THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset
28th September 2022
Issue 749
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Collapsed nursery chain owes almost £600k More than 170 families and 83 members of staff are
Business Recovery.
only have we had to come
counting the cost of the liquidation of the Leaping Lambs
The nurseries at Elim Church in Keynsham and Jarretts Garden
to terms with moving our
nursery chain.
Centre in Willsbridge were initially suspended by Ofsted last
children into new settings
The parents who made payments in advance for their children
month over safeguarding concerns, followed by Leaping
and them having to start
attending Leaping Lambs nurseries at Swineford, Keynsham
Lambs at Bath Road in Swineford and Caterpillars at the Royal
over again, we’ve now
and Willsbridge and at Caterpillars in Bath have been warned
United Hospital in Bath. Michael and Rebecca Lewis ran the
had the news we’re probably not getting the refunds from the
that they are unlikely to get reimbursed.
nurseries and had been due to open a fifth at Broadlands
liquidators as there’s not sufficient funds available. I also feel
There are 83 members of staff who as “preferential creditors”
Academy in Keynsham.
for the former employees who are also highly unlikely to get
are owed £87,493 (capped at £800 per employee). However,
It has emerged in the notice that it was an “allegation” at the
any wages owed to them.”
estimated total assets available for preferential creditors is just
Keynsham site that led to all the nurseries being suspended;
over £21,000.
Mrs Lewis states that as investigations have taken so long and
Unsecured claims total £499,020, which includes £60,350 that
they are unable to trade, they have had “no option other than
177 parents had paid up front and an additional £78,746 for
to cease trading and liquidate our company”. A resolution to
employees, along with money owed to lenders, landlords and
voluntarily wind up the company was due to be considered by
HM Revenue and Customs.
the two shareholders today (Wednesday).
There is an overall total deficiency of £590,373, according to
A parent whose child attended the Swineford nursery, told us
a notice to creditors from Bristol-based South West and Wales
this week: “It’s been a double whammy for most parents; not
Also in this week’s issue
Armed police swoop in Keynsham after gun alert . . . page 3
Graffiti and ASB concerns in Hanham . . . pages 6 & 7
New café-bar planned for former bank A new lease of life is being proposed for the HSBC bank in Keynsham which closed earlier this month. An application for a premises licence is being sought for Mokka Lounge in the landmark building on the corner of the High Street and Charlton Road. There is already a Mokka Bar Lounge Café at the Willow Shopping Centre in Downend. All representations regarding the licence must be lodged with Bath & North East Somerset Council by Tuesday 4th October.
Action after long-running road safety campaign in Lyde Green . . . page 9
Well-known South Glos councillor dies . . . page 10
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The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
Tory councillor for Whitchurch Armed police swoop after defects to join the Lib Dems report of teenagers with gun Paul May, who represents Publow with Whitchurch on Bath & North East Somerset Council, has left the Tories and joined the Liberal Democrats. He was accepted into the Lib Dem group at a meeting held in Keynsham last Thursday. Cllr May has served his constituents for seven years and been at the forefront of the fight against the threat of huge-scale housing on Green Belt land at Whitchurch. He said: “I entered politics to best represent my residents, and I have come to the realisation I can do that most successfully in B&NES as a Lib Dem. I admire the local leadership, appreciate what they are achieving, and share their values. I want to be part of the ambitious team delivering for B&NES now and in the next administration.” He added: “There’s much in local government which isn't party political but
sadly I have found myself increasingly worried that the Conservative Party nationally has lost its way, with the wellrecorded Conservative leadership issues and concerns. I have thought long and hard about this move and am sure I am making the right decision for myself, and most importantly, my community.” B&NES leader Kevin Guy said: “I’m delighted that Paul recognises the best way he can get the best outcomes for his residents is by being part of the Lib Dem team in B&NES and I take it as a strong endorsement of our achievements and direction.” Cllr May was chief executive of Wansdyke Council from 1982 to 1995 and the first chief executive of North Somerset Council, serving from 1995 to 2000. He was Cabinet member for Children’s Services in B&NES Council in the last administration.
Armed police swooped on Queens Road in Keynsham after a report of teenagers with a gun outside the Co-op last Tuesday. An Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson told us: “Shortly after 6.20pm a member of the public called us after seeing two teenagers with a gun in Keynsham. Armed officers responded and stopped the
teenagers – aged 14 and 15 – outside a shop on Queens Road. They were arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm before being released under investigation. An imitation firearm has been recovered.” Neighbourhood officers have been conducting reassurance patrols and enquiries have been ongoing.
Queens Road
MP’s seismic decision on fracking While advertising continues to dictate the number of pages in our print edition, we now quite frequently publish longer or rapidly updating stories on our website only. North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg's announcement in Parliament last week on the lifting of the fracking
moratorium, in his new role as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, is one such story. You can read the article, which looks at the implications locally, along with consequent reaction, at www.theweekin.co.uk
Cllr Paul May, left, & Cllr Kevin Guy
Drawing on nature Keynsham artist Joe Tymkow is organising events at the creative and community hub at St Anne's House in Brislington in October as part of the annual Big Draw Festival. Every Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm people are welcome to contribute to an evolving piece of artwork. It is free and all materials will be supplied. You can draw, paint, cut, tear and stick down anything inspired by nature. Anyone unable to get to St Anne's House can make artwork at home and post it on social media. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/yeyuetwn
The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
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Rise in Keynsham parking charges will be a ‘devastating blow’ for the High Street Plans to increase car parking charges in Keynsham by as much as 50% will deal a “devastating blow” to High Street businesses and should be shelved. That’s the view of local Conservative politicians who say the increase proposed by Lib Dem-controlled Bath & North East Somerset Council will contribute very little to tackling the climate emergency, especially as cycling options are limited and cuts are being made to public transport. Cllr Brian Simmons, Conservative councillor for Keynsham North, said: “The Lib Dems claim the increased charges are necessary to make people think twice about driving their cars. But the job of a local councillor is not to save the planet. It is to champion the interests of local people to ensure the communities they represent are able to flourish. “Of course we need to take action to tackle the climate emergency. But increasing car parking charges in Keynsham will contribute nothing to that goal. It will serve only to inflict a devastating blow to High Street businesses already
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.
struggling to survive.” The plans will see a two-hour stay at Ashton Way, Ashton Way East and the Civic Centre go up from 40p to 60p. This, the Conservatives say, is particularly bad for people making a quick visit to use High Street services. Keynsham’s longstay car parks will also see hikes, including a 10-hour stay increasing from £2.10 to £3. Allan Sinclair, a Conservative candidate who is standing for Keynsham North in next year’s local elections, said: “These increases in car parking charges cannot be justified and must be stopped. They will hurt local businesses and will not do anything to encourage people to use alternative forms of transport. “We have seen how the Lib Dems have mishandled the High Street renovation work, resulting in people being hospitalised with serious injuries. Now they want to charge people even more money for using the same High Street. “The administration recently appointed a new Cabinet member with responsibility for economic development. It’s a pity this Cabinet member hasn’t had the courage to point out to his colleagues the devastating economic consequences these parking charge increases could have on
Cllr Brian Simmons
Keynsham – or maybe he has, and they simply don’t care.” Earlier this year, the council tabled similar plans to introduce car parking charges in Midsomer Norton. These were shelved after the Conservatives led a campaign against the charges, saying local businesses would suffer. The Keynsham consultation, which we highlighted in Issue 745, has now closed. If approved, the changes will be implemented this autumn.
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The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
New councils being ‘forced’ on residents The row over the creation of a new town council for Kingswood and a new Staple Hill & Mangotsfield Parish Council continues with claims that the extra tier of government is being “forced” on residents. At Thursday’s meeting of South Gloucestershire Council’s regulatory committee, Labour councillor Kim Scudamore, who represents the New Cheltenham ward, said: “What a mess we’ve got ourselves into here. So we had a consultation where the local community said ‘No, we don’t want a town council’, but we are still going ahead. “So we asked them details of how they would like that council to be organised and 88 people responded out of 21,500 and 89% of those who responded didn’t like the proposal we were putting to them and now we have a recommendation to accept it. Not quite sure why we bothered.” He said that if the council decides to go ahead and set up a town council, despite the views expressed by Kingswood residents in two consultations, the Labour group agrees with the proposed number of councillors (15) and wards (six). In the second round of consultation, Kingswood residents had raised concerns over rising living costs and the impact on council tax and other bills. Comments were also made that people had previously stated they did not want a town council. Meanwhile 22 people out of 10,000 residents took part in the second consultation regarding a parish council for Staple Hill
The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
and Mangotsfield where 13 councillors and four wards are proposed. Sixteen of the 22 respondents (73%) did not agree with the proposed ward arrangements. Only seven responded to whether they agreed with the proposed number of councillors, and five did. In the first round of consultation only 2.5% of local residents responded, with 49% preferring no change and 39% backing a new parish council. Comments in the second round included: “I am really cross that the council are asking for comments when they have already ignored the majority vote against having a parish council.” Another observed: “I feel services that should be the responsibility of South Glos will be passed to any parish council.” Labour councillor Michael Bell, who represents the Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward on South Gloucestershire Council, told Thursday’s meeting that residents do not want a new parish council: “They are being forced to have it. There is no democracy.” He said that existing community groups in Staple Hill and Mangotsfield are very efficient, adding: “How we are going to get 13 people to come forward (to stand) God knows.” This week Cllr Rachael Hunt, South Gloucestershire Cabinet Member for Communities & Local Place, said: "Delivering a new town council for Kingswood is a major cornerstone in
our regeneration vision for the community, giving residents a stronger voice on the more local issues that matter to them, and supports the objectives of our unprecedented multimillion-pound investment into the High Street and town centre.” The final decision will be taken on 12th October. Elsewhere in the district, new parish councils are also planned for Stoke Park & Cheswick and Charlton Hayes.
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Concerns about escalating graffiti and ‘lack Concerns have been raised about worsening graffiti levels in the Hanham and Longwell Green area and concerns about the lack of police interest. One local resident has compiled a dossier of graffiti incidents for Hanham Abbots Parish Council and Hanham Parish Council this month. He highlighted that someone had already since started putting new graffiti back on the same part of the Ring Road bridge where lots of graffiti had been removed just
days before, and that some residents had paid South Gloucestershire Council to remove graffiti at a cost of £88 per hour, only for the culprits to return. He said: “It really is terrible that such criminals have absolutely no fear at all about getting identified and prosecuted, despite repeatedly ruining our community and wasting so much of residents' hard-earned taxpayers’ money.” The resident, who has also taken his concerns
to South Gloucestershire Council, said he was frustrated at the lack of support from the police who no longer attend parish council meetings; he also said that community engagement meetings are now only virtual and three times a year. He highlighted criminal damage carried out in July on Hanham Baptist Church’s roof. A person was seen on the roof, challenged, and photographed, but the police stated that they were unable to make a visual identification and no further action could be taken. The resident added: “I dearly hope that our councils, police, businesses and the public can all find better ways of working more effectively, efficiently and promptly together to help reduce many types of crimes that our
currently overstretched police have little chance of investigating and dealing with unless better ways of working are identified and implemented.” Hanham parish councillors said they had noticed the increased levels of graffiti locally and were disappointed to hear that the police did not seem interested in tackling what they deemed “low level crime”. The councillors also expressed regret that the local beat team no longer attend parish council meetings, something the clerk has previously raised with both Avon Local Councils Association and the police and which is an issue other parish councils share. Hanham Parish Council agreed to write to the Police & Crime Commissioner Mark
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The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
of police support’ Shelford and local MP Chris Skidmore. Hanham Abbots Parish Council also agreed
that graffiti was becoming a problem and agreed to highlight the issue to the police.
Anti-social behaviour on common Anti-social behaviour from youths who congregate on Hanham Common in the evening and ride an electric scooter was highlighted at the recent Hanham Abbots Parish Council meeting. A local resident, who fears a child or dog could get injured, has told the youths that they are not allowed to use the e-scooter on the common but said she had received “a mouthful of abuse” and they just carry on. Hannah Panes, from Creative Youth Network, has urged people to report incidents to the police and to South Gloucestershire Council’s anti-social behaviour team: “We work really closely with both and when there is deemed enough of a concern through reports, this
Cautious welcome for West of England ‘Investment Zone’ Metro Mayor Dan Norris has given a “cautious welcome” to the West of England being considered as one of 38 possible nationwide investment zones. It follows the mini budget on Friday in which the Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng also announced that the Government has given top priority to infrastructure projects including the long-awaited A4 Bristol to Bath Corridor and the M32 Park & Ride. Mr Norris said: “I will always fight for anything that can help our amazing part of the world. But this is a classic case where the devil will be in the detail. I’m not a natural believer in deregulation if it means blocking the building of affordable homes or scrapping really important protections for our natural environment. “But if it means keeping money in our local economy, removing unnecessary bureaucracy, and giving the West of England Combined Authority new important levers or powers, then we should go full steam ahead to improve
Dan Norris
people’s lives locally. “I really do welcome that the A4 Corridor - Bristol to Bath and the M32 projects, which I’ve consistently backed as Metro Mayor, have been chosen for ‘accelerated delivery’. “With sky-high inflation we desperately need to get on, and remove barriers, something I have spent a lot of time arguing for with ministers.”
can sometimes unlock funding/resource that enables us to respond. “For example, we have been given funding through community safety and violence reduction teams to respond to issues. This was so successful in Kingswood, our youth club there is now oversubscribed as our workers were out in the community engaging with them.”
Advertising feature
Get advice from the experts Coming this October as part of Menopause Awareness Month the sports centres at Wellsway School in Keynsham and SBL in Oldland Common are holding awareness and wellbeing days. Hazel Hayden, of Bristol Menopause Clinic, is the guest speaker and will hold a two-hour presentation and Q&A session. You book a ticket to come along to this talk only or attend the whole day. You will receive helpful advice on nutrition, fitness including the use of light weights and a calming yoga class. Michaela Zizkova, of ZIZA Fitness, works closely with women going through this
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The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
7
LETTERS Why our monarchy is so important
travelling there on the Number 24 bus, and I still
and was operating in 1967.
enjoy a trip there today, much to the mirth of
I have contacted two of our members who have
others who think I am losing It.
kaleidoscopic knowledge of Keynsham and they
Major crackdown on litter is needed
Dear Editor
So as we give thanks for the life of Elizabeth and
have been unable to help. I have asked long-
Dear Editor
I write this as we emerge from 11 days of
consider the future, let us rejoice that we have a
standing Keynshamites, the internet and two
Bristol City Council launched its Clean Streets
mourning for our Queen, and what an amazing
monarchy. Our Queen was a hugely stabilising
local churches and have gained no information.
campaign several years ago, but it seems little
11 days it has been.
factor in times of need and Charles can be the
I am now casting the net wider to see if someone
has changed. Bottles, tins and other waste are
Being born in 1944 my first recollection of the
same. Let us firmly kick into touch any hint of
can help or point me to an organisation that can.
still dropped and litter our streets, not to mention
Queen was watching her Coronation. I lived
Republicanism and thank God for King Charles.
Any information will only be passed on to the
fly-tipped waste.
with my Mum and Dad in a very ordinary house
Mike Barrow, Keynsham
person seeking the answer who will be most
in Knowle which had, at the bottom of the road a large house, being the home of a lovely couple
grateful. If you can assist please email the reply
to be the proud owners of a 12-inch black and
Thanks to Tesco shopper who helped me
white television. About 30 of us were invited to
Dear Editor
watch the events, with adults seated on tiered
I am a pensioner and I live in Whitchurch. I
seating that the owners had kindly installed,
went shopping in Keynsham on Thursday 8th
Praise for council team’s clearance work
with us kids sat on the floor at the front. In spite
September by taxi as I have no transport to go
Dear Becky
of the flickering screen, I can well remember
shopping now as my husband has cancer and my
On behalf of users of the Keynsham Road
being amazed at watching events that were
daughter was looking after him that day.
shared path I want to say a huge thanks to the
taking place some 120 miles away.
I would like to thank the lady who helped me
South Gloucestershire Council’s StreetCare
Moving on 70 years, we have been privileged to
get a taxi home as I had been outside Tesco in
team for the excellent vegetation clearance work
Bins are still found to be overflowing, the
watch the most incredible pictures of events as
Keynsham for two hours. The taxi that brought
recently carried out.
picture shows the litter bin at the Grantham
they have taken place, including such moving
me into Keynsham in the morning could not
It is widely known that this path has several
Road bus stop, taken very recently.
tributes. From international leaders I felt that
take me home as their systems went down. I did
narrow hazardous sections and indeed there is a
As the population has greatly increased over the
President Macron of France made such a simple
not have another taxi number on me.
South Gloucestershire Council study under way
years, it obviously follows that more waste litter
statement that enshrined all that The Queen was.
The taxi she booked for me was app payment
to improve the active travel route between
is generated. Therefore surely we need better
Speaking to the people of the UK, he said: “To
only. I don’t have an app. I offered her the
Bitton Station and Keynsham Station.
litter enforcement, more litter bins, bigger litter
you all she was Your Queen but to the rest of us
money but she would not take it. She said it
However, until this study delivers tangible
bins or the existing bins need emptying far more
she was simply The Queen.”
would be here soon. She then went into Tesco
improvements such work by StreetCare is
often.
But the tributes that impressed me the most were
to do her shopping and I did not see her after to
extremely important and very much appreciated
No doubt Bristol City Council will find some
from people who had journeyed to the UK just
thank her for her help and kindness to me.
to maximise the useable width of the pathway.
excuse, as to why this is not being done, despite
to be here. I saw a lady who had flown in from
I think her name was Debbie. I got home OK in
Jon Parker
being awarded several million pounds to
New York who said that we do not know how
the end. I would just like to say thank you again
Chairperson, Bristol East Fringe Cycling &
improve our high streets.
lucky we are to have a monarchy, as in the States
for your kindness to me.
Walking Group
M Bridges, Kingswood
politics are so splintered and how good it would
Linda Hooper
who had their own business, thus allowing them
be to have something above the politicians to act as a stabilising factor. An American TV
Family history plea
commentator said on the day of the funeral that
Dear Editor
we were going to witness something that only
The Keynsham and Saltford Local History
the British could deliver, and how she wished
Society has been asked to assist in some
that America had some of the pomp and
research for a family history, but we have not
pageantry that we have and sometimes criticise.
been able to find the answer.
But that of course is an issue sometimes with all
The enquirer wants information on the home for
of us when we do not appreciate what we have
unmarried mothers in Keynsham in the 1960s.
close to us. As a boy, my family summer holiday
The address has been given as 42 Bath Road,
was two weeks in a caravan at Weston,
which is where Trescothick Close now stands,
8
to info@keysalthist.org.uk Keith Norton
A tribute to Ukraine The poem on our front cover this week is courtesy of Oldland Common resident Dave Britton. A member of The Week In Community, he has been a regular contributor to our Poets’ Corner features over the years and is also an accomplished musical composer. Ten years ago he composed a piece called Afghan War
Requiem in reaction to the horrific events in that part of the world at the time. In the light of recent events in Ukraine, Dave has revisited the piece and set the words of In Ukraine Fields to it. You can listen to the original Afghan War Requiem on the SoundCloud website or use the short cut tinyurl.com/3p5w74f7.
The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
Road safety measures proposed after years of campaigning People are being encouraged to have their say on plans for road safety measures around Lyde Green Primary School following a long-running campaign to tackle speeding along Willowherb Road. The proposals from South Gloucestershire Council, which are now out to public consultation, would see the creation of four formal and informal crossing points across the road for pedestrians and cyclists, which would include a parallel crossing close to the junction of Newlands Lane, a speed table and a pedestrian refuge near the Hawthorn Way junction, and a zebra crossing east of Pennycress Close. The measures, which have been developed with input from the local councillors, will form part of the ‘Linking the Greens’ scheme to enhance and promote sustainable travel and cultural links between Lyde Green and Emersons Green, which are separated by the A4174 Ring Road. A petition had been set up four years ago by South Gloucestershire ward councillor Rachael Hunt highlighting the issue of speeding along Willowherb Road and another
Public Notice
petition, started by Cllr Sadik Al-Hassan, who was Deputy Mayor of Emersons Green at the time, followed in 2020. Councillors Rachael Hunt, Colin Hunt and Judy Adams, who all represent Lyde Green as part of the Emersons Green ward, and town councillor Alka Graham say they are delighted that the council has listened to their calls to for measures to deter speeding along Willowherb Road and have been working directly with council officers in developing the proposals. They said: “As Lyde Green continues to grow, and more people are on the road, it is important we are doing all we can to ensure motorists are sticking to the speed limits and not putting schoolchildren and other pedestrians at risk. “For this to succeed, it is important that we have as strong a local voice as possible calling for these improvements and we encourage as many residents as possible to have their voices heard.” To view the plans and take part in the public consultation, visit https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/Willowherb/ consultationHome
Cllrs Judy Adams, Colin Hunt, Alka Graham & Rachael Hunt
Sudoku 1-Easy
SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 2nd October
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 28th September 2022
9
Plans drawn up to restore neglected Restoration plans for neglected ponds in South Gloucestershire that have been causing concern for years have now been drawn up. Siston parish councillors have been highlighting the state of Warmley Forest Park’s pond, in particular the broken sluice gate, as well as the pond at Felicity Park on Siston Common. The state of the ancient moat at Barrs Court in Oldland parish has also been a cause for concern. Siston Parish Council has now received an update from South
Felicity Park
Crossword
Gloucestershire Council about proposed works and a separate notification from the Environment Agency to confirm that funding has finally been agreed to repair the sluice gate. In the past year South Gloucestershire Council has carried out desilting works on eight ponds in Emersons Green, Bromley Heath and Bradley Stoke and is now focusing on ponds on the eastern fringe around Kingswood. Local ecologists were commissioned to provide a pond restoration strategy and funds have been secured to start carrying out their recommendations. Initially works will be starting shortly at the attenuation pond at Francis Way at Bridgeyate that requires urgent desilting. Following this, tree operations listed in the pond restoration strategy will be carried out, now that the bird nesting season is over. In Warmley Forest Park dead trees surrounding the pond (which was built for flood alleviation when the nearby
Warmley Forest Park pond
Barrs Court Moat
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Midwest US state (9)
1. Artificial hair (3)
6. Hat (3)
3. Augury (4)
8. Female deity (7)
4. Female sibling (6)
9. Big (5)
5. African river (4)
10. Financial
6. Cut back (7)
institution (4)
7. Before long (9)
11. Affirmative (3)
10. Spectator (9)
13. Curse (4)
11. Alpine call (5)
14. Value (5)
12. Cooker (5)
16. Holy (6)
14. Sebaceous cyst (3)
18. Market for goods (6)
15. Tint (3)
19. Audacity (5) 21. Distant (4) 22. Untruth (3) 23. Pale (4) 27. Lament (5)
Ring Road was created) will be removed, leaving some as dead standing timber. Once the sluice gate is working again the council has agreed to take on its future management from the Environment Agency. At Felicity Park, which is an attenuation pond for Siston Brook, there will be crown lifting of trees that are overhanging the pond and small bankside trees will be removed. The invasive weeds parrot’s-feather and Himalayan balsam have been recorded there and the council is working with experts to see how these can be removed. At Barrs Court Moat, crown lifting of trees overhanging the banks is planned along with the removal of some small trees. These works will allow more light onto the ponds and reduce leaf litter. South Gloucestershire Council says it will also be working with the Environment Agency and Historic England to secure permits for desilt operations at the three ponds. It is likely
2. Portable chair (5)
17. Vexation (7) 20. Cutting tool (6) 24. Playground item (5) 25. Join metal (4) 26. Perceive sound (4) 29. Consume (3)
28. Barren (7) 30. Move quickly (3) 31. Utterly (9)
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The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
ponds that those works will start from next September. The ponds are within the council’s Common Connections Project to improve and better connect important habitats across dozens of green spaces. Meanwhile following concerns raised about public safety at the Felicity Park and Warmley Forest Park ponds, South Gloucestershire Council does not consider signage or fencing is currently required, although this will be monitored. The council says the duckweed which has turned the forest pond green doesn’t pose a health risk as long as children are well supervised. Siston parish councillors have this week welcomed the plan to reinvigorate and make safe the areas in the coming months and years but want more warning signs around pond areas: “This is something we will continue to highlight to South Gloucestershire Council.”
Coffee morning Community at 67 in Queens Road in Keynsham are holding a Macmillan coffee morning on Saturday (1st October) from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There will be a raffle, homemade cakes and tea or coffee. Everyone is invited and all proceeds will help fund the charity to help people with cancer live life as fully as they can.
The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
Well-known councillor dies A well-known Labour councillor has died. Roger Coales, who lived in Oldland Common, was a former leader of Kingswood Borough Council and a former Labour group leader on South Gloucestershire Council. He stepped down as a South Gloucestershire councillor in 2011 but was still a parish councillor for Bitton until his sudden death two weeks ago. His wife Ann, who died two years ago, had also served as a parish councillor. In a statement the South Gloucestershire Labour group said: “Roger had been a councillor for 28 years representing Woodstock ward in Kingswood. “Roger was a quiet, unassuming, kind and well-respected leader. He had been a school governor for both Courtney Primary and New Horizons Special Education School. Roger was also a long-standing Bitton parish councillor, a director/trustee for the Park Neighbourhood Nursery and the New Cheltenham Community Centre, as well as being a trustee for the Samuel White Education Trust. “When Roger stepped down from South Gloucestershire Council, he and his wife Ann tirelessly worked for the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline which raises funds to bring children to the UK each year for a month to enable them to receive life-extending ophthalmic and health support. Roger and Ann, alongside their Chernobyl local group, always made certain the children had a fun-packed holiday.
“Roger was a Labour man through and through and lived by the principles he held dearly to help and support anyone in need.” The current Labour group leader on South Gloucestershire Council, Cllr Pat Rooney, said: “I was proud to have worked alongside Roger as a fellow Woodstock ward councillor. I have known Roger for over 35 years and I held him in the greatest respect for his quiet wisdom and considered judgement; however, most of all, I shall miss him as a good and supportive friend.” Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
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The Community Page
Harnessing clean energy with no risk of fall-out Of course, such an approach to energy security has significant appeal, especially in the present circumstances of war in Europe. But what about not only Chernobyl, but at this very day Zaporizhzhia? Yes, our double-edged sanctioning of Russia has demonstrated that, climate change apart, locally we need a secure, safe and above all affordable energy supply. While wind and solar seem excellent clean resources, they are subject to the whims of our English weather, now itself subject to potentially ever more surprising climate changes. The River Severn
At this year’s annual meeting of The Week In Community members, it was agreed to adopt support for the development of tidal energy in the Severn Estuary as editorial policy for the newspaper. Here, one member of the society outlines his reasoning In England, and elsewhere, nuclear power generation continues as a ready-made answer to stifle concern over the manifold threats to energy security and the spiralling costs of the war in Europe. In the confused politics of climate change, nuclear power for England is seen as a viable solution not only to energy security, but to the patent ecological threat of our present unbridled consumption of Gaia’s seeming plenitude. Locally it seems, the priority at present is the French (or is it Chinese?), vast investment on our behalf (yes, us West Country folks who will pay) into Hinckley Point Nuclear, on the Severn Estuary. The wisdom of this massive investment of our hard-pressed public money (yes, our money) is that it is to meet the huge cost of the site, the planning, building, commissioning, inestimable running costs, and the legacy for our children? Indeed, this is not to mention (as seems in common nuclear debate) an indescribably massive nuclear waste overhead risk to be managed, remembered and paid for over thousands of years.
Locally, here in the West Country, we watch daily two huge world-leading sources of endlessly renewable energy coming and going up and down the Severn Estuary - how local is that? Formulating and developing use of that energy would not necessarily foreclose on Hinkley Point’s Nuclear contribution, but it would insure against the long-term need for safe, continuous and affordable energy security here in the West Country. Even the most vested arguments against such a major political decision and public investment could hardly argue that Russia could come and block up our estuary! In addition, Severn Estuary Energy Transformation (SEET) would unite the West Country with Wales in so many invaluable ways, beyond the two bridges. This article has not space even to mention these ways, but they are obvious to any intelligent reader favouring social comity.
energy waste costs, and vulnerability to non-state terrorist attacks on such plants, while also fighting to reach the climate change net zero commitments made by our government only a few months ago; albeit the green levy seems up for being scrapped in favour of ‘growth’ (which is to say, temperature growth, climate deterioration, and stagflation).
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and Mayor Dan Norris
However, the main effects would include countering the double-edged sanctions against Russia and the war in Europe which are a critical factor in the present freeze, even recession on economic growth in Europe and here in Brexited Britain. At the same time, SEET would enable independence from the world of big energy suppliers such as Russia, Saudi Arabia and the USA. We can become substantially independent of them for electricity generation by using a secure, reliable and clean energy source from the Severn Estuary tidal power range.
It seems to the author that our West of England Mayor should at once use his position and capacity to allocate resources to institute a SEET Development Group comprised of experts in this field, together with interested parties and Welsh colleagues, so as to fund the development of a realistic indepth proposal to form the basis for implementation. On the face of it, this may seem a tall order; but a huge amount of work has in fact been done, much of it readily available from first-rate sources. Since the author, serving as a UCATT Branch, Regional and National Delegate 50 years ago, sat with colleague bricklayers, masons, carpenters, plasterers and painters, and enthused on an early University of Bristol concept for “The Severn Barrage”, a huge amount of further work has been done. This work readily forms a genuine starting basis for our Mayor’s non-political SEET Development Group!
This would decrease our commitment to stupendous nuclear
Thomas Albert Fox
Spotlight on Hanham Methodist Church Hanham Methodist Church (HMC) is situated on the A431 as it approaches the environs of Bristol and the B4046 which links to Kingswood. The present site is quite extensive and has the advantage of a large car park. A worship building has been on this site since 1851 when members excluded from the Methodist Conference because of their differing views built a small stone church, often by the light of miners’ candles. That building was known as Ebenezer, meaning Stone of Help and Remembrance. Over the years, enlargements of the church became necessary until in 1901 the front was removed and extended to its present position. The village pound stood opposite the church; it was purchased as a piece of land on which to build a Sunday school. This was opened in 1888 and was known as Pound Chapel. In 1949 two cottages adjacent to the church were purchased, demolished and became the car park. 12
Saturday 31st March 1962 saw the opening of the new Sunday School rooms (the Pound Chapel having been demolished for road widening). In 1965 the two Methodist churches on the High Street amalgamated, thus forming Hanham Methodist Church on the present site. The buildings were completed in 1969 with the new extensions to the school rooms. When the two congregations agreed to come together, a new ‘worship’ area was always envisaged so 17th June 1978 saw the rededication and reopening of Hanham Methodist Church. During the last 44 years the church has adapted to community needs and styles. The once thriving Sunday School has morphed into Altogether Worship, celebrated every third Sunday of the month. There is a strong Boys’ Brigade Company, ably led by Captain Mike, and Guide and Rainbow groups. The effects of COVID and lockdown have left their mark on the church
community but new life is emerging. A community café has opened with exciting ideas for outreach in the area. The preschool which moved to the premises in the late 1970s continues to grow and thrive, whilst the dance school is also flourishing, A photography group meets on Wednesday evenings and welcomes new members. The Y’s Men’s Club of Hanham, a monthly supper club which is part of Y’s Men International, meets on a Friday, mixing enjoyment with raising money for charity. There is a table tennis club on a Monday evening. Pam Blackmore for the Leadership Team The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
Concern over ‘Immediate’ need for local NHS winter a minor injury unit planning delay The Labour group on South Gloucestershire Council say it is “unacceptable” that last week’s meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee was cancelled. They say the main item on the agenda was to scrutinise local NHS provision to manage winter pressures, but health bosses had admitted the winter plan wouldn’t be completed in time for the meeting. Instead the committee will scrutinise it at their next meeting on 23rd November. The Labour group say that rather than holding the meeting to find out why the local winter plan is overdue, it had just been cancelled, with the agreement of the committee’s Conservative chair. Cllr April Begley, the Labour group’s spokesperson for Health, said: “It is unacceptable that we won’t have an opportunity to scrutinise and comment on our
local NHS winter plan until the end of November, when we could already be dealing with the expected seasonal pressures. This gives us no opportunity to make a meaningful contribution and shows little respect for the agreed process of overview and scrutiny from local elected representatives.” A council spokesperson said: “The system winter plan for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire is in development and due for completion in October by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board. Committee will have an opportunity to review the Winter Planning 2022/23 document in full at its November meeting.” The chief executive of the NHS Confederation was quoted last week as saying that the country is “weeks away from what many predict will be the most extreme winter pressures the NHS has ever faced”.
The Labour group had been planning to table a request to review the provision of a minor injury unit (MIU) at Cossham Hospital in Kingswood at the South Gloucestershire scrutiny meeting which was cancelled. In April a petition backed by Week In readers calling for the long-awaited facility to open was rejected by local health chiefs as it is not part of their urgent care strategy. The Labour group said: “A MIU was due to be delivered as part of the original Bristol Health Services Plan (BHSP); however, the BHSP was curtailed by the Government following the 2010 General Election. The BHSP demonstrated there was a need for MIU provision in Cossham, Frenchay, Yate and Thornbury, however only Yate has been delivered.” Cllr Andrea Reid, Labour councillor for Kingswood and a member of the Health Scrutiny Committee, added: “We know there’s a need for minor injuries provision in Kingswood and East Bristol from the
Bristol Health Services Plan that was written in the early 2000s. Twenty years on and the BHSP still hasn’t been delivered, and the need will probably be even greater now. Ideally, we think an updated review of local hospital services along the lines of the original Bristol Health Services Plan would be best.” She added that there was an “immediate” need for MIU provision at Cossham.
Outdoor learning space gets inspiring makeover We are always looking to make Longwell Green Primary School an even more exciting place for our pupils and this summer has been a particularly busy one, writes deputy headteacher Sarah Darling. We had planned to rebuild the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) space over the summer of 2021 but COVID, increasing costs and the need to further fundraise all played a part as to why we needed to wait a while. So this summer our EYFS outside learning environment has had a total transformation. The garden was designed and created by Matt at Hanham company
The Garden Saint. We wanted to work with Matt to design a bespoke, creative environment where reception children can be inspired to take their learning outdoors. It features a widened canopy to allow shelter in all weather, a sand pit with balance scales, rockery, planters, a mix of textured flooring and wooden play equipment. Now for our favourite part: the garden is contained by a water rill, fed by a water butt and electric pump, for the children to experiment with water play. We’re so pleased with the results and it is already a huge hit!
The Week in • Wednesday 28th September 2022
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Council finally cuts down hedge blocking light to homes A Cadbury Heath resident is delighted after finally getting the overgrown hedge at the rear of her home chopped back by South Gloucestershire Council. As we reported in Issue 744 last month, Amanda SharpeMachin, of Brereton Way, had been in contact with South Gloucestershire Council 30 times since May 2018 about the greenery blocking light into her and her neighbours’ homes. They were having to keep lights on during the day and their concerns were growing with fuel bills rising. The residents can now enjoy the view on the other side of the hedge of the old Warmley pitch and putt course. The council had told The Week In last month that while it was unable to cut back the hedge during nesting or growing season, it would trim the height in October. Amanda contacted us last Wednesday to say the council had already cleared the overgrowth, adding: “It is amazing.”
Amanda in her garden last month
The hedge has now been chopped back
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