MP Chris Skidmore has written to South Gloucestershire Council to stress the importance of protecting the Hanham Green Belt.
PAGE 13
Children at Christchurch Pre-School dressed up as favourite book characters for World Book Day. Lots of stories were shared and the day was made extra special with a visit from a police van.
DESIGN work is due to begin this summer on a major upgrade of Hanham High Street.
A successful bid to the Love Our High Streets campaign has resulted in £395,000 to fund improvements next year.
Current proposals include refurbishing the public toilet block on the corner of Laburnum
Road, installing new planters and benches, and improving the bus stops and street signs. Free parking will be retained at the Laburnum Street car park. Murals and public artworks are also set to be installed to help revitalise the High Street.
But the scheme, drawn up by South Gloucestershire Council,
which worked on the bid to the West of England Combined Authority with local traders, has been criticised by some as uninspiring.
The plans are likely to be a big issue in the run-up to the council elections next month.
June Bamford, a Conservative Turn to Page 2
A youth club has reopened at The Batch in Cadbury Heath as the search continues for new operators for the centre.
PAGE 3
Rebecca Walker, from Hanham, is running her sixth London Marathon for an animal charity.
PAGE 4
Plans to use old mines in the Hanham area to provide renewable energy has won a £1.6m grant.
PAGE 11
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From Page 1
councillor for Hanham, said: “I am thrilled to see this significant investment coming to Hanham. High streets across the country have struggled in recent years due to changing consumer behaviour, and it’s good to see that here in South Glos we are committed to doing as much as we can to help local businesses.”
Nicola Bartlett, who runs Eclectic Gift Shop in the High Street, wrote on Facebook: “Appalling result for Hanham. Maintaining the toilets, a few planters and improved signage. Hardly inspiring. All of this should already be covered by council tax and business rates.
“The extra funding should be used for more inspiring projects,
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Hanham and Longwell Green Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Hanham and Longwell Green Voice is distributed each month to residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is always welcomed, contact Emma Cooper on 0117 908 2121 or sales@hanhamandlongwellgreenvoice.co.uk This month 9,500 copies will be distributed around Hanham and Longwell Green.
A member of the
such as bringing empty units back into use such as the Lloyds Bank. Or holding community events on the High Street, such as a Farmers Market. It should not be used to fund the very basics listed.”
DOWNEND will host a decorated unicorn statue this summer as part of a new fundraising art trail.
The two metre-tall creation will be named Gracie, after WG Grace, and stand outside the former Lloyds Bank building on the corner of Badminton Road and Cleeve Road.
It will form part of the Bristol Unicorn Trail, part of the Unicornfest event raising money for charity Leukaemia Care between July and September.
Unicorns have been chosen for the trail due to their association with Bristol's coat of arms, as the city celebrates the 650th anniversary of being made a 'corporate county'.
For more information on the trail visit theunicornfest.co.uk
YOUTH club sessions at The Batch in Cadbury Heath have restarted after a four-month gap.
The centre, which is owned by South Gloucestershire Council, was forced to close after the operator, the Banjo Island Community and Sports Association (BICSA), handed back the keys in October last year.
The council carried out some repairs then partially reopened it at the end of February to allow Creative Youth Network to run services for young people.
Now the authority has begun a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) process to secure a new long-term operator for the venue.
It is looking for someone who will run the building for the community, including the café, as well as to provide space for the youth club run by CYN.
Jack Fitzsimmons, youth work manager for Creative Youth Network, said: “We are really pleased to be able to restore essential services for young people and keen to continue them as an important part of our work with the community when a new operator is found. During the temporary closure, we maintained some youth work in the community and offered some 1:2:1 support, but young people really miss their safe space at The Batch youth club.”
South Gloucestershire cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Samuel Bromiley, said: “I am really pleased that, having done the much-needed work to restore and improve The Batch, we are now able to get
Creative Youth Network back in to deliver activities for young people. We know how much they are valued by young people in the area.
“The next step is to find the right operator for the future, which will be able to offer stable management and put The Batch back at the heart of the community. This building is so much more than a café; it is a place to meet and a hub for many local sports teams and other groups. We are running a formal and transparent process to make sure we secure the right operators to help deliver these facilities.”
The opportunity to manage The Batch has been advertised
to charities, community organisations and other suitable groups who could take on the
management role. This includes managing the community spaces, including the Youth Wing for organisations such as CYN, operating the food and drink facilities, as well as for private hire for local people to use.
The council will scrutinise potential operators’ business plans to ensure they can provide stable management for the benefit of the local community.
It is expected that a decision will be taken in the coming months to appoint a new operator, based on these assessments.
For more information about the services CYN will be running, visit their website at www.creativeyouthnetwork.org. uk or email southglosyouth@ creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk.
For more information about the EOI process, please visit our website: https://www.southglos. gov.uk/business/propertyfor-sale-or-rent or email TheBatchEOI@southglos.gov.uk.
AN extra 170 children applied for places at South Gloucestershire's secondary schools in September compared with last year.
The council received 3,334 applications from families with children heading into Year 7 after the summer holidays, up from 3,164 in 2022.
It meant that, while more children in total than last year were given a place at their firstchoice school, the number who were offered none of their three preferences rose by 45%, from 85 to 123.
The number of children being offered their first-choice school was 2,887 or 86%, compared with 2,807 or 89% last year.
Another 264 (8%) were offered their second-choice school, up from 228 (7%) in 2022.
Third preference places were offered to 56 children (2%) up from 44 (1%) in 2022.
A HANHAM woman is preparing to tackle her sixth London Marathon this month.
Rebecca Walker is running on April 23 to raise money for the Brooke charity, which aims to improve working life for donkeys, horses and mules.
Rebecca said: “Having grown up with horses my whole life, I want to help these beautiful working animals along with donkeys and mules around the world. I love raising money knowing it will change their lives for the better.”
Training for a marathon is never an easy task, but Rebecca believes that “anything is possible in life if you want it badly enough and this is the mentality I have used in all of my marathons.”
Rebecca has a wealth of running experience, having represented the RAF in distance running and competing in the 2022 Sri Lanka Ultra X 250km race, where she was awarded fifth place and qualified for the Ultra X World Championships in Slovenia. Rebecca has also competed in the Edinburgh Marathon.
Brooke reaches over 1.4 million working horses, donkeys and mules. The charity works with owners, animal health providers and policy makers for immediate and long-lasting improvements.
To sponsor Rebecca, head to Rebecca Walker is fundraising for Brooke (justgiving.com) For more information on Brooke, visit www.thebrooke.org
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MORE than 8,000 voters could be "disenfranchised" at South Gloucestershire’s elections because of a new law requiring them to show proof of identity at the polling station, it has been claimed.
The elections in May will be the first for which residents will have to show an accepted form of ID - and face being barred from voting if they do not have one.
Lib Dem councillor Tristan Clark told a council meeting in February: “The number of voters who lack an accepted form of ID in South Gloucestershire could, under the Cabinet Office’s own assessment, exceed 8,000 people. Will polling station staff be recording the number of people they turn away for lacking the requisite form of ID, so that proper analysis of the residents disenfranchised by this rushed and ill-conceived legislation can occur?”
Council cabinet member Ben Burton insisted that the changes in last year’s Elections Act had not been rushed.
The Conservative councillor said a trial in 2018 in Swindon had been followed by a "a robust
and comprehensive review" by the Electoral Commission of the number of people voting.
Cllr Burton said: "In that instance it did not cause a significant change in voting habits, and actually turnout was higher than the previous election in 2016. The arrangements are in place to ensure that the democratic process remains secure and that voting will hopefully remain high.
"The actual list of acceptable forms of ID is incredibly long. We are talking passports, driving licence, biometric immigration document, identity cards, MOD ID, blue badge, national identity, old person’s bus card, Oyster card, freedom passes and a whole host more.”
More information about ID and how to apply can be found online at beta.southglos.gov. uk/voter-id. Anyone who is not
online can also apply in person, by calling 01454 863030 and making an appointment to visit the council offices in Yate.
People applying for the free ID need to have their National Insurance number and a recent photo to hand.
Cllr Burton said that 56 people in the district had applied for a free 'voter authority certificate' by early February.
Electoral Commission research found voters less likely to have an accepted form of ID are over-85s, people with disabilities, trans and homeless people.
The deadline to register to vote is April 17, postal vote applications must be made by April 18 and proxy vote and for free ID applications by April 25.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
ANYONE who would like to stand for election in this year has until April 4 to submit their nomination.
The local elections on May 4 will see all 61 seats on South Gloucestershire Council up for election.
There are 492 town and parish council seats up for election across the district.
The deadline to submit nomination papers is 4pm on April 4.
For more information about becoming a candidate, visit beta.southglos.gov.uk/ stand-for-election, call 01454 863030, email electoral. services@southglos.gov. uk or write to Electoral Registration, PO Box 1953, Badminton Road, Bristol, BS37 0DB.
MEMBERS of the Kingswood Titans Walking Rugby completed a charity walk, raising over £1,700.
The team, who are part of Kingswood RFC, stepped up for The Rugby March, a six-mile walk from Ashton Gate through Leigh Woods and Clifton, to raise money for services at St Peter’s Hospice.
To top off the event, the team watched the Bristol Bears vs Harlequins game where the Bears scored seven tries achieving a decisive win of 51-26.
Kingswood Titans players Keith, Bob, Don and Andy were among those taking part in the event.
Keith said: “As a walking rugby club it’s a no brainer to take part in The Rugby March. We started the walking rugby club in 2017 with 20 players and now have more than 40. Our oldest member is over 81 and we’ve regularly raised money for St Peter’s Hospice as all of us have been touched by it in some way.
"Last year we lost one of our original players through illness and his family were much appreciative of the care he received from St Peter’s Hospice. In February, Anne
Stenner, the wife of one of our player’s sadly died in the hospice. Anne’s husband, Tim, cannot speak highly enough of the care and support they all received by the Hospice staff while she was there, and Tim is walking here
About Us
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The number of people cohabiting is on the rise – interestedly, there is a particular increase in cohabiting parties aged 55 and over who have never previously been married or in a civil partnership.
Currently cohabitation does not provide parties with a specific legal status and it is therefore sensible to consider whether any arrangements need to be put in place prior to moving in with a partner. This is particularly important if unequal contributions are being made to a joint bank account or the purchase, running and/or improvements of a property. If a property is purchased as joint tenants, regardless of unequal financial contribution either upon purchase or throughout the relationship, there is no automatic right for the net proceeds of sale to be distributed in accordance with those
unequal contributions if a dispute should arise. As well as parties purchasing a property together, we regularly see a situation whereby one party is moving into a property solely owned by their partner which can create difficulties upon separation unless intentions are documented.
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today with his son.”
To find out more or donate, visit the Kingswood Titans fundraising for St Peter's Hospice page on justgiving.com For more about the hospice, visit stpetershospice.org
proved to the contrary within Court proceedings. Such Declarations enable parties to set out their respective contributions and upon separation or sale, the net equity received will be distributed in accordance with the terms of the Declaration. Notably, Declarations can also be used where the property is being purchased by one party but the intention is for both parties to benefit from the property’s equity.
In summary, there are a multitude of different situations that arise whereby a Cohabitation Agreement would be not just useful but essential to ensuring that parties moving in together protect their financial positions. Please be assured that you are not prevented from entering into a Declaration of Trust and/or Cohabitation Agreement if you are already cohabiting. As such, if this is of interest to you, regardless of whether you are already cohabiting or plan to in the near future, please do get in touch.
Should you wish to receive any further advice in connection with cohabitation matters or any other area of family law, we would be really pleased to hear from you.
You can contact us by visiting our website, www.shfamilylaw.co.uk, telephoning us on 01179 601437 or emailing enquiries@ shfamilylaw.co.uk
S H Family Law, 51 High Street, Hanham, BS15 3DQ
A PLANNING row has erupted over a large garage built next to a 16th-century manor house near Pucklechurch, in “blatant disregard” of planning rules.
Property owner Toby Nevitte, who built the garage on the grounds of Siston Court, will now be ordered to rebuild key parts of the structure after complaints about its size and concrete pillars from neighbours and conservation officers.
The estate’s main buildings were built in the 1500s during the reign of Elizabeth I.
The double-bay garage was recently built on the grounds next to the Grange, a Grade II-listed building.
While South Gloucestershire Council gave planning permission for a garage, the plans were for a smaller structure than was actually built. And the council also set down strict rules on what materials could be used, to match the surrounding buildings.
Dominic Trotman-Dickenson, custodian of the south wing of Siston Court, told a planning meeting on March 16: “My ancestors owned all of Siston for 220 years, from 1650 to 1870, during which time they built the pepper-pot cottages known as the Lodge and the Gatehouse, as well as building the Grange.
“In 2009, South Gloucestershire Council
designated Siston a conservation area with a view to preserving the integrity of this site, including the landscape and environment of the Grade I and Grade II-listed buildings, and safeguarding it by strictly controlling any future developments.
“Unfortunately, the applicant took it upon himself to construct this garage in whatever manner he felt fit, with a total disregard for consented plans, and likewise ignored the conditions in the consented planning permission. At no point were external pillars ever consented to. The applicant built external pillars in an unauthorised and totally inappropriate stone.
“This is not a Blue Peter project where it can be botched to satisfy and appease the applicant. There are strict rules and guidelines on how it should have been constructed, and they have been blatantly flouted.”
The garage includes concrete pillars on each corner, which must now be covered up after the development management committee voted to give retrospective planning permission, again with strict rules on materials.
Mr Nevitte said the pillars were needed to comply with building regulations, providing structural integrity.
Councillor Steve Reade, whose Boyd Valley ward includes the estate, said Siston Court was a major heritage asset and “will always require the utmost respect when development is proposed”.
He said: “The stone is not appropriate for the area and is not in keeping with the stone used for the Court or associated buildings. It will not weather the same and will never blend in.
“The building has been built with external pillars, contrary to the style of all other buildings in the area.”
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service
A COVID vaccination centre set up at the University of the West of England's Frenchay campus has closed, after giving more than 270,000 jabs.
It brings to an end a three-year occupation of UWE’s Exhibition and Conference Centre, which started when the building was converted into an NHS Nightingale Hospital early in the pandemic.
It took just 24 days and cost £14.2 million to open the hospital in April 2020, but it was never used to treat Covid cases.
After being 'stood down' a year later it was taken over by the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Vaccination Programme, and opened as a vaccine centre that July.
At its peak in December 2021 more than 4,000 people a day were being given AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna jabs at the centre, which was open seven days a week for appointments and walk-in clinics.
The 273,000 Covid vaccinations administered at the centre represented more than one in every ten of the 2.6 million given across the region, and it also offered flu and monkeypox jabs.
Future vaccinations will all be administered at community clinics, GP surgeries and pharmacies
The UWE centre's final vaccination clinic was held on March 17.
BNSSG Covid-19 Vaccination Programme
chief nurse Anne Morris said the closure was a "positive milestone". She said: "The closure of the Vaccination Centre @ UWE Bristol is only possible because of the hard work of numerous health and care colleagues across our system, as well as the overwhelming response from people in our area who have come forward for their covid vaccinations when invited."
UWE Bristol vice-chancellor Professor Steve West said: "It is a source of great pride for our staff and students that our university hosted the region’s largest vaccination centre."
For details of local vaccination sites visit www. grabajab.net.
SLUGS and other small creatures are shorting out traffic lights across South Gloucestershire, it has been revealed.
The molluscs squeeze their way into control boxes for warmth and shelter but are singed when they come into contact with the electrical wiring, which knocks out lights in the district about once a month.
The council has set up its own in-house team of dedicated engineers to try to prevent the damage caused by the pests and keep the road network running.
The team is carrying out preventative maintenance to seal holes and make sites watertight, with the aim of cutting reported faults from eight per day down to "two or three a week".
A council spokesperson said: ““This is by no means unique to South Gloucestershire but is an issue our new in-house team is actively trying to prevent to keep the network running."
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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PARENTS and carers say a shock change to criteria for autism diagnoses could cost lives.
Children must now be in “crisis” before they can be referred for diagnosis in the Bristol region after healthcare provider Sirona changed the eligibility for assessment from March 1. This followed a 350 per cent waiting list increase over two years.
Campaigners say the change was introduced without warning and they will challenge it in court. They have launched a group called Assess for Autism and a crowdfunding appeal, which raised £3,000 in a week. https://tinyurl.com/yn7u85yb \
Under the six-point criteria, children will only be referred if they have “severe and enduring” mental health issues, such as being a high risk to themselves or others, are involved with youth offending, have very low levels of communication, are in care or on a child protection plan, or if their education or family is breaking down.
Even those who are referred face a two-year wait to be seen in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).
Sirona and the Integrated Care Board (ICB), which formally approved the new policy, insist it is necessary because families are waiting too long as it is for an initial assessment and that resources can now be focused on those with the “highest clinical need or are the most vulnerable”.
Assess for Autism says Sirona’s own calculations show 60 per cent of young people in Bristol will miss out on the chance to be assessed and that suicide rates are much higher in autistic communities, with those undiagnosed at much greater risk.
An Assess for Autism spokesperson said: “It is deeply concerning that the ICB has chosen to ignore the overwhelming evidence of the positive impact early diagnosis can have. By implementing this regressive policy, the ICB is effectively creating a mental health crisis amongst the city’s young population.
“Families were not consulted on these changes and swift legal action is the only recourse we have to get this policy changed.”
The changes came just as South Gloucestershire Council cabinet approved the findings of a taskforce to improve early intervention for girls with autism.
Cllr Alison Evans, who chaired the group, told the meeting: “I’m alarmed by the new Sirona referral criteria that seems to completely go against our report about identifying girls with autism earlier.
“Now, to even be referred for an autism diagnosis you now need to be more or less in crisis rather than us having our preventative approach to ensure children flourish.”
Sirona and BNSSG ICB said in a statement: ““We changed our referral criteria so our resources can be directed towards the children that have the highest clinical need or are the most vulnerable. It is important that we do not continue to accept more children than we can see and assess and our new approach has also brought us more in line with services across the rest of the country.
“Children do not require a diagnosis to have their needs met in schools and other settings, and the wait for the outcome of a diagnostic assessment can delay children receiving appropriate support.
It said any child referred before March 1 would be assessed under the previous criteria and that it had set up a helpdesk which can be contacted by email at sirona.cpasdhelpdesk@ nhs.net or phone on 0300 125 5560.”
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporter
We are now enabling close contact visits in the home, every resident is able to have an essential care giver, and there is no isolation required for new residents from the community. We still have a varied activity schedule which keeps life interesting and happy.
We also ensure:
• Strict Infection Control measures approved by Public Health England are fully implemented
• Care staff wear PPE at all times and we have ensured a high volume of supply
• Skilled nurses are on site 24/7 and respiratory equipment is at hand
• Safe face-to-face visits where possible
A PROJECT to use the Hanham area’s old coal mines to provide renewable energy has been earmarked £1.6 million in funding to start drilling.
The Voice reported earlier this year that South Gloucestershire Council was investigating whether the water in flooded abandoned mine workings, which is naturally heated by geothermal energy, could be used to heat and cool buildings in the area.
Abandoned works stretching under Hanham and Oldland Common are among those identified as “areas of interest” by the government’s Coal Authority.
The process would involve using pumps to raise the temperature of the water to the level required for heating and hot water, and use it above ground as a climate-friendly alternative to gas boilers, in homes and larger buildings.
It could also be used for cooling in the summer, proponents of the idea believe.
So far only £10,000 has been spent on the Coal Authority’s initial examination of potential “areas of interest” for the project.
But now the plan has been allocated £1.65m from the West of England Green Recovery Fund, after the region’s political leaders agreed to increase the fund by £10m
to £60m at a meeting on March 17. The cash allocated to the project by the West of England Combined Authority would pay for further studies, including drilling investigative boreholes in “up to six high potential areas”, to see how dated records of mines match up with the reality underground.
A report to WECA said that if the concept could be turned into a financially viable source of renewable heat, it could then attract
commercial investment to build a system that could serve anything from 20 to 60,000 homes.
Further funding for the project will be sought from other sources.
West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris said it was “ironic” that coal mines could be one solution to climate change.
Mr Norris said: “This is the biggest challenge we face as a region, as a nation and as a planet. I can’t think of anything that would be more fantastic than to think what had contributed to carbon dioxide emissions over hundreds of years was then able to turn around and reduce them.”
South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage said: “We have extensive mining heritage in parts of the district, with over 40 coal seams and over 1,000 different mine entrances.
“The old mines are filled with flood water which is naturally heated by underground geological activity. Using heat pumps, the water temperature can be raised to the level required for space heating and domestic hot water. This could then be used to supply buildings such as schools, hospitals, and offices, or a district heat network.”
IN recent weeks South Gloucestershire Council has agreed its budget for this year and it is positive to see significant investment in the areas that get raised with me as the local Member of Parliament.
Across our highways, it is welcome news that there will be an additional £1million of investment to resurface local roads and fix potholes, alongside extra resource to upgrade drainage on the highway network to reduce local flooding. Action against littering, dog fouling and other environmental crimes will be taken by the council’s Street Enforcement Service, which is being put on a permanent footing following a successful trial last year. We are already starting to see the results of successful prosecutions of people caught littering locally.
I know this is a worry for many and so it is reassuring to see that
support with the cost of living will continue this year and with an extra £500,000 of local financial support on top of support provided through government initiatives. Free parking will continue in all council-owned car parks, which not only helps shoppers keep more money in their pockets, but supports our local traders and businesses too.
I am pleased to have played a role in helping to assemble an unprecedented £25million public investment package for Kingswood Town Centre. And that council funding to the tune of £400,000 has been secured to support the vitality of Hanham High Street, including refurbishing the public toilets.
Moving towards a Net Zero carbon future is so important for our economic, social and environmental well-being. The installation of solar panels on all remaining council buildings,
with work to support schools and leisure centres to follow suit, will generate electricity and income, alongside carbon savings.
I welcome the council support for protecting nature locally, including our Green Belt countryside, like The Batch site in Hanham. This goes hand in hand with investing in regenerating our brownfield sites, like the former Grange School site, Kingswood town centre and the Kleeneze site. I have launched a petition to protect the Batch from development and this can be accessed on my website at: www. chrisskidmore.com
We continue to be in tough times, which is why it is more important than ever to be supporting vulnerable people, as well as investing in the infrastructure and services that underpin a strong and resilient local economy and high quality environment for the future.
KINGSWOOD MP Chris Skidmore has launched a petition opposing the latest attempt to build on Hanham Green Belt.
Mr Skidmore has also written to the chief executive of South Gloucestershire Council, Dave Per-ry, calling on the authority to ensure it maintains its green belt protection.
This follows proposals revealed last month for developers Redrow to build 149 houses on fields known as The Batch, near Hencliffe Way.
Mr Skidmore met residents at the site last month.
He said: "Ever since I became MP for Kingswood, and indeed since I was the Conservative can-didate here back in 2008, for fifteen years I have fought alongside local residents to
protect our local green belt land, and maintain the legal protection that this must bring to our countryside.
“There is no point having green belt status if it can't be protected, and I am determined that this latest battle with developers must be overcome. There are other areas of nongreen belt land and brownfield land that must be regenerated first- for example the former Tesco site in Hanham.
“Developers simply can't be allowed to cherry pick land that is vital for biodiversity and nature, and to keep nature alive in suburban areas. I am proud to have never lost a battle when it comes to protecting our green belt, and I am determined that for as long as I am MP for my
home area, that green belt will be protected. I hope all residents will feel able to join me, local councillors and the Hanham District Green Belt society in defending our green belt land.”
The devewlopers carried out a three-week consultation on their plans last month. No planning application has been submitted for the site yet.
Campaigners are concerned
that a report on South Gloucestershire Council's website indicated that an Environmental Impact Assessment into the proposed development would not be necessary.
A petition on the change-org website called ‘Hanham - Say No to Redrow’ has attracted more than 1100 signatures.
Mr Skidmore's petition can be found on his website.
SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has committed to making it easier for people to make the switch to an electric vehicle (EV).
The council has adopted a new EV Charging Strategy which aims to install more charge points across the area. The aim is to complement the growth in EV charging provision in the private sector by filling the gaps, especially in rural communities. The council wants to ensure that most households in South Gloucestershire are within one mile of an EV charge point.
Last year the council installed new charge points in Marshfield and at Kingswood Civic Centre.
Funding applications have already been made so more charge points can be installed across South Gloucestershire. New locations will be announced when funding is secured.
Councillor Steve Reade, cabinet member with responsibility for transport, said: “We have made a commitment to make South Gloucestershire carbon neutral by 2030. To
achieve it we need to provide a variety of ways for people living and working in the area to get around.
“We know that some journeys will still need to be made car, which is why we have created this new EV Charging Strategy for South Gloucestershire. The strategy encourages a cohesive approach with communities being involved to help support an increase in the number of charging points available.
“We want to support all those who want to make the switch to
an electric vehicle, regardless of where they live, in our villages or in our towns. By improving and increasing the charging network we are making owning an electric vehicle a more realistic option.
“I encourage parish and town councils to continue to let us know where they have land that may be suitable for locating EV charging points. This won’t guarantee an immediate installation but will keep us informed.”
For more, visit www.southglos. gov.uk/electric-vehicle-charging
AT our March meeting we welcomed Daphne Atkinson to give us a talk on UK calendar customs bizarre and unique. We were given advance warning that not all the customs you thought would be on the talk. Many of the customs that Daphne spoke about were very specific to certain locations within the country and dated back to before the 14th Century.
Many of these customs revolved around drinking or beginning or ending at a local public house and many would not meet the health & safety guidelines of today but are still being held. Some of the customs she mentioned were the Haxey Hood, Lincolnshire on 6th January, Numerous wassailing events, Burns night on the 25th January, Bideford Sheep Grand National on the 1st Saturday in April - this sounded hilarious with knitted jockeys on the sheep and a variety of courses for them to complete.
There was also a stinging nettle eating competition which
sounded too painful to even try. There is only one gooseberry show in the UK and that is now held in Egton Bridge with the winning gooseberry coming in at 2.19oz in 2009.
It was a very interesting talk.
Plans are now being made for our summer outings and events later in the year.
Our April meeting we are looking forward to a talk by a former midwife. This will be held at Hanham Community Centre at 1.30pm on 17th April. New members are always welcome. If you are interested, please get in touch by email: hanhamafternoonwi@outlook. co.uk or telephone 01179325027.
Ann BaulchIt has been lovely to see the sun on a few days this month and this will perhaps encourage us to get out into our gardens. One of our walking groups did a local walk and we were so lucky with
the weather, after snow and rain the week before we were walking in sunshine and with daffodils and primroses on the verges it felt quite spring like.
At our monthly meeting we welcomed Fiona Edwards who gave us a very interesting talk about glass. After gaining a degree in architecture she found herself drawn to working with glass which she has now been doing for 20 years. She talked about the history of glass, different ways glass can be used and the process of working with stained glass from small pieces to large windows. Fiona runs classes at the Kingswood Heritage Centre and she spoke of the benefits of participating in a craft - gaining confidence, well being, combating loneliness , problem solving and it is always good to learn a new skill. Some of our members, who attend Fiona's classes, brought in some of the pieces of glasswork they had made. They were very good and hopefully inspired other members to have a go at working with glass.
We are having a quiz night to
try and get the grey cells working, it is always a fun evening, also a craft day next month and a visit to Fonthill garden centre for a demonstration. To end the month we have our combined Birthday / Coronation celebration.
We have lots of groups that our members can participate in. There are book clubs, walking groups, knitting group, skittles and social suppers. On the first Thursday of the month we meet at The Chapel Coffee Shop in Longwell Green for Tea and Chat.
Longwell Green WI regular meetings are on the third Friday of the month at 7.30pm at Longwell Green Community Centre and new members are always welcome. If you are interested in visiting us please get in touch by email at longwellwi@gmail.com, telephone 0117 9864782 or come along on the meeting evening.
POLITICAL leaders have blamed each other for a lack of progress on investigating bus franchising - taking the power to set bus timetables and routes back under public control.
The Reclaim Our Buses campaign is calling for the West of England Combined Authority to formally explore how bus franchising could work in the region.
But Metro Mayor Dan Norris has accused South Gloucestershire Council of being the main obstacle blocking bus franchising.
Mr Norris said that, unlike the nine other combined authorities in England, WECA lacked the power to raise its own income through charging a precept on council tax bills, forcing it to rely on receiving government funding with strict rules.
At a West of England Combined Authority scrutiny meeting on March 13 Mr Norris said: “Unless we get precepting sorted, then there won’t be any franchising.
"And at the moment, South Gloucestershire Council doesn’t want franchising and they don’t want precepting. Given I’ve got a voting system which requires unanimous voting, that’s quite an obstacle."
Speaking after the meeting, South Gloucestershire leader Toby Savage accused Mr Norris of indulging in the "politicking", adding: "The WECA mayor has not wanted to facilitate a regional discussion about bus franchising.
"Were he to do so — and contrary to what has been stated — South Gloucestershire Council would be supportive of bus franchising being properly investigated, so we can understand how best to resolve the challenges facing our bus network."
Bus franchising has been in place in London for decades through Transport for London, and will be launched in Greater Manchester later this year.
Matthew Topham of Reclaim Our Buses campaign said Mr Norris couldn't know whether precepting would be needed until an investigation has been carried out, and said franchising might not require WECA to take on a financial risk.
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service
THREE people have been prosecuted after South Gloucestershire Council street enforcement officers caught them dropping litter.
Sam Murphy, of Downend Road, Kingswood, was ordered to pay a total of £867 after street enforcement officers saw him discard a drinks can on Regent Street in Kingswood. He was handed an FPN and because he made no attempt to pay the penalty, the case was progressed to court. Murphy failed to attend Bristol Magistrates Court and was found guilty in his absence and handed a £220 fine, ordered to pay £559 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge, totaling £867.
Sarah Hopkins of High Street, Staple Hill, was ordered to pay a total of £867 after street enforcement officers observed her throw a cigarette down a drain on Staple Hill High Street. Officers spoke to her and she was handed a fixed penalty notice (FPN). A subsequent check revealed that she had made no effort to make any payment against the penalty, so the case was progressed to the court. Hopkins failed to attend Bristol Magistrates Court and was found guilty in her absence and handed a £220 fine, ordered to pay £559 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge, totaling £867.
Charles Holly, of Gill Avenue, Fishponds, was ordered to pay a total of £850 after officers observed him throw a cigarette down a drain on Moravian Road, Kingswood. When challenged about the offence, he accepted his actions and was handed a FPN. However, he failed to make any payment against the FPN so the case was progressed to court. Holly failed to attend Bristol Magistrates Court and was found guilty in his absence and handed a £220 fine, ordered to pay £542 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge, totaling £850.
A VOLUNTEER who has worked for 20 years in the café at Cossham Hospital run by the League of Friends has been given a long serice award.
Muriel Carter received the accolade at a celebratory afternoon tea at The Bristol Hotel for volunteers from Cossham and Southmead Hospitals.
She said: “I am one of life’s volunteers. I always volunteer for everything. You know that when you are volunteering you will make a little bit of a difference.”
Another award went to Sandra Stocker in recognition of the 25 years she has managed the League of Friends café at Southmead Hospital.
More than 350 people give their time to support the two North Bristol NHS Trust hospitals, collectively donating more than 28,000 hours during 2022.
Among the volunteers at the event were representatives from both Southmead Hospital and Cossham Hospital League of Friends, Move Makers, Patient Befrienders, Ward Support volunteers, Patient and Carer Partners, Kidney Peer Mentors, Alcohol Peer Mentors, Major Trauma Volunteers, Purple Butterfly end of life volunteers, Pets as Therapy and Bristol Sight Loss Council.
Professor Hams said: “I volunteered at the start of my career and recognise the value of being a volunteer and the huge contribution every one of our volunteers makes."
Thursday April 6th
n MAUNDY THURSDAY - A programme of music with organ, piano, cornet, flute and ukelele/ Holy Communion at which we observe the Lord's supper 5.00pm at Hanham United Reformed Church. Finally supper too for members, friends and visitors but please telephone to reserve a supper table - Tel: Ken at 9602077.
Wednesday April 19th
n TABERNACLE LADIES CIRCLE, 2.00pm at Hanham United Reformed Church. Speaker Jill Ewans 'Memories of a Lifetime spent in Hanham' - A warm welcome to everyone to join with us.
Wednesday 26 April
n CRAFTAHOLICS CRAFT & CHAT GROUP, 7pm - 9pm, Hanham United Reformed Church Tabernacle Road Hanham BS15 8DU. Contact: Carly 07760889284
n HANHAM TENNIS CLUB reopens after court repainting and the addition of new lighting. Adult PlayTuesday & Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings, 9.30am - 11 am. Beginners' session coaching - Wednesday 7-8pm. Junior coaching - most early evenings. New players welcome. Fully qualified LTA coaching. See website for details www. hanhamtennisclub.co.uk
MONDAY
n YOGA CLASSES AT HANHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE - Monday evenings 7-8 pm plus a NEW CLASS starting from Monday 03 April 8-9pm. All levels including Beginners welcome. To book your place or for further information please email yogashula@hotmail. com or Tel 07949333548.
TUESDAY
n LIP READING CLASS, 1.303pm at North Common Village Hall, Millers Drive, BS30 8YH. Contact Mary Hall 07790 283939, lipreadingmary@yahoo.com
n TUESDAY CLUB a social group meet every Tuesday 1.45-3.45pm at Longwell Green Community Centre
n LONGWELL GREEN LADIES
GROUP meet at 2pm on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the United Church, Bath Road, Longwell Green BS30 9DU (opp. Aldi). Please phone Maureen on 0117 9322341
WEDNESDAY
n BARRS COURT PROBUS
Retired and semi-retired Professional and Businessmen: Meet 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 0-12 at Longwell Green Community Centre. Please contact our Membership Secretary, Mick Funnell: 0117 932 4104 or email bcprobusclub@gmail.com to arrange a visit. Website: https:// barrscourtprobus.org/
n BARRS COURT LADIES CLUB: Wives and partners of the Probus club members meet 10-12 on the second Wednesday of each month at the United Church, Bath Road, Longwell Green. Website: https:// barrscourtprobus.org/
n LONGWELL GREEN PROBUS CLUB meets at Warmley Community Centre on the first and third Wednesday of each month.. New members welcome- for details contact Mike on 07817094147
n HANHAM BRIDGE CLUB
Every Weds 7-10pm at Hanham Community Centre, see www. hanhambridgeclub.co.uk.
n HANHAM PHOTOGRAPHIC
SOCIETY: We are a friendly club who welcome photographers of all abilities to share our hobby. Meetings are at 7,30p.m. Wednesday evenings at Hanham Methodist Church, 26 Chapel Rd, Hanham, Bristol BS15 8SD. Visit https://www.hanhamphoto.org. uk or contact Geoff Mallin by email geoffmemsechps@gmail.com.
n RWP BADMINTON CLUB play at Hanham woods Academy 6.307.30 social club, 7.30-9.30 league club. Visitors welcome, please look at the website for more details
n LIP READING CLASS, 10amnoon, Warmley Community Centre. Termtime only. Contact Mary Hall 07790 283939, lipreadingmary@ yahoo.com
THURSDAY
n ‘STAND UP REACH OUT’ A social group meet every Thursday 2-4pm at Longwell Green Community Centre for different activities.
n BRISTOL MALE VOICE
CHOIR are recruiting new members. 7pm - 9.15pm, St Andrew's Methodist Church, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS. A varied repertoire, no audition. No need to read music - our regular practices will get you in shape to sing at our regular concerts and enjoy the social vibe. www.bristolmvc.org.uk email secretary@bristolmvc.org. uk Telephone 07764447699.
n HANHAM ART CLUB We are friendly group that meets on a Thursday evening at Hanham Community Centre 7pm-9pm. New
members welcome from beginners to the more experienced. For more information contact Hilary on 07880548481 or email tweenuk2003@yahoo.com
n AVON SCALE MODEL
SOCIETY: As a friendly long standing local model making club, we meet at Longwell Green Community Centre on the Third Thursday of every month at 8pm. All subjects in all scales are covered,- aircraft, AFV,s cars, bikes, sci-fi, etc. New members are always welcome. Please phone Ian on 0117 9324053
FRIDAY
n LONGWELL GREEN WI meet on the third Friday of the month at 7.30pm at Longwell Green Community Centre. New members are always welcome. Please email longwellwi@gmail.com or tel. 0117 9864782.
n TAI CHI FOR PARKINSON'S: Weekly beginners Tai Chi &
Qi Gong class for people with Parkinson’s disease, their families and carers. Lincombe Barn, Downend. BS16 2RW. Fridays (term times) 10.15 – 12.15 including tea / coffee break. Contact: Claire - Claire@Taichibodyandmind. co.uk (07769 857672) or Sarah - buqiworks@gmail.com (07815 662844)
n LONGWELL GREEN SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB, Fridays 13.3015.30
At Longwell Green Community Centre. Bowls provided For information E:mail maryjcoles@ hotmail.co.uk Mary 0797 2062449 May 0117 9606454
n LONGWELL GREEN COMMUNITY CENTRE QUIZ NIGHT, meets normally last Friday of each month at 8 pm. Bar available. For more details please contact Marian.r.summerill@gmail. com, or ring me on 07503989880.
THE popular South Gloucestershire
Good Afternoon Choir will present their first concert of the year at Holy Trinity Church, Kingswood, on Saturday evening April 1 at 7.30pm (doors open 7.00pm).
The choir is led by Matt Finch with over 60 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support Dementia UK, a charity chosen by the members of the choir.
The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based Grenville Jones 13 years ago and there are now 23 across the South West of England with over 900 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’.
There are no auditions to join and members of the South Gloucestershire Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the area, they meet every Wednesday afternoon from 2pm-4pm at Kingswood Community Centre. Everyone is welcome to come along and meet Matt and the members of the choir.
The special guests for the concert will be Oldland Brass, originally a quartet, the band now consists of six/seven players, performing a broad repertoire. Many pieces are arranged specially for them by their Leader Bob Lavis.
Tickets priced £8 are on sale from members of South Gloucestershire Good Afternoon Choir or by calling 01761 472468 –they will also be available on the door on the night of the concert.
Matt Finch said: “It is going to be a great night of music and we are absolutely delighted to be sharing the stage with Oldland Brass!”
A BUS stop, a post box and a local Community Pharmacy - this is not a joke, but the top three things wanted within a 15-min walk or cycle from our homes. The result of a recent YouGov poll showed that a majority of the public (62 %) would support their area becoming a 15-minute neighbourhood.
So let's talk about the first, not the community pharmacy but bus stops. Why? A well-functioning public transport system reduces traffic congestion, encouraging us to walk and cycle more, thereby reducing air pollution - which we know impacts all our health, especially children, older people and people with heart, breathing and underlying health conditions.
As we head into spring, better air quality could also mean welcome relief for hay fever sufferers. Hay fever is an allergic
reaction to pollen, typically when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat. Pollen is a fine powder from grass, trees or weeds.
Worcester University has revealed that twice as many hay fever sufferers live in built-up towns and cities versus the countryside, putting it down to weather, pollution and stress. (Relax: Stress makes us more susceptible to allergies like hay fever).
In built-up towns and cities, grass, tree and weed pollen particles get trapped closer to the ground because of traffic pollution combining with dust clouds. These clouds of dust and pollen hang around on days when there is no wind to break them up. Better running buses could mean fewer hay fever sufferers.
Sneezing, runny noses, itchy eyes, and throat are common hay fever symptoms that adults (one in four Bristolians) and children will suffer from.
How to manage hay fever
• Keep windows closed in homes and cars as much as possible
• Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
• Wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors to help prevent pollen from getting into the eyes
• Shower and change clothes after being outside and at night to wash pollen off
• Avoid drying clothes outdoors when the pollen count is high.
• Vacuum regularly and use an air filter/ purifier with a HEPA filter to extract and remove pollen and dust particles.
•Tie your hair up and wear a hat when outside
• Stay indoors and avoid grassy areas when the pollen count is high; also, close windows & doors. Begin antihistamines and the various preventative treatments at least a month before the hay fever season starts – start now! Help is always available at Ellacombe Pharmacy; come speak with us for advice on prevention and symptom treatments. Remember to book your spring Covid booster jab - book online or call 119.
A DEVELOPER has been ordered to pay a total of £9,023 after South Gloucestershire Council prosecuted him for seriously damaging a protected tree in Kingswood, which eventually had to be removed due to the damage caused.
Andrew Cake, 61, owner of Acton Homes Ltd, Woodlands Lane, Bradley Stoke, pleaded guilty to the offence of damaging a tree under a tree preservation order (TPO) when he appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court. Cake was fined £5,600, with £1,423 in costs, and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
The court heard that on 20 July last year the council’s arboriculture team became aware of a report relating to a planning application at Spring Hill in Kingswood for an attached house and associated work. The report referenced the digging of a trench and the roots of a protected sycamore tree being cut.
An officer from the council’s planning enforcement team visited the site the following day and took photographs that showed the trench and damage to the sycamore tree’s roots. The officer advised that no further work should take place until an inspection had been completed.
On 25 July officers from the arboriculture team attended the site and met with Cake, before following out an inspection in his company. It was observed that the trench had been filled in and the tree roots evident in the earlier photographs had been removed, contrary to the planning enforcement advice. In addition, Heras fencing had been placed around the protected tree which was not present in the photographs taken only four days before. The officers instructed Cake to seek independent professional arboricultural advice regarding the structural integrity of the tree, and he was
provided with a standard list of arboricultural consultants.
On 6 September officers received an email from Acton Homes Ltd which contained the arboricultural report and acknowledgement of responsibility for damage to the tree. The report concluded that the majority of the roots had been severed or seriously damaged and their loss would have compromised the structural integrity of the tree leaving it potentially vulnerable to wind and uprooting. It finished by saying that the root severance had compromised the structural stability of the tree leaving it in a dangerous unstable condition and therefore recommended that the tree be removed and replacement planting undertaken.
Two weeks later the council received another email from Acton Homes Ltd seeking permission for a 5-day Notice
for the removal of the damaged Sycamore. At no time since the consent was provided has Acton Homes Ltd been in contact to confirm the replacement of the sycamore tree.
On Wednesday 9 November representatives of the council’s arboriculture and environmental enforcement teams interviewed Cake, where he presented a prepared statement relating to his involvement with an admission of fault in damaging the tree and an offer to correct the situation. He was advised he would be receiving a summons to court.
Councillor Rachael Hunt, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement, said: “It’s important that we act to help protect trees covered by preservation orders so we are pleased at this outcome. I hope this serves as a deterrent to anyone who considers acting illegally in South Gloucestershire.
AS the national lead PCC for Economic and Cybercrime, I’m always supportive when I see a national campaign highlighting the impact that fraud can have on communities and how we can work together to stop this criminal activity.
This is why I was delighted to see that the charity Crimestoppers has launched a year-long national campaign to raise awareness about the personal dangers and harms that consumers face when they knowingly or unknowingly buy fake goods.
Causing a £9 billion annual loss to the UK economy, counterfeit goods fraud can be defined as the sale of fake items as authentic goods from established brands.
The criminals behind this crime intend to deceive and exploit consumers into buying fake products, thinking they’ve bagged themselves a bargain. It’s worth stressing that those individuals who deliberately buy a fake product
are also committing a crime and contributing to the problem.
There’s always a victim when you buy a fake product: fake goods cause 80,500 UK job losses every year and the crime has links to organised crime groups who are complicit in human trafficking, child sexual exploitation and prostitution.
While criminals are becoming more skilful at finding new ways of ripping people off, there are a few signs to look out for to protect yourself when you’re looking for a good deal.
These include: the price being too good to be true; dodgy websites and an unusual place of sale; spelling and grammatical errors on websites and product packaging; differences in product or packaging; and missing information like the batch number.
I’m urging local people to report any information they have in relation to counterfeit fraud using Crimestoppers’ anonymous
reporting service, which can be found online or by calling 0800 555 111.
Dog theft is a wide concern for pet owners in our force area.
Last month, to mark National Dog Theft Awareness Day, my team spoke to Avon & Somerset Police’s Animal Welfare Legislation Officer, PC Natalie Cosgrove.
She told us that the force recorded 16 cases of dog theft in 2021 and only five in 2022. While a reduction and, I’m sure reassuring to many, that is still five cases too many.
If you are a dog owner, there are specific security precautions you can take to make dog theft harder, including camera doorbells, keeping doors locked and sensor lighting outside your house.
I would also like to remind those who have a dog to not leave it unattended in your car, your garden, or tied up outside shops.
Remember, microchipping is not only a legal requirement,
it means your dog will be much easier to track down if it is stolen.
I also urge dog owners to consider DNA tracking to help identify their dog if it is stolen then recovered by the police. More information on DNA tracking can be found on the ‘DNA Protected’ website.
If your dog has been stolen, you should immediately contact the police and report the crime as theft.
RESPONDING to "NHS Provision" article by Alex Seabrook in issue 77. Someone had to go to Swindon from South Gloucester? That's just next door, they should feel lucky. I am in my 70s, haven't been able to register with an NHS dentist for four years since my move from the north. A year ago the repaired half of my front tooth came off. I couldn't eat, there was a danger of serious infection, couldn't work because it involves being face to face with a child. The NHS triage told me it was not urgent. I had to pay £200 to do it privately, it took 20 minutes. Very recently I found a dentist in London and had to pay £28 for a check up, 10 minutes, and £75 for the train and tube, another visit soon. I have worked all my life and paid taxes. What for?
Hanham resident
WE cannot allow Redrow to build on green belt land at the Batch in Hanham as this will open the
doors to all our green belt land disappearing to other developers. There are sites at Kleeneze and Bendix which are currently being built on and not to mention the biggest eyesore in Kingswood which is the old spice factory near the Star pub. The local wildlife needs somewhere to live just as much as we do so leave them to their natural habitat and build your houses elsewhere.
Andy Gards
Longwell Green Community Centre, Shellards Road
Longwell Green BS30 9DU
Monday: 6.00pm & 7.30pm
Tuesday: 9.30am
Tel: Karen 07889408969
North Common Village Hall, 16 Millers Dr, North Common BS30 8XX
Tuesday: 6pm & 7.30pm Tel: Emma 07773689229
AEK Boco FC, Greenbank Road, Hanham BS15 3RZ
Thursday: 9.15am, 11.00am
3.45, 5.15 & 7.00pm
Friday: 9.00am
Tel: Kate 07979494964
Hanham Baptist Church, 157A High Street, Hanham BS15 3QY
Saturday: 9.00am
Tel: Erica 07766425725
EVERY now and then we come across something utterly extraordinary – and a few weeks we found best example yet! A colleague had dealt with a client who was dropping some items off for auction, and came bounding into the office with the star lot. At first glance it was a fairly standard looking 19th Century mahogany box, probably once a case for a pair of duelling pistols or similar. I opened the box to be greeted with a menagerie of items – glass bottles, wooden tools, and a small pistol. A rather unusual selection to say the least.
Looking further, I could see that many of the items had religious significance – the wooden mallet carried a small crucifix, as did the glass bottle, there were also two neatly-contained miniature bibles and even the small pocket-pistol bore an inlaid crucifix. The kit clearly belonged to a Priest or ‘Holy Man’ of some description.
Vampires! My colleague exclaimed. Suddenly everything made sense – this was a vampire-slaying kit! I’d heard about them for many years, but never seen one in the flesh. This kit was filled with everything you’d ever need should you encounter Dracula or one of his pals – including a mirror (to check their reflection), a bottle of holy water (to discourage an attack) and a wooden stake with matching mallet (for ultimate defence!)
This slaying kit had once been owned by a priest living at Woolas Hall, in Worcestershire, in the late 19th century and it had remained at the property until a few years back when it was sold off after refurbishment.
Now, such kits are historically disputed – it is generally accepted that Victorian priests or gentlemen would have such a kit as a curio rather than for actual use, but, it nonetheless illustrates mankind’s fascination with the ‘unknown’. What is the value of something like this? Well – it's estimated at £5,000 to £8,000, but if some bidders really get their teeth stuck into it ... who knows!?
Andy Stowe East Bristol AuctionsONE of the most loved Broadway musicals was brought to life for an 800-strong audience, over five shows, in the main auditorium at John Cabot Academy.
Annie, a worldwide phenomenon and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, was performed by a talented cast and crew of more than 70 students from Years 7-13.
The show tells the extraordinary story of a little orphan who spends time in luxury with billionaire Oliver Warbucks. Unlike most of the other children at Miss Hannigan's orphanage, Annie believes her parents are still alive and will one day return to claim her. So, when Mr Warbucks offers to adopt her, she asks the most powerful man in America to help find her real parents, and he agrees. However, the whopping reward which Warbucks offers for Annie's parents attracts
the attention of con artists Rooster, Lily and the wicked Miss Hannigan, who hatch a plot to kidnap Annie and take the $50,000 for themselves.
Year 10 pupil Tenisha Chinyanganya and Year 9’s Iris Hutton shared the starring role of Annie, while Mr Warbucks was played by Year 11 students Thomas Joel and Lucas Carp. The role of Miss Hannigan was filled by Year 11 Jacob Kendell and Daniel Durham in Year 10. The performances also featured music from a live student band.
The cast completed five shows in total, including two matinee performances for pupils from local primary schools, Beacon Rise Primary, Two Mile Hill Primary and The Park Primary school. The production proved a big hit with audiences, with some of the evening shows sold out.
Charlotte Grierson, John Cabot Academy’s
John Cabot Academy’s main hall was packed with stalls and stands for the Cabot Learning Federation’s (CLF) Post 16 Careers Fair.
Staged on the first day of National Careers Week, the event was a chance for all Post 16 students to find out what pathways or next steps are available to them after their Post 16 education.
During the week students were involved in mock interviews with
business and industry to give them first-hand experience of what is to come.
Kath Cooper, Senior Principal at CLF Post 16, said: “Our intent is to raise aspirations, give students the skills to achieve their full potential and provide opportunities to explore different career pathways. Thank you to our students for engaging in these opportunities.”
curriculum leader for performing arts, said: “The students involved have worked incredibly hard since auditions in September, through to full rehearsals starting in October, and have now completed a week of five performances to over 800 people.
"It has been brilliant to see so many students get involved from backstage, set design, cast to the live band. It has been a brilliant journey from start to finish and has been wonderful to see the students enjoying the outcome of their hard work and commitment.
“I am so proud of all students involved and will be sad to see many of our Year 11s and 13s depart John Cabot Academy after many years of being involved in productions. The performing arts team are immensely proud of everyone involved and what they have achieved.”
THE West of England Combined Authority is trying something new.
The Big Choices public meetings I held last summer with residents talking all things buses showed me that the status quo doesn’t work. People want change.
It’s one reason why I’m introducing WESTlink, the brand-new stop-to-stop minibus service offering tailor-made journeys for locals.
The first passengers will be able to book a WESTlink from their local bus stop from April - dropping them off at another bus or train stop to continue their onward journey. WESTlink will continue to fully roll out over successive months.
I saw the first WESTlink a few weeks ago. The bright green minibus, which was taking part in testing, is one of what will eventually be a new 30-strong fleet that residents in the West of England will be able to book by phone, online or with a dedicated app.
That bus will be ready from April, with
more WESTlinks to follow until we reach the first milestone of 30 full-time minibuses.
It is all thanks to a £3 million investment my West of England Combined Authority is making.
This is a big moment for the West of England, and our local transport journey.
Similar schemes have been trialled in other areas of the country, but never on such a scale. This scheme will grow to become the biggest in the UK.
It comes hot on the heels of my decision to bring forward a £7 million package of big bus improvements, including adding more main route buses to areas where WESTlink is arriving.
Now, I’ll be frank with you – it certainly won’t be plain sailing at the start.
We’re over a dozen drivers short at present. And there are other things we need to iron out to ensure people get to the places they need to go to as easily and efficiently as possible.
In the first instance, you will need to consult a bus or train timetable to check the best way to make your onward journey, whereas in the future you will be able to do that all in the app.
But I’m determined we get on with trying something innovative and something different, so I need your help.
Please play your part by trying WESTlink yourself. Tell me how it needs to change and improve. By doing so, together we can grasp this fantastic opportunity to shape our transport future for the better.
Our spring pond is teeming with life. Find the differences between the pictures then colour them in
3 2 2 4
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In last month’s edition we asked whether anyone could help to clarify whether the song “The Banner Man” may have been influenced by Roger Cook’s early experiences of the annual Kingswood Whitsun Parades.
We were pleased to hear from one of our readers, Jean May, that this was indeed the case. Jean has spoken to Roger Cook, who now lives in Tennessee in the USA, who confirmed that the song was inspired by a real life “banner man”, Mr. Len Cousins, who proudly carried the Salvation Army banner in the Fishponds area.
The Kingswood Whitsun Parades and “The Banner Man” are featured in this year’s new exhibitions at Kingswood Heritage Museum. The photograph shows the Salvation Army band and banners at the 1986 Parade.
The Museum reopens for the new season at 2pm on Saturday 1 April, and will be open until the end of November from 2 – 5pm every Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, and from 11am to 5pm on Bank Holidays. One of the new items on display this season is a “droid” that accompanied the famous local actor David Prowse MBE in his role as the Green Cross Man, a superhero invented to promote road safety for children and young people.
The droid (shown in the photo) has been loaned to the Museum by the Prowse family, and will be pleased to meet you when you visit.
The first monthly talk this season takes place at Kingswood Heritage Museum on 12th April, when Rose Wallis will tell the tale of John Horwood, the Hanham miner’s son who was the first person to be hanged at Bristol New Gaol.
Admission costs £4, and light refreshments are available; doors open at 7pm and the talk commences at 7.30 pm; seats can be reserved by calling 0117 960 5664
Kingswood Heritage Museum always welcomes new volunteers. If you are interested in helping the Museum in any capacity, please contact us at kingswoodmuseum@gmail.com, or call us on 0117 960 5664
The Friends of William Champion’s Garden also welcome new volunteers, ideas and suggestions. For more information please email kay@mclross.co.uk or call Kingswood Heritage Museum on 0117 960 5664
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FEBRUARY saw the first graduates of a new leadership programme for nurses and midwives who are descendants of the Windrush Generation - men and women from the Caribbean who answered Britain's call for workers after World War II.
The Florence Nightingale Foundation's Shine A Light programme, funded by the Health Education England, provided opportunities for 44 participants from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Meanwhile at Glenside Hospital Museum research has started to celebrate the contribution made to mental health nursing by those from the Commonwealth who joined the hospital staff from the 1950s onwards.
Perhaps the best known was Princess Campbell one of some 5,000 Jamaicans who joined the NHS in the 1960s. She arrived in Bristol in 1962, overcoming prejudice to become the first Black worker at the Wills Tobacco Factory. But Princess wanted to be a nurse, and started her training at Manor Park Hospital.
There was prejudice to be found at Glenside Hospital too, where she began her career. "The English nurses would have the easiest jobs; we, the black nurses, would be in the sluice cleaning bedpans and vomit boards," she told the BBC. "You couldn't complain because the ward sister made a report. You had to put up or shut up."
Despite losing out at first to a younger, less experienced white nurse, Princess persevered and
became Bristol's first black ward sister, at Glenside, remaining in post until her retirement in 1990.
The 1948 British Nationality Act had conferred citizenship on residents of the colonies, and on 22 June 1948 the Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury carrying more than a thousand passengers, 80% of them from the Caribbean.
Two weeks later, on 5 July, Labour's Minister of Health Aneurin Bevan launched the National Health Service at what is now the Trafford Hospital in Davyhulme, Manchester. There was plenty of work to do, with an estimated shortfall of some 35,000 nurses in the fledgling institution.
In 1949 adverts appeared in the colonies encouraging more people to come to Britain to apply for work as auxiliaries and trainee nurses. Enticed with offers of 3-year contracts, applicants had to be aged 18 to 30, literate, and willing
The air was blue as Gordon provided jovial insights into the plaques found around Bristol. Special attention to misplaced apostrophes and hyphens.
The Bristol Civic Society are now responsible for their placement. An appropriate application will cost you approx £100 and includes a Lord Mayor unveiling. 12in or 15in versions are available and normally placed about 8ft from the ground. A plaque for a dead cat was a recent declination.
It was remarked that there are not many plaques for women
albeit one can be found at Horfield prison. Unsurprisingly the biggest concentration can be found at Clifton.
A number of questions were asked by the audience, relating to plaques found in Old Market, Lawrence Hill, Fishponds among others. Is there anything similar for South Gloucestershire ?
Next meeting at the Park Centre, Kingswood is Tuesday 4th Apr, 7pm for 7.30 pm start.
Presentation by Steve Grudgings on 17th & 18th Century Mining in Kingswood.
Visitors £3.50 www. kingswoodhistorysociety.org
to pay their own way. Thousands of young women from the Caribbean responded. Tens of thousands would follow them over the next decade.
The training they got was not what they expected. Whatever their qualifications, they were put on a two-year course to become a State Enrolled Nurse (SEN) dealing with clinical duties, rather than State Registered Nurse (SRN) course, the higher status route to better wages and management roles.
It was not uncommon for nurses from the Caribbean to be allocated to mental hospitals, and many found the going tough as both patients and staff could be forthright in their racism. The new nurses were often exploited, working night shifts and shouldering responsibilities beyond their SEN statusIn those days life for all nurses was strictly regimented. Matron was in charge,
and woe betide anyone who breached her rules, or whose starched uniform was not up to scratch. Patients were to be addressed formally, without the use of first names.
Once nurses married they had to leave hospital work, a rule that did not change until the late 1960s. By then up to 50,000 Jamaican nurses alone were working in the NHS.
"Our Answering the Call project is keen to hear from any former nurses from the Commonwealth with stories to tell about those days," says project co-ordinator Stella Man. "We hope to compile an oral history, and encourage them to engage with our work at the museum."
Stella says anyone wishing to be part of the project can call her on +44 (0)7968 869840, or call in at the Museum on Wednesday mornings and all day on Saturdays.
FRYS BOWLING CLUB
WITH April now upon us, the 2023 bowls season is soon to get under way. Following a busy winter, Frys Bowling Club in Keynsham look ahead to an exciting 2023. The opening game is our first ever ladies match with an away game at Victoria Park (Bristol) on Tuesday 11th April, with another 4 games scheduled throughout the season. Also new for 2023 is the Friday Triples League which Frys are re-entering after more than a decade out. The 22-game season commences with a home game against Knowle
on 14th April. Saturday friendlies begin on 15th April with a trip to Begbrook Green, with Wednesday friendlies starting on 19th April with a short trip to Sothert and Pitt. T
The Bristol and District League Division 2 season starts on the evening of Thursday 27th April with a tough home game against Redland Green, who were relegated from Division 1 last season. Various cup competitions make a busy June and July, with Friday 4th August seeing the annual Alsop Shield match, this year hosted by Keynsham, which Frys will be looking to regain after Keynsham took the shield last year. The
season culminates with the Bristol St Andrews Floodlit League where Frys will play in Division 2 following last season's Division 3 title.
Throughout the winter work has taken place on the green and clubhouse to get them ready for the season. We have also hosted 3 short mat sessions a week which have proved popular.
If you would like more information about Frys Bowling Club, please visit our website: www.frysbowlingclub.wixsite.com/frys, follow us on Twitter: @FrysBowls, or contact our secretary, Stephen Day, email: frysbowlsclub@gmail.com, tel: 01225 872959.
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