccinations will be available until 30 June 2024.

Bristol GP Dr Hyunkee Kim said: “Protection against Covid-19, either from catching the virus or from a previous vaccination, can fade over time and the virus can change, so if you are at higher risk of severe illness it is important that you top up your protection.

“For some, particularly older people and those with a weakened immune system, Covid-19 can still be very dangerous and even lifethreatening. If you or your child are entitled to a spring top up vaccination, I strongly encourage you to take up the offer. It’s quick and easy to recharge your immunity and will give you the

protection you need for the months ahead.

“Covid-19 vaccines provide protection against the virus and help reduce the risk of serious illness. The vaccine has saved countless lives, prevented thousands from needing to go to hospital and helped us to live with the virus without fear or restrictions. For local vaccination information, visit www.grabajab. net.”

Those invited should make sure their appointment takes place at least three months since their last dose.

Anyone who believes they should be eligible for a vaccine but does not get invited can check online. Alternatively, they can self-declare via the National Booking Service and then speak to a clinician on site.

Dr Hyunkee Kim

n NEWS

Church rooms reopen as community centre

A NEW "multi-purpose space" for the Winterbourne community has been created with the reopening of a church building following a major revamp.

St Michael's Community Centre in the High Street, formerly known as St Michael's Rooms, was reopened at a ceremony in April.

Benefactor Shirley Banfield, who helped fund the complete refurbishment, cut the ribbon to reopen the facility: one of the meeting rooms is dedicated to her late husband, Dennis.

Bishop of Bristol the Rt Rev Vivienne Faull presided over the opening, licensing and dedication ceremony, with the service attended by members of St Michael's church, South Gloucestershire councillor Trevor Jones and Winterbourne Parish Council chair Paul Kembrey, whose organisations helped support the building project with

grants, and villagers.

The community centre now has a main hall, two meeting rooms and a kitchen, and opens for bookings from May 13.

A church spokesperson said: "This new multi-purpose space will be used by the whole community and will also be licensed as a place of worship for the Fromeside Benefice.

"In 1887 the Rev Austen Leigh had the vision to build a worship and community resource in the heart of the village of Winterbourne.

"Inspired by his vision, one which is as relevant today as it was then, the project has extended and fully refurbished this once beautiful Victorian building formerly known as St

Michael’s Rooms.

"The goal throughout has been to make the new St Michael's Community Centre a facility fit for 21st century use for all the people of our community."

For more information about the new centre and its facilities, call the Fromeside Benefice office on 01454 776518 or email office@ fromesidechurches.org.uk.

(Left) Inside the refurbished St Michael's Community Centre. (Right) Benefactor Shirley Banfield cuts the ribbon to reopen the centre

South Glos Ltd.

Motorway closes for bridge works

THE M4 has undergone the first of three overnight closures as part of work to replace the A432 Badminton Road bridge.

National Highways, which owns the bridge and is responsible for the replacement work, closed the motorway in both directions between the Hambrook and Tormarton junctions (19 and 18) overnight on April 18, and has announced two more closures, on May 16 and June 13, from 9.30pm until 6am each night.

Drivers heading east are being diverted via the M32 onto the A4174 Avon Ring Road, the A420 between Warmley and Cold Ashton, then the A46 to re-join M4 at Tormarton, with westbound traffic diverted onto the same route in the opposite direction.

The closure is part of "investigations to determine utility connection points", as engineers work out how to reroute the cables and pipes which are currently carried by the bridge.

They are also carrying out "ecological mitigation" before vegetation clearance around the structure begins. Surveys at the site found that dormice, a protected species, live there, which means the contractors need a special licence from environment body Natural England.

Van spots drivers on mobiles

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council’s road safety team is using a new camera van to detect drivers who use mobile phones at the wheel.

The council has worked with two specialist firms to use a new artificial intelligence-assisted roadside camera, which can also spot motorists who are not wearing a seatbelt.

It says the idea is part of the road safety team’s "vision zero objective" to eliminate serious and fatal injuries to road users as a result of crashes.

Pictures are processed using AI to analyse whether motorists could be using a handheld mobile or anyone is not wearing a seatbelt.

The council says that the equipment was used to collect information for a

survey on the extent of the two offences, which contribute to causing collisions and serious injuries respectively, rather than enforcement of driving offences, which has happened elsewhere in the country.

It says images containing a likely offence are sent for review trained operators, while others are automatically deleted.

A spokesperson said: "Images from the 12-hour survey at the end of March revealed that 150 people were detected not wearing a seatbelt and seven people were distracted by mobile phones whilst driving.

"The survey showed evidence of drivers choosing not to wear a seatbelt and making a deliberate choice to bypass vehicle onboard safety features in order to do so, putting lives at risk.

The bridge, which carried 16,000 vehicles a day on the A432 between Yate and Bristol, closed last July after engineers found "accelerated deterioration and cracking" in the concrete.

It meant motorists who travelled on Badminton Road between Downend and Frampton Cotterell had to find alternative routes, in part on narrow country roads.

In an update on its work National Highways said: "At present, we are on schedule to begin trenching works below the M4 around mid-June, with an anticipated demolition date of September/October, subject to coordination with utility providers and other authorities.

"The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists until demolition takes place."

"Further overnight closures may be required before demolition of the structure."

The detector van

"Current figures show that there were 425 people injured on roads in South Gloucestershire in 2023 – 69 of these resulted in death or serious injury."

Workers on the M4. Picture: National Highways

Restaurant fights ban on outdoor tables

THE owners of a Chipping Sodbury restaurant have launched a petition after the town council refused them permission to put up tables and chairs outside on The Pitching.

Amigos Cocina is a Mexican family restaurant run by Shamsi Kabbara, her husband Dave and daughter Yasmine.

Dave received a double lung transplant in 2019, but despite the medical issues they have faced, the family have since built a thriving eatery.

The restaurant has offered seating outside their premises on Broad Street which is popular in the summer months.

The four tables and eight benches take up two parking spaces on the Pitchings, and after using the space last year, the restaurant applied to Sodbury Council for permission to use the space again this summer.

However their request was refused, with a full council meeting hearing that “the provision wasn’t well used last year – and was hardly ever used during the day except on occasions when the High Street was closed to traffic for other events.”

The council noted that although the space was occupied all the time, the restaurant

wasn’t open on Monday or Tuesday.

It decided “on balance, the permanent loss of 2 Pitching’s parking spaces for the whole summer was not proportional to the potential benefit of outdoor seating when the restaurant is currently only open at limited times and appears to be rarely utilised by patrons.”

Shamsi said on the restaurant’s Facebook

page: “I can’t tell you how disappointed I am. This could be make or break our family business, that I have fought so hard to keep going through such a difficult time for us.

"Last year, I had no chef so was cooking by myself, plus looking after Dave. This year, I am lucky enough to have two great chefs plus a team of carers.

"Please, please, please could you show your support…so that I can try to appeal this devastating decision."

Mrs Kabbara is now hoping to get the decision discussed again at the next council meeting on May 14.

The petition had come close to its target of 1,500 signatures as the Voice went to press.

It can be found online at tinyurl. com/4bvtn4m8.

Chipping Sodbury businessman and former town mayor James Ball said: "To be singled out as the only hospitality provider in Chipping Sodbury not to be able to extend an outside welcome to clients is extremely disheartening.

"We have one of the largest High Streets in the country, and there is room for everyone!”

Tables outside Amigos Cocina in Chipping Sodbury

Acton Court ready to open its doors again

An historic Tudor manor house is set to re-open to the public for the summer.

Acton Court in Iron Acton will be open for a month from the end of May and visitors will be greeted by a re-vamped front of house display. There will also be a new guidebook with fresh content and illustrations.

Gardeners will be available on Wednesdays and weekends to show guests around the garden. On Sunday 16 June, Merchant’s House early music experts will be on site with a collection of Tudor instruments. The week after, Tudor and medieval plant expert Mary Macdonald will be on hand to explain the meaning and usage of Tudor plants and herbs.

Other events include a workshop by Organic Blooms on 26 June and a talk and demonstration by the King’s Herald, Dr. Dominic Ingram, on 27 June.

Tudor costumes associated with Henry and his six wives will be on display throughout the summer season.

On the closing weekend, ‘Tudors, Magic and Music’ has performances by magician Greg Chapman, who specialises in the history of magic and a visit from Owl Occasions with their birds of prey

Acton Court’s Artist in Residence will re-visit an art project from last year which re-imagined the famous Acton Court Tudor Frieze using modern elements and colours. Two panels were finished in 2023 and this year the intention is to paint the last panel and complete the triptych. The next project will be to make a modern rendition of the medieval floor excavated on Acton Court’s grounds.

Visiting times: Tours – 29th May to 30th June, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Tudors, Magic and Music – 29th June and 30th June. Booking is required: For details: www. actoncourt.com, social media, 01454 228224, or email info@actoncourt.com

ACTON COURT

Dimming lights lessens cuts to libraries

COUNCIL leaders have defended cutting library hours to save £273,000 from South Gloucestershire’s budget.

Winterbourne library is among eight which will be staffed for half a day less than before, while Yate and Bradley Stoke will close earlier each day, with all staffed opening hours are limited to 10am to 5pm, plus three hours on Saturdays.

Cabinet member for communities Sean Rhodes (Lab, Kingswood) told a council meeting on April 15 that original proposals were to cut library spending by £473,000, but a £200,000 annual saving from dimming street lights meant that less needed to be taken from the library budget.

Lights will be dimmed to a quarter of their normal brightness from 11pm to 6am each night to cut electricity costs.

Cllr Rhodes said the budget for books would go down by

only half of the £50,000 initially planned and that all branches would have longer staffed hours than first anticipated.

But Conservative Frenchay & Downend ward councillor Liz Brennan criticised the Lib Dem/Labour administration for cutting library services in "priority neighbourhoods" with higher levels of deprivation.

Cllr Rhodes said: “We have to balance the issue around footfall in different neighbourhoods, and actually the footfall for libraries is higher elsewhere than in priority neighbourhoods.

“Disproportionately cutting hours at libraries with big footfall doesn’t necessarily make full sense.”

Trade union Unison had called the original cuts – which included cutting a full day of opening at Cadbury Heath, Patchway and Winterbourne libraries - “discriminatory”. It claimed they would leave

to help Winterbourne, Coalpit Heath, Frampton Cotterell and beyond!

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the council unable to meet its legal duty to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service.

Cllr Rhodes said council officers had been in regular contact with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the authority complied with its legal responsibilities.

He said: "The crucial thing to acknowledge is that with the initial proposal, the potential impact of these changes was far greater, and officers have worked really hard to come up with a solution with us to mitigate this.

“There was clear opposition from the public consultation process to the budget reduction for buying books, so we’ve found mitigations in other areas."

Cllr Rhodes said the Open Access scheme, which enables residents to use libraries when they are not staffed, worked well but a quarter of people responding to the budget

consultation were not aware of it.

The plan to dim street lights received broad public support –69% – during consultations, and trials over the winter led to only one complaint, that lights should be turned down further.

However one in 10 of the 783 respondents said the change would make them feel more vulnerable.

Cabinet member for climate and nature emergency Louise Harris (Lib Dem, Dodington) said dimming street lights was good for wildlife and people.

She said: “Sleep disorders, depression, diabetes, heart disease and indeed cancer are linked to artificial light at night. It affects our diurnal and nocturnal activities.”

It will take engineers two years to reprogramme all 31,500 street lamps individually to dim between 11pm and 6am.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Westerleigh & Coalpit Heath PARISH COUNCIL

Representing Westerleigh, Coalpit Heath, Kendleshire, Henfield, Ram Hill, Mayshill, Nibley, Oakleigh Green, Western Yate and Blackberry Park

We started the year with a new name, now recognising the two largest communities that we serve. Up to nine Parish Councillors represent our area and on behalf of our communities we look after and improve:

That’s not all though! Over the past year we have delivered many projects and improvements in the Parish and distributed over £25,500 in grants to local organisations.

2023-4 ACHIEVEMENTS.

• Installed a new play tower and birds ’ nest swing at Westerleigh Playing Field.

• Carried out major repair works at Bitterwell Lake.

• Widened the pathway and refurbished fishing platforms at Bitterwell Lake.

• Installed a defibrillator (AED) at Mafeking Scout Hut.

• Replaced eight litter bins across the Parish and installed a new bin at Blackberry Park.

• Funded 22 free Holiday Activity Days for local children at Westerleigh Playing Field.

• Part-funded the Frampton Cotterell Youth Service to provide a youth club, youth café and outreach sessions.

• Hosted the annual Westerleigh Fun Day and supported the event with an £800 grant.

• Held two Hedgehog Heroes events in collaboration with Frampton Cotterell Parish Council.

• Awarded over £15k in grants to improve five local community buildings.

• Presented a King Charles III Coronation Medal to all children attending Manor Primary School and Immanuel School.

PLANS FOR 2024-5.

Our budget for 2024/5 is £134,698, made up of £36,728 of external funding/income and a Parish precept of £97,970. The precept charge for a Band D property this year is £60.74

This year’s projects will include refurbishing the natural play area at Newman Field; replacing wooden trim trail equipment at Westerleigh Playing Field; installing life alongside our defibrillators; installing a Memorial Stone at Bitterwell Lake, and further Hedgehog Heroes stalls at Parish events.

GRANTS AWARDED.

Each year the Parish Council distributes grants to local not -forprofit organisations working for the benefit of our residents.

The chart above shows a selection of the grants awarded this year, to organisations including:Great Western Air Ambulance charity Citizens Advice

Bristol & Weston Hospitals charity

Green Community Transport

Yate Heritage Centre

Westerleigh Newsletter

Westerleigh Warm Welcome

W WE WELCOME GRANT APPLICATIONS

Visit our Website to find out which category your organisation falls under and to apply, or get in touch for an informal discussion.

Westerleigh & Coalpit Heath Parish Council currently has Councillor vacancies. If you think you can be an independent voice representing your neighbours and local area please get in touch. Parish Councillors are voluntary and don ’t need to be party political. We are calling on people from all backgrounds and experiences who are passionate about their community to consider becoming a Councillor. Visit the ‘Vacancies’ page on our website or get in touch to find out more.

WesterleighCoalpitHeathParishCouncil.gov.uk Facebook.com/WandCHPC

n NEWS

Homes join plastic bag recycling scheme

HOMES in Coalpit Heath, Frampton Cotterell, Hambrook, Westerleigh, Winterbourne and Winterbourne Down are among 20,000 which will be included in an expanded scheme to take plastic bags and wrapping as part of kerbside recycling collections.

South Gloucestershire Council is expanding its participation in the FPF FlexCollect project, a national scheme to recycle soft plastics, to cover around one in every five homes in the district.

The scheme started in 2022 with pilot collections from 2,000 homes in Chipping Sodbury, Bradley Stoke, Olveston and Alveston.

A council spokesperson said that since then, more than 19 tonnes of plastic bags and wrappers – enough to fill more than 7,000 standard council wheelie bins – had been collected across the district and sent to

several different UK facilities to test recycling methods.

Packaging that can be recycled includes sweet, crisp and multipack wrappers, sleeves from plastic bottles, cheese, meat and microwavable food packets, bubble wrap, cling film and plastic net bags for onions, oranges and other fruit and veg.

The authority said it could

not share a full list of the streets involved in the extension of the project, as not all homes on some longer streets would be included in the trial.

Those households which are included in the expansion were due to be given information leaflets over the coming weeks, followed by blue plastic bags to put their waste soft plastics in. The bags will be hand-delivered, with residents encouraged to ask deliverers about the scheme if they have any questions. They can then be reordered when people run out.

The scheme does not affect the existing collections for plastic trays and containers.

The council aims to see how large-scale soft plastic recycling works, to help plan for future collections across the country. It plans to extend the service to all households in South Gloucestershire by 2026.

The changes come as opposition Conservative councillors call on plans to move to three-weekly black bin collections in South Gloucestershire, reported in last month's Voice, to be reversed.

Tory councillors have criticised the decision as “flawed” and “short-sighted” and say the local authority should instead work better with residents to help them understand what not to put in the black bin.

Future statutory guidance announced by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in October would require local authorities to collect black bin waste at least once every two weeks.

But the council has told the Government it has external legal advice that this would not be compulsory as long as the authority had "cogent reasons" to move to three-weekly collections.

Blue bags will be used to collect the plastic for recycling

New health centre is closer than ever

WE are closer than ever to securing the much-needed redevelopment of Thornbury Health Centre.

Back in 2019, I asked the Health Secretary to instruct NHS England to work with our local health experts to put together a new and improved bid for an upgraded Health Centre.

It’s been a long journey from then up until the moment last Autumn, when I secured the first 10% of the funding that we need to get the rebuild underway.

Thornbury Health Centre remains at the top of my priority list. Our campaign to secure the rest of funding to redevelop our Health Centre has now reached its final stage, as the last remaining documents

have now been submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care.

My job now is to fight tooth and nail to ensure that we get the final cheque for the rest of the funding.

I want to thank all those who have signed my petition, supported the debate in Parliament, and continued to advocate for Thornbury Health Centre. Together, we have taken our campaign directly to the Department for Health.

Your support, with the thousands of signatures collected through my petition, and the feedback through my Health Centre survey, is helping me make that case that the Government needs to fully fund the £14 million which is

required to rebuild the Health Centre.

Most recently, I have personally handed in a further letter to the Health Minister Lord Markham, arguing that a new Health Centre would deliver more primary care services, more GP services, mental health services and would be a key part of delivering modern health services for the growing community.

We all know that it has taken far too long to get to this point, but we have never been closer to getting our new health centre.

Very soon, I will be meeting with the Health Minister again, and will highlight the key proposals, and reiterate

Luke Hall MP writes for Frome Valley Voice

the increasing need for these crucial health upgrades for our community.

They are not optional, but essential to deliver a modern local primary care offer to our community and relieve pressure on local hospitals and health facilities.

There are still hurdles in front of us, but I want you to know that every day, I am fighting to get our community the health care services it needs and deserves.

Lend a hand at your local Girlguiding unit and see the impact you can make in the community. No matter how much time you have to give, there’s an opportunity for you

Find out more girlguidingbsg.org.uk or register at girlguiding.org.uk/volunteer

Leslie Garrett headlines weekend of Meadows music

IRON Acton is preparing to welcome Britain’s best-known soprano as part of a weekend of al fresco music.

Acton Aid, which raises funds for local good causes, is once again showcasing two evenings of live music at the Iron Acton Parish Meadows on July 5 and 6.

The Friday night event is Mash in the Meadows.

Headlining will be the Elton John tribute act Nearly Elton. Frontman Lee Brady and the band play at theatres and festivals throughout the UK and Europe.

Opening the Mash will be Joey the Lips, returning after playing last year. Organisers describe them as “the nation’s funkiest 10-piece band” providing a high-energy show, with well known songs from the last 30 years.

Lesley Garrett is the star of the show at Saturday’s Prom. Lesley regularly appears in opera, musical theatre and on television and has been performing for over 30 years, winning critical acclaim throughout her international career. She will be

singing popular classical numbers plus songs from musical stage shows.

Backing her will be Bristol’s only professional orchestra, the Bristol Ensemble, who are making their debut appearance in the Meadows. The evening culminates with Last Night of the Proms music and a firework display.

Tickets are available from www. actonaid.org.uk.

(Above) Nearly Elton. (Right) Lesley Garrett

Roads 'can't cope' with new development

VILLAGERS have raised concerns about four new homes which have been approved in Rangeworthy.

Several people living near the development site off Wotton Road, and local councillors, said just four new houses would make the roads more dangerous as local roads “can’t cope” with the extra traffic.

South Gloucestershire Council has granted planning permission for the new detached houses, which will be self-built, allowing occupiers to customise the designs, on April 11.

The council's development management committee chair Tristan Clark (Lib Dem, Frampton Cotterell), said: "Rangeworthy does have a few facilities.

"It’s got a public house, a primary school, and a village hall. But it means additional car journeys that will be going to places like Thornbury, Yate and further afield for their weekly shopping, health facilities and secondary school.”

Tony Williams (Lib Dem, Severn Vale) added: “If you’re coming home from work and you need a loaf of bread or bottle of milk, you’ll drive to the shop, and then from the shop you’ll drive home, which is just across the road.”

Several neighbours wrote to the council, objecting to the plans.

They said the village has increased in size in recent years, while bus services have been cut, and other infrastructure hasn’t kept up.

One resident said: “A lot of development has occurred in the past five years, with no amenities supplied. This forces village residents to get into their cars, increasing traffic levels.

"The bus services through the village have already been cut hugely, impacting people’s options to travel outside of the village.”

On the other side of Wotton Road from the planned new houses, another development will soon take place, with

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

planning permission for 13 new houses, offices and a shop.

The committee heard the four self-build houses will be energy efficient, and cheaper for buyers who will build them themselves.

Coral Curtis, planning agent representing the developer Clifton Homes, said: “Individuals would purchase a Wunderhaus, which is fully customisable. Due to the nature of the Wunderhaus, it means these plots can be delivered much more quickly than your average self-build scheme, meaning that residents won’t need to spend years building their home.”

Peter Deane, a local resident and prospective buyer of one of the homes, added: “I’m an active member of the community and I have a young family.

"Between high interest rates, high house prices and the cost of living, options for young families like ours are limited.

“Self-build allows us to reduce the cost of the mortgage by offering up hard work in its place. Self-build homes are more affordable than traditional new-build properties.

"Through self-build I can provide for my family with room to grow, for less than a new-build property that we would quite quickly outgrow."

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Celebrating the beginnings of the church

SPRINGTIME in our house sees the mantelpiece groaning with cards celebrating special occasions, including a wedding anniversary and several family birthdays.

The birthday celebrations continue with dedicated meals when the extended family gathers together for a themed tea, such as pizza night and, of course, the obligatory fancy cake.

May is the month of another important event, known as Pentecost, when the beginning of the Christian church is celebrated.

This festival always takes place 50 days after Easter Sunday, on Whit Sunday.

The Bible says that after the death of Jesus his friends, including the disciples, were afraid for their safety and had gathered together in a house in Jerusalem.

It was the time of an early harvest festival, for the first seasonal grains of the crops.

All the houses would have been decorated with flowers and looked bright and cheerful. The festival attracted many visitors to Jerusalem who had come to give thanks and enjoy the atmosphere and entertainments.

Christians believe that, as the disciples and other friends of Jesus were keeping a low profile something very special happened: the Holy Spirit descended on them.

In the New Testament, Acts Chapter 2 describes this event as a sudden sound of the wind that blew around the room where the friends of Jesus were sitting.

It was so noisy that it made the house shake and people outside took notice and wondered what was going on. The Bible says that bright lights, like flames, were visible and appeared above the heads of those gathered in the room.

Christians believe each person

felt the power of God’s Holy Spirit fill up inside them. It enabled them to do many things, including talk to people from different cultures in their own language. These visitors to Jerusalem were amazed, and the disciples were accused of being drunk.

Peter said what everyone had just witnessed fulfilled a promise from Jesus, that he would not leave them alone, but the Holy Spirit would be sent to give them understanding and direction for their lives.

It will be no surprise to learn that symbols associated with Pentecost and the Holy Spirit include wind and fire, but also a dove – a biblical representation of the Holy Spirit we believe descended upon Jesus at his baptism.

The early Church was made up of a group of believers sharing the teachings of Jesus.

Peter said: “Follow God’s way and

be baptised into a new way of life and you too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Today, Pentecost is celebrated in different ways, including special group pilgrimages to holy locations; it is a popular time for baptisms.

I am sure that at a church service near you celebrating Pentecost there will be cake: remember the date, Sunday May 19.

Val Slade Licensed Lay Minister, Fromeside benefice

A map shows where the houses would be built, next to Wotton Road

n NEWS

Reform UK unveils Thornbury & Yate MP candidate

POLITICAL party Reform UK has announced its candidate to contest the Thornbury & Yate constituency at the next general election.

IT engineer Andrew Banwell will stand in the seat currently held by Conservative Luke Hall at the election, which must be called before the end of this year.

Mr Banwell is a parish councillor of 12 years' standing, who has been living in the constituency since 2008 with his wife of 37 years: before that he lived in Whitehall, East Bristol, for 22 years.

He said: "I am a 60-yearold IT engineer with a diverse background in various roles, from bus and lorry driving to technology.

"My experience as a parish councillor for Dyrham and Hinton Parish Council has deepened my commitment to community and local issues.

"Outside of my professional

life, I am a family man, proud of my two grown-up daughters and three grandchildren.

"I believe in making a difference one step at a time and am dedicated to bringing positive change to our community.

"I was born and brought up in Southmead, where I lived until I was 23 and got married."

Reform UK was first formed

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

as the Brexit Party in 2018, by Catherine Blaiklock and Nigel Farage, following a split from UKIP. The party renamed itself Reform UK in 2021.

The party did not stand a candidate in Thornbury & Yate at the 2019 general election, after Mr Farage, who has been the party's leader and remains its honorary president, said it would not contest seats held by sitting Conservative MPs.

UKIP last stood a candidate in Thornbury & Yate in 2015, when it came third, ahead of Labour, and received 10% of the vote.

Mr Banwell is the third challenger to Mr Hall to be confirmed.

Last month the Green Party announced that Alexandra Jenner-Fust had been selected as its candidate.

The Liberal Democrats confirmed last year that South Gloucestershire Council

Bee a par t of No Mow May

IF you peer over your garden fence this May, you might think your neighbour’s lawn is looking a little scruffy.

A few more dandelions than normal, or (horror!) patches of grass growing at different lengths. But don’t tut – that may be on purpose. And it’s a good thing!

Yes, it’s that time of year again – No Mow May, where people keep their lawnmowers and strimmers in the shed for 31 days, and give space back to nature.

It’s a simple idea. Giving the mower a breather means spring plants getting a chance to set seed before the first cutting.

This means your lawn becomes a haven for insects, birds, hedgehogs, and more.

And it allows wild plants to get a foothold in May, to feed bees, and other pollinators, through summer.

I’ve backed this campaign since it started in 2018 and every year, I’m always fascinated speaking with residents about the different plants they spot in their backyards.

I’m not just talking daisies or buttercups either, but plants we’d not often see in our gardens – one resident told me she’d even started growing wild strawberries!

Worryingly, future generations won’t see

these either if we continue down our current path. Tragically we’ve lost 97% of our wildflower meadows since the 30s.

That’s why I’m again urging readers to take part by doing, well, nothing! Leave the mower alone, and watch the flowers fill your lawn.

Check out plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay for more information.

If you can’t imagine allowing your entire patch to run wild, then how about leaving a circle of grass in the centre of the lawn to bloom? Or why not stagger it – so that you have one area that’s mown once a month, one area mown at the end of summer, and so on.

For those without a garden, fear not! I’m urging everyone to check in with their local church, school or anywhere with grass or fields, and ask if some space can be left for nature this year.

Ultimately, the momentum behind No Mow May shouldn’t stop with May, and thanks to the West of England Combined Authority I lead, it won’t.

An incredible 620,000 square metres of land is being transformed for the region’s pollinators thanks to bee-rilliant bee projects we’re funding.

This is double the target I set when launch-

leader and Frampton Cotterell councillor Claire Young would contest the seat for the party, for a third consecutive time.

Current MP Mr Hall has held the seat for the Tories since 2015.

He won it from Liberal Democrat Steve Webb, a minister in the Coalition government who had held the seat and its predecessor, Northavon, since 1997.

Mr Hall – who was made an education minister in March following the resignation of Robert Halfon from Rishi Sunak's government – had a majority of more than 12,000 over the Lib Dems at the last two general elections.

Thornbury & Yate, which includes Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath and Iron Acton, is a top target for the Lib Dems, who topped the poll in every council ward in the constituency in last year's local elections.

ing a £1 million Pollinator Fund for projects that support bees, and other pollinator superheroes.

Projects like the creation of mini nature reserves in ten primary and secondary schools across the West, including in Coalpit Heath, Temple Cloud, and Bristol.

Alongside my annual Bee Bold Awards, we’re making the West the bee and pollinator capital of the country.

But I know we can go further.

So, this year, please give No Mow May a go. Who knows, you might like it so much you give the lawnmower a permanent shunning. The bees will certainly thank you for that.

Andrew Banwell, the Reform UK candidate for Thornbury & Yate

n RECIPE OF THE MONTH

A

cracking party dish

AS soon as the better weather comes (and it should be by May, surely?) I want to get into my garden.

To give me more time there, I return to my old, quick favourite recipes – and this is a cracker!

Once you are familiar with the recipe, you should be able to get it on the table from prep to serving in about 40 minutes. Or less, if you have an air fryer.

Added to that, it will delight a range of tastes, from carnivores to vegetarians and vegans, with subtle adjustments.

I call it a cheat, but actually it really isn’t. All I’ve done is cut down the bother of making a mushroom sauce from scratch, and used a quality substitute instead.

This way you’ve got time to do a spot of gardening or have a cheeky glass of wine in the garden whilst it’s cooking. The choice is yours!

Cheat's chicken

This is a great supper party dish which can be done on the hob, in the microwave or in an air fryer, if you have one. Quick to prepare, easy to cook, delicious to eat.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

● 8 chicken thighs or 4 chicken breasts

● 2 to 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped

● 2 tablespoons oil (sunflower/ olive)

● 100g (4 oz) cheese of your choice e.g. Stilton, Dolcelatte, Gruyere, Camembert

● 100g (4 oz) mushrooms, chopped into small pieces

● 1 large leek, carefully washed and finely sliced

● 1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup

● 4 heaped tablespoons of crème fraiche

● Fresh or dried herbs of your choice e.g. parsley, oregano, marjoram, tarragon

● Salt and pepper

● Squeeze of lemon juice

Here’s what you do:

● In a medium sized frying pan, brown the garlic and leeks in little olive or sunflower oil.

● Remove from the pan and put to one side.

● Add the chicken to the pan with a little extra oil if necessary. Turn in the pan to nicely brown the chicken pieces.

● In a medium sized bowl mix the soup, crème fraiche and lemon juice until well combined.

● Return the leek and garlic to the pan with the chicken together with the sliced mushrooms, freshly ground salt and pepper and dried herbs, if using (put fresh herbs into the mix 10 mins before the

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.

end of cooking time).

● Spoon over the soup mix, crumble/chop the cheese over the top and mix well.

● Continue cooking on the hob for 15 to 20 mins or in the oven for 20 mins 180C/fan 160 C/Gas mark 4. Remember to add the fresh herbs 10 mins before the end of cooking,

● If cooking in a microwave, put the mixture into a microwaveable casserole, cover and cook on medium for 15 to 20 minutes,

depending on the wattage.

● In all cases, check that the chicken is cooked through: when cutting into it there should be no pink.

● Serve with broccoli florets or ratatouille and a timbale (shaped mound) of rice.

Cooks Tip:

This recipe is very versatile. Leave out the chicken if you’re a veggie, and add extra veg if you like.

The sewage scandal continues

THE latest figures show that 2023 was the worst year on record for sewage spills in England, with untreated sewage being discharged into rivers for more than double the number of hours that occurred in 2022.

In Frampton Cotterell, the seven sewer overflows spilled untreated sewage into the River Frome 463 times, for a combined total of 3,991 hours.

The River Frome in Frampton was traditionally a swimming river, and generations of Framptonians have paddled, played and learnt to swim here.

Sadly, the river is currently not fit for children to play in. As well as preventing people from enjoying the river, sewage spills increase the amount of nutrients in the water, which can lead to algal blooms that reduce oxygen levels and suffocate plants, invertebrates and fish.

Whilst the current work being undertaken by Wessex Water should reduce the number of spills, it will not stop sewage continuing to spill into the river in Frampton.

The works will only reduce spills from three of the seven sewer overflows - the others are currently scheduled to meet government targets by 2040, 2045 and 2050.

The sewer overflow upstream of Cog Mill –scheduled to meet government targets by

Sadly sewage pollution is just one of many sources damaging our rivers, which are also impacted by agricultural run-off, road run-off, plastic waste and pollution from domestic properties and industry.

Poor water quality has driven a catastrophic decline in freshwater fish populations, to the point where several species, including the Atlantic salmon and European eel, are now considered at risk of extinction in Britain’s waters.

A recent British Ecological Society report highlighted the priority actions that urgently need to be taken to restore our rivers.

These included incentivising farmers to reduce agricultural pollution, stricter regulations to manage sewer overflows and establishing more comprehensive monitoring.

When faced with systemic problems, it can be easy to feel that the situation is hopeless, but there are some things that we can do.

Please consider writing to your MP, and make sure they know that this issue is important to you. And please do what you can to support local groups who are taking action to improve river habitats.

Frampton Cotterell Nature, Village Action, Winterbourne Environment Group and the Upper Frome Friends have been involved in raising awareness, monitoring water quality, carrying out river clean-ups and clearing Himalayan Balsam.

If you can help in any way, please contact us at framptoncotterellnature@gmail.com.

David Hanks

n WINTERBOURNE AND FROME VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL

GROUP

Developing a community nature reserve

SPRING has sprung, and with it comes the annual spectacle of nature's resurgence.

As the flowers bloom and the birds chirp, there's a movement afoot that's encouraging us all to take a step back and let Mother Nature do her thing.

This year, we're joining together across the Frome Valley to develop our new Pollinator Pathway. Thanks to funding from the West of England Combined Authority, Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group have worked with the Frome Valley Growing Project to enhance local school grounds, as well as working with Winterbourne Parish Council and Frenchay Residents Association to develop biodiversity at Whiteshill Common in Hambrook and Tuckett’s Field in Frenchay.

And you can help too in your gardens – by supporting the UK's No Mow May campaign.

You might be wondering, why on earth would we stop mowing our lawns?

Often seen as nothing more than patches of green, our lawns are actually vital habitats for a whole host of creatures, from insects to small mammals. By letting the grass grow wild for just one month, we can create a mini wildlife haven right in our own backyard.

You might be surprised at just how

beautiful your lawn becomes when left to its own devices, like a mini meadow.

We at Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group mark the sites that we manage in this way with a little blue heart: see if you can spot them around the local area and even perhaps put them in your own gardens, so others can understand why you aren't mowing.

Check out the official website No Mow May for tips, resources, and success stories from participants around the country.

Working with Winterbourne Parish Council, we want to join up these efforts in

our local gardens into the Winterbourne Community Nature Reserve.

The more biodiversity corridors we have locally, the more we can help British wildlife to thrive and survive in between our official nature reserves.

Each patch of nature counts, from hedgehog holes in fences, micro ponds for frogs and newts, to untamed corners of gardens. Every little helps, as the saying goes!

You can sign up to share the nature in your garden at Winterbourne Parish Council's website. Please let us know about your efforts on social media too, and who knows, you might even inspire your neighbours to join in as well!

Additionally this year you will find us at Winterbourne Down Carnival and Frenchay Flower Show, where we will be promoting the Community Nature Reserve campaign along with the great work being done on the Frome Valley Pollinator Pathway, alongside energy info from Bristol Energy Network.

We will have activities, information about local nature trails, locally saved seeds for sale for donation and an incredible sound system, powered by a bike!

Kate Macdonald

2045. Picture: David Hanks

Tree planting at Hambrook Common in April

n WHAT'S ON

MAY

MAY 5

n WINTERBOURNE DOWN

VILLAGE CARNIVAL maypole trail and treasure hunt, 2pm. Pick up a map from Winterbourne Methodist church. Followed by ‘Songs of Celebration’ with Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir, at the Methodist Church, 6pm.

MAY 6

n WINTERBOURNE DOWN

VILLAGE CARNIVAL PARADE, leaving Bradley Avenue at around 10am, arriving at Winterbourne Down Methodist Church, Down Road, at around 10.45am, for crowning of carnival king and queen. Fancy dress competition and stalls. More details elsewhere in this month's Voice.

MAY 16

n ARTS APPRECIATION GROUP, Greenfield Centre, Park Avenue, Winterbourne, 2pm. Illustrated talk by Richard Box on Flowers in Art. More details from Sally on 07946 508316.

REGULAR EVENTS

MONDAY

n WINTERBOURNE FLOWER CLUB now meets at WADCA in Watleys End Road, Winterbourne. Meetings are on the second Monday of the month between 2pm and 4pm. Call 01454 776753 for details.

n WINTERBOURNE DOWN

LADIES PROBUS CLUB meets at meets at 2pm on the third Monday of each month at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Join us for an interesting talk and refreshments. £3.50 visitors, £25 annual membership. Call 01454 773647 for more details.

n SINGALONG WITH THE JAYS AND JOY first Monday of the month at Miners Social Club, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, 2-3.30pm. Live music: song books and refreshments provided. £5, carers free. Bring a friend free, first time. Details from Hilary, 07515 351813.

TUESDAY

n WINTERBOURNE SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB meets every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1.30 until 4.30 pm at WADCA, Watleys End Road, Winterbourne. Also on Fridays, 1.30-4pm. All welcome. Free trial and tuition available. Call

07542 052837 for more details.

n WINTERBOURNE DOWN METHODIST CHURCHDrop 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 and 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 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 WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY: ADULT BALLET- COALPIT HEATH Improve fitness, strength, flexibility & coordination. No experience necessary. Wednesday 9.30am Beginners/10.30am Over 60s Ballet- St Saviours Church Hall. Saturday 9.15am Beginners/ 10.15am Intermediate- Manor Hall. Book £5 trial. Contact georgiarsmart@yahoo.co.uk / 07751812701

n GENTLE 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 TABLE TENNIS Henfield Hall, Ram Hill on the first Wednesday of the month, 2-4.30pm. All abilities welcome. Equipment provided. £2 per session including tea, coffee, biscuits. For more details email henfieldhall@yahoo.com or call 0785 119 8434.

n DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB meets at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to

n WINTERBOURNE LIBRARY NEWS

WINTERBOURNE Library is holding a free half-term holiday children's craft activity.

Purrfect Pets takes place from 10-11am on May 31.

Children can stay and make crafts or collect a free takeaway bag to make at home.

Craft drop-in takes place on May 4, from 10am-noon. Come in with your own craft or try one of ours – all welcome.

An adult craft group meets on May 11 and 25, from 10am-noon: join a friendly group of crafters to do your own work and chat –refreshments available.

Tea at 2 is every Friday afternoon from 2-3pm: drop in for a cuppa and a friendly chat.

Story time is every Friday from 9.30-10am, suitable for children aged 18 months to four years.

Lego club meets on May 18 from 10am to 11am, for children of all ages – all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Regular Rhymetimes take place

June at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road. Call Genise on 0777 245 1217 for information.

THURSDAY

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 more information email winterbournewinds@yahoo. com.

n 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 MEET-UP, 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.

on Wednesdays, 9.30am-10am. Suitable for babies aged up to 18 months.

Computer Thursdays take place during term time – enrolment with SGS College is required. For further information contact Cindy on 0117 909 2296 or email cindy.corbett@sgscol.ac.uk

A digital champion can help people get online, use a PC or phone or print documents. The volunteer is available on Friday mornings: booking is essential.

The library is staffed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-5pm, and on Saturday from 9.30am-12.30pm. Open Access is seven days a week between 8am and 7.30pm. For more details of events or bookings, visit the library, email Winterbourne.library@southglos. gov.uk or phone 01454 868006. More information is available online at www.southglos.gov.uk/ libraries or from library staff.

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. For more details call the secretary on 01454 778250.

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.

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, with voluntary donations going to the work of Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group.

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Winterbourne Musical Theatre

WINTERBOURNE Musical Theatre presents the well-loved comedy The Pirates of Penzance at WADCA Community Centre in May.

Performances take place on Wednesday 15th to Friday 17th at 7.30pm, and on Saturday 18th at 2.30pm.

The plot revolves around the ramifications of being born on February 29 in a leap year, and pokes fun at the Victorian sense of 'duty' being more important than using common sense.

The idea of having bloodthirsty pirates in a genteel seaside town like Penzance is fun, but the title was also a dig at the theatrical "pirates" who staged unlicensed productions in the USA 100 years ago when there was no copyright protection given to non-American writers.

The show is lots of fun and full of wellknown songs. The cast are all local folk aged 11 to 86. Tickets are £10 and can be booked online

Crossbow Singers

FINALLY Spring appears to have sprung, which is really helping our lovely choir members to fill Crossbow hall with the sound of our voices.

We held our annual general meeting on April 8 and were very pleased to come together to reflect on another successful year as a community choir.

We are pleased to continue to be at full membership, and have a really good balance between our soprano, alto, tenor and bass sections.

This year we have benefitted from another choir's misfortune, as we inherited a lot of music from the Stoke Singers, who have sadly finished as a choir.

This means we have an even-greater selection of music to choose from, which will be reflected in our upcoming Summer Concert: Songs from the Movies Across the Decades.

As the title suggests, we will be performing a wonderful selection of songs and medleys from films across the last century, most of which will be familiar favourites to keep the audience entertained. We will be performing on July 1 and 2 at Crossbow House, from 7.30pm each night.

More details about ordering tickets will be shared next month. In the meantime pop the dates in your diary.

The past few months have been rather melancholy for us,

on Ticketsource where you can choose your seats. Wheelchair users are advised to ring 01454 317408 to ensure they get a suitable space.

WADCA is a fully accessible venue, with free parking and a bar open from 40 minutes before each performance. There may be tickets available on the door for some performances, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Winterbourne Musical Theatre has spaces for some more men, particularly basses, for their panto in November.

No experience necessary, just a willingness to plunge in and do daft things on stage!

For more details visit www. winterbournemusical.co.uk.

with the continued absence of Mary Darby our fantastically talented pianist, who is very ably covered by Anthony Davis.

We are also sad to announce that our absolutely fabulous chairman Dave Burman has made the decision to step down from this role. He has always brought humour to our practices, made everybody feel welcomed and wanted, not to mention adding to the tenor section with enthusiasm and musicality.

Collaborative Productions

WE are thrilled to announce that our production of Calendar Girls, performed at Rangeworthy Village Hall last September, has received two accolades.

We have been nominated for the National Operatic and Dramatic Association South West Award for Best Drama Production in 2023, and gained 2nd place in the Programme competition.

NODA is the national body that represents amateur theatre. The awards ceremony will take place on May 18.

Whatever the outcome, just to have been nominated for a NODA award is a great achievement in itself.

We are especially proud as Collaborative Productions is a group we started to enable us to put on ‘Calendar Girls’. It really was a collaborative production,

with a great cast and supporting technical and front of house roles. We are so proud of everyone involved in this venture, and also for raising £6,000 which was split between Blood Cancer UK and

Louise Lewis

BUST (Bristol Cancer Unit Support Trust) supporting the Bristol Breast Care Centre at Southmead Hospital.

Sue Smith

Louise Harrison

Cast members from the Pirates of Penzance

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Coalpit Heath WI

LOTS of members and visitors were looking forward to meeting Fauve Birch and listening to her talk about time on The Sewing Bee – and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Fauve was entertaining to listen to; she explained how she had first started sewing about seven years ago. Then she shared her Sewing Bee journey, talking through each of the garments she had made on the show.

There was a question and answer session, too, and her makes were available to look at and feel – her Patrick doll had been brought along too. It was such a good evening that she will hopefully be invited back soon, for a demonstration with fellow contestant Asmaa.

Sadly, it was the end of the road for Coalpit Heath in this year’s skittles competition. They lost their match against Shortwood WI by 20 pins – however team captain Marcia said it was a fun night, and they are already looking forward to next year.

If you would like to come along and meet us, you would be most welcome.

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

Our programme for 2024 continues with Samantha Rees' Tudor Royalty Experience on May 1 and Lindsay Gough, University of the 3rd Age on June 5. Look out for updates on Facebook or Instagram.

Caroline Johnston

Winterbourne Evening WI

AT our April meeting we discussed returning to the revamped St Michael’s Community Centre, which had been our meeting place for many years before we moved to St Michael’s School whilst works were carried out.

Members thought carefully, and when the votes were collected there was a strong vote in favour of staying at the school.

The highlight of the evening was a talk from Avon & Somerset Police representatives for our area, PCs Jackie and Tracey, a lively pair who gave us serious information about policing in our area and, particularly interesting to us, about all the equipment carried about their persons.

They dealt well with all the questions asked and we were then offered mini all-purpose alarms, plus a number of items bearing the Avon & Somerset police logo, such as pens and discs for supermarket trollies, which were very popular.

We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm in St Michael’s School where visitors are always welcome, and our May talk will be about Fussell’s Fine Foods.

Susan Marshfield

Frampton Cotterell WI

OUR March guest speaker was Margot Cevik, who gave a fascinating talk about the Underground Railroad – a top secret trail used to rescue slaves in the US.

The escape route was used by Harriet “Minty” Tubman in the

1850’s. Having settled in New York state, she returned over 20 times to rescue over 200 other slaves in total. Along the route a number of hidden visuals signs and signals were used to help the slaves know that they were on the right track.

Margot helped to create a beautiful quilt showing some of these images within its design, which she brought along with her for us to see – it was most impressive!

April’s speaker was David Hardill from Yate Heritage Centre, about World War I history around the local area.

Our next meeting on May 28 is WI resolution discussions and a quiz night, with a talk by Bristol & Avon Rivers Authority on June 25. We normally meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month, at St. Peter’s Hall, Crossbow, at 7.45pm.

We have many other events/ socials lined up for the year ahead, and various trips for meals out. We also have a monthly “lunch club”, open to all members and held at a different local venue each time.

Watch this space and our Facebook page for confirmation of future event dates and more details.

Winterbourne Down WI

YET another rainy evening, but it didn’t keep us away from our April meeting.

Reminders were given regarding the upcoming May Day event, for cake, jams and tombola contributions.

In March some of our members gathered at the Magnolia Mews Bakery for our monthly coffee morning: this was very pleasant, and the next one was being held at the Kendleshire Golf Club.

We welcomed Amy Grimsby to our meeting, who instructed us in the art of Needle felting.

We made delightful greetings cards with felted bees, which made for a fun evening. Amy holds workshops and parties for anyone who is interested.

At our May meeting Clare Bounds, a police officer, will be presenting her talk on Fraud. Our meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7.30pm, at All Saints Church Hall in Winterbourne Down.

Our next meeting is on May 2 –all visitors will be made welcome.

Carol Tremlin

Winterbourne Down Ladies Probus Club

OUR April meeting started in beautiful sunshine which, as the afternoon progressed, turned into heavy rain!

We were cheered up with a very interesting talk from a representative of Bristol Animal Rescue Centre. She described its origins in 1887 to its vastly expanded status today, and how animals were rehabilitated from arriving at the Centre, some in a shocking state, to being suitable for “adoption”.

Club members were looking forward to our long awaited trip to Savernake Forest, and investigations are being made into organizing another outing in the summer.

If you are recently retired, have time on your hands and would like to socialise in a friendly group, you would be very welcome at Winterbourne Down Ladies Probus Club.

We meet at 2pm on the third Monday of each month at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down.

Meetings start with a short

Fauve Birch

Police officers visited Winterbourne Evening WI

Margot Cevik, with her quilt

Needle felting creations

n COMMUNITY NEWS

club business session followed by a talk from a visiting speaker. We then have tea and biscuits and time for a chat before the meeting ends at 4pm.

For more information, please call 01454 773647.

Sue Humphreys

Winterbourne Barn

DURING the Easter holidays children were kept busy with family craft activities or making fused glass mosaic decorations. Adults also made fused glass designs, or went foraging for wild foods, making some tasty free dishes.

Over 100 people were entertained by an evening of comedy songs from the last 400 years – it seems that the older the song, the more risqué the words!

This month the Barn hosts a gentle Sunday afternoon of songs, from madrigals and folk to

sacred music, spirituals and 20th century pop, with the Harlequin Singers on May 12 at 2pm.

Then on May 21 at 7pm, Prof Ad Putter of Bristol University delves much deeper into music history, talking about Medieval Song, both the words and music. May also brings a fused glass workshop on the 10th and a wine-tasting evening with local expert Ian Redfearn on the 17th. For bookings and more details of events, see the barn website at www.winterbournebarn.org.uk or social media. Contact the Barn by phone on 0117 403 1536 if you do not have internet access.

Louise Harrison

Floral Friends of Frampton

AFTER a long wet winter some of the planters in the village have been looking a little bedraggled, so, with the help of some new volunteers, we have replanted the two big parade planters

The planter outside the church

at the top of Church Road and added some new plants to the bench planter outside the church. Hopefully this will help to cheer everyone up. It won’t be too long before all the planters will be displaying their summer colours once the summer bedding plants have been added at the end of May. Let’s hope for some warm, dry weather!

Our Spring Fayre and Plant Sale is on May 25, from 10am-noon.

Come along and enjoy browsing the stalls and, maybe, buy a few plants. Treat yourself to a cup of tea or coffee with a cake, buy a raffle ticket and have a chat with friends old and new. An event not to be missed!

Floral Friends are entirely funded by donations and we would like to thank all who have supported us recently by making donations and perhaps commemorating someone special by doing so.

Donations can be made either in person or on-line. Our bank details are: Floral Friends of Frampton, Lloyds 30-98-97, account number 70582363. We also welcome help, from maintaining a planter to replenishing plants or sponsoring a gateway. If you can help in any way, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at floralfriendsofframpton@gmail. com

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Frampton youngsters enjoy Le Weekend

THE Junior section of Frampton Cotterell Rugby Club enjoyed a weekend in Paris on their annual exchange with longstanding friends at Parisis Rugby Club.

The club took 63 boys and some long-suffering coaches, making up teams in Under 12s, U14s and U16s.

The exchange between the two clubs has been going since 1977, and club officials say the friendship has never been stronger.

Frampton U12s lost a close game 7 tries to 4, the Frampton U14s

showed flair more accustomed to their Gallic hosts and ran away as convincing winners in their match. The Frampton U16s won a hard fought, bruising battle 26-12.

The post-match festivities were enjoyed by all despite it being unseasonably cold, and all of the tourists made it home the next day safe and well – despite Giles Fletcher losing the SatNav and his bus missing the ferry!

Rob Keir

Colts' strong finish to season

FRAMPTON Cotterell RFC Colts finished their season with a resounding 27-7 home win over Cheltenham North.

This completed a remarkable turnaround in the boys’ performances since Christmas,

Annual awards

FRAMPTON Cotterell RFC held their annual awards event in April at Crossbow House.

Zak Smith picked up the premier playing award, player of the year, while founder member Nick Knight received a lifetime achievement award for 50 years of contribution to the club.

Mark Smith was made a life member in recognition of his service as junior coach, club captain, 1st and 2nd team captain and general stalwart of the club over the years.

Mark Smith receiving his life member award from Mike Weaver, for outstanding service to the club

Other award winners included the 1st team players' player for Max Bleakman, 2s players player for Brooke Tubey, 3s players' player for Liam Crowley, young player for Adam Nolan, Colts sportsman for Joe Kempson and Dave Attwood Representative award for Neve Stiles.

A great night of celebration and food was organised by Helen Smith and her helpers on the night, Kirsty Goddard and Teresa Stiles.

having won 5 out the 7 matches played. It was great to end on a winning note, especially for those players in the Under 18 age group that are completing their journey through junior rugby.

Some of them started that journey more than a decade ago, in the Frampton Mini’s section – Captain Joe Kempson (who bagged the opening try of the match), Alex

Horne, Corey Stokes and Spencer Haynes. Huge thanks go to all the coaches who have given their personal time throughout the season, as well as the parents who helped with first aid cover, bar and kitchen duties.

Georgina wins first solo international contest

A PARA athlete has won her debut individual event representing England at boccia.

Georgina Moore, who grew up in Frampton Cotterell, travelled to Ireland at the end of March to take part in her first individual challenger boccia event.

She said: "There were top seeded players from all UK and Ireland nations.

"I beat all players ranked higher than me, including a GB player. As it’s only my second full season as a Boccia player, this result was exceptional."

Boccia is related to bowls and pétanque and involves aiming balls at a jack. The ball can be moved with hands, feet or an assistive device, making it ideal for people with physical disabilities.

Georgina, who has a severe physical disability, founded the GEM Boccia Club in Yate and won the BBC South West

Unsung Hero Award for her work with the accessible sports club in 2019.

Her aim is to qualify to represent Great Britain at the 2028 Paralympics.

Georgina, who lives in Chipping Sodbury, made her international debut in the Boccia UK teams and pairs open competition last year, when she also won a gold medal.

She has been fundraising to support the cost of competing in the tournaments she needs to contest in her bid to qualify, with an online donations page at www.gofundme.com/ georgiesbocciajourney.

Georgina said: "I’m grateful to everyone who’s donated to my Boccia fund so far, as the trip to Northern Ireland cost me over £1,000, and I wouldn’t

have been able to attend without the kindness of many people.

"I’ve been invited to attend my first European competition in November in the Czech Republic.

"Hopefully I can raise enough money to attend that and continue pushing towards my dream of the Paralympics 2028."

Qualifying for this year's Paralympics in Paris started two years ago, before Georgina started competing with a ramp, so her chance to compete on the world stage will be at Los Angeles in 2028.

She said: "I need to compete as much as I can to boost my rankings, which will hopefully get me selected into the GB squad."

Andy Kempson

Mike Weaver

Frampton Cotterell's U16 side in Paris

Georgina Moore after her win

n SPORT

Jaspers finish the season in style

BRISTOL & West Hockey Club's Jaspers 2nd team has replicated the success of the men's 4s in completing an unbeaten league-winning season.

B&W Jaspers 2s finished 6pts clear in their division, with 16 wins, 2 draws and no defeats, scoring an impressive 72 goals and conceding only 15.

Although promotion was already in the bag, the title was secured with wins over Yate 3s (3-0) and Wick 2s (0-5) in their final games.

From start to finish they played attacking hockey and generally dominated play in every game; they will head into Berkeley Division 1 next season.

The Ladies 3s battled to secure their league title. With two games to go, they dispatched Keynsham 3s 6-0 to put their goal difference to over 20+ ahead of their nearest challengers, three points behind. They came through a tough final fixture with a 1-0 win, ending a stellar season that saw them win 19 and only lose 1 game, scoring 91 goals and conceding only 8.

Unfortunately, the Ladies 1st team were not able to establish themselves in their new league in their first season after promotion, finishing last with two wins for the season, albeit one was against the side placed 2nd at the time.

Elsewhere, the Men's 1s competed in the West Premiership for the first time in the club’s history, securing a more than respectable 7th-place finish,

with six wins, 10 draws and six defeats.

Men's 2s finished 5th in their division and will certainly be looking to push for the title next season.

Men’s 3s finished second in their and were the only team to beat runaway winners Old Bristolians 2s.

The Junior section of the club continues to grow, and secured the title in the local Badgers League.

If you are interested in joining us for some casual or competitive hockey in the summer league from May onwards, visit www.bandwhc.org.uk for more information.

Harry Bryant

Loft Boarding & Insulation

BAPS end on a high

BADMINTON & Pucklechurch

Ladies Hockey Club finished their season with a home game against Westberries at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex.

A close, well fought, even battle from the off saw Heidi Gardner break the deadlock, sweeping in a screamer of a goal. Many chances were denied and saved off the line by a strong defence. Westberries pulled one back in the second half but the persistent and determined BAPS team were adamant to finish on a high and a final touch from Nicki Trueman secured a 2-1 victory.

The run-in also included a 2-2 derby draw with Yate, a storming 4-1 victory over Redland and 5-0 away win over Hanham.

We now look forward to Summer League due to commence in May.

Lisa Rigby

Bristol & West Jaspers 2s celebrate their title

fromevalley voice LOCAL SERVICES