The Week In - Issue 723 - 30th March 2022

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

30th March 2022

Issue 723

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Pedestrians trip, fall and injure themselves in redesigned Keynsham High Street There are numerous reports of people tripping and falling in the new-look Keynsham High Street – with injuries including broken bones, sprains, cuts and bruises.

A series of incidents has been reported on Bath & North East Somerset Council’s dedicated website page for concerns about roads and pavements.

One person who sprained their ankle after not realising there was a small kerb by the new cycle lane wrote: “After all this time and money being spent, you would have thought someone would have noticed this and painted the cycle path a different colour, highlighting the uneven surface.”

After an initial flurry of complaints, the council responded on https://fix.bathnes.gov.uk/ on 18th March saying: “The project team have confirmed that the new designed layout is compliant with the specification for highway works and we will not be making any further alterations.”

But since then, more incidents have been reported. One pedestrian said: “I tripped and fell on low kerb near the Post Office on Monday 21st March resulting in two broken bones in my shoulder, 6 weeks of recovery plus physio.

This is totally unacceptable.”

Another said that on

Sunday 20th March she fell off the kerb opposite the St Peter’s Hospice shop and twisted her ankle: “I just cannot see how these changes to the pavement are compliant. This is a serious problem which needs urgent attention.”

One person said that they saw three people trip and fall on one afternoon, all in the 30 age range: “One woman fell heavily near the Methodist church, cut her hand and could not stand for a few minutes. Another fell heavily near the Post Office and another fell near Church’s. Amazed that the project team has said it is ‘compliant’ and ‘we will not be making any further alterations’. This is dangerous and needs sorting urgently. Why are there different levels and why does the design change along the street…”

Last Friday the council posted another response: “Thank you for your report(s) which have been sent to the appropriate teams to investigate.” It added: “As with any other new public realm, we will be monitoring usage as people get used to the new layout.”

Someone responded: “Monitoring usage? Does that mean you are waiting for the first death?”

On Saturday there was a report of an older man falling off the kerb near the Post Office and sustaining a nasty injury to his head. “Thank goodness people were there to act as a shield to protect him from being hit by cars.”

Concerns have also been highlighted on Facebook about people falling including outside Boots, Grounded and Peacocks.

Keynsham councillor Alan Hale has advised people to seek

independent advice regarding claims.

On Monday Cllr Richard Samuel, deputy leader of B&NES Council and Cabinet member for Economic Development & Resources, told The Week In: “Before the Keynsham High Street public realm scheme was implemented, the design went through a full consultation, road safety audit and technical review by the highways authority. The scheme complies with the legislation, specification and guidance that regulate the industries involved in both highway design and construction, including the new cycle infrastructure design guidance.

“The new, segregated northbound cycle lane is separated with bollards and a stepped kerb and we would encourage people to use the pedestrian crossings to cross the street safely.”

He reiterated that the council would be monitoring usage and that reported incidents are being reviewed through the traffic management team.

Meanwhile an “instructional video” with the Mission Impossible theme tune was posted on YouTube last week advising people how to negotiate the High Street.

See also Letters, page 8

Also in this week’s issue

Woman charged with murder after fatal stabbing in Kingswood . . . page 3

Slip road plan for Mangotsfield Sort It Centre delayed . . . page 5

Second phone mast in Cadbury Heath granted on appeal . . . page 7

Public have their say at bus forums . . . pages 10 & 11

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

Kingswood woman charged with murder of 22-year-old man A 23-year-old woman has been charged with murder after a young father died in hospital at the weekend following an incident at a house in Kingswood.

Abigail White, of Chipperfield Drive, appeared in custody before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with murdering 22-year-old Bradley Lewis.

New poison alert at nature reserve The Friends of Magpie Bottom say that bright pink poison pellets have been put down by the badger sett at the nature reserve in Hanham. Two dogs ate some and had to be taken to the vets.

The incident has been reported to the local police beat officers.

Last spring there was a spate of anti-social behaviour at the reserve including youths armed with sling shots taking aim at ducks. One duckling was found floating dead. Someone also mixed poison with bird seed and put it on the edge of the pond, raising concerns about harm to dogs, wildlife and children.

The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

A forensic post-mortem examination confirmed that he died from a single stab wound to the chest.

Police were called by the ambulance service to attend the house in Chipperfield Drive at around 8.20pm on Friday after Bradley was found seriously injured. He died on Saturday morning.

There was a police presence at Chipperfield Drive while inquiries continued over the weekend and police increased patrols in the area to support and reassure the local community.

Anyone who has information which would assist the police with their investigation is asked to call 101. The reference

Police outside the house in Chipperfield Drive

number to quote is 5222071378.

The victim’s family, who are being fully supported by specially trained liaison officers, released a photo of Bradley on Monday with the words: “Our wonderful muchloved son Bradley, taken from us too early.”

Bradley played for Hanham Athletic FC who posted on their Facebook page on Sunday: “HAFC Bradley Lewis are deeply saddened to advise that one of our Reserve Team players. Brad Lewis, passed away yesterday. We remembered Brad with a minute’s silence before our fixture yesterday. Our deepest condolences to all of Brad’s family and friends.”

A GoFundMe fundraising page has been set up to help raise money for his funeral and for his children. By Monday it had raised £5,000.

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to How you can help Keynsham lose another rail support new charity link from May Volunteers from Keynsham are supporting a new Brislington-based charity called Hope for Ukraine.

Aid collection hubs have been set up in Keynsham to support the charity which is based at Carmel City Church. Items donated will help people in the war-torn country via a link with a community leader in Chernivtsi in south-western Ukraine.

Specific items are required including bodywash, toothpaste and toothbrushes, flannels, wet wipes, formula milk, dummies, towels, blankets, first aid kits, detergent, warm clothes for babies and toddlers, packet soups, quick-cook noodles, dried pasta, rice, UHT milk and canned meat and fish. There is a full list at www.facebook.com/Hopeforukrainebristol The Keynsham drop-off points are St Dunstan's Church on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am to 11am; St John's Church

THE WEEK IN

office on weekdays from 10am to noon; and Community at 67 in Queens Road on Saturdays from 10am to noon. There is another hub at Lime Landscaping at Jarretts Garden Centre at Willsbridge from 10am to 2pm on Mondays and Fridays.

Keynsham haulage firm McGill’s at Keynsham has made warehouse space available.

Find out more about the charity at hopeforukraine.org.uk/ and if you would like to help, please email

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.

https://hopeforukraine.org.uk/ or call 07933 712584.

We’ll have more on the charity in next week’s issue.

The Great Western Railway (GWR) service from Great Malvern to Brighton, which stops in Keynsham, will cease from mid-May. The decision comes as part of a new financial agreement between GWR and the Department for Transport (DfT).

GWR currently operates two trains to and from Brighton each weekday and says very few passengers make the full journey from the Gloucester area. In total there are 34 stops.

GWR has reportedly said that making this change means it can strengthen the busy, hourly Cardiff to Portsmouth services to five carriages, and customers will be able to use these services to make connections through to Brighton, which is already well served by other operators.

Reacting on the Rail UK Forums website to the end of the Great Malvern to Brighton service, which takes on average five hours and 37 minutes, many people said it had been on the cards. “It’s a very expensive way of providing a rather sparse service, that is truly of use to very few people,” said one.

Last December South Western Railway ended the London Waterloo to Bristol Temple Meads which stopped at Keynsham.

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

‘Legal difficulties’ delay building Developer to appeal against power plant decision of long-awaited slip road The building of the long-awaited slip road to relieve congestion from traffic queuing to get into the Sort It centre and waste transfer station at Carsons Road in Mangotsfield has been delayed because of “legal difficulties”.

Back in 2019 South Gloucestershire Council stated its intention to create a slip road and also mooted the idea of closing the Cowhorn collection vehicle depot at Warmley and relocating it to Carsons Road.

The council said the relocation would not be assessed until after the completion of the slip road.

In October 2020 the council said its plans had moved a step closer with the purchase of 2.33 acres of land west of Carsons Road which would replace a small parcel of common land around the entrance to the Sort It Centre with a parcel of land almost three times the size to be designated as common land.

Four months later SUEZ Recycling & Recovery UK lodged a planning application for a single lane slip road and traffic islands at the intersection between Carsons Road Link and Carsons Road, using part of the existing verge. The plan was approved last June.

But at last week’s meeting of the Staple Hill, Mangotsfield and New Cheltenham Community Engagement Forum, in response to a query from a local resident about what’s happening with the slip road, local councillor Kim Scudamore said: "I think there are some legal difficulties

The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

The developer whose plans for an anaerobic digester facility in the Green Belt near Keynsham were refused earlier this month by Bath & North East Somerset Council have confirmed they will appeal.

Resourceful Energy Anaerobic Limited (REAL) have written to the council giving formal notification of the appeal process, which is likely to be submitted on Wednesday 6th April. It follows a unanimous refusal of planning permission for the proposed 92,000-tonne anaerobic digester facility, as we reported in Issue 721.

Campaigners from Protect Our Keynsham Environment (POKE) this week said they are disappointed to hear that an appeal will be made but are confident that if they can yet again present a strong case against the development, the appeal will not be successful.

which are still to be resolved. The programme does seem to have slipped back a bit.”

This week a spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council told us: “Plans are in place to improve access at Mangotsfield Sort It Centre by creating a dedicated slip road to the site. As part of this scheme, we are working through legal aspects relating to land ownership before progressing with construction.

“We are planning to begin construction later this year and will provide updates when we have further information on timescales.”

Pétanque club’s open day The Lockkeeper Pétanque Club in Keynsham are looking for new teams. They are holding an open event this Sunday (3rd April) from 11am to 3pm when they hope to welcome existing members as well as anyone interested in learning or returning to play this sociable game. If you’d like to find out more but can’t make the open day you can contact the club through their Facebook page.

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

Planning inspector allows go-ahead for second phone mast in Cadbury Heath A planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State has allowed an appeal for a second 15-metre high phone mast outside the parade of shops in Cadbury Heath.

CK Hutchinson Networks (UK) Ltd appealed after South Gloucestershire Council rejected the proposed 5G mast near the junction of School Road and Newton Road.

The phone giant first tried to get an 18-metre high mast but that was refused last summer.

Council planners said it would tower over

nearby shops, which have residential properties above them, and harm the look of the area. They also said that the applicant had not supplied enough information to show there was no suitable alternative site for a

the area and that not enough information had been provided to show that no suitable alternative site was available. The potential for anti-social behaviour was also flagged up by community leaders as there are already

mast.

CK Hutchison Networks then applied again after reducing the proposed height to 15 metres, to help it “blend into the surrounding area”.

However, the council blocked that application too, again saying it would harm

issues with young people sitting on top of cabinets by the existing mast.

CK Hutchison Networks appealed and now planning inspector Martin Allen has given the go-ahead for the mast. He ruled: “Given the separation between the proposed mast and the existing buildings in the area, together with the slender nature of the mast itself, the development would not result in unacceptable overbearing effects on nearby occupiers. Nor would it result in any unacceptable effect on the living conditions of occupiers by way of visual intrusion.

“I find that the proposed installation would not be incongruous at this location but would integrate acceptably with existing features of the area, would not be incompatible with the locality and would not result in unacceptable living conditions.”

He also dismissed concern over the potential

Free parking at Kings Chase from May South Gloucestershire Council is set to drop parking charges at Kings Chase Shopping Centre from May. The council, which has a longstanding policy to keep its car parks free, bought the shopping centre last year as part of plans to regenerate Kingswood town centre.

Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore recently led a campaign, supported by local residents and businesses, putting pressure on the council to make the 350 parking spaces at Kings Chase free for shoppers too.

The move is anticipated to cost the council around £130,000 per annum, according to

The current mast

for unsociable behaviour: “There is no substantive evidence to convince me that there would be any harm in this respect, particularly given the presence of other street furniture in the vicinity.”

Concerns have been raised about potential effects on health. However a certificate had been provided to confirm that the proposal has been designed to comply with guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.

a report going to the Cabinet next Monday (4th April) where it is expected to be agreed.

Meanwhile there are plans to shortly refurbish the toilets at Kings Chase and urgent roof repair works to part of the centre are due to start soon.

Museum reopens for new season Kingswood Heritage Museum reopens for the new season at 2pm on Saturday (2nd April) and will be open until the end of November from 2pm to 5pm every Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, and from 11am to 5pm on bank holidays.

The museum’s permanent displays have been revamped, and this year there will be three new temporary exhibitions: the Lucas factory in Kingswood; the Kingswood

Tizer factory, and the Ambassador cinema (which later became the Odeon cinema and Kingswood Bowling Centre).

Further exhibitions will spotlight Cadbury Heath, Barrs Court, Longwell Green and Willsbridge.

The museum always welcomes new volunteers.

Email kingswoodmuseum@gmail.com or call 0117 9605664.

Youths caught blocking Railway Path A police officer on cycle patrol on the Bristol & Bath Railway Path caught a group of youths attempting to block it near Mangotsfield using rocks and a car tyre.

The officer was from the Staple Hill Neighbourhood Policing Team who said two of the youths from the group were

located and were being dealt with through the Youth Offending and Anti-Social Behaviour teams.

“The path is a great place for the community to use and it’s important that we make this a safe environment for everyone.”

The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

7

LETTERS Still mourning loss of town centre garden

Whose fault is it that the units pictured are empty?

implemented, whether we like it or not.

6.

poor

Who is at fault that Temple Street supposedly has

connections’. Have you tried walking towards the

so many flaws anyway? I’ll ask at the council

Dear Editor

daylight at the other end?

offices, they might know.

Whilst not quite the tree-lined boulevard some

7. ‘No seating along the street or at bus stop’.

Chris

residents were hoping for, the enhancement of

There is a bench on the street. Can you find it? I

Keynsham’s High Street is nevertheless an

‘Uninviting

walkways

create

think you’ll find that the bus pictured isn’t at a bus Lost forever

improvement on how it looked before.

stop and it’s parked on double yellow lines.

Loss of HSBC

8. ‘Lack of safe crossing point’. Try the zebra

Dear Stephen

with the large plant containers full of seasonal

amenity should have been held to account. As

crossing outside the Canteen. Oh, and advisory

I was saddened but not surprised to read that

blooms. The wide pavements and five new

planning blunders go, this was near the top of the

cobbled crossings aren't safe, are they?

HSBC is leaving Keynsham. I have had an

benches to sit on and watch the world go by is an

scale.

9. ‘Courtyard spaces lack activity’. There’s a park

account with them from when I was a student,

added bonus. However, it is disappointing that the

Philip Gannaway

behind there for that sort of thing. Could it be used

nearly my entire adult life to date.

as a fire drill assembly point for any large local

Their justification for leaving is utterly spurious.

administrative centres?

During an unprecedented pandemic, when people

10. ‘Locked gates to riverside and Memorial Park

were advised to stay at home if they could, on

some structure to the layout.

Spotlight on Temple Street ‘improvements’

limit connections’. Have you tried unlocking

pain of a criminal conviction if they didn’t, and

Walking around the area recently, I sense the

Dear Stephen

them? Who decided the gate should be locked?

when banks were actually closed for long periods

transfiguration is already generating a distinctive

I have recently been reading the infamous green

11. ‘Inaccessible building thresholds’. The picture

of time, of course 'footfall” in banks fell!

mood of bonhomie within the town’s shopping

‘Temple Street Improvements’ brochure again.

shows the same empty units mentioned above.

It is just another excuse to drive an agenda that

fraternity. Not quite the same vibes from motorists

That's the one that many Keynsham people don't

Remember not to put a doorstep in front of the

has been driven by banks for a long time now:

though!

even know exists.

Keynsham Town Council office or no one will be

close branches (they cost money to run) so we can

The High Street’s titivation is a welcome

In the section ‘What does Temple Street look like

able to get in or out. Maybe that’s a good idea!

increase our profits. Very strangely, every time I

renaissance. But it pales in comparison to

now?’ are a number of labelled photos and three

Does this mean having sloped runways up to

have been in Keynsham HSBC last two years

Keynsham’s former little gem – the sunken

paragraphs underneath. Here’s a rundown of the

doors that will disorient people with mobility

there has been a queue, sometimes out of the door.

garden! Situated at the side of Bath Hill, the

captions.

issues?

Advising me to go to my nearest branch in

sunken garden was a small, terraced area of

1. ‘On-street parking dominates the street’.

It says that the overall pedestrian experience of

Kingswood does not help me; this tranche of

greenery with flower beds and seating for

Really, well it’s called a street and people park on

Temple Street is poor. Is that as in as poor as

closures (67 in total) suggests to me that at some

residents, visitors and workers to enjoy breaks in

it to go shopping. Actually, elsewhere in the

tripping on the new uneven kerb edge that is

point in the future the Kingswood branch may be

pleasant surroundings. On hot, sunny days,

brochure it says the Riverside block dominates.

claiming more and more victims on the High

closed as well (no current plans of course). I for

dappled shade was provided under the canopy of

So, which is it then? The parking clearly does not

Street?

one will be closing my HSBC account in favour

four, mature silver birch trees.

dominate the street and encourages people to

This next bit is a classic: ‘Narrow pavements on

of one still currently committed to Keynsham

At the top, opposite Specsavers, was a small

come here. Who was it who recently refurbished

the historic side create confined walkways and

High Street and our community. I feel sorry for

wooden refreshment hut with outside seating

the Riverside block and didn't reduce its

restrict potential activity like pavement seating’.

the staff.

where you could buy tasty snacks. Charity events

dominance?

No, they don’t. The pavement is perfectly wide

There is a national opportunity here for other

and art exhibitions were regularly held around the

2. The ‘public realm does not respect heritage’!

enough to walk on. Laviano’s have no problems

players bold enough to take a contrarian view. Our

garden.

What? The Riverside block does not respect

with getting large groups of local authority staff

biggest building society, Nationwide, now a bank,

The sunken garden was an integral feature of Bath

heritage and who redeveloped that? Nice picture

in or out ‘en masse’. The person who wrote this

is committed to its presence on British high

Hill’s topography and would have blended neatly

of the bike shop by the way!

means that the pavement should be widened so

streets. Glastonbury, a famous English town with

opposite the ‘new-look’ High Street. This popular

3. We have ‘non-compliant disabled bays’. Shame

that the pavement seating can be put in to narrow

a world-renowned international musical festival,

corner of greenery added character to Keynsham

on you naughty disabled bays. Who put those in

the pavement back down again! The pavement

visited by people in tens of thousands annually,

town’s landscape. But sadly what was once a

then?

seating spoken of is described elsewhere in the

was abandoned in the High Street by all major

haven of relaxation and pleasure enjoyed by many

4. Next up ‘Narrow pavements reduce potential

brochure as ‘spill-out seating’. That’s the same

British

As a keen gardener, I was particularly impressed

scheme’s tree planting is confined to a small, landscaped area at one end of the High Street, although, when mature, the trees will help provide

banks.

Nationwide

has

seen

an

was lost forever in 2013 when it was removed to

spill-out’. That sounds very unpleasant. Do they

spill-out seating as mentioned earlier. I’m sure the

opportunity and opened a branch there. I would

create extra space for the new civic centre.

mean the sort of thing that happens when

smokers from The Trout will be delighted.

welcome them in Keynsham. Perhaps this is the

Municipal stewardship is supposed to protect

someone very drunk leaves The Trout late at

You really couldn’t make this up, could you?

way forward if people vote with their feet.

important sites of sublimity. Council bigwigs who

night?

You’d be mistaken for thinking this is a joke,

Lionel Hutt

sanctioned the destruction of this previous

5. ‘Empty units reduce footfall to Temple Street’.

except it’s not a joke. It’s the plan that will be

Keynsham

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

Pupils plant trees for the Platinum Jubilee Pupils from three schools in the parish of Hanham Abbots have helped to plant oak trees in recognition of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The trees were donated by The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire as part of The Queen's Green Canopy to mark her Platinum Jubilee.

Parish councillor Heather Goddard arranged for the tree planting and lent a ceremonial spade that she was presented with in 1989, when chair of Kingswood Borough Council.

The Friends of Avon Valley Woodlands helped with the

Pupils at the planting ceremony on Hanham Common

planting of the two trees on Hanham Common last Wednesday and one on the green in Ellacombe Road opposite Longwell Green Primary School the following day.

Members of the ‘Sustainability Squad’ at Christ Church Hanham Church of England Primary School planted one of the two oaks while the other was planted nearby by members of the school council from Hanham Primary Federation.

The oak being planted on the green in Ellacombe Road

Also attending Wednesday’s ceremony was the vice chair of Hanham Abbots Parish Council Tom Bray and parish

Sudoku 1-Easy

councillor Simon Atwell.

The trees on the common are near the one planted by Hanham Abbots Parish Council in 2012 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Members of Longwell Green Primary School’s eco council took part in the tree planting ceremony on Thursday, which was also attended by Cllr Steve Hicks, the chair of the parish council.

Plaques will be placed by the new oaks.

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 3rd April

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 30th March 2022

9

Public have their say The public had a chance to voice their concerns over the state of local bus services last week and coming hard on the heels of the latest round of service cuts, it was not difficult to predict the main points of discussion.

At last Monday’s Yate and District Transport Forum, there were calls for West of England Mayor Dan Norris to intervene following First’s decision to cut the Y2 and T2 services.

The following day, the Mayor chaired a West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset bus users’ forum at Paulton. Although there were around 60 people socially distanced, campaigner David Redgewell, from Bus Users UK, said future meetings should be Zoomed, given the large geographic area the forum covers.

The main areas of concern were reliability and punctuality,

particularly the semi-rural services such as the 178 and 179.

Cuts to the 92 in south Bristol were also highlighted.

First West of England chief executive Doug Claringbold and Stagecoach West’s head of strategic development Nick Small, who were both present, said the biggest problem continued to be driver shortages due to COVID-19. First had a total of 37 drivers off last week with the illness.

There was still no word about how much of the Government’s recently announced £155m bus recovery grant will be finding its way to the West of England and Mr Claringbold said that First services were still only running at around 65% of prepandemic loadings. The Government’s assumption is currently that services will be back to normal by October. But Bus Users UK’s David Redgewell said he didn’t believe that timescale was viable.

Metro Mayor saves the 92 route Metro Mayor Dan Norris has stepped in to save the section of the 92 bus service serving Whitchurch and South Bristol Community Hospital which was due to be scrapped

by First.

He confirmed that the West of England Combined Authority will fund a service and has found an alternative provider.

From 24th April to 27th August, CT Plus will operate a service between Hengrove Park and Broad Walk shops while discussions are held on a longer-term solution.

He said: “This route was of particular concern to me. I’m pleased to support a service that’s so important for people living in Whitchurch and its surrounding areas, especially to access the hospital.”

The announcement was made last Friday.

Crossword

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Prods (5)

1. Money bag (5)

4. Type of plover (7)

2. Credit, renown (5)

8. Set right (7)

3. Enchantment (5)

9. Grow less (5)

4. Oriental sailor (6)

10. Painting frame (5)

5. Serenity (5)

13. Perpetually young (7)

6. Picture (5)

17. Sardonic (3)

11. Knowing (5)

18. Wax light (6)

12. Sea duck (5)

19. Clergyman (6)

14. Change course (4)

7. Estimate (5)

20. Female pronoun (3) 15. Intense light (5) 22. Notched (7) 16. Incline (5) 25. Animal group (5)

17. Compass point (4)

28. Florida city (5)

21. Harbinger (6)

29. Antiquated (7)

22. Shrub (5)

30. Praise (7)

23. Kingdom (5)

31. Destitute (5)

24. Existing (5) 25. Cut of pork (5) 26. Rub out (5) 27. Decompose (5)

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

at bus forums For now, it seems we are in a perfect storm whereby the West of England Combined Authority, as the local transport authority, is warning the public to use bus services or lose them. The bus companies are reducing services to the level

Public Notice

where they feel they can operate them but warn many are not commercially viable. And the local transport authority says there is not a bottomless pot to support lifeline bus services without more Government help.

Keynsham bus diversions changed First have amended the diversion routes for bus services in Keynsham which are affected by the closure of the Ashton Way and Rock Road junction.

The 17, 39 and 178 services heading towards Bristol were originally being diverted through Albert Road, Queens Road and Charlton Park but now turn back on themselves and use the Keynsham bypass. Buses had been experiencing difficulty in using the original diversion route, particularly on Charlton Park where car drivers have been ignoring the temporary one-way system and parking on both sides of the road.

The situation was further compounded last Friday when there were three-way temporary traffic lights at the junction of Charlton Road, West View Road and Culvers Road.

The 17 no longer completes the loop around residential streets in the south of the town but is only operating as far as Station Road. It then departs in the direction of Willsbridge using the roundabout.

The 39 bus, instead of leaving the Broadmead Lane

The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

roundabout on Bath Road towards Keynsham, continues along the bypass to Hicks Gate and then turns left to the town centre. It turns around at the Keynsham Church roundabout to resume its journey. Similarly, the 178 coming down the Wellsway now turns right at the New Inn roundabout and heads out along Bath Road to the bypass before following a similar route to the 39 above.

Bus services in the direction of Bath are unaffected and use the new bus stop on the High Street (except for the 17 which terminates at Station Road.) The 349 is operating as usual.

The A4 AirDecker continues to divert through Keynsham using bus stops along Bath Road which have otherwise been suspended. From the top of Bath Hill it turns left along Temple Street and then via Albert Road, Queens Road, Charlton Park and Charlton Road to resume its route opposite St John’s Church. It also services bus stops along the diversionary route. Services from Bristol Airport towards Bath are unaffected.

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The Community Page

Saltford Parish Council Fair fares for Saltford Due to Saltford's proximity to both Bristol and Bath, and due to the hefty fares currently experienced by residents to travel by First Bus, SPC has contacted First West of England about the issue of unfair fares experienced by Saltford residents. A copy of SPC's open letter to First Bus is on the Parish Council’s website. SPC has also approached both WECA Mayor Bristol to Bath express service: X39 in Saltford Dan Norris and Jacob Rees-Mogg MP for support.

SPC has requested that Saltford is included in the Bristol for First West of England without proper and fair Zone and/or Bath Zone rather than the West of England Zone. consideration.

Alternatively, SPC has asked that First West of England treat Saltford residents experience the pollution, traffic and noise the Bristol-Bath corridor as one zone and price according to that arise from First Bus using the Bristol-Bath corridor a single zone or based on distance. SPC views that Saltford without experiencing the benefits of Saltford being included is being singled out and being treated as a means of revenue in the Bristol Zone and/or Bath Zones.

Reopening Saltford Station - SPC requests WECA fund £70k feasibility study SPC has written to WECA Mayor Dan Norris requesting that WECA fund the full £70k required for an up-to-date feasibility study to go ahead as soon as possible. SPC views that the benefits of a re-opened station in Saltford are demonstrably in line with WECA’s aims and objectives.

This appeal follows the unsuccessful WECA bid made to the Department of Transport ‘Restoring Your Railway’ fund to provide £50k funding to examine the business case and feasibility of a reopened Saltford railway station at its existing site.

At the time of the bid, WECA was willing to contribute £20k towards the total costs of this feasibility study.

Further to this, SPC Councillors met with key B&NES Council officers and Saltford’s B&NES Ward councillors in late February to discuss actions to achieve the re-opening of

In early March SPC Chair Cllr Chris Warren met with Jacob Rees-Mogg MP at Saltford Hall. Cllr Warren requested Mr Rees-Mogg’s active assistance for SPC’s request that WECA fund Cllr Chris Warren, SPC Chair, with the full costs of a Jacob Rees-Mogg MP feasibility study to reopen Saltford Station. Mr Rees-Mogg stated his strong support for a re-opened Saltford Station, adding that he was “more than willing to push for this as far as possible”. Further to informing WECA of his support, Mr Rees-Mogg said that he would write to Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport.

Cllr Warren also raised the issue of First Bus fares for Saltford residents. Mr Rees-Mogg said that he viewed Saltford being in the West of England Zone as ‘unfair,” stating that he would raise this with First West of England directors in person at their upcoming meeting.

SPC gives grants to Saltford Tennis Club, S.C.A.N, and Saltford Festival

L-R Cllr Chris Warren, B&NES Cllr Neil Butters, and B&NES Saltford Ward Cllr Duncan Hounsell in March 2021 at the time of the DoT ‘Restoring Your Railway’ bid

Saltford Station at its former site. B&NES Council officers gave a positive and committed response. An on-site meeting to progress actions to achieve the re-opening of Saltford Station is due to take place in April.

Please keep dogs on leads near livestock Those walking dogs in Saltford are politely reminded to keep dogs on leads when walking where livestock are, or may be, present. There have been two instances in the past month where sheep and horses have been scared out of their field enclosures and onto nearby roads. A local landowner has been in contact with SPC since to say sheep get moved about all the time, so please also be aware that sheep may suddenly arrive. For more advice about walking dogs near livestock, please see the Countryside Code on the Gov.uk website.

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Chair of SPC meets Jacob Rees-Mogg to discuss transport matters

Saltford Parish Council has a small grants programme for local organisations to apply to for financial support.

SPC was pleased to award a grant of £1500 in January to the Saltford Tennis Club towards the costs of its new clubhouse; a grant of £500 to the Saltford Community Association towards the costs of its S.C.A.N newsletter; and £500 to support the Saltford Festival which takes place 2nd -10th July. To find out more about SPC’s grants including eligibility criteria please see the ‘Finance’ page of SPC’s website.

Saltford Annual Parish Meeting Notice of Saltford’s Annual Parish Meeting has been publicised. The Annual Parish Meeting, hosted by Saltford Parish Council, will take place on Friday 1 April 2022 starting at 7pm, at Main Hall, Saltford Hall, Wedmore Road, Saltford BS31 3BY. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

www.saltfordparishcouncil.gov.uk Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or check out the ‘News’ page of SPC’s website The Week in • Wednesday 30th March 2022

Awards given to community heroes Unsung heroes from across South Gloucestershire have been presented with a Chair’s Community Award to celebrate the valuable contributions they make as unpaid volunteers.

The annual awards are held by South Gloucestershire Council to recognise and thank local volunteers who give up their time to help others and bring communities together. Chair of South Gloucestershire Council Cllr Ruth Davis presented the 18 awards along with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire Susie Hewson, group chief executive and executive principal of South Gloucestershire & Stroud (SGS) College Kevin Hamblin, and principal chief Sara-Jane Watkins. The event was sponsored and hosted by the college.

Among the recipients were the Staple Hill Corps of the Salvation Army who have served the local community for very many years in so many ways, none more so than since the start of the pandemic, with members providing and delivering food parcels to the elderly, disabled, vulnerable and less well off. They also provided home visits where safe to do so, fetched prescriptions and gave welfare advice.

Roger and Carol Fowler were honoured for their involvement with North Common Village Hall since the 1970s. They have served as chair and secretary for most of this time, being key holders and responsible for

bookings, as well as working tirelessly to improve the facilities at the hall and grounds.

Also rewarded for their efforts was Carol Darby, who founded Emersons Green & Lyde Green Together, a community volunteer group to provide support to the community during the pandemic.

Lesley Brain, who has done voluntary work in Oldland Common and North Common for more than 10 years, was another winner. She encourages others to join her litter picking and volunteers at St Anne’s Church where she manages the booking of the Orchard

chair. Membership has now grown to 120 members. Part of his role is to assist in organising the Remembrance Day parades in Staple Hill and Mangotsfield. In addition, he helps arrange visits to the National Arboretum and Albert Hall, and also welfare visits to ex-servicemen and women.

Another recipient was Janet Biggin who has been a trustee and chair of Shopmobility South Gloucestershire for six years. Her leadership has contributed to its success in helping many users access shopping, services, and social activities. Janet has been

Allison Moore was honoured for her involvement in the Scouting movement for more than six years as a Cub/Scout leader and more recently as the leader of Pucklechurch Beavers; and Len Jones from Wick got an award for helping many members of the community in Wick with their gardens over 30 years. He has also worked at the parish church and the chapel, helping to maintain the grounds.

At the end of the evening the Lord Lieutenant’s special award was presented to Steve Riches who has been a school governor

Rooms, encouraging many community events to be held there.

Ian Campbell received an award for revitalising the Staple Hill Royal British Legion in the four years since his election as

very active in the South Gloucestershire community for many years, being a trustee and chair of Kingswood Community Transport and a trustee of the Friends of Page Park.

since 1998. In 2013 he helped establish the Resound Foodbank in Emersons Green, where he works with donors, local agencies and the North Bristol branch of the Trussell Trust.

Give bowls a try Stothert & Pitt Bowls Club at Corston are holding open days from 2pm on Saturday 16th and Sunday 24th April.

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