Keynsham News Winter 2023

WINTER 2023 - Issue 46

Produced for Keynsham Town Council

KEYNSHAM NEWS W

elcome to the Winter Edition of Keynsham News. In this issue, we are looking forward to the upcoming festive season with our annual Winter Festival. Make sure to check out page 18 to see the event map and plan out your evening of fun.

We did want to remind all residents that Keynsham News is entirely recyclable, so we would kindly ask readers to put Keynsham News into your regular weekly recycling, or pass the publication along to someone else to read.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Together,

C O N T E N T S

WELCOME TO

ChaiRman’s introduction

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KEYNSHAM ROTARY NEWS

5

DEMENTIA ACTION ALLIANCE

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KEYNSHAM Cemetery

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Keynsham SOCIETY

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MANOR ROAD Pavilion and PITCHEs

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KEYNSHAM HOCKEY CLUB

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KEYNSHAM WINTER FESTIVAL

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COUNCIL DATES

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GOLDIES SING&SMILE

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HERITAGE ACTION ZONE

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KEYNSHAM IN BLOOM

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KEYNSHAM MENCAP

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BUTTERFLIES HAVEN

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WALKERS ARE WELCOMe

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COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVy

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KEYFORD DANCING SCHOOL

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MEET THE TEAM YOUR TOWN COUNCILLORS

let's support local businesses

Keynsham News is produced by Ignyte Media Ltd, Bathway Farm, Bathway, Chewton Mendip, Somerset, BA3 4LN Tel 01761 410141.

While every care has been taken to ensure the data contained in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Ignyte or Keynsham Town Council does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in any retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher.

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CHairman’s introduction

W

elcome to our Winter edition of Keynsham News.

Since the last edition, school has started, we’ve had our first and last spell of sunny weather in October and now it’s truly feeling Autumnal. It is always a busy time at Keynsham Town Council and as I write this, the Town Council are busy putting the final touches on our new community event, called Keynsham Re-loved. The aim of the event is to celebrate all the best of sustainable living in Keynsham. Keynsham Re-loved will host a marketplace of sustainable and eco-friendly local businesses, as well as a fashion show featuring all the best from some of the charity shops along the High Street. I’m sure it will be a great success, and I look forward to seeing how it evolves in future years. Many thanks to our partners, Keynsham Eco Festival and Keynsham Cultural Programme, for making the event such a success.

Looking ahead, we have the Remembrance Parade on Sunday 12th November, where we ask Keynsham residents to come and show their respect to all those who have fallen in Service. A Church Service will be held at 9:30am at St John’s Church with a Parade to follow at 10:30am. The parade will leave St John’s Church, head along the High Street and end at Keynsham Memorial Park Gates. We welcome all to come and attend.

Additionally, we have a Keynsham community favourite event to look forward to with the annual

Winter Festival, to be held on Friday 24 November, 6-9pm. The event will be fun for the whole family as we officially kick off the festive season. The event will start with a parade along the High Street at 6:15pm. The Fun Fair will be back, as well as market stalls in Fear Hall, along the High Street, Market Walk and for the first time at Keynsham Leisure Centre. There will also be food vendors, free face painting and children’s entertainers and much more. New for this year, Keynsham Town Council have created a Santa’s Grotto so the big man himself has a proper setting for family photos - come find Santa at the far end of Temple Street across from Carpenters Lane. Also new this year, Dial-a-Ride will be extending their Winter Festival shuttle service to include Somerdale and Queens Road area. We hope this means that more residents can leave their cars at home, but still enjoy the Festival to its fullest. We’re really looking forward to seeing the entire community come out for a fun evening.

Lastly, we just wanted to wish you all a happy and healthy festive season surrounded by family and friends.

Councillor Hal MacFie, Chair Keynsham Town Council

ASP Poetry Circle - FREE ENTRY

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very 3rd Monday of each month, 2pm – 3pm, Upstairs Balcony, Keynsham Library, Civic Centre, Market Walk, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1FS

Bring two or three poems with you, either your own or from another poet, to share. Find out more on our website: www.asppoetrycircle.wordpress.com/

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KEYNSHAM ROTARY NEWS

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eynsham Rotary will be supporting the Royal British Legion at the Remembrance Parade on Sunday 12th November, in paying respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedom we enjoy today. We remember them.

We will then look forward to taking part in the Winter Festival on 24th November, when we will again have our popular Hot Roasted Chestnut stall which gives a real flavour of the Yuletide treats in store for the Christmas season.

Our activities will centre on community issues and putting efforts into supporting projects which are geared to alleviating hardship in the difficult

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

We’ve got your child’s next birthday party all wrapped up at Keynsham Leisure Centre.

With friendly, expert supervision and lots of fun competing against friends and family, we’ll ensure they have a party the whole playground will be talking about.

Discover more by visiting better.org.uk/ keynsham-birthday-parties Better is a registered trademark and trading name of GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), a charitable social enterprise and registered society under the Co-operative & Community Benefit & Societies Act 2014 registration no.

27793R. Registered office: Middlegate House, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SX. Inland Revenue Charity no: XR43398

current economic conditions. In this respect, we hope to make a street or store collection before Christmas.

Over the years, we have received much support in collecting unwanted hand tools for refurbishment by our local “Tools for Self Reliance” group, who then ship them out to a variety of African countries, where they are gratefully received and highly valued. We are asking anyone who has building or gardening tools that are no longer required to contact us for collection. Please email: rotarykeynsham@gmail.com and we will be pleased to take action.

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Keynsham and Saltford Dementia Action Alliance

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eynsham and Saltford Dementia Action Alliance was created in December 2016, with status as a charity confirmed in 2019. In May 2017, Music for the Mind sessions started and continue to run twice a month. Over the last year, attendance numbers have continued to grow and additional volunteers are needed to assist.

Music for the Mind Volunteer The main responsibility would be to assist with the running of sessions, manual tasks such as setting up tables or socialising with our dementia friends and their carers, preparing drinks, giving out song books and/or helping out in the car park.

Sessions are on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month, it would not need to be every week and there is flexibility over when you would attend.

Community Engagement Volunteer This is a fantastic opportunity for someone enthusiastic about their local community, who is engaging, sociable and keen to combine skills in marketing, relationship/business development.

You would be the main point of contact for local businesses and developing links with the charity.

This can include making businesses aware of site visits and adapting to be more dementia friendly,

including staff training, or ideas for fundraising/ sponsorship.

Treasurer The main responsibilities would be recording income and expenditure for the charity, managing finances in conjunction with the trustees. As a small charity, it would only require a couple of hours a month but previous volunteers have enjoyed being part of a group and gone on to contribute to wider development.

Trustee As a trustee, you will have input into how the charity develops and making a difference to the communities of Keynsham and Saltford and those with dementia. You should have an interest in promoting greater inclusion and recognition of dementia, from those with the condition to their family, carers and wider support. Previous experience as a trustee is not required.

If you are keen to discuss any of the roles, please get in touch. www.keynshamdaa.co.uk ksdaa22@gmail.com 07392 442966

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KEYNSHAM CEMETERY

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eynsham Cemetery is situated in Durley Hill, Keynsham, off the Bristol Road and our grounds staff ensure that the Cemetery is kept neat and tidy. There are many mature trees in the Cemetery, together with wildlife and wild flowers, forming a very tranquil surrounding, as well as the listed Victorian Chapel which is available for small services.

Traditional grave plots (lawn and kerb) can be purchased and each plot can accommodate up to three coffin burials. The Deeds for the plots are for 50 years and memorial headstones can be permitted. Unfortunately, pre-purchasing of plots is not permitted.

For families that prefer cremation, a Memorial Garden is available where cremation plots can be purchased to accommodate two caskets side-byside. A memorial tablet with an inscription can be placed on top of the casket plot.

Caskets can also be placed in traditional plots, but only after coffins have been interred in the grave. Ashes can also be scattered in the Garden of Remembrance and, in the near future, a Rose Garden is going to be established.

Keynsham Town Council is the Burial Authority for the Cemetery. For further information, please telephone 0117 9868683 or email either reception@keynsham-tc.gov.uk or vivienne@keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Photo Competition Award For Keynsham Town Council

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n July of this year, Keynsham Town Council entered the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) annual photography competition.

The Town Council were delighted to win a ‘Highly Commended’ in the Environmental Category of the 2023 Photographic Competition for the Council’s picture of a ‘bug hotel’. In addition to being a place to remember loved family members and friends, Keynsham Cemetery is also a haven for local wildlife and insects with wildflowers, mature trees and gardens for all to enjoy.

Bug hotels are an important tool to support Biodiversity in the area and improve outcomes for local wildlife. Thanks go to the Keynsham

Town Council grounds staff for maintaining the Cemetery grounds to such a high standard.

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KEYNSHAM NEWS

Hidden Histories EVENT at Keynsham Cemetery

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eynsham’s Durley Hill Cemetery is a peaceful Victorian resting place which hides a very special secret. Beneath the ground lies a major archaeological site – one of the most spectacular Roman buildings ever to have been discovered in Britain.

In September, for the very first time, Keynsham Town Council opened the Cemetery to visitors as part of Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture.

On an autumnal Sunday morning, guests joined our staff and volunteers in the Cemetery’s unusual mortuary Chapel to learn more about the site’s

history. Exhibition boards told the story of the Chapel and its Architect, Charles Edward Davis,

0117 901 2546

KEYNSHAM NEWS

who is probably more famous for his discovery of the Roman Baths. The original Funeral Bier, used by the workhouse until the 1920s, took pride of place in the exhibition space.

Other panels provided information on the excavation of the Roman Remains in the 1920s, with photographs and original documentation from that fantastic discovery. Visitors could also have a go at designing their own floor tile patterns and learn how to make a ceramic lamp based on an original Roman design.

Maps were also displayed, showing the location of several First World War and Second World War graves that can be explored in the Cemetery, with information on some of the local people who lost their lives in those conflicts.

The Town Council team was also joined by the Avon Wildlife Trust Keynsham Group, who

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led wilderness walks around the cemetery and provided the opportunity for visitors to come face-to-face with moths which had been trapped on the grounds the previous night. Our young visitors had the opportunity to guess why resident moths have such curious names as ‘L-Album Wainscot’ and ‘Angle Shades’.

It was a pleasure to host so many visitors of all ages, many of whom had lived in Keynsham all their lives and had never visited this hidden gem of a historic site before.

We welcome anyone to come and visit our beautiful grounds. The Cemetery is open to the public every day of the week; however, we do ask that the public is considerate of bereaved families, particularly during a funeral service.

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Keynsham Abbey Wins Southwest in Bloom Award

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outhWest in Bloom recently awarded Keynsham’s Abbey Remains with its discretionary award, the prestigious 2023 Monk Trophy, for the best use of native plants indigenous to the area. The volunteers of the Abbey Remains were awarded an engraved Silver Platter in recognition of their outstanding work on keeping the Abbey true to its heritage through planting. Many congratulations to all the entries this year and a big thank you to all involved for their hard work, time, enthusaism and dedication in making the Keynsham Abbey award-winning.

Mary Woodman, Chair, Keynsham in Bloom

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KEYNSHAM NEWS

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KEYNSHAM & SALTFORD LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

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ew Local Walks Guide: “Made in Keynsham”.

Two hundred years ago, this label could have been applied to many products from the brass mills of Keynsham and nearby, when the industry was the town’s largest employer. The Avon Mill is today a restaurant, but there is little remaining of most other sites. Where were they and how do you find them?

Brass Tracks is a book of trails, recently published by the Society, to allow people to do just that. In a lay-flat format for handy use outdoors, it contains maps and full directions for five walks and one family-friendly cycle route. The walks vary in length from 1½ to 6 miles and include Keynsham, Saltford, the Chew Valley and Conham, where the local industry was first established. The cycle trail runs from Locksbrook in Bath, along the Railway Path to Warmley, where William Champion built his factory.

As well as the directions, maps and photographs, the book includes a short history of the local brass and copper industry, plus information on the mill owners and the skilled workers who made the bowls and pans.

When the industry started, many men were recruited from continental Europe. They moved here with their families and settled; the local surnames of Ollis and Fray come from these immigrants. To help those pursuing their family history, the book includes details of all the brass workers that the Society could find records of.

Put together by a small group of members, with help from Saltford Brass Mill, Brass Tracks combines some attractive country walks with the detailed story of this important part of the town’s past and its workers.

If you would like to add a copy to your bookshelf, Brass Tracks is available at £10.00 per copy from the Society at books@keysalthist.org.uk or telephone 0117 9864453.

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Manor Road Pavilion Re-opens

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fter many years, the Pavilion at the Manor Road Playing Fields has had a makeover, allowing teams that play on the fields to spruce up after the game.

Indoors, a fresh coat of paint and new benches improve the changing facilities and allow for a brighter look to the inside. Outside, has also had a fresh coat of paint and repairs to the roof to ensure all those that use the Pavilion will be safe and dry.

As part of our long-term commitment to ensure community safety, Keynsham Town Council has also installed a Defibrillator to the outside wall of the facilities.

The refurbishment to the Pavilion is complete for now; however, there are plans to expand the car parking to allow up to 32 cars in the coming months. This would allow for visitors to park at the Pavilion and not on Manor Road causing traffic congestion.

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2023-2024 FEES FOR HIRE OF MANOR ROAD FOOTBALL PITCHES

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eynsham Town Council is delighted to announce that both junior and full-size pitches can now be booked at the Manor Road playing fields for both fixtures and training. A pitch can be booked for the following times (unless by arrangement).

Saturday and Sunday: Mornings: 10.00am-12.30pm / Afternoons: 1.30pm-4pm. Deadline for bookings is Thursday 12pm. There are 3 options available in respect of pitch hire: 1) Casual Bookings – for a one-off fixture/practice session. VAT is chargeable. Nets and posts provided.

2) Seasonal Team bookings – Teams hire the pitch for a season on specified dates (up to 20 fixtures).

Nets and posts provided.

3) Club Pitch Bookings – Guaranteed pitch availability throughout the season on the day/time specified for use by multiple teams belonging to the Club. Nets and posts provided.

1. CASUAL BOOKINGS – Saturday or Sunday only Team Adult Junior

Local* £75.00 (£90.00 inc VAT) £45.00 (£54.00 inc VAT)

Out of Parish £85.00 (£102.00 inc VAT) £55.00 (£66.00 inc VAT)

Prices do not include VAT @ 20%

* LOCAL TEAM – Either the Team comprises AT LEAST 50% OF KEYNSHAM RESIDENTS (a list of names and addresses of players required to qualify for the local rate) OR the team belongs to a Club with a seasonal pitch booking.

2. TEAM SEASONAL BOOKINGS • Up to 20 matches/season booked in advance.

• No refunds if matches missed.

Team Adult Season Junior Season

Local* £600.00 (£30.00 per Match) £500.00 (£25.00 per Match)

Out of Parish £900.00 (£45.00 per Match) £800.00 (£40.00 per Match)

Seasonal Bookings are paid in two sums: 50% by 30 September and the Final 50% by 1 January

* LOCAL TEAM – Either the Team comprises AT LEAST 50% OF KEYNSHAM RESIDENTS (a list of names and addresses of players required to qualify for the local rate) .

3. CLUB PITCH HIRE • FULL SEASON – Last Saturday in August to first Sunday in May. • Guaranteed availability of that pitch for a full 36 weeks.

• No refunds if pitch not used.

Pitch Size Full size 60 x 92 50 x 80 60 x 40

Price per 36 week season £1000.00 £800.00 £600.00

Prices do not include VAT. The full amount is invoiced on confirmation of the booking and payable within 30 days unless by arrangement.

Price Per Match £27.78 £22.23 £16.67

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Keynsham Hockey CluB Memorial Tournament 2023

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n Sunday 4th September, Keynsham Hockey Club hosted their annual charity memorial hockey tournament that showcased the talent of local players and raised £774.90 for two vital charitable organisations: Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.

It was a scorching hot and sunny day, and players from Keynsham Hockey Club and Bristol and West Hockey Club came together at Wellsway Sports Centre to play in a mixed hockey tournament.

There was some great competition on the field, and we would like to congratulate Bristol and West who were crowned the winners!

Club Chair, Katherine Sears, said: “British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research are two charities which are very close to the club’s heart. James Clifford was one of the founders of our Men’s section, he passed away very suddenly and is sorely missed but I’m sure the recent promotion of BOTH our men’s teams would be something he would be extremely proud of. We continue to support Cancer Research in their mission to fight cancer, the club lost its former Chair, Jo Bush, to the disease as well as its 1st XI keeper, Kim Baptiste. Both made huge impacts to the

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development of the club, Kim was renowned for pushing the younger members of the club to excel in the high teams. It was lovely to see the families of James and Kim at the event on Sunday. The fantastic work Cancer Research does is even more poignant as club member, Dan Money, underwent liver surgery recently, the whole Club joins me in wishing Dan a speedy recovery and we will continue to support him in his fight and we are extremely proud of him and his bravery.

“We would like to thank everybody who came and participated in the tournament and to the spectators who joined us for the day. We’d also like to sincerely thank everybody who generously donated a raffle prize.

“One local business that deserves a special mention for its support is Keynsham Coffee Co. They ensured that all participants were refreshed and ready to give their best on the field, adding to the overall positive atmosphere of the day.

“A significant part of the success of the day must be attributed to the dedication and hard work of Lou Bessel, who took the lead in organising the event. Thank you, Lou!”

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KEYNSHAM NEWS

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Keynsham & District Dial-a-Ride CHRISTMAS CARD DELIVERY SERVICE

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eynsham & District Dial-a-Ride will be providing the above service in BS31 only.

The above service will commence on Monday 6th November 2023 and the last collection of Christmas cards will be Midday Friday 15th December 2023.

How much does it cost?

Stamps will cost 50p each. To purchase stamps, ring the Dial-a-Ride office 01225 395321.

The office is open from 9am – 1pm Monday to Friday there is an answer phone system, if you need to leave a message, please provide the following information: your name, address, telephone number and how many stamps you require, these will be delivered to you within 24hrs on weekdays.

How does it work?

A Dial-a-Ride stamp must be on the envelope, otherwise it will not be delivered. Cards will be collected from designated boxes in the Community. Boxes will be placed in the following venues:

• Keynsham Town Council Offices, Temple Street, Keynsham • Community at 67, Queens Road, Keynsham • Keynsham & District Dial-a-Ride, Day Centre, Sherwood Road, Keynsham If you are unable to get to any of the above, please ring the office and we will collect your Christmas Cards. Once collected, Christmas Cards will be delivered within 3 working days. You can also pass the Christmas cards onto Dial-a-Ride drivers when travelling on the bus.

All funds raised will go to Keynsham & District Dial-a-Ride.

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16 KEYNSHAM NEWS

Keynsham Winter Festival

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eynsham’s Winter Festival on Friday 24 November (6-9pm) is ready to kick off the Festive Season with a flurry of fun the whole family can enjoy. Winter Festival-goers from Keynsham and surrounding areas can look forward to some of the event classics, but there are a lot of new activities planned for all to enjoy.

“Keynsham Town Council love to put on the Winter Festival because it’s such a well-loved and well-attended event by residents, as well as people in and around Keynsham,” said Katherine Sears, Deputy Town Clerk of Keynsham Town Council and lead organiser of the Winter Festival.

“We know people want to revisit old favourites, but each year we also like to add a little new Christmas magic into the Festival. There are big plans for some new activities, which we are confident will be a hit with Winter Festival goers.”

So, what Festival favourites can people look forward to? Winter Festival celebrations will officially start with a procession leaving from Memorial Gates and heading along the High Street to the Main Stage adjacent to St John’s Church.

People can then enjoy some late-night Christmas shopping with Keynsham local businesses, as well as a variety of market stalls positioned along the High Street, Temple Street, Market Walk, Keynsham Leisure Centre and in Fear Hall. Street entertainers will feature along the High Street and there will be a pop-up stage outside the Library for community groups and local choirs to spread some Christmas cheer. The Space, above the Library, will feature local schools and performers singing and dancing whilst downstairs, the Punch and Judy puppet show will keep both young and old laughing. The Fun Fair will also return to Temple Street with a Ferris Wheel, Helter-Skelter, thrill ride and other amusements for all to enjoy.

New for 2023 Long overdue for the Winter Festival, Keynsham Town Council are very excited to say that the ‘Main Man’ of the Winter Festival will get an official home with a proper Santa’s Grotto. People will be able to meet Father Christmas, share their Christmas wishes and take any photos they wish

KEYNSHAM NEWS

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free of charge. Many thanks to the SouthWest UK Lions Club and Keynsham Town Council’s sponsorship partner MG Estate for helping Santa find his forever home in Keynsham.

But it’s not just about meeting Father Christmas this year. Winter Festival goers have a chance to meet Frozen princesses Elsa and Anna lookalikes for a free photo opportunity next to the Christmas Tree outside St John’s Church. A thank you goes to IJ McGill for sponsoring the Christmas Tree this year.

As the Winter Festival grows year-on-year, Keynsham Town Council have looked for new ways to extend the Festival. This year, The Town Council are expanding the Winter Festival into the Keynsham Leisure Centre main lobby and the MakeSpace across from the Leisure Centre main doors. Festival-goers can find market stalls, free face-painters and the Leisure Centre’s soft play available. The MakeSpace will be the spot

for people to get involved in some snowball fun.

Greeted by two dancing snowmen, the snowball fun area aims to immerse people in the Festival’s snowy theme.

Community Christmas Tree becomes Tree of Remembrance Last year we planted the Community Christmas Tree in Memorial Park as part of the Queen’s Canopy for the Platinum Jubilee. This year, the Community Christmas Tree will become a ‘Tree of Remembrance’ to offer residents the opportunity to acknowledge family and friends that are no longer with us. Residents can collect one of fifty ‘Memorial Baubles’ available from Keynsham Town Council at the Temple Street Office (15-17 Temple Street) until Monday 20 November. The Community Christmas Tree will be decorated in advance of the Winter Festival, with the Memorial Baubles remaining in place until the New Year.

The Winter Festival Committee would like to say a big thank you to all businesses and traders who have kindly contributed towards making this year’s event special. Special thanks go to our official sponsors, Argyll Design, Davies & Way, Eveleighs Estate Agents, IJ McGill, MG Estate Agents, Mokka, Olivia’s Boutique, Redfern Osteopaths, Smart Computers, and W&W Memorials.

For further information, please contact Katherine Sears (Deputy Town Clerk) on 0117 9868683 or email deputytownclerk@keynsham-tc.gov.uk Photos: Mike May

NEWS 18 KEYNSHAM KEYNSHAM

Winter Festival 2023

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St John’s Church

Christmas tree, carols, Elsa & Anna look-a-like photo opportunity

Main Stage

Performances, TimeOut Yuletide Takeover

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Fear Hall

Market stalls, refreshments

Charlton Road

Climbing wall, instant photo printing at Keynsham Photo Centre

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Victoria Methodist Church

Choir, refreshments

Baptist Church

Keynsham Brass Band, refreshments

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Wa

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Keynsham Leisure Centre

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9 Market Walk

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Make Space

Library & The Space

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ad

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Roc

th

tpa

Foo

e Lan ers ent

p Car

Temple Street

Information & Jumper Swap

Toilets

Food & Drink

Lost children

Hot drinks

First Aid

Live performance

Road closure

Photo opportunity

Dial-a-Ride pick up and drop-off point

NB: Festival map subject to change.

Map not drawn to scale

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High Street

Street performers, market stalls, food and refreshments

Memorial Park Gates

Parade starting point, Tree of Remembrance

Market Walk

Market stalls, Fun Fair

Library & The Space

Pop-up stage, Punch & Judy, music & dance performances

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Leisure Centre

Market stalls, face painters, soft play

MakeSpace Snowball fun

Temple Street

Fun Fair, market stalls

Santa’s Grotto

Free photo opportunity

COUNCIL DATES • Wednesday 8 November, 4pm Events, Arts, Tourism & Heritage (EATH) Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices

• Wednesday 23 January, 7pm Environment & Sustainability (E& S) Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices

• Monday 13 November, 7.30pm Planning & Development Committee in the Baptist Church

• Monday 5 February, 7.30pm Planning & Development Committee in the Baptist Church

• Tuesday 14 November Finance & Policy Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices, 6.30pm

• Tuesday 13 February, 6.30pm Finance & Policy Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices

• Personnel Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices (as required), 7.30pm

• Tuesday 20 February, 7.30pm Town Council in The Space (above the Library)

• Tuesday 21 November, 7.30pm Town Council in The Space (above the Library)

• Monday 4 March, 7.30pm Planning & Development Committee in the Baptist Church

• Wednesday 29 November, 7pm Environment & Sustainability (E& S) Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices • Tuesday 5 December, 6.30pm Finance & Policy Committee (Draft Budget) in Keynsham Town Council Offices • Wednesday 6 December, 4pm Events, Arts, Tourism & Heritage (EATH) Committee in Keynsham Town Council Office • Monday 11 December, 7.30pm Planning & Development Committee in the Baptist Church • Tuesday 12 December, 7.30pm Town Council in The Space (above the Library)

2024 • Monday 8 January, 7.30pm Planning & Development Committee in the Baptist Church • Tuesday 9 January, 6.30pm Finance & Policy Committee (Budget) in Keynsham Town Council Offices • Wednesday 10 January, 4pm Events, Arts, Tourism & Heritage (EATH) Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices • Tuesday 16 January, 7.30pm Town Council (Budget) in The Space (above the Library)

• Wednesday 6 March, 4pm Events, Arts, Tourism & Heritage (EATH) Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices • Wednesday 6 March, 7.30pm Grants Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices • Tuesday 12 March, 6.30pm Finance & Policy Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices • Tuesday 19 March, 7.30pm Town Council in The Space (above the Library) • Monday 25 March, 7.30pm Planning & Development Committee in the Baptist Church • Tuesday 26 March, 7pm Environment & Sustainability (E&S) Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices • Tuesday 9 April, 6.30pm Finance & Policy Committee in Keynsham Town Council Offices • Monday 15 April, 7.30pm Planning & Development Committee in the Baptist Church • Tuesday 16 April, 7.30pm Town Council in The Space (above the Library) • Thursday 18 April, 7.30pm Annual Town Meeting, The Space (above the Library)

Avon Wildlife Trust EVENTS

O

ur Autumn programme of talks continues in November at the Baptist Church Hall in Keynsham with “The Green Planet - breathing life into our world” on Friday 10th November with Paul Williams (BBC Natural History Unit film producer). Paul has worked on many of the incredible BBC Wildlife series in the last 20 years.

BBC’s “The Green Planet” revealed the strange and wonderful world of plants as never seen before and Paul has many tales to tell from behind the scenes, developing and working with new technology and techniques.

Friday 8th December is our Members’ Evening, “It’s Snow Time” with a programme of short talks including “The Fox & Hounds Restoration Project” and “The Azores - more than just Whales!”, plus festive refreshments. Open to all!

We welcome the return of ecologist Pete Cooper on Friday 12th January talking to us about “The Coombeshead Harvest Mice Project”. Harvest mice are Britain’s smallest rodents. They live among tall grasses and shrubs where they weave an intricate cricket ball-sized nest above the ground. They used to be abundant, but numbers have reduced due to agricultural intensification and an overtidying of the countryside. The project hopes to breed and re-introduce these delightful mammals into their historic and newly restored habitats.

Entry: £3.50 for Avon Wildlife Trust members/£4.50 for non-members to include refreshments served at 7:15pm before each talk.

For more information on the Keynsham Group and details on our talks, visit our website: www. keynshamawt.org Email: keynshamawt@gmail. com or phone Dave 07899 716068

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22 KEYNSHAM NEWS

Christmas Tree FestivaL

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t John’s Church, Keynsham, will once again be holding a Christmas Tree Festival this year. This spectacular bi-annual Christmas event, which has been running since 2012, will be open from Friday 8th December until Sunday 10th December 2023.

Local Community Groups are once again invited to take part and invitation letters and emails have already been circulated. If, however, your organisation, church or school have not been contacted, there is still time to book a tree!

Please email treefest@hotmail.com or telephone 0117 9862088 for further details or an application form.

It has rapidly become a huge part of Keynsham’s community Christmas celebrations and you are urged to put the dates in your diary! Thank you to everyone who contributes to and supports it.

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KEYNSHAM NEWS 23

Keynsham Goldies Sing&Smile

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oldies is NOT a choir but a fun and friendly sing-along, open to everyone. You don’t have to be able to sing or hold a tune, just love music and good company. Some people like to sing out loud and proud, some tap along and listen, some dance and some just like to chat… but most importantly, there is always lots of FUN. Sing&Smile sessions are an hour-long (plus time for a cuppa). With popular songs from artists, such as our patron Sir Cliff Richard, alongside Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, Elvis and many more. Goldies activities are of a therapeutic nature and have been proven to positively impact mental and physical health and well-being.

Goldies Sing&Smile takes place at Keynsham Key Centre on the last Friday of each month from 2.00-3.00pm – next sessions will be on 24th

November. We will be hosting a fun festive event for Christmas and an intergenerational concert in the New Year too, so come and join us - no need to book, just turn up. For more information about Goldies, visit our website www.golden-oldies.org.uk or you can call the office, Monday to Friday 9.00am-2.30pm on 01761 470006.

You can also visit the Goldies Charity Shop on Keynsham High Street, full of excellent quality second-hand clothes, toys and household items.

The shop is open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am4.30pm, and is eager to recruit volunteers. If you have some spare time that you can donate to the Goldies Shop, be it a day or a few hours a week, they would love to hear from you – call the shop on 0117 329 3910.

Town Council SEEKS COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR THE Paddock

I

n December of last year, Keynsham Town Council purchased The Paddock, a piece of land adjacent to St John’s Church that the Council intends to preserve for long-term community use.

Land surveys have now been completed and the Council is at a point where we are looking for on-going support by a local community group, or collection of groups working together, to put the land to good use.

If your Organisation is interested in putting forward a project, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact Katherine Sears, Deputy Town Clerk, Keynsham Town Council deputytownclerk@keynsham-tc.gov.uk or 0117 9868683.

24 KEYNSHAM NEWS

KEYNSHAM HIGH STREET HERITAGE ACTION ZONE An update on Keynsham Local Cultural Programme A massive well done to those of you who ran events or volunteered at Keynsham’s Heritage Festival as part of Heritage Open Days in September 2023. There were too many to list all the successes in this newsletter, but you can still browse the programme at www.hikeynsham.co.uk/ event/keynsham-heritage-open-days/ The pop-up exhibition (right) was curated by three local heritage groups – the Bristol History & Archaeology Society (Keynsham Abbey Working Group), the Saltford Brass Mill Project, and Keynsham & Saltford Local History Society.

The groups worked in collaboration with Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Heritage Services and Regeneration Team to bring the objects to Keynsham.

If you missed the exhibition, some pieces can now be viewed upstairs in Keynsham Library as part of the legacy of this programme.

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Pop up museum in MakeSpace, Keynsham Through Time: The Abbey & Brass Mills.

KEYNSHAM NEWS 25

Keynsham MakeSpace The new arts and community hub on Riverside Square launched in February and we’ve since been working closely with local artists and community groups to schedule a wide range of exciting activities over the summer and autumn – including creative workshops, pop-up shops, exhibitions, and more.

A full programme of festive activity is scheduled for winter, including wreath-making workshops on 9 and 16 November, lantern making workshops

on 18 November, and a ‘snowball fun zone’ for the Winter Festival!

Browse the full programme of forthcoming events at: www.hikeynsham.co.uk/whats-on/ If you or your group, business or club would like to hire MakeSpace, it’s not too late! We welcome pop-up shops, studio sessions, events, exhibitions, workshops, meetings, co-working, skills and training sessions, and more. Find out how to get involved at: www.hikeynsham.co.uk/event/ keynsham-makespace/

You can find MakeSpace at 2 Riverside Terrace (diagonally opposite the entrance to Keynsham Leisure Centre]

An update on the Temple Street Public Space Improvements At the time of writing, we are in the final stages of commissioning contractors with landlords and businesses to commence Shopfront Improvement Works in Temple Street. More information can be found at: www.hikeynsham.co.uk/home/ keynshams-shopfront-improvement-programme/

Over the next couple of months, we will be working jointly with the Local Cultural Programme Consortium to install a couple of artworks in public spaces. More information on this will be available at the Hi! Keynsham website.

26 KEYNSHAM NEWS

A CRY FOR HELP FROM KEYNSHAM IN BLOOM

K

eynsham In Bloom has been approached by the office of The Hawthorns Care Home to help restore their garden.

A number of years ago raised beds were built and the garden was beautiful but the residents who used to tend the garden have become frail and need help.

If you can give a little of your time to help please contact Terri.Underhill@curo-group.co.uk who will be very pleased to hear from you.

Work continues on the triangle flowerbed in the High Street and we are beating the thugs of the plant world. October will be the time for mulching and renewing plants so watch this space. If you would like to become a Keynsham In Bloom volunteer please contact either me at catherinemarywoodman@gmail.com, Dawn Drury at keynshaminbloom@icloud.com or just pop into Keynsham Town Council in Temple Street. We would love to see you if you can spare a little time to help.

The volunteers from the station were treated to a lunch at the Steam Museum in Swindon to

say thank you for all the hard work at Keynsham Station and to interact with other likeminded volunteers from other stations. We learn so much from just sitting and having a conversation.

I visited the Pocket Park this afternoon and was very pleased to see a family, mum, two children and a dog. The hopscotch was being used by the children which was brilliant and mum was sending a video to dad. Good to know our little park is used.

Our High Street containers will soon be planted up with winter colour. The alpines in Queens Road, Holmoak, Chandag Road and Firestation containers have been very successful and need little tending at present.

The Keynsham In Bloom colouring competition has now been judged and it was very difficult decision as the level was so high, but please see some of the winners in the pictures below.

Keep safe, well and gardening.

Mary Woodman, Chair, Keynsham in Bloom

KEYNSHAM NEWS 27

Keynsham Memorial Park Upper Play Area - UPDATE

A

much-loved and well-used section at Upper Memorial Play Area recently got a facelift thanks to TimeOut staff, local young people and Nick Halahan of Olas Art. The team got their paintbrushes out and freshened up the snakes and ladders outdoor game. Many thanks to all those who were involved – it’s looking great!

Keynsham

Spring Show

23rd March 2024

Keynsham Scout HQ from 12pm

Join us as we welcome in Spring

Horticultural, cookery, arts & handicrafts, children’s categories... and plenty of new classes to enjoy.

More details to come!

For any questions, please contact: Katherine Sears, Deputy Town Clerk deputytownclerk@keynsham-tc.gov.uk @Keynsham Town Council

@keynsham_town_council

28 KEYNSHAM NEWS

Keynsham MENCAP celebrations

I

t’s been a busy year of celebrations at Keynsham and District Mencap Society. The Charity celebrated its 45th birthday by holding a family fun day. Members from across the clubs, along with family and friends, staff, volunteers, and supporters all came together to attend this wonderful event.

Laura works tirelessly for the members and her commitment and devotion has touched so many lives.

This year also marked 10 years since Treasurer, Russ Pocock came on board. Russ joined in 2013 to help out ‘for a few months’. As a thank you for 10 years of voluntary service, Russ was nominated for the Keynsham ‘Good Citizen Award’.

The Music Man Project celebrated a 5-year anniversary in April by putting on a concert. The club started in 2018 and has gone from strength to strength. The group is currently working towards a performance at The Royal Albert Hall in April 2024, where they will perform alongside other MMP groups from across the country at the iconic venue.

Operations Manager, Laura Jefferies, celebrated working for the charity for 15 years this year.

Other highlights this year include holidays to the New Forest and Devon, trips to Longleat and Weston-super-Mare, Inclusive Sports Day, katakunuing along the River Avon, the Barry and Suzi show on KTCRfm, a new bi-monthly ‘Mencap Movies’ event at The Space and much more!

KEYNSHAM NEWS 29

If you would like to find out more about these activities, or about the clubs that Keynsham Mencap run, or if you would like more information about the rewarding volunteering opportunities available, please contact Laura@Keynshammencap. org.uk or visit www.keynshammencap.org.uk.

Festive activities running this year include an inclusive Santa’s grotto, which is adapted to meet the needs of children with additional needs, meaning that all children can enjoy this magical experience. There will be an annual trip to the Bristol Hippodrome to watch the pantomime and a tobogganing trip which will be an exciting new activity for the members.

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30 KEYNSHAM NEWS

Butterflies-Haven

T

he Summer has been very successful for Butterflies-Haven. We have continued to offer a wide range of exciting and stimulating sessions for our young members. We are now running two sessions on Mondays and Fridays.

This helps us to meet the demand for our services and to provide a more person-centered service for our young people and their families.

Unfortunately, our planned summer picnic in the park had to be cancelled due to the rain during July and August. We apologise for this and hope for better luck next year.

We are now looking ahead to the Winter months. In addition to our regular Monday and Friday sessions we have a number of events to look forward to. We will be taking part in the annual Keynsham Winter Festival on Friday 24th November - if you plan to visit the Festival please stop for a chat and meet some of the volunteers and staff.

This year we were very lucky to be offered a Christmas Hut in the Bath Christmas Market. We are very excited about this opportunity as it will be the first time we have taken part in this major festive event. The coffee mornings and Wellness walks have proved very popular so we will be continuing with them during the month to Christmas.

As mentioned last time, the Saltford Santa Dash will be supporting us this year. If you fancy taking part and would like to support a worthwhile local charity, please get in touch.

Finally, our congratulations goes out to Alison, our Manager, who has made the finals of the BBC Radio Bristol “Make A Difference Awards 2023”.

Well done, very deserved. We keep our fingers crossed for success in the final round.

Please check out our webpage for details of the above events. Volunteering can be very rewarding and offers an opportunity to experience working with children and young people. Without our volunteers we could not run the sessions, so if would like to join us please contact us through our webpage or via Facebook.

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KEYNSHAM NEWS

31

Keynsham Walkers Are Welcome Sunday 22nd October – Meet at the Fox & Hounds car park at 10.00 am. to catch the Dial-aRide minibus to Limpley Stoke for a 5 circular mile walk along the Kennet & Avon Canal. There will be a refreshment stop on this walk. The minibus will bring us back to Keynsham. A donation towards the cost of the minibus is appreciated Friday 10th November – A social night quiz – details nearer the time Sunday 19th November – Meet at the Fox & Hounds car park at 10.00 am to catch the Dial-aRide minbus to Greenway, Bath. We shall then go along the Two Tunnels walk to Midford, where we shall stop for refreshments before catching the minibus back to Keynsham. This walk is about 4 miles long. A donation towards the cost of the minibus is appreciated Sunday 10th December – Meet at the Keynsham Memorial Park gates at 10.00 am. for our annual 2 mile wreath making ramble, collecting various flora on the way, at the end of which we shall be instructed on the art of wreath making (venue to be decided). Mulled wine and mince pies provided. There will be a nominal charge for the materials provided

car park to catch the Dial-a- Ride minibus to Timsbury for a circular 4 mile walk along the old Somerset Coal Canal to Withywood. There will be a refreshment stop at the end of the walk, then we catch the minibus back to keynsham. A donation towards the cost of the minibus is appreciated Sunday 21st April – Catching the train from Keynsham station to Bradford on Avon for a 3.5 mile circular walk to Avoncliffe There will be time after the walk to explore its lovely streets and eateries/hostelries. Details/Times/Costs nearer the time A Spring Social Evening will be arranged nearer the time.

Together,

Sunday 21st January – Meet at the Memorial Park gates at 10.00 am for a 5 mile circular walk to Bitton Station via Londonderry Wharf, coming back to Keynsham via the Cycle path. There will be a refreshment stop at the station Sunday 18th February – Meet at the Fox & Hounds car park at 10.00 am to catch the Diala-Ride minibus to Crews Hole for a 6 mile level walk back to Keynsham alongside the River Avon.

We shall be stopping midway for refreshment.

A donation towards the cost of the minibus is appreciated Sunday 17th March – Meet at the Fox & Hounds

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32 KEYNSHAM NEWS

COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY & Community Projects WHAT IS CIL? The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a new tariff system that allows B&NES to raise funds from Developers to contribute to the costs of providing some of the infrastructure needed for new development and to mitigate the impact of the increased number of homes/residents.

Unlike s106 money, CIL money does not need to be used for providing infrastructure on the site it is collected from.

The proportion given to Keynsham Town Council is known as a “meaningful proportion” and for

IF THE UK SPENT JUST £5 A WEEK WITH THEIR LOCAL SHOPS & BUSINESSES INSTEAD OF ONLINE OR WITH MULTI-NATIONALS, IT WOULD BE WORTH APPROX £16 BILLION GOING DIRECTLY BACK INTO OUR TOWNS. WHICH MEANS REAL JOBS, BETTER FACILITIES AND A NICER PLACE TO LIVE.

areas where there is no Neighbourhood Plan in place, this equates to 15% of CIL receipts from development within the Town/Parish area up to a maximum of £100 per Council Tax dwelling per annum.

However, the proportion will rise to 25% once the Keynsham Neighbourhood Development Plan is approved by referendum and, with the future plan for the Keynsham North new development, this could represent a substantial additional sum of CIL money being received by Keynsham providing the Neighbourhood Plan has been “MADE.”

What is the Town Council doing with its CIL? The Town Council has already received a considerable amount of CIL over the last 3 years in response to the ongoing developments at Hygge Park and along Charlton Rd. Some has already been spent/allocated (e.g. £24k for Kelston Park play area, £40k for the Heritage Action Zone project in the town centre). However, in 2019 the Town Council also agreed to allocate up to £10,000 per year from the Town Council’s CIL receipts towards small value projects suggested by the Community.

What can CIL be spent on?

CIL cannot be spent on just any old project – it must be spent on projects that satisfy one of the criteria below: a) the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; or

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b) anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area.

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‘Infrastructure and Services’ are defined as:

KEYNSHAM NEWS 33

• Physical infrastructure: e.g. highways, transport links, cycleways, energy supply, water, flood alleviation, waste management

budgets being drawn up, for this second year. All suggestions received previously will be included in the project selection pot.

• Social infrastructure: e.g. education, health, social care, emergency services, art and culture, sports halls, community halls, faith, crematoria

A suggestions/application form is available from the Town Council by emailing admin@keynshamtc.gov.uk or contacting the office on 01179 868683.

• Green infrastructure: e.g. parks, woodlands, play areas, public open space

Remember the suggestions have to relate to improving physical or social infrastructure to help mitigate the increased demands that new development places on the Keynsham area.

So, whether this is some new play equipment, improving rights of way or a small project to benefit your local neighbourhood then please submit your suggestions to the Town Council for consideration.

SMALL COMMUNITY PROJECTS - CALL FOR SUGGESTIONS Due to an interruption, as a result of the COVID Pandemic, the Town Council is extending its suggestion register for one more year and is asking the community to make suggestions on possible projects to be included as part of the

The Keyford Dancing School 50th Anniversary

O

n September 16th, a well-attended reunion of past pupils was held in Club 22. The first time in many years some of us have got together, it was lovely to see everyone again.

Our next event is our Anniversary Show to be performed at Broadlands Academy on 17, 18 and 19 November. This will be our first big major performance since 2018, giving many pupils their first chance to perform in front of a full audience, helping to build their confidence and self-esteem.

Rehearsals are well under way and children are very excited to take part. The dances include, Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz and Contemporary, some new routines as well as some of our favourites from previous shows; hopefully, these will bring back happy memories for earlier dancers, whose children are now on stage.

Ticket sales are going very well, there are a few

seats still available online via Stagestubs.com.

For those unable to attend, a professional video will be filmed on the Saturday evening, which will be available to pre-order shortly.

Keynsham Guides will be providing the refreshments as one of their fundraising activities.

Many of the guides also attend dance classes.

Keyford Dancing School is grateful to Keynsham Town Council for the grant awarded to us to help fund this production, in which over 200 pupils, children and adults will be taking part.

After the show, normal classes will resume and students can start to work for examinations and medal tests which will be held in 2024.

For further information on the show or classes please call Patricia on 01761 452073.

34 KEYNSHAM NEWS

MEET THE TEAM: LEWIN Community and Music Studio Manager Q. What does your job involve?

I am the Community and Music Studio Manager. Within that role, I deliver music in our open access sessions and manage the youth musical provision for Keynsham Town Council’s youth services. That fairly broad bracket includes activities ranging from running recording sessions at the studio, to arranging Battle of the Bands events to delivering creative workshops (beatboxing, for example).

Q. What are the most enjoyable aspects?

I most enjoy when you meet a young person whose world is changed by the music they find within themselves. I also enjoy aspects of detached youth work feeding into successful provision within our Youth Centre, contacting and supporting the communities surrounding the Youth Centre.

Any memorable moments?

I enjoyed the Battle of the Bands event in May. Being the first one, we only had four acts competing, but knowing we had four great prizes I could sit back and enjoy the lineup. We recently fulfilled the final prize of recording time at our recording studio, which

also went really well. Not escaping a mention is our lineup for NOVA festival, our Youth Arts Festival within Keynsham Music Festival, which we populated with youth acts for our three-day programme, including winners of the Battle of the Bands and applicants from the surrounding area.

Q. Away from work, what are your hobbies/ interests?

I work freelance as a workshop practitioner and have a 2-year-old at home, so free time is a luxury. But, when away from work, I enjoy playing guitar and piano, playing disc golf, basketball, and games of many mediums.

Q. What are your favourite aspects of Keynsham?

I like Keynsham for its diverse groups and engaging youth. Despite being only a small town, it has big character and that shows in its local provision. As it’s a small place if you’re known, then you’re known; reputations often precede themselves. I’ve worked within this sector for 18 years being a positive driver of musical engagement, that experience is now at the disposal of the Keynsham community.

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WHO'S WITH ME?

KEYNSHAM NEWS 35

YOUR TOWN COUNCILLORS

Keynsham Town Councillors are elected to help you.

If you have any problems or want action taken on a local issue which concerns you contact one of your local Councillors below.

Souzan Alenshasy Liberal Democrat North Email: souzan.alenshasy @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Dave Biddleston Labour Party South Tel: 01179 870081

Email: dave.biddleston @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Alex Beaumont Liberal Democrat North Tel: 01225 395981

David Brassington Liberal Democrat North Tel: 01179 867876

Edmund Cannon Green PartyNorth Tel: 0117 9860109

Martin Burton Labour Party South Tel: 01179 839193

Chris Davis Labour Party South

Alan Greenfield Andy Halliday Liberal Democrat South Liberal Democrat South Tel: 07757 673492 Tel: 01179 865735

Email: Alex.beaumont @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Email: martin.burton @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Email: david.brassington @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Email: chris.davis @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Email: edmund.cannon @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Email: alan.greenfield @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Clive Fricker Caroline Leonard Caitlin Brennan Hal MacFie Liberal Democrat East Liberal Democrat East Liberal Democrat East Liberal Democrat East Email: caroline.leonard Tel: 01179 869250 Tel: 07557 223637 Tel: 07786 436656 Email: caitlin.brennan @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Email: clive.fricker @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

@keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Adrian Beaumont Liberal Democrat North

Email: hal.macfie @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Email: andy.halliday @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Andy Wait Liberal Democrat East Tel: 01179 867389 Email: andy.wait @keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Keynsham Town Council, 15-17 Temple Street, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1HF, Tel: 0117 9868683 | Email: townclerk@keynsham-tc.gov.uk | www.keynsham-tc.gov.uk

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