The Week In - Issue 718 - 23rd February 2022

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

23rd February 2022

Issue 718

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Schools shut, services cancelled and trees down in the worst storm in decades With a rare red weather warning in place – meaning danger to life – schools were closed on Friday and people were urged not to travel.

Storm Eunice, the worst in decades, caused widespread damage and disruption across our area. The Met Office had warned of very strong gusts that could cause “significant danger to life” from flying debris or damage to buildings.

First suspended all bus services on Friday, and with fallen trees and other debris across railway tracks, GWR was also forced to temporarily halt services.

Bristol Road in Keynsham was blocked for hours because of a fallen tree. The previous day another large tree nearby had come crashing down in high winds, hitting the footbridge used by students from Broadlands Academy to access their

sports fields.

In South Gloucestershire the council had 12 tree teams with chainsaws, as well as 60 members of staff dealing with frontline activities during Storm Eunice. By 5pm there had been reports of 46 trees causing an obstruction or unsafe.

Among them was a tree at Long Road in Mangotsfield, one that fell across Cleeve Wood Road in Downend and one that blocked the Bristol & Bath Railway Path at Warmley. High winds also brought down a tree in Long Road last Wednesday.

Meanwhile scaffolding collapsed on to cars parked on the forecourt of the Roadworthy Suzuki dealership in Fishponds during ferocious winds.

Among the properties affected by loss of power were almost

A large tree split in high winds on Thursday, with part of it crashing onto the footbridge at Bristol Road in Keynsham

Also in this week’s issue

Traffic concerns over Wick outdoor centre plan . . . page 3

Keynsham ‘sandwiched’ housing plans withdrawn . . . page 4

Two large trees were uprooted in Mangotsfield during storms last week

800 households in the Farmborough and Clutton area.

As recycling and waste collections were cancelled on Friday, both B&NES and South Gloucestershire councils have asked people to hold onto their waste and recycling until the next scheduled collections, or to take it to their nearest recycling centre. There are extended opening hours at South Gloucestershire Sort it recycling centres until Friday (8am to 5.30pm). Bristol Waste said collections would take place one day later than usual this week.

• With a yellow weather warning remaining in place on Monday for much of the GWR network as Storm Franklin moved in, the rail firm urged people to only travel if necessary. There was a significantly reduced service and a 50 mph restriction remained in place.

Budget division at two local councils . . . page 10

Another break-in at Keynsham sweet shop . . . page 11

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The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

Controversy over activity centre access Plans to create the South West’s leading outdoor centre in a disused part of Wick Quarry are being recommended for approval, despite local concerns that the country lanes leading to the proposed car park are narrow and inadequate.

Whilst the main quarry entrance is located off

Widespread support for an open water swimming venue Approximately 350 responses have been received to the planning application with a greater number in support of the proposals. However, it has been pointed out that many of the comments in support of the proposal come from people based in Bristol or further afield.

The activities being planned include swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, axe throwing, archery, target sports, bushcraft, wild art, and conservation classes.

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 scheme includes using five converted shipping containers for an office, café and meeting rooms and the application refers to a temporary period of 15 years.

London Road on the south of the site, UK Active Outdoors Ltd’s plans are for an area to the north of the quarry which would be accessed via Rock Road, with a new 40space parking area near the northern lake.

The plans are widely supported, but some local residents are deeply unhappy about the proposed car park entrance because of fears about the impact on those who use the narrow network of lanes – horse riders, walkers, cyclists and families walking their children to school, as well as farm vehicles.

They say there have already been a number of road accidents in the area, that on-street overflow parking has not been considered and that parking in the area is already difficult due to visitors to the Golden Valley Nature Reserve.

They say they would rather see access through the main quarry entrance or via one of the other entrances that have been blocked up over the years.

And they are furious that the ward councillors did not ‘call in’ the planning application within the five-day time slot for debate and decision by the planning committee, rather than it being delegated to a council director to approve.

The residents are now pinning their hopes on the director himself referring it to the committee, a move that is within his power under the council's constitution but for which there has been no precedent.

Wick & Abson Parish Council has said it is not against the idea of the activity centre but has concerns about the proposed access routes and parking. Doynton Parish Council

Popular Keynsham business closing down The curtain will come down on another independent Keynsham business soon.

CarQuip on Charlton Road has started a closing down sale to clear stock prior to vacating the premises on 14th April.

For owner Pete Shingfield, his retirement will bring to an end an association with the town which has lasted more than 45 years.

He first began working in Keynsham in 1976 before opening CarQuip in 1989.

Initially in just one unit, the car accessory business expanded into the neighbouring two units in Charlton Road.

Last year, Studio 11 Fitness took over part of the shop and Pete is currently disposing

Some of the concerned residents near the proposed entrance

has also said that the potential for extra traffic through the lanes is a concern and the British Horse Society has also raised concerns about the access.

This week the owner of UK Active Outdoors Ltd, Tristan Bawn, stressed that an alternative route through the working quarry was not possible and that it is in the company’s interest to provide a safe route for their customers.

He said that their transport consultants had found that the local highway network “operates with large volumes of capacity and

Historical refusal Objectors point out that between 2000 and 2003, plans to build a house on land at Rock Road were refused several times

by South Gloucestershire Council because of road safety concerns, and there was a failed appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

The refusal reasons included concerns about the increase in traffic on Rock Road, which was described as a substandard road with no footway, and the extra traffic on to the substandard junction with the classified Abson Road.

the anticipated uplift in traffic form the outdoor centre can easily be accommodated”.

The consultants’ report adds that there would be traffic management protocols for people arriving and leaving the centre to limit the impact on local roads, including the possibility of a private shuttle service from a local car park which would allow traffic on the local network to be kept to a minimum.

There would also be measures in place to encourage sustainable transport.

The council planning officer who has considered the proposals has recommended granting planning permission. The council’s highways officers says that while the proposal would increase traffic movement locally, it can be adequately accommodated.

This week ward councillor Steve Reade told The Week In that not calling in the plans had been “an honest mistake”.

He said he had apologised to residents and admitted that he did not correctly judge the mood.

He said he supports the planning application for the outdoor centre but shares concerns about access.

The Week In has asked the council for a statement on what is happening with the planning application.

of the remaining stock with some items selling at just cost price.

He said that many loyal customers have been devastated that he is calling time on the shop after 33 years and social media has been full of heartfelt messages of gratitude. Although 14th April is the final day, closure may come earlier if all the stock has been sold before then.

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

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Developer pulls controversial plans for ‘sandwiched’ homes Asquare Properties Ltd have withdrawn their controversial plans to build seven homes on land between a row of historic cottages in Keynsham and a council car park.

In their application, the developer had described the land as “sandwiched” between the rear boundaries of the listed Tenhouses terrace on Bath Hill and Bath Hill East Car Park.

Three four-bed houses, three one-bed flats and one twobed flat above a garage were proposed on the site, which is in the Keynsham

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.

Conservation Area.

The withdrawal of the plans follows criticism from local residents, Keynsham Town Council and officers at Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Posters were put up in windows of the cottages saying: ‘We say No to the Bath Hill Sandwich’.

Keynsham Town Council warned that the proposal would “destroy and diminish the character of this section

of the town’s conservation area”.

B&NES Council’s conservation officer had been concerned about the impact on the listed terrace and the conservation area, while the ecology officer had objected on the grounds of the net loss of biodiversity and green infrastructure. She also said there was insufficient information to enable the planning authority to fully assess the likely impact on

protected species.

Meanwhile the council’s highways officer said the proposed access arrangement from Bath Hill was “substandard” and would harm road safety, and that the developer had failed to show how satisfactory walking and cycling connections could be achieved. The proposed car parking provision was also considered to be below the council’s adopted standards.

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The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

Further concerns over safety at quarry-side road in Wick More work is needed next to the quarry-side road at the

At the time, South Gloucestershire Council said that it had

top of Naishcombe Hill in Wick, despite the safety

brought in a specialist geotechnical engineer who had

improvements carried out in 2020.

recommended that vegetation be removed to allow a more

We first reported in May 2019 on concerns raised by local

thorough inspection.

residents and the parish council that the surface of the road

The situation was then monitored over the following months

was cracking and the edge was falling away, while the 60-year-

while designs for a permanent repair were prepared. In the

old crash barrier had dropped in places to below the level of

summer of 2020 the council installed new barriers and a

the road. The drop the other side into the old quarry, which is

reinforced concrete ground beam to support the carriageway.

a nature reserve, is around 100ft.

Now local residents are again flagging up their concerns about the stability of the ground at this location.

The fencing installed in 2020 is leaning

This week a South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson told The Week In: “We are aware that the soil verge outside of the

concerns around the integrity of the highway or the road safety

road safety barrier at Naishcombe Hill has moved and caused

barrier. We are carrying out regular checks to ensure it remains

the timber fence to lean.

safe and have commissioned a specialist contractor to secure

“While we realise that this appears alarming, we don’t have

the verge with the aim of work starting later this spring.”

Play area refurbishment plans Flashack to 2019 when the edge of the road was cracking

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

South Gloucestershire Council has secured funding to replace vandalised play equipment at Beaufort Road Play Area in Downend. Three potential designs have been shortlisted through a tender process, and local families are being asked to help choose which design would best meet the needs of the local community.

The plans and a questionnaire are available online – search under ‘Consultations’ on the council’s website.

The consultation closes on 29th March. The council says a decision will be made on the final design by the end of March and the aim is to install the new play equipment in the summer.

5

Broken pledge at Somerdale ‘has tarnished Taylor Wimpey have won their controversial planning application to build four houses on land at the Somerdale estate in Keynsham that they had originally earmarked for a riverside café.

However, the developers were severely criticised by several Bath & North East Somerset councillors at a recent planning committee meeting for breaking their promise.

We reported last autumn (Issue 702) that Taylor Wimpey had lodged a planning application for the site at Trajectus Way as residential use was considered a more efficient use of the plot of land. Taylor Wimpey also pointed out that there are already commercial facilities at St Monica Trust’s Chocolate Quarter opposite.

In the same issue, we highlighted that Somerdale residents had also lost their promised convenience shop after St Monica Trust’s plan for more housing was approved

by B&NES planning committee. The proposed five-storey building - Block D will house 44 ‘extra care’ properties on the site between the Pavilion and Block C of The Chocolate Quarter. It replaces a previously approved four-storey apartment block with

24 units which would have had ground-floor retail.

Now the planning committee has given the go-ahead for two detached and a pair of semidetached houses, one of them ‘affordable’ to be built on the parcel of land at Trajectus Way that is described as ‘Proposed Café’ in council records.

The council planning officer dealing with the case, who recommended approval of the scheme, said that Taylor Wimpey had agreed to give just under £25,000 towards education because next year the primary school at Somerdale will be full. She said the council has had to invest in other primary school places around the Keynsham and Saltford area and the view is that the developer should make a proportional contribution.

The officer said she could not comment on what Taylor Wimpey had promised residents who had bought properties at Somerdale, but that there was nothing to preclude the plot at Trajectus Way now being developed for housing. She also said that the policy for the Somerdale site had stated small-scale local needs retail of “up to 500sq m” which has been provided.

A range of services already provided at The

Chocolate Quarter includes a GP surgery, restaurant, café bar, gym, pool and volunteerrun community shop, albeit with limited opening hours.

Cllr Duncan Hounsell said that during the recent Keynsham Town Council by-election, the lack of promised retail facilities at Somerdale had been raised with every candidate on the doorstep.

He told the planning committee: “This is something that does concern the people of Somerdale and the wider community in Keynsham. I really do hope that Taylor Wimpey will listen and take note. Their reputation is more important probably than

these four houses.”

Cllr Hal MacFie also warned that Taylor Wimpey risked tarnishing their reputation as a developer with this planning application: “Four houses means nothing to them in the larger scheme of things and they are going to walk around now with that tarnish.”

Ward councillor Vic Clarke said he had a lot of sympathy with residents who had bought at the development but felt that with no legal commitment, within planning law the developer was perfectly entitled to lodge a new application.

Cllr Shaun Hughes asked how the council could guarantee that residents on this or any

The site at Trajectus Way

‘Residents have been shafted’ More than 40 local residents lodged their concerns with B&NES Council about Taylor Wimpey’s change of plan, as did Keynsham Town Council which said it amounted to overdevelopment and would reduce facilities for residents on the estate.

One objector said: “This is another crude move by the developers to shaft the residents of this estate for a short-term financial gain.

“We were all sold houses with a promise of a new shop and riverside café - this would enrich the community far more than a few houses via social meetings, job opportunities and money going into the local economy.”

Taking issue, another local resident said: “In the original plans for this estate, the riverside café was a significant part of the community infrastructure which made this 6

development more attractive than a standard dormitory estate, and for many was a factor in their decision to move here.

“Community facilities are already under pressure - many local families have been unable to get places at the school, the ‘B Block’ café and restaurant is increasingly focusing its offer on St Monica residents and inappropriate parking remains a problem.

“To remove the proposed café and substitute more houses can only make matters worse. It is hard to see this as anything but a large and highly profitable company seeking to renege on its commitments to the council and the residents in pursuit of extra profit. I hope that the council will stand firm against it.”

Another commented that it was “an outrage that we’ve been lied to”.

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

Taylor Wimpey’s reputation’ other development have the confidence to buy a property and know that the developer will deliver the promises made.

He said: “We owe it to our residents to hold developers to account, otherwise these things are not worth the paper they are written on.

Certainly there have got to be lessons to be learned from this going forward to make sure these community-based development features should be written in such a way that they can’t be overturned so easily.”

Chair of the planning committee Cllr Sue Craig said: “I think it is very regrettable that we don’t have any recourse on this.”

Agreeing with Cllr Hughes, she said: “We need to look at this in the future and I think as a council we need to consider this more

carefully and make it stronger. People want to live in communities, not just in a field with lots of houses in it.”

The committee agreed by a majority that planning permission could be granted, subject to conditions including a financial contribution from Taylor Wimpey towards the creation of additional primary school capacity, and an archaeological report.

The application site lies very close to the known Roman town of Trajectus and archaeological evaluation around the site has revealed features associated with the town.

The council says there is the potential for archaeology relating to this occupation to be uncovered during the groundworks for the development.

Taylor Wimpey’s response A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey told The Week In: “We have delivered a variety of community facilities at our development in Somerdale for the benefit of residents and the wider community.

“A new nursery and café, which were initially planned to be located off Trajectus Way, have been provided elsewhere at the development and we have submitted a planning application for four new homes

in this location. We are committed to meeting our obligations of the planning permission for Somerdale and remain committed to providing all of the facilities promised.”

A nursery has been provided as part of the Somerdale Educate Together Primary Academy and St Monica Trust has provided a café at The Chocolate Quarter.

Local bus services still under threat Local bus services remain under threat unless operators receive more financial support from the Government.

As we have reported previously in The Week In, payments made to bus operators under the COVID-19 Bus Recovery Grant have been scaled back due to differing views on passenger levels. The Government’s view is that numbers have recovered to 80% of pre-pandemic levels while bus operators in this region say it is hardly 60%.

Last week, seven metro mayors across the country, including West of England Mayor Dan Norris, issued a joint statement calling on the Government to extend Bus Recovery Grant payments beyond the end of ths financial year. They warn of further fare rises and cuts to services if no action is taken.

Meanwhile, one bus industry publication has attacked the apparent cut in funding for the National Bus Strategy which was promised last year by Prime Minister Boris

Johnson to “level up buses across England to London standards”.

Route One Magazine published a leader column last week lamenting the statement as hot air, not just because the £3bn promise was less than half of what was needed to deliver the National Bus Strategy’s aims but because it turned out to be a £1.4bn promise by the time of the Chancellor’s autumn statement last year.

But it pointed to a contradiction (or possible typo, asks Route One) as the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper published last month still retains the £3bn figure.

Editor Tim Meakin writes: “Regardless of funding, ministers, by the tacit admission of one of them, have no interest in reducing car usage. They will leave it, and by association, congestion, to define themselves. The Government’s dismissal of calls for a long-term bus funding settlement model is equally contradictory of its aims for the mode stated elsewhere.”

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

7

LETTERS How Co-op customers can help our park Dear Editor

leaflet, also when and where did the voting take place?

I knew absolutely nothing about Kingswood wanting to become a parish.

We’re delighted that Keynsham In Bloom has been chosen to benefit from the Co-op Local Community Fund.

But looking at the statistics, the Kingswood community are against it so why ask people if you are going to do it anyway?

As you can imagine, the last two years have been really challenging for small, charitable groups like ours. The pandemic has

Where is the democracy? And how much is it going to cost us?

Clare, Kingswood

drastically affected our fundraising efforts,

This wreck is not improving our village

that’s okay?

Dear Editor

winds on recycling day is also an issue.

Unfortunately, it's not just people that are the curse of the problem. I'm afraid very strong

Re the recent boast on how the local council have improved the Saltford environment, this wreck of a van has been parked at the junction of Boyd Road and Howard Close for nearly a year. Both the police and B&NES Council say there is nothing they can do!

We’re urging local Co-op members to choose us as their cause so we can deliver our project and help more people in Keynsham.

We’re raising funds for the Keynsham Pocket Park. Our aim is to make things better for the elderly, disabled, young families and anyone who feels isolated and needs company. Whether they come to the park just to relax or join in with our gardening projects to improve the park, we welcome all.

and with no lids on so many bins, the inevitable will occur. I never understand why people do not crush their plastic. One of the big offenders are milk cartons rolling around the road. If people just put the lid on, make a hole (scissors) and step on it to get the air

so we’re grateful to have this partnership with the local Co-op.

Obviously, because plastic is so lightweight

out, it will remain flat and stay put better!

Why bother to ask people for their views

Of course, as we know, if the recycling people see anything that has blown into the

Dear Editor

road, even within reaching distance, they

I couldn't believe your recent article about

will not pick it up (Health & Safety

the decision to proceed with a town council

apparently!) And of course, once emptied,

for Kingswood.

bins and bags decide to go ‘blow about’ also.

When questioned, less than 140 people wanted a town council out of a population of 22,000, and yet South Gloucestershire Council are pressing ahead with a decision that was clearly made well before anyone

But that issue is for another day.

Perhaps publishing the attached picture will shame the owners into moving it.

So, in summary, if all people played their part, then we would be well on our way to a

Name supplied

litter-free society. If only!

John Howlett, Keynsham

We seem to have a council with a view of

Bewildered by society’s litter louts

democracy rather like Stalinist Russia: ‘We'll

Dear Editor

have a vote, but we've already decided the

Mast upgrade was done overnight

Picking up (no pun intended!) on Cllr

outcome.’

Dear Editor

Michael Bell's letter last week (Issue 717)

Chris Kendrick, Kingswood

We thought we would make the people of

some people's total disregard to dropping

Hanham aware of the new 5G mast that’s

We really hope people will visit the Co-op

litter, plastic/fast food containers etc. in any

been put up outside Magpie Bottom

website or download the Co-op app and

public place they feel inclined to, just

retirement home.

bewilders me.

Dear Editor

The 5G mast has replaced the 4G one. They

Who are these morons (my word, not Cllr

May I as a local resident, request that the

worked overnight on Saturday so people

Bell's). Why do they care so little for the

Keynsham Heritage Action Zone Manager,

don't notice and to reduce complaints.

appearance of their community?

with regard to Temple Street, this time listens

Amy & Helen

While waiting at traffic lights on Flowers

to local retailers and local residents, and not

Hanham residents

Hill in Brislington, a car pulled up in the

Where’s the democracy in this consultation?

as in the case of the High Street, ignore them

outside lane just ahead of me, opened the

to the detriment of Keynsham itself, as

passenger door and a young man placed on

proven by the delayed traffic and the overall

the road a cardboard box with a few chips

Dear Editor

increase in emissions and pollution, while

left in it and closed his door and drove away

With reference to the Kingswood parish

the objective put forward by those

when the lights went green. I just could not

consultation featured in your last issue, I as

responsible was to reduce emissions.

believe what I had just witnessed. What kind

a resident would like to ask, where was my

B Charles

of mentality allows someone to think that

When

members

buy

selected

Co-op

branded products and services, 2p from every pound spent goes to support local causes like ours. Co-op members can select us as their local cause by visiting https://tinyurl.com/2p9bh97k

select us as their Local Community Fund cause so we can continue making a difference.

Dawn Drury Secretary of Keynsham In Bloom

8

was asked for their views.

Don’t ignore us

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The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

The Community Page said it is vital to engage with the next generations of news consumers and the meeting provided encouraging confirmation that the need for an independent local press, which informs and holds authority to account, is recognised across the age spectrum.

If you run a group or association which holds meetings with guest speakers and would like Stephen to attend then email theweekincommunity@gmail.com

Donations Spreading the word This year The Week In publisher Stephen Rodgers is taking the story of the newspaper out into the wider community.

He is giving talks to local groups and societies about the history of the weekly newspaper since its launch in 2008 and how it has evolved against the backdrop of a changing media environment. This includes the decision last year to hand over the title to community ownership and how that impacts on the future of local news reporting.

The first presentation took place last month with KeynshamNow, the town’s youth council. Stephen has long

Another first this year for The Week In Community is that it has begun receiving donations from members of the public.

One of the advantages of converting to a community benefit society in 2021 was to be able to generate income from sources other than commercial advertising sales. The first of these was membership fees, where people can own an equal share in The Week In through an annual fee. This year, some members have ‘rounded up’ their renewal subscription while others have simply made ad hoc donations as a means of demonstrating their support for The Week In’s aims.

to potential funders is to demonstrate how The Week In has benefited the community. Naturally we have a long history of interventions through stories we have published, or campaigns we have supported, but we would really like some testimonials from our readers too. We know from comments we receive in phone calls or when out delivering that The Week In is appreciated but it would be really helpful now to be able to hold some of those comments on file. If you could take the time to let us have a couple of sentences, it will help enormously in fulfilling our future aims. If we reproduce any of these they will be anonymised. Just complete the form below or send an email to admin@theweekin.co.uk

Testimonials Can you help us demonstrate where The Week In makes a difference? A common question raised when we are talking

Stephen Rodgers

The Week In makes a difference to me because ....

Send to The Week In Community Ltd. at 8 Temple Court, Keynsham BS31 1HA

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 27th 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 23rd February 2022

9

Bristol budget decision postponed A final decision on Bristol City Council’s budget for 2022/23 was put on hold last week.

After a meeting lasting nearly five hours, Mayor Marvin Rees exercised his right to look at amendments that were tabled by opposition groups and decide whether to incorporate or reject them.

It is the first time this has happened under Bristol’s mayoral system and means there will be a second meeting on Wednesday 2nd March to finalise the plans.

Council tax looks set to rise by the maximum amount allowed - three per cent - from April which includes one per cent for adult social care.

The proposed amendments do not alter the balance of the budget but allocate some funds differently to the budget put forward by the Mayor and his Cabinet. Among the alternative proposals are reopening public toilets and more traffic-free school streets schemes.

Bristol has a Labour mayor but the party does not have a majority.

Good rating for nursery Curious Hedgehogs Day Nursery and Pre-School in Stockwood, which has 140 children on the roll, has retained its Good Ofsted rating following a recent inspection.

The inspector said that children are warmly welcomed by staff as they arrive and that staff tailor teaching for what the youngsters need to learn next.

Crossword

South Glos budget receives cross-party support South Gloucestershire Council’s budget for the coming financial year has received cross-party support.

The budget outlines plans to spend £259.5m, focused on protecting and improving frontline services. The capital programme for the coming year will allocate almost £140.5m.

The Conservative-controlled council said it had been able to produce a balanced budget for the next four years and limit council tax rises to 2.99 per cent, which is lower than at any time in the past six years. The move includes a one per cent increase to help fund adult social care services and 1.99 per cent allocated to all other council services.

The South Gloucestershire Council element of council tax for a Band D property for 2022/23 will be £1,668.64.

This is an increase of £48.45 per year.

Additional money from the Government means schools will share an extra £7.3m in 2022/23, with a total of £191m to be spent on schools in South Gloucestershire in the next year - an increase of 6.6 per cent from 2021/22.

The Labour group on the council put forward two budget proposals which received unanimous support. The first was to reduce the waiting times of 50 serious sexual assault and rape victims to receive therapeutic intervention.

The second was funding for an additional 10 climate change workshops.

Meanwhile an amendment from the Lib Dem group secured £110,000 extra funding to help local people cut their carbon footprints and reduce their energy bills.

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Widespread outbreak (8)

2. Sly look (4)

6. Stratagem (4)

4. Accident (6)

8. Be in debt (3)

5. Price (4)

9. Endures (8)

6. Depends (6)

3. Dreary (6)

Division over budget in B&NES Bath & North East Somerset Council’s budget was approved last week with 34 councillors voting in favour and five against, while 18 abstained.

A council tax plus social care precept increase of 2.99% total was agreed, which equates to an extra £45.73 per year, or 88p per week, for a Band D property.

The Lib Dem administration said the increase is well below the current rate of inflation and that B&NES council tax remains amongst the lowest in the South West.

Cllr Richard Samuel, deputy leader and Cabinet member for Economic Development & Resources, said: “Our budget maximises our ambition to make B&NES a better place, maintains the move towards carbon reduction particularly in transport, invests in key services, and provides for significant investment in projects. We are investing in the future, not only for residents but also in the council itself to enable it to become a better performing council, able to do more and better for all our residents.”

But the leader of B&NES Labour Group Cllr Robin Moss said the assumptions contained within the budget were unrealistic and the lack of detail “woeful”.

The Conservatives, the Independents and the council’s sole Green member also expressed concern about the level of detail in the budget.

Plea for food Juice Community Project in Newton Road in Cadbury Heath has issued an urgent plea for food due to a rise in the number of people needing emergency parcels.

Items on the shopping list include tinned potatoes, tinned carrots, tinned fish, tinned sweetcorn, tinned tomatoes, rice pudding, custard, sugar, cereal, tinned meals such as chilli, curry and Irish stew, tinned meat such as corned beef and ham, and tinned fruit.

Juice is open between 10am and 4pm Monday to Thursday.

10. Burden (4)

7. Rocked sideways (6) 12. American parrot (5) 11. Brusque (5) 14. Cut off (5) 12. Mediterranean 17. Cure (4)

island (5)

18. Fence of stakes (8) 13. Sweat (anag.) (5) 20. Withdraws (8)

14. Half a dozen (3)

24. Sieve (4)

15. Legitimate (5)

25. Attribute (5)

16. Right-hand page (5)

26. Relieved (5)

19. Moist (3)

29. Heroic tale (4)

21. Wandering (6)

30. Assumed (8)

22. Bawdy (6)

31. Rim (3)

23. Try out (6)

32. Projecting knob (4)

24. Moment (6)

33. Giving in (8)

27. Catch sight of (4) 28. Stitched (4)

10

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

sweet Saltford phone box Another shop break-in destroyed in collision The traditional red phone box at Norman Road in Saltford, on which restoration work had been due to begin shortly prior to installing a defibrillator, has been destroyed after being struck by a vehicle.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service has confirmed that a collision took place in the early hours

The Norman Road phone box as it was

of Sunday 13th February.

Saltford Parish Council (SPC) said in a statement: “Unfortunately damage to the phone box was very extensive, likely to the point that the identifying information showing it belonged to SPC was destroyed in the impact, meaning the authorities were unaware who to contact.

“SPC understands that the phone box was removed along with the vehicle following the collision and its base area cordoned off for safety. SPC will continue its communications with the police regarding this matter. We will update residents in due course.”

The council had the chance to purchase the phone box in October 2019. A nominal payment of £1 was made and it was held by the parish council on behalf of the Saltford community.

Plans were well under way for its future refurbishment and repurposing. The council completed a similar restoration project on the other ex-BT phone box on the High Street which now houses a defibrillator.

The owners of Scrumptious Sweets on Keynsham High Street suffered their second break-in in just five months last week. At the time when most people were battening down the hatches in anticipation of Storm Eunice last Friday morning, thieves forced the door on the shop and helped themselves to chocolates and large jars of Everton mints and Mintoes. Before leaving, they managed to drop personal items of lip gloss and lip liner.

Following the collision

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to report it directly to the police via 101 quoting the incident number AS20220215-0279. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

One in four in the South West don’t take up screening offer A new campaign is calling on those

appointment with their GP practice or

eligible not to ignore their invite as data

sexual health clinic now.

reveals around one in four in the South

Latest available figures from March 2021

West don’t take up the offer of cervical

show that 27% of those eligible in the South

screening.

West aged between 25 and 64 were not

A new survey shows embarrassment was

screened.

the most common reason for not booking a

Around 2,700 women are diagnosed with

screening appointment (42%) in England

cervical cancer in England each year and

and 61% in the South West said they were

approximately 690 women die from the

nervous when they did attend.

disease – around two deaths every day.

Robson,

Cervical screening checks for high-risk

Scarlett Moffatt and Louise Minchin are

types of the Human Papilloma Virus

starring in a new campaign film which

(HPV), a common virus that most people

addresses concerns around screening and

will get at some point. While for people

encourages those eligible to attend. The

with high-risk HPV the risk of getting

new Help Us Help You – Cervical

cancer is low, any abnormal changes can be

Screening Saves Lives campaign urges

identified early. Cell changes are easily

those who may be eligible not to ignore

treated, and this prevents cervical cancer.

their cervical screening invite, and if they

That

missed their last one, to book an

appointments is so important.

Celebrities

including

Linda

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

is

why

attending

screening

11

12

The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022

Plans for a safer crossing at Willsbridge Residents in Willsbridge have raised concerns about how difficult it is to safely cross from the western side of Keynsham Road to the northern side of Bath Road.

Since the withdrawal of the No 18 bus service, people living to the north of Bath Road have to use the No 17 service to and from Keynsham.

On returning from Keynsham they use the bus stop on the western side of Keynsham Road and have to use the crossing to reach the northern side of Bath Road which they say can

be hazardous and a particular problem for those with mobility issues. A highways investigation request form has now been submitted to South Gloucestershire Council with the support of ward councillors Erica Williams and Paul Hughes, and Bitton and Oldland parish councils. The joint approach is because the site sits on the parish border.

The proposed solution is a pedestrian/cyclist crossing on the

Keynsham Road, which would benefit bus travellers and pedestrians/cyclists using the shared path, encouraging and enabling use of greener and healthier modes of transport.

Cartoon Circus Competition The answer to the competition we ran in conjunction with The Cartoon Circus recently was that pandas come from China. The winner of a family ticket to this week’s performance at Hanham Community Centre was Mr R McKenzie.

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The Week in • Wednesday 23rd February 2022