Henleaze & Westbury Voice November 2022

Cheers!

Day returns

THE annual Apple Day public event made a welcome return to Horfield Organic Community Orchard (HOCO).

The first time the event has been held for a few years saw a big turn out with scores of people coming along to find out more about apples.

One stand had 17 different apples on display offering a taste of English apples of yesteryear .Funds were raised for the organic orchard with the sale of trees and apple juice as fascinated onlookers saw the apple press in action squeezing every last drop out of the produce grown by the orchard.

Entertainment was provided by the Pigsty Morris dancers.

This community celebration

takes place when most of the longer keeping apples have been harvested - good news for the tasting table.

“It is often said the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. I say the next best time is this autumn,” says

Shannon Smith, the Orchard learning co-ordinator. She adds, “Late autumn is the ideal season because the trees are dormant and the soil is moist and warm. These are perfect conditions for young trees to get their roots into the earth.”

Unicorns set to hit city streets

Artists are being invited to submit designs for decorated unicorns for a charity trail in Bristol next summer .

Outrage over hidden cameras

Residents are angry that Cotham School has installed secret cameras at Stoke Lodge playing fields.

Nursery rated inadequate

Manor House Nursery in Southmead Road has been judged inadequate by Ofsted, with children's safety at risk. However, inspectors said a new manager was making changes.

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More than100 sites found for new trees

NEW trees are to be planted on Horfield Common.

The idea is to devise a treeplanting plan that covers the area stretching from the Ardagh to the leisure centre on Dorian Way.

Local people will be asked for their approval of the scheme before planting, which it is hoped will begin this winter.

Bristol City Council, in partnership with the Friends of Horfield Common and with help from local residents and the Forest of Avon Trust, has been working on a draft planting plan to cover Horfield Common.

Over one hundred standalone, specimen tree locations have been identified across the area including a community orchard close to the Ardagh.

The tree planting consultation is currently live. Comments can be made via email to onetreeperchild@ bristol.gov.uk or by post to OTPC, Blaise Nursery, Kings Weston Road, Bristol, BS11 0XF.

All comments need to be made by Friday November 18.

Following a positive community consultation and

successful funding application, tree planting will take place during the 2022-23 winter planting season by our One

Useful numbers

Bristol City Council 0117 922 2000 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 Emergency: 999

Complaints

Tree per Child planting team –planting dates will be announced to allow community members to be involved.

NHS Health Call 111

Well Aware (health and social care information) www.wellaware.org.uk Freephone: 0808 808 5252

are Bristol helpline Freephone 0800 694 0184 Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm Weekends 10am-2pm

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A member of the

Some parking charges set to double

price increases to stay in Bristol City Council’s car parks and city centre on-street spaces have been approved – with some fees doubling.

Cabinet members agreed the rises in early October saying they were necessary to encourage people to use public transport, walk and cycle.

But the changes are expected to persuade as few as one in 10 drivers to leave cars at home while bringing an extra £1.6million a year into council coffers, a report to cabinet said.

The biggest hikes are for longer stays, with four hours on-street going up from £6 to £12, while one-hour stays remain at £4 with the aim of supporting shops and leisure activities with quicker turnover.

Off-street car park charges for shorter stays will generally increase by two-thirds from £1.50 to £2.50 an hour, with parking up to four hours now costing £10 in total instead of £6 at present, making it the most expensive for a major city outside London, and all-day stays up from £13.50 to £18, cheaper only than Manchester and Cardiff.

This will affect Trenchard Street, West End, Temple Gate, Portwall Lane, The Grove, Redcliffe Parade, Mardyke Wharf, Lower Guinea Street and College Street car parks.

The new prices will also apply at the Maritime Heritage Centre, although motorists can also stay here for five hours for £12.50, but the SS Great Britain visitor discounts will be scrapped, with parking set to cost £5 instead of £3.

Bristol First car park allows stays up to four hours, which will rise similarly from £6 to £10 before 6pm when permit holders only are allowed.

Fees will double from 50p to £1 an hour at district car parks Diamond Street, Hereford Street, Little Paradise, Sheene Road, Brunel Lock. Charles Place, McAdam Way and Oldfield Place in line with recent increases to on-street pay-and-display tariffs in the adjacent Residents’ Parking Scheme (RPS) area.

The report said Queen Square and Brunswick Square charges will mirror the £3-an-hour onstreet tariff because it is “difficult for customers to distinguish between on- and off-street spaces”.

All the changes will come into force in January or February and do not require consultation, unlike a second phase of proposed increases at Frog Lane and Wapping Wharf car parks where the pricing structure is out of kilter.

The plan is to bring Frog Lane in line with College Street, and Wapping Wharf to match Maritime Heritage Centre, to “make our charges more transparent, more consistent and easier for the public to understand”, but this requires the authority to seek the public’s views because it means changing a traffic regulation order rather than a direct uplift.

Permit and pay-and-display charges in RPS areas are not affected by the changes, which the report said may disproportionately affect older people, pregnant women and

new parents.

Labour cabinet member for transport Cllr Don Alexander told the meeting: “The increase reflects the inflationary costs that impact the provision of parking and also our enforcement function.

“We make increases based on our transport policy, and our policy is that we want driving not to be a cheap way of coming into

the city, we want to encourage people to use other modes.

“Bus fares have gone up and we want to make our park-andrides more competitive, and we are working on more bus prioritisation and active travel measures, so we are making that shift.

“We want to encourage shopping and leisure activities by offering short-stay parking.”

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Create a design for unicorn sculpture trail

APPLICATIONS to decorate unicorn sculptures for Bristol’s next public art trail are now open.

Artists are being encouraged to join the likes of Bristol artists Inkie and Jenny Urquhart to submit up to two imaginative design ideas by December 1.

Organisers say this is an excellent opportunity for regional artists to build recognition, whilst bringing a smile to the faces of all who behold the enchanting figurines next summer.

Unicornfest will see a giant herd of unicorn statues descend across Bristol from July 1 to September 3 as part of an effort to raise awareness and funds for Leukaemia Care UK. It will form a key part of the 650th anniversary of Bristol celebrations.

Go Panda, one of Unicornfest’s first sponsors, have been transporting the ‘blessing’ of unicorns round the city for

press photography. Sponsor numbers are increasing with the likes of Huboo, West Country Water Park and Gloucester Cricket recently secured. The level of interest indicates these mythical creatures will be popping up at all sorts of places next summer.

West Country artists are

being encouraged to be as creative as possible with their designs; anything ranging from attractive mosaics to intricately painted scenes are welcome. A nod to Bristol heritage will inevitably being well received. Submissions will be shortlisted at the beginning of next year and put into a Unicorn Artists

Portfolio for sponsors to opt for their favourite design. After the matchmaking is complete in February, commissioned artists and sponsors will have the opportunity to collaborate on finalising their designs.

Joining the main herd are a mini herd of metre-tall unicorn foals. These are available to schools, who are invited to pledge a minimum of £750 for Leukaemia Care to secure a foal.

Unicornfest education packs have been devised with educational partner Bridging Histories for any school, college, nursery or university committing to the Unicorn project.

Once the nine-week trail comes to an end, the mystical beasts will be rounded up for the Unicornfest Auction Preview Festival in late September. This will be followed by a charity auction in aid of Leukaemia Care in he first week of October.

Register your interest via https://theunicornfest.co.uk

Ardagh footpaths appeal

THEArdagh café, bowling green and gardens prove immensely popular every day with scores of people, young and old, enjoying this magnificent oasis in busy north Bristol.

Now the Ardagh Community Trust charity, which runs the place, says urgent work needs to be done concerning the footpaths around the site. Some cracks in the tarmac are deemed dangerous. There are barriers at some places around the bowling green and one of the paths there has an undulation that is reminiscent of a roller coaster. It’s feared that parts of the site may have to be closed off if path safety cannot be repaired.

A crowdfunder has been started with a target of £10,000 which will be matched pound for pound by Sport England. They are interested because the improvements will include re-surfacing one of the tennis courts which has been closed and the plan is to install two basketball hoops – requested by local young people.

The crowdfunder already has £2000 of the target but the deadline of November 2 fast approaches. https://tinyurl.com/mur2b8su

IT’S been a long time coming but Bristol’s Clean Air Zone begins on Monday November 28.

Vehicles won’t be banned from the central area but polluting vehicles will be charged.

Bristol City Council says that almost three quarters of the cars owned by local people will already comply with the clean air standard and so won’t have to pay the charge of £9 per day. Heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches will be charged £100 a day for entering the central zone.

The council says it has secured

It's almost time for Clean Air Zone

£42 million of government money to help people financially to buy newer cleaner cars and vans for business use.

People can apply for temporary exemptions if they live or work within the CAZ and earn less than £27,000 a year, if they are Blue Badge holders, if they are patients attending hospitals in the zone.

Financial help is available to help people

upgrade their vehicle to a newer less polluting model. Newer cars made after 2006 generally comply and won’t be charged – you need to check if yours qualifies. This even applies to diesel cars and vans if they are newer than the end of 2015. Motorcyles are exempt.

Full details of the scheme and the idea behind it at https://www.bristol.gov.uk/ residents/streets-travel/bristols-caz

Get set for North Bristol Arts Trail

THE annual North Bristol Art Trail takes place on the weekend of November 25-27 in venues around Bishopston, Redland, Horfield, St Andrew’s, Ashley, and Henleaze.

A total of 110 artists will be showing their work in homes and community venues.

Now in its 21st year, the trail is one of the most important events in the Bristol art calendar. The artists taking part are a mixture of professionals and amateurs, and they have so much that they want to share with you. Taking a walk around the trail you will find paintings, prints, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, photography, textiles and much more. There will be something to suit all budgets, from larger original pieces to inexpensive gifts and greetings cards.

But an art trail is not just about buying art. The North Bristol Artists are passionate about being creativeand sharing

their work. Many artists will be raising money for charity over the

art trail weekend. Some will be donating the money raised from the sale of artwork to their

chosen charity, while others will be providing refreshments to raise money. A spokesman said: "The North Bristol Artists know how lucky they are to be able to spend time on their art, the thing that they love. Using their art to raise money for good causes is a way of helping others too."

Some venues will be offering refreshments and music. You can find out all about the artists taking part in this year’s trail and the venues where they will be showing their work at www. northbristolartists.org.uk.

Art trail maps will be available to pick up from shops and cafes around the trail area from the beginning of November. In the meantime, keep up with all of the NBA news by following North Bristol Artists on social media and signing up for the email newsletter on the website.

It was obvious that for each carer, looking after Mum was a labour of love and she looked forward to their visits. The care and kindness shown by them all was so helpful and welcome.

Mr B, client’s son

A work by LauraRobertson, one of 110 artists taking part in the trail

Row as secret cameras are used at playing fields

THE long-running battle over access to Stoke Lodge open space has taken a new turn following the discovery of hidden security cameras.

Cotham School, which uses the site as playing fields, has admitted installing two “covert” cameras in January on the advice of the police in an effort to deter vandalism.

But campaign group We Love Stoke Lodge says 24/7 surveillance is not proportionate or justified. It says that the cameras point at the fields rather than at the fence, which the school installed nearly four years ago, and are recording legitimate users of the space.

The group is demanding that the cameras be removed and has won backing from Bristol North West MP Darren Jones and ward councillors John Goulandris and Henry Michallat.

In a letter to the school, the councillors said they had been “inundated with emails and telephone calls from anxious residents, who are, understandably, very concerned at being filmed without their consent and without notice of the covert CCTV”.

The community group, which has been battling since 2011 to have Stoke Lodge playing fields turned into a town or village green, said in a statement on October 5 that two cameras had been found behind specially

drilled holes in a metal junction box close to the gate near Stoke Lodge House and the children’s play park.

“This is obviously a matter of serious concern for all users of the playing fields whose right to respect for private and family life has been compromised without their knowledge,” a spokesman said.

The group challenged the school to confirm and publish evidence that it had appropriate authorisation to conduct surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in respect of these particular cameras.

Cotham School said in a statement that it had sought advice from police after “persistent criminal damage” including more than 25 incidents between July 2018 and December 2021.

“This disappointingly takes vital school funds away from the education of our students to cover the cost of the necessary repair to ensure that our students have an offsite sports provision which is able to be secured and remains fit for purpose,” the school said.

As a result of the two covert cameras, which were being used “reluctantly” to find perpetrators, one individual had been cautioned after being seen to damage school

property more than ten times, costing Cotham £4,000, the statement said.

It concluded: “Both cameras remain fully operational to allow us to continue to collect evidence to pass to the Police as the criminal damage to our property continues to persist.”

Stoke Lodge playing fields were sold to what is now Bristol City Council in 1947 to be used for educational purposes.

Cotham School was granted a 125-year lease in 2011 to use the site and in early 2019, in spite of local objections, it fenced off the playing fields. In April 2020, Cotham School sought planning permission for a pole with a CCTV camera on it. This application is yet to be decided by Bristol City Council.

In his letter to the council, Darren Jones said installation of covert cameras was a breach of data protection law obligations and may be a breach of other legislation relating to surveillance and the use of CCTV cameras.

" I’m genuinely at a loss to understand why Cotham School thought this an appropriate thing to do, not least given that you are currently requesting planning permission from Bristol City Council for more traditional CCTV.”

The school said its governors had approved changes to its data protection impact assessment in relation to covert CCTV.

'Children's safety put at risk'

THE Manor House nursery on Southmead Road has been found to be inadequate in an Ofsted inspection in August. The inspectors have written that the safety of the children is a concern. A previous inspection rated the nursery as “Good”.

"Children's safety is put at risk. Some staff are not able to identify signs that may indicate safeguarding concerns.The designated safeguarding leads do not always recognise when to escalate concerns about children's welfare to other agencies and professionals," says the report.

Additionally the quality of the education offered, the behaviour and attitudes of the children, their personal development and the leadership and management were all deemed to be inadequate.

“Staff do not plan a curriculum that builds on what children know and can do

to address what they need to learn next. Children spend the day playing contentedly but are not supported or encouraged by staff to develop new skills and knowledge. Some children spend large amounts of time playing silently by themselves and are not helped to choose activities that are appropriate for their stage of development.

“Consequently, most children are not adequately challenged or stimulated. They do not learn to concentrate or develop positive attitudes to learning and do not

make good enough progress in preparation for later learning, including school.

“Partnerships with parents are ineffective. Leaders and staff do not share important information with parents about their children, such as their achievements, next steps in their learning and changes to the staff team. The manager is keen to address this and has already made plans to improve communication with parents. “

The report recognised that a new manager had ambitious plans that had yet to be implemented and that these would produce improvements.

The nursery school looks after 60 children with a staff of 16.

In a statement, the nursery said: "Manor House is not prepared to comment on Ofsted reports other than to say that we consider our procedures regarding child safety to be completely sound. We are working closely with Bristol City Council to ensure all policies are up to date and they meet statutory requirements.

"Having shared the report with our parents, we have received positive responses, they feel that their children are safe and secure at Manor House. We continue to build on an inclusive nurturing environment that promotes independence and resilience."

Playgroup praised

Fallodon Playgroup, which meets in the scout hut on the corner of Fallodon Road has been judged by Ofsted to be Good in all aspects of provision.

An inspection in September found that the staff warmly welcomed the 21 children and their families and there was good communication between parents and the staff, for example, staff send home ideas to support learning at home and parents can borrow games, toys and books from the playgroup lending library. Parents praised the manager and her team for the amazing job they do each day.

It was felt that the manager had a clear understanding of what she wants the children to learn and had blended adult-led and child-led play to achieve learning. Children were encouraged to talk about how they feel and how their actions affect others. Taking turns and sharing were key features seen to be encouraged by staff.

Encouraging independence was also noted as children had to hang up their own coats and tidy up after activities, but during snack time it was seen that staff intervened where children could been encouraged to do things for themselves.

Also noted was a time of “mindful minutes” where children were using breathing techniques to calm their minds.

Suggested improvements included supporting new children or those with less confidence to participate in group activities and developing independence particularly at snack time.

Nursery's success

THE Toybox Day Nursery in The Drive in Henleaze has 53 children on its roll and has just received a Good rating from Ofsted.

An inspection in September found that the large outdoor space had been organised into different learning areas and children maintained attention and developed good listening skills. They were seen to be confident about approaching staff for reassurance and to ask for help.

The director and manager were noted to be passionate about creating a “family” atmosphere. They understood the importance of the staff’s professional development. Parents felt the staff were caring and knowledgeable.

The manager sought feedback from the parents with questionaires and parents felt informed and pleased about their child’s progress.

Suggestions for improvements were to make sure staff built on what the children could do and plan what they need to learn next. Some changes need to be made in the routine so that children understood what to do next.

Smart speakers 'can reduce isolation'

ELDERLY people in Bristol could be given smart speakers to cut down on isolation and give reminders about taking medication as part of a new project.

Sound monitors in the bedrooms of care homes could warn staff of any potential falls, and fridge alerts could also warn family members if a relative hasn’t made a cup of tea at the usual time. Bristol City Council’s technology-enabled care project has received a boost of £769,813 extra funding, using new technology to help support people in care.

Council chiefs said the project was “not about tech replacing people” but would work alongside carers.

Councillor Helen Holland, cabinet member for social care, said: “People use a lot of tech in their lives anyway, so there’s no reason to assume that once they need some support that we can’t use tech advances to make their lives easier. I’ve seen a fantastic project using an Alexa to reduce isolation for people on their own, or using an Alexa to remind people about when they have to take their meds.

“There’s the use of interactive doorbells

for people who want to make sure they know who it is that’s coming to their door, and being in charge themselves of letting people in, rather than what happens often now where carers let themselves in. Fridge alerts would alert either a care company or family member if they realise the fridge hadn’t been opened for a long period so the person hasn’t even made themselves a cup of tea.”

Acoustic monitors will be trialled in two or three care homes, and have previously

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been shown to reduce falls and hospital admissions. The technology works by alerting care home staff when residents at risk of falls get up in the middle of the night, and means there is less demand for staff to check on people while they’re sleeping.

Cllr Holland added: “All of these things are low level support needs but can be life changing, and can mean that people can stay independent in their own homes for much longer. One thing that sometimes gets raised with me is ‘I don’t want a robot looking after me, I want a person’. And that’s understandable.

“You want the job satisfaction for people who are working in care to be higher, because they’re doing the bits of the job that they want to do, which is engaging and communicating with the person they’re giving care to, not doing all the mundane things like checking whether medicines have been taken. So this isn’t about robots or tech replacing people. It’s about enhancing the role that people play.

Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

expert legal services for

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Cycle lanes win reprieve

to deal with the flooding of the lower part of Whiteladies Road – which would have seen the loss of bike lanes – have been dropped after fierce opposition from pro-cycling campaigners.

The city council wanted to widen footpaths between Tyndall’s Park Road and the Queens Road junction and add grass verges to soak up rainwater. But the majority of respondents to consultation were aghast at the proposal and now the council has come up with an alternative that retains cycle lanes.

A council statement said: “We’d like to thank everyone for giving us their feedback on the Whiteladies Road flood alleviation and footway scheme consultation. We have been exploring other options that would allow us to keep cycle lanes along this stretch of road. This could see us raising the height of the footways and installing a stepped cycle track that includes a new drainage system. For this to get the go-ahead it does depend on a number of factors and land not in our ownership and we are at the early stages of exploring these options.”

Traffic camera bid

BRISTOL City Council is proposing to install a camera to deter drivers from flouting a one-way restriction on Lower Redland Road between Elgin Park and Exeter Buildings.

It’s part of a crackdown at six trouble spots in the city using new enforcement powers .

The council is seeking to be allowed to fine motorists for “moving traffic offences”, such as illegal U-turns, driving the wrong way down a one-way street, going through No Entry signs or in bus lanes, turning left or right where this is prohibited and stopping in yellow box junctions.

Before May, these could be enforced in England and Wales only by the police, with the exception of London and Cardiff, but all local authorities can now request to take these on and issue fines ranging from £20 to £105.

Instead of handing back the money to central government, which happens with penalties from speed cameras, councils can use it to fund highway

improvements, environmental projects and public transport.

The Government says it expects local authorities to issue warning notices for first-time offences, but concerns have been raised that some will see it as a cash cow and another way to hammer motorists.

In Bristol, the city council is asking the Department of Transport for civil enforcement powers to install cameras at the danger spots. The others are: Furber Road between Raeburn Road and St Anne’s Road, St George (oneway)

Bath Bridge Roundabout and Cattle Market Road junction (signalcontrolled junction)

Hockey’s Lane and Fishponds Road junction, Fishponds (signalcontrolled junction)

King Georges Road and Queens Road junction, Withywood (signalcontrolled junction)

Hareclive Road and Anton Bantock Way junction, Withywood (signalcontrolled junction)

A six-week consultation into the proposals, was due to close on November 1.

Fresh air and company provides a tonic

Last month Tracy Tainton described her experience of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and tried to convey what it’s like to have a long term diagnosis. The following describes her experience of social prescribing and in particular “green” social prescribing as an attempt to “combat” or, more appropriately, live with her neurodivergent brain.

I HAVE received various NHS and private interventions for my mental health for the past 30 years or so, and I still do not profess to know how the system works or who I am receiving my treatment from. There are so many organisations which offer services to assist and hopefully treat those adults and children with poor mental health and diagnosed conditions. I am a pretty clued-up and an educated individual with a clued-up and supportive family around me, but as a unit we still flounder trying to obtain the most appropriate help or any help at all!

An area of help which is more readily

accessed is that of social prescribing, which is targeted at those with chronic mental or physical health issues which can lead to social isolation. Social prescribing aims to address mental and physical health concerns in a holistic way, by connecting people to different types of community support, including social events, fitness classes, social services, Citizen Advice, and more.

Many social prescribing referrals are made by GPs; people can be referred to local social prescribing link workers from a wide range of agencies, including wider general practice, local authorities, pharmacies, multidisciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise health and wellbeing alliance organisations. But more importantly, especially for me, self-referral is also encouraged.

I am still waiting for a GP referral after three months, but in this intervening period I came across an NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucester clinical commissioning

group “green” social prescribing directory. Within I found an advert for “Your Park Bristol and Bath” and a “green” social prescribing project they run at Eastville Park. I have been attending now for six or so weeks and find the two hours of meeting and sharing over a free lunch, with others who feel isolated, undertaking some physical activity, and concluding the session with a guided meditation was both kind and non- threatening, and I felt a huge sense of achievement.

If you are waiting to be seen by a mental health professional for an assessment or therapy, which can take time, try some social prescribing.

https://www.england.nhs.uk https://www.healthline.com/health/socialprescribing/uses https://bnssghealthiertogether.org.uk/ whatishealthiertogether/ https://yourpark.org.uk/ https://bnssghealthiertogether.org.uk/ documents/green-social-prescribing-guide/

website for ways to save safely when cutting costs, and reduce your fire risk.

The Grey Wagtail

The River Trym that flows through Blaise Estate is a modest river of no great depth or width. But it is home to one of our prettiest birds, the Grey Wagtail. This little bird, measuring around 18–19 cm in overall length, is easy to miss as the grey upper plumage blends in so well with the rocks and stones. As it searches for food the long tail is constantly flicking, though theories differ as to why this is so. The Grey wagtail is more colourful than the name would suggest, as the female is pale lemon on the breast and tail, whilst the male is brighter, and has a smart black bib under the chin. If disturbed Grey Wagtails will take rapid flight, low and fast, undulating along the river to settle at a safer spot to continue their foraging for insects. They will nest in moss lined hollows near water and lay between 3 to 6 eggs. As they are a resident bird you will have a good chance of seeing one whichever month you decide to take a river walk, whether it be in Blaise Estate or Badocks Wood, by Henleaze lake or the Bristol Docks.

BIRD OF THE MONTH

Alastair Fraser. Bristol Ornithological Club

Repairs under way at Canford pond

THE pond at Canford Park Rose Garden has been drained and is undergoing repairs to the cement lining.

Bristol City Council's Parks Department says the fish have been removed and transported to more suitable ponds.

Some time ago when dead fish were found in the water the department made it clear that the pond is not managed as a fish pond and that irresponsible people had dumped their pet fish in the water there not caring whether they survived or not.

The plant life has also been removed to a safe place and will be replanted when the refurbishment work is finished.

Over the years the pond has been a magnet for vandals who broke up the stonework edging and threw the slabs into the water. Now, even though there is very little water in the pond, scores of apples from a nearby tree in the Rose Garden have been thrown in the water.

Also some have sought to

leave their mark by writing their initials in the cement work while it was still wet, not realising that those identifiers will be below the water line and will never be seen again.

The park is for everyone, funded by council tax money, and repairs to this area and the park notice board all have to be paid for which prevents money being spent on other park activities which the real park lovers enjoy.

John Wills House

Outstanding care in Westbury-on-Trym

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Debenhams site is sold to investment company

A NEW owner for the Debenhams store site in the city centre has been found and there is huge speculation as to what might be developed there.

The new people are 33 Horsefair Limited and their major shareholder is investment company AEW UK who have bought up a number of city centre sites.

Speculation has started because it’s been suggested by the new owners that investors have been anti the High Street lately, that Covid has financially damaged High Street shops as people were forced into online shopping and relaxing the planning laws has been a big factor in their desire to invest in the old Debenhams site.

One of the directors says that new planning regulations allowing shops to be converted into homes had been a main driver in their plans to buy up the former store. It has even been suggested that the building would make a “fantastic senior living site”.

n MAYOR'S VIEW

Whether this means the whole building or the upper floors only with the ground floor still for retail is not clear. Things are at a very early stage. Meanwhile clearing the interior has been carried on with industrial skips regularly filling up and disposed

of.

Bristol’s Mayor says that whatever the future of the building it must fit in with the council’s plans for the city centre. Just how secure those plans are with the relaxation of planning regulations is also not clear.

you host a Welcoming Space?

AS we start to feel the cold of the winter months, some people across Bristol will be deciding between heating their homes and putting food on the table. This is an incredibly challenging place to be in and a place I wish we weren’t. With energy bills and other costs rising, we want to make sure that the Bristol residents most impacted by the national cost of living crisis have access to help and support.

Since April I have been having regular conversations with community partners, and it was clear back then that we needed to be ready for a gear change in Autumn as the cost of living continued to increase. Until last month people haven’t needed to put the heating on much but, in these colder months, things will get more difficult for many.

As part of these discussions, the concept of warm, Welcoming Spaces was developed. The first of these spaces opened in October. We want to support residents

struggling with energy prices without stigmatising people, as it’s important to us that everyone feels welcome. A Welcoming Space is a place that is already established in the community, for example a community centre, care home, children’s centre, or place of worship, where people can meet up, socialise, keep warm, and, if needed, access support with the cost of living crisis.

At the time of writing, our Welcoming Spaces closest to your area include:

• Henbury and Brentry Community Centre, BS10 7HG

• St Paul’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre, Little Bishop Street, BS2 9JF

Venues will vary responding to community priorities, including Wi-Fi, access to electrical charging points, activities, and community meals. Support will be provided by city-wide organisations including practical advice about money and finance, emotional

wellbeing, mental health support, and employment and skills.

Bristol is a city that will continue to step up and support each other in difficult times. Welcoming Spaces have been made possible by our incredible community, voluntary, and faith organisations, as well as council services responding to this crisis. They draw on a community infrastructure including volunteer groups and facilities. It is for all of us to get behind them and do what we can to make them a success.

There are several ways to get involved with this community action: there are a range of volunteering opportunities available with Can Do Bristol; you might have a venue that could offer a Welcoming Space for residents; or your organisation could work with others across the city to support one. If you are interested, find more information at: bristol.gov.uk/costofliving

Bristol City Council still owns the freehold. The former Debenhams lease does not expire until 2056 and if that’s what’s been bought there may be additional legal restrictions contained in the lease.

We know we cannot solve the crisis but, by adopting a One City approach, everyone can come together and help reduce cost of living pressures on their communities. To find other Welcoming Spaces across north Bristol and beyond, visit bit.ly/ BristolWelcomingSpaces or call our helpline on 0800 694 0184 (Mon to Fri, 8:30am to 5pm).

Each month Bristol mayor Marvin Rees shares his views with Bishopston Voice

Air source heat pumps: what we’ve learned

SusWoT has held drop-in sessions and taken part in workshop and focus group sessions to find out what people understand about air source heat pumps (ASHP), whether they are interested in installing them and what they see as issues with them. The drop-in sessions were for people living in suitable properties in Westbury or Henleaze. The workshop was for people thinking of installing an ASHP pump and experts in ASHP installation. The focus group was for people who had completed a survey and were happy to tell us more about their understanding of ASHP.

Following this research, we have developed a set of steps to follow when installing an ASHP:

1. Insulation survey, this could be a CHEESE* survey, to find any insulation issues.

2. Improve insulation, carry out the work recommended in 1.

3. Heat loss survey, survey the house to find out how much heat is being lost when the house is warm and show places where heat is being lost quickly.

4. Define the system requirements from

the amount of heat being lost, hot water requirements, any other specific needs.

5. System design, what size ASHP and hot water tank are needed and what changes to current radiators and pipes needed. Is underfloor heating possible? Where will the ASHP be put?

6. Installation, install the system. This is like installing any heating system. And the first two steps might save you money anyway.

There were many things relating to ASHP that people are curious about, these are some:

1. Will my existing radiators or pipes need replacing?

2. Who can do the surveys?

3. Who can advise me and manage the process?

4. Will there be enough hot water?

5. Will it be noisy and upset the neighbours?

6. Are the installers skilled enough to do a good job?

7. How much will it cost?

8. My building is listed can I have an ASHP on the wall?

9. How good are the system designers?

10. How disruptive is it going to be?

Most of these issues can be answered, but homes are all different so being sure that your home is ready for an ASHP is vital. An installer

could replace the gas boiler in your house with an ASHP even though the insulation was not good enough, and your home ‘qualified’ for the grant**. They would get the grant money and you might have a colder home and bigger bills. We were also interested in why people wanted to install an ASHP. The main reasons for installing an ASHP were:

1. I have just moved house; we are having lots of work done it would be a good time to do it.

2. Our boiler is on its last legs, we don’t want to get a new gas boiler, we thought we should get an ASHP.

3. We are very concerned about the environment and we want to stop using gas and just use zero carbon renewables to heat our home.

4. It is the right things to do to prepare our home for the future.

SusWoT have been working with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, based in Bristol and other organisations on this and plan to help people install ASHPs in the area.

*CHEESE is a local organisation that tests homes for heat loss cheeseproject.co.uk

** Boiler Upgrade Scheme government grant, up to £5,000

Alex Dunn, Sustainable Westbury on Trym (SusWoT)

Terrible timing'

ENERGY bills at City Hall have more than doubled as council energy bosses admitted they “managed to time it perfectly wrong”.

Bristol City Council’s annual energy bill jumped to £14.5m, up from £6.2m the year before. Long term contracts ran out last autumn, just as wholesale prices began to rise, but the council chose to extend these and ended up paying far more this year.

Now the city is trying to use an innovative new approach, where the energy generated at council-owned wind turbines and solar panels in Avonmouth would effectively be sent to large public sector buildings like City Hall and schools, saving millions on energy bills.

Alex Seabrook, LDRS

n

Ghosted: A Love Story

by Jenn Ashworth, Laurie is a cleaner at an unnamed university in northern England. One morning she comes back from a shift and her husband has gone, leaving behind his mobile phone and wallet. What follows is a kind of working-class campus Gothic: poor Laurie drifts through a landscape as haunted and ambiguously threatening as that of any 19 th -Century heiress, except her demesne is a sixteenth-floor flat where a strange presence forbids her to open the door to her spare room. The story of what has happened to her husband— and indeed, what has happened to Laurie herself—

is by turns wrenchingly sad, laugh-out-loud funny and suffused with a kind of cleareyed, ferocious hope. And, yes, it more than earns its subtitle, though the love here is tangled and complicated, much like Laurie herself.

An affecting and deeply human book that will make you shiver on these darkening nights, Ghosted reminds you

of nothing so much as the sort of thing Shirley Jackson might’ve written had she a Lancaster accent. A copy is available at Henleaze Library.

Constant Reader, Nelson Stanley.

Henleaze Library 0117 9038541

Mondays 11am-5pm

Tuesdays 11am-5pm

Wednesdays 1pm – 7pm

Thursdays 11am - 5pm Fridays 1pm – 7pm Saturdays 10am to 5pm

Westbury Library (Staffed) 0117 9038552

Mondays 2pm – 7pm

Tuesdays 11am – 4pm

Wednesdays 11am – 4pm

Thursdays 11am – 4pm Fridays 11am – 4pm Saturdays 11am – 4pm

Concert performance

THE Henleaze Concert Society November programme has an American feel to it. Works by Aaron Copland and his lively folk dance “Hoedown” from Rodeo is featured. As is Gershwin’s piano Concerto in F and “Rhapsody in Blue” both described as full of fabulous tunes and toe-tapping rhythms. The Philip Glass score for the film Mishima completes the evening. This piano recital is by Viv McLean who returns to the Trinity Henleaze United Reform Church. It’s on Saturday 19th November at 7.30. Book tickets online at www.henleazeconcertsociety.org.uk or they can be bought on the door at Waterford Road from 6.15pm (cash or cheque only)

Chess club launches at library

A NEW club at Henleaze Library has launched. The Chess Club takes place every second Friday in the month from 4-6pm and is aimed at young people up to 17 years of age.

It does not matter if players are absolute beginners they’ll quickly learn the new name for the “horsey” and be advised that the short pieces are pawns and not “prawns” – experience does not matter but enthusiasm does and a willingness to learn this most ancient of games. So far the response has been quite good but there is room for more. More experienced players will be matched with players of similar strength.

The young people and their families are welcome. All participants must be accompanied by an adult. There’s plenty of room to play what with the library’s mezzanine floor, but it won’t matter if the boards spread into the main library because chess players are usually quite quiet.

Be who you want to be at Trymview Hall

At Care UK’s Trymview Hall care home in Westbury-on-Trym you can continue to be who you’ve always been, or who you want to be, while receiving award-winning care and attention in a place you can call home.

We treat everyone as individuals so that you can take your life with you on your journey into care. You’ll be supported to continue muchloved interests, to rediscover long lost hobbies or to try something new, as well as making new friends.

It’s all about lifestyle

At Trymview Hall our team is passionate about supporting you to enjoy a fulfilling life, full of meaningful experiences.

When you join us, we’ll learn all about your personality, your interests and preferences so we can create a fully personalised lifestyle plan to support you to live life in the way you want.

We organise an array of daily activities, such as exercise classes, pet therapy and gardening, as well as events, entertainment, outings and treasured one-to-one time.

Then there are our strong ties with local groups, charities and schools so residents feel connected to local life.

Recently, residents of Trymview Hall have enjoyed getting out in the minibus to visit the lion exhibition at Clifton Downs, taking a look at the life-size bronze sculptures. Whilst other residents have been keeping fit in our weekly exercise classes.

Everything under one roof Trymview Hall is a purpose-built care home where every luxury has been thought of. There’s a coffee shop, hair salon, cinema, bar, and beautiful landscaped gardens.

Trust us to care

At Care UK, we’ve been delivering high quality, person-centred care for over 40 years. That’s why over 8,000 families across the country trust us to care for their older loved one.

To find out more about Trymview Hall, please call 0117 911 8671 or email nicola.wolff-donitz@careuk.com

Trymview Hall care home

Southmead Road, Bristol BS10 5DW careuk.com/trymview-hall

Follow us on Facebook

@TrymviewHallCareUK

Advertisement Feature

Pen pals across the generations

A RETIREMENT village resident joined a pen pal scheme with a neighbouring school and ended up starring in an episode of a hit children’s television show.

Rachel Newton, 83, who lives at St Monica Trust’s Cote Lane site, had been writing letters to two Badminton School Year 7 pupils, Chloe and Flo for eighteen months when the scheme came to the attention of the producers of the CBBC series Our Boarding School. They arranged for Rachel to meet Chloe and Flo face to face in April. The episode was screened last month and can be found on the BBC iPlayer.

Rachel, a former drama teacher who lived in Africa with her late husband, John, said: “For me, the thrill was getting to know Chloe and Flo. Their letters were so beautifully written and articulate. Taking part in the show was the perfect cherry on top of a rather lovely cake.”

like Ron.

IT’S an astonishing 21 years since the Guide Panto first started in Henleaze and this year’s production “Happily Ever After?” follows up the Cinderella story and asks what happened one year on after she married Prince Charming.

It’s once again scripted by Amy Spencer who has been writing an original guide panto for each of the 21 years. “Oh yes she has!” Previous productions have speculated on what happened to the “Ugly Sisters”, what if the wicked witch had a change of heart and what difference would it make if the seven dwarfs were actually elves instead.

This year’s production has a matinee at 2.30pm and another performance at 7pm. It’s at the St Peter’s Church Hall in Henleaze on Saturday 10th December. The show often sells out tickets cost £5 and £3 for children under 14 and it’s suggested panto-goers book tickets from the website https://guidepanto.wixsite.com/ guidepanto

The productions raise money for local charities.

Oh yes it is - another Guides panto

The cast for Happily Ever After, the eagerly anticipated Henleaze Guides panto

Lenny Henry’s novel flies into thousands of Bristol homes

SIR Lenny Henry’s first novel, The Boy With Wings, was shared with 1,200 Year 5 and 6 pupils at 20 schools in Bristol in an event during UK Black History Month to promote the benefits of reading.

Despite the clear benefits of reading, almost one in five children in England between the ages of five and eight do not have access to books at home, according to the National Literacy Trust.

The Boy With Wings, illustrated by Keenon Ferrell and published by Macmillan Children’s Books, was chosen for the programme because it portrays important messages about race, inclusion and diversity wrapped up in an exciting and fun adventure.

Sir Lenny said he wrote The Boy With Wings because he didn’t see Black heroes in the books he read growing up, and wants all children to see themselves appear centre stage in exciting, inspiring stories where they have great adventures.

“I want to make sure as many kids as possible have access to books and this project brilliantly targets those kids who don’t have books at home,” said Sir Lenny. “Reading – with lots of trips to my local library in Dudley – was such an important part of my childhood, it took me on so many different adventures and to so many different worlds. ”

Award for Jack

A 16-YEAR OLD student at Bristol Free School has achieved a major photographic accolade with a brilliant picture of a puffin in flight.

Jack Allerton’s photograph is to appear in the 2023 Calendar of the BBC’s Countryfile programme. It features in the month of August and has the caption “Diamond Geezer”. Jack is aged 16 and is in Year 11 at the Free School in Westbury on Trym.

The calendars raise money for Children in Need https://www. hcscalendar.co.uk/

Double celebration

THE Filtones choir is celebrating its return to live performances after Covid and its 40th anniversary with a Christmas Cracker concert at Filton Community Centre on Saturday December 3.

The event starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 in advance from Dot Bryant 07870 984760 or at the door. The centre is at Elm Park, Bristol BS34 7PS.

A raffle and retiring collection will raise money for the charity Sense.

Music award for FHS

FAIRFIELD High School has been named a Music Mark School for a second successive year in recognition of its excellent provision.

FHS has built a relationship with Bristol Plays Music over seven years, including being involved with developing a music curriculum for the city that is more representative and diverse.

Tim Roderick, head of music at the school in Horfield, said the aim was to provide high quality music education and give students opportunities to engage with music making in the community.

“We are really thrilled and proud to be recognised as a forwardthinking and outward-looking music department again this year. This means a lot to us," he said.

Big revamp for Claremont wins approval

PLANS have been approved to refurbish and expand a special educational needs school.

Claremont School provides education for disabled pupils but its building in Henleaze has been described as “not fit for purpose”.

Bristol City Council gave planning permission for a major refurbishment and extension of the school. Claremont is split over two sites, Henleaze and Redland Green, but the refurbishment would see all pupils brought to one site. The plans include demolishing the extensions to the Victorian Claremont House, and rebuilding a two-storey extension. They would mean the capacity of the school increasing by 18 places.

Emma Richards, headteacher at Claremont School, said: “We’re one school but we’re divided across two sites. The majority of our students at Claremont have physical disabilities, and profound learning difficulties. A large

number of our pupils have very complex medical needs.

“Claremont School is not fit for purpose to meet the needs of our students. As a school we aim high for our pupils, and we believe they can all achieve. We want their experiences and education to be meaningful. In

order to do this we need a new school with the right space and technology. Claremont pupils deserve a building much better than the current one.”

However, some neighbours objected to the plans. The new school building would be much higher than the existing one,

and would overshadow homes directly to the east.

Simon Tomlinson, one neighbour, said: “Imagine how you would feel if you suddenly discovered that your neighbour was planning to build a massive building towering 11 metres above your garden, just a few metres from your boundary. Imagine how you would feel if they genuinely failed to engage with you or make any serious compromises. That’s exactly what’s happened to us.”

Councillors on the development control committee voted unanimously to approve permission. Councillor Richard Eddy, chair of the committee, said: “This seems to be a no brainer. We’re almost doubling the number of special needs kids who would be schooled here, in modern conditions rather than what they face at present.”

Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

WE’RE HIRING!

School Meals Supervisory Assistant & Breakfast Club Playworker

Our well-established team of lunchtime supervisors play a key role in ensuring that our children have happy, safe meal times. We need someone to join us in supporting the children to have fun whilst also promoting good behaviour. Please visit eteach.com and search for job reference 1279075 for SMSA and 1279072 for Breakfast Club.

BS9 4LG 0117 3772442 Henleaze.i@bristol-schools.uk www.henleaze-inf.bristol.sch.uk

Playing Out again

MANY of us have felt a greater sense of belonging where we live over the past few years. We may have met new neighbours and joined a local WhatsApp group during Covid, or attended one of the 75 street parties across Bristol for the Jubilee weekend. But how do we build on this sense of community?

Last year we conducted a survey with people who had attended Play Streets and 89% of people reported that Play Streets resulted in them “knowing more people on their street” and “feeling that they belong more in their neighbourhood”.

Organised by residents, Play Streets are short, temporary road closures (where residents still have access), either on a weekly or monthly basis. The scheme works in estate settings and on traditional residential streets.

Play Streets are a free and easy way to bring your neighbours together regularly and create a safe space for children to play out. Hundreds of street communities across the city (and the country) are enjoying the benefits of Playing Out which many of us experienced as children.

You can start by just speaking to your neighbours about the idea and getting in touch with Playing Out who provide support with every step, from the application form to free kit (road closed signs, skipping ropes, chalk etc) so it couldn’t be easier to open your street for play!

Just one application form via Bristol City Council covers 12 months – so now is the perfect time to think about starting a Play Street, so when spring arrives you could be Playing Out where you live!

For more info contact hello@playingout.net or visit www.playingout.net

Kate Staniforth, Play Streets

Dry summer results in smaller grapes

BY the time this goes to print, our 2022 growing season will be over and our grapes will be bubbling safely away in the winery tanks down in deepest, darkest Somerset.

Watching the fruit you’ve been nurturing all summer being taken away in a van destined for the winery is a pleasant yet slightly strange feeling. It’s a relief that the grapes reached the point of harvest safely but your point of focus has to shift away from grapes and onto something else. For us it will be mulching! We really want to mulch all of the 2500 vines on our rented site so that next year they’ll have a real boost and be ready to cope with any more dry periods. We’ve been mulching all summer but have a few more rows left to do before we begin the next task of winter pruning.

This summer has been very warm and dry which was great for

the older, more established vines but the baby vines would have liked more rain to help them get established. Many vineyards are finding that they have great crops of grapes but that the grapes are a little smaller and less juicy than normal.

On the wine front, we’ve sold out of our still white and sparkling red wine. These wines can still be found in the shops but they’re the last remaining bottles. We still have plenty of rosé and sparkling white and hope to disgorge a new sparkling red and white in November.

hello@dunleavyvineyards.co.uk www.dunleavyvineyards.co.uk

@DYvineyards (twitter)

dunleavy vineyards (facebook & instagram)

AS

Book Covid booster along with your annual flu jab

BOOK your autumn Covid vaccine booster jabalong with your annual winter flu jab.

Our clinic in the Kellaway Pharmacy has enabled us continue providing care with lots of empathy and kindness, adapting our approach to cater for the most vulnerable, those scared of needles and a broad age group from five to 102 years!

Who will get an autumn Covid booster?

Covid vaccine doses will be offered to:

• adults aged 50 and over

• people aged five to 49 with health conditions which put them at higher risk - including pregnant women

• care home staff

• frontline health and social care workers

• carers aged 16 to 49

• household contacts of people with weakened immune systems

People will be offered new vaccine types that tackle both the original Covid virus and the recent Omicron variant. This will ensure that our immune system can better cope with new variants that we know will keep emerging. The vaccination programme has helped to provide us protection and restore cherished freedoms that, especially as we go into the winter months, we must safeguard.

With over 126 million Covid-19

vaccines administered in the UK since the rollout, our work providing over 60,000 locally supports the strong evidence of safety which stacks up high alongside efficacy.

Our five-minute vaccination appointment now also includes an offer of the NHS flu vaccine alongside the Covid booster for those eligible.

Like the Covid jab, the NHS flu vaccine is offered free to people

• Adults aged 50 years and over with long-term health conditions

• the immunocompromised and their household contacts

• pregnant

• in long-stay residential care,

0117 9246579

18 Kellaway Avenue, Westbury Park, Bristol,

including hospice

• Carers ( including unpaid) for the elderly or disabled person

With ambulance delays and the NHS backlog providing a worrying backdrop for the winter cost-of-living pressures, Kellaway Pharmacy is ever more determined to protect everyone in our Community this winter.

Book your Covid jab online or call NHS 119.

We will also offer a Walk-in Flu Clinic in the pharmacy if you don’t want it alongside or qualify for a Covid jab.

With Dawn Lawrence

I ENJOY making contact with nature, as you may have already begun to suspect. Even an ordinary experience, such as meeting the robin at the allotment who sings quietly to me as I turn the soil, is a delight. But sometimes a really exceptional encounter occurs.

A friend recently told me about seeing a rare bird at Birchall Road allotments. “I think it was a woodcock,” she said – intriguing, and very unlikely! Woodcock are crepuscular (most active around dawn and dusk) and they prefer tangled tracts of damp woodland where they probe for worms and other invertebrates in the soil: even in their favoured habitat they are very hard to see. However, she described a bird, speckled brown, crouched in the dead leaves under the hazel bushes on her plot; it had a long bill and dark, protruding eyes. “It seemed meek,” she said. This is a beautiful characterisation of a woodcock – often the apparent “expression” of a bird can help with ID – and left me with no doubts. It was an autumn sighting, and the bird would have been on passage –

our winter population, larger than the summer one, consists of birds that breed in northern Europe and western Russia, whilst our breeding birds head south. This individual might have been grounded by a shower, or perhaps it was exhausted and needing to refuel. As soon as it realised it had been spotted it launched into the air and was gone. But that brief encounter will never be forgotten.

I was reminded of my most unexpected Bristol birding experience. We used to live in Redland, in a basement flat with a small garden, full of bramble and heavily shaded by houses and a large sycamore tree. One day I looked out to see a whinchat sitting on the garden wall. These little birds normally prefer airy open spaces, in grasslands and moorland – here in our dark urban garden it

looked very out of place. They have a pert expression and stance, and a white eye stripe, with mottled brown plumage above and a buffapricot breast band above a pale belly. I was astonished and stared rather rudely at it. At this it seemed to wake up, think better of its urban foray and, with a casual flick of the wing, it flew away.

In autumn and winter birds are on the move, not just migrating but also shifting to avoid bad weather or to seek a better berry crop. It is a time when unusual birds appear in the city, such as a flock of waxwings, or even a rose-coloured starling. If you see something you don’t recognise try to get a feel for the bird’s general appearance, including its “expression”, as well as its size and colours. Birders call this the birds jizz (no, they do!) Some people say it originally stood for General Impression Size and Shape but it has become jizz and it encapsulates those indefinable qualities that give the bird its character and often make it distinctive.

Woodcock

Photo: Jason Thompson

your terms and conditions leave your business at risk?

Advertising Feature

GRANT McCall, Director and head of AMD’s Commercial team, explains why tailoring terms and conditions to suit your business pays off in the long run.

The

For many startups budgets can be limited and it may be tempting to simply copy T&Cs from another business. Using someone else’s T&Cs can have a whole host of unintended consequences, however, and I always recommend businesses to seek advice from a commercial solicitor, even if it is only to review the T&Cs before they are put to use.

It is not only embarrassing if a customer notices that your T&Cs refer to an entirely different business – you may recall the recent press coverage regarding a ferry company’s T&Cs which referred to pizza deliveries! – but it can also leave your business exposed to substantial risk. I have outlined some key areas to look out for below.

By Shelley Faulkner, solicitor with AMD Solicitors

similar at first glance, there are crucial differences depending on what a particular business does. Different rules and considerations apply depending on whether you sell products or provide services and whether you do this in a brickand-mortar store or online. Who do you sell to?

will be. However a Will can be worded to provide that a gift of 10 % of the value of your estate at that time is given to a charity or charities of your choice. The effect of this will be that the rate of Inheritance Tax payable on the whole estate is reduced from 40 % to 36 %.

In same circumstances, it has been calculated that this reduction in the tax bill can serve to leave the estate, even after payment of the gift to charity, with a value as high as if the gift had not been made. Thus the gift can in some cases quite literally pay for itself.

Do you provide products or services?

Although most T&Cs may look very

WHILE most of us support a number of charities in our lifetime, it is perhaps not surprising that a smaller number choose to remember a charity in their Will. Clearly the priority for most is to provide for a surviving spouse or children, or to ensure that the family wealth can be passed on to benefit the next generation.

However, government policy is clearly to encourage giving to charity, and a recent development in the law is intended to promote gifts to charity being made by Will. This change may also, on occasion, serve to save Inheritance Tax, or even to create a gift which literally pays for itself.

Reduced rate of Inheritance Tax

Where somebody dies after 6 April 2012 the rate of Inheritance Tax applied to the estate can be reduced from 40 % to 36 % (in other words by 10 %), provided that at least 10 % of the estate passes to charity.

Clearly it is not possible to determine in advance exactly what value the assets you leave by Will will have on your death for Inheritance Tax purposes, or what 10 % of the total value

T&Cs are governed by different rules depending on whether your customers are private individuals or other businesses. Copying someone else’s T&Cs without understanding what rules apply to your business may mean that you will not be able to rely on your T&Cs when you most need to as they may not be enforceable.

for the distribution of the estate, and the estate can then be divided as if the Will had been made in these terms. A Deed of Variation could therefore provide that 10 % of the estate is to pass to a chosen charity or charities, making the estate as a whole eligible for the reduced rate of Inheritance Tax.

What are your payment terms?

Payment terms are probably the most important term in your T&Cs as it determines how and when you will be paid and what rights you have if your customer does not pay on time. Your T&Cs should set out clearly your charges, deposits (if any), timescales for payment or subscription terms and your rights to charge interest on late payments.

Even where a Will has not been prepared in these terms, it may be possible to take advantage of this tax break. If the beneficiaries of the estate agree, it is possible to effectively amend the terms of a Will within two years of the date of death. A ‘Deed of Variation’ can be drawn up which sets out the family members’ agreed arrangements

Can you limit your liability?

All contracts carry some risk of liability, for example, if a product is faulty or your customer is dissatisfied with your services, or if you fail to deliver on time. Well drafted T&Cs can help manage these risks by limiting the amount of compensation your customer can recover from you. Your ability to limit liability will depend on what your business does and who your customers are, however, and your

This change in the law is clearly very good news both for charities, and potentially for some estates as well. However the detail of the application can be complex. For example, the estate is divided into different ‘components’ depending on how the property will pass to the beneficiaries, in order to calculate whether the 10 % test has been met. Taking specialist advice on the implications for your particular circumstances is therefore essential.

AMD’s team of experienced private client solicitors and practitioners includes full

of attorney and all private client issues, contact Shelley Faulkner, Florence Pearce and the other members of the team on 0117 9621205, email probate@ amdsolicitors.com or call in at 15 The Mall Clifton, or 100 Henleaze Road Henleaze.

business may be left exposed if your T&Cs are not drafted carefully to reflect your circumstances.

If you require any assistance or advice regarding terms and conditions or other commercial contracts, please do contact our experienced team of Commercial solicitors by telephone 0117 973 3989, email info@amdsolicitors. com or visit our website www. amdsolicitors.com

AMD Solicitors takes pride in sponsoring local, Bristol based charities and this year is very pleased to be supporting the Bristol branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, the local branch of this national charity which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in Great Britain. For full details of our fundraising activities visit our website www.amdsolicitors.com.

News and views from our city councillors

Geoff Gollop (Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze)

The Council is now well into its budget process. At the beginning of October Cabinet approved the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) which is the first indication of the inflationary and other pressures on the Council’s Finances. The figures are worse than I had feared.

The figures show a gap in the next financial year (starting on 1st April 2023) of £31.1m or just over 7% of the total budget. However, much of the budget is for statutory services like waste, cleaning and public health, or for essential services like caring for the elderly and vulnerable. So the savings will have to come from other services that do not fall into those categories.

This report also looked at possible pressures that could further impact on

that figure. This year, with energy costs and inflation and the probable upward pressure on salaries, the Council is look ing at a possible worst-case scenario of a £61m spending gap next year and up to £83.8m in 2024/25, again to be funded out of the non-statutory non-essential services.

In early November, the Council will launch a consultation on the cuts it proposes to fund this budget gap. The consultation will be your chance to express your views on those proposals. I encourage you to use that chance to record your concerns.

Whilst there are things I would prefer were done differently, the pressures faced by the Council are massive and pointing a finger and apportioning blame would not be helpful. The energy and cost of living crisis have been brought about by factors that are well outside the Council’s control, However, the impact on services is likely to affect us all

If you would like me to send you a link to the consultation, or to forward you the

documents relating to the MTFP, please email me.

• The report from external auditors on Value for money at WECA (the West of England Combined Authority) is still to be made public

• Next ward zoom meeting at 7pm on Tuesday 1st November; please go to http://tiny.cc/WandHNov22 to book in. The following meeting will be on 6th December.

• Email me to receive our e-newsletter that helps us keep you up to date with local matters.

• Contact. If you need help on any matter to do with Bristol City Council, email me Cllr.geoffrey.gollop@bristol.gov.uk or phone 0117 9039946.

News and views from our city councillors

Sharon Scott (Westbury-on-Trym &Henleaze)

Update on Claremont School

I attended a planning committee meetingon 5th October to express Councillors’concerns over the plans to redevelopClaremont School. Just to make it clear, wewelcomed investment in Claremont Schooland saw this as positive. However, therewere concerns about the traffic and roadsafety implications for the already seriouslycongested roads in the area. On top of thiswe requested that roof-top machinery wasmoved further away from neighbouringproperties and that a change in the brickcolour to not add to its dominating nature.

Despite our requests the committeegranted consent for the development in itscurrent form, which means that the schemecan now go ahead, increasing the school’scapacity from 52 pupils to 91.

Canford pond

As I write I am pleased to report thatmaintenance work has started on the pondin Canford Park. This has also includedhealth checking and relocating the fish toa more suitable pond. All pond life washeld in holding bays until the works werecomplete. I’m looking forward to seeing thefinished work.

The Big Tidy Up

The Big Tidy Up crew have been out andabout in the local area. Roads needing aparticular amount of clearing were Eastfieldand Sandyleaze, where the team cut backvegetation making the pavement wider.Well done to the Big Tidy Up crew and welook forward to seeing more local areasbeing tackled.

The Queen

I saw how much the people of Bristol wereaffected by the passing of Queen ElizabethII. I have written to the Mayor to ask if he

would support any campaign to erect apermanent memorialto her in our city.

The “We are Bristol” History concludedCommission there was a need to “think” creatively about the empty (Colston) plinth. I have therefore asked theMayor if he shares my belief that a newlycommissioned statue of Her Majesty wouldbe an attractive and fitting feature there. Iwill let you know his response to this nexttime.

Next ward zoom meeting at 7pm onTuesday 1st November; please go to http://tiny.cc/WandHNov22 to book in. If you needany help on any matter to do with BristolCity Council, you can contact me by emailon cllr.sharon.scott@bristol.gov.uk – I alsohave a facebook page where I post regularupdates: Scott-10433537851413www.facebook.com/Cllr-Sharon-

News and views from our city councillors

Steve Smith (Westbury-on-Trym &Henleaze)

Bus news

Bus services in and around Bristol remain ina state of crisis due to reduced passengernumbers since Covid and an acute shortageof drivers. Regular bus users will know thattimetables have recently been reduced toat least try to make sure that those buseson the timetable do turn up. Other parts ofBristol are much worse affected than we arehere, but that is little comfort when you arewaiting for a non-existent bus!

There is a glimmer of good news though.A new operator has been found for services505 and 515, which stopped running whenBristol Community Transport went bust. Thenew company is called “The Big Lemon”, theyare a not-for-profit bus operator originallyfrom Brighton. Officers at the West ofEngland Combined Authority have done agood job in securing this provision quicklywhen the previous operator failed.

A4018 works

The Council’s cabinet has recently approvedthe first phase of the A4018 improvementprogramme. This is the remnants of thescheme that was originally launched in 2019,a lot of which was dropped after a publicoutcry. It has been rumbling on since then,and this first phase involves putting new 24-hour bus lanes in both directions betweenthe Crow Lane roundabout and CharltonRoad / Ridgeway at the top of the hill. Therewill also be a 2-way cycle lane on the in-bound side and a new pedestrian crossing.This will reduce the lanes for other traffic onthat stretch from two to one each way, with aspeed limit reduction from 40mph to 30mph.

Future phases of the programme includeimprovements and new traffic lights at theGreystoke Avenue junction and the WestburyHill junction by Majestic, but these phasesrely on funding from the developments onFilton Airfield in South Glos which is yet tomaterialise. We regularly chase this and willkeep you posted.

Stay in touch

We hold regularzoom meetings forpeople to stay intouch with us, ask questions or raise concerns.

The next ones will be on the 1st November (you can register to take part at tiny.cc/WandHNov22) and the 6th December (tiny.cc/WandHDec22).

The meetings start at 7pm and they usuallylast around 45 minutes to an hour.

You can also contact me by email oncllr.steve.smith@bristol.gov.uk, or phone on07769 285266.

I also try to post regular updateson my Facebook page at fb.com/CouncillorSteveSmith

.

We publish regular email updates –please contact me if you’d like to be addedto the mailing list for these.

Charging points installed

NEW electric car charging points have been installed at Waitrose supermarket in Westbury Park. The initiative is part of a partnership between Waitrose and Shell to install these charging points in 800 Waitrose outlets across the UK by 2025.

The installation at Westbury Park is among the first. Shoppers can use the seven car charging stations while they are in the store. It’s not free – but electric car drivers have got used to that idea by now.

No-one was taking advantage of the new facility when photographed – so it may be that people are not aware of the new scheme. The car charging station at Lidl on Muller Road is usually occupied.

Working together on advice and action to reduce energy bills

days are getting shorter, and winter is on the way. I know that many of you will be worried about the cost-of-living crisis, especially if your fixed-term mortgage is coming to an end or you’ve moved onto the standard tariff for your energy bills. We won the argument in Westminster to help cap the price of energy this winter, but the average amount we’ll pay is still double what it was a year ago.

People should not be faced with an impossible choice between heating and eating. When we are being charged the Earth for energy, a key thing we can do as individuals is to use less of it – not just to reduce our bills, but to minimise our environmental impact, too. This was the idea behind my recent ‘Charge the Earth Summit’, which was held at the Greenway Centre in Southmead.

With a live demo on laying loft insulation, quickfire talks on everything from energy debt advice to how to adjust your boiler settings to make it run more efficiently, there was a strong emphasis on practical support. There was a great atmosphere at the event, with all the audiences for the talks highly engaged in the discussions. More importantly, though, I hope the event has helped many people to reduce their energy bills.

For a political overview of the energy crisis, the first episode of ‘Committee Corridor’ – the official House of Commons podcast,

which I am currently presenting for its second series – is worth a listen. The podcast aims to demonstrate the day-to-day work done by cross-party committees to help steer policy and decisionmaking. Series two launched in mid-October and will focus on a different aspect of the cost-ofliving crisis in each of the six episodes.

Staying with energy news, it was great to re-visit Airbus in Filton, which employs more than 360 people across Bristol North West, to find out more about the company’s plans to develop and test zero-carbon and ultra-lowemission aircraft technologies.

Airbus says flight testing for hydrogen-fuelled aircraft – which only creates water vapour as a waste product from combustion – will start in 2026. Of course, we need to make sure the hydrogen fuel is produced by renewable power to reap the green rewards. But, if we get the infrastructure in place, this could have a big impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

New infrastructure can be large-scale, like what will be needed to fuel our planes with green hydrogen, but it can also be small changes that still have a real impact on people’s day-today lives. And we need to fight for these small changes, too.

Traffic

Take the new zebra crossing that is now in place near Westburyon-Trym Primary School. This small addition will make it much

safer for families to cross the road – it will potentially save lives. The zebra crossing came about following a consultation that I held with parents about dangerous school drop-off areas, so thank you to everyone who participated. Whilst it took us about four years to get agreement and funding for it to be installed(!), I’m now looking forward to the new crossing on Canford Lane and the new traffic light controlled junction on the A4018 heading onto Greystoke Avenue. We’re going to start to see some major roadworks on the A4018, but I’m pleased I was able to persuade the Council to drop their plans to stop car access through Westbury-on-Trym.

Dentistry

Moving from a success story to a painful issue – both figuratively and, for many, literally –the lack of availability of NHS dentistry in Bristol is an ongoing problem. Many of you may know that I raised the issue in Parliament in an Adjournment debate at the start of this year. In the debate, Maria Caulfield MP – who was, at the time, the Minister responsible for dentistry provision – said that she would continue to meet with key stakeholders to understand which parts of the current ‘dental contract’ require reform to make providing NHS dentistry services more attractive for dentists. Following the debate, I wrote to the Minister to ask for further details on what stage these discussions are at and

what proposals the Government has taken to dentists and other stakeholders. Her response to my letter was vague and woolly. Undeterred in the face of the severity of the issue for many of my constituents, I’ll continue to press the Government on this matter. With a new Cabinet in office, hopefully my next letter will be handed to a Minister who takes these issues more seriously than their predecessor.

For five years now, I have been your voice in Parliament and your champion in Bristol, and I hope you think that I am serving you well. Please take a few minutes to complete my annual constituency survey: www.darren-jones.co.uk/ annual-survey

As always, if you need my help or have a question, you can get in touch with me on e-mail at darren.jones.mp@parliament. uk, by calling my office on 0117 959 6545 or by writing to me at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

Darren Jones writes for

FINANCE

With Richard Higgs BA (hons) CFP FPFS

Harold Stephens

High Street, Westbury on Trym, Bristol

0117

office@haroldstephens.co.uk

Having the inheritance conversation

FOR many, the prospect of passing on wealth to future generations is a significant motivation for carrying out financial planning. Knowing that your hard-earned nest egg is going to be used to help loved ones with major milestones such as going to university, getting married or buying a house can be extremely gratifying.

It has been suggested that younger people more and more expect to inherit money from family and potentially make some of their financial decisions based on this assumption.

This could lead to a shock further down the line if an expected inheritance doesn’t materialise for whatever reason – the unexpected costs of care, living longer than anticipated without any care needs are just two factors that can have an enormous impact.

Life doesn’t always pan out the way we want it to, but making a plan for potential outcomes is always sensible.

Managing the expectations of loved ones can be a difficult task, especially in uncertain times. A great place to start is

by making a Will and explaining it to your beneficiaries. Again, this can be difficult and this is something we can help with. We can be on hand as a reassuring presence and also to explain any potentially more complex arrangements such as trusts.

We understand it can be daunting to talk to loved ones about money and it’s hard to know where to start. This can feel especially overwhelming if you don’t feel you have control of your finances.

We’re here to help you make a plan to protect your wealth

and prepare for the future, whatever that may hold. If you would like to have a relaxed chat about your circumstances and whether we could help with your plans, including helping you to talk to your family, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

To book a complimentary meeting with Richard to discuss your later life financial planning needs, please get in touch by calling 0117 3636 212 or email office@haroldstephens.co.uk.

Richard records regular video updates on a range of later life financial topics - search ‘Harold Stephens IFA’ on YouTube.

you want a relaxed

how

manage your assets in later life,

CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

James Scrimshaw of CUR A CLINIC AL explains how new technologies are providing ef fec tive answers to people’s pain and suf fering

CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

MBST : Treatment for spinal arthritis

MBST Cell regeneration: What is MBST?

death and cell reproduction.

- Optimising cell oxygen levels

- Improving Cell energy production

Ann came to my clinic in May having suffered back pain for 30 years, getting worse in the last 10 years with arthritis to the facet joints and disc degener ation. Osteopathy and massage were no longer effective and it was really impacting here mobility, sewing and life in general. We decided to go with a course of MBST to target healing of her joint cartilage and we’re glad we did. At her follow up in early October she’s 85% better. Standing, walking, mornings and most importantly seeing are all now possible without giving it much thought which is exactly what we wanted. Her back pain is very much now at the back of her mind and as you can see she’s pretty delighted by the result.

The results we’re seeing now in patients with varying injuries and conditions is really remarkable.

MBST is remarkable in that it reliably stimulates a natural healing process in a specific tissues that over time creates huge quality of life changes to patients for whom there are few other options. It’s completely safe and a lovely process to go through.

I’ve also just discharged Kate (left), 5 months following treatment for her arthritic knees (she’d already had a half knee replaced). She’s now pain free… I anticipate these results will last a number of years.

I’ve also just discharged Kate (left), 5 months following treatment for her arthritic knees (she’d already had a half knee replaced). She’s now pain free… I anticipate these results will last a number of years.

Lynne is a dear patient that I’ve been manag ing for Low back pain over many years with hands on care. In the last 2 years however her condition became much more painful and less responsive and after some scans we found significant multi-level disc and joint degenerative change with associated forward slippage of her vertebrae causing severe sciatica. Walking was extremely difficult and day to day pain was very high. The options were either surgical fusion or try disc AND joint MBST to attempt to naturally heal and stabilise her condition. We chose the latter/least invasive option to begin with and the results after 3 months have been life changing. Still early days so things should really stabilise over the next 9 months but her pain both in the back and leg is now but a minor issue. We couldn’t be more pleased at this stage and her prognosis is looking really good based on previous similar cases I’ve man aged in this way.

- Optimising intercellular signalling pathways

- Reducing inflammatory mediators

This translates to you and I as a healing process in the tissue the energy is applied to which leads to a reduction in pain and an increase in the natural mobility and lifestyle of the patient without any need of invasive

- Readjusting cell circadian clock-leading to less cell death and cell reproduction.

MBST uses exactly the same technology as MRI scanning, just without the detector coils and imaging software. MBST stands for Molecular Biophysical Stimulation. It was discovered by a German doctor who noticed that some of his MRI patients had reduced symptoms following their MRI scans. He then assembled a team of biologists and physicists to research these positive effects at a cellular level.

The results we’re seeing now in patients with varying injuries and conditions is really remarkable.

Cells that had not functioned properly due to damage , were stimulated in such a way by the energy transfer that they could again fulfil their original tasks.

This translates to you and I as a healing process in the tissue the energy is applied to which leads to a reduction in pain and an increase in the natural mobility and lifestyle of the patient without any need of invasive therapy.

It does this at cell level in a number of ways:

- Optimising cell oxygen levels

- Improving Cell energy production

- Optimising intercellular signalling pathways

- Reducing inflammatory mediators

Obviously there are limitations of the effects relating to a number of factors such as severity and complexity of a patient’s case, however the technology is constantly being improved and we’re getting better at selecting the right patients and conditions in order to get higher success rates and better overall results.

- Readjusting cell circadian clock-leading to less cell death and cell reproduction.

Obviously there are limitations of the effects relating to a number of factors such as severity and complexity of a patient’s case, however the technology is constantly being improved and we’re getting better at selecting the right patients and conditions in order to get higher success rates and better overall results.

Rob (above) is a great example of how MBST heals cartilage in a moderate to severe arthritic knee. 15 months after his MBST therapy he now runs, plays racket ball and golf without any pain and that’s without his braces. He’s recently done a course on his severe arthritic neck and after 3-4 months has significantly less neck pain and improved mobility. Over the next 6 months I expect his condition to reach over 90% improvement.

Rob (above) is a great example of how MBST heals cartilage in a moderate to severe arthritic knee. 15 months after his MBST therapy he now runs, plays racket ball and golf without any pain and that’s without his braces. He’s recently done a course on his severe arthritic neck and after 3-4 months has significantly less neck pain and improved mobility. Over the next 6 months I expect his condition to reach over 90% improvement.

This translates to you and I as a healing process in the tissue the energy is applied to which leads to a reduction in pain and an increase in the natural mobility and lifestyle of the patient without any need of invasive therapy.

Obviously there are limitations of the effects relating to a number of factors such as severity and complexity of a patient’s case, however the technology is constantly being improved and we’re getting better at selecting the right patients and conditions in order to get higher success rates and better overall results.

James Scrimshaw of CUR A CLINIC AL explains how new technologies are providing ef fec tive answers to people’s pain and suf fering

Superconductive magnets

RF coil

Gradient coil

RF coils

Sweep coils · Electromagnets

Detector coils

Scanner & control unit

High performance computer with special imaging software

Control unit with interactive display

Construction of MRI and MBST devices

War poet film screening for Remembrance

FOLLOWING the success of recent screenings of the locally made Hannah More biopic at the Orpheus Cinema, Westbury Park, another Redcliffe Films production is now to be shown at the same venue.

Docu-drama Severn and Somme: The Life of Ivor Gurney tells the story of the Gloucestershire country boy who survived the trenches of WWI to become an acclaimed war poet and composer, but was so traumatised by his experiences that he ended his days in a psychiatric hospital.

He was witness to the Battle of Fromelles, regarded as an unmitigated disaster, where 1500 British soldiers - 25 from Bristol – were killed, wounded or captured. The Australian contingent at the battle suffered losses of more than 5500 killed, wounded or captured.

It was hoped the battle would draw German reinforcements away from the Battle of the Somme. The Allies soldiers advanced over open ground exposed to machine gun fire and artillery in broad daylight. An artillery bombardment before the battle had failed to knock out the German guns. The battle continued for 24 hours with demands that troops hold increasingly untenable positions. The battle entirely failed in its objectives.

Bristolian Richard HopeHawkins, whose great uncle was billeted in the same village as Ivor Gurney at the time, will give a talk about the battle prior to the film.

The screening takes place on Remembrance Sunday –that’s Sunday 13th November at 2.30pm. Tickets only from Eventbrite.

A Docu-drama about the life of, Ivor Gurney

First World war Poet and Composer And a talk by Richard Hope Hawkins On the experiences of Ivor Gurney while billeted at Levantie Battle of Fromelles

Introduction and poem by Robin Haward

Sunday 13th November at 2:30pm Orpheus Cinema, Henleaze

Tickets available only at Eventbrite Severn and Somme-the life of Ivor Gurney Talk and film

November 10

n BRISTOL’S HENLEAZE FLOWER CLUB presents a magnificent Christmas floral ex travaganza ‘Carry on Christmas’ at the Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4BT. Doors open 1.30 for a 2pm start and finishing 4pm. The indomitable Sally Taylor’s floral show will inspire and entertain you with plenty of ideas for your own celebratory floral designs and decorations includ ing wreaths and table settings. All welcome – visitors £12 and members £5 - cash on the door. Includes FREE refreshments.

Advance tickets contact Jenny York, Club Chair, by email yor kjenny2@yahoo.com or phone/ text 07880 700270.

November 16

n THE LIFE OF A FREELANCE OPERA CASTING ADVISER Isabel Murphy will introduce us to her life and role in the world of international opera and share some of her favourite music.

6.45 for 7.15 pm Refreshments available Easy parking

WNO Friends £8 Visitors £10. Further information from Mela nie David

Tel: 01934 842014 email: mela niejdavid@btinternet.com

November 19

n EVENING OF MEDIUMSHIP with Psychic Mediums 'The Sisters’ Louise and Michelle at 7pm Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH.

Tickets £8.

Tickets on sale at the church or contact Marian Bishop on 0117 977 1629 marianbishop@talktalk.net

November 28

n HENLEAZE SENIOR FILM CLUB at 2pm The Duke (12) 2020. In 1961, 60 year old Kempton Bunton steals Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery. Based on a true story and starring Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent. Tickets: £4.00 including refreshments. Carers welcome, easy access. For more information please call 0117 435 0063. St. Peter’s Hall, The Drive, Henleaze BS9 4LD

December 10

n WESTBURY VILLAGE HALL JAZZ NIGHT Please come along and enjoy an evening of jazz at Christmas here at the village hall with the Jane Williams Quintet and Andy Leg gett. Tickets only £12.50 which includes a hot supper with a fully stocked bar being avail able. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the village hall. Doors open 7.30pm. For book ing Tel: 0117 962 3399 or email enquiries@wotvillagehall.org

Regular events

Various days

n WEST OF ENGLAND BRIDGE CLUB has a new home in the RAFA Club, 38 Eastfield, Henleaze. There are five sessions every week, cater ing for different standards. Thurs day afternoon is for Improvers, where experienced Club members help players with bidding and card play. A brief lesson is often includ ed. Monday and Friday afternoon is for more capable players; relaxed but competitive, this is an EBUrecognised session. You may come alone to any afternoon session; a partner will be found. The evening sessions are on Wednesdays and Fridays, and are open to pairs. For information at www.woebridge club.co.uk or contact our Secretary, Chris Frew, on 0117 962 5281.

Monday

n PLAY BOWLS at Canford Park in a friendly, social atmosphere. Qualified coaches and equip ment provided. Contact: Les on 07305695579

n WESTBURY SINGERS: if you enjoy singing, we invite you to join our friendly, non-auditioned, 4 part choir, in term-time on Monday eve nings 7.30p.m. - 9.30p.m.at Reedley Road Baptist Church. Please email the Secretary: gwenalwakeel@ yahoo.co.uk.

n DICKENS SOCIETY. 7pm, at Leonard Hall, Henleaze URC, Waterford Rd, Bristol BS9 4BT. Talks, costumed readings, book club and social events. New members wel come. See www.dickens-society.

org.uk or phone Roma on 0117 9279875 for further details.

Tuesday

n WESTBURY PARK WOMEN’S INSTITUTE meets on the first Tuesday of every month in the Girl Guide Hut on Westmorland Road from 7.00 - 9.30pm. We are an active and friendly group with a varied programme plus extra ses sions for craft, coffee, book clubs, walks etc. Visitors are always wel come and for more information do call Sue on 07813795936 or email westburyparkwi@gmail.com

n WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP meet on Tuesday mornings at Westburyon-Trym Methodist Church, 10.30am-noon. An interesting pro gramme of speakers; come along to make friends. For more details, ring Kate 07905 064720.

n SCOTTISH DANCING to GET FIT and HAVE FUN and HAVE FUN with Westbury Scottish Country Dancing Club. Classes for beginners (Email: mag giekirkup@gmail.com ) and more advanced dancers (Tel: Cheryl 0117 4012416) at St Peter's Church Hall, Henleaze, Tuesdays 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Details at www.westburyscot tish.org.uk

Wednesday

n BCCS (BRISTOL CATHEDRAL CHOIR SCHOOL) CHORAL SOCIETY is now meeting at the Henleaze Bowling Club in Grange Court Road, on Wednesdays from 7.30 to 9pm. We are a small, friendly, unauditioned choir singing varied music , from choral works to more modern pieces and we would welcome new members of all standards. For information, contact Kathy, tel 0117 949362 / email www.bccschoralsociety.org. uk/

n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Commu nity Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcome- first visit free so come along and give us a try. For further information contact Sheila on 01179570792 or 07435316458 or email shinett@ blueyonder.co.uk

n KNITNATTERSTITCH meet on Wednesdays (term time only)

10-12 @ Henleaze United Reform Church’s coffee bar. For more infor mation contact Paula at knitnatter stitch @gmail.com

n HEALING SESSIONS run by accredited healers take place 2 til 3.30pm at Westbury Park Spiritual ist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up, or for info contact Marian Bishop 0117 9771629 or visit www.westburyparkspiritual istchurch.org.

n WELCOME WEDNESDAY Friendly and free coffee afternoon

sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

ON

on the 4th Wednesday of the month (30th November), 2-3.30pm at The Beehive Pub, Wellington Hill West, BS9 4QY. Meet new people, have fun, and find out what’s hap pening in your local area. Call 0117 435 0063 for more information.

Thursday

n BRISTOL MALE VOICE CHOIR are rehearsing for our 2022 concerts and warmly invite you to join us; the ability to read music is helpful but not essential as we regularly rehearse our wide-ranging rep ertoire, from classical to pop, traditional male voice favourites to musicals and gospel songs in various languages. We meet every Thursday at 7.00pm in St Andrew's Methodist Church, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS. For further information see our website, www.bristolmvc.org. uk, or Facebook, or phone 07587 143 220.

n LOCAL CHOIR ACTIVELY RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS. We meet at Stoke Bishop CE Primary School, BS9 1BW on Thursday, 7.45 - 9.15pm. We are a well-established mixed choir performing both

sacred and secular music. See our website www.henburysingers.org or contact the secretary at secre tary@henburysingers.org.

n HIGHBURY BADMINTON CLUB: Pete Stables 0117 950 1524 or www.pete4458.wixsite.com/ highburybadminton Thurs 7:30pm mid September to End April, Westbury-on-Trym Village Hall

n HENLEAZE FLOWER CLUB welcomes new members for the start of their exciting 22/23 Programme of floral design demon strations. Annual membership £52. Demonstration meetings on 2nd Thursday of the month 2pm Brad bury Hall,Waterford Road, Henleaze and begin at 2pm. Plus optional Practice Classes on 4th Thursday. Visitors welcome. We meet every month except December and Au gust. Please contact Jenny York, Club Chair yorkjenny2@yahoo.com or phone/text 07880 700270.

n HENLEAZE LADIES’ CHOIR Come and join us as we fill St Pe ter’s Church Hall in Henleaze with a diverse selection of music. We are a friendly choir and meet on Thurs day afternoons in term time from 1.45 to 3.45. There are no auditions, and the ability to read music is not necessary. For more information contact Jean on 01179 624466 or

Jane on 07752 332278.

n OPEN DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE starting Sept 8. For those interested in developing their spiritual aware ness and mediumistic ability. 7.15 for 7.30pm start at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up, or for info con tact Marian Bishop 0117 9771629 or visit www.westburyparkspiritual istchurch.org

Friday

n HENLEAZE BOWLING CLUB. Come along at 5.45pm on Fridays to see if bowling could be the sport for you. Coaching available. Experienced bowlers welcome. Situated in Grange Court Road, by Newman Hall. This is a friendly Club with good bowling facilities and social events throughout the year. Phone Secretary, Tom Logan, on 0117 962 1669 or email hbcsec@ henleazebowlingclub.org.uk for further details.

n U3A SCRABBLE GROUP meets at the Beehive pub , Wellington Hill West, on Fridays from 2 to 4pm. We are a very friendly non competitive group and welcome new members. For more information, please con tact Heddy tel 07534717254/ email nigel.d.sara@btinternet.com

We would love to publicise your event

Send details of your events and activities in the following format: WHAT IT IS • WHERE IT IS • WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words: Email: news@henleaze andwestburyvoice.co.uk

n CALLIGRAPHERS wanted to join us at St Edyth’s Church Hall, Sea Mills, on Fridays 1000-1200. We are a long established self-led group who would welcome new mem bers. Come and meet us on Friday or call Peter at 0117 329 4516.

n LADIES BADMINTON, WoT Village Hall, Friday 10-12noon. New members welcome to join our friendly group. Contact Elizabeth on 0117-968-1759

Whatever your funeral wishes or budget,

provide a

ANYTIME

to

you.

plans also available.