The Week In - Issue 732 - 1st June 2022

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

1st June 2022

Issue 732

FREE

Read by more than 40,000 people each week

Communities come together to celebrate Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Four days of fun and festivities are taking place across our

future.

area as communities come together to mark the Queen’s

Here are some of the events happening over the bank holiday.

Platinum Jubilee.

In Keynsham St John’s Church will be lit up in purple for the

Street parties and events are taking place over the extended

jubilee and there will be a display by Keynsham & Saltford

bank holiday from tomorrow (Thursday) until Sunday.

Local History Society in the church tomorrow, Friday and

The celebrations have already started - last Wednesday 130

Saturday. On Saturday there will be a free family fun day in

children at Hanham Toddlers Pre-School enjoyed a special

Memorial Park to which people are invited to bring picnics,

jubilee party and last Thursday housing association Curo held

and there will be a film of local jubilee memories being

a party at the Masonic Hall in Keynsham for residents of their

screened in Keynsham Baptist Church.

extra care sheltered accommodation in Keynsham and

In Saltford there will be a beacon lighting at the golf club

Saltford. The event featured live music and food and drink

tomorrow evening and on Friday an afternoon tea at Saltford

with a toast to the Queen.

Hall from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. On Sunday a ‘Jubilee Jolly’ is

Also last Thursday The Meadows Primary School in Bitton

planned at Saltford Sports Club from 1pm.

In Stockwood on Friday there will be a family fun event from

welcomed the wider community to celebrate with a picnic and

In Cadbury Heath there will be a Big Jubilee Lunch in

3pm at Sturminster and Stockwood Community Association

entertainment from a circus performer and Bristol Veterans

Coronation Park from 1pm to 4pm on Friday. People are

and Social Club.

Brass band.

invited to bring a picnic and join in with the activities.

Page Park in Staple Hill will host jubilee celebrations on

The Curo party

On Friday members of the school council at Barrs Court

Saturday from 11am to 5pm while Staple Hill Methodist

Primary School planted a tree at Payne Green and buried a

Church is holding a flower festival from Friday to Sunday with

time capsule which included photographs and letters to the

a Songs of Praise service at 6pm on Sunday.

In Kingswood there is a pageant in Kingswood Park on Sunday from 10am to 4.30pm followed by an evening service at Holy Trinity Church. There is also a jubilee flower festival over the weekend at Potters Wood Methodist Church.

Siston Parish Council will light the beacon at Siston Hill tomorrow evening and has organised a family day in Warmley Forest Park on Friday from 1pm to 9pm which includes a Spitfire, Lancaster and Hurricane flypast around 2.30pm.

Tomorrow evening there is also a beacon lighting at the play park in Norton Lane in Whitchurch Village and at Wick in Barrs Court pupils

Brockwell Park; the park will also host a family fun day on Friday from 12.30pm.

Continued on page 3

Also in this week’s issue

Controversial 5G mast approved at Keynsham school . . . page 2

Fatal stabbing in Brislington . . . page 4

Why up to 80 bus services are at risk . . . pages 6 & 7

Parking now free at Kings Chase Shopping Centre . . . page 11

5G phone mast approved at Keynsham school Plans for a controversial 5G phone mast at Broadlands Academy in Keynsham have been approved.

On 20th May last year, local councillor Brian Simmons asked for the proposal to be called in to be dealt with by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee, rather than decided by a planning officer.

The plans finally got the nod last Wednesday, with the report recommending approval and the decision notice both published on the same day. Both the planning committee chair Cllr Sue Craig and vice chair Cllr Sally Davis had said the decision could be delegated to planning officers as the application had been assessed against relevant planning policies and some points raised by objectors were not a planning consideration.

Vodafone and Telefonica UK Ltd (O2) applied in April 2021 to replace the current 4G 15-metre mast (17.9 metres to the top of the antennas) with one measuring 20 metres at the top of the six antennas. The scheme includes a microwave dish, remote radio units and new equipment within the existing cabin.

Some people living near the St Francis Road secondary school were only made aware of the plans by a 5G protest group. The plans prompted more than 160 objections, with Keynsham Town Council blasting B&NES for falling in its duty to consult the academy community and nearby residents.

At the time the town council said the 5G mast would be an “incongruous and overbearing structure”, adding: “In respect of health implications from microwave radiation emissions,

2

this matter needs to be fully investigated

by B&NES as the landlord of the school land. A suggestion is made that there should be a consultation with the new director of public health to ascertain the impact this proposal could have not only on those within the school community (and) the wider neighbourhood, but the town as a whole.”

The town council also said: “It is believed that the local authority (B&NES) has failed in its duty to consult with all concerned on such an important development proposal. The school itself, parents/carers of pupils within the school and all neighbouring properties were not consulted initially and it took requests made to the planning department by local residents before a consultation letter was sent out to the wider community.” The town council highlighted that the letter hadn’t mentioned 5G and arrived 10 days into the extended consultation period. It added: “There is already talk within the community of parents/carers removing children from school should the application be granted.”

B&NES received eight letters of support for the application.

The report by planning officers finally published last week said the replacement would not have a significant adverse visual impact above and beyond the existing mast. It said that in the absence of a clear consensus of opinion from the conservation sector and scientific communities, an ecological

objection on grounds of potential risk to wildlife from electromagnetic radiation would be difficult to justify and defend. However, with a mast already in place, the report said the scheme could be considered to be appropriately located.

The report said that in light of the compliance with international protection guidelines, the proposals will not have any significant impacts on human health. Responding to concerns over the consultation process, the report noted that 54 neighbouring properties had been consulted, including all those adjoining the school.

Broadlands has been part of Academies Enterprise Trust for 10 years. In a letter to parents last year the trust said the current mast pre-dated its involvement and brought in a very small amount of annual rent, adding that removing it would be “legally incredibly challenging”.

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

Road closures for jubilee street parties Thursday 2nd June

Saturday 4th June

Bitton.

South Road, Kingswood; Ducie Road, Staple Hill; Fouracre

Manor Road, Titus Way and Marden Road, Keynsham;

Sunday 5th June

Crescent, Downend; Court View, Wick.

Cleeve Lodge Road, Cleeve Park Road, Bridge Leap Road,

Dryleaze, Dunster Road and Caesar Crescent in Keynsham;

Friday 3rd June

Wedgewood Road, Heath Road, Grace Road, Rockside

Deerhurst and The Ride, Kingswood; Oakdale Road,

Guest Avenue and Cottongrass Road in Emersons Green;

Avenue, Chesterfield Road and Queensholm Drive in

Westbourne Road, Salisbury Road, Christchurch Avenue and

Baden Road and Oakfield Road in Kingswood; Hermitage

Downend; Meadgate and Youngs Court, Emersons Green;

Christchurch Lane in Downend; Quarry Way, and Emet Lane

Road and Lydney Road in Staple Hill; St David’s Avenue,

Stanhope Road and Roseville Avenue, Longwell Green;

in Emersons Green; Park Road, Staple Hill; Eagle Crescent,

Cadbury Heath; Salisbury Road, Downend; Cherry Gardens,

Burley Crest, Mangotsfield; Randall Close and Yew Tree

Pucklechurch; Pearsall Road and Larksleaze Road, Longwell

Bitton; Brook Road, Mangotsfield; Albert Road, Hanham;

Drive, Kingswood; Wincroft, Oldland Common; Parkers

Green. (Dragons Hill Court in Keynsham has applied for a

Victoria Road, Saltford; Chantry View, Stockwood.

Avenue, Wick; Greenbank Road, Hanham; Walton Close,

street closure on Saturday or Sunday).

Council launches survey on new park There has been speculation since January when South Gloucestershire Council announced that £500,000 was being allocated to transform an existing open space in Cadbury Heath into a new bio-diversity park to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and honour the late Duke of Edinburgh’s love for wildlife and nature.

And now this week, coinciding with the jubilee bank holiday, the council has finally announced that it wants people’s views on three options - Tarzan Park, Banjo Island and the former pitch and putt course.

People are encouraged to say the sorts of things they would like to see, such as tree planting, wildflower and habitat creation, good paths, seating, waste bins and signs.

The survey runs from this week until 12th July.

Banjo Island

Tarzan Park

The old pitch and putt course

Communities come together Continued from page 1 Among the events in Bitton are a village party on Friday and a thanksgiving service at St Mary’s on Sunday. The parish council has also arranged a tea party tomorrow for residents born in 1952 or before.

At the community centre in Lyde Green on Saturday from 11am to 5pm there will be a ‘Jubilee Extravaganza’. And in Corston there will be activities in the community orchard from 12.30pm tomorrow and a three-hour peal of bells from noon at All Saints Church on Saturday, as well as activities at the village hall and on the Rec. On Sunday there will be a Songs of Praise at All Saints followed by tea and a jubilee cake.

Can you help solve Keynsham jubilee mystery? See page 4

New bench fit for the Queen Oldland Parish Council has installed a bench opposite the shops in Cadbury Heath to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Claire Dolman, clerk to Oldland Parish Council, said: “Councillors are delighted that the bench has been delivered and installed in time for the jubilee weekend and hope that residents will enjoy it for many years to come.”

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

3

Can you solve the mystery of what happened to this landmark?

What happened to the Keynsham jubilee drinking fountain on Bath Hill East? Do you know when was it taken away?

Bath Record Office is appealing to the public to help record Royal Jubilee celebrations in Bath and North East Somerset from 1887 to the present day and this is one mystery the team would like to solve.

Kevin Guy, leader of Bath & North East

Somerset Council, said: “As we look forward to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, it will be fascinating to find out how past jubilees were celebrated across our area. The crowdsourced information, images and objects will be safely kept by the Record Office and will be available for future generations to explore.”

Residents are being asked to send in copies or originals of photos, films, leaflets or objects (like mugs or coins) recording past jubilee celebrations and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

These contributions will be added to the Bath Record Office archives and be available for present and future members of the public, students and historians to look at. The

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.

project forms part of the Record Office’s wider role in documenting the history of Bath and North East Somerset and making it available to everyone to see and study free of charge.

The Record Office also wants to map as

many places as possible where jubilees have been commemorated across the district – from streets named after jubilees to commemorative benches.

Find out more and how to take part at http://ow.ly/ShZY50Jin7a

Man dies during violent disorder in Brislington Detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team were this week continuing to carry out inquiries into the death of a man in his 30s after violent disorder in Brislington last Tuesday.

The man from London died en route to hospital after an altercation with several other men at Bloomfield Road at around 10pm. A post-mortem examination concluded the preliminary cause of death as multiple stab wounds. Six other men received medical attention for a variety of injuries.

Four men have been charged with one count of violent disorder: Sadik Lleshi, 34, of Culvert Road, Tottenham, London;

Brikel Palaj, 32, of Heavitree Road, London; Kastriot Mhillaj, 34, of no fixed address; and Rinush Behari, 32, of Bunton Street, London.

Two others, aged 18 and 34, who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, have been bailed as inquiries continue. One other man arrested has been undergoing treatment in hospital.

Police have been making house-to-house inquiries and reviewing CCTV and appeal to anyone who has mobile phone, doorbell, dash cam or other private CCTV footage which could help to call 101 and give the reference 5222123307. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

16,000 copies are distributed through retail outlets, libraries, pubs, community centres each week.

Verified pick-up rate of 97%.

The Week In Community Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA 0117 986 0381 www.theweekin.co.uk ISSN: 2052-9767 Publisher Editor Contributors

Stephen Rodgers admin@theweekin.co.uk Becky Feather 07403 273967 Christine Rogers

Advertising

Tracy Broderick 0117 986 0381 sales.theweekin@gmail.com @theweekineditor

No material in this publication, nor its associated website (www.theweekin.co.uk) may be reproduced without the written permission of The Week In. All rights reserved.

The Week In is regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor for the Press CIC. As such, we adhere to the IMPRESS complaints procedure. A copy of this procedure can be found on our website or can be sent upon written request to the address above.

4

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

New campaign to give more heart patients the best chance of survival Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is launching a new campaign this week to get more defibrillators into local communities so that more lives can be saved.

The charity has partnered with HeartSafe and Public Hearts for the launch of Great Western Public Hearts, an all-in-one life-saving automated external defibrillator (AED) package.

Every year in the UK 30,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. For every minute that passes, a person's chance of survival goes down by 10%. Sadly, only one in 10 will survive.

GWAAC wants anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest to receive immediate CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillation within five minutes so there will be fewer avoidable and needless deaths.

GWAAC says: “Right now, only 40% of people receive early CPR and fewer than 2% have a defibrillator used prior to the ambulance arriving. The availability of AEDs and the knowledge of how to use them is inadequate. We simply need more in our communities. By placing an AED in your building or street you are increasing the chance of survival for someone suffering a cardiac arrest nearby.

“The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity Critical Care Team travel at speed to deliver advanced life support to patients suffering a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. But the chance of someone surviving is highly dependent on what happens before they get there. We need to strengthen every link in the chain of survival.”

Pubs, village halls, community centres, corporates, clubs, and anyone interested in hosting an AED are being given the option to buy the package outright, fundraise towards the total, or a combination of the two to make it as easy as possible. The package comes with VAT, training and support with ongoing maintenance.

The charity can create an online fundraising page, provide posters, leaflets, volunteers and event advice to ensure fundraisers hit their target.

GWAAC says the project is in early development but you can find out more at https://greatwesternairambulance.com/greatwestern-public-hearts/ The Week In is supporting this campaign – look out for more stories in the coming weeks and months.

Church donates minibus to Ukraine appeal A minibus has been generously given to the Brislingtonbased charity Hope for Ukraine by Crofts End Church in St George.

The minibus has been requested by the charity’s contact in Chernivtsi in south-western Ukraine to be used as a patient transporter to rescue elderly and other vulnerable people from some of the bombed-out cities.

The charity is currently getting it serviced and making sure that it is running at a high standard. Once insurance has been sorted it will be driven over to Ukraine, hopefully in the next few weeks.

The charity, based at Carmel City Church, has already delivered more than 10 tonnes of aid to Suceava in Romania where a priest arranged for it to be taken on to Chernivtsi.

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

Hope for Ukraine volunteers Garry & Dan

Saving lives every day Great Western Air Ambulance Charity provides the critical care and air ambulance service for 2.1 million people across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire.

The team consists of highly trained and experienced critical care doctors, advanced practitioners and specialist paramedics in critical care, who bring the skill and expertise of a hospital emergency department to the patient.

2021 was the charity’s second-busiest year to date, with 1,964 call-outs. The critical care team attend an average of more than five incidents a day, either by helicopter or in one of three critical care cars. On average each mission costs around £2,000 to attend.

The charity needs to raise more than £4m a year in order to remain operational yet receives no day-to-day funding from the Government or National Lottery.

To make a donation visit https://greatwesternairambulance.com/

There are regular drop-off points for donations 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 has also become a temporary hub this month.

For up-to-date opening times of donation hubs and what donations are needed check https://hopeforukraine.org.uk/ or search ‘Hope for Ukraine Bristol’ on Facebook.

To find out more email info@hopeforukraine.org.uk or call 07933 712584.

5

Council leaders’ funding decision Up to 80 local bus services are at risk after the leaders of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils went against an earlier agreement to supply more funding.

An extraordinary meeting of the West of England Combined Authority Committee last week had to be adjourned after Regional Mayor Dan Norris could not be persuaded by a revised proposal brought forward by the three council leaders.

The bus routes in question are ones which cannot be viably operated on a commercial basis but are considered socially necessary, such as weekend or evening services to hospitals. They are provided by bus operators on a contract basis, with funding coming from local councils. The combined authority took over the management of these contracts in 2020 but as it has no tax-raising authority, the funds still come from the three constituent councils through a transport levy.

The regional approach has achieved economies (many supported services overlap

Council leaders voting to increase the transport levy at April’s meeting

into neighbouring authorities) and allowed for contracts with bus companies to be negotiated on a combined basis.

The next round of those contracts is due to start on 27th August and the combined authority wants the new agreements to last five years so that bus operators can have more certainty and reflect this in their prices.

But, as has been well documented in previous issues of The Week In, local bus services have been under pressure and bus companies have been suffering the effects of lockdown, as well as rising fuel and labour costs. With the new contracts costing over 40% more, the transport levy paid by the three councils to the local authority was very likely to be

The cost of supported bus routes Services supported by the West of England Combined Authority and funded via the three councils’ transport levy include the Keynsham ‘round town’ routes (663/664/665), evening and weekend 17 and 19 buses, and rural services throughout the three unitary authorities.

Under the proposals put to the council leaders last week, the ‘no increase’ (2% inflation only) would have led to 26 routes being cut including the 86 (Yate-Emersons Green-Kingswood), the 35 (MarshfieldKingswood) and 684 (Wick-Keynsham).

The 5% increase would have reduced the number of services cut to 12 and the 7.5% levy increase would have meant only four

6

services would be lost. The formula used to evaluate these services, ‘cost per passenger journey’, divides the cost of the contract awarded by the total number of passengers and throws up some fairly startling anomalies.

One route which looks doomed regardless of any outcome is the 948 school service between Pucklechurch and the Sir Bernard Lovell Academy in Oldland Common.

According to transport campaigner David Redgewell, bus operator Stagecoach runs a double-decker bus on the route and it carries just one person a day.

The cost per passenger journey is a staggering £213.27.

insufficient to maintain all of the supported bus services. So, at the April meeting of the combined authority committee, the three council leaders unanimously agreed to raise the levy beyond the previously agreed 2% inflation figure to as much as 10%.

But in May, Bath & North East Somerset’s Kevin Guy, South Gloucestershire’s Toby Savage and Bristol’s Marvin Rees called for another meeting to discuss an alternative proposal which extended the existing contracts by one year to buy them more time to consider the wider budgetary implications of a longer-term commitment from September 2023.

They were concerned that negotiating fiveyear contracts now might have been at the “top of the market” and that fuel prices and inflation may be lower in 12 months’ time.

Given that the bus operators would want an even higher increase (58%) for a one-year contract extension, the council leaders also felt money could be used from the region’s recently awarded £105m Bus Service Improvement Plan – something Mayor Norris said simply could not happen.

He told last week’s meeting that the funds (along with the £540m City Region

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

puts bus services at risk Sustainable Transport Settlement that was also recently awarded) “were the building blocks for a future transport system and the rules are clear on where they can be spent”.

He also pointed out that the money could not be spent twice.

On the basis of the council leaders’ previous agreement to increase their transport levy by up to 10%, Mayor Norris presented a report detailing how many services could be maintained. Scenarios were given for the 2% inflation rise only, and then 5%, 7.5% and 9% increases – the last three matched with £2m from the combined authority.

Transport campaign groups, the Local Enterprise Partnership, councillors and members of the public all urged Mr Norris and the council leaders to reach an agreement to ensure continuity of the bus services but his recommendation to agree one of the suggested levy increases failed to get the leaders’ support.

When the council leaders tabled their own counter proposal for a 12-month extension, the ‘10-minute adjournment’ which has

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

become a regular feature of these meetings of late was called. Ninety minutes later, it was decided to officially adjourn the meeting so that more “discussions” could take place between transport officials at the combined

authority and the three councils.

As things stand, the previously agreed 2% inflation increase in the transport levy means 26 supported services will be axed in August.

With no new meeting date announced by the

time we went to print another thing that is almost certain is that the deadline (17th June) for bus operators to register new services with the Department for Transport will be missed.

‘It can’t go on like this’ Transport campaigner David Redgewell said that whoever’s interests were at stake at last week’s extraordinary meeting of the West of England Combined Authority, it was not bus users.

“I had no sense that anyone was acting in the interests of bus passengers”, he told The Week In. “The Mayor has a duty, along with the unitary authorities, to run the services but doesn’t have the tax-raising powers to pay for it. He will only have the precepting powers when North Somerset Council is part of the West of England Combined Authority.

“It can’t go on like this. If we are not careful Baroness Vere (the Minister for Roads, Buses

and Places) will redirect the money elsewhere.”

Mayor Norris had pointed out during the meeting that the amount spent on local transport in the West of England raised through the councils’ transport levy was around £20 per person. In other combined authorities, such as the West Midlands and Liverpool, where mayors have the power to precept for transport, the figure was two and even three times higher.

Mr Redgewell was also critical that the meeting was not webcast like they normally are. He said he had received more than 20 complaints from people living in rural areas and most affected by the outcome who were unable to attend in person or follow proceedings online.

David Redgewell

7

LETTERS Concerns about design of new path

Why route needs to be made safer

Dear Becky Lycra group cycle riders who don’t use the cycle/walkway path on Keynsham Road, as described by Graham in Issue 731, will probably continue to ignore it if any new designs do not meet what cyclists need.

As I’ve mentioned in previous letters, ignoring the ‘cycle path’ is not necessarily a selfish act, more that the so-say cycle path is not fit for purpose. My previous letters have highlighted the reasons for its relegation to this description. The fact that money is to be set aside for its improvement is obviously in recognition of this.

Graham is probably correct in suggesting a sum of money earmarked to improve the A4175 cycle/walkway path would be wasted if not utilised by cyclists.

As I have previously stated, my belief that it was in fact constituted as a cycle path in the beginning was to enhance Bristol’s chance to be recognised as a European Cycle City.

Unless the ‘improvements’ turn out to actually be that, the Lycra lads and lassies will continue to haunt motorists. It is to be hoped the powers that be, designing the proposed improvements, will take note of all the correspondence from your publication over the years and not sit at computer screens designing something that looks nice. Will they talk to current/prospective users? Probably not.

Will they cycle along it to understand the criticisms? They appear to think they know best. I don’t believe the width of the land outside the road and current cycle path provides enough room to create a proper cycle path for its whole length, unless extreme measures are taken to claim enough land to do so.

Roger Tilley, Oldland Common

Dear Editor In response to Graham from Longwell Green (Issue 731), if the cycle route along the Keynsham Road was improved, more people would use it.

More families would use it, giving them a safer route along this stretch of road. The condition of the pavement supposed cycle path is horrendous. It's too narrow and very uneven. It's more often than not overgrown with weeds. But thanks to volunteers clearing it, it has been much better recently.

I am all for money being spent on cycle routes in the aim to get people out of their tin boxes (cars!) unlike your reader who sees no point in spending money if not everyone is going to use it. If the amount spent on the throughabout had been spent on cycle routes, then perhaps more people would use them. Cycle routes around here don't link up so often you are forced onto roads and to merge in with traffic which doesn't encourage future generations to use them. Surely cyclists should have a choice where they cycle whether on the road or path.

A little consideration, patience by drivers who may be held up for a few minutes isn't too much to ask. It isn't just hard core cyclists holding up traffic, casual cyclists as he calls himself also hold up the traffic. These cyclists aren't causing the pollution problem, it's the car drivers by actually using their cars probably to do less than five miles.

So yes, let's spend money upgrading this route and hopefully link up with other routes so that we can all cycle safely in the future.

M. Duller

8

How can councillor still represent us?

Dear Editor I vote Conservative but I was shocked to learn that that one of our local councillors for Keynsham North has been living in Sidmouth

for over a year. How is it truly possible for someone who no longer lives in our town or close by can be deemed to be the best person to represent and act for our community not withstanding being paid to do so.

As I understand it we elect our councillors to listen to us and act on our behalf and to do this they would only have a true knowledge and understanding towards any of our concerns or issues if they resided in the constituency themselves. The word ‘local’ councillor says it all. The fact that the Conservatives believe that a person living 90 miles away from Keynsham and by all intents and purposes can represent us comprehensively is inconceivable and makes a mockery of the title ‘local councillor’. This is certainly not fair representation for Keynsham North.

A resident of Keynsham North for 46 years

Cllr Vic Clarke

Vic ‘still performing his duties’ Writing on their Twitter account last week, B&NES Conservative Councillors said: “We've read some speculation recently that one of our councillors no longer lives in B&NES. Keynsham's Vic Clarke moved to Devon last year for personal reasons but is still committed to working hard for his residents.”

Their tweet was accompanied by a somewhat dated picture of Cllr Clarke in Keynsham High Street as there are still roadworks in the background.

In a statement Vic Clarke said: “I moved to Sidmouth in Devon in April last year for personal reasons. In that time, I have continued to work hard for the people of Keynsham.

“I attend public meetings at the Guildhall and

deal with residents’ queries whenever I am required to, and I claim no travel costs for doing so.

“I will be standing down next May but see no reason to expect local taxpayers to fork out more than £5,000 for a by-election while I am able to continue to perform my role as a councillor perfectly well.”

Throughabout should never have been built Dear Becky All throughabouts have a fundamental flaw, which cannot be overcome by “people becoming familiar with them” or any physical alteration to their basic design.

Unlike ‘normal’ roundabouts, where drivers subconsciously slow down (even when the traffic lights are green), because they have to negotiate them at a much reduced speed, throughabouts give drivers literally a ‘green light’ to speed straight through them.

Even if they are ‘99% safe’, one can never discount the possibility of dangerous/impaired drivers, or vehicles being ‘marooned’ between the lights across the main carriageway of the throughabout. This throughabout at Wraxall Road should never have been built in the first place - an ‘intelligent’ traffic light system would have been quite adequate to cope with the relatively short periods of rush-hour traffic. It was a scandalous waste of public money and should not be repeated by South Glos Council elsewhere on the Ring Road.

Jerry Moore, Barrs Court

Build more homes or reduce population Dear Editor Every week that I read The Week In, there is outcry about planning permission being given for more homes to be built. Yet when built, they are quickly bought and there are very few empty houses around. In fact, I am told there is a massive housing shortage.

Surely all these comfortable residents don’t

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

LETTERS really want to see other people sleeping on the streets! Why is there a housing shortage when the native population has a declining birth rate? The truth is that the demand for homes in the UK is not created by people who were born here. It is created by immigration. In the 25 years ending 2021 the population increased by 10 million (58.2 to 68.2 million), an increase of nearly a fifth.

The choice is simple. We either need to build more homes or we need to reduce the population (or at least stop the increase). However, this government seems intent on making the situation worse. They have given the right of residency to six million members of the European Union (against a forecast of three million). They have promised five million Chinese from Hong Kong residency in the UK over the next few years. They have just signed a ‘trade deal’ with India, which involves 300,000 more Indians coming to live in Britain each year. Another ‘deal’ is with Rwanda to take 150,000 people that they don’t want. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine - and the probably 100,000 illegal immigrants each year who are never deported.

All of these people need to be housed.

Of course, none of our local MPs seem to have voted against this policy. They appear to think that the people of East Bristol and North East Somerset are too uneducated to make the connection. Are they right?

Paul Trenchard

Keep wearing a mask on the bus Dear Editor I have been self-isolating, having contracted COVID-19.

The first two days were very unpleasant indeed and I was thankful that at age 80+ I had received all four vaccinations.

I will never know how, after three years the virus finally caught up with me, but I do know for a fact that as the wearing of face coverings on public transport and other crowded indoor spaces is no longer mandatory there has been a rapid decline in their use, especially on buses. I always wear a mask when travelling by bus and I would

JUBILEE CHEMISTS urge my fellow travellers to consider other passengers by doing likewise - it is not much to ask and it could possibly prevent the spread of the virus to someone who, although fully vaccinated like myself, could nevertheless become very ill.

Mike Openshaw, Hanham

Thursday 2nd June Tesco, Callington Road, Brislington (9am-6pm) Asda, Craven Way, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) Lloyds in Sainsbury’s, Emersons Green Retail Park (10am-4pm) Asda, Oatlands Avenue, Whitchurch (10am-4pm) Morrisons, Fishponds Road, Fishponds (10am-5pm) Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (10am-5pm)

Grateful thanks Dear Editor Thank you to the kind lady who saw that I had missed my bus at Watsons Road and went out of her way to hand me the items that I had to abandon at the till at Aldi in Longwell Green because of the queue. She handed my shopping to me from her car window and would not accept my offer to pay. She saw that I had missed the 17 bus and asked me where I had to go. I said that a 44 bus would come along soon which it did, taking me back to Hanham.

David of Hanham

Keynsham Pharmacy, Station Road (4pm-7pm)

Friday 3rd June Boots, Emersons Green Retail Park (9am-5pm) Tesco, Callington Road, Brislington (9am-6pm) Asda, Craven Way, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) Asda, Oatlands Avenue, Whitchurch (10am-4pm) Lloyds in Sainsbury’s, Emersons Green Retail Park (10am-4pm) Morrisons, Fishponds Road, Fishponds (10am-5pm) Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (10am-5pm) Keynsham Pharmacy, Station Road (4pm-7pm) Cleeve Wood Pharmacy, Downend (7pm-10pm)

Praise for B&NES road resurfacing

Saturday 4th June

Dear Editor Your lead article, Issue 731, highlighted problems in South Glos with road resurfacing.

This contrasts with the excellent road resurfacing carried out by Bath & North East Somerset Council and its contractors in Saltford ward. Resurfacing has taken place recently in the Uplands Road area, Corston Lane, and Pennyquick Hill. Residents have commented on the quality of the work and the helpfulness and efficiency of the team involved. Bath Road, Saltford, will undergo carriageway resurfacing and major reconstruction over five nights at the beginning of August. Burnett Hill is also scheduled for a makeover when the Wellsway is resurfaced. I am confident that the outcomes will be of the same high quality. Well done and thank you to B&NES Council.

Cllr Duncan Hounsell B&NES ward councillor, Saltford

Asda, Oatlands Avenue, Whitchurch (7am-10pm)

Lloyds in Sainsbury’s, Emersons Green Retail Park (7am-9pm) Asda, Craven Way, Longwell Green (7am-10pm) Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (8am-11.59pm) Boots, Kings Chase, Kingswood (8.30am-5pm) Boots, High Street, Keynsham (8.30am-5.30pm) Billings, Kings Chase, Kingswood (8.30am to 5.30pm) Tesco, Callington Road, Brislington (8.30am-8pm) Boots, Avonmeads Retail Park, St Philips Causeway (8.30am11.59pm) Morrisons, Fishponds Road, Fishponds (8.30am-1pm and 2pm-8pm) Lloyds, Willow Surgery, Hill House Road, Downend (9am-1pm) Oldland Common Pharmacy, High Street (9am-1pm) Day Lewis Pharmacy, Bath Road, Saltford (9am-1pm) Ellacombe Pharmacy, Ellacombe Road, Longwell Green (9am-1pm) Cadbury Heath Pharmacy, School Road (9am-1pm) Chandag Road Pharmacy, Keynsham (9am-1pm) Air Balloon Pharmacy, Kenn Road, St George (9am-1pm) Well Pharmacy, Badminton Road, Downend (9am-1pm) Shaunaks, Hanham High Street (9am-1pm) Well Pharmacy, Lodge Causeway (9am-1pm) Cleeve Wood Pharmacy, Downend (9am-1pm)

Sudoku 1-Easy

Ideal Pharmacy, High Street, Warmley (9am-1pm) Hengrove Pharmacy, The Parade, Hengrove Lane (9am-1pm) Boots, High Street, Staple Hill (9am-5pm)

2 -Hard

Lloyds, Whitchurch Health Centre, Armada Road (9am-5pm) Lloyds, High Street, Keynsham (9am-5.30pm) Lloyds, Church Road, Redfield (9am-5.30pm) Bristol Pharmacy, Hollway Road, Stockwood (9am-5.30pm) Boots, Emersons Green Retail Park (9am-7pm) Keynsham Pharmacy, Station Road (9am-8pm)

Sunday 5th June Keynsham Pharmacy, Station Road (10am-4pm) Tesco, Callington Road, Brislington (10am-4pm) Asda, Craven Way, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) Morrisons, Fishponds Road, Fishponds (10am-4pm) Asda, Oatlands Avenue, Whitchurch (10am-4pm) Boots, Gallagher Retail Park Longwell Green (10.30am-4.30pm) Lloyds in Sainsbury’s, Emersons Green Retail Park (10.30am-4.30pm) Boots, Avonmeads Retail Park, St Philips Causeway (11am-5pm)

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

9

Solicitor General condemns Keynsham burglar but says sentence was ‘appropriate’ The Solicitor General has ruled that the judge who jailed Keynsham burglar Daniel Smith handed him an “appropriate” sentence.

It follows a complaint from one of Smith’s victims – a pensioner from Kingswood - that the sentence of two years and five months was too lenient.

We reported in Issue 729 that Smith, 32, of Balmoral Road, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary at properties in Fairlyn Drive in Kingswood and Guildford Road in St Annes Park in Bristol.

Sentencing Smith last month, the judge also took two other burglaries into consideration – one at a neighbour’s property

Alex Chalk

Crossword

in Balmoral Road and the other in St Werburghs in Bristol.

One of Smith’s victims, a 73-year-old man who lives in Fairlyn Drive, wrote to the Attorney General’s office asking for the sentence to be extended. Solicitor General Alex Chalk QC has now responded, saying he was “very sorry” to hear of the offences committed against the pensioner and his family.

He said: “The behaviour of Mr Smith was truly appalling. I am also very concerned to note his offending history. The question I have to ask however is whether there are sufficient legal grounds to conclude that the sentence would likely be increased by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). After detailed examination of the case, I am afraid it is not possible to meet this threshold and in those circumstances I cannot properly make such a referral.”

The Solicitor General said the judge had placed the offending within category 1 – the highest – for which the range is two to six years’ imprisonment before the sentence is reduced to reflect a guilty plea.

“The judge applied the relevant guideline and after careful consideration I have concluded that this was done appropriately. The judge could not have categorised the offending more seriously. She was alive to the aggravating features of the case which included amongst other factors the offender’s previous convictions. She then made a downward adjustment to reflect the mitigating feature of his remorse.

The judge was then required to reduce the sentence to reflect the fact that Mr Smith had entered his guilty pleas at the first opportunity. This would have been a reduction of one third

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Foyer (9)

2. Cricket team (6)

9. Inside (6)

3. Metal container (3,3)

10. Eager (4)

4. Dance form (6)

11. Pine, yearn (4)

5. Wound dressing (4)

12. Ditch (6)

6. Occupy completely (7)

13. Tardy (7)

7. Robe (4)

16. Soon (4)

8. Model (9)

17. Pulls behind (4)

13. Trifle (9)

18. Furrow (3)

14. Feel affection (4)

20. Consumed (3)

15. Twelve (5)

21. Assist (4)

18. Irritate (4)

23. Applaud (4)

19. Montage (anag.) (7)

25. In no place (7)

22. Walk unsteadily (6)

26. Fringing (6)

23. Swiss house (6)

29. Compass point (4)

24. Melodic recitative (mus.) (6)

30. Weaving frame (4) 31. Restricts (6) 32. Surgical procedure (9)

10

Daniel Smith

but as a result of Mr Smith’s previous convictions for burglary, the law prevented the sentence from being lower than 876 days.

“This resulted in the term of 876 days which was a sentence properly open to the judge and with which the Court of Appeal would therefore be unlikely to interfere.”

Mr Chalk appreciated that sentences deemed to be within a reasonable range from a legal perspective may not be considered appropriate by victims of crime.

27. Sport (4) 28. Pant (4)

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

Visitors to Kingswood’s Kings Chase Shopping Centre can now park for free Shoppers and visitors to Kings Chase Shopping Centre in Kingswood can now park for up to four hours for free.

It is part of South Gloucestershire Council’s regeneration plans for the town and follows its purchase of the shopping centre in May 2021. Offering four-hour free parking will benefit shoppers, visitors and retailers in Kings Chase and provide a boost for the town centre as a whole.

The removal of the parking charges, which

was considered following a campaign led by Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore, brings the car park in line with the longstanding policy of providing free parking in all councilowned car parks across South Gloucestershire, helping to support local communities by removing an important barrier to visiting.

Council leader Toby Savage said: “We have exciting and ambitious plans for the future of Kingswood and are investing £25m into the

Diversion for road closure Part of the A420 in Kingswood will be closed overnight from Thursday 9th June so that major resurfacing can be carried out as part of South Gloucestershire Council’s rolling StreetCare programme.

The closure covers the length of Hill Street which extends 60 metres west of its junction with Grimsbury Road to its junction with Lansdown View.

The work is part of the council’s £174m

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

investment in the road network over four years and will take place between the hours of 8pm and 6am for approximately two weeks.

The alternative route is Deanery Road, the A4174 Ring Road, Marsham Way, Bath Road, Stonehill, High Street, Chapel Road, Lower Hanham Road, Hanham Road, Kingswood High Street and vice versa.

area to improve the town centre and surrounding areas.

“Providing four hours’ free parking at Kings Chase Shopping Centre means that people can come to shop and stay a little longer to explore all that Kingswood has on offer such as the wonderful parks and open spaces. This is just one element of our work supporting Kingswood’s success as a vibrant and sustainable community.

“Other work includes the partial pedestrianisation of Regent Street, which will enhance the shopping experience and improve air quality, the complete renovation of the Whitfield Tabernacle to supplement the arts and cultural heart of Kingswood, and supporting the relocation of Kingswood Leisure Centre to the town centre.”

Kings Chase Shopping Centre manager Kadir Mustafa said: “We are delighted to launch our new free parking initiative at

Kings Chase. With the unprecedented cost of living crisis biting hard, we are committed to relieving the pressure on our customers wherever we can.

“We hope that this removal of parking fees combined with our strong line-up of valueled retailers will make life a little easier for the Kingswood community during these difficult times.”

The picture shows council leader Toby Savage and Ben Burton, the council’s Cabinet member responsible for resources, and representatives from Kings Chase Shopping Centre.

11

Hundreds turn out for vintage motorbike rally Hundreds of fans of Douglas motorbikes turned out on Sunday to see the annual rally and cavalcade celebrating the iconic Kingswood marque.

The world-famous motorcycles were built in Kingswood from 1907 to 1957 and there is a permanent exhibition at Kingswood Heritage Museum.

Owners of vintage Douglas motorcycles gathered outside the museum in Tower Lane in Warmley before roaring off to ride the old factory test route. Bill Douglas, the greatgrandson of the firm's founder, was there to wave them off along with the newly-elected chair of South Gloucestershire Council Cllr Sanjay Shambhu, pictured right.

Chance to explore historic garden Local ecologist Nick Hudson will be conducting an evening summer walk in the 18th century garden at Warmley of industrialist William Champion on Tuesday 14th June from 7pm to 9pm.

The garden contains a number of historic 18th century features including a concealed 18th century grotto, a giant statue of Neptune which once towered above a huge lake, the rare ‘snail’ viewing mound, ‘Echo Pond’, and Champion’s summerhouse in the woods.

The walk is free but booking is essential.

For more details visit www.kingswoodmuseum.org.uk And the popular walking tours of the garden will take place again this year on Sunday 10th July and Sunday 14th August. The tours will last around one

12

hour and start outside Kingswood Heritage Museum at 2.15pm. There is a charge of £4 for adults, but no charge for children aged 12 or under.

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

Advertising Feature

Pub diversifies to futureproof business and support the community The Crown Inn, located across the road from Keynsham Rugby Club’s ground, have opened a new venue, the Annex.

It is located in the old shop where there has been a full refit, including a mezzanine floor. David and Luke, who have run The Crown for almost eight years, say it is a vital part of the business plan to help futureproof the business.

The Annex offers exclusive hire for £50 for private parties with links direct to the tiered gardens which seat 250, alongside events, cocktails and champagne when not hired out. The Annex is currently open on Fridays from 5pm and all day Saturday, with extended hours in the summer months.

David and Luke are known for their support for the community, including giving away thousands of free meals to children going hungry in the school holidays.

They opened as a shop during lockdown, doing more than 100 deliveries a day, and also stage regular charity events. Now, to help people with the increased costs of living, The Crown are going to be doing live feeds on how to cook well for under 50p a meal. There is also a new loyalty card that slashes prices, including pints, down by as much as 81p, as well as giving 10% off food and two meals for £9.99.

The Crown serve food every day from noon until 9pm and are open until 10pm daily (midnight on weekends).

With a loyalty card, for just £8.99 (£10.99 without) you can watch a live show, including dinner and a drink.

There are tribute acts and theme nights most Saturdays throughout the year.

The Crown have seven guest rooms if you should want to stay over, priced from £39 to £149.

See The Crown’s free drink advert on page 6

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

Liz Gray

Charity calls for people to give volunteering a go Bristol charity Milestones Trust is calling for people and organisations to lend their support as volunteers ahead of Volunteers' Week.

The social care charity, which supports people with learning disabilities and mental health needs in the Bristol area, had to put a pause on recruiting volunteers during the pandemic and has gradually started welcoming them back.

Volunteers' Week is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering.

It runs from 1st to 7th June each year.

Liz Gray, a Milestones Trust volunteer, leads a community initiative called the Music Train at Kingsmeadow@MadeForever in Kingswood and Coniston Community Centre Café in Patchway and it will be returning to the Warmley Waiting Room café in Warmley over the summer. It gives people, including those the trust supports, access to free live music and the chance to get involved themselves. Liz, who lives in Hanham, has facilitated more than 280 free live music concerts around Bristol and South Gloucestershire since 2013. Since 2016 she has worked as a volunteer with Milestones Trust to apply for funding to hold live music events.

Liz said: “What I enjoy most is seeing the pleasure that the events give to everyone involved - the people the trust supports and their carers, the musicians and people from the community from babies to adults in their 90s - we all have a great time. Even when we had to do the sessions over Zoom due to the pandemic, people could still interact with the musicians and make requests for their favourite songs.

“I would like to encourage others to look for ways of being a volunteer that fits in with their lifestyle to enrich their lives.

Even if you're just sharing a few hours of your week with someone, the impact that has can be huge and you won't regret trying it.”

With a variety of volunteering roles available, ranging from ‘buddies' to accompanying people the trust supports to attend cultural and social activities, there's something for everyone.

To find out more get in touch at volunteering@milestonestrust.org.uk or visit https://www.joinmilestonestrust.org.uk/volunteer/ If you're a business or organisation and would like to know more about supporting the charity and its work through team volunteer days or partnership email volunteering@milestonestrust.org.uk

13

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

2 3 6 8 4 1 7 5 9

8 7 5 9 6 2 4 1 3

1 6 7 4 3 5 9 2 8

Crossword Solution

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

3 2 4 6 8 9 5 7 1

9 5 8 1 7 4 2 3 6

6 4 3 5 2 8 1 9 7

7 1 2 3 9 6 8 4 5

Service Directory Aerials

Appliances

Car Repairs

Electrical

Garden Services

Garden Services

Home Help

Home Maintenance

Car Mechanic Blinds

Computers An advert like this costs

£21.00 + VAT per insert Discounts are available for multiple bookings starting at 2 weeks

14

DEADLINE FOR PLACING DIRECTORY ADVERTS IS FRIDAY 4.30PM

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

Service Directory Book a series of adverts and save even more

Fitness

Plumbing

Sewing Lessons

Venue Hire

OLDLAND Village Club Bar & Social Club

Private function room with bar and stage. Kitchen available.

Up to 120 guests for parties, receptions, children's parties, presentations or wakes.

Parking.

Ring Pam on

Our Directory is the perfect place to find a local tradesperson.

An advert like this costs

0117 9077432

for further details www.oldlandvillageclub.co.uk

£21.00 + VAT per insert Discounts are available for multiple bookings starting at 2 weeks

Adverts cost £4.20 per centimetre (min 5cm) The more weeks you

Our Directory is the perfect place to find a local tradesperson.

An advert like this costs

£21.00 Painting & Decorating

Telephone Engineers

Waste Disposal

+ VAT per insert Discounts are available for multiple bookings starting at 2 weeks

D.JAMES DECORATING Over 40 years’ Experience.

Qualified tradesman Efficient/Reliable.

References Available 07861 898902. 01275 831696 or visit our website www.djamesdecorating.com

Adverts cost £4.20 per centimetre (min 5cm) The more weeks you

book the cheaper each insertion

Book a series of adverts and save even more

book the cheaper each insertion

Plumbing

becomes

becomes

1 week - £21

1 week - £21

2 weeks - £18.90

2 weeks - £18.90

DEADLINE FOR PLACING DIRECTORY ADVERTS IS FRIDAY 4.30PM

4 wk - £17.85

4 wk - £17.85

6 wk - £16.80

6 wk - £16.80

8 wk - £15.75

8 wk - £15.75 Tree Services

12 wk - £14.70

12 wk - £14.70

26 wk - £13.65

26 wk - £13.65

52 wk - £12.60

52 wk - £12.60

All prices per week exc VAT

All prices per week exc VAT

You don't have to book successive weeks.

You can choose fortnightly, monthly or specific insertion dates as long as the total number of insertions booked corresponds to the discount rate.

Similar percentage discounts apply equally to larger sized adverts.

Call us now on

0117 986 0381 The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022

Roofing

THE WEEK IN adverts call 0117 986 0381

Wigs You don't have to book successive weeks.

You can choose fortnightly, monthly or specific insertion dates as long as the total number of insertions booked corresponds to the discount rate.

Similar percentage discounts apply equally to larger sized adverts.

DEADLINE FOR PLACING DIRECTORY ADVERTS IS FRIDAY 4.30PM

Call us now on

0117 986 0381 15

16

The Week in • Wednesday 1st June 2022