The Week In - Issue 731 - 25th May 2022

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

25th May 2022

Issue 731

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Holes appear in newly-resurfaced roads in South Glos Some newly-laid road surfaces in South Gloucestershire

The council says it doesn’t consider the defective surfaces

wasn't involved with sourcing this material.

are starting to “strip off” with holes appearing in some

are a risk to vulnerable road users at present but that it is

“Many of the sites completed have some visual defects and

places.

working closely with the contractors to resolve the issues.

the new surface is starting to strip off and in some cases form

South Gloucestershire Council announced that it was aware

In its statement on its Facebook page, the council said: “The

holes.”

of problems with the quality of the road surfaces laid at 21

micro asphalt surfacing mix used by our contractors would

Kingswood sites on the list include Maesbury, pictured, High

sites around the district - but residents have been responding

appear to be defective and we are working with them to find

Elm, Langford Way, Abbotswood, Cains Close and Berkeley

to say there are resurfacing issues at others too.

out the cause and take action as soon as we can. The council

Close.

Springfield Close and Stockwell Drive in Mangotsfield are

Funeral for teen killed at throughabout

also listed, along with three roads in Pucklechurch - Queens

The funeral took place on Saturday of the 16-year-old moped rider from Hanham who died at the throughabout in Warmley on Easter Sunday.

Daniel Davies’s mother Sam invited local bikers to take part in the funeral procession to Westerleigh Crematorium and more than 200 joined in.

Daniel had his moped for just a few days before the fatal collision with a car at the Ring Road junction on 17th April.

Funeral flowers were laid near the throughabout at the weekend.

Police appealed for witnesses following the fatal collision.

A 27-year-old man was arrested and later released under investigation.

The others are Lilliput Avenue in Chipping Sodbury; Bevan

Also in this week’s issue

Keynsham concrete firm wins appeal . . . page 3

Road, Homefield Road and Orchard Road.

Court in Filton; Bredon, Littledean and Lyndale Road in Yate; Avon Road, Manor Lane, Orchard Close and Underhill Road in Charfield; and Park View Avenue in Thornbury.

But posts by residents on social media suggest there are also issues on other streets, including Elm Road, Honey Hill Road and part of Station Road in Kingswood, as well as at Cleeve Wood Road in Downend

Fire closes Mangotsfield Sort It Centre . . . page 6

Man fined over fly-tips in Downend, Siston & Upton Cheyney . . . page 11

Actress Stephanie Cole opens exhibition in Bitton . . . page 12

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The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

Concrete firms wins appeal for longer operating hours Keynsham firm 4Concrete has won its appeal to extend its opening hours.

The company appealed to the Secretary of State after Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee refused a revised and partly retrospective application for three barriers to reduce noise and dust at the site in Old Station Yard, off Avon Mill Lane.

Council officers had recommended approval of the fencing to allow 4Concrete to start filling concrete mixing vehicles an hour earlier on weekdays (at 6.30am) and to finish an hour later (at 6.30pm), agreeing that the barriers, once complete, would be equally effective as the more costly plans that had previously been approved.

But councillors on the planning committee had disagreed, saying extended operating hours would cause significant harm to nearby residents through increased noise, traffic and disturbance.

In his recently published report, the planning inspector Andrew Smith said two acoustic barriers had already been erected and the third would be half a metre taller and run

alongside the estate’s access road. He said it was reasonable to anticipate that it would lead to a “stepped change” in mitigating noise.

He said: “I am aware that numerous noise complaints have been made to the council with respect to recent activities at the site and, in general terms, there is heightened sensitivity associated with early morning operations. As such, full adherence to the various measures/arrangements set out in the site management plan would appear integral to any successful future implementation of the proposal …. To my mind, it would be possible for adherence with such measures to be actively monitored and enforced.”

The inspector said that planning practice guidance indicates that a temporary permission may be appropriate where a trial run is needed to assess the effect of a development on an area. “I consider this to be the case here. A temporary permission would offer the opportunity for the effectiveness of the acoustic barriers to be monitored over a one-year period in advance of the potential future consideration of a

Funeral of Bradley Lewis The funeral of 22-year-old Bradley Lewis was held at Westerleigh Crematorium on Friday.

Mr Lewis, a father-of-four, died on 26th March from a single stab wound to his chest following an incident at a house in Kingswood.

At his funeral donations were invited in his memory for the charity MIND. • Abigail White, 23, of Chipperfield Drive, Kingswood, has been charged with his murder. She will stand trial later this year.

proposal to extend operating hours on a permanent basis.”

He added: “Interested parties have queried whether the site’s current use is lawful.

However, it is not my role to come to a determination on this point. Indeed, the

preserved.

An application for costs made against B&NES Council by 4Concrete was refused, with the inspector saying unreasonable behaviour resulting in unnecessary expense during the appeal process had not been

appeal proposal is focused purely upon the retention/erection of acoustic barriers and the extension of operating hours for specified purposes.”

He found no reason to anticipate that possible pollution effects would be exacerbated “to any material degree”.

His report also noted that the site is next to but outside the boundary of Keynsham Conservation Area, and he was satisfied that its character and appearance would be

demonstrated.

• In February (Issue 715) we reported that the Ombudsman had cleared B&NES of fault after it came under fire from local residents and the town council for its handling of the initial planning application by 4Concrete for two silos at Old Station Yard that were permitted retrospectively in January 2020, and for failing to take effective action over reports of nuisance and breaches of planning control.

Vandalism at Page Park There has been vandalism at Page Park in Staple Hill with damage caused to the bandstand as well as several plants and shrubs in the surrounding flower beds.

It happened last week between 2.30pm on Tuesday and 8.30am on Wednesday.

The Friends of Page Park said: “This is

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

particularly upsetting for us as the plants were paid for as a result of the efforts of our volunteers who work so hard to make our park so beautiful for all to enjoy.”

Anyone with information which could help the police with their inquiries is asked to call 101 and give the call handler the reference RAC-RJEJG.

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Petition to reduce speeding on busy road after pets are killed A petition is calling on South Gloucestershire Council to install traffic calming measures on Holly Hill Road in Kingswood where pets have been killed.

Holly Hill Road runs down from Alma Road to New Cheltenham Road. A section at the top is a 20mph zone and for the most part the road is 30mph. The e-petition has been created on the council’s website by local resident Claire Newman. She said: “Holly Hill Road is a long, downhill road that people speed both up and down. There are many families with children on our road and the

speed that people use on this road could be fatal to a child.

“There are schools both secondary and primary that are local and the next street over has been reduced to 20mph and often has mobile speed cameras on.

“Many family pets have been killed on our road which has been devastating for the owners but also the people who witness or find the pet.

“I don’t believe a speed reduction would do much to our road but maybe a speed camera or speed bumps are needed.”

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.

Holly Hill Road

Bus funding meeting Amid concerns over future public funding of subsidised bus services and financial contributions from the unitary authorities, there will be a special public meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 2pm at City Hall in Bristol. There will be a report in next week’s edition.

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The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

Call for Secretary of State to step in after ‘premature’ decision on Withies Green A call has been made for Secretary of State Michael Gove to step in after the “premature” decision by Bath & North East Somerset Council to allow 213 homes to be built off the A4 in Keynsham.

As we reported in Issue 729, the planning committee gave Mactaggart & Mickel outline planning permission earlier this month to develop the greenfield site known as Withies Green, next to the new Hygge Park development.

Objectors say the land was supposed to have been safeguarded against development until at least 2029 and that the decision pre-empts the public examination that begins next month looking into the council’s Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU).

The permission includes the removal of a parcel of Green Belt for open uses including a playing field, allotments and orchard in connection with the development.

Saltford Environment Group (SEG) has now written to planning inspector Philip Lewis, who will be conducting the public examination, to say that B&NES has contravened three national planning policies and its own existing Local Plan.

In a statement on its website, SEG says that B&NES “has undermined confidence and trust in its own Local Plan and set a dangerous precedent that will be exploited by developers and others that want to develop parcels of land including

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

Green Belt land that are otherwise afforded protection by Local Plan and National Planning Policy Framework policies".

SEG adds: “B&NES Council's actions in pre-empting and undermining the public examination could easily create an unwelcome precedent that other local planning authorities might follow.

“Therefore, SEG has asked the inspector to either recommend that B&NES Council submits its planning consent decision to the Secretary of State for determination, or that he asks the Secretary of State to call in the decision as a matter of urgency, again for the Secretary of State to determine.

“SEG sees this action as essential to protect the Green Belt and the integrity of the B&NES Local Plan.

“Even if the additional parcel of Green Belt land included in the overall development is used for recreational purposes, normally an acceptable use of Green Belt land, to change its use and add a parcel of Green Belt to a development this way so as to allow a development to proceed before and without a public consultation in a Local Plan's public examination of its review is unsafe.”

Withies Green

SEG adds: “Outline plans change during construction of the development, and to allow a developer to take control of Green Belt land as it develops adjoining land already removed from the Green Belt ahead of the existing Local Plan's timescale is a further worrying aspect of this case.”

The first week of the public examination hearings start at 9.30am on Tuesday 21st June at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute and resume for a second week on Tuesday 5th July at the Guildhall.

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Fire closes Mangotsfield Sort It Centre The Sort It Centre at Mangotsfield was closed last week after a fire broke out.

The fire on Tuesday morning, the cause of which is believed to have been accidental, started in one of the non-recyclable waste areas at the Carsons Road site.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service, which sent 10 fire engines to tackle the blaze, advised residents living near to the site to keep their windows closed until further notice due to smoke in the area.

Crews from Kingswood, Hicks Gate,

Temple, Yate, Portishead, Southmead, Pill and Avonmouth stations were mobilised at 10.50am and firefighters used two 45mm jets, two high pressure hose reels and multiple thermal imaging cameras to extinguish the blaze.

Twelve firefighters wore breathing apparatus for safety. The service drone was also in use to check the severity of the blaze.

Mechanical machinery was used on site to dig out materials to extinguish the flames.

Fans were used to clear smoke logging from

the building. The site remained closed to the public while electrical and structural surveys were carried out and reopened on Friday.

South Gloucestershire Council said that recycling collection vehicles had been able to continue to unload at the site as the area

they use is on the other side of the yard and was safe to access.

While the Mangotsfield centre was closed residents were advised to use the other recycling centres in Yate, Thornbury and Little Stoke.

Grants to help prevent crime A new fund has been launched in partnership between the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Somerset Community Foundation and Quartet Community Foundation.

The Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund will support community projects and activities that help to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Community groups and charities can now apply for grants of between £1,000 to

£5,000 to help create safer communities in our area.

Any groups based in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset should apply to Quartet Community Foundation at w w w. q u a r t e t c f . o r g . u k / g r a n t programmes/oppc There will be three opportunities to apply each year. The first deadline is this Friday (27th May).

£10k jewellery haul Around £10,000 worth of gold jewellery, including bracelets, rings and watches, were among the items stolen from a property in Hanham while the owners were away on holiday.

Police are appealing for any information following the burglary, which took place between Tuesday 19th and Tuesday 26th

April in Bibury Crescent.

The offenders also made off with a Gucci handbag and a saxophone.

Police are appealing for the public to be on the lookout for any of the missing property. If you have any information, call 101 and quote reference number 5222098829.

Funding for groups taking climate action Bristol community groups taking climate action or supporting nature recovery can apply for council funding.

The £200,000 fund from Bristol City Council is for community action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions or makes changes that benefit wildlife in Bristol. Groups can apply for up to £5,000 in the first call for applications which

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closes on 23rd June, with a second call in the autumn. The grants are for community groups, small organisations working on a not-for-profit basis, and small charities based and working in Bristol, and should result in a clear reduction in carbon dioxide emissions or physical changes that benefit wildlife.

Find out more at www.quartetcf.org.uk

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

Has the new throughabout made things better or worse?

A new survey is asking people who regularly use the new throughabout on the A4174 Ring Road at Warmley what they think about it.

The throughabout, which has 26 traffic lights and cost almost £7m to build, opened last October with the aim of improving traffic flow.

The Ring Road approaches were widened to create three lanes in each direction through the middle of the junction while the layout of both approach roads – Tower Lane and Wraxall Road – were widened and altered.

However, the new junction was widely criticised for

Siston Hill roundabout

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

misleading and confusing road markings and South Gloucestershire Council had to carry out some remedial work.

Shortly after the throughabout opened, the council published its report on a public consultation about a bid for £30m of Government funding for changes to five more Ring Road roundabouts, including throughabouts at the Siston Hill, Deanery Road and Kingsfield junctions.

Almost three-quarters of respondents were strongly opposed to any more throughabouts and the council announced that it would wait a year for the Wraxall Road junction The Wraxall Road throughabout assessment before considering a new funding application.

People are also asked if they supported the decision to delay Now the new online survey, launched by Bristol & South wider Ring Road improvement plans, what concerns they Gloucestershire Conservatives, asks people whether they have about the proposals and if they have any suggestions for were supportive of the throughabout and have seen a big improvements on the A4174. improvement in traffic flow; or were unsure at first but have The survey, which also asks people for their voting intentions now got used to it and think it’s improved things; or were at the next local elections is https://tinyurl.com/yk9vjrpb opposed to it and consider it has made things worse or • Let The Week In know your thoughts about the provided no benefits. throughabout too.

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Alderman honour for former South Glos councillor At a special ceremony, South Gloucestershire Council’s former deputy leader and Cabinet member Jon Hunt was made an honorary alderman in recognition of eminent past service.

Conservative Cllr Hunt, who represented the Frenchay and Downend ward, stood down in 2020. He had been chair of the Children and Young People Committee and later held the portfolio in the Cabinet.

He was presented with a certificate by the outgoing chair Cllr Ruth Davis last Wednesday after councillors voted to bestow the honour.

Council leader Toby Savage said Cllr Hunt was a well-respected and trusted

figure within the Downend ward who had first been elected in 2011 and reelected in 2015 and 2019. He said he showed a “tremendous passion” for supporting children and young people

“terrifying” news of his cancer diagnosis, with doctors believing he had mere months left.

“In spite of this Jon doubled down on his council work, demonstrating a mental

across South Gloucestershire and commanded the respect of members across the chamber.

Cllr Hunt was the first Cabinet member for the Brexit transition locally and Cllr Savage added: “Jon took charge of leading the council’s co-ordinating role with our incredible community support and volunteer network groups which grew exponentially at the start of the COVID-19 crisis.”

Cllr Savage said that not long after the last elections Cllr Hunt had the

and physical fortitude that could inspire anyone. He was given the all-clear after an intense 14-month battle. It’s hard to name anyone I’ve ever met as dedicated to the task at hand as Jon or anyone as quick to rise to a challenge.”

He said that with Cllr Hunt’s recovery came a mindset for change and he chose to step down to pursue a career in the public sector and spend more time with family.

Cllr Hunt has since rejoined Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Council.

Outgoing council chair Cllr Ruth Davis presents Jon Hunt with his award

Several Labour councillors abstain from vote

Cllr Sanjay Shambhu & Cllr Judy Adams

New chair of South Glos Council Cllr Sanjay Shambhu has been named as the new chair of South Gloucestershire Council after being elected last Wednesday.

He moves into the role after serving as vice chair last year, with Emersons Green councillor Judy Adams being elected as vice chair. They will represent the council at civic functions and chair council meetings.

Cllr Shambhu, who represents Charlton &

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Cribbs Ward, said he was “honoured and humbled by this great privilege and am proud to be the first British Asian chair of council”.

Each year, the chair selects a charity to support with donations presented at the end of the chair’s term of office. Cllr Shambhu will name his chosen charity in July. Outgoing chair Cllr Ruth Davis raised £11,494 for mental health support service Off the Record.

Several Labour councillors abstained from the vote on giving Jon Hunt honorary alderman status. Labour leader Cllr Pat Rooney said she was abstaining on “two points of principle” and stressed it was not personal and she recognised Cllr Hunt had serious health issues before he left.

She said: “I do not believe that you award people purely on the basis of having held posts within the council alone; it has to be awarded on merit. On the first point I believe Jon did not complete the recommended four terms of office. He did not leave on medical grounds. He left midway to take up another job elsewhere.”

On the second point, she was concerned about bestowing an award for “eminent service” as poor performance in children’s services in 2018 under Cllr Hunt’s watch was not clearly dealt with.

She said guidance states that an alderman has to have achieved more than just being

Pat Rooney

a ward councillor - to have performed and achieved at a higher level. “I believe that the ongoing, continual problems we are still experiencing within children's services stemmed back to 2018 under Jon’s watch, and in principle on the two points I have covered, I cannot in good conscience award the title of alderman.”

Cllr Rooney gave her group a free vote and said eight Labour councillors abstained. The council’s democratic team recorded it as seven.

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

Tintagel Close flats to be demolished and site redeveloped Housing association Curo has announced its intention to demolish a block of 44 maisonettes at Tintagel Close in Keynsham and redevelop the site, following a prolonged period of consultation with residents of the estate.

Curo says it has been working with residents at Tintagel Close since 2018 to understand the work that would be needed to upgrade the 1960s buildings and provide homes that are suitable for the future.

Initially it was believed that homes at Tintagel Close could be refurbished while the residents remained in their homes. However, following more detailed surveys as well as new government legislation on fire and building safety and energy efficiency, Curo decided to re-evaluate the project. It was decided that the demolition and redevelopment of Tintagel Close would be the best long-term solution.

Curo chief executive Victor da Cunha said: “The decision to proceed with the redevelopment of Tintagel Close was taken after careful consideration of all the options and following extensive consultation with residents who live there. It was always going to be impractical and extremely difficult to achieve the future standards of housing we, as a society, aspire towards – particularly from an environmental point of view – while the residents remained in their homes, and given the construction of the existing building. Our ambition now is to continue to engage with local residents to design homes

that are fit for the future - homes that will be high quality in the broadest sense and that will fit in with their surroundings.”

Curo says it is planning modern and energyefficient affordable homes in a well-designed scheme that is integrated and connected with the wider neighbourhood.

The housing association has been supporting residents over the past few months to find new homes in the local area and so far, 22 families have moved to a new property they have chosen.

Mr da Cunha said: “We’ve put in place a complete support package for residents at Tintagel Close, including a dedicated liaison officer, funds to cover their moving costs and a one-off home loss payment. We will continue to work with families at Tintagel Close to help them find a new home they like, as we start to look to the future of the estate.”

Curo is now asking the local community to help shape plans for a future development. To take part, residents are invited to fill in a short survey at www.curo-group.co.uk/ tintagelclose-redevelopment by Sunday 5th June. The feedback will help Curo design proposals for the site over the next few months. A second public consultation in the winter will give local residents the opportunity to view and comment on the specifics of the project, including the number and appearance of homes and other details such as parking arrangements.

Curo says it will use this further feedback to

refine any proposals with a view to submit a planning application to Bath & North East Somerset Council early next year and residents living near the site and the wider community will be kept informed.

Mr da Cunha said: “Our aim is to provide new affordable homes that meet local needs

and integrate well within the existing neighbourhood. We’d really like to hear from residents at Tintagel Close and the local community in Keynsham about the future of this estate so we can understand what is important to them and use this knowledge in the design process.”

Intruders disturbed Two males were disturbed as they broke into a communal bike store at Temple Street in Keynsham at 12.30am on Saturday 14th May. The offenders broke the lock, damaging

the frame in the process, but left when a nearby resident shouted at them.

If you have any information contact the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Ring Road collision Police have appealed for dash cam footage and information after a collision between a motorbike and a minibus on Saturday (21st May) on the A4174 Ring Road between the Lyde Green and Rosary roundabouts.

The collision at 4pm closed the southbound carriageway for a time. The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with injuries not thought to be life threatening or changing.

Call 101 and quote the reference 5222120628.

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

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LETTERS Fantastic news for walkers and cyclists Dear Becky The recent announcements by South Gloucestershire Council and the West of England Combined Authority (The Week In Issue 730) about plans to improve the cycling and walking route between Bitton Station and Keynsham Station is fantastic news and offers the real prospect of creating a safe and inviting active travel route to/from the Keynsham area.

The support voiced by Steve Reade, South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment & Strategic Infrastructure, and Dan Norris, the West of England Metro Mayor, is particularly welcome and adds to the optimism that this scheme will deliver meaningful positive improvements.

On behalf of the Bristol East Fringe Cycling & Walking Group (BEFCWG) I wanted to thank all those in the community who responded to the Oldland Active Travel online consultation in 2020 and submitted their comments and concerns about the safety of the current shared path along the Keynsham Road. This consultation, organised at that time by the local Cycling & Walking Steering Group (now evolved into the BEFCWG), provided the essential and valuable community input which effectively ‘kickstarted’ the BEFCWG campaign to improve this route.

This campaign led to an excellent collaboration with South Gloucestershire Council to progress initial exploratory studies and thanks are due to all those involved in that process which has prepared the project for this next phase of work. The BEFCWG looks forward to continuing to work with the local community, South Gloucestershire Council, B&NES Council and the West of England Combined Authority to support and contribute to this exciting project.

If you would like to find out more about the

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BEFCWG and/or attend one of our future meetings, please visit the BEFCWG section of Oldland Parish Council’s website (http://oldlandparishcouncil.co.uk) or contact me, Jon Parker, on 0750 484 1569 or email jon.parker@oldlandparishcouncil.co.uk Jon Parker Chairperson, Bristol East Fringe Cycling & Walking Group

Would cyclists actually use improved route?

Dear Editor I note in Issue 730 there is a story saying that £389,500 has been earmarked to improve cycle and walking routes, including along the A4175 between Keynsham and Willsbridge.

May I suggest that if this considerable sum of money is spent, then cyclists are forced to use it by prohibiting them from using the A4175 road itself.

Currently it seems most casual cyclists, like myself, use the existing cyclepath, but what I would refer to as the ‘hard-core Lycra group’ seem to think it’s beneath them to use the cyclepath and instead seem to get a kick out of holding up road traffic on the A4175, often causing bunching of traffic resulting in more pollutants being generated.

I see no point in spending much more money on the cycle/walkway if the hard-core Lycra group are not going to use it anyway!

Graham, Longwell Green

‘Gobbledygook’ from South Glos Council Dear Becky Has anybody else received gobbledygook from South Gloucestershire Council?

Last Saturday I received a letter telling me I “may” be eligible for an energy rebate repayment of £150. I pay my council tax over the phone with a debit card every month and so far have found the task to be plain sailing.

The letter I received advised me how I can

claim the money by going online to the longest website address I have ever seen, with 108 characters, and as if that were not enough a 14-digit access code.

I am nothing if not dogged. With heroic concentration I pounded out the address to be met with some sort of Save the Planet website but nothing on it with regard to how to access my £150.

The letter also states that I cannot ring the council to ask them for their help as "Our Contact Centre is unable to take this information over the phone". Well, surprise, surprise! However, it does say: "If you need help to complete this online, please visit your nearest One Stop Shop or Library."

I hope the staff there are extremely patient and highly trained as I'm sure they will be inundated with council tax payers as baffled as I am.

Could not £150 be taken off the first month's council tax payment? Is it really that complicated? As far as I am concerned, I have never read such a ridiculous, clunky bizarre missive.

Please council, just send us the flaming cheque!

Name & address supplied

Ongoing wait for Community Hospital Dear Becky Frenchay Community Hospital. Where is it?

Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are continuing to draw up plans for an elderly care facility plus 40 rehabilitation beds on the reserved site at Frenchay. The proposal is wholly inadequate for the ever-increasing population it is designed to serve.

We were promised a community hospital at Frenchay with outpatients and diagnostics on the reserved site: this proposal falls far short of a community hospital. The original plan in

2010, a plan which received formal approval, was for 68 intermediate care beds with outpatients and diagnostic services to serve a population of 250,000. Calculations showed we needed 68 intermediate care beds in 2010 for the 250,000 population so how is it possible to reduce that number to only 40 when the amount of house building is increasing daily and the population is rising?

It does not make any sense.

When the new PFI (private finance initiative) hospital was built at Southmead, the area lost 320 acute beds at a stroke as the total of Frenchay Hospital and Southmead Hospital beds was formerly 1,120. We did not have a reconfiguration of services: we had a reduction in services. Southmead Hospital only has 800 acute beds. The outgoing chief executive officer Andrea Young confirmed that Southmead needed 200 more acute beds to function properly and the community hospital at Frenchay was to be an integral part of the main patient pathway into and out of Southmead Hospital. Southmead Hospital has between 130 and 170 ‘bedblockers’ daily as there is nowhere for them to go after discharge.

The population has risen from 250,000 in 2005 to 289,000 now. South Gloucestershire residents will be aware of the new estates of Emersons Green, Lyde Green (soon to expand), Frenchay with 450 new houses and three developers building houses in Yate and Frampton Cotterell which I make to total an extra 450 dwellings. Then we have the Brabazon developments at Stoke Gifford and Filton. This number excludes any infill housing. We have difficulty accessing GPs, dentists, chiropodists, etc and we will continue to do so as developments spring up, thereby increasing the numbers hoping to access these services.

The staff in Southmead A&E can only do some much as they encounter the increasing tide of population increase with no possibility of increasing their service.

I have written to Edward Argar, Parliamentary

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

LETTERS Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to ask to meet with him to point out that this situation is a ticking timebomb of underprovision of healthcare in our area where we have higher than average ratio of elderly people in the UK. We will need outpatients and diagnostic clinics at Frenchay in order to support patients with long COVID symptoms resulting from the pandemic and to prevent them from having to present at Southmead A&E. There is no NHS funding for the Frenchay site. The CCG are hoping a private developer will fund and build the project and then lease it to the NHS. If no developer is found, what then happens?

Why is there never any money in the healthcare budget for South Gloucestershire residents?

Barbara Harris

What became of classical music group?

Dear Editor Do any of your readers know what became of the group which met regularly at the Fear Institute in Keynsham to listen to recordings of classical music?

Things have moved on with virtual access to every kind of music and we are fortunate to have live concerts locally, as well as in Bristol and Bath.

However, I know of older people in Keynsham who would like to listen to classical music on an informal basis with likeminded people.

Sue Hopkins

Man ordered to pay almost £7,000 for waste offences in South Glos A 62-year-old man from St George has been fined a total of £6,649 in fines and costs after being found guilty of failing in his duty of care when fly-tipped waste was discovered at four different places across South Gloucestershire.

Ishtiaq Ishaq was prosecuted by the council’s environmental crime team after four fly-tips, all containing refurbishment waste, took place - at Bromley Heath Road in Downend, Brewery Hill in Upton Cheyney, Overscourt Woods in Siston and Beech Lane in Hawkesbury Upton between 9th and 19th September 2020.

The team examined the dumped waste for evidence and in one of the fly-tips discovered details of Ishaq and his home and business addresses. The other three fly-tips were found to contain documents relating to an address in South Wales that was owned by him at the time.

When contacted by the council, Ishaq stated he owned properties and developed them. He said that he had paid The fly-tip at Brewery Hill someone to remove black bags containing waste from his Bristol addresses and claimed that any arrangements for the £190. removal of waste from the South Wales address would be the Cllr Rachael Hunt, Cabinet member responsible for environmental crime at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Our award-winning builder’s responsibility.

He declined to be interviewed but provided a statement in which he environmental enforcement team has a 100 per cent record of maintained that he could not be held responsible for rubbish that had securing successful prosecutions for this type of offence and if you been fly-tipped from either of his properties as he had paid the people fail in your duty of care and allow rubbish to be fly-tipped here, you responsible for the disposal of rubbish in good faith. Ishaq denied can expect to be caught and brought before the courts. fly-tipping the waste but failed to identify or provide any details “If you hire a company to dispose of your waste, always ask for a whatsoever of the people he had used, or how to contact them. As a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask result, he was summonsed to court for failing in his duty of care to where the waste is being taken, or you could be found liable and face ensure his waste was properly disposed of and having records a considerable fine.”

Residents who see illegal fly-tipping are encouraged to report relating to who took his waste away.

Appearing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court last Monday, Ishaq pleaded it by contacting the StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or visiting guilty to the offences and was fined £3,692, ordered to pay costs of emailing £2,255, a further £512 in clear-up costs, and a victim surcharge of www.southglos.gov.uk/flytipping

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 29th May

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) 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 25th May 2022

11

Actress opens exhibition celebrating life of Bitton vicar and gardener The actress Stephanie Cole OBE, who grew up in Bitton, returned to the village on Saturday for the launch of an exhibition at the church where she used to ring the bells.

The display in the Grade I listed church, which will be on show until September, celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Canon Henry Nicholson Ellacombe, who was vicar of Bitton from 1850 until his death in 1916 and a renowned gardener.

Thanksgiving service A Platinum Jubilee thanksgiving service will be held in St Mary’s Church in Bitton on Sunday 5th June at 10.30am followed by a toast to the Queen.

Everyone is welcome.

Also on view are future plans for the church which seek to preserve its heritage while making it more available as a community resource and supporters have the chance to help the fundraising campaign by sponsoring a pew or paving stone.

Stephanie Cole, now 80, is well known for many appearances on stage and TV with credits including Tenko, Waiting For God, Open All Hours, Doc Martin, Coronation Street and Gentleman Jack.

She spoke of fond memories of her Stephanie Cole - Picture: Nigel Scudamore childhood and told guests at the launch, which included descendants copies of many of the images and other items from Kew, the of Canon Ellacombe: “I’m very, very glad that I grew up in Bath Archives, Bristol Records Office, and some other Bitton.” collections.

The director of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, Some surprising and amusing items were found, many about Nick Wray, was also invited to speak about Canon Ellacombe life in Bitton during Canon Ellacombe’s time that shows it whose garden at the old vicarage in Bitton was one of the was far from a quiet, rural village. Notices for rewards for most famous in the country. He was an ardent exchanger of sheep stealing and a dispute between two bus providers were plants, particularly with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew retained by the canon or his father in their scrapbooks, as and his writings made him something of a national celebrity. were some of the social events of the time, including fetes Like his father, who was the vicar before him, the canon was and horticultural shows. an avid collector not only of horticultural books but also the Also on show at the exhibition are some pictures of the day-to-day memorabilia of life. They left three archive church showing how the canon made significant changes to collections and St Mary’s has received permission to display the way it looked.

Crossword 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Exclamation of praise (8)

2. Cuts back (4)

6. Fully occupied (4)

4. Joined (6)

8. Sticky substance (inf.) (3)

5. Old (4)

9. Natural desire (8)

9

10. Farm building (4)

10

12. Effluent drain (5) 11

12

13

14

15

16

14. Keyboard instrument (5) 17. Plunder (4)

17

18

18. Recanted (anag.)

(8)

19 20

21

22

23

25

24

26 27

29

30 31

28

3. Hole for cord (6)

6. Spool (6) 7. Hallowed place (6) 11. Swedish punch (5) 12. Drench (5) 13. Consult (5) 14. Animal's foot (3) 15. Essential oil (5) 16. Projecting window (5)

20. Filmy material (8)

19. Rodent (3)

24. Infant (4)

21. Decorated (6)

25. Hail (5)

22. Consecutive (6)

26. Happen again (5)

23. Eye membrane (6)

29. Indian garment (4)

24. Incinerated (6)

30. Eastern (8)

27. Enemies (4)

31. Primate (3)

28. Grey-brown colour (4)

32. Issue cards (4) 32

12

33

33. Lincolnshire town (8)

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

Uncertainty still remains over when new schools will open Uncertainty remains over when Lyde Green’s new secondary school and a second primary school will open.

Building work has yet to start at the earmarked Honeysuckle Road site for the two schools because of a series of delays including a change of one of the sponsors, a change of builder, the pandemic and market conditions in the construction industry.

In January of this year, with the deadline for making secondary school choices for September just days away, the council told parents who had wanted Lyde Green that they would have to review their preferences for the upcoming academic year.

The Year 7 pupils’ first year should have been in temporary accommodation at Winterbourne Academy and initially it had been planned that they would move across to the new permanent site in Lyde Green in September 2023. But

Change of use Plans to charge the use of Hanham Road Autos in Kingswood from a car sales facility to a car wash facility have been approved by South Gloucestershire Council.

realising that the permanent building would not be completed by then, the council felt it was not in the best interests of their education to be in temporary facilities for any longer than necessary.

The delay is inevitably putting pressure on other local schools.

At the local Community Engagement Forum last Tuesday, Cllr Colin Hunt, who represents the area on South Gloucestershire Council, said: "We will keep on and on and on pestering the Government and everyone else involved until we get those schools built."

Honeysuckle Road And this week a council spokesperson said: “We are committed to delivering the new that original choice South Gloucestershire and Stroud primary and secondary schools to help meet demand for Academy Trust (SGS) was no longer able to do so. school places in the area and are continuing to work hard with The primary school will be run by CSET (Castle School the office of the Regional Schools Commissioner, the Education Trust) which also runs Lyde Green’s first primary Department for Education and both Olympus and CSET school which opened in Willowherb Road in 2015. academy trusts to ensure this happens as soon as possible.”

It was also announced last summer that Willmott Dixon The Olympus Academy Trust was named as the new sponsor would no longer be constructing the new schools. Instead of the secondary school after it was announced last summer

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

they will be built by BAM.

13

14

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

Regional spatial plan is halted Work on developing the West of England Combined Authority Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) has been halted following disagreement over proposed housing figures.

The SDS is a requirement on the Combined Authority to set out the strategic framework for housing, employment and infrastructure for the next 20 years in Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bristol.

Once adopted, it would then form part of the three unitary authorities’ own development plans and be taken into account

Academy now rated as Good Fishponds Church of England Academy has been rated as Good by Ofsted following a recent inspection.

At the school’s previous inspection in 2018 it had been told it needed to improve.

The inspectors, who visited in March and have now published their findings, said that pupils enjoy their time at school and are confident and successful in their learning. Staff have high and consistent expectations of pupils’ behaviour. The 384-pupil primary school is part of the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust.

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

in planning decisions in any part of the region.

As we reported in Issue 722 (23rd March), the next part of the process, a 12-week public consultation, was due to start about now, during which residents and local businesses were to be invited to share their views.

The final stage of the process was to be an examination by Government planning inspectors early next year.

The ruling cabinets of the three councils discussed the SDS proposals last month and while Bath & North East Somerset and Bristol councils gave their support, South Gloucestershire Council raised concerns over the number of new houses it was being asked to accept.

As reported in Issue 725 (13th April) South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage told his Cabinet meeting that the Combined Authority plan included a housing requirement of 37,000 new homes in the next 20 years, 10,000 more than expected.

On 9th May West of England Combined Authority Mayor Dan Norris announced that he had written to Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to say that all further

work on the SDS had been halted.

The immediate consequences of such action are as yet unknown.

15

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The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

Keep the donations coming for charity’s next visit to Ukraine The team at local charity Hope for Ukraine, who are preparing to send a second lorry load of humanitarian aid, have announced another temporary location where people can take donations.

The charity, based at Carmel City Church in Brislington, last month sent more than 10 tonnes of aid to Suceava in Romania where a priest arranged for it to be taken on to Chernivtsi in south-western Ukraine.

There are regular drop-off points at St John's Church office and Community at 67 in Keynsham as well as at Lime Landscaping in Willsbridge and the Scout Hall in Northcote Road in Mangotsfield is also becoming a temporary hub.

Volunteers George Morgan, Abigail Chorley & Nicola Stevenson People can drop off donations there tomorrow (Thursday) from 7pm to 9pm; on Thursday 9th The current shopping list of items includes non-perishable June from 7pm to 9pm; on Saturday 11th June from 10am to food staples such as couscous, sugar, pasta, rice, lentils, 11am; on Thursday 23rd June from 7pm to 9pm; and on tinned meat, tuna, hot dogs, sardines, beans and tomatoes, Saturday 25th June from 10am to 11am. instant meals (like soups and noodles), cereal, chocolate, For up-to-date opening times of the other hubs check coffee and tea. Also needed are first aid kits, tools, sleeping https://hopeforukraine.org.uk/ or search ‘Hope for Ukraine equipment; laundry, towels and toiletries; and baby products, Bristol’ on Facebook. baby, toddler and children’s clothing and underwear for all The charity is also looking for other collection points, such ages. The charity also now has an Amazon wish list – visit as an office, shop or a community group. https://tinyurl.com/yckeyuu6

Singin’ in the Rain makes a splash Last Tuesday my family and I were lucky enough to visit the Bristol Hippodrome to see the smash hit production Singin’ in the Rain.

We actually had to race to the theatre under very heavy downpours and were soaked when we arrived. This wasn’t the last rain we were to see that evening.

The show took us back to 1920s Los Angeles. The singing and dancing were amazing without a foot out of place, while the use of props was outstanding.

The highlight at the end of the first act was The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

the well-known song Good Morning followed by Singin’ in the Rain itself which the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

The amount of water that fell from the ‘sky’ above the stage was torrential, but stagehands did an excellent job during the interval drying the stage in preparation for Act 2. There were outstanding performances from the four leads - Sam Lips, Charlotte Gooch, Kevin Clifton and Jenny Gaynor. We came out singing and dancing.

Thankfully not in the rain!

Tracy Broderick 17

The Community Page

Siston Parish Council Queen’s Jubilee celebrations Parish council restores planned events for June 2022 historic village sign Siston Parish Council in conjunction with Ian Adams is delighted to be presenting a weekend of activities to celebrate the Queen's 70th Jubilee.

On Thursday 2nd June the beacon at Siston Hill, which was installed by the parish in 2018 to celebrate the centenary of the end of World War I, will be lit again.

Simultaneously across the nation, communities will come together at precisely 21.45 to listen to a commissioned piece of music played on the bagpipes, and light all the beacons. Siston parish is delighted to be one of few in South Glos to be participating in this event. We will have a piper to play the newly created piece of music and a choir to sing and raise the spirits of all in attendance.

It is sure to be a spectacular evening.

On Friday 3rd June the council will be hosting a family day at Warmley Forest Park - see the poster opposite. We expect this to be a fabulous community event for which we have secured many local bands and another Spitfire fly-past.

The one in 2018 was enjoyed by hundreds across the area.

Further information can be obtained from the parish clerk on sistonpc@gmail.com

In August 2021 Siston Parish Council commissioned Frenzy Design to restore the Raleigh and Humber Cycles sign on the end wall of the old Webbs cycle shop in Warmley village centre. The sign was originally painted in 1923 and then repainted in 1948 by Clifford Headford, paid for by the bicycle companies.

This well-known local business was founded in 1902 and moved in 2013. A planning application was submitted in 2015 to convert the building into residential use. This was then approved by South Gloucestershire Council with stipulations, one being that the wall painting be retained at all times. The sign is classed as an important historic feature on a locally listed building. This will hopefully ensure its safety for many years.

Kingswood Heritage Museum has reopened for the 2022 season Kingswood Heritage Museum closed for the season at the end of November and reopened at the beginning of April. The four months gave the Trust and dedicated volunteers time to assess the past season and prepare for the next.

The reception/cafe area has been refurbished. A new suspended ceiling has been installed and the whole area painted in white, terracotta and grey. Two volunteers have taken on the role of cafe manager and we look forward to a successful season. Plans to improve our outside area will also start this summer.

The approach to the lower car park has been tidied up by a volunteer who has rebuilt a stone and copper slag block wall.

Research and consultations are being carried out at the moment so that we can redesign our website and hopefully have it functioning in the next few months.

We had a rush of schools visiting just before we closed in December and visits have already started with 90 children from Barrs Court lrimary School who visited on April 4th.

Our joint curators have overseen an extensive programme of revamping permanent displays and creating new

temporary exhibitions. The spotlight this year is on Cadbury Heath, Barrs Court, Longwell Green and Willsbridge. New displays include the story of Crane's Firework Factory, the "Ruskit Mills" in Moravian Road Kingswood, the Tizer Factory in Kingswood and the redevelopment of the Odeon Cinema in Kingswood into a bowling centre. The dram road and Kleen-e-zee displays have been redesigned.

This year's programme of monthly Wednesday talks started on April 13th with ‘The coming of Rome to the Avon Valley: Invasion and Settlement’. This will be followed up in July by ‘Villas and Mosaics’.

A programme of events has also been planned starting with the Douglas Cavalcade on May 29th.

The years 2020-2021 were difficult for KHM as they were for all heritage organisations. We hope for a good, continuous season in 2022. Come and see all the work done over the winter by volunteers and then enjoy a cup of tea and cake.

Visit our website at www.kingswoodmuseum.org.uk or call us on 0117 9605664.

The parish council meets on the third Thursday of every month.

Time: 7.30pm Venue: Warmley Community Centre Members of the public are most welcome to come along and meet with councillors to discuss any matter of interest or concern.

18

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

PA system – Get your message heard at your events If your charity or community group are holding an event and you would like to use the parish council’s PA system please contact the Clerk for details. Hire to recognised community groups is free of charge but terms and conditions do apply. Contact the Clerk for details.

Does your group or charity need more funds?

Hanham Common Fayre For the first time since 2019, members of the public were able to gather for the Hanham Common Fayre on Saturday 14th May. The sun shone and the large crowd enjoyed a funfilled afternoon. Our thanks to Steve Hicks from Hanham Abbots Parish Council for these pictures.

Louise Hopton, 3D Dance

Siston Parish Council welcomes applications for grants from local community groups or charities that make a difference in the community. You may need extra funding for a special project or perhaps just to help meet ongoing costs. If you would like your organisation to be considered for a small grant please contact the Clerk to find out about the application process. Contact the Clerk: sistonpc@gmail.com

Support for local businesses Siston Parish Council has proudly supported various business in the region over the past few years and is delighted to say that grants have been donated to the following organisations.

Warmley Wheelers is a cycling project run by Milestones Trust, that gives everyone the chance to get into cycling. The group is based near the Warmley Waiting Room on the Bristol & Bath Railway Path.

Friends of Siston Common Group - a local community group who work tirelessly to keep our commons in great condition and accessible to as many as possible.

Kingswood Heritage Museum - a great local history resource located on Tower Road North.

Friends of William Champion's Gardens - a new local group interested and working hard to restore and maintain the wonderful gardens on Tower Road South.

Parish council funding Councillors , at this level of local government, give their time freely and exercise great care before promoting new projects or taking on additional costs. The likely needs and priorities for spending for the next financial year are agreed towards the end of the current calendar year, then collected by South Gloucestershire Council as a small part of your annual council tax payment. All households in the parish of Siston contribute to the funding required each year with a parish council budget of £40,000 set for 2022/23.

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

19

Plan for house on site of 23 dilapidated garages Planning permission has been granted to tear down 23 dilapidated garages in Soundwell and build a house with a swimming pool on the plot.

The site next to 22 and 23 Morley Close is owned by Bromford Homes (formerly Merlin Housing Society) and the planning

application was lodged with South Gloucestershire Council by a Soundwell resident who has been in negotiation regarding the purchase of the site, subject to planning approval. He plans to build a fourbed detached home for his family.

There have been problems with anti

social behaviour at the site which has caused concern to elderly residents living nearby.

The old garages are said to fall short of minimum space standards. Most are empty but some have been in use. There are signs on some of the garage doors from the

housing society advising that any goods need to be cleared out.

In allowing the planning application, the council agreed that the surrounding area provides ample on-street parking provision and that the loss of the garages will not result in any significant impacts.

Be aware of courier fraud Avon & Somerset’s Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford is urging people to be on their guard against a new list of tactics being used by courier fraudsters.

Scammers may claim to be from the victim’s bank and say their card is no longer valid. They ask for the PIN and then send a ‘courier’ to collect the card before using it for fraudulent purposes Suspects also pretend to be police officers and ask the victim to help with an undercover operation by purchasing expensive items like watches, jewellery and gold. Once the item is bought, the victim will hand over the item to the criminals.

A person claiming to be the police or bank official may inform the victim that they need to help with a corruption investigation. The victim is told to withdraw a large amount of money and the

cash is picked up later by a ‘courier’ to check for fingerprints or to identify counterfeit notes.

Fraudsters also phone the victim, purporting to be from their internet service provider and saying they have had an issue with their connectivity and the victim is due compensation. The victim is persuaded to download a remote access application, giving the suspects access to their home computers. The fraudster persuades the victims into thinking they have been paid too much compensation and the victim then withdraws cash to pay the money back, which is later collected by a ‘courier’.

Mr Shelford said: “Victims of courier fraud typically tend to be between the ages of 70 to 89, with women more likely to be targeted. We need to be one step ahead and ensure as many of us as possible know how to spot the tactics and warning signs.”

Sponsored ‘Paris’ run The girls of Fry’s Junior Football Club completed a group sponsored walk and run earlier this month, covering the distance from Keynsham to Paris.

While the youngsters, aged from five to 13, didn’t actually leave Somerdale, their 650km journey raised almost £1,300 and put them well on their way to achieving their goal of £2,500.

The funds will be split between the club 20

and the Children’s Hospice South West.

The next fundraising event will be a penalty shoot-out competition as part of the Somerdale Jubilee Fun Day on Saturday 4th June.

In the last four years since forming a girls’ section Fry’s Juniors have gone from a couple of people turning up for training to almost 100 members and five teams taking part in the Bristol Girls League.

The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

Foodbank’s urgent appeal for donations Kingswood Foodbank, which covers the BS15 area, has issued an urgent plea for donations.

Pete Shears from the foodbank, which is based at the Bourne Christian Centre at Waters Road, said that last Friday there were 21 clients of which 10 were single people.

There were also two Ukrainian families.

“In total we fed 27 adults and 16 children.

Every time we close now the shelves do not look like they will get us completely through another day.”

He said the foodbank, which is part of the Trussell Trust, would very much appreciate donations of tins of fruit, potatoes, tuna and meat, flour, washing up liquid, sauces (both pasta and other types), pasta, custard, rice pudding, shampoo, cartons of fruit juice, sugar, jam, instant noodles and chocolate.

There are donations points at the Co-op stores at Bell Hill and in Hanham, at Sainsbury’s at Kings Chase and at the petrol station at Nags Head Hill, as well as the Lidl stores in Kingswood and Longwell Green

Donations can also be taken to the Waters Road centre on Mondays from 10.30am to 12.30pm, on Tuesdays from 9.30am to 12.45pm and on Fridays from 1.30pm to

3.30pm.

You can also make a financial donation online at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/BS15foodbank

Situations Vacant

Royal celebrations There will be a service of thanksgiving for the Queen at Holy Trinity Church in Kingswood on Sunday 5th June at 6pm. The service follows the free Jubilee pageant taking place in Kingswood Park from 11am to 4pm to which people are invited to bring picnics.

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The Week in • Wednesday 25th May 2022

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