Hanham & Longwell Green Voice March 2023

hanham&longwellgreenvoice

March, 2023 Issue 77

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

New council budget delivers quality services and invests in future

South Gloucestershire Council’s new budget for 2023 to 2024 sets out investment plans of more than £838 million (gross) on services, over £132 million on capital and infrastructure projects, and allocates more than £267 million to schools, training and early learning in the district.

These are tough financial times for the council, as they are for all residents and businesses. Global forces have driven an increase in costs, reduced income and growing demand for services but thanks to sound management of public money in recent years with a focus on delivering efficiencies and value for money, South Gloucestershire is better placed than most other councils to deal with these pressures. That’s why parking remains free in all council-owned car parks across the district and why an extra £1million is going into ensuring the road network is properly maintained.

Investing in priority areas

Investing in schools and educational attainment has been the council’s top priority over the past few years, and the measures contained in the budget will enable this to continue in 2023 and beyond. The budget also commits to taking decisive action to tackle the climate crisis, invest in South Glos high streets to support local businesses, and to deliver vital infrastructure projects.

Your council is investing in:

• an extra £1 million for highways maintenance to improve some local roads earlier than planned.

• continuing the new Street Enforcement Service for a further two years to tackle environmental crimes, such as littering and dog fouling, following a successful pilot

• £1.5 million to deliver

further progress on the council’s response to the climate emergency

• supporting some rural bus services to continue while work is done across the region on transport options

• allocating a further £500,000 to help local people with the cost-ofliving crisis. It has also made money available to deliver a fast-tracked affordable housing delivery service.

View from the Leader of the Council, Cllr Toby Savage

WELCOME to this special edition of The Voice in which we bring you news of our new budget, the upcoming local elections, and details of cost-of-living support.

These are difficult financial times for the council and for our residents and businesses. I am very pleased that we have been able to produce a budget that continues to deliver the quality services that local people appreciate and rely upon. We will receive more than we anticipated from Government. This means that we can limit Council Tax rises and continue to deliver on our top priority, for all our young people to have the best possible start in life. It’s great to see our schools’ performances going from strength to strength.

There will be local elections in South Gloucestershire this May for district along with parish and town councillors. If you are not already, you must be registered to vote. For the first time, you’ll also need to take an accepted form of photo identification to vote at a polling station. Find out more and how to get help on page 3.

I’d like to thank The Voice, a wonderful local business, for a great partnership over the past few years. If you would like to get our latest news by email, please sign up for our weekly newsletter. You’ll find details on how to do this on page 3.

Cllr Steve Reade with the Road Maintenance team

Street Enforcement team and street cleaner

Investment in major projects and in young people

As well as delivering day-to-day services and support, your council will continue to invest in major infrastructure programmes and providing the best start in life to our young people. This includes:

• More than £37 million towards new primary and secondary schools in Lyde Green

• Over £14 million to improve Castle and Marlwood school buildings

• £3 million to increase the number of new homes for children in care to help them stay close to their local communities

• Nearly £3 million for a new community centre at Ladden Garden Village in Yate

• £2.7 million for community facilities in the east of Emersons Green

• More than £6.7 million to continue the re -

Services maintained

Public consultation took place on draft budget proposals, which helped refine the plans to ensure they reflect community priorities.

Combined with work by council officers, the following services will continue:

• the proposed increase in the garden waste subscription, from £30 to £55 will no longer happen

• the council will support Christmas light

generation of Kingswood High Street and surrounding area, including the Whitfield Tabernacle restoration

The council’s direct funding to local schools will increase by £15.2 million (8.1 per cent), with funding for children with additional needs rising by £5.2 million (11.5 per cent). The minimum funding for each pupil will be at least £4,405 for each primary school pupil and £5,715 for each secondary school child.

The continued investment in South Glos’s young people’s education, both at primary and secondary, is getting results. In December 2017, 72 per cent of students attended a good or outstanding school. By December last year (2022) this figure had risen to 90 per cent of students.

displays next year for areas that will become parished this year

• StreetCare Operations & Support Team which carry out road and grounds maintenance will not be reduced

• Members’ Awarded Funding and Area Wide Grants, which provide support to many local community groups and activities, will not be cut

• the Carers’ Grant will be maintained next year while work continues on a cross-party basis to develop an improved package of support

for carers

• planned CCTV upgrades in Chipping Sodbury will be brought forward to next year

• funding for the Taxi Marshal service will be maintained in response to local concerns about community safety.

Balancing the budget

All local authorities in the country are facing financial challenges and the council will implement changes to services to reduce costs by more than £24 million. This will in part be met by increasing income through fees and charges for services that are eligible.

Preserving some bus services

The council is also preserving some bus services using council reserves, much of which can only be spent on certain activities. These services include the 84/85 and 622 routes on an interim basis while work across the region continues on transport options

Cllrs Toby Savage, Erica Williams and Ben Burton with members of South Gloucestershire Council’s Community Learning & Skills team.

The joy of dance

Thousands of youngsters have enjoyed street dance classes in Hanham over the past 15 years. The current 3D dance groups staged a celebration concert. Photos: Page 11

SAVE OUR GREEN BELT!

A CAMPAIGN is building to fight a serious threat to Hanham’s green belt.

Developers Redrow want to put 149 homes on fields off Hencliffe Way, which protesters fear could lead to further housebuilding in open spaces.

Residents have been quick to voice their concerns, with nearly 1,000 signing a petition entitled ‘Hanham - Say No to Redrow’.

Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore, who has campaigned against building on the green belt since he was elected 13 years ago, has met local people and pledged

his support.

Redrow and Ashfield Land unveiled their proposals for the site, known locally as The Batch, in February in a three-week online consultation. They said residents’ comments on their ‘masterplan’ would shape their outline planning application, which they anticipate putting in to South Gloucestershire Council this spring.

But people who attended Hanham Abbots Parish Council on February 7 were advised not to answer the developers’ specific questions but simply to

state their opposition to housing development in the green belt.

The same advice came from Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society, who accused the developers of ‘fishing’ for information from locals to finesse their building plans.

The developers, however, say action has to be taken now because local authorities do not have a clear plan for how they will meet the acute need for housing in the region.

Full report: Pages 2 & 3

Woman missing for six months

Police have issued a new appeal for help in finding Denise Jarvis, 44, from Kingswood, who has been missing for more than six months. She was last seen in the Southey Park area on August 3.

PAGE 9

School remains Good – Ofsted

Redfield Edge Primary School is celebrating after again being judged Good by the education watchdog Ofsted.

PAGE 13

Funeral flowers offered for hire

Florist Laura Church, from Hanham, has started offering artificial funeral flowers for hire to help the environment and cut costs.

PAGE 23

Hanham & Longwell Green Voice contacts

Publisher Emma Cooper 0117 908 2121 / 07715 770448

sales@hanhamandlongwellgreenvoice.co.uk

Editor Linda Tanner 0777 0700579

news@hanhamandlongwellgreenvoice.co.uk

Erica Benson

Advertising Sales

0117 908 2121

sales@hanhamandlongwellgreenvoice.co.uk

April deadline

Our April edition deadline is March 22. To ensure your news or letter is included, please contact us by then. Advertisers are also asked to contact us by the same date.

Your views

Letters for publication can be sent to the above email addresses or by post to Letters, Hanham & Longwell Green Voice, 16 Ashmead Business Centre, Ashmead Road, Keynsham, BS31 1SX. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter.

Useful numbers

South Gloucestershire Council

www.southglos.gov.uk

01454 868009

Citizens Advice Bureau

0344 499 4718

Police

www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk

General enquiries: 101

Emergency: 999

Fire

www.avonfire.gov.uk

General enquiries: 0117 926 2061

Complaints

What opponents say

'This proposal is an attack on an area known for its beauty, wildlife and ecosystems.

It is a disaster for the local environment, residents and visitors who currently use this space.

This proposal is on top of the 200+ homes currently being built on the old Kleeneze site next to Hanham High Street putting even more pressure on overstretched public services in the area. If it goes ahead it will be yet another major development in the area in the last few years, with no increase or expansion to already oversubscribed services such as doctors, schools, roads, etc.'

Petition: Hanham - Say No to Redrow

'I’ve lived in the Hanham area for many years and the thought of building on this land is heartbreaking. We need to look after our precious countryside not build all over it.'

Online comment

'We are strongly opposed to building on green belt land including “The Batch”, green belt land behind Hencliffe Way, Water Lane/Bickley Close and Castle Farm Road in Hanham.

This area of green belt land has been under threat of development for many years.

Emergency: 999

NHS Health Call 111

Well Aware (health and social care information)

www.wellaware.org.uk

Freephone: 0808 808 5252

We are Bristol helpline

Freephone 0800 694 0184

Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm

Weekends 10am-2pm

Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Hanham & Longwell Green Voice, contact the publisher using the details below. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour.

Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

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

We have been in contact with South Glos Council and our local MP for some time and will be taking legal advice if required.'

Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society

'The proposed development is on green belt land and that should be good enough reason. In addition there is not the infrastructure and services that the additional inhabitants will require access to - schools, GP practices, NHS dentists, etc.. Access to the site is aiso inadequate. Any housing crisis will not be resolved by this proposed development; the homes will be priced too high or very few will be at a low price/shared ownership.'

Online comment

Developers: why we want to build on green belt

DEVELOPERS Redrow Homes and Ashfield Land say they want to build on a green-belt site in Hanham to help meet the acute need for housing in the Bristol area.

They concede that their proposals for 149 homes on a site off Hencliffe Way known as The Batch will be “a contentious issue and sensitive to local residents” but they say they have reviewed the “urban edge location” and consider it a good option.

The developers and their consultants Grass Roots Planning set out the proposals on a website launched in early February. They invited comments to help shape their planning application.

“We know that change can be concerning, and particularly where a site is in the green beltbut most people know someone that is struggling to get on the housing ladder and desperately in need of a home of their own.

Land south of Hencliffe Way

provides an excellent opportunity to deliver much needed market and affordable homes for the area in a sustainable location, and as such, we hope that you can support our proposals going

'Prepare for battle'

MP Chris Skidmore has urged residents to start straight away to build a campaign against the latest threat to the green belt. Meeting objectors at The Batch, he said he was confident that strong local opposition could defeat the proposed development.

He said the Hanham green belt was a vital "green lung" between Bristol and Bath and if it fell other agricultural land in the area could also be targeted for housing.

Conservative Mr Skidmore, who is standing down at the election, called for a cross-party campaign and said he would work with the Greens, Labour and the Lib Dems on the issue.

Hanham Abbots Parish Council has reiterated its opposition to building on green-belt land and will support residents if a planning application is made by Redrow and Ashfield Land.

forward.”

The scheme includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroomed homes,new woodland, a picnic and recreation area and a walking

and cycling link from the Avon Valley Woodlands Car Park.

The developers say the proposasls would meet the need both for smaller properties and for larger family homes. The housing would probably be traditional in design to match the "historic core" of Hanham,.

Forty per cent of the site would be formal public open space, which is a significant benefit of the scheme, they say.

The developers point out that South Gloucestershire does not have a current plan for where development should take place and that housing needs are so critical that they cannot wait for a Local Plan to be drawn up.

South Gloucestershire Council is likely to require the developers to fund an Environmental Impact Assessment to be considered alongside any planning application for the Hencliffe Way development site.

The site where Redrow wants to build 149 homes

Campaigners highlight dirty rivers

CAMPAIGNERS for swimming in the Avon at Conham River Park have been dealt a fresh blow.

Their attempt to have the area opposite Beese’s cafe granted Designated Bathing Water Status (DBWS), which were backed by a petition signed by more than 5,000 people, were turned down by the city council last year – but now the authority is going ahead with a trial scheme in late spring to allow swimming in Bristol harbour.

Up to 80 people will be allowed to pay £7 each to take part in the one-hour weekend sessions in a cordoned-off section of the city docks where there will be lifeguards, safety boats, and water quality sampling.

Becca Blease, from the Conham Bathing group, reacted to the proposed pilot on Twitter: “Now I see where our river pollution campaign (@Conham_bathing) went wrong when we asked the council to support an application for bathing water status in a different stretch of the same river (and were rejected). We clearly didn’t present it as a “business opportunity”.

Under current by-laws, swimming in any part of the river from the city centre up to Hanham Lock is not permitted. Mayor Marvin Rees said the trial scheme would

“allow us to assess whether or not we can provide a designated open water swimming area that is safe and financially sustainable”.

Conham River Park is a popular spot for wild swimming, despite sometimes suffering from pollution. The nearby Wessex Water sewer overflow at Beechwood Avenue, Hanham, regularly pumps untreated waste into the river, particularly when there is heavy rain. This can put users at risk of illnesses such as E.coli.

Obtaining DBWS would mean that signs would have to be displayed informing swimmers, paddleboarders and kayakers when the levels of pollution in the river were low enough to be safe for swimming.

Last month, the Conham Bathing group

launched an online monitoring tool that shows live and historical data about storm sewage overflows at four spots: Conham, Hanham and two sites in Keynsham. https:// www.conhambathing.co.uk/sewage-data

Meanwhile, another group of protesters has highlighted the problem of pollution in the River Avon and other waterways in Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Extinction Rebellion put up satirical plaques around Bristol Harbour, the River Frome and Keynsham, including a theatrical unveiling in Conham River Park by a parody of North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees Mogg as part of a national day of action.

The plaques highlighted what protesters say is the government’s continued failure to tighten environmental regulations and stop profit-grabbing by water companies.

Daniel Juniper, 27, spokesperson for Dirty Water Bristol said: “We’ve watched in horror as our rivers and seas have become open sewers since the government voted down a proposal to stop water companies pumping waste directly into our rivers and seas. These plaques shine a light on the government’s failure to protect our waterways, the natural world, and all of us.”

NHS dentist provision 'in death spiral'

DESPERATE residents are performing their own dental work because of a chronic shortage of NHS provision in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

Councillors said the system was in a “death spiral” with an increasing number of practices going private and dentists leaving the area or the profession altogether.

A foster daughter who moved to South Gloucestershire could not find a dentist and so had to return to Swindon for treatment while a family of Ukrainian refugees even travelled back to their war-torn homeland because they could be seen there quicker, a council meeting heard.

NHS bosses admitted there was a “workforce crisis” but they were trying “innovative” ways to improve the situation, including offering more favourable contracts to dentists.

But South Gloucestershire

health scrutiny committee members said they were not reassured and that wholescale changes were needed.

Kingswood ward Labour Cllr Andrea Reid said: “In terms of people performing their own treatment, we are way past that point. It’s not a future tense we are trying to avoid, it’s already happening.”

Frenchay & Downend ward

Conservative Cllr James Griffiths said: “My worry is about the health inequality of this. We’ve had local dentists go private and send a letter to all the residents saying,‘you’ve no longer got an NHS dentist and if you’ve got a family of four, please can we have £600 a year’, depending on the package.

“It’s a national problem and we are in a death spiral with it, and making small alterations isn’t going to resolve the big problem.

“It’s a death spiral because as

more and more people go over to the private sector, they can then pay them more, the NHS service gets worse each year and it will slowly degrade and more people will go over.”

He said dentists had told him they got paid between £30,000 and £60,000 a year more to treat the same patients privately than on the NHS.

New Cheltenham ward Labour Cllr Sandie Davis said: “In the last two weeks a foster carer with a new placement, a child from Swindon, has phoned every place in South Gloucestershire and surrounding area to try to find a dentist for this child.

“She is still travelling to Swindon for treatment.

“There is a family who took in some Ukrainian refugees and they couldn’t find a dentist so they travelled at Christmas back to war-torn Ukraine to see a dentist. It’s just shocking.”

Exam Invigilators needed

Our academies need exam invigilators, readers and scribers to assist with scheduled exams across the Federation, throughout the academic year.

To be successful within this role you will need to be flexible as you will be required to work across a variety of CLF academies at different times depending on each academy’s needs. This position will be paid on an hourly rate.

NHS England South West director of dental, specialised and health and justice commissioning Steve Sylvester told the meeting: “I fully recognise the challenges. It has been a longstanding matter.

“Our ability to control and influence practices is hampered. They are independent businesses in the main.

“We’re trying to secure more additional capacity and we are trying different pathways of care.

“It is hard, I’m not going to deny it, but we have a dental community who want to work with us now and we are listening to and supporting them.”

A report to members said adult patient numbers at NHS dentists in South Glos had fallen steadily and stood at 36.7 per cent in June 2022.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

We Are Hiring

Premises Assistant at Hanham Woods Academy Contract: Permanent, all year round Hours: Part-time/job-share (22.5 hours/week, evening shift 2pm – 6.30pm)

Are you practical and looking for a hands-on job with lots of variety? Are you semi-retired or looking to fit work around your training course? Are you reliable and organised?

If so, we can provide you with an exciting opportunity to play a very important part in the smooth and efficient running of Hanham Woods Academy by helping to provide a safe, secure and comfortable environment for the students and staff.

As Premises Assistant, you will be dependable, able to take instruction and work well as a member of a team. Previous experience in a maintenance type role will put you at a considerable advantage but is not essential.

We are a diverse multi-academy trust, looking for professional and ambitious people, with a passion for transforming our students’ learning.

Gymnastics academy confirms move date

A GYMNASTICS academy will be moving into its new home this spring.

Majestics will be moving from its current premises because of redevelopment but will be rehomed on the site of the former Grange school in Warmley as part of a £10 million regeneration.

The club will be closing its doors on Sunday, April 16 and the moving will start on the next day, Monday 17 and will continue throughout the last two weeks of April. Classes will resume on May 2.

Majestics directors Michelle George and Candice Littleton revealed that this is a “very exciting opportunity” for the club and all their gymnasts.

The new venue will have more of a hub feel with coaches training to be more inclusive and be able to offer a variety of sessions from baby yoga to

freestyle gymnastics.

The building has a new roof, heating systems and podium which will include pits. This setup will allow its programme to expand and offer more progression opportunities for the club’s recreational gymnasts through to their national gymnasts.

Michelle said: “We are excited to be building relationships with schools on the site to offer a wider curriculum based programme and fully inclusive sessions.

“The coaches have all been working on their own CPD interests and passions and are hoping to gain a head start of being able to implement some exciting new courses.

“We are so thankful to the council and public for the support we have received in providing a forever home.”

MP Chris Skidmore with Majestics owners Michelle and Candice

Concern grows for missing Denise, 44

DETECTIVES investigating the disappearance of Denise Jarvis, who’s been missing for more than six months, have made a renewed appeal for the public’s help.

Denise, 44, was last seen on the evening of Wednesday 3 August in the area of Southey Park, in Kingswood.

Since then, a thorough investigation has seen officers complete more than 700 actions and speak to about 70 of Denise’s contacts in the hope of finding her.

Extensive searches of the area where she was last seen have also been carried out, as well as other searches, some of which have involved the use of police divers while CCTV from the area has also been reviewed.

Detective Inspector Ben Lavender, the senior investigating officer, said: “We remain extremely concerned about the welfare of Denise.

“She has not been in contact with her family or friends since 3 August, and there is currently no evidence of her using a phone or accessing her bank account since this date.

“During the course of our inquiry we have reviewed dozens of hours of CCTV. While unfortunately we have not located any footage of her since she went missing, we have retrieved some from the days and weeks before.

“A CCTV image we’re releasing of Denise from 26 July shows the coat she was wearing when she was seen in Southey Park – a grey, thigh-length, sleeveless coat.

“We don’t expect people to remember seeing Denise six months ago but if seeing her coat does help jog someone’s memory then I urge them to get in touch.”

Detective Inspector Lavender added: “Enquiries are very much continuing and there will be further searches conducted, as we do everything we can to find out what happened to Denise.

“In addition, we’re continuing to review phone and

communications data, as well as past financial transactions, and are speaking with all known relatives, friends and associates of Denise.

“We did have a report of a recent sighting of Denise in Kingswood, which we are following up, and we’d encourage anyone with information to come forward as soon as possible. We’d ask people to contact us direct with all sightings, so we can follow them up as soon as possible.

'If you know where Denise is, please call 999 quoting reference 5222186376, or call 101 with any other information.

“We have also launched an online portal featuring our appeal, which will allow people to send information direct to officers working on this investigation. You can access the portal through this link: https://mipp.police.uk/ operation/5222C16-PO1

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Robbie sets his sights on music success

A STUDENT from Hanham is hoping for success with his fourth single.

Robbie Snowden, 22, received a boost when his ‘Don’t Tell Nobody was chosen as BBC Radio Bristol’s Track of the Week in January.

Robbie describes it as “a summer vibe song about a secret relationship with electro-pop synths and funky guitars” and BBC Bristol's John Darvall described it as "you know when they talk about wine, and they say 'ooo I can smell strawberries and charcoal, and tastes of summer fruits', this song sounds like summer, doesn't it?!”

Robbie also had an interview with Adam Crowther in the BBC studio on January 20.

The artists who have inspired the aspiring musician include Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber.

Robbie started music as a child and said that his dad, who plays the guitar and piano, was “adamant” about him following in his footsteps and signed

him up for guitar lessons at his primary school and also joined the local choir outside of school.

Robbie said: “I never studied music, it was always something I enjoyed doing on the side.

“I then tried writing my own lyrics at around 15 years old, I still enjoy it as much as I did then and it’s actually quite therapeutic - I find my best ones pop into my head at night when the world is quiet and I’ve got my headphones on, so I definitely consider myself a night owl.”

This year Robbie hopes to perform live and get signed.

He added: “Aside from the stacks of lyrics and voice recordings in my notes, I think what spurred me on to record was around 16 and 17 I started going to festivals, and nights out where you see how cool live music can be and how much energy there is.”

His next track is a rock-pop tune coming out next month called Rebounding.

Instagram @R_snowden

YouTube @RobbieSnowden

A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT QUARRY HOUSE NURSING HOME

Quarry House in Fishponds offers safe and nurturing care

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

Robbie with \ Adam Crowther at Radio Bristol

MORE than 250 pupils from 3D Dance took to the stage to celebrate the dance school's 15th anniversary.

Pupils of the school, based at Hanham Community Centre, danced in two sold-out shows. Dancers aged four to 18 performed routines that had been practised at weekly classes for months. School founder, Louise Hopton said: "All pupils had worked so hard completing

energetic and entertaining routines & we wanted to mark our 15 years in a special way!"

3D Dance offers street dance and theatre classes for all school age children as well as pre-school sessions, adult classes and senior exercise. New dancers are welcome.

I will always fight for Green Belt

I HAVE always championed the protection of our Green Belt countryside and – even before being elected – I was campaigning against the thengovernment’s hated Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), which would have concreted over our Green Belt countryside with around 10,000 houses.

A change in government saw the RSS scrapped in 2010, but history suggests that we should always be on our guard and the recent announcement from Redrow and Ashfield Land that they are seeking to build around 150 houses on Green Belt land in Hanham is a stark reminder.

Their plans appear to be a result of the Regional Mayor’s well-documented attempt last year to force South Gloucestershire to build 37,000 more houses – 10,000 more than

government figures suggest is needed to meet local demand. The Green Belt countryside around Hanham and Longwell Green was earmarked for several thousand new houses. Whilst South Gloucestershire Council blocked this plan from the West of England Combined Authority, the development industry were busy snapping up the land needed to meet the Mayor’s damaging target. They will now be trying their luck in putting their plans in before the council’s new Local Plan is published later this summer, which will re-confirm the importance of protecting the Green Belt.

In the meantime, I will be objecting to Redrow’s plans for The Batch site on behalf of the community and I commend the work of the Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society,

campaigners and local councillors in helping to raise awareness in the local community. Building more homes here without the necessary investment in services and infrastructure will just pile pressure onto already-stretched facilities.

When it comes to building the homes, jobs and infrastructure we need for local people, we should prioritise brownfield development and urban regeneration.

That’s why the regeneration of Kingswood town centre and sites like Kleeneze in Hanham and the old Grange site in Warmley are so important.

We shouldn’t see our precious green fields concreted over when empty brownfield sites remain in the area, which could provide the new affordable homes we so desperately need for the next generation.

Redfield Edge 'a kind and nurturing school'

AN Ofsted inspection has confirmed that Redfield Edge primary school in Oldland Common continues to be a good school.

A report from inspector Richard Vaughan following a two-day visit in December said that pupils enjoy attending “this kind and nurturing school”.

It continued: “They work hard for their teachers and play well together. Pupils learn well across a range of subjects. As a result, this is a happy, safe place for pupils to be.

"Leaders and staff share a passion for every pupil to do well.”

Among the strengths of Redfield Edge highlighted by Mr Vaughan were good pupil behaviour and a focus on personal development.

"Pupils enjoy forest school and sports, and learn to play musical instruments. Pupils relish their leadership roles such as being school councillors and mental health ambassadors. For example, pupils organise the sponsored ‘Row for Refugees’ and run laps of the school field to support the National Health Service," he reported.

He also praised the well sequenced curriculum, with an emphasis on reading.

He noted that staff were proud to work at the school and morale was high Headteacher Lisa Robinson said: “I am incredibly proud of the children and staff at Redfield Edge.

“The children continuously strive to be the best versions of themselves with the

support of a committed and passionate staff team.

“We were pleased that Ofsted recognised the hard work that has gone into developing an engaging and enriched curriculum in an inspiring setting where children feel safe and valued.”

Headteacher Lisa Robinson and pupils celebrate another successful Ofsted inspection

HANHAM AFTERNOON WI

FAMILY History was the subject of our talk this month. Mitch Carter, a local family man, became interested in this as a result of a project his daughter had started while in school over 20years ago. In his retirement he decided to continue the good work already started. Fortunately Mitch had a wife who was as fascinated as he was by the subject. He advised that anyone starting out should start with themselves and then parents and grandparents. His problems started from the beginning as it appeared none of his ancestors used their correct Christian names. This caused a lot of confusion and unnecessary searching. Also talking to relatives, one believed they were from Bristol, another from South Wales, but it unravelled to show they came from Devon. The message we were given was that any information received should be double checked in order to stop long searches.

Whilst Mitch and his wife began their searches through libraries, church records and censuses,

today it has become much easier to locate information. With the use of the internet, the records are mostly on line. Some free website and some which require subscription. However anomalies do occur as historically, people taking and giving information were not always accurate. Mitch and his wife have traced their family back to the mid 18th century and have over 4,000 names on their family tree, with the expectation that this will grow in the future.

Several of our ladies spent time with Mitch after the talk, finding out more information on the way to start or proceed with their own family history.

Our next meeting at Hanham Community Centre will be held on 13th March at 1.30pm. (second Monday in the month). The topic for this meeting is UK Calendar Customs. New members are always welcome, if you are interested please get in touch by email:- hanhamafternoonwi@ outlook.com or telephone 01179325027.

Ann Baulch

LONGWELL GREEN WI

For our February meeting we welcomed Megan Watts from the Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity. Last year some of our members did a bucket collection at Asda for this charity and Megan told us how the money is being used. The charity supports 10 local hospitals and helps to provide the "little extras" that make the adult and children patient's time in hospital better. A big project being undertaken by the charity is to equip a new research centre so they are busy fundraising for this. It was an interesting talk and it is always good to hear how money collected is helping the community.

We have a busy couple of months coming up. Our speaker in March is Fiona Edwards on "Working with Glass" and at the end of the month we are having a quiz night. In April we have our craft day, a visit to Fonthill garden centre for a demonstration and also our birthday party with a buffet and entertainment.

Trips to the Malvern Show

and the RNLI in Poole have also been booked so there is lots for members to do.

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.

Linda Muller

HANHAM EVENING WI

Julie Andrews would no doubt have been proud of the Branch as we took her famous song “Getting To Know You” as our theme when we welcomed back members for our first get together of the new

year in January. Moving away from the traditional meeting with a speaker we devoted the evening to “Speed Chat” an event which has proved successful for us previously. It is an informal evening which gives members the opportunity to mix and mingle and build new relationships by getting to know one another a bit better. Tables were set up at random around our meeting room and members were asked everyone to sit and chat for 10 minutes or so, not with their normal group of friends, but with familiar faces that they probably recognised but did not know quite so well. After 10 minutes we rang a bell to indicate to members to move on to new tables with fresh faces – a concept similar to speed dating.

The evening proved to be a success with members agreeing that they had made new friendships and learnt a lot about people they had not really spoken to before.

Four Candles? – Fork Handles? Who can forget that memorable sketch by the Two Ronnies? Well, the man who sold the original script in 2017 was Andy Stowe of East Bristol Auctions. who came along to our February meeting to tell us all about it – and much more.

Andy is one of our regular speakers and we were pleased to welcome him back. He did not disappoint and thoroughly entertained us with interesting anecdotes about items and memorabilia he has auctioned during his career. Andy told us that one of the first items of memorabilia he sold, and one of the most thrilling, was the script for the Four Candles sketch. It was penned by Ronnie Barker under his pseudonym Gerald Wiley and hand-written in red ink. It is

without doubt the “holy grail” for collectors.

May the 4th was an appropriate date for Andy to auction another of his favourites. This was yet another script but this time from a film and, yes, you have probably guessed it from the date – Star Wars. This was an original script owned by local personality Dave Prowse, aka the infamous Darth Vader.

Glasses worn by a man of vision was another item auctioned by Andy after Mahatma Gandhi’s glasses were found in his auction house letter box. They were left by a member of the public with a note explaining what they were and saying that if they were not of any value then they could be scrapped – they sold for over a quarter of million pounds,

The estate of Jason King actor Peter Wyngarde, including some of his outfits, was another favourite of Andy which, unexpectedly brought a lot of interest from showbiz personalities

It was hard to believe that as Andy told us auctioneering was not his chosen profession and he rather drifted into it – but what a success he has made of it!

It is tradition that as part our February meeting we have a charity sales table but instead, this year, we asked members for donations of toiletries such as shower/bath gel, shampoo, deodorants etc for a local charity to pass on to the people of Ukraine. At the end of the evening, we welcomed the chair of the Charity who came along to pick the donations. She also explained how the charity operates and said a few words of thanks to members for their contributions and efforts.

A fine end to a very pleasant evening.

Dianna Coles

Rodway reunion

A REUNION is being held for people who went to Rodway School in the 1960s.

It’s due to take place at Cleve Rugby Club on September 23 and anyone who was at the school between 1963 and 1972 is invited.

The organisers are

To find out more, contact Rodway2023@gmail.com

n WHAT'S ON

15th March

n TABERNACLE LADIES CIRCLE

2.00pm at Hanham United Reformed Church - Jean Davidge demonstrates the 'Art of Flower Arranging' - A warm welcome to everyone to join with us.

17th March

n FISH FRIDAY - Lunch served at 1.00pm at Hanham United Reformed Church followed by slides of info presented by Rev. Steve Loader, the Sailors Society Port Chaplain. To reserve a lunch table TEL: Ken 0117 9602077. Everyone most welcome.

07969 910 845

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 SESSIONS Hanham Community Centre. Friendly & welcoming. General Class 7-8pm. 6 weeks Beginners Class Starts 16 January 8-9pm. To book call Shula on 07949333548 or email yogashula@hotmail.com

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 more details please 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 for further details.

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.

Should you wish to receive advice in any area of family law, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

n PHARMACY BLOG

Look sharp! Your eyesight is precious

THE human eyes are amazingly able to differentiate approximately 10 million colours. Did you know the phrase ‘‘in the blink of an eye’’ is because the eyes are the fastest muscle in the body! The most common eye problem people visit the pharmacy for is conjunctivitis, or red/pink eye. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball. It rarely affects your vision.

The common symptoms include redness, pus that can stick to the lashes and is contagious, itchiness, a burning sensation, wateriness, a gritty feeling.

Conjunctivitis is generally caused by a bacterial or viral infection (known as infective conjunctivitis), an allergic reaction such as hay fever, a reaction to a chemical such

as chlorine or shampoo or an eyelash, or particularly affecting babies, a partially blocked tear duct.

Conjunctivitis symptoms usually last 7 – 10 days and should completely clear up within 2 weeks. Infective conjunctivitis can be contagious for up to 14 days from the start of symptoms. It is essential to do things that help ease your symptoms and stop the spread of conjunctivitis:

• Washing your hands with soap regularly, especially after touching your eyes

.

• Regularly clean any sticky discharge or secretions from your eyelids with cotton wool soaked in boiled and cooled water. (Use one piece for each eye to avoid cross infection).

• Place cool compresses (such as a flannel soaked in cold water) on the affected eye(s) to ease symptoms.

• Always store eye drops as

Loft Boarding & Insulation

directed on the package (not always in the fridge) and discard them as instructed – usually 28 days after opening - by returning them to a pharmacist for safe disposal.

Do not: rub your eyes; share towels: pillows or utensils (keep a separate towel, face cloth and soap for yourself.): allow anyone else to use any ointment or drops you are using; wear a contact lens in the affected eye(s) until all symptoms and signs of infection have gone, and any treatment has been completed for 24 hours. The Ellacombe pharmacy team, where appropriate, can recommend and provide antibiotic eye drops, including for children under two years. Seek an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if a baby less than 28 days old has conjunctivitis. Also, speak with your GP if your symptoms have not cleared up after two weeks, you experience pain in your

eyes, sensitivity to light, changes in your vision, like wavy lines, flashing or very blurred vision, very red eye/ eyes or Spots or blisters on your eyelids

Sight is consistently recognised as the sense people fear losing the most. So we must take good care of our eyes. Take your sight test every two years or more frequently if advised by your optometrist.

Woman fined for littering

A BRISTOL woman has been ordered to pay a total of £708 after South Gloucestershire Council prosecuted her for littering in Kingswood.

Alison Godfrey of Green Croft in Speedwell, Bristol, failed to attend Bristol Magistrates Court for the hearing on Monday 23 January but was found guilty in her absence and convicted for the offence of littering. She was ordered to pay £220 fine, with £400 costs and £88 victim surcharge, total of £708.

The court heard that on 20 June council street enforcement officers were on uniformed patrol on Regent Street in Kingswood when they noticed Godfrey on the opposite side of the road.

She was walking in the direction of the Kings Chase shopping centre, and after passing a pub and roadside bin, she threw a cigarette on to the floor, making no attempt to retrieve it and place it in the bin she had just passed. She then

Unprofitable buses axed

entered a nearby bank.

One of the officers waited outside the bank, and when she emerged they pointed out the offence she had just committed, however she was dismissive and walked away without providing any details. Later she was seen returning to a parked car and the officer again approached her and requested her details. This time she obliged and was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for the offence of littering.

Subsequent checks showed that she has failed to make any payment against the fixed penalty to date, so prosecution for the offence of littering was progressed through the court.

Councillor Rachael Hunt, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Cigarette ends are unsightly, and harm the environment, taking between 18 months and 10 years for their component parts to decompose."

A BUS service linking Kingswood to Southmead Hospital is facing cuts from April.

The 17 is one of 42 subsidised services to see its funding cut following a meeting of the West of England combined authority on January 18, as the region’s political leaders blamed each other and the government for the reductions.

Most of the buses on the 17 route are run on a commercial basis and operator First has not announced any plans to cut them. However, evening services after 9pm on Monday to Friday, and later Saturday services after 8pm will lose funding as a result of the vote.

A spokesperson for First West of England said: "Service 17 is largely a commercially-operated service between Southmead and Kingswood, with only a small number of late evening journeys with very low passenger numbers being operated on a tendered basis.

"It is these journeys that will no longer operate from April 2 as the combined authority has decided not to continue funding them. We will continue to operate the rest of the service."

First was due to announce changes to its timetabled commercial services, which will also come into force in April, at the end of February, but had not confirmed any as the Voice went to press.

January's WECA meeting saw West of England mayor Dan Norris blame the leaders of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and B&NES councils for not paying enough towards supported services, with this year’s increase to their transport levy less than inflation, while council leaders accused WECA of wasting money.

Mr Norris said: "At the moment we have about £20 a head per year for our transport levy, and that compares to the ones at the top of the combined authorities in other parts of the country, that are £60 a head."

Flexible working to fit around you and your commitments.

A commitment to your development and wellbeing – receive training and support to equip you with the skills you need to succeed.

Access to a range of full NHS benefits

(including generous holiday allowance and pension).

We’re here to support you - Health and wellbeing for our colleagues is at the forefront of everything we do.

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

£15 increase will help to close the funding gap

THANK you to those of you who completed my precept survey and shared their thoughts about my proposal to increase the policing part of the council tax by £15 a year for the average band D household.

A couple of weeks ago, the Police and Crime Panel supported this proposal to increase the precept.

This funding will help reduce the impact of Avon and Somerset Police’s funding gap, but will still leave a projected deficit of £3.4 million in the year 2023/24 and £7.10 million in the year 2024/25.

Inflationary increases, combined with limited additional funding from central Government, have left a funding gap that, without the precept increase, would have resulted in significant cuts to police staff and services.

I know that many households are facing difficult financial circumstances. However, as

your PCC, it would have been irresponsible not to address the policing service’s funding gap and help reduce this deficit while I had the opportunity.

We will be using the £3.4 million reserve funding to address the shortfall so that the chief constable has capacity to develop a sensible savings programme while still delivering an effective, efficient and legitimate service.

Moving on, I want to touch on the brilliant work that Avon and Somerset Police’s fraud and cyber protection team do protecting and preventing people falling victim to fraud.

The fraud and cyber protect officers provide training, advice and guidance to individuals and businesses across Avon and Somerset and, in innovative ways, make sure to get prevention messages to people who need to know them.

Fraud is so vast and there’s so much to consider when tackling this crime. Sadly, a high proportion of fraud victims are repeat victims. By providing extra support to these residents, the aim is to prevent future crimes. We need to continue to raise awareness about the different types of fraud and what to do if you’re targeted, to ensure everyone is resilient and resistant to scammers’ methods.

I also want to acknowledge the ongoing work of Avon and Somerset Police officers in keeping our roads safe. Last December, officers took part in Operation Tonic, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s winter drink and drug driving operation.

The force has recently published the results from this week of action, which reveal that between November 21 and December 31, 346 drink and drug drive arrests were made.

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford

I am shocked at the number of people who, despite warnings from the police, got behind the wheel under the influence.

There is no excuse to drink and drive at any time of the year - by doing so, you’re putting your own life and others’ at risk.

Please do tell Avon and Somerset Police if you suspect drink/drug driving is happening, and help us keep our roads safe.

‘I enjoy it so much. The girls are lovely and I feel I’m doing something worthwhile. It’s amazing!’ Tayba, leader

Robbery in park

POLICE have stepped up patrols in Kingswood Park after a man was robbed on a Sunday afternoon.

The attack took place between 3 and 4pm on February 5. A man walking in the park, off Edward Street, was approached by a man wearing a balaclava. The unknown man stopped and searched the victim’s clothing, taking cash and a watch, before leaving the scene.

The offender is described as white, 6ft 1ins, of slim build. It is believed he has curly, blond hair which was sticking out from under the balaclava. Police ask anyone who saw the incident, or someone who matches the description, to contact them.

Celery, apples, walnuts, grapes!

WITH news that John Cleese is set to revive his classic sitcom Fawlty Towers, my mind instantly turned to a recent valuation day in which we uncovered something rather special - an original script.

Television memorabilia is hugely collectable, especially if its from one of the 'classic' programmes that everyone loves. The more popular the show, the more collectable the memorabilia. Only Fools & Horses is usually first on that list - which a huge and seemingly unending fan base. Fawlty Towers - prior to us selling the aforementioned scriptwas relatively untested in terms of items available for fans to buy.

Only twelve episodes of Fawlty Towers were ever made, which means there is an extremely limited amount of surviving scripts. Compared to something like Doctor Who which had hundreds of episodes, for example. This particular script was for the episode ‘Waldorf Salad’ in which a rather brash guest demands a Waldorf Salad for his dinner – something that Basil the hotel owner is unable to make. A very popular episode, and my personal favourite from the series.

The script had been found by our client in a drawer when clearing out items from a recently deceased family member, and he had decided to bring it along to one of our valuation events in the middle of last year. Television scripts from 1970s sitcoms tend to sell for around the five-hundred pounds mark, but because Fawlty Towers is one of ‘the’ classics – we placed an estimate of one thousand to two thousand pounds.

The script ended up selling for a record-breaking twelve thousand pounds! Previously, the known record for a sitcom script at auction was ten thousand (a full cast signed script from the famous Jolly Boys Outing episode of Only Fools & Horses – if you were wondering!)

I can only hope the remake of Fawlty Towers has the same success!

Contact

Contact your local Slimming World Consultant and join a friendly and super-supportive group today!

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

Andy Stowe East Bristol Auctions

The Fawlty Towers script, which sold for £12,000

Funeral flowers for hire

A FLORIST has made it her mission to reach families at a time of need and enable them to have a floral tribute at a price they can afford.

Laura Church, from Hanham, makes her funeral flowers from high quality silk and is able to do the tributes in any colour, making it personal and meaningful to the loved one that has passed.

It’s also better for the environment. Laura said: “A lot of funeral flowers will eventually end up in the bin, or at least the plastics will.

“Because we reuse our arrangements, we massively save on wastage. The flowers you hire will one day go on to serve and comfort another family in their time of need.”

To avoid additional stress on the day, Laura can deliver straight to the funeral home and will also arrange a collection of the flowers with the funeral home.

She is in the process of doing a price

list, but for now as an example - a fresh flower 'mum' tribute will cost £150 and an artificial silk flower 'mum' tribute will cost £50.

Laura started this hire out scheme to help families who may struggle to buy fresh flowers for loved ones in the current climate and the rising cost of flowers. She thought now would be the perfect time to start as she is “passionate” about making flowers more affordable.

She added: “This is going really well at the moment, the orders are coming in fast now and the feedback I have had has been very positive.

“All the artificial tributes I have done so far have all had brilliant reviews, one customer said I was their only hope in getting flowers for their loved one’s funeral.”

For more information search Laura Church’s Facebook page: LJChurch Flowers & Plants

NEWS

150 years of the chocolate Easter egg

WHAT’S your favourite chocolate treat? A Mars Bar? A KitKat? An Aero, or perhaps a Fry’s Chocolate Mint Creme?

As winter turns to spring, it’s not just budding daffodils that are appearing. No, it’s Easter eggs showing up in all good West of England shops, too!

I love seeing Easter eggs displayed every year, because we live in the place where the hollow chocolate egg was invented.

And this year there’s an eggs-tra reason to celebrate - because it was exactly 150 years ago that it happened.

When I nipped to the local shops on my travels last week and got chatting to staff busy putting a huge range of eggs on shelves, I told them that Fry’s chocolate makers - who started out in Bristol but later moved their factory to Somerdale, Keynsham, having merged with Cadbury - came up with the idea of the hollow chocolate egg.

The Fry family’s innovation was to

make chocolate by mixing cocoa fat with cocoa powder and sugar. This made a super-smooth paste, which could be poured into egg moulds.

These new eggs were just as tasty but lighter than solid continental eggs, which made them easier to afford.

People couldn’t get enough of these new egg-shaped chocolate treats, and it wasn’t long before they were selling all over the world.

I love it when something that starts out as a new idea in our great region goes global - now as well as back in 1873. It’s a tradition we need to keep going!

In acknowledging our local history of chocolate manufacturing in the 18th and 19th centuries, we also need to recognise its ugly side, for sugar and cocoa grown on Caribbean plantations exploited and abused people of African descent, who were forced into slave labour.

While it is true that Quakers in the UK, like the Fry and Cadbury families, helped

lead the anti-slavery movement, it is also correct to say that not every Quaker held this view, particularly in America.

Despite the closure of the Fry’s/ Cadbury factory at Keynsham just over a decade ago, our region is today home to many, many independent chocolate makers - using creative talent and ethical practices including Fairtrade chocolate.

The commitment from chocolate companies to learn from the past actions, both good and bad, of their predecessors is encouraging and very important.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

n SPORT

KEYNSHAM BOWLING CLUB

At the start of last year, the parks department of Bath and North East Somerset Council carried out an online survey to seek people’s views on Keynsham Memori-al Park.

This ran for eight weeks up to March 29 and prompted 668 responses, of which 84% were from Keynsham residents.

There were a number of questions, but the one of interest to members of Keynsham Bowling Club read: “Which areas of the park are you particularly satis-fied/dissatisfied with?”

Of 14 stated areas, the highest percentage for “very satisfied” was 17.07% for the bowling club, followed by the tennis courts at 13.82%. Club members have always prided themselves on the way the area is maintained, particularly with summer floral displays, and it is good to note this is appreciated by the public.

As we get closer to the start of a new season, regular social events take place in the clubhouse.

About 60 members attended an evening of magic by Bristol-based Magic Circle member Paul Preager, who provoked gasps of amazement and laughter from the audience.

During the show, there was a break for supper prepared by Lynne, Louise, Sally and Sheila. Our photograph shows those attending giving Paul a wave for a most entertaining evening.

Mike Barrow

Local elections in South Glos

Make sure you vote

Local elections will be held in South Gloucestershire on Thursday 4 May this year, for all 61 district councillors for 28 district wards, that make up South Gloucestershire Council, as well as 492 councillors for 50 town and parish councils. This includes deciding on the representatives for the newly created parish councils for Charlton Hayes, Stoke Park and Cheswick, and Staple Hill and Mangotsfield, along with the new town council for Kingswood.

Make sure you vote to have your say in how your local area is run.

Registering to vote

To vote in the May local elections, you will need to make sure you have registered to vote by the 17 April deadline.

You can register to vote on the GOV.UK website or contact the council by emailing electoral.services@southglos.gov.uk, calling 01454 863030 or visiting one of the council’s One Stop Shops where you can get a copy of the form to register or help from the customer service team.

Find out more on the council’s website southglos.gov.uk/vote

Did you know you now need photo ID to vote?

You will need to show photo identification (ID) when voting at a polling station. This is a new government requirement which will affect the South Glos local elections in May. Lots of photo IDs are acceptable, including some passports, driving licences, blue badges, and some bus passes. Check the full list of acceptable photo ID on our website. If you haven’t got one of these, or you no longer look like the photo on your ID, or the name on your photo ID is different to your name on the electoral register, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. You will need to do this by the 25 April deadline. You can apply for the certificate using the government portal.

Alternatively, the council can help you apply in person at its Badminton Road offices where someone can take your photograph and submit your application online for you. Call 01454

863030 to make an appointment which will be during normal office hours. Find out more about Voter ID on the council’s elections and voting webpages southglos.gov.uk/vote.

Postal votes

If you cannot get to the polling station on 4 May or if it is more convenient, you can apply to vote by post. Anyone can apply for a postal vote, but you need to apply before 18 April. You won’t have to provide voter ID unless you have lost your postal vote and need to be issued with a new one. You will need to complete an application form on the Electoral Commission page. Postal votes can be sent to your home address or to any other address where you’ll be staying on the day of the election, including abroad.   We can’t guarantee timings of post sent abroad so you may wish to register to vote by proxy so someone else can vote on your behalf. Find out more about postal and proxy votes at southglos. gov.uk/vote.

Could you be a councillor?

Why not stand as a councillor in South Gloucestershire? It’s varied, highly fulfilling and a great way to make a real difference, whether by supporting individual residents with issues or helping your local community by driving new ideas. You could represent local people’s views on a whole range of things from planning applications through to local services. People from all backgrounds and experiences who can reflect their communities are needed.

You do not have to be a member of a political party to stand for election - you can also be an independent councillor. Councillors receive training so you will receive plenty of support. You will be paid an allowance and you can work flexibly.

There are a number of eligibility criteria that need to be met by anyone wishing to stand as a candidate for South Gloucestershire Council or one of the area’s parish and town

councils. Anyone wishing to stand for election must submit a nomination by 4pm on 4 April. Details and guidance on standing for election and nomination papers can be found on the Electoral Commission website. For more information on standing for election call 01454 863030, email electoral.services@ southglos.gov.uk or write to Electoral Registration, PO Box 1953, Badminton Road, Bristol, BS37 0DB.

Difficulties paying bills? Your council can help

Many people are worried about the rising cost of living and prices, in particular energy bills. If you are struggling to pay your bills, you may be able to get help from your council. It is allocating a further £500,000 to help people with the cost-of-living crisis.

The council’s support includes grants to help with energy, other household bills and home insulation. It can help if you are having difficulties paying council tax. And your child may be able to get free school meals if you are on certain benefits.

If you would like to talk to the council and check what financial support may be available for you, call its freephone helpline 0800 953 7778 (open 8.45am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.30pm Friday). Alternatively, you can book an appointment at one of the One Stop Shops by emailing OSSAppointments@southglos.gov.uk. There is also lots of information on the council’s help with the cost-of-living webpage southglos.gov.uk/CostofLiving.