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THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset 31st August 2022

Issue 745

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More injuries in Keynsham High Street as councillor blasts situation as ‘beyond belief’ There have been at least three falls resulting in injuries since remedial work was carried out to the controversial cycle lane in Keynsham High Street, with a local councillor this week declaring the situation as “beyond belief.” After more than 40 reports of people tripping and falling following the High Street refurbishment, a road safety audit was conducted and as a result Bath & North East Somerset Council carried out Alan Hale “enhancements” earlier this

Also in this week’s issue

month to improve the visibility of the cycle lane. The new measures included laying red Tarmac through the length of cycle lane, reducing the width of the solid white line marking the edge of the cycle lane, in line with Department for Transport standards, and increasing the number of cycle symbol markings. But on Monday 22nd August there were reports that a man in his 90s had fallen outside Greggs into the road as a lorry was approaching. People rallied to help and he was taken by ambulance to hospital where it is understood he has undergone an operation. On Friday morning an ambulance was called to the High Street again after another tripping accident in almost the same

a cut to her face. Meanwhile a Hanham man in his 70s fell on Thursday after coming out of the Post Office on the High Street after not realising there was a shallow step down from the pavement to the cycle lane. Several people came to his aid. His wife contacted The Week In to say: “They have say so improved it but he has fallen down. He is not doddery. He regularly walks.” The man suffered severe bruising to his hand. This week one of the B&NES councillors for Keynsham, Alan Hale, said the situation is “extremely frustrating” for Continued on page 3

place. The victim is understood to have suffered bruising and

Cost of car parking in Keynsham to rise . . . page 3

Saltford’s skyline at risk . . . page 4

Location chosen for Cadbury Heath’s new £500k park . . . page 5

Hanham man jailed after attack on police officer . . . page 10

The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

More injuries in Keynsham High Street Continued from page 1 him and his five other members: “It is like banging your head against a brick wall. The administration does not seem to be listening. Clearly the hoped-for resolution of the red Tarmacadam has not done the trick.” He continued: “This situation is beyond belief. We, the council, have caused well over 40 casualties as a result of this failure of a scheme, just to ensure that there is a cycle lane. “Injuries range from minor to extremely serious including broken bones and lost teeth. It seems that no one in the administration is listening. The only remedy is that the cycle lane must be taken up and the cycle lane must be on the same level as the road. The division between cycle lane and traffic can still be managed with the bollards. “Currently there is a whole myriad of kerb depths between pavement and cycle lane and road surface. With the cycle lane level with the road a standard kerb depth from pavement to cycle lane should be achieved and hopefully the problems can be alleviated both for those with sight and those with no or restricted sight. “I cannot believe that any other authority in the country has constructed something that within six months has caused its community to suffer over 40 falls and including a number of ambulances called and members of the community having to be taken to A&E. We are here to serve the community, not cause them harm.” He has urged people to record their falls and injuries on the ‘FixMyStreet’ page of the council’s website. “I have to say that I am amazed and surprised that no solicitor has come forward and offered to take a ‘no win no fee’ class action against the council. If that happened it might focus the corporate mindset to work harder and more quickly to resolve this terrible situation.” Meanwhile concern has been raised that the red surface of the cycle lane has started to break up. It has been reported to FixMyStreet.

The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

Car parking charges in Keynsham set to rise The cost of using council-run car parks in Keynsham is set to leap. As well as charging people more to use Keynsham’s shortstay and long-stay car parks, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s district-wide proposals also include new seasonal parking charges at The Shallows car park in Saltford. Whereas it currently costs 40p to park for two hours in Keynsham, that is set to rise by 50% to 60p. The cost of parking for three hours is rising from 60p to 90p. For four hours the cost goes up from 90p to £1.20. Where eight-hour parking is available the cost goes from £1.60 to £2.40. To park for 10 hours will go up from £2.10 to £3. Keynsham’s short-stay car parks are Ashton Way, Ashton Way East and Keynsham Civic Centre. The long-stay ones are Bath Hill East, Fox & Hounds, Station Road and The Labbott South. The council is also consulting on raising car parks charges in Bath as well as increasing season ticket charges, plus a new tariff for electric vehicle

Parking free in South Glos Neighbouring South Gloucestershire Council has a longstanding policy to keep its car parks free, saying it supports local communities by removing an important barrier to visiting. The council bought Kings Chase Shopping Centre last year as part of its plans to regenerate Kingswood town centre. When the shopping centre was under private ownership, parking was paid for, but the council dropped the charges earlier this year in line with its policy.

charging in long-stay car parks. Other changes include proposed new charges for parking at Park & Ride car parks for those not using the service and the removal of the 10% residents’ parking saver discount in car parks. The council says proposed changes across the district aim to help reduce congestion and improve air quality by encouraging more people to use Bath’s Park & Rides and other forms of public transport as well as encouraging more walking, wheeling and cycling for local journeys. Cllr Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The proposed price increases are relatively small, and only the second time we have raised parking and permit prices in the last 12 years, with the most recent being in August 2018.” The consultation closes on Thursday 15th September. See the plans in full and have your say at https://tinyurl.com/2p9f9d5r

Saltford skyline and wildlife at risk as developer chops down trees

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.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has stepped in to protect a woodland in Saltford after a developer felled some of the mature trees. The site, which is about an acre, is home to a range of wildlife and forms a distinctive part of Saltford’s skyline, sitting between Bath Road, The Folly and Uplands Road. After a campaign by local residents for a Tree Preservation Order to be put on the site, the council has issued one for six months initially to prevent further tree loss. It stops anyone cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, or wilfully damaging or destroying the woodland without the council’s written consent. Saltford Environment Group (SEG) says the woodland includes mature trees which are very visible when looking upwards on the approach to the village from Bath on the A4 and is home to a range of wildlife species including bats, owls, deer, hedgehogs and foxes. SEG says the land has been untouched for many years: “However, a developer has purchased the land and has already felled some of the mature trees. The remainder of the woodland is at serious risk despite having no road access to the land.” B&NES Council says: “The council has made the order because the woodland is considered to contribute towards the green

infrastructure of the area; has sufficient visual amenity and forms an important skyline feature. “The selling of the woodland and recent activities has resulted in requests for the woodland to be considered for protected (sic). The order came into force, on a temporary basis, on 10th August 2022, and will remain in force for six months. During this time the council will decide whether the order should be given permanent status.” Residents have until 16th September to write to B&NES to say why the woodland should be protected. To have your say the TPO can be found on the B&NES Council website at https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/tpodocuments=22/00006/TPO Saltford Parish Council will be discussing its response to the TPO at its meeting on 6th September at 7.15pm in Saltford Hall.

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The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

Old pitch and putt course is chosen for new Jubilee Park A brand new park will be created by South Gloucestershire Council at the former Warmley Pitch and Putt golf course to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee, after a poll of local people. The council allocated £500,000 through the budget earlier this year to boost biodiversity and nature recovery in the Cadbury Heath community whilst celebrating the Queen

Changes to lights at throughabout Work has been carried out at the Wraxall Road throughabout on the A4174 Ring |Road at Warmley to try to make it less confusing for motorists. South Gloucestershire Council said: “We have recently installed louvred hoods on the signals which are aimed to ensure that the relevant lights are only visible to the drivers they are intended for and do not confuse motorists on other sections of the road.” The throughabout, which has 26 traffic lights and cost almost £7m, opened last October with the aim of improving traffic flow but it has proved controversial and was the scene of a fatal collision in April.

The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

Elizabeth’s 70-year reign. The new park will also serve as a tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh who was passionate about nature and protecting the natural environment. Banjo Island and Tarzan Park were also listed as possibilities in the public consultation which was held to tie in with the Jubilee week celebrations. The council says it received nearly 200 responses. The most popular choice was the Warmley site and work will now begin to develop the plans for a new area where people can enjoy nature - as well as boost biodiversity - with a wildflower meadow and new trees part of the proposals. The detailed findings of the questionnaire are yet to be published on the council’s website so it is not known how much support there was for the other options. The council-led aims for the new Jubilee Park include: • A space accessible for everyone, well connected and considering pedestrians first. • Focus on biodiversity and nature recovery – a space for nature to thrive. • Protecting plants and trees and existing biodiversity. • Responding to the impacts of climate change.

• Responding to the needs and priorities of the local community. • Ensuring that space is safe to use, stimulating and relaxing. • Good amenity facilities, such as paths, seating, waste bins, signage and interpretation. • Improvements that will help drive other enhancements across the local area. Pictured at the former pitch and putt site from left are ward councillor Sam Bromiley, who is also the Cabinet member responsible for children and young people; council leader Cllr Toby Savage; local councillor Elizabeth Bromiley; and Cllr Rachael Hunt, Cabinet member responsible for communities and local place.

Special legacy to Dee James is installed at Keynsham Station A special flower planter in the shape of a train has been installed on Platform 1 at Keynsham Station in memory of the former Chair of Keynsham in Bloom and community champion Denise James. Denise – known as Dee - became involved with Keynsham Station in 2014 and was keen for the community to play a part in improving the area. Her enthusiasm brought people together for litter picks and gardening sessions and through sharing her horticultural talent and design flair, she supported Keynsham in Bloom members to create stunning floral displays, making the station a brighter and more welcoming gateway to the town. Since Dee’s passing in 2019, the group have continued to tend the station garden, and the memorial planter, designed and constructed by members of the Somerdale Shed and Community Garden group, is a permanent legacy to her

contribution. Heather Cullimore, of Severnside Community Rail Partnership, said: “Denise was very passionate about improving the station environment and we wanted to create a something permanent in her memory. The local community have come together to support this and the Somerdale Shed have done a fantastic job at creating the trainshaped planter.” Dawn Drury, of Keynsham In Bloom, who is also the town clerk, said: “This is a fantastic tribute to Denise. In Bloom members are happy and proud to be able to tend the planting of the train, to provide a beautiful feature for local station users and visitors to enjoy and have as a permanent reminder of such a lovely lady.” Matt Prosser, from Somerdale Shed & Community Garden, said: “We were delighted to be asked to contribute to this lovely project and every one of our members had a hand in

designing, making and painting the planters, which was great to see as it exemplifies the spirit of Keynsham’s community shed.” Pictured at the official launch on Friday are Dee’s daughter Noelia and her husband Matt with daughters Anais and Evelyn, GWR’s community rail development manager Ann Jenner, Heather Cullimore, Dawn Drury & Matt Prosser.

The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

Community buses are axed Hundreds of people who relied on Bristol Community Transport’s Dial-a-Ride and minibuses for groups have been hit by the closure of the services last Friday. Social enterprise HCT, the owner of Bristol Community Transport (BCT), is in financial trouble, and Metro Mayor Dan Norris says there are “big question marks” over the future of BCT’s regular bus routes including the M1 metrobus from Cribbs Causeway to Hengrove Park. BCT’s other regular services include Route 52 (South Bristol Hospital-Old Market), Route 55 (South Bristol- Bristol Airport), Route 511 (Bedminster to Hengrove), Route 515 (Stockwood to Hartcliffe) and Route 516 (Knowle to Hengrove Park via Whitchurch). BCT’s depot is in Bedminster. Its community buses which have stopped included the Whitchurch & Stockwood service. In a statement Lynn McClelland, HCT Group’s chief

executive, parent organisation of BCT, said: “We understand just how important these services are for the people that use them and it is the last thing we wanted to do. The move follows a period where we have been rocked by multiple challenges – a period of difficult trading prior to the

London operations. When the West of England Combined Authority became aware of the problematic situation it urgently

pandemic, the financial impact of the pandemic itself, followed immediately by the current surge in fuel prices and the cost-of-living crisis. This has led to a position where continued delivery of these services is unsustainable. “We have tried to the very last minute to find an alternative operator for these services, but sadly, we have been unsuccessful.” Dan Norris, who heads the region’s transport authority the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), said: “HCT is in trouble nationwide and has also recently pulled out of running bus services in Yorkshire and is selling off their

contacted other bus companies to see if they would take over the running of both the buses and the community transport. “Progress is being made on the main bus routes, including the flagship m1, and we are hopeful that some of the other services will be taken over by other providers too to provide continuity. There is also some limited interest from community transport providers to take over those services going forward but sadly not immediately.”

Bus cuts are being finalised The list of forthcoming bus cuts was being finalised as we went to print this week but it is understood that 11 commercial services will be lost, including the No 5 Downend to Bristol. Some ‘supported’ bus services are also expected to be ending in October, including

financial support has been made available by the West of England Combined Authority or the Government to keep local buses going, operators are still unwilling to run these services as they simply don’t have the drivers to operate them. "The problem of too few drivers to staff our

region’s vital bus services has gone off the Richter Scale. We are also living in unprecedented times with annual inflation in the bus industry letting rip at over 40 per cent.” • We’ll update you on the bus cuts in next week’s issue.

the 178 Radstock to Bristol and 96 Hengrove to Brislington. The majority of bus services in the region are run commercially, with the remainder fully or partly subsidised by the West of England Combined Authority. Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “Even where

Dan Norris

Fostering service rated as Outstanding TACT Fostering South West, based at the

respite and emergency care.

Vassall Centre in Fishponds, has been rated

Ofsted says that outcomes for children are

as Outstanding by Ofsted.

consistently outstanding. Children build

TACT stands for The Adolescent and

trusting and loving relationships with carers

Children’s Trust and the service covers

and their health needs are consistently met.

Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and

The agency positively supports family time

North

Wiltshire,

and goes above and beyond to ensure that

Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset

children continue to see the people who are

and Swindon, offering short-term, long-term,

important to them.

East

Somerset,

Cow helped to safety and

They found a cow stuck in the river off Bath

Bedminster fire stations were called out to

Road and using a safety boat and rafts were

Saltford last Tuesday afternoon to reports of

able to assist it along the river to a point

an animal in distress.

where it could climb out.

Crews

from

Hicks

Gate,

Bath

Keep in touch, let us know what you think, send us your news www.facebook.com/theweekin The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

LETTERS Keynsham Town Council responds to concerns

Council bins in our play areas and alongside

Hounds Lane Conservation Area and The

some of the bus stops. Many of the footpaths

Paddock. This will give opportunities for

leading out of the town centre into the more

community groups to enhance our town and stop

How to get more people on to the buses

Dear Editor On behalf of Keynsham Town Council, we would like to respond to the concerns of Hazel Powe (Letters, Issue 742) in respect of budget spent on staff salaries. Way before the pandemic hit, the Council was already three full-time members of staff down. Last summer, the Town Clerk left and for over a year we had just one full-time member of administration staff doing the job of both Town Clerk and Deputy Town Clerk, and three parttime staff, equating to just two additional fulltime members of staff. We have also struggled with reduced numbers in the Grounds Maintenance and Youth Service Teams. This has meant a significant saving of staff salaries. It has been really tough, particularly during the pandemic, for our members of staff to continue to provide the services that our council offers to the community. These include care of the cemetery grounds, chapel and providing a burial service for the community; maintenance, health and safety checks and upkeep of eight play areas and equipment; the playing fields at Manor Road and pavilion; plus the skatepark. The Council owns and maintains the bandstand in the Memorial Park and provides a whole season from April to October of performances most weekends, plus offers the facility for use at other events, such as Keynsham Music Festival. This year, we held a very successful Picnic in the Park to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Council supports both financially and in other areas the running of Park Road allotments. We have our own youth service (TimeOut) and youth facility that includes a fully equipped music studio. We also financially support the town’s Youth Council, KeynshamNow. The Grounds Maintenance Team are responsible for all estate bus stops in the ownership of the Town Council, plus many benches around the town. The team also empties daily all Town

rural areas are maintained and cleared regularly

speculative planning developments.

Dear Editor

of vegetation by our Grounds Maintenance

To reduce staffing costs, the new Town Clerk is

So people are wanted out of their private

Team.

taking a reduced salary compared to our

vehicles and onto public transport. Perhaps if it

Annually, the Council holds the Winter Festival

previous clerks, to assist with financing of a

was an enjoyable experience it would be more

and Christmas lights switch-on attended by well

much-needed Responsible Financial Officer and

tempting. It needs to be accessible, affordable,

over 8,000 people. Financially, we support the

part-time Assistant Town Clerk.

attractive and reliable.

Eco Festival, In Bloom activities, Music

As part of our staff restructuring process the

We need to be able to get to our destinations

Festival and Keynsham & District Dial-A-Ride

Council appointed an external company to

quickly, easily and without having to take out a

service. Our annual grant awards, that have to

undertake a full evaluation of salaries and these

mortgage to be able to do so. No one wants or

be administered by staff, support many of our

were deemed to be on par with other Town

needs elongated journeys that take you around

community

activities,

Councils of a similar size, precept and offering

the sun in order to get to the moon. I'm a

including Keynsham Farmers’ Market. We hold

similar services. We believe that our Council is

diminutive older woman with health issues. I

an Annual Town Meeting for residents to have

offering a good and value for money service for

have never driven. My partner has a Blue

their say and at this meeting present our annual

our community.

Badge. But we get no financial assistance and

Good Citizen Awards. With increased staffing,

Cllr Andy Wait

it's not for the want of trying! Neither of us are

we will soon be able to reinstate some events

Chair of Keynsham Town Council

old enough for state pensions. At the moment

that we have had to put on hold due to staffing

Dawn Drury, Town Clerk

I/we rely on and are grateful for his Blue Badge,

organisations

and

but there will come a time when I, like so many

shortages, such as the annual Community Networking event, Business Forum, production

Where were the police?

others, will be left stranded and unable to go/get

of our Neighbourhood Plan and an annual Youth

Dear Editor

to anywhere.

Fest.

There was a collision between a car and a

Cheaper fares will ultimately increase revenue

We work in partnership with Bath and North

motorbike at Kingswood High Street/Park Road

because it will encourage more people. Buses

East Somerset Council on matters such as

last Tuesday night. I do hope no one was badly

need to be clean and tidy inside and out and the

forward planning for the town’s future of its

injured. However, a big traffic jam built up from

journeys need to be pleasant and enjoyable. I

parks and green spaces and to provide activities

all directions as a result. Any sign of the police

also want to continue to be able to exercise my

for the town including the forthcoming Heritage

to direct the traffic? Nope. Given that there is a

right to pay for with cash. We don't all use

Fortnight from 9th to 18th September.

base for them in the Civic Centre, surely

plastic cards or have smartphones.

In addition to our monthly Council meetings,

someone could have attended.

For what it's worth, here's a suggestion. Axe all

giving an opportunity for residents to speak to

Roger Sutcliffe

the current Fishponds buses with the exception of the 17 and introduce a bus that goes from

us on any subject, we have six committees and numerous working parties which in total equate

A thank you letter

to over 70 evening meetings a year. Our

Dear Editor

per the old Y2 route out but which returns back

Planning Committee considers between 150 to

On Wednesday 17th August I tripped and fell in

via Staple Hill. That way you would have one

160 planning applications annually. The Town

Charlton Road in Keynsham near the pedestrian

bus that covers the routes of the Y2, 48 and 49

Council has declared a Climate Emergency and

crossing. I would like to thank the people who

combined.

our Environment & Sustainability Committee,

came to my assistance in particular the three

So long as it got me to Yate for 9am and back to

Councillors, staff and members of the

gentlemen who called for an ambulance and

Fishponds for around 7pm, I'd be content. A

community are working hard on tree planting

managed to get me to the British Legion where

similar bus twixt Fishponds and Cribbs would

projects.

the staff looked after me until the ambulance

be good too.

Recently, we have contributed towards the

arrived and took me to the Royal United

Just please never axe the link from Southmead

finances required to reopen the Ashton Way

Hospital. I think before the council start on

Hospital to Keynsham via Fishponds and

toilets and this will be an ongoing commitment.

Temple Street, they might look at the pavements

Kingswood - it's an invaluable lifeline.

The Council is also in the process of purchasing

around the High Street.

Mrs L Smith

two important community assets, the Fox and

A J McLean

Bristol bus station to Yate/Chipping Sodbury as

The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

United Church celebrates 40th anniversary United Church in Longwell Green - commonly referred to as UCLG - has not always had that name. When the building was licensed and opened by the Church of England in 1908, it was called All Saints Church and was a daughter church of St Anne’s Church in Oldland Common. It was only much later that it became known as United Church, following the decision to enter into a local ecumenical partnership with the local Methodist Church that had been meeting in the Wesleyan Meeting House on Shellards Road since 1843. The official ceremony took place on 10th January 1982, where the two churches - Anglican The building in approximately 1908 when it was new and Methodist - came

together at an inaugural service held at All Saints Church, where they formed one united congregation. After five years of extensive physical renovations to the building, it was decided that the church should be renamed United Church in 1989 to reflect this new partnership. In 1990, United Church ceased being a daughter church of St Anne’s, and a parish in its own right. We plan to commemorate the coming together of the two churches with a 40th anniversary celebration on Sunday 11th September at 10am. Two of the original signatories, one Anglican and one Methodist, will be present at the service, and we will be joined by Rev Chris Dobson who is the ecumenical partnerships officer for the Diocese of Bristol. The UCLG choir will be performing and there will be an act of re-dedication and commitment involving some of the

The church as it is today

original congregation members and some of our young people, as we look back with thanksgiving and forward with hope. Rev Mark Nam

Traditional church fete St Mary’s Church in Bitton holds its traditional fete on Saturday (3rd September). The fete will open at 1.30pm on the Glebe Field with a pageant celebrating the ancient custom of Shooting the Meadows. This year’s event will feature a new Morris group called Tatters & Tails. There will also be a Punch & Judy show and the chance to try archery. There will be a fun dog show and a range of stalls and

traditional games as well as food stalls and a bar. Cream teas will be served in the nearby garden of Church Farm, with music by the Jazzbeanz. In the church there will be tea and cakes as well as a needlework display and photography competition entries. Fete parking is available on the Glebe Field. All money raised from the fete goes towards maintaining and supporting the Grade I listed church.

Second aid mission draws closer The Brislington-based charity Hope for Ukraine says it is very close to sending its second lorry load of humanitarian aid out to help people in the war-town country. A spokesperson said: “We only need seven more pallets and then we will have hit our target of 52 pallets for a full lorry. Our final focus is on food, tools, mobility aids and anything

else on our list.” For up-to-date details of what donations the charity needs, and the opening times of donation hubs in and around Keynsham, visit https://hopeforukraine.org.uk/ or search ‘Hope for Ukraine Bristol’ on Facebook. The target date for the second send-off is 17th September.

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 4th September

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 31st August 2022

Hanham man jailed after attempt to gouge police officer’s eye A Hanham man has been jailed for more than seven years after attempting to gouge the eye of a police officer after being detained for driving under the influence. James Wilson, 33 of Albert Road, was found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court last Monday of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. He was also convicted of assaulting an emergency worker, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, failing to provide a specimen of breath and driving without insurance. On Wednesday 22nd December last year, police were called

after a black BMW crashed into multiple parked cars on Lulworth Crescent, in Emersons Green, with Wilson seen exiting the driver's side door. PC Luke Watson attended shortly after and found Wilson at the scene, claiming he ‘found his car like that'. He was placed in the back of the police car awaiting a breathalyser test. In an attempt to escape, the offender attempted to gouge PC Watson's eye, but luckily officers arrived in time to pull Wilson off their colleague. In the process, PC Craig Waters was also spat at. Wilson then

refused to give a sample when he was taken into custody. He was handed a prison sentence of seven years and four months after his actions led to PC Watson being signed off work for more than two weeks with severe swelling and bruising around his right eye. Investigating officer PC Alex Higham said: "The sentence reflects the severity of the crime and how seriously the courts take these matters.”

Get involved in harvest feast A Community Harvest Feast is being planned on Saturday 10th September at Holy Trinity Church Hall in Kingswood by the non-profit organisation We Are BS15. The group’s Kingswood Kitchen project is running the event and there are plenty of ways for people to get involved. Ingredients, such as surplus produce from allotments and store cupboard items, can be donated. Drop off donations at the Beacon Café at Hanham Methodist Church from 9am to 3pm on 8th and 9th September or at Holy Trinity Church Hall from 3pm to 6pm on the 9th or before 2pm on the 10th. People are invited to Holy Trinity Church Hall on the 10th between 2pm and 4pm to help with cooking and washing

Crossword

up. Adults and children are welcome and you can drop in for as long as you like. The dining room will be open from 4.30pm to 6.30pm and people can pay what they can. Any contributions will go to support We Are BS15 projects. The organisers say: “If you've helped to cook, stay and eat. If you've donated ingredients, come and enjoy eating them. If you haven't cooked or donated anything, come anyway. There will also be opportunities to take food away.” You don't need to book but registering would help the organisers. Visit https://wearebs15.co.uk/communityharvest-feast/

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Female horses (5)

1. Measuring device (5)

4. Bank clerk (7)

2. Mass meeting (5)

8. Flammable solvent (7)

3. Hank (5)

9. Picture puzzle (5)

5. Woollen fabric (5)

10. Textile (5)

6. Fix deeply (5)

13. English cheese (7)

7. Part of stair (5)

17. Insect (3)

11. Look forward to (5)

18. Gambling venue (6)

12. Edible bulb (5)

19. Calculate (6) 20. Sign of assent (3) 22. Postures (7) 25. Tower of ----- (5) 28. Circular (5) 29. Be aware of (7) 30. Store for electricity (7) 31. Prestige (5)

James Wilson

4. Force, compel (6)

14. Group of cows (4) 15. Russian villa (5) 16. Worship (5) 17. Skeletal tissue (4) 21. Bird of prey (6) 22. Woody perennial (5) 23. Fully grown (5) 24. Scrounge (5) 25. Very dark (5) 26. Construct (5) 27. Yorkshire city (5)

The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

A local transport system that works – but the car is still king With the recent headlines dominated by the future of local buses and trains, The Week In publisher Stephen Rodgers averted his gaze from the more obvious attractions of the French Riviera to see how local transport is working there. You will no doubt have read about the successful ‘Big Choices’ bus meeting that The Week In organised recently. The very next morning, with thoughts still fresh in my mind about local buses and trains, I set off for a long weekend in the south of France. My destination was Nice, a city I first knew in the 1970s through my work and where I first met my wife. I had not actually set foot in the city centre for almost 40 years – and boy, hasn’t it changed. The Nice metropolitan area has roughly the same population as the West of England Combined Authority, and yet for the last 15 years the city has had three separate tram lines, one linking to the airport. A regional train service connects the city with Cannes and Antibes in one direction and Monaco and the Italian border in the other. Trains run every 30 minutes from 5am to midnight SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. Fares are laughably low and every train I caught was busy. Almost every station I stopped at seemed to have a passenger lift for wheelchair and pushchair users, not to mention the local buses which connected with them. It's not a Shangri-La – nothing ever is. Central and regional government is under significant financial pressure like everywhere else and so funding of the network is still a matter of considerable debate. But the fundamental difference is one of investment in infrastructure, rather than returning a profit

Nice

for investors. In this country we chose the latter. The 1985 Transport Act effectively ended licensing of bus routes, and with it, Government subsidy. From then on, private bus companies could run buses where they wanted and any routes deemed necessary but not commercially viable became the responsibility of the local councils. Rail privatisation followed 10 years later. So now we have the major bus companies claiming they are having to operate with 75% of pre-pandemic fare revenue and a nationwide shortage of bus drivers which has left our local bus companies as much as 150 short. ‘Reviewing their network’ actually means only operating services they can deliver and run profitably. Meanwhile, improving our local rail network is more akin to pulling teeth. While the longawaited 30-minute train service from Keynsham Station looks like it may finally happen this autumn, the saga of the Portishead line is now almost 20 years old while the first mention of Saltford Station reopening was a decade ago. When public transport was privatised, the aspiration was that competition would lead to better and cheaper services. Many across the political divide now seem to accept that it was a mistake. There is no magic wand or rewind button. If more people are to be persuaded to switch to public transport, there needs to be a service for them to switch to.

Regional Mayor Dan Norris’s recent initiative to get local people talking about bus services has gone some way to helping people actually understand what the problems are. There are still popular misconceptions out there that bus operators have an obligation to run services or that if they can’t run them properly then they shouldn’t be in business. We cannot simply rewind the clock to pre-privatisation days. But what more people are beginning to accept is that if you want a truly ‘public’ public transport system, then it needs public funding. While the supported bus routes locally are still funded in part through council tax, it is clearly not enough as things stand. At the recent bus meeting in Keynsham, the idea of a council tax precept for transport, similar to the ones added for police and fire services, was clearly understood. There is more than £600m of funding on its way to the West of England from next April but with strings attached. The money awarded to the West of England Combined Authority is for new initiatives and this has been one of the main reasons for canvassing local opinion on what type of service we want to see in the future. And crucially, how to get more people out of their cars and onto buses in the first place. There is no easy fix and even in the South of France, where vast amounts of public money are diverted towards local buses and trains, the car is still king. One outing over the weekend on a busy bank holiday took three hours each way by car because of the heavy traffic. When I pointed out that the same journey by train took just over an hour, I received the typical Gallic shrug from my in-laws. It won’t be enough to simply have a good bus system – achieving that by taking road space away from cars is still one painful obstacle we have yet to encounter. The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

Students impress on GCSE results day Thousands of students across our area received their GCSE results last Thursday with normal exam marking having returned for the first time since the pandemic. In South Gloucestershire the overall performance indicates an improvement since the last published set of data in 2019 although all results remain provisional until October. Cllr Toby Savage, leader of South Gloucestershire Council, who joined pupils at Mangotsfield School as they received their results, said: “We know how much effort pupils, parents and school communities have put into these exams to ensure success, especially through the pandemic, and their achievements are very well deserved. “Improving our schools and educational outcomes for young people in South Gloucestershire is our number one priority as a council.” Ofsted’s assessments of schools in South Gloucestershire have seen outcomes improve significantly since 2018, with more than 80 per cent of secondary aged pupils now attending a ‘Good’ school. More than 3,700 students in Bristol received their GCSE results with schools reporting an improvement from the last set of examined GCSEs in 2019. Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Congratulations to all the young people who have received their GCSE and Level 2 Vocational Training Qualifications results. A big thanks goes to schools, parents and carers for supporting our young people. For many, home schooling and virtual learning has been a significant part in their education.” Bath & North East Somerset Council also congratulated young people on their determination in the face of disruption to their studies. Cllr Dine Romero, Cabinet member for Children, Young People, Communities & Culture, said: “Many of this year’s GCSE students’ studies were impacted by the pandemic but they’ve shown resilience and coped remarkably well with all the challenges they’ve faced. Steve Taylor, chief executive of the Cabot Learning Federation, which runs Kingswood secondary academies

Lily & Amelia Nicholas on GCSE results day at IKB Academy

The Week in • Wednesday 31st August 2022

King’s Oak and John Cabot, Hanham Woods, Bristol Brunel in Speedwell, Bristol Metropolitan in Fishponds, and Digitech Studio School in Warmley, said: “After two and a half years of disrupted external examinations and high uncertainty, under the stewardship of our dedicated team our students have shown remarkable resilience and are being rewarded with some very positive results. They have secured excellent destinations and I sincerely hope they can Cllr Toby Savage, leader of South Glos Council, with Mangotsfield pupils and now move on into the next stage head Hetty Blackmore of their learning journey, confident in the knowledge that there will be few barriers circumstances in the latter part of their secondary education, and we could not be prouder of their achievements. We they won’t be able to overcome in their bright futures.” Dean Anderson, principal at SBL Academy in Oldland congratulate them all and thank their parents, teachers, and Common, said: “In November we were graded a ‘Good’ other school staff. school by Ofsted and today our Year 11 students have “We have always known that this year was a ‘transition year’ achieved an outstanding set of results. They have proven between 2021, when assessment was done directly by schools themselves to be an exceptional group in a variety of different and colleges, and 2019, the last year exams took place. This ways, and it was a delight to see them rewarded for their means that overall grades will be about halfway between the academic excellence with a large number of incredibly two nationally and makes any comparison to previous years impossible. We are, however, delighted to see excellent impressive results across a range of subjects. “This is a well-deserved outcome for this hard-working group results across the board, with a number of students achieving top grades.” of young people and their supportive families. “In particular I am incredibly impressed by the number of Headteacher of Mangotsfield School, Hetty Blackmore, said: students achieving grades 9, 8 and 7 (A* and A) and the “This year group has overcome significant challenges and students who have achieved outcomes beyond expectation uncertainty during their GCSE years. The effort and across all grades. This has been the result of substantial hard dedication shown during their final year has been inspiring work, high quality teaching and support from dedicated and I am delighted with their progress and results.” staff.” In Keynsham IKB Academy, which is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) specialist centre, reported that GCSE sciences and maths exams achieved a 100% pass rate. BTEC engineering and construction students also achieved an impressive set of results. Head of school Debbie Gibbs said: “We are proud of the resilience shown by all our students and will always be here to support every individual as they make choices for their future.” At Wellsway School in Keynsham more than 62% of students gained five passes at grade 5 or above, including English and maths, and 85% gained five passes at grade 4 or above. Principal Rob Pearsall said: “We are very proud of our students who have worked so hard to achieve these results and we are grateful for the support we always receive from parents to ensure their children strive to do their best.” Broadlands Academy in Keynsham congratulated all its Year 11 students for an “amazing” set of results, adding: “All the hard work and determination was worth it.” The headteacher of Downend School, Lisa Howell, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the excellent performance of our students in their first set of external examinations since 2019. These young people have shown extraordinary determination despite an extremely difficult set of

Broadlands students collecting their results

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

2 3 6 8 4 1 7 5 9

8 7 5 9 6 2 4 1 3

1 6 7 4 3 5 9 2 8

Crossword Solution

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

3 2 4 6 8 9 5 7 1

9 5 8 1 7 4 2 3 6

6 4 3 5 2 8 1 9 7

7 1 2 3 9 6 8 4 5

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The Week In - Issue 745 - 31st August 2022