Phoebe
Hastings and best friend Ross Tanner have just completed a 3,000km trek across the entire length of New Zealand in memory of Phoebe's dad, and Bishopston resident Chris. The duo raised almost £4k for St Peter's Hospice, which cared for Phoebe's dad
Turn to page 8
OVER half a million pounds is expected to be spent on the pedestrianisation of Overton Road — almost triple the amount originally earmarked for the project, the Bishopston Voice can report.
The scheme, which aims to “reduce car dependency and encourage walking”, is set to cost in the region of £561,000 — the budget was originally £204k.
Work began on the scheme in April this year and is due to be completed in August 2025.
The Bishopston Voice understands that the significant cost increase is due to an undervaluation of the project at the bidding stage, coupled with rising construction costs.
Additional funding had to be secured from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority
(WECA), through the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) money pot.
But the project – which pedestrianises the small 38-yard link road between North Road and Gloucester Road – has been met with criticism, with one resident, Barry Cash, claiming it is a “ridiculous waste of money”.
He added: “Bizarrely, they claim making cars take a three-quarters of a mile detour to reach North Road will ‘reduce carbon emissions and air pollution’.”
He also says that he was unaware that a consultation on the scheme had taken place.
Mr Cash said: “I regularly use businesses on Turn to page 5
A LOCAL artist says she is “chuffed” to have painted a Gromit as part of the upcoming, star-studded Gromit Unleashed 3 trail.
Jenny Urquhart, who is renowned for her vibrant paintings and collages of sights around Bristol and has painted sculptures on the previous Shaun the Sheep and Gromit trails, will have her Gromit featured outside CrossFit in Henleaze.
The dazzling trail of sculptures, based on Aardman’s much-loved Wallace and Gromit characters, will be inspired by the movies and is set to be unveiled from June 30 across various locations in Bristol.
Stretching from the city centre and throughout the wider region, the trail features Wallace, Gromit, Feathers and Norbot, Wallace’s smart robot gnome from Aardman’s latest film Vengeance Most Fowl.
Speaking about her involvement in the trail, Jenny said: “I was so chuffed to be involved in Gromit Unleashed 3, having painted a couple of Shaun the Sheeps and a Gromit in previous trails.
“This year’s theme is the movies and hopefully my Gromit, that will be displayed outside CrossFit in Henleaze, will remind people of this classic film that most people (of my age) will have watched!
“He took about a week to paint, and each leg, took about a day with the multiple layers.
“I can’t wait to see people’s reactions to him, when they walk past as he won’t really blend in
with Henleaze high street.”
A recent announcement by charity organisers The Grand Appeal and Aardman revealed that trail-goers can discover two glittering sculptures inspired by Road Dahl’s classic the BFG and Netflix’s Wednesday.
For intrepid sculpture hunters, there is a dedicated app and printed map to guide families, residents and visitors around more than 50 different locations.
While there are no sculptures located in Bishopston or Redland, many can be found nearby in Clifton and the city centre.
Nicola Masters, director, The
Grand Appeal, commented: “We are thrilled to be bringing the magic and wonder of cinema, film, stories and legends to our third Gromit Unleashed trail this summer, turning the streets of Bristol and beyond into a living storybook.
“Each Aardman sculpture is a character, each corner a scene, and together they form a spectacular adventure – all to raise funds for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.
“By following the trail, families, friends, residents of Bristol and visitors from the UK and all over the world won’t just be part of a city-wide celebration
Jenny Urquhart, pictured left, with her unpainted Gromit, and above the Big Friendly Wallace pictured in front of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Image: Ambitious PR
of creativity – everyone will be helping to create a brighter, and better future for young patients in the children’s hospital. This year, Gromit unleashes the magic of cinema grounded in a very real cause.”
The 2025 trail builds on the runaway success of Gromit Unleashed, Shaun in the City, and Gromit Unleashed 2 – which collectively have generated over £20 million for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity and Cots for Tots, the dedicated charity for the neonatal intensive care ward at St Michael’s Hospital.
The full list of locations can be found at www. gromitunleashed.org.uk
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Continued from page 1 Gloucester Road and walk past this road at least twice a week.
“But I had no idea that a consultation exercise had taken place. Did anyone else know? Democracy does not mean having your way. But shouldn’t it mean having your say?”
He added: “Riding on a bus down Gloucester Road is like being on a bouncy castle.
“There’s no money to fill in the potholes. And don’t bother reporting blocked drains unless
a building’s being flooded. No money again.
“The closure will ‘contribute to better safety and health, (and) improve quality of life’ says the council.
“I suggest a doctor or dentist’s appointment is more likely to do that. I really cannot believe that this is what residents want their taxes spent on.”
The Bishopston Voice understands that 75 per cent of more than 300 respondents to the consultation approved of
the initial proposals in a survey released in 2022.
The scheme was also praised by local councillors, with Ashley ward’s Green councillor Tim Wye, saying that he was “really pleased” about the scheme and that it was “something Green councillor in Ashley have been requesting for some time”.
Green councillor for Ashley, Izzy Russell said: "After so long in planning, we are pleased to see that the works on Overton Road are now well underway and soon we will have a new liveable street.
"The purpose of liveable
streets is to make local areas safer, healthier, more inclusive and attractive.
"The current designs proposed do just this, by upgrading the public realm, providing benches and a public space where people can meet along the popular, but crowded, Gloucester road.
"The comments we have received are overwhelming positive. A few people have complained, mainly about the money could have been better used. It is important to note that this money could only be used for these purposes."
According to a spokesperson from the council, “[The £561,000] figure includes the costs of materials, machinery, labour, administration, power and other miscellaneous elements of a civil engineering scheme.”
The Overton Road project is being completed alongside the Princess Victoria Street scheme in Clifton, which is currently facing delays and has required further investment from WECA.
Properties from £250,000
By Rosie Watson
AFTER 45 years pounding the streets of Bishopston, a muchloved postman has finally hung up his bag and dropped his last letters through the letterboxes of Berkeley Road and its surrounding area.
Malcolm Beedle, 65, grew up in Horfield and moved to Downend 33 years ago, but loved the BS7 area so much that he continued to cover the same route (or ‘walk’) as he had always done.
A street party was held on the evening of his final day (June 21) in Berkeley Road to mark the occasion and celebrate Malcolm’s long service. Diane Lockhart, one of those who organised the party, said: “He is the friendliest and most positive person you could hope to meet and we are all going to miss him very much.”
Asked what he will miss most about the job, Malcolm was quite clear: “Talking to people. I know everyone by their first names and it’s the type of area where people move in and stay.”
A common question is whether he will miss the early — 4.30am — starts, but Malcolm just says he has got so used to them, he will probably still wake up then, although admits that his wife probably won’t miss the alarm.
He described how the schedule has changed over the years – he originally finished by 8.30am with a clear day ahead, his shifts now finish around 2.30pm with far fewer hours left in his day.
Malcolm Beedle, the 'friendliest and most positive' postman has retired
Now with all the hours he could need, Malcolm has no qualms about how he will spend his new-found free time. A keen DJ, he even DJed at his own street party and hopes to do more of the same. DJing has been a passion ever since he got into the R&B and Northern Soul scene many years ago. But describing himself as a very “motivated” person, Malcolm says he will also have more time to spend with his elderly mum and the grandchildren, as well as
the many friends he intends to keep up with.
He said: “I can do the school run now, while they are still young enough to appreciate it.”
There is little doubt that Malcolm will be missed by the many residents who have got to know him over the years, but they can also be sure that any time there is a street party, Malcolm will be straight back there to provide the music and chat.
By Alex Seabrook, LDRS reporter
A SPATE of binmen going off sick over Christmas led to a drastic drop in rubbish collections, with the worst rate being in Redland.
The neighbourhood — which is susceptible to missed collections and dropped roads due to bins being collected at the end of the week — recorded the highest rate of missed collections per population since January last year. Over the Christmas period, hundreds of roads were dropped across the city — when binmen actively decide to skip a whole road, due to vehicle breakdowns, staff shortages, or parked cars blocking trucks. But service levels have since improved, according to one recycling boss.
An update on bin collection was given to councillors on the environment policy committee on Thursday, May 29.
Martin Fodor, Green councillor for Redland and chair of the environment policy committee, said: "The actions to improve performance are really impressive, but we know we need more. The issues for long-term improvement are really important and we’re going to have to focus on those now, to make sure the service is as reliable as it should be."
A FORMIDABLE 3,000km trek across New Zealand has been completed by a daughter in memory of dad Chris, from Bishopston.
Phoebe Hastings and best friend Ross Tanner began their epic trek on November 16 2024, tackling the Te Araroa trail, which stretches the entire length of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south.
The challenge was undertaken to raise money for St Peter’s Hospice, the charity which cared for Chris, who passed away, aged 63, in July 2023.
They duo originally planned to finish the 1,800-mile challenge by April 6, but Phoebe, 26, and Ross, 25, arrived at the finish line ahead of schedule, celebrating their final steps in early April.
Phoebe said: “St Peter’s Hospice provided such incredible support to my family during one of the most difficult times in our lives.
“Dad was ill for about a year before he died and was supported by the hospice team at home, before being cared for at the in-patient unit in his last few weeks.
“His care at the hospice was incredible. Even though my dad was really sick at that point, the doctors and nurses, especially, really got to know his personality and understood him as a person.
"This just goes to show the kindness and care that the staff show towards all their patients.”
The friends initially set out to raise £1,000 for Bristol’s only adult hospice, but have already raised over £3,000 through their JustGiving page. At the time the Bishopston Voice went to print, the Phoebe and Ross were hoping to hit a new target of £4,000.
Now the pair are encouraging others to take on a bucket list challenge in aid of the hospice.
Ross said: “Phoebe and I met at university in Glasgow and have shared a love of the outdoors ever since. This was one of the hardest but most rewarding things we’ve ever done and knowing it’s for such an important cause kept us going every step of the way.
“Anyone who has a bucket list idea of something they’d
like to achieve should go for it ... now whether that be a skydive, a bespoke challenge you organise yourself or signing up to one of the hospice’s challenges like the upcoming Cambodia Trek.
“You will make memories to last a lifetime, you’ll test yourself and achieve something really special. Being able to do it for a cause like St Peter’s Hospice is
an added bonus.”
St Peter’s Hospice supports patients in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, providing inpatient care as well as community care to those with life-limiting illnesses.
It costs £30,000 to run the hospice every day and the charity relies on money raised through
fundraising, its shops and gifts in wills to continue its work.
Anyone feeling inspired by Phoebe and Ross’s adventure can find out more about how to get involved by visiting the Hospice website.
Options include the Trek to Angkor Wat, taking on a marathon or creating your own challenge.
By Rosie Watson
AN ASHLEY Down writer has made the leap from penning short stories and plays to publish her debut novel, Peachy Wonderful.
Bristol-based home improvement company, The Window Hub, is aiming to plant 3,000 trees over the next three years as part of its commitment to being a climate conscious business.
The trees will be planted at Boyd Valley Lake, which is located in Bitton. This is in addition to continuing its policy of recycling all old frames so they don’t end up in landfill.
Sophie Holland's book was shortlisted for the Caledonia Novel Award 2024, an international writing competition for unpublished and self-published novelists.
national charity, FoodCycle.
She is also a passionate advocate for opportunities that enable young people to express themselves creatively.
who harbour very different versions of the past.
The novel cycles between the past and the present, revealing the family secrets hidden across the generations. It draws on themes of memory versus invention, emotional truth versus recorded history, and what we take versus what we leave behind as we grow.
thinking about being cast in a role within a family unit, and being unable to break out of that role, particularly when families get together through time. It's something that has resonated with readers.”
Peachy Wonderful is on sale at independent Bristol bookshops, including Gloucester Road Books and Max Minerva’s.
The window installation company was launched during lockdown in 2020 by seasoned industry professional Danny, who wanted to create a business that was “built on quality rather than greed”.
Since 2014, she has codirected Bristol’s Portal Youth Theatre on Gloucester Road, known for its hilarious alternative nativity plays.
An epic family saga set in a fictional south-west town, Peachy Wonderful also features a scene set at Bristol Old Vic.
From humble beginnings, The Window Hub now operates from a head office and showroom in Staple Hill in Bristol with offices, showrooms and installation depots across the South West.
Sophie, who has worked for 15 years as a speech and language therapist at St Michael’s Hospital, has a deep commitment to environmental action, volunteering with
In fact, a new showroom is scheduled to open this month.
As a writer, Sophie takes her inspiration from the complexities and nuances of language, communication, family, community, nature and drama.
Sophie said of her debut novel: “It's a joy to have my first book published!
“Such a thrill to have a wider readership, and to get feedback about this story; this family I have 'lived with' for many years. The book feels like the culmination of over 15 years of working on my writing, and it also feels like a beginning... there will be more!
you know what? It is so easy to be amazing if you don’t cut corners.” And the Window Hub has the customer reviews to prove it –90% of reviews for The Window Hub on Trustpilot are for five stars, with customers celebrating the company’s professionalism, friendliness, tidiness, and attention
recognised and commended, with The Window Hub being named the ‘Best in the South West’ at the G24
Danny launched The Window Hub because he wanted to be much more than just a double glazing company.
“We know that choosing new windows and inviting someone
Peachy Wonderful follows three generations of the Starling family, re-united for a ruby wedding celebration, who are blown apart by the old tensions between a father and daughter
into your home can be stressful, so we have introduced as many initiatives as possible to be fair and reasonable in our approach to give our customers the best experience possible,” he said.
“Sales begin and end with treating customers properly. And
“For me, all the juicy stuff in literature is in family, relationships, loss. I was inspired to write PW (which began as a short story) after a family reunion holiday that got me
in the final of the industries Prestigious G24 Awards!
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ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a condition where the brain works differently to most people. This neurodevelopmental disorder is characterised by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning. It affects how people focus, behave, and regulate their emotions. While ADHD is often associated with childhood and diagnosed then, many adults live with the condition—often undiagnosed—and face complex emotional and psychological hurdles as a result.
A UK study put the adult incidence rate at 3-4% (1.9 million). There is no one cause of ADHD, but it is considered a result of an often complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors, with genetic factors being responsible for 70%-80% of the probability.
behavioural expectations placed upon them. ADHD in adults goes far beyond difficulty focusing or being easily distracted. It often coexists with conditions like anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and even substance use issues. Studies suggest that nearly 50% of adults with ADHD also experience an anxiety disorder, and around 30% deal with depression at some point in their lives.
Living with undiagnosed or unmanaged ADHD can take a toll on self-esteem and mental well-being. Adults with ADHD may struggle with time management, job performance, relationships, and self-regulation. Over time, these daily stressors can contribute to chronic feelings of frustration, failure, or low mood— creating a fertile ground for mental health problems.
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The impact of ADHD across age groups will differ, reflecting both the individual's changing maturity and the changing circumstances and expectations surrounding them. As an individual matures, they may be better able to cope, yet continue to struggle due to the increased
Bedminster Pharmacy has taken a national lead on population health, and the hope is that, like many other services they have pioneered, NHS adoption will follow to ensure and protect universal access. To find out more about ADHD, please visit the Charity ADHD UK: https:// adhduk.co.uk/. n PHARMACY COLUMN
It is a two-way street: mental health struggles can also worsen ADHD symptoms. For example, depression can make it harder to concentrate or maintain routines, while anxiety can amplify restlessness and emotional dysregulation. This cycle can be exhausting and disheartening—but it is unbreakable. Diagnosis is the first step to
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By John Wimperis, LDRS reporter
AN INVISIBLE “artificial line” runs across Bristol and NHS bosses fear that which side of it people live on could impact their care.
This is the line between the two NHS Trusts which cover the city: the North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) which runs Southmead, and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW), which runs the Bristol Royal Infirmary, city centre hospitals, and Weston General.
Tim Whittlestone, chief medical officer of NBT, said: “I used to live in Henleaze and I was really worried that if I got chest pain one day, I was really worried which way the ambulance would turn at the end of my street. Because I knew if it turned one way as opposed to the other way, I might have a different outcome. And that is not on.”
Now NHS bosses want to end the disparity between the city’s hospitals. Mr Whittlestone was
addressing councillors from the health overview and scrutiny committees of Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, and South Gloucestershire Council at a meeting in common held in Bristol City Hall on May 22.
Mr Whittlestone, a consultant urologist, has worked in the NHS in Bristol for 30 years. He said: “Nothing has frustrated me more than the artificial line we have drawn through our
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But Mr Whittlestone said that there were 70 different services which were still duplicated between UHBW and NBT. He said: “Those services compete for people, they compete for staff, they compete for patients, and they compete for funding and resources. And it’s not in the best interest of our population to have that competition exist.”
Now more services could be run together as a “single managed service entity.”
geography which says that if I live on this side of the street I am going to end up being cared for at Southmead and if I lived on the other side of the street I’d be cared for in Weston-super-Mare or the Bristol Royal Infirmary.”
He said that the urology teams of each trust had competed with each other when he joined, which he warned was “sometimes at the detriment of patient care.” NBT has since taken over urology services for
Since December 2023, the two trusts had already been run as a sort of personal union, sharing the same chair and chief executive. In April the two trusts officially became a hospital group, Bristol NHS Group.
Mr Whittlestone said: “It shouldn’t matter which way the ambulance turned. And I hope that by managing services singularly, means that we have the same excellent standard of care regardless of where you live.”
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Any form of family dispute is an incredibly challenging time for all individuals - including those that are closely connected to them. Whether it is dissolution of a marriage or civil partnership, reaching a financial remedy or making arrangements for children of separated parents. Instructing the right person to be in your corner is not only about legal knowledge and expertise, but also about someone who has the life experience to empathise with your situation.
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those involved and therefore provides friendliness and unwavering empathy to her clients – all whilst delivering a practical approach to resolving disputes. She takes time to understand her clients, familiarise herself with their needs and advise on their best course of action. Jennifer believes that reaching a solution with the client is always better than telling the client what to do.
Working collaboratively and maintaining communication is important for anyone navigating family trauma, and having the right Solicitor who encourages this will produce the outcomes that works best for all involved.
Jennifer is based at our office at 100 Henleaze Road. For advice on divorce, child arrangements and family law please contact Jennifer or any other member of our team on 0117 962 1205 or email info@amdsolicitors.com
WORK is nearing completion following construction delays on the elective surgical centre at Southmead Hospital.
At the time of Bishopston Voice going to print, staff were preparing to move into the building.
The work was due to be completed in spring this year.
Patients will start to be seen at the centre later this summer, initially at outpatient appointments, followed by the first operations a month later.
The newly-formed Bristol NHS Group says that “work is continuing at pace so that the move into the building can begin within weeks and patients can start to benefit from the facility”.
The additional theatre capacity the centre provides will benefit both North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) as part of efforts to further reduce waiting times for patients.
The hospital group was launched in April to “formalise
closer working for the benefit of local patients, our people, the populations we serve and the public purse,” it says.
The elective surgery centre will create additional capacity so that thousands more planned operations can be carried out across Bristol, North Somerset
and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) a year.
The centre has four operating theatres, 12 medirooms and 40 inpatient beds and X-ray facilities.
Bristol NHS Group CEO, Maria Kane, said: “This centre is a fantastic facility that is going
to benefit people across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire and help us carry out more operations sooner.
“As we have seen the centre take shape we have also built our plans to become a Hospital Group and this project demonstrates just what we can achieve by working together to benefit our patients.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the first patients through the doors later this summer.”
David Jarrett, chief delivery officer at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, said: “It is exciting to be a step closer to opening the elective centre – a facility that is going to play a huge part in our aim to reduce waiting lists and treat people sooner.
“This development reflects our shared and continued commitment to delivering highquality, sustainable healthcare services that support better outcomes for local people.”
THE summer holidays can prove an expensive time for families. But thanks to a one-of-a-kind scheme by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), kids from Bishopston and Redland can travel for free on buses across the region.
Around 150,000 children and young people aged five to 15 — across Bristol and surrounding areas — can benefit from free bus travel this summer, just by simply hopping on board. No bus pass or registration is required.
The scheme — which is the first of its kind in England — was announced by newly elected WECA Labour mayor, Helen Godwin at Hengrove Play Park in south Bristol on Monday, June 9.
Bath Bus Company, First Bus, Stagecoach, and the Big Lemon were also part of the landmark announcement, which featured one of the hundreds of new zeroemission electric buses that will
transform passengers’ journeys over coming months and years.
Care leavers aged 25 and under are already benefitting from free year-round bus travel.
It also follows news that the
West of England is set to receive a record £752 million of transport funding for better buses, more trains, and mass transit.
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England,
said: “It’s right that we help people save money and encourage greener travel, and this scheme would do just that. With free travel for 150,000 kids, local families will more easily have busloads of fun during the school holidays.”
The package is set to be funded using some of the £13.5 million of funding secured from the Department for Transport by WECA.
The free travel offer runs from the start of the summer holidays, July 19 until September 5 to cover varying inset days.
For more information, visit: www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk
A DEAF school, currently based at Fairfield High School, will soon relocate to a larger site as its pupil numbers are increasing.
The classrooms at the secondary part of Elmfield School for Deaf Children in Eastville are becoming too small, so Bristol City Council is relocating the school — which attracts pupils from across Bristol and surrounding areas — to the Badock’s Wood Academy school site in Doncaster Road, Southmead.
The plans were approved by councillors on the children and young people policy committee on Thursday, May 8.
The school, which is bilingual and bi-cultural, educates children aged three to 16 years old and is split across two sites, with a new-build primary site and an aged secondary site which
has faced challenges.
At the moment, secondary students are taught in a building on a site shared with Fairfield High School. But at Badock’s Wood Academy, teaching will be consolidated into one building, freeing up another building for the deaf secondary school.
Kate Persaud, headteacher of Elmfield School for Deaf Children said: "We are overjoyed with the opportunity of opening a stand-alone secondary school for our students in 2026.
"To offer this provision has been a long-held wish of the school and its community. The new school will be comparable in standard to our incredible primary school on Sheridan Road which was opened in September 2023."
Christine Townsend, chair of the Children and Young People
CGI of Elmfield School for Deaf Children
committee said: "I am delighted we’ve been able to take the project from exploring the idea to making a final decision so quickly over the last six months.
"The committee’s decision to support this capital investment was unanimously agreed and it marks a significant milestone for the school community. I am confident that this investment will greatly benefit the students and staff at Elmfield School for Deaf Children."
The relocation is expected to cost £7,214,000, funded by a grant from the Department for Education.
Early construction works at
the new site are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025, with the new school set to open in 2026. The school currently has 29 students on roll, and this is expected to increase to 48 in the 25/26 academic year.
The demand for mainstream school places is falling across Bristol in primary schools, as fewer children are being born in the city and families are driven away by high housing costs. However the demand for specialist places is rising, with a range of specialist educational needs among some children.
Includes reporting from Alex Seabrook, LDRS reporter
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By Rosie Watson
DAN Simson — the new head of Bristol Grammar School's infant and junior school — joins BGS from Sefton Park infant and junior schools, which he joined in 2011, becoming deputy head in 2016 and headteacher in 2020. He is taking over the BGS reins from Heidi Hughes. Last
ST JOHN'S School, in Clifton and Redland, has raised an outstanding £1,137 following another successful culture cafe event.
Families at the school came together to prepare and share amazing food and drink from their own culture and country in celebration of the school's diversity.
There were around 34 different stalls, each one serving something unique and special.
The event was so successful, it will now become an annual event, the school says.
The money raised will go to a special charity chosen by the school's anti-bullying ambassadors.
year, after a 20-year career in educational leadership, Heidi decided to step down from her role at BGS to take the exciting step of looking at new ventures. In her six years at the helm, she led the school through Covid and onwards with passion, care and commitment and has built and developed a committed and talented team.
As Dan now looks ahead to his new role in September we find out what’s important to him and what his first few weeks might look like.
What have you been doing ahead of the new role?
I’ve actually been lucky enough to take some time off over the last few months and spend valuable time with my family whilst bolstering my energy for the exciting role ahead.
I really enjoy the outdoors and especially fishing, cricket and hiking and so have particularly enjoyed having time to walk in the Brecon Beacons with my
father. It was a rare chance to talk and reconnect with each other over a matter of days rather than the few snatched moments we all get used to in our busy lives. I know the value of family and community are ones that BGS shares with me. They are key to creating a supportive environment for children to thrive and as a school for the community, this is something look forward to developing further at BGS.
What are you most looking forward to?
I’ve enjoyed meeting many of the parents, children and staff at BGS over May and June and am really looking forward to getting to know what it feels like to be a child at BGS, to understand how they experience the school and how their day feels for them. Play is such an important developmental tool - it’s key to a child’s ability to learn and I’m excited about seeing how we integrate this into our
teaching and open up further opportunities for this in our classrooms and activities. Having met many of the staff, I also know I’m joining a fantastic team who are passionate about developing each child and I’m looking forward to working with them and partnering with our parents.
What appeals about BGS?
I was already familiar with BGS as one of my own children goes there, so I knew enough to understand that we share a common belief that a child who feels known, nurtured and celebrated is a happy and fulfilled child.
Getting to really know children and their families is key to this, to ensure they are able to grow and fulfil their potential to the fullest. I know that we are starting on common ground and I can’t wait to get started! I look forward to meeting current and prospective children and parents in September.
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AS I write this column, we’ve just launched the Treasury’s spending review, which has set out the budgets for day-to-day spending of government departments (this is what I've been working on behind closed doors since taking office last year).
A week ahead of the review, the Chancellor also made a very welcome announcement that people across the North, the Midlands and the South West will benefit from the biggest ever investment in buses, trams and local train infrastructure in city regions.
I was thrilled to share this good news to Parliament in a speech to the House – and especially pleased to share that the West of England has been allocated £752 million.
We all know the problems we face in Bristol with congested roads, potholes, and unreliable buses, so it was a special moment to be stood at the despatch box,
knowing what a real difference this funding will make to my constituents.
The person who will be responsible for spending this money is our newly elected Mayor of the West of England (WECA), Helen Godwin (and thank you to everyone who voted in the recent mayoral election, irrespective of who you voted for).
In other transport news, work has just got underway on the second phase of works to improve the Portway Park and Ride. Yes, it’s on the other side of the constituency, in Shirehampton, but these improvements will help to reduce the number of cars that head to the new YTL Arena via Westbury-on-Trym or Gloucester Road.
I've been calling for this work to create a well-connected transport hub since January 2019, when I published my North Bristol Transport Plan – a plan that many of you contributed to via my town
hall meetings and survey.
The first ‘win’ will come by the end of this year, when work to improve the junction of the Portway Park and Ride will mean buses will be able to turn left as they exit, towards the M5 and Avonmouth. With the current layout, buses could only turn right towards the city centre. And it’s this simple change that will allow shuttle buses to connect the Arena to the park and ride.
Finally, I’d like to invite you all to a special event that I’m holding on Saturday, 19th July from 2:30pm — the Summer Open Mic!
Unlike my other events, the Summer Open Mic won’t have a set theme, so you can ask me anything. And since this is the annual big get-together ahead of summer recess, there’ll also be an informal social gathering at the end of the event.
The event will be held in Ashley Down but is open to all constituents. To book, please
I KNOW many people across Bristol will be relieved that the government is reinstating the winter fuel payment to many pensioners. Two million pensioners live below the poverty line and I have campaigned against the cuts to ensure that pensioners can keep warm during winter. Now, the government must also commit to scrapping proposed cuts to PIP and Universal Credit.
Last week, I held a virtual ‘town hall’ meeting with disabled people in Bristol to hear how the government’s proposed cuts to disability benefits will affect them. Whilst the Labour government doubles down on its cruel cuts, I will continue to fight for proper support for disabled people and push the government to instead tax the wealthiest to fund public services and welfare.
This month, I also joined union leaders and campaigners in handing in a letter calling on the government to support the Climate and Nature Bill. I’ll keep working to hold the government to account and ensure they are
protecting nature, addressing the climate crisis, creating jobs and securing clean air and water for us all.
In Parliament, I proposed an Energy Jobs Bill to future-proof British industries and secure a better future for our children and our planet. Decades of missed opportunities have seen people forced out of work, communities damaged and young people forced to choose between poor-quality jobs here or moving abroad to find work as the fossil fuel industry declines. It’s time for a new plan: the move away from climate-wrecking fossil fuels towards the industries of the future must guarantee the livelihoods of those currently working in the oil and gas sector and ensure that they are given support to retrain.
This month, I also urged the Home Secretary and the Policing Minister to allow an Overdose Prevention Centre (OPC) to be opened in Bristol. Backed by Bristol Council, Avon & Somerset Police and drug safety campaigners, this centre would
head to darren-jones.co.uk/events or you can call my office on 0117 959 6545 if you don’t have internet access.
• As always, if you need my help or have a question, you can email darren.jones.mp@parliament.uk, call my office on 0117 959 6545 or write to me at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
bring down the number of drug overdose deaths and ensure users are connected with treatment services.
There are 200 OPCs around the world, and in decades of service provision and millions of visits, no one has ever died from overdose when using one. The opening of an OPC would be a vital step towards saving lives and preventing an opioid crisis like the one we’re seeing in the US — and I will keep applying pressure on the government to make it happen.
Recently, I joined the Red Line for Palestine outside Parliament to call on the government to enact a full arms embargo on Israel. I will continue to hold the government to account on their complicity in the horrors we are seeing in Gaza. I also asked the Foreign Secretary to publish the government’s assessments of the risk that the Israeli government is carrying out a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Unfortunately, he refused to acknowledge this.
Finally, I hope all Bristol Muslims had a wonderful time celebrating Eid, and Happy Pride
month — see you at Bristol Pride on July 12!
• If you live in Bristol Central and have a local issue you need support with, you can email me at bristolcentraloffice@parliament.uk or write to Carla Denyer MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA For enquiries about national issues email me using carla.denyer.mp@ parliament.uk
AS A TEENAGER, in the nineteen sixties, I ignored poetry believing it had little relevance to my everyday life.
That all changed with the publication in 1967 of The Mersey Sound, a collection of poems by Adrian Henri, Brian Patten & Roger McGough. Suddenly I had poems which I could relate to with irreverent, witty and freewheeling verse. Tonight at Noon is an ode to young love whilst wishing for a better world where America will declare peace on Russia and poets will get their poems in the Top 20. Without You finds the poet mourning the absence of his lover where every morning is like going back to work after a holiday, where Clark Kent forgets how to become Superman and where they forget to put the salt in every packet of crisps. The futility and brutality
"THIS place is where I started reading,” Tessa Hadley told a capacity audience at Redland Library on June 10.
“It was an extraordinary gateway to the addiction that shaped my life.”
As a pupil at St John’s Primary School, Tessa visited the library every week. “It was almost churchlike in those days,” she said, “and I loved the sense of mystery and enchantment.”
Devouring classics such as the Swallows and Amazons and Anne of Green Gables, Tessa developed a passion for books in a series. So, when she promoted herself to the adult section of the library she was drawn to novels by a single author, including the Anglo-Irish writer, Elizabeth Bowen.
Although at only 10 years old, Tessa didn’t understand the sophistication of Bowen’s work, she loved the sense of place and possibility it created. She said: “Reading books before you can understand them holds out the promise that life is more interesting and complicated than it appears to a child.”
by Adrian Henri, Brian Patten & Roger McGough
of war is cleverly evoked in Why Patriots are a Bit Nuts in the Head and in Mother the Wardrobe is Full of Infantrymen. The vibrancy of youth and the desire for an adventurous life is expressed in Let Me Die a Youngman’s Death with the poet wishing at the age of 73 to be mown down at dawn by a bright red sports car on his way home from an all night party. The racism experienced by black persons in England during the sixties is referenced in I’m Dreaming of a White Smethwick whilst Lakeland Poem finds a young man comparing the body of his lover to the beautiful landscape of the Lake District. These are just a few of my favourite poems from the bestselling poetry anthology of all time. For this book and many more please come and visit your local library in Gloucester
Road. You will be greeted with a friendly smile and a warm welcome.
Review by Bob Deacon of Bishopston Library
Monday 1pm-7pm Tuesday closed Wednesday 11am5pm
Thursday 11am-5pm Friday 11am-5pm
Saturday 11am-5pm
Sunday closed
While still at school Tessa was bitten by the writing bug, but it was not until she was married with small children that she began to write seriously. Her path to success, however, wasn’t easy. After several manuscripts had been rejected, Tessa enrolled on an MA course in creative writing followed by a PhD in English literature, both of which honed her skills and helped her find her authorial voice.
In 2002, her first novel, Accidents in the Home was published by Jonathan Cape and she went on to write seven more novels, four collections of short stories and a novella, The Party, which is set in 1950s Bristol.
Asked by an audience member how she maintains her inspiration, Tessa replied: “You just have to sit there and keep trying. It might only be 100 words, but what you write on a bad day can be as good as a better day — you just have to put in the effort.”
In the end, perseverance is worthwhile. As Tessa said: “There’s a sheer physical joy in your own books. It’s blissful that other people pick them up and cross the threshold into the world that you have created.”
This event was organised by the Friends of Redland Library. Details of future events can be found on our website FriendsOfRedlandLibrary.org.uk
Event: Beasts and Birds in Words, a talk by Liz Brownlee
Date: Thursday, 10th July 7pm
(Doors open 6:45pm)Venue: Redland Library, Bristol
Admission: £4 (pay at the door –cash only)
Liz Brownlee is an award-winning poet. Her poems appear in hundreds of anthologies, have been posted in zoos, painted on puzzles, popped in gift boxes by Lush, and printed in her seven books. She is a National Poetry Day Ambassador and heads communication at the Children’s Poetry Summit.
Event: Desert Island Books — Books and the World of Crime
Date: Thursday, 24th July 7pm (Doors open 6:45pm) Venue: Redland Library, Bristol Admission: £3 (pay at the door – cash only)
This a panel event with panellists nominating their choice of book on crime and policing; together with a ‘wild card’ recommendation. The panel will include Clare Moody, the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner.
• These events are organised by the Friends of Redland Library. We are a voluntary group set up to support Redland Library, helping to sustain and improve its service, and also connecting it with the local and wider community. Redland Library is situated on Whiteladies Road, close to Clifton Down train station.
Details of future events can be found on our website https:// FriendsOfRedlandLibrary.org.uk
By Alex Seabrook, LDRS reporter
A LANDLORD who pleaded guilty for misleading tenants has still been allowed to have an HMO licence from Bristol City Council
Last April Josefina Velazquez, of Hampton Road in Redland, pleaded guilty to three charges and was ordered to pay £11,000 in fines, after the council investigated complaints. The landlord misled student tenants, making them pay extra money for their deposits.
Despite the plea, she reportedly still has a house in multiple occupation licence from the council. Licence holders are subject to a “fit and proper person” test, that is meant to prevent rogue landlords — but that doesn’t appear to include illegally misleading tenants about their deposits.
A pattern of behaviour was uncovered by the council’s investigation, involving two groups of tenants between 2022
and 2024. Councillors on the housing policy committee were urged to revisit the policy and make sure the rules are working as intended.
Green councillor Christine Townsend said: “This landlord pleaded guilty. The things that this landlord did relate to conditions on the HMO licence. If a guilty plea for an HMO landlord licence holder is not enough to trigger a fit and proper person review test, what would be?”
According to the council, the landlord had begun to refund the money owed to her tenants before legal proceedings began.
But one housing boss at the council would not comment on whether the guilty plea would lead to a review of whether the landlord should still hold a licence.
Sonia Furzland, interim executive director for housing, said: “Unfortunately I’m not in a position to answer that. This will
be one that I need to take away. On the face of it, the question is quite reasonable. Without knowing the full details of what they pleaded guilty to, it’s difficult for me to offer a review.”
To get a licence, landlords have to fill out a form declaring they are a fit and proper person. This includes confirming that they “do not have any unspent convictions in respect of any offence involving fraud or other dishonesty … and have not had any judgements made against me under housing, public health, environmental health or landlord and tenant law”.
Over a quarter of homes in the city are privately rented, and there have long been widespread concerns about unfair rent and dodgy landlords.
A huge expansion of Bristol’s landlord licensing regime was approved by the cabinet in February last year, and came into effect in August. But this case
raises pertinent questions about how the expansion has been managed so far.
Cllr Townsend added: “If it’s found that the practices of HMO licence holders are deemed by the chair and committee to be so egregious that the policy doesn’t fit around that, can you call the policy back and tighten it, if you consider the current policy doesn’t serve the public?
“We’re all here to serve the public, and not private landlords.”
The policy is kept under “reasonably frequent review”, according to Green Cllr Barry Parsons, chair of the housing committee. He added: “If there are lessons to be learned from the case, we should make sure that the policy is reviewed in that light.”
• Last month, incorrect information relating to this story was printed. A corrected version can be found at tinyurl.com/redland-landlordfined-11000
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By Rosie Watson STAFF, parents and children
of Filton Avenue Nursery School are delighted to have "maintained the highest standards" from Ofsted following their first full inspection since Covid.
The 153-pupil nursery in Horfield caters for children aged from 2 to 5 and has successfully taken "effective action" to ensure that it maintains its standards from the last inspection in 2016, when it was rated outstanding.
The inspectors noted that “children love coming to this friendly and inclusive school. They achieve well because staff take care to learn about every child. This is particularly the case if a child has special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school wants the very best for all children.”
Parents agree that this is the case, with one typical comment stating: “They know the children in their care inside-out.”
The commitment to its vision of "welcoming and valuing all" was praised, identifying that "children develop into independent learners who sustain interest in their activities", while celebrating cultural differences and learning tolerance and consideration.
The "passion and motivation" of a "highly effective leadership" was deemed to provide a stimulating education, with communication, reading/ language and personal development highlighted as particular strengths.
Headteacher Kate Tector said: "I've been the headteacher of this wonderful setting since last September (2024) and as my
first headship, I'm over the moon with our Ofsted outcome. The team are incredible, passionate and dedicated and I'm so proud of them all.
"We were awarded the School of Sanctuary award this week as well which is also a proud achievement. It celebrates our inclusive value that says: 'everyone is welcome' and recognises the warm, welcoming
environment we strive to create each day." The nursery is the first in Bristol to achieve this award, which it did at a special ceremony at the end of June.
The nursery still has places for 3-4 year olds (15 and 30 hours) for September, as well as limited funded places of 15 hours for 2-year-olds. Register interest at: filtonavenue.org/registeryour-interest/
ONCE again, Bristol City Council libraries are holding their annual summer reading challenge to encourage children across the city to read a range of books throughout the holidays, along with a whole host of other creative activities to enjoy.
Claire, children’s librarian, said: “We’re excited to share with you that the theme for the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge is ‘Story Garden’. The theme for this year, illustrated by Dapo Adeola, celebrates fantasy and storytelling through nature. We’ll be inspiring children to tap into a world of imagination through reading.”
The annual Challenge is delivered in partnership with public libraries, and it’s free to take part. Children can join at any Bristol library from Saturday July 5 to Saturday September 6. To take part in the library, simply pick up a free folder, collect stickers and then read at least six library books. At the end, the reward is a brilliant Summer Reading Challenge medal and certificate. Visit summerreadingchallenge.org.uk to find out more
FAIRFIELD High School staff were touched and thrilled to be presented with some generous and thoughtful gifts, treats and card, following a Go Fund Me campaign to celebrate national Thank a Teacher Day, organised by a group of parent governors.
The initiative, which was created to thank the staff for all they do for the students and wider community, resulted in the donation of an air fryer and coffee machine for the staff room.
As a bonus, the governors also organised edible treats to give a welcome mid-week boost.
Hanifa Tazaoui, year 7 achievement coordinator at Fairfield High School commented: "It’s heartwarming to receive these gifts. I feel incredibly privileged to work alongside young people whose energy, curiosity and inspiration constantly keep me on my toes and connected with the world around me."
CABOT Primary School is celebrating a highly positive Ofsted report, with the education watchdog reporting that “children follow the school rules of ‘ready, respectful and safe’. As a result, the school is calm and purposeful” and that “the kind and nurturing relationships pupils form with staff help them to feel safe”.
Cabot was praised for its “successful and ambitious curriculum” whose impact, particularly on reading, writing and number fluency, is evident throughout the school. The 200 pupils, with whom many speak English as an additional language, speak with confidence and accuracy – an accolade to the school’s committed and compassionate culture. Furthermore, this is demonstrated by Ofsted’s observation that “The school prioritises the effective teaching of reading. Pupils at risk of falling behind are swiftly identified and given the
additional support they need.”
The significant benefits that being a part of Excalibur Academies Trust brings, was recognised when referencing the school’s overhaul of the wider curriculum, which “supports
pupils to build on what they have learned before”. The report also states that “the school and trust are relentless in their drive to be aspirational for pupils. Their actions have maintained the standards identified at the time
of the previous inspection. Staff feel valued and enjoy working at the school”.
Felicity Llewelyn-Hodgson, Principal of Cabot Primary School comments: “I am delighted that this Ofsted report has accurately captured the Cabot community. We are so proud of our children and what they achieve with the nurture and education from staff and their families. I want to thank all the Cabot staff for their dedication, commitment and high expectations for all children, as well as colleagues beyond our immediate setting and across Excalibur schools who have supported us.”
Claire Mirams, Director of Primary Improvement at Excalibur Academies Trust added: “This is a marvellous outcome for Cabot.”
Mural at Ashley Down Station
We were delighted to hear the news that a mural has been commissioned for the new Ashley Down train station. A few residents got in touch with us to say how nice it would be to have some more artwork at the station, and so it’s great news that this is being taken forward. Emma joined the working group recently, along with Lockleaze councillors, Servernside Rail and council officers, as well as local stakeholders such as Bristol Rovers, to discuss potential ideas for the mural subject.
These have included sustainability, the area's history, cycling, sports activities, the area’s diverse community, especially children, and the environment. The team are now in the process of finding an artist.
If you know of any artists who might be interested in this commission, please ask them to email the councillors or directly to faye@ severnside-rail.org.uk
Wildlife pond at Horfield Common
We have recently had the great news that plans are in development for a wildlife pond project at Horfield Common.
Wildlife ponds are an excellent way to increase biodiversity and manage flooding and so we are so happy to hear that this is being taken forward by officers, with input from the Friends of Horfield Common.
We will follow updates on the project with interest and look forward to helping with the construction where we can.
Bin task and finish group
Earlier this year we promoted the council consultation on waste and recycling. We know that many residents have views on what needs improving regarding waste and how we can increase recycling rates.
We want to give a massive thanks to all who filled in the consultation. Now members of Bristol’s Waste and Recycling Task and Finish Group are set to consider the results and the feedback from that survey.
They will be seeking to understand how Bristol can increase recycling rates, manage waste and recycling services sustainably and respond to changing national regulation, with significantly increased recycling targets for local authorities.
The group has been tasked with developing recommendations to meet changing national policy and regulation including achieving 65 per cent recycling rates by 2035, the introduction of kerbside collections of soft plastic packaging from 2027, and to reduce the amount of household waste going to incineration ahead of the expected introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2028, which could incur significant costs for the city if current levels continue.
We look forward to seeing the results of the task and finish group, and we will keep you updated on any changes to recycling and waste that might be recommended.
Electric buses launched
The beginning of June saw the exciting launch of the new electrified bus depot at Hengrove, along with a fleet of 74 electric buses for Bristol! This is something we have been looking forward to as electric buses are a real boost for clean air in the city, as well as being quieter and more efficient.
The new zero-emission buses boast modern interiors with USB charging points for each seat, a camera monitoring system instead of wing mirrors for added safety and a smoother, quieter and more reliable ride for customers.
Residents in Bishopston and Ashley Down will be pleased to know the fleet includes the numbers 70 (Hengrove to UWE Frenchay via city centre), 72 (Temple Meads to UWE Frenchay), 73 (Whitchurch to Bradley Stoke via Temple Meads) and 75/76 (Hengrove to Henbury/Cribbs Causeway via city centre), all which serve our area. Do email us with any feedback you have about these news buses.
Free bus travel for children announced In other positive bus news, the West of England Combined Authority has announced a free bus travel for children this summer. Under this WECA-funded scheme, children under the age of 16 will be able to travel for free on buses in the West of England region this summer.
Around 150,000 children aged five to 15 years old will be able to hop on a bus in in the region (Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and North East Somerset) without paying. The offer runs from the start of the school holidays on July 19 and runs until September 5.
We would like to congratulate WECA on this scheme, as it is something we fully support and shows a commitment to encouraging public transport use, as well as providing better transport options for families. We hope residents enjoy taking advantage of this offer over the summer.
RPZ update
We want to thank residents for getting in touch with their views on future residents' parking zones in the ward. There has been a spectrum of opinion which has really helped give a sense of where potential controlled parking are the most needed and required.
To reiterate where we are at, nothing will happen until we can look at next year's budget, and then they will most likely be implemented next to existing ones, as well as looking at the needs and demands of different areas. Feedback on this subject is always welcome as it helps us gain a better understanding of the challenges of the ward. We will keep you updated on any further developments.
Contact us
James: Cllr.james.crawford@bristol.gov.uk
Emma: Cllr.Emma.edwards@bristol.gov.uk
Residents around Belvedere Road have been in touch about yet another care home application after several similar ones over the last few years were rejected. This time, with minor changes, the application was made directly to the planning inspectorate, as allowed, while the council is still in special measures while the planning backlog is being tackled. We took this up with planning officers and have had confirmation that they have submitted the council’s statement to the inspectorate for 7 Belvedere Road.
Opposition remains unchanged as there have been no material improvements in either the scheme itself or the highway safety and parking conditions on Belvedere Road, as per the supporting documents submitted with the application. As such, objections are on the same grounds as before, particularly in relation to the unacceptable transport and highway impacts.
Good news! Until recently bus passes for people with disabilities weren't valid at certain times of the day, meaning that they couldn't be used by people accessing work, training or education early in the morning. Several residents in Redland had brought this anomaly to our attention, so we were delighted to hear that such passes are now valid 24 hours a day.
Green councillors have been working with WECA to offer reduced bus pass costs for all young people and we're pleased that they will be offered free holiday travel now.
We continue to work with officers and the community to find both short-term and more sustainable solutions for those often forced into inadequate housing situations, such as vehicles on the highway, and those with concerns about the growing number of vehicles on the Downs.
Van dwelling in Bristol and elsewhere expanded significantly in recent years, affecting many parts of the city, and this has brought many challenges. It’s a complex situation and our council is working hard, determined to find solutions, pushing forward recommendations made in the Bristol model report commissioned last year.
In the short term, land with temporary van and caravan pitches will significantly increase in capacity, offering safer alternatives to living by the roadside and basic services like toilets, water and rubbish bins for a small fee. Housing and welfare assessments for vehicle dwellers will aim to direct those that need it into more appropriate fixed housing and where relevant, benefits to support rent.
Further action under our current policy for vehicle dwelling encampments on the highway deals with vehicle dwellers found to be having a negative impact on the local community. We emphasise that legally ticketing vehicles does not provide a long-term solution as it can just displace vans closer to residential areas without parking management [including parts of Redland], exacerbating existing tensions. Current enforcement powers are being reviewed and coordinated with the various departments involved.
As there is no register of ownership on caravans, we cannot enforce parking restrictions, and we continue to push the government to correct this. Please continue to report any abandoned caravans so that the council can remove them, as several have been over the last month.
Longer-term solutions will take time as this is driven by the housing crisis — we need to increase the number of well-built, affordable homes in Bristol. We continue to drive this, working with Bristol Central MP Carla Denyer and our other Green MPs across the country to push the national Government to provide adequate funding so that we can do this on the scale that we need. A new co-ordinated policy is being developed by our housing team that will balance offering support to vehicle dwellers, alongside considering the needs of the local community.
As part of this process, we will be running a consultation, and we want to hear from everyone affected by these issues.
Many residents have also been in contact about temporary encampments on the Downs grassland. Where these are Gypsy, Roma and Traveller encampments, the council has procedures to engage and they normally move on. Where this is not the case, the council can seek an injunction to evict encampments for trespassing, and following an increase in cases we are seeking a general injunction across the whole area.
While this work is ongoing, we stress that those living in vehicles are treated with the respect and empathy we expect every resident of Bristol to be treated with, and we will continue to work to find long-term solutions. In the meantime if you see any illegal activity do report it to the police so they can respond.
Phone box on the corner of Elton and Gloucester Road
Fi has been having meetings for some time now with residents and businesses who are worried about increased anti-social behaviour near the Arches. With the closure of a premises on Cranbrook Road, things do seem to have improved. There were, however, ongoing concerns about the phone boxes on the corner
being a focus of some unpleasant activities in the area, and locals had started work on compiling evidence for BT to persuade them to remove it. Rather to our surprise, a notice appeared recently announcing that BT were considering removing one of the phone boxes. Martin and Fi have been in touch with BT lending their support to removing both telephones in the hope that this will reduce some of the problems that local people have been reporting to us.
Parking management solutions
As we mentioned previously steps are being taken to develop new parking management areas where these are needed and wanted. After eight years with no progress to tackle road safety and obstruction issues many residents in parts of our ward near Gloucester Road have made requests. There are no concrete plans or areas yet.
We appreciate some residents have been in touch to seek schemes after years of chaotic parking and obstruction by vehicles displaced from permit controlled areas while others concerned that there are areas where this would not be needed. No details have been developed yet since the first step is to find a funding model that allows the development of new schemes from parking revenues which would then become self financing, like the existing ones. We shall of course make sure any initial proposals get a full consultation before any schemes get progressed. Officers do at last appear to be considering where to install the next wave of parking management schemes so please do let us know whether you feel that your neighbourhood would benefit from such a scheme or any issues to take account of.
Fi: Cllr.fi.hance@bristol.gov.uk.
Martin: Cllr.martin.fodor@bristol.gov.uk
Fi: 0117 3534720. Martin 0788 4736101 Facebook.com/cllrmartin.fodor or /cllrfi.hance
Overton Road
After so long in planning, we are pleased to see that the works on Overton Road are now well underway and soon we will have a new liveable street. The purpose of liveable streets is to make local areas safer, healthier, more inclusive and attractive.
Liveable streets seek to provide more space for community assets, such as trees, bins, benches, cycle parking, artwork and outside seating for businesses, as well as encouraging sustainable transport. The current designs proposed do just this, by upgrading the public realm, providing benches and a public space where people can meet along the popular, but crowded, Gloucester road.
In 2021, the council carried out an engagement process on whether Overton Road should be closed. Over 300 responses were received, 75 per cent. The council then applied for a specific grant to carry out the works which were then tendered.
Although expensive, the best price was sought. The comments we have received are overwhelming positive. A few people have complained, mainly about the money could have been better used.
It is important to note that this money could only be used for these purposes. If not this, the council would have had to give the money back. Credit where credit is due, these initiatives have cross-party support: the grant came from a Conservative-led Government, applied for by the last Labour administration.
The Festival of Nature happened across Bristol and Bath, between June 7-15th. As a part of this your councillors joined events, helped find funding, and also organised a litter pick within the ward.
Given the timing of FoN, we are very pleased that the committee allocating funds supported a Community Infrastructure Levy application to refurbish St Andrews Park pond.
The pond contributes to biodiversity and is a great educational resource. It has got through to consideration at stage two so still a competitive process. Friends of St Andrews Park will also be fundraising for part of the cost. You can contact the friends group via their website fosap.org/
Izzy has recently done training at the council that allows them to be involved in the planning committee. Izzy also sits on the new waste and recycling task and finish group, where members will be exploring different strategies and seek to improve the services and reduce waste in Bristol.
We are also pleased that the development behind Tesco on Gloucester Road is not going ahead following the news that the Planning Inspector has rejected the developer’s appeal? Tim originally called this decision in so it was properly discussed at planning but mostly well done to persistence of residents.
Abdul in particular has been doing loads in St Pauls around crime and anti-social behaviour.
Izzy: Cllr.Izzy.Russell@bristol.gov.uk
Tim: Cllr.Tim.Wye@bristol.gov.uk
Abdul: Cllr.Abdul.Malik@bristol.gov.uk
n BLAISE COMMUNITY
GARDEN, behind Blaise Museum, BS10 7QS. Open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 10-2. Interesting walled kitchen garden, free to enter, new volunteers welcomed. Plants always available. Events: Plant & Pollination Day with Café on 12th July 10-2, and Café on 9th August 10-2.
n LA SCALA DELI HENLEAZE
Join us for our Italian wine tasting evenings. Limited availability. Led by our in-house sommelier.
July 9 - Pride Tasting
July 11 - Rose, the summertime red wine
July 18 & 24 -Trentino Alto Adige
July 19 - Mountain side vineyards
August 1 - Mountainside Vineyards
August 7 & 22 - Friuli-Venezia Giulia
August 21 - "The Big 5" of Northern Italy
Sept 5 & 18 - Lombardia
Sept 6 & 19- The "Big 5" of Central Italy
Oct 3 & 23 - Veneto
Oct 4 & 24 - The “Big 5” of Southern Italy
Special events: WINE & DINE
6 wines paired with 5 courses
JULY 26 WINE & DINE - Puglia
AUG 9 WINE & DINE - Puglia
SEPT 20 WINE & DINE - Sicily
OCT 25 - Sicily
Private Events also available Bookings: www.lascaladeli.com
n YOGA FOR ALL is a Bristol yoga school where movement is fun, achievable and for everyone. Classes in Bishopston Library, Cotham Parish Church, Spin City and online. See www.yogaforall. co.uk for details!
Various days
n PILATES classes, Northcote Scout Hall, BS9 3TY. Mondays 9.30am (Improvers), 10.30am (Mixed Ability inc. Beginners); Tuesdays 9.30am (Improvers), 10.30am (Gentle); Thursdays 9.30am (Improvers), 10.45am (Mixed Ability - inc Beginners). Small, friendly classes. Please register interest before attending. Full details at www.mindbodypilates.org. Contact; Leanne 07817189474 or leanne@ mindbodypilates.org
n BRISTOL HOME LIBRARY SERVICE. A free home delivery service for Bristolians provided by local volunteers.
For anyone affected by age, disability or caring responsibilities. 07714898558
Monday
n SHARED READING AT ST PAUL’S LIBRARY. Meet and connect with others Mondays 2pm – 3.30pm. St Paul’s Learning Centre, 94 Grosvenor Road, Bristol BS2 8XJ. Email: support@ thereader.org.uk
FOLKSTARS: We are looking to expand the Folkstars project in the local area. If you would like your school to be considered email info@folkstars.co.uk
ADULTS, want to try out guitar / violin or improve your playing? Folkstars are running a new tuition club in BS7 where you can learn weekly from experienced musicians in a relaxed / sociable setting. We have a limited number of FREE guitars and violins available to borrow for the first to join. The group will cover folk music alongside pop and rock songs as chosen by the members. To register your interest visit www. folkstars.co.uk/adult-tuition INSTRUMENT AMNESTY: If you have an unused guitar or violin gathering dust Folkstars would love to hear from you! Any condition, we will fix and use to give more kids in Bristol the chance to play an instrument. Smaller sizes a bonus but all sizes useful. Email info@folkstars.co.uk or text 07927746661 to arrange a collection.
n REDLAND WIND BAND has vacancies for some woodwind, brass and percussion players. This friendly group meets 7.30-9.30pm at Redland Church Hall, Redland Green. Contact via email on redlandwindband@gmail.com n DICKENS SOCIETY. 7pm, at Leonard Hall, Henleaze URC, Waterford Rd, Bristol BS9 4BT. Talks, costumed readings, book club and social events. See www. dickens-society.org.uk or phone Roma on 0117 9279875.
n BRISTOL GOOD AFTERNOON CHOIR rehearses at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church (BS9 3AA) 2-4pm (term time only). We are a fun and friendly, non-audition, community choir for both male and female voices - one of 32 Good Afternoon Choirs who ‘sing in the afternoon’ around the South West and further afield. New members are always welcome. For further details please visit our website – www. goodafternoonchoir.org – or contact us on 01761 472468 or via e-mail at gac@ grenvillemusic.co.uk
n PLAY BOWLS at Canford Park in a
friendly, social atmosphere. Qualified coaches and equipment provided. Contact: Les on 07305695579
n BRISTOL COMMUNITY GAMELAN play the music of Java at Cotham School from 6.30-8.30. We play by numbers –only 1-6, without the 4 ! So no auditions, no need to read music. If you fancy a different musical experience, contact us via email on keithripley27@gmail.com
n WESTBURY ON TRYM WOMEN'S INSTITUTE meets on the third Monday of the month in the Westbury Village Hall, Eastfield Road, BS9 4AG, from 2.00 - 4.00 pm. We have interesting speakers, and extra activities of crafts, lunch club, skittles and outings. For more information call Sascha on 07961619806 or Traci on 07766073917
Tuesday
n THE ARTS SOCIETY BRISTOL welcomes new members. Our lectures, given by specialists in their own field, take place on the second Tuesday of the month from September to May at 7.30pm at Redmaids' High BS9 3AW and by internet. For more information visit our website www.theartssocietybristol.org.uk
n BRISTOL HARMONY WEST GALLERY CHOIR and band sing and play lively church and village music from the 18thcentury. St Edyth’s Church Hall, St Edyth’s Road, Sea Mills, 7.30 pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month. All voices (SATB), string, wind and reed instruments welcome. No auditions but ability to read music helpful. www.bristolharmony. wordpress.com or call Fritjof 0117 924 3440. Contact before attending. n POETRY UNLIMITED – poetry circle meet on the First Tuesday of every month 11am - 12 midday. Basement Room, Café Kino, 108 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3RU. £2.50 - £3.00 donation towards the cost of the room. Bring a couple of poems to share, other poets or your own. Contact Dee: wetwo@ gentlyblown.co.uk Web: www. poetryunlimitedbristol.weebly.com n COMPANION VOICES BRISTOL We are a 'threshold choir' looking for new people to join us. We meet in Easton on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 7 to 9 pm to learn songs by ear and build skills in sensitivity/ compassion/loving presence to sing at the bedsides of people nearing the end of life. To join/ support us in this work, contact Valerie on bristol@companionvoices. org. Visit www.facebook.com/ CompanionVoicesBristol and www. companionvoices.org n BRISTOL A CAPPELLA: Tuesdays 7.30pm, Victoria Methodist Church. Bristol A Cappella is an award-winning mixed barbershop chorus of around
30 members who love to sing close harmony a cappella. Our songs are mainly from pop music, with a bit of rock and some musicals. www. bristolacappella.co.uk/ Contact: membership@bristolacappella.co.uk n BRISTOL GOOD AFTERNOON CHOIR rehearses at Westbury-onTrym Methodist Church (BS9 3AA) on Monday afternoons 2.00-4.00pm (term time only). We are a fun and friendly, non-audition, community choir for both male and female voices - one of 32 Good Afternoon Choirs who ‘sing in the afternoon’ around the South West and further afield. New members are always welcome and, whether you come alone or with a friend, we will be very pleased to meet you! For further details please visit our website – www. goodafternoonchoir.org – or contact us on 01761 472468 or via e-mail at gac@ grenvillemusic.co.uk
Tuesday and Saturday
n BRISTOL HF RAMBLING CLUB
We are a friendly sociable club with a variety of walks. We have 2 Tuesday walks of either 8-9 miles or 5-6 miles. On Saturdays we have varying length walks including a hill walk eg Brecon Beacons once a month. If you would like more information please visit our website.
Wednesday
n OPEN DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE For those interested in developing their spiritual awareness and mediumistic ability. 7.15 for 7.30 start at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up or or visit www. westburyparksc.org
n GOLDEN HILL WI Meets the first Wednesday of every month. 1-3pm. Golden Hill Sports Ground, Wimbledon Rd, BS6 7YA. A vibrant, lively new afternoon WI in BS6. We have an exciting and varied programme to offer to members. Contact Pam Scull at goldenhillwi@gmail.com.
n BRISTOL VOICES COMMUNITY CHOIR welcomes new members at any time. We meet at 7.30pm in St Werburghs Primary School during term time. See www.bristolvoices.org.uk for details.
n WELCOME WEDNESDAY
Friendly and free coffee afternoon on the last Wednesday of the month, 2-3.30pm at The Beehive Pub, Wellington Hill West, BS9 4QY. Meet new people, have fun, and find out what’s happening in your local area. Call 0117 435 0063 for more information.
n HEALING SESSIONS Spiritual Healing is available from 2pm to 3.30pm by the accredited healing team at Westbury
Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up or or visit www. westburyparksc.org
n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcome- first visit free so come along and give us a try. For further information contact Tania by email at tanialake@ yahoo.co.uk
Thursday
n HIGHBURY BADMINTON CLUB: Pete Stables 0117 950 1524 or www.pete4458. wixsite.com/highburybadminton Thurs 7:30pm mid September to End April, Westbury-on-Trym Village Hall
n THE STEPFORD SINGERS WOMEN'S COMMUNITY CHOIR meets at Horfield Baptist Church, Bishopston on Thursday afternoons, 1pm to 3pm. No auditions and no need to read music! Come for a free taster session with our friendly, supportive group and learn to sing in harmony. For info, contact Fran franbolton66@gmail.com
n BRISTOL BACH CHOIR are now recruiting new members. We are a friendly auditioned choir of between 30 and 40 singers. All voice parts are welcome. We rehearse on a Thursday evening at Bristol Grammar School from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. If interested
please contact Julie at membership@ bristolbach.org.uk
n SWIFTS INCLUSIVE SPORTS swimming sessions are for adults 18+ with any disability (hoist available) on Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm. £5 per session at Henbury Leisure Centre. Contact Karen Lloyd at 07734 335 878.
n FRIENDS TOGETHER DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CAFÉ A Dementia accessible café for all on the first Thursday of every month, 10am12pm; The Randall Room at All Saints Church, Pembroke Rd, Clifton. Support, guidance, information and friendship with complimentary tea, coffee and homemade cake. No need to book – just come along and be a part of our community! For more information contact All Saints Parish Office: 0117 974 1355
n ENJOY SCOTTISH DANCING ]
Looking for a new hobby? Join us for fun, fitness and friendship (singles welcome). First evening free! Thursdays: New/ Inexperienced dancers 7–8.30pm (£4). Intermediate/Advanced dancers 7.30–10pm (£6). St Monica Trust, Oatley House Main Hall, BS9 3TN. www.rscdsbristol. info. Contact Ruth 01179683057.
n HENBURY SINGERS welcomes new members at Stoke Bishop Primary School, Cedar Park BS9 1BW, 7.30 – 9.15, a warm welcome awaits you at Henbury Singers. We perform sacred and secular music under our conductor Andrew Kirk. No auditions. www.henburysingers.org Contact the secretary at secretary@henburysingers. org
n HENLEAZE LADIES’ CHOIR Join us as we fill St Peter’s Church Hall in Henleaze with a diverse selection of music. We are a friendly choir and meet on Thursday afternoons in term time from 1.45 to 3.45. There are no auditions, and the ability to read music is not necessary. Contact Jeanette on 9685409 or Jane on 07752 332278
n HEALING FOR WELLBEING - New time, 5pm to 6.15 pm. Drop in sessions with trained practitioners. Redland Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, BS6 6JE. All welcome - donation basis. For information, visit http://www. facebook.com/BristolHealingGroup or https://www.thehealingtrust.org.uk/ healing/healing-centre or phone Selina 0117 9466434.
n BISHOPSTON COMMUNITY CHOIR
Meet on Thursday evenings, 7.30pm to 9.00pm at Horfield Baptist Church, 160a Gloucester Road, Bishopston BS7 8NT. Everyone welcome, no
audition necessary. Contact us on bishoproadchoir@gmail.com
Friday
n BRISTOL SPANISH CIRCLE Come and meet a group of friendly people and enjoy talks in Spanish, musical events and social evenings. We meet every month from September to June, usually on the last Friday of the month, at St Peter’s Church Hall in Henleaze. For more info, see https://www. spanishcirclebristol.com/ n HENLEAZE BOWLING CLUB. Come along at 5.45pm on Fridays to see if bowling could be the sport for you. Coaching available. Experienced bowlers welcome. Situated in Grange Court Road, by Newman Hall. This is a friendly Club with good bowling facilities and social events throughout the year. Phone, Tom Logan, on 0117 962 1669 or email hbcsec@ henleazebowlingclub.org.uk for further details.
Saturday
n SEA MILLS REPAIR CAFE offers sewing, woodwork, general, electrical and cycle repairs at the Methodist Church, Sea Mills Square, from 10am12pm, every second Saturday of the month (except August). This is a voluntary service run by experienced repairers. Donations welcome. FFI see Facebook @seamillsrepaircafe
BRISTOL Central MP Carla Denyer is urging local residents to make their voices heard about the government's proposed disability cuts.
Her call comes two weeks before the government's consultation closes and after meeting with disabled people from Bristol to hear about their experiences of the welfare system, and how the planned cuts will affect them.
The cuts to support for disabled people were first announced by the government in March. In response, Carla Denyer MP called for the government to rethink the plans, highlighting that the government could raise five times more by taxing extreme wealth than it hopes to save through the cuts, which she says will push an estimated 400,000 disabled people into poverty.
The 'Pathways to Work' consultation can be found here: tinyurl.com/4hxrw4en
JUNE'S Summer Orchard Open Day at Horfield Organic Community Orchard (HOCO) wasn’t blessed with the kindest conditions for an outdoor event. The showery, blowy weather put off pollinating insects, but did not dampen the appetite of other visitors for cake, or taking part in activities. Whatever the weather, the event is a brilliant moment to show and share the many nature-friendly ways we care for our fruit trees.
Around midsummer we’re looking for signs of Apple Sawfly (a small hole in the fruit, with a sticky pile of ‘frass’ at the entrance), and Apple Ermine Moth (gothy webs around the leaves with a mass of wriggling caterpillars, or slender white cocoons). We take action to remove and reduce problem populations on young, or small trees — to make sure there are enough healthy leaves to power them as they grow. On larger trees the grubs fulfil their destiny — as food for other insects, or hungry bats and birds.
It's not all work and no play for
By Alex Seabrook, LDRS reporter
PARENTS in Bishopston and Redland can get food vouchers over the school holidays to help feed their children if they receive free school meals. The vouchers are for £15 per week per child with almost £4 million put aside by Bristol City Council this year.
Vouchers allow parents and carers to choose which supermarket they wish to purchase food over the holidays. They should contact the child’s school to find out about how to access the vouchers, which are paid for from the government’s Household Support Fund.
In March Liz Kendall, the welfare secretary, slashed the budget for the Household Support Fund by £100 million. That leaves Bristol with about £1 million less to spend this year, with a total of £7.1 million left over.
Around 60 per cent of this will be spent on food vouchers, which won’t face budget cuts — although other support such as debt advice will receive less funding this year.
RESIDENTS who are unable to visit their local library, can benefit from a special service which delivers books to their doors.
The Home Library Service, as part of the Royal Voluntary Service and commissioned by Bristol City Council, is free for any adult in Bristol who wants to keep using the library service, but has difficulty getting to the library either due to a disability, age, or caring responsibilities.
Organisers are always looking for volunteers to help run the project and deliver books to isolated readers.
If you know someone who could benefit from this service, or if you would like to volunteer, email BHLSVisits@royalvoluntaryservice. org.uk or call 07714898558.
members! When the tasks were done for the day, there was time for picking up paint brushes and creating some art in the orchard.
HOCO is open to new members joining as supporting friends, or getting active in the orchard as harvest-share members. See our website for more information.
Growing Season Fruit Tree
More information: communityorchard.org.uk
THE vines have chosen a brilliant heat wave in which to flower. This is great news because it means that a high percentage of them will turn into little grapes. Last year we were not so lucky with the weather in flowering week and it was a real shame to see them get all cold, wet and soggy. This year, the flowering should much more successful. The grapes will be very small at first, but will quickly swell over the coming weeks. Hopefully we’ll get some rain during that period to assist with this process as well.
Because the varieties we grow are fairly mildew resistant, once the grapes have formed, we can be fairly confident they will be good to go come harvest time in the autumn. If they were not mildew resistant, there would be the ongoing threat of loss or damage through disease to contend with for the next couple of months. Stressful!
The vineyard is looking really good. We've had some good periods of rain and warmth so the vines have been growing really well and have not been water stressed. The dry periods mean that the insects have also done well and we're seeing very high numbers of ladybirds and butterflies this year.
On the wine front we’ve just released a new batch of sparkling white wine. This always seems to sell out very quickly and we always wish we had more of it so enjoy it while it lasts!
n PROPERTY OF THE MONTH
£825,000
hello@dunleavyvineyards.co.uk www.dunleavyvineyards.co.uk
@DYvineyards (X/Twitter) dunleavy vineyards (Facebook & Instagram)
Internally, the property has been maintained to the highest of standards and offers fresh modern decor alongside retained original features.’
ONE day, I set off to my allotment for the rewarding summer job of picking strawberries. Showers were forecast so I had a brolly with me and also a big square of cardboard to cover some of my (many) weeds. As I arrived a shower began so I set the cardboard on the damp garden chair under the apple tree and, shielded by tree, cardboard and brolly, I prepared to sit it out. It was warm, humid and very peaceful.
Even the birds seemed to pause to watch the rain gently falling, except for a pair of magpies that flopped over the hedge and lolloped off across the allotments on some reasonably leisurely business that, nonetheless, didn’t allow for idleness.
After a while it occurred to me that the unending grey of the sky and the unceasing nature of the precipitation suggested not a passing shower but weather that
I’m not the only one round here who likes strawberries. A wood mouse must have made this little stash amongst the fallen rose petals by my strawberry patch
was better categorised as "steady rain".
Thoughts of strawberrypicking receded and instead I began to notice the many plants that share my allotment with the approved list of official fruits and vegetables. One section of my plot resembles an old-fashioned potager and here in particular a number of grassland herbs and
“weeds” have rooted amongst the fruits, herbs and flowers. To me, they have all earned their place. Self-heal is a little plant in the mint family with rich purple flowers whose leaves were traditionally used to bind wounds and soothe bruises. Red clover is beloved of bees and the form in my plot is particularly bold and attractive. Lamb’s lettuce leaves can be eaten in salads as can bittercress. Vetches and tares are leguminous plants and fix nitrogen whilst ribwort plantain improves nitrogen availability to surrounding plants. The little seeds of forget-me-nots and cut-leaved crane’s-bill are an easy snack for the adult birds that hunt caterpillars and other insects to fatten up their nestlings.
Then I found myself admiring the silvery flowerheads of false oat grass. It is an undoubted pest, seeding freely and bulking up to football-sized tussocks in what feels like a few days.
Those tussocks provide good over-wintering shelter for small invertebrates but, in the wrong place, they are the devil to dig out. I watched a droplet slowly gather itself to the tip of a drooping panicle and then gracefully fall. The stem gently rose by a degree or so with a gesture as expressive as a dancer indicating a mournful farewell by lifting a finger. I found myself enchanted by this grassy ballet and watched as a hundred panicles all played out the same simple movement. I felt that these grasses had earned their place today, they may have muscled in unwanted to my patch but they had certainly entertained me during this ‘shower’. All my wildlings have their role to play and it would seem that the role of false oat grass is that of prima ballerina. And then I gave up the strawberry collecting idea altogether and went home.
© Dawn Lawrence
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