The Week In - Issue 665 - 10th February 2021

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

10th February 2021

Issue 665

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‘Make Charlton Road Safe’ campaign is launched A campaign has been launched to improve safety on Charlton Road which stretches from Woollard Lane and into Keynsham, with a 60mph speed limit in places.

There is a petition on the change.org website called ‘Make Charlton Road Safe’ and also a Facebook group by the same name has been started by concerned local residents Kirsty Edwards and Kay Padfield.

The petition, which has so far been signed by more than 300 people, says: “There have been numerous accidents on this road over the last 20 years and the speed limit has not changed. However, during the period 25/12/2020 to 22/01/2021 (only four weeks) there were seven car accidents in the stretch of road from the recycling plant (Resourceful Earth) and the junction with Redlynch Lane.

Also in this week’s issue

“The increase in accidents is potentially due to three factors that seem to be creating a ‘perfect storm’; firstly, increased traffic due to several hundred new houses built between Queen Charlton and Keynsham; secondly, increased surface water on roads causing a slippery surface; and thirdly, a speed limit that has not been reviewed in line with the changed use of the road from quiet country lane to busy commuter route.

“The purpose of this petition is to urge the relevant agencies to reduce the speed limit on this road and consider installing other traffic calming measures. The road has many bends and is an undulating, single carriageway with no pavement.

Charlton Road near the Redlynch Lane junction

“Road users include commuters and families in motor vehicles, but due to its proximity to smaller lanes and tracks, it is also heavily used for recreational activities such as cycling and horse riding. There is much concern amongst the local community that there will soon be a fatality if nothing is done to make the road safer.”

The campaigners have collated information and sent it to Compton Dando Parish Council, B&NES Council, the local police neighbourhood beat team, and local MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. They have been invited to attend the next Compton Dando Parish Council The junction of Charlton Road and Charlton Field Lane, near the meeting on Tuesday 16th February to present Resourceful Earth plant their findings.

Community COVID-19 testing following new variant discovery . . . page 3

Man arrested after suspicious death in Kingswood . . . page 4

Leisure plans for Wick quarry . . . pages 6 & 7

4.99% council tax rises on the way . . . page 8

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The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

Major testing programme to track mutated COVID variant Community testing is being stepped up after a mutated, more infectious, variant of COVID-19 was identified in South Gloucestershire and Bristol.

‘Surge’ testing is taking place seven days a week across specific postcode areas, including Mangotsfield, Downend, Fishponds, Hengrove and St George, for people aged over

Postcodes on the list The postcode sectors are the areas eligible for testing without symptoms, but this does not mean the variant is necessarily present there.

BS1 3 (Stokes Croft) BS2 0 (Easton) BS2 8 (Cotham) BS2 9 (St Pauls) BS3 5 (Bedminster) BS4 4 (Brislington) BS5 0 (Easton, St George, Whitehall) BS5 6 (Eastville) BS5 7 (St George) BS6 5 (St Pauls) BS6 6 (Redland) BS8 2 (Clifton) BS8 3 (Clifton, only within city council

boundary) BS9 4 (Henleaze) BS14 0 (Hengrove, only within city council boundary) BS14 9 (Hengrove) BS16 1 (Broomhill) BS16 2 (Downend & Fishponds) BS16 3 (Fishponds) BS16 5 (Mangotsfield) BS16 6 (Mangotsfield) BS16 7 (Mangotsfield) BS16 9 (Mangotsfield) BS37 8 (Yate)

The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

16 without symptoms.

Three additional mobile testing units have been rolled out – at the science park in Emersons Green (open 9am to 4pm), Imperial Retail Park in Hartcliffe Way (9am to 3pm) and Bristol City Council Rapid Testing Centre in Wellington Road, St Judes (9am to 3pm).

If you cannot get to a mobile test site, you can collect a test from one of the collect and drop sites. In South Gloucestershire they are at Emersons Green Library, Downend Library and Staple Hill Library, all open every day from 9am to 5pm.

The five libraries being used as collect and drop sites in Bristol are Fishponds, Wick Road, Whitchurch, Henleaze and Junction 3. All are open from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. The city council says it’s working to establish and confirm a Sunday service. There could also be door-to-door testing services in certain circumstances.

More than 2,000 tests were carried out across the three mobile sites on Sunday, just 36 hours after notice to do so.

Initially there was no need to book an appointment but a booking process was starting yesterday (Tuesday). The standard tests involve a swab of the nose and throat, which are analysed in labs, rather than lateral flow tests, also known as rapid tests.

The city council first issued a statement last Tuesday saying that 11 cases of a mutated variant of the virus first found in Kent had been detected in Bristol and that further investigations were under way to understand if it had spread

Queuing for testing at the science park in Emersons Green

further. The following day South Glos Council confirmed the mutated variant was also in the district.

The new Kent variant is much more infectious and spreads more easily.

Latest infection rate figures Data from South Glos Council on Monday showed a COVID-19 infection rate of 192.6 new cases per 100,000 population in the latest week – down 26% compared to the previous week.

Statistics for Bristol showed 211 new cases per 100,000 population (down from 270 the previous week).

Figures released by B&NES on Monday showed the district’s COVID-19 infection rate for the period ending 2nd February was 145 per 100,000 population compared to 215 for the previous seven days.

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Riverside patrols continue The local police beat team in Saltford are continuing to regularly patrol riverside areas. Posters have also gone up in the village to remind people of current COVID-19 guidance.

Last summer saw hordes of daytrippers visiting beauty spots along the River Avon, prompting concerns about the lack of social distancing and the litter being left.

Man is arrested over suspicious death in Kingswood An investigation is under way into the suspicious death of a man in Kingswood.

Police were called at 3am on Sunday to a house in Kennard Road by the ambulance service to a report that a man in his 20s had suffered a serious injury. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

DCI Darren Hannant, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said the death was being treated as suspicious and a 25-year-old man was arrested. The property was cordoned off for further inquiries to take place. A forensic post-mortem examination was due

to be carried out to determine the cause of death.

DCI Hannant added that the victim’s family would be supported by a specialist liaison officer.

“We know this incident will cause concern to those living in the local area so there will be additional patrols of the area over the coming days.”

If you have information about this incident and haven’t yet spoken with the police, call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5221026964.

Keep in touch, let us know what you think, send us your news www.facebook.com/theweekin

THE WEEK IN Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge.

Police vehicles parked at the junction of Kennard Road and Colebrook Road in Kingswood on Sunday

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The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

Plans for slip road into waste and recycling centre are revealed SUEZ Recycling & Recovery UK have finally lodged plans with South Gloucestershire Council for a slip road into the waste transfer station and Sort It centre at Carsons Road in Mangotsfield.

A dedicated slip road aims to improve the long-standing issues of traffic queuing to access the site.

It will be located at the intersection of Carsons Road Link and Carsons Road to the east of the Siston Hill Roundabout. The land forms part of the existing verge and the slip road will provide a new single lane which will act as an extension to the existing road for vehicles turning left into the site.

Those wanting to access the residential areas to the north will be separated from vehicles trying to access the site, reducing queues and delays.

The schedule is running behind the proposed timescale which had envisaged plans going in last spring.

The planning reference is P21/00540/F

Longwell Green branch of Caffè Nero closes

for anyone wishing to find out more about the plans and to have their say.

The council has already said that land to the south of the recycling centre may present the opportunity to move the collection vehicle fleet from the

The Week in • Wednesday 10th Februaryy 2021

Cowhorn depot in Warmley to Carsons Road.

This will not be assessed until after completion of the slip road and any proposals would be subject to planning permission.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was the last day of trading for the Caffè Nero branch at the Gallagher Shopping Park in Longwell Green.

A note had been put up at the coffee shop, which had been operating a takeaway service during lockdown, advising customers: “After just over five happy years here, this Caffè Nero is sadly having to close due to circumstances beyond our control.

“We have loved being here and would like to thank you for being wonderful customers – it has always been a privilege to serve you.

“Our last day of trading will be Tuesday 9th February.”

Last week we reported that the retail park has lost its Outfit store. It is one of the branches of the troubled Arcadia Group which will not reopen after lockdown.

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Plans to turn former quarry into the Plans to create the leading outdoor centre in the South West at the disused limestone quarry in Wick have been submitted to South Gloucestershire Council.

UK Active Outdoors Ltd say activities at Wick Outdoor Centre would include swimming, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, axe throwing, archery, target sports, bushcraft,

Security to deter trespassers The quarry has attracted a good deal of anti-social behaviour over the years, with people swimming there while ignoring the dangers of very deep and extremely cold water.

UK Active Outdoors Ltd say: “Wick Quarry Ltd are not able to constantly monitor the north area of the quarry and many people have cut and found ways to climb the fence to access this area of the site.

“During the spring lockdown of 2020, Wick Quarry had many trespassers, some days up to 200 people in the water for those who wanted to go for a swim on one of the hot days. As part of the agreement with Wick Quarry Ltd we will monitor the security at the site. We will have a team of people on site, seven days a week…Having a company operating on site will deter unauthorised access.”

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wild art, and conservation classes. There would also be wellbeing sessions.

The company won a bronze ethical, responsible and sustainability tourism award 2019-2020 in the Bristol, Bath and Somerset tourism awards and want to expand on this at Wick Quarry and “go for gold”.

The agreement with Wick Quarry Ltd is for a minimum of 10 years. The proposed use is seen as an interim one, pending the ultimate restoration of the body of water and the quarry complex to a nature reserve in accordance with planning permission already granted.

The development site sits within the disused quarry and there is an active quarry just over 300 metres to the south. UK Active Outdoors Ltd’s plans include five converted shipping containers to be used as a reception, small offices, meeting room, and a sustainable café with indoor space at the top of the site, and two secure shipping containers for equipment storage located near the lake and open space.

UK Active Outdoors Ltd say: “On the lake, we will put in a launch platform and floating pontoons for safe access onto the water. Safety buoys will also be added in the water for lane usage.”

Sustainability is a key part of the project and green energy would be used where possible.

There would be a 44-space car park in the top corner next to Rock Road. There is already security fencing in place there and a double security gate is proposed just above Cleeve Lane. Security cameras and motion sensing security lights would be positioned at the entry point.

Also provided on the site would be space for 40 bikes. UK Active Outdoors Ltd say: “This is because a lot of swimmers will be training for triathlons and will make their way to the centre in this way. Using sustainable modes of transport is also something we will be promoting at the location.”

The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

South West’s leading outdoor centre Activity companies will leave Avon Valley

Hours of opening would vary from season to season; in the summer months, the site would be accessible to customers from 8am to 8pm.

As part of the scheme the existing pathway leading down to the lake would be restored, removing the overgrown vegetation.

UK Active Outdoors Ltd say they have already discussed

The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

their plans with Wick & Abson Parish Council and the feedback was positive, with some general concerns with the potential traffic increase, which the company say can be managed via a one-way system.

The planning reference is P21/00116/F and the deadline for people wishing to have their say on the proposals is 26th February.

UK Active Outdoors Ltd say they are looking to relocate two current and successful activity companies from Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park in Keynsham to the quarry.

They say: “Sadly, coronavirus has damaged Avon Valley’s business to a point they may not come back from; as well there is a road and housing project which is planning to go through the park and therefore it’s no longer viable to operate there and the main reason we need to move.

“We do not know the current timescale of this project as it has been put on hold, but we were supposed to move at the latest 2021, according to the original plans.”

UK Active Outdoors Ltd hope to be operating in Wick

by April and say all of their shelters, equipment and office are portable and can easily be shipped over to the new site.

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LETTERS Why are the roads so busy in lockdown?

Dear Editor In reference to your letter from a frustrated van driver in Issue 661 (13th January).

On my daily walk for exercise/shopping I have also noticed how busy the roads are at weekends. I wonder if anyone else has noticed the increasing number of road traffic accidents being reported on the radio and local media. Because of coronavirus restrictions, I thought there would be far less traffic on the roads.

With so many isolating, is it a lack of police traffic patrols, bad driving or are the speed cameras and warning signs on motorways switched off?

M.J. Crew Fishponds

required to have a group of voluntary

Naomi Howell

trustees who have a supervisory role in

Longwell Green

Empty shop conversion approved

ensuring activities at the ground comply Some of the trustees are nominated by

Why are COVID rules relaxed for sport?

sports using the BRG but others come from

Dear Editor

the community. If you live in the Bitton

Why won't anyone discuss the fact that the

area and are keen that sports facilities

general public are not allowed to travel or

should continue to thrive at BRG, then I

have close contact with anyone, when

offer you the opportunity to serve as a

football and rugby players can travel

trustee and join us in our quarterly

the length and breadth of the country and

meetings.

have very close contact with their

Anyone interested and who would like to

teammates?

know more, please ring me on 0117 403

Every day there are reports of people being

6845 and I will be happy to provide further

fined for travelling out of their area. People

details.

cannot visit or hug their relatives in care

Paul Cooney

homes. It's heart-breaking to see someone

Chairman of the trustees,

who is only allowed to wave through a

Bitton Recreation Ground

window to their relative, some of them who

with the objects of the charity.

are terminally ill. Yet every time you switch

Charity looking for a new trustee

Thank you everyone

on the TV there are footballers hugging

Dear Editor

each other and rugby players with their

I would like to thank all of my family,

faces touching other players when they

Dear Editor

friends and church for their cards, flowers,

tackle a player or when they are in a scrum.

Following the death of Mr Ted Claxton, the

phone calls and other help at the recent loss

Why is there one rule for them and another

Bitton Recreation Ground (BRG) is looking

of my dear husband Maurice.

for the rest of us?

to appoint a new trustee.

We spent many happy years together.

Maggie

BRG is a registered charity which is by law

God bless you all.

Bristol

South Gloucestershire Council has granted approval for a former convenience store in a rank of shops in Kingswood to be turned into a flat.

Applicant Mr J Gentry had said the premises at 135 Station Road is not in a key shopping area and has been up for rent for more than a year with no interest, adding that the other shops adequately serve the community.

Council planners said that whilst the loss of the shop is “regrettable”, it is important to support proposals to bring back vacant floor space into active use.

They said the character of the parade of shops has a “domestic appearance” so it will not be completely out of character.

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‘Recover and Rise’ budget for South Glos South Gloucestershire Council has approved proposals for this year’s budget.

Among other key factors of the council’s budget for the year beginning in April are vital support for residents hit hardest by the

pandemic. A £1m council tax relief package is being opened up to more residents than ever and there is a £1.3m pay increase targeted at the lowest paid staff, as well as increased funding for domestic violence

Council tax bills in B&NES set to rise by just under 5% Residents of Bath & North East Somerset will see an increase of just under 5% in their council tax bill from April.

The increase of 1.99% on the council tax plus a 3% levy for Adult Social Care costs was due to be ratified by the council’s Cabinet this week. Like with many other councils, the last 10 months have resulted in an increase in demand on its care services and the precept is the maximum B&NES is permitted to levy.

B&NES also relies on income from tourism, car parking and commercial rents and these have all been heavily impacted

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since the first national lockdown was imposed last March. The council estimates the shortfall to be in excess of £13m.

However, it is proposing to maintain a balanced budget for the financial year 2021-2 without the need to draw on balances and cash reserves. Achieving that will require further savings of £8.48m over the coming 12 months and a range of measures have been proposed in the budget. Once approved, as expected at this week’s Cabinet meeting, the budget will then be formally adopted by the full council on 23rd February.

support. There is also £1.2m for phase two of the council’s Recovery Curriculum with brand new provision to help children catch up on lost learning because of the pandemic.

A 1.99% council tax rise is proposed to protect services and a 3% precept to boost

Adult Social Care.

The full budget proposals were approved by the Cabinet at their meeting last Monday and were expected to be rubberstamped at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday 10th February.

Criticism levelled at negligent landlords South Gloucestershire’s budget includes new investment into Kingswood town centre, including the Whitfield Tabernacle restoration. The council plans to allocate up to £5m from its land and property investment fund towards property acquisition. which, together with a £7.56m investment agreed recently by the West of England Combined Authority, will match the £12.5m secured through the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

Cllr Kim Scudamore, who is secretary to the Whitfield Tabernacle trustees, welcomed the package of funding and the vision to do something transformational with the town centre.

But he highlighted: “Kingswood has a few landlords who seem reluctant to take responsibility for the upkeep of their property and don’t seem to care about the impact that their deteriorating buildings can have on the entire area.”

The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

Appeal after replacement care home plans are refused A developer has lodged an appeal after their plans to

building they replace, they would not be as high as the

build a replacement care home on the site of the derelict

neighbouring health centre.

one in St Clements Road in Keynsham were refused by

They argue that a care home is a much-needed facility to

B&NES Council.

cater for the ageing population and will generate significant

The proposed home would be in three separate buildings

employment opportunities.

around a central parking courtyard on the old Treetops site,

B&NES Council received one letter of support for the plans

with access from the existing Keynsham Health Centre car

but more than 40 letters of objection. Many considered the

park.

proposal too tall and overbearing and were worried about the

The previous bungalow-style care home, run by the Shaw

impacts of the extra traffic. Local councillor Alan Hale

Foundation, closed after critical Care Quality Commission

objected, saying that that the development would turn the

reports. Treetops provided care and support for up to 24 older

approach road within the site into a “canyon” and would be

people, some with dementia.

a very large blot on the view from Wellsway, while the

The replacement scheme proposed by UKS Ltd was

volume of traffic using a very basic residential road would

originally for 78 bedrooms over four storeys, but they

increase “massively”.

more weight applied to the benefits of the proposed

reduced it to 57 beds over three storeys to try to address the

Outlining the problems with the application, B&NES

development: “The bottom line is that the council seems to

council’s concerns.

Council said: “The application has a number of shortcomings

overlook that that there is an existing dilapidated care home

The three proposed buildings - a care home, nursing home

and would result in a series of harms that would conflict with

on the site, with car parking on the frontage, no trees, large

and a care home for patients with dementia - would each

the development plan. The harm to the setting of the

boundary walls and fences, and small garden areas. The

contain 19 ‘care suites’. The developer’s agents say that

Keynsham Conservation Area is not outweighed by the

proposal will deliver a new care facility and careful internal

although the buildings would be substantially higher than the

limited public benefits of the scheme. Neither do they

and external design will ensure high-quality accommodation

Keynsham Health Centre

outweigh the other identified harms including the

for vulnerable members of the community is provided.”

harm to the landscape setting, harm to the visual

The agents also point out that the council calls the health

amenities of the Green Belt, the poor quality design,

centre, as a backdrop to the site, a “monolith” that “sits

the lack of adequate amenity space, the lack of green

uncomfortably on the skyline”, although they disagree.

infrastructure, the inappropriate drainage strategy or

“The council is trying to convince the decision maker that

the failure to provide a sustainable construction

this building should be disregarded as a ‘bad decision’ and

checklist or energy strategy.”

the appeal scheme should reflect the suburban two-storey

The decision on whether permission should be

residential context that predominates. For the appellant, we

granted now rests with an inspector appointed by the

have to stress that the council may have ‘been having a bad

Secretary of State.

day’ when this building was approved, nonetheless is part of

As part of the appeal, the agents argue that less

the context, it is not going anywhere soon and has to be

weight should be applied to the harmful impacts and

assessed as context.”

Sudoku 1-Easy

Treetops

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 14th February

2 -Hard

Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (10.30am-4pm) Asda, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) Boots, Emersons Green Retail Park (10.30am-4.30pm) Sainsbury’s, Emersons Green Retail Park (9.30am-4.30pm) Stockwood Pharmacy, 78 Hollway Road, BS14 8PG (9am-7pm) Keynsham Pharmacy, 15 Station Road, BS31 2BH (10am-4pm) Tesco, Callington Road, Brislington (10am to 4pm) Morrisons, 688-718 Fishponds Road, Fishponds (10am-4pm) Boots, Avonmeads Retail Park, St Philips Causeway (11am-5pm)

The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

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£1.5m redesign to make Keynsham Civic Centre new district-wide HQ More details have been released about plans to redesign the interior of Keynsham Civic Centre for it to become the central office for Bath & North East Somerset District Council (B&NES).

As we reported in December (Issue 658) with around 1,200 staff having to work from home

during lockdown, the council has been reappraising its future office needs. It set about reducing its office space in Bath and making Keynsham the HQ where staff and departments can meet and work in a ‘blended’ or split system of home and office working.

From the report considered by B&NES Cabinet

Already, office space has been vacated on the St Martin’s Hospital site and in Lewis House in Bath. Two of the four floors had already been let commercially and the other two are now being marketed. At Keynsham a fixedterm contract procurement manager is being recruited and architects engaged to work on interior design concepts prior to a contractor being engaged.

Built only seven years ago, Keynsham Civic Centre had a classic office interior with room roles cannot be fulfilled from home and that for up to 520 staff. While a ‘hot teams and departments still need to meet in desking’ system has been in place order to exchange ideas and simply enjoy from the start, the new design will face-to-face contact. Post-pandemic, the most cater for team meeting spaces and likely split working system is envisaged as smaller pods for more staff commuting to Keynsham on two or confidential discussions. Initial three days a week. designs suggest that the building Some key roles will be retained at the Chris Wright, left, with Chiefas Constable Andy Marsh Guildhall in Bath, well as a limited amount capacity could be increased significantly, providing it meets of meeting space. No changes are planned for council offices at The Hollies at Midsomer fire safety certification.

The council sees a future where Norton. In a report due to be considered by home working will be the norm B&NES Council’s Cabinet this week the for most staff and to that end, 325 budget for the office transformation across new laptops have also been ordered so that staff are not reliant on their own computers. But the policy also recognises that some

Crossword

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Gleams (8)

2. Come to earth (4)

6. Location (4)

3. Coin money (6)

8. Haunch (3)

4. Mass flight (6)

the next two financial years has been set at just over £1.5m. The expectation is for the saving on office space in Bath and income from commercial rents to offset this cost.

9. Cover for a letter (8) 5. Son of Noah (4) 10. Hire (4)

6. Leap (6)

12. Nasal cavity (5)

7. Ball game (6)

14. Caper (5)

11. Wild rose (5)

17. Competition (4)

12. Exclusive report (5)

18. Torpid (8)

13. Slumber (5)

20. Perfume spray (8)

14. Mature (3)

24. Fasten securely (4) 15. Periods (5) 25. More mature (5)

16. Calcium carbonate (5)

26. Low-cut shoes (5)

19. Coniferous tree (3)

29. Statutes (4)

21. Violent outburst (6)

30. Glandular disease (8)

22. Paltry (6)

32. Gainsay (4)

24. Orb (6)

33. EU country (8)

27. ---- of March (4)

23. Flexible rhythm (mus.) (6) 31. Caustic solution (3)

28. Abominable snowman (4)

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The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

Three bikes stolen from Whitchurch home These three bikes were stolen from an address in the Ridgeway Lane area of Whitchurch on Friday 15th January.

They are described as a green and orange

Orbea Wild, a grey and orange Voodoo Bantu and a grey and pink Boardman SLR 8.6.

If you can help, call 101 and quote reference 5221010057.

Keep in touch, let us know what you think, send us your news www.facebook.com/theweekin

The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

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25th anniversary of Police break up the death of firefighter multiple house parties Fleur Lombard Avon & Somerset Police disrupted more than a dozen house parties on the last weekend of January - including one in Kingswood - and issued a total of 47 fixed penalty notices – 13 of which were for £800.

On 20th January the minimum penalty which can be given to anyone attending a party or gathering of more than 15 people quadrupled, with fines of up to £6,400 for repeat offenders.

Those attending gatherings of 15 people or fewer are still

subject to a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £200 which doubles with each repeated offence.

Among the places across the force area that FPNs were handed was a gathering at Elmtree Way in Kingswood.

Inspector Ruth Gawler said: “Millions of people across the country are diligently following the rules and making huge sacrifices to limit the spread of coronavirus. Yet there is clearly a selfish minority who seem to think the rules don’t apply to them and they can go about their lives as normal.”

Situations Vacant

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Staff from across Avon Fire & Rescue Service observed a minute’s silence last Thursday to mark the 25th anniversary of firefighter Fleur Lombard’s death while fighting an arson attack in Staple Hill.

Some firefighters joined the community of Staple Hill at 11am at a social distance to remember 21-year-old Fleur, who was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal and Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation in recognition of her bravery.

Fleur had been fighting a serious fire in Leo’s supermarket on Sunday 4th February 1996 when together with fellow firefighter Robert Seaman, she entered the building to search for missing persons and to help contain the fire. But conditions deteriorated and she was caught in a flashover and killed by the intense heat.

In a tribute on Thursday Avon Fire & Rescue Service said: “Today marks the 25th anniversary of the tragic death of firefighter Fleur Lombard. It’s hard to believe it’s been a quarter of a century since the death of Fleur, her loss is keenly felt across the service and our thoughts remain with her loved ones. Gone but never forgotten.”

Suzanne Rolt2021 The Week in • Wednesday 10th February

Grass paving system idea for eyesore piece of land

Family Announcements Bereavements

A reinforced grass paving system has been suggested for an eyesore piece of land in Hanham.

Cllr

June

Bamford

told

last

Wednesday’s meeting of Hanham Parish

Council

that

some

local

residents have been complaining about cars parked on the grass at Church Road, by the Memorial Road junction.

The land is owned and maintained by South Gloucestershire Council.

She said she had been told that the vehicles that park there are mainly from a car dealer: “It gets very, very muddy and it spreads on to the pavement, which can be slippery when it’s icy, and it looks an eyesore.”

She said she has spoken to South Glos

said that after a report to enforcement,

lay a paving system for parking similar

Council’s highways department which

the trader’s vehicles had stopped

to one at Syston Way at New

had considered planting some trees

parking not just there but everywhere

Cheltenham which allows the grass to

until they discovered there were too

around Hanham, but he noticed that the

come through but not mud.

many utilities underneath. She said

problem is starting to come back again.

Cllr Bamford said she would ask South

other options might be logs or planters.

Cllr Bernard Jackson suggested that

Glos Council officers whether that

Parish council chair Ian Richardson

South Glos Council might be able to

might be feasible.

The Week in • Wednesday 10th February 2021

13

Sudoku Solutions 1-Easy 4 9 1 7 5 3 6 8 2

2 3 6 8 4 1 7 5 9

8 7 5 9 6 2 4 1 3

1 6 7 4 3 5 9 2 8

Crossword Solution

2-Hard 5 8 9 2 1 7 3 6 4

3 2 4 6 8 9 5 7 1

9 5 8 1 7 4 2 3 6

6 4 3 5 2 8 1 9 7

7 1 2 3 9 6 8 4 5

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