The Week In - Issue 754 - 2nd November 2022

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

2nd November 2022

Issue 754

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Anger at plans for a third betting shop in Staple Hill Plans to turn the old Lloyds Bank in Staple Hill High Street

Gloucestershire Council to change the use of the premises

into a betting shop have prompted an outpouring of anger.

which has been vacant since Lloyds closed the branch in

There are already two bookmakers within sight of the former

September 2019.

bank - Backhouse Bet and William Hill - and local people fear

Scaffolding has been put up outside the building and work has

the impact of another betting shop in one of the most

been taking place there in recent days.

economically deprived areas of South Gloucestershire.

The planning application says the site being vacant is having a

BoyleSports

(UK)

Limited

have

applied

to

South

detrimental effect on the quality of retail experience of High Street users: “The new shopfront will assist in providing an active frontage onto High Street and occupation of the unit will also enhance the vibrancy of the town centre.”

But dozens of objections have already been submitted to the council. Local councillor Ian Boulton said: “There are already two betting shops within feet of this unit. In the most

The old Lloyds Bank

economically deprived super output area in South

William Hill

Gloucestershire, this sends entirely the wrong message about

planning decisions in recent years. This is an opportunity to

our High Street which has enjoyed a reputation for being a

demonstrate that this council actually values a diverse offering

vibrant town centre with a wide range of shops.

within our town centre.

“This reputation is being seriously eroded - enabled by

“This unit has been unavailable for new tenants/owners for years whilst the previous long-term tenancy contract was finalised. I understand that a number of businesses have enquired about taking possession of this and the neighbouring unit which forms part of the same estate. Therefore, while these empty units have blighted our High Street, there was little doubt that it would be snapped up as soon as they became available, and this seems to be the case now.”

Stephanie Purser, from the Friends of Page Park, said: “Staple Hill is moving forward and could, with some input which I hope will come from the new Staple Hill and Mangotsfield Parish Council, become a thriving shopping area, providing a variety of shopping outlets, employment for our residents and a destination area to improve footfall for our local businesses.”

Continued on page 2

Also in this week’s issue

Warmley concrete firm’s bid for 5am start 6 days a week . . . page 2

Keynsham headteacher blasts parents for abusing staff . . . page 3

Oldland Common footpath illegally diverted . . . page 4

Inspector rejects planning appeal for Keynsham industrial estate . . . page 5

Anger at plans for a third betting shop in Staple Hill Continued from page 1 She feared that another betting shop “would encourage more of our less well-off residents to flitter money away on a dream win, leaving them in a more vulnerable state than they already are, especially with the economic crisis we are all facing.”

Another objector said: “The old Lloyds building forms an integral part of Staple Hill’s history and should not be coated over by a cheap betting shop that would do no good to the local community. A family restaurant, library, bookstore, fishmonger, etc would be more suitable and in keeping with the needs of the locals.”

Both planning permission and advert consent for signage are being sought. The deadline for comments is 9th November.

Backhouse Bet

2

Concrete firm’s bid for 5am start six days a week Warmley concrete company Wright Minimix Ltd has applied to South Gloucestershire Council to extend working hours, including a 5am start six days a week and more activities at weekends.

The planning application says that the firm has been established on the industrial estate at St Ivel Way since 2007 and stresses that the proposed change is to enable the business to operate more efficiently without causing harm to people living nearby.

The bid, which is supported by a noise impact assessment, points out that none of the other commercial operators on the estate have conditions which are “onerous”.

Currently no working, deliveries or vehicle repairs are allowed at Wright Minimix’s site before 6.30am or after 6pm Monday to Friday, before 6.30am or after 1pm on Saturday, and not at all on a Sunday or public holidays, except for HGVs returning to park between 6pm and 10pm on weekdays.

The business is not planning to extend operating hours for concrete production and delivery but wants to extend them for on-site activities including commercial vehicle movements, such as tipper vehicles leaving to get materials at the quarry at the start of the working day, minor repairs/safety checks, and the washing down and cleaning out of vehicles.

The proposal is that concrete production only takes place between 6.30am and 6pm on weekdays and 6.30am to 1pm

on Saturday, with no production on a Sunday or bank holidays.

Vehicle movements for concrete deliveries would only take place between 6.30am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 6.30am to 1pm on Saturday (and not on a Sunday or bank holiday) with the exception of movements between 5am and 6.30am Monday to Saturday, 6pm to 10pm Monday to Friday, 1pm to 10pm on Saturday and 6.30am to 10pm on Sunday.

Washing, cleaning and minor repairs of vehicles would only take place between 6am and 10pm Monday to Sunday (not bank holidays).

Bitton Parish Council has strongly objected saying: “This application is too close to residential homes and councillors feel the additional hours of noise will have a huge impact on our local residents.”

South Gloucestershire Council planners are currently considering the application.

The Week in • Wednesday 2nd November 2022

Headteacher blasts parents over ‘abuse’ of her staff A Keynsham headteacher has warned that some of her staff might quit because of ongoing “harassment or rudeness” from parents.

In a letter sent out at the start of half-term holiday to parents of Broadlands Academy in St Francis Road, principal Louise Hamilton said: “Those of you with children in Years 810 may recall that I had to send a letter out in March, outlining my concerns about the treatment of Broadlands staff by a minority of parents and carers.

“Unfortunately, incidences of abusive, rude and disrespectful language and behaviour towards our staff have again increased, causing upset and distress to staff affected.”

She praised her staff who “consistently go above and beyond expectations for students and their families” and said that no staff member should go to work with the expectation that they will be either verbally or physically abused. Following “recent incidents” she reiterated that any parent/carer who exhibits abusive behaviour will be asked to meet to discuss this formally, and expectations of appropriate communication will be made clear. If this does not resolve the issue, the parent/carer will have their licence to visit the school removed.

Miss Hamilton said abusive behaviour

towards staff can be defined as but not limited to: • Making threats or spreading unhelpful judgements.

• Shouting loudly and/or speaking aggressively.

• Hanging up on staff in anger during a phone call when in disagreement.

• Using offensive language.

• Physical intimidation, such as approaching staff in a threatening way, making inappropriate gestures, banging doors/furniture or blocking an exit.

• Threatening legal action, press involvement and/or police intervention when first reporting a concern, before allowing staff the right to respond.

• Spreading rumours about staff based on hearsay and gossip.

• Turning up at school with no appointment and aggressively demanding to see a member of staff immediately.

• Sending confrontational emails at evenings and weekends, and threatening to involve police, lawyers and/or the press if a reply is not immediate.

• Encouraging young people to be rude and disrespectful to staff and disregard school rules.

• Aggressively blaming staff for their child’s

poor choices and the consequences of these choices.

She added: “It is becoming harder and harder for any school to attract highly qualified teachers and support staff, and many report that they are leaving the profession due to the level of abuse that they have to endure from parents, carers and – in some cases – from students whose families actively encourage them to treat staff with disrespect and rudeness.

“One of my main priorities is to recruit and retain the highest calibre of staff possible for the benefit of our students, and I am conscious that those enduring ongoing harassment or rudeness may look elsewhere for opportunities.”

She thanked the “vast majority of parents and carers who are supportive of our policies and processes, and who challenge us with respect and consideration when they are concerned or frustrated by an issue”.

Rees-Mogg resigns and fracking ban returns In last week’s issue we joked about the old adage of a week being a long time in politics.

The reasoning then was the chaotic scenes in Parliament over the Labour motion on fracking and the resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss the following day.

The ‘long week’ which followed saw a new Prime Minister selected, closely followed by the resignation of North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

And seemingly moments after the appointment of his successor, the moratorium on fracking which he had lifted was back in place.

The Week in • Wednesday 2nd November 2022

3

Public footpath moved without permission Works have reportedly taken place at Oldland Abbotonians Football Club without the permission of landowner South Gloucestershire Council.

The council’s property services department has not authorised some work which has been carried out at the site, and the public rights of way team are also involved due to the club, who use Aitchison Playing Field, diverting a footpath without permission.

This week a spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council told us: “We are aware that work has taken place at Oldland Abbotonians FC without the relevant landlord permission having been granted, including the diversion of a public footpath that runs across the site.

“We have been in touch with Oldland Abbotonians about this matter and we will be seeking to meet with the club to ensure the situation is resolved as soon as possible.”

The Week In has asked the club if they wish to respond.

Crews from Kingswood and Hicks Gate fire stations were called to reports of a fire in a flat in Hallen Close, Emersons Green, just after 1pm on Saturday 22nd October.

With two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, crews used a high pressure hose

Candles caused fire

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.

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

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reel to extinguish the fire, which involved a mattress.

Two residents received treatment from crews for mild smoke inhalation.

The incident was found to be accidental, having been caused by unattended candles.

£895 5

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

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4

The Week in • Wednesday 2nd November 2022

Developer loses planning appeal for industrial estate An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State has rejected an appeal to build a new industrial estate just off the A4 Bath Road in Keynsham.

Developer Places for People Strategic Land appealed after their plans for up to 5,700sq m of flexible use, including light and general industrial and storage and distribution, were blocked by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee last December.

In 2014, when the land was removed from the Green Belt and earmarked for employment, access was shown from Worlds End Lane, which links from the industrial areas of Pixash Lane, Ashmead Road and Unity Road.

But the planning application showed vehicular access from the layby near the Esso garage on the A4, with only pedestrian and cycle access onto Worlds End Lane.

Most of the concerns from local residents, plus Keynsham Town Council and Saltford Parish Council and Saltford Environment Group, were about highway safety.

Although B&NES Council’s planning officer had

recommended approval of the scheme, the planning committee’s reasons for refusal were that the application was not accompanied by a comprehensive masterplan that had been subject to public consultation, and that the access was not via Worlds End Lane as the policy initially stated. The committee felt that access onto the A4 would mean exiting vehicles experiencing excessive delays which could lead to drivers making unsafe manoeuvres.

The developer had argued that a main vehicular access from Worlds End Lane was not technically possible due to the narrowness of the country lane and pinch points in land ownership that prevent widening. They also said the proposals fitted into the allocation-wide masterplan agreed by the planning committee as part of the council’s new Pixash Lane waste and recycling centre planning application.

But in their ruling, the inspector said the masterplan was not submitted with the planning application and not consulted on as part of the process.

“The policy does not state that vehicle access should not be

Worlds End Lane now as part of the new recycling hub development

Worlds End Lane as it was earlier this year

The developer wanted the access to be from this layby on the A4

taken from Bath Road. However, by proposing an alternative vehicle access to the site, the proposed development would run counter to the aims of the policy, which seeks the most suitable and convenient access point onto the strategy road network from the employment site.”

The inspector added that negotiations over land ownership were some time ago, prior to recent developments to the west, including the road improvements currently being carried out on Worlds End Lane for the new recycling hub.

“Based on the evidence before me, I am not convinced that all options to provide a primary vehicle access to Pixash Lane via Worlds End Lane have been fully explored.”

The inspector concluded that although there would be no harm to highway safety on the A4, the proposal would still be harmful as it undermines the council's development strategy for employment allocation.

‘Big improvements’ for Keynsham’s Temple Street Schemes aiming to make “big improvements” to Temple Street in Keynsham are taking another step forward, says Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Two large-scale artworks created by Bath Carnival have been installed in Temple Street and Riverside Square.

No 2 River Terrace, opposite the entrance to Keynsham Leisure Centre, is currently undergoing a full refurbishment and will be brought into use as a community arts and local business space from February 2023.

Over the next six months, new planters, cycle parking and seating will be installed

on the Riverside development side of the street.

In January, work will begin to install new high-quality paving on the opposite side of the street.

The works are part of Keynsham High Street Heritage Action Zone programme (HS HAZ), a heritage-led renewal programme that aims to continue to make the area a more vibrant place. It is a partnership project led by B&NES Council’s Renewal Team, funded by Historic England with match funding from the council and Keynsham Town Council.

Riverside Square

The Week in • Wednesday 2nd November 2022

The new artwork in Temple Street

The council will also create a new online Keynsham Business Directory and launch a ‘shop local’ campaign in partnership with the town council to promote the local area and support local businesses.

Meanwhile Keynsham’s Local Cultural Programme is continuing with a High Street Discovery Trail that was launched over the half term holiday, an ongoing artist-led community quilting project about parenting in Keynsham, and a celebration of the town’s radio heritage in January.

Keynsham’s Local Cultural Programme is part of Historic England’s High Streets

Heritage Action Zones scheme. It is funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Heritage High Street Fund, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Future High Streets Fund, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This week Cllr Andy Wait, chair of Keynsham Town Council, said: “I would like to thank the project manager and everybody else who has contributed to this stage of the town centre improvements. I look forward to seeing the result of their work.”

5

Late Royal British Legion stalwart is honoured at Poppy Appeal launch The Bitton & Oldland branch of the Royal British Legion launched their annual Poppy Appeal at the Garden of Remembrance at Payne Green in Barrs Court on Friday.

During the service a memorial plaque was unveiled in honour of local man Graham Downing CBE, who received his honour from the Queen for his commitment to the Royal British Legion.

Graham Downing

In 1992 Mr Downing became the Legion’s national vice-chairman and from 1995 to 1998 served as national chairman, representing the Legion at many national events including the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

He organised the annual Poppy Appeal at Asda in Longwell Green over the best part of two decades. He was also a member of Oldland Parish Council The annual Poppy Appeal launch at Payne Green for many years, serving as both vice anniversary of the end of the First World War, the Rev Britton chairman and chairman. Mr Downing died in April 2020.

Friday’s ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance was said that Graham Downing had faithfully served the Royal attended by both Oldland and Bitton parish council British Legion both locally and nationally for many years, representatives, local Legion members, the branch’s padre the working tirelessly to help servicemen and women and their Rev Steve Britton, the Commanding Officer of 243 Field dependents.

Hospital in Keynsham Colonel Caroline Whittle, and several members of Mr Downing’s family.

A short service was led by the Rev Britton during which there was a two-minute silence. The Last Post and Reveille were sounded and wreaths were laid.

Dedicating the memorial to Mr Downing on the bench that was placed in the garden in 2018 to mark the 100th The plaque

War memorial clean-up Brislington war memorial has been spruced up in time for Remembrance Sunday on 13th November.

Brislington West councillors Andrew Varney and Jos Clark spent a Saturday morning recently litter picking, sweeping, weeding and decorating the war memorial on Bath Road with hundreds of knitted poppies donated by local churches.

The councillors are grateful to Jamie and family at the nearby Lodekka pub who helped them.

Carol carries on crocheting poppies

Graham's family at the bench following the unveiling

Carol Kidd from Oldland Common, who has been hand crocheting poppies in aid of the Royal British Legion for the last nine years, is selling them at Tesco in Keynsham and Fonthill Garden Centre in Bitton for this year’s appeal.

Her efforts last year raised more than £4,500 for the appeal.

Staple Hill Remembrance appeal A crowdfunding appeal is under way to cover the cost of Staple Hill’s Remembrance Sunday parade and service. £600 is needed to cover expenses, including the hire of an effective public address system, liability insurance, first aid cover and printing orders of service for the annual event on Sunday 13th November.

To donate online visit https://tinyurl.com/48taucx3 Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion ask those wishing to take part in the parade to form up on Page Road by the car park from 10am. The parade will then travel down High Street, Broad Street and into Page Park for the Service of Remembrance at the war memorial.

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The Week in • Wednesday 2nd November 2022

Campaigners slam Homes England’s ‘aggressive’ appeal move Homes England has asked the Secretary of State to step in and decide whether 260 homes can be built on Brislington Meadows as the city council has failed to make a decision.

The move has been slammed by the Brislington Meadows campaign group, who are fighting to preserve the greenfield site.

They said: “It’s very disappointing that a government body is acting so aggressively against the will of the residents who pay their salaries, but the fight is nowhere near over.”

The 23-acre site was earmarked for development in the city council’s Local Plan in 2014 to help address an acute housing shortage. The land and was sold to the Government’s housing agency Homes England in March 2020 for £15m.

Homes England is tasked with delivering homes especially in circumstances where other approaches have failed.

But in April 2021 Bristol’s Mayor Marvin Rees announced that the site was recognised as being of high ecological importance and would not be built upon. Nevertheless, Homes England submitted an outline planning application, including 30% affordable housing, in April 2022.

The determination date was 27th July but the council has not yet made a decision so Homes England has lodged an appeal, asking the Secretary of State “to unlock the delivery of the appeal site and to make an important contribution to both the local and national housing crisis”.

The site is open fields crossed by two public rights of way and some informal trodden paths, as well as an area of woodland and a paddock. There is no vehicular access.

A mixtures of flats and houses are proposed with pedestrian, cycle and vehicular access, cycle and car parking and public open space. Road access would be via Broomhill Road.

Homes England acknowledges that there would be an impact on the open fields but says that valuable wetland meadows will be created and as many trees and hedgerows will be retained as possible. It adds that investment on and off site will provide a 10% increase in biodiversity overall.

The developer says the site is well located to make use of existing services and facilities.

More than 700 objections had been received at the time of the appeal submission. The hearing is due to begin in the new year.

The Week in • Wednesday 2nd November 2022

Green Belt society’s AGM Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society are holding their public Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 9th November in the New Rooms of Hanham Baptist Church, starting at 7.30pm.

They have invited Lucy Rees, senior environmental policy officer at South Gloucestershire Council, to give a talk about the impact of climate change measures on the community over the next 20 years.

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LETTERS Otters are seeking cleaner environments Dear Editor Re the recent debate about otters, the fish in my pond have been taken by otters over the period of a year. To begin with several

their access to the water because they neither

brilliant and add to the traditional seasonal

and control fireworks to look after the welfare

climb nor jump. I intend to investigate this as

goodwill.

of pets.

soon as spring returns so that I can once again

In this respect I am asking if any bands are

This would never have come about had it not

have the pleasure of fish in my pond.

available to attend at this year’s service which

been for two of my constituents raising

Colin Cradock,

will be Friday 16th December at 6pm.

concerns with me in 2021 regarding pets

Oldland Common

Obviously we would not expect a full band

suffering during the firework season. As a

turnout, but if possible a smaller number of

result I composed a motion to take to a full

bandsmen would be so much appreciated, but

council with the support of the B&NES

we are also mindful that bands have many

Conservative group. I proposed the motion at

other commitments during this festive period.

the following council meeting and it enjoyed

We would contribute to all expenses.

cross-party support.

Please contact me on 07875 631817.

I trust that this explanation of the origin of the

Cllr Michael Bell

measures now being taken reveals the actions

thousands of pounds worth of Koi Carp were taken; the fish were around 30 years old.

Festive plea

Their replacement by goldfish this summer

Dear Becky

were also taken. But otters are not a menace

For the past few years local pastor Clive

but part of our ever-diminishing wildlife.

Heath and the Rev Teresa Taylor have

I believe the cause of this situation is rooted

organised a popular outdoor Christmas carol

in the seemingly uncontrolled pollution of

service in the grounds of the historic Dame

rivers and streams, forcing these animals to

School opposite the Red Lion pub in

seek cleaner environments for their food.

Mangotsfield.

Credit where it’s due

I have been advised that there are means of

It has been very well attended and all present,

Dear Editor

keeping otters out of domestic ponds which

particularly the children, join in lustily with

In your last edition you reported on the

do not involve netting or electric fencing, for

all the traditional carols, but we feel that to

B&NES Council administration announcing

example, a low picket fence. This hinders

have some musical accompaniment would be

certain measures in relation to seeking to try

of community members and the Conservative group which achieved council-wide support, rather than just the idea that it came from the Lib Dem administration.

Cllr Alan Hale, Keynsham

Seeking old photos of Kingswood Park Dear Editor

South Gloucestershire Council and the Friends of Kingswood Park are applying to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a

The rose arch past and present

8

£2m grant that will vastly increase the enjoyment of Kingswood Park for the local and wider community.

We are currently working on the development application which, if

have of that time.

Through The Week In we appeal for material to help support our heritage application. We would arrange to copy material so that there will be no risk to

successful, will allow us to proceed to the delivery phase in which we deliver all the improvements to Kingswood Park. These include improved access around the park, a new performance area, space for commercial provision of refreshments and a bigger and better play area.

valuable artefacts.

Please contact us on friendsofkingswoodpark@gmail.com if you have anything that may be of use.

Jim Whittaker Secretary, Friends of Kingswood Park

To improve our chances of success by highlighting the heritage of Kingswood Park, we seek photographs taken throughout its life from 1932. These photos may be of the park or of people enjoying the park perhaps with some park background.

We have a small number on file, but there is a gap through the war years where we have no records to support the memories some

The amphitheatre

Kingswood Park gates

Benches

The Week in • Wednesday 2nd November 2022

Roadworks for sewer works Nearly a kilometre of the sewer system in Kingswood and Warmley is being revamped as part of a £160,000 scheme.

Work will be taking place at a number of sites in the area this month as the pipes are relined and sealed to prevent groundwater from infiltrating the network, which could lead to flooding.

Wessex Water will keep excavations to a minimum, with robots and specialist equipment working deep underground.

Orchard Road will be closed to through traffic from the junction with Hollow Road to the junction with Bellevue Road, with temporary traffic signals also in place further along the road to the east between Monday 7th and Friday 11th November.

Temporary traffic lights will also be in place on Orchard Road at the junction with Orchard Vale and Woodstock Road between Monday 14th and Wednesday 16th November and then on a section of London Road and at the junction with Goldney Avenue between Wednesday 16th and Friday 18th November. Between Monday 21st and Friday 25th November, temporary traffic signals will be in place on Hill Street at the junctions with Tenniscourt Road, Deanery Road and Grimsbury Road while work is carried out overnight.

Aid for Ukraine making a difference as winter sets in Hope for Ukraine’s second lorry load of humanitarian aid was delivered safely to Suceava in Romania before being transferred to the Brislington-based charity’s contacts in Chernivtsi in Ukraine last month.

Tools that had been collected as a result of the charity’s tools amnesty at Keynsham Repair Café, and donations by other groups including Men in Sheds in Warmley, were being put to use immediately by the church in Chernivtsi.

A sewer system has been built for a homeless shelter which is due to open any day. One of the six generators that Hope for Ukraine was able to purchase due to generous donations has also been delivered to the homeless shelter just in time for winter.

On Friday (4th November) two Hope for Ukraine trustees will be driving out to deliver a minibus full of items including mobility aids to the contacts in Chernivtsi. This will be left with them to support a nursing home and other displaced people.

The minibus has been generously given by Crofts End Church in St George.

To find out more about the charity visit https://hopeforukraine.org.uk/ or call 07933 712584.

Change of use approved Plans to change the use of part of a paddock in Bitton to an equestrian ménage and dog agility arena have been approved by South Gloucestershire Council The planning application for the agricultural land at Barry Hill House, off Cherry Garden Road, states that it is for personal use only.

The homeless shelter

Sudoku 1-Easy

Some of the tools collected at the Keynsham Repair Café

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 6th November

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 2nd November 2022

9

Outstanding rating for Keynsham Health Centre Keynsham Health Centre has been rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.

The centre in St Clements Road is run by HCRG Care Services Ltd, formerly known as Virgin Care, and works in partnership with the NHS and local authorities.

The centre is one of five bases in the Bath & North East Somerset area that provides community health and care services for adults by looking after their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Inspectors, whose report was published last month, said that services were tailored to meet the needs of individuals and delivered in a way to ensure flexibility, choice and continuity of care.

The involvement of other organisations and the local community was integral to how services were planned and

ensured that they met people’s needs.

Team leaders monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. When the service had staff vacancies, they used regular bank and agency staff to maintain care for patients that kept them safe.

The report said: “Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers. The patients we spoke with were happy with their care and described the service as ‘excellent’ and ‘caring’.”

Leaders encouraged cooperative, supportive relationships among staff so that they felt respected, valued and supported.

Top team sport new kit, thanks to sponsor

Burglar jailed

Longwell Green Under 11 Athletic are celebrating their latest cup match win and would like to say a massive thank you to Purple Bricks Estate Agents for sponsoring their new

A Kingswood man has been jailed for burglary and theft.

Mark Glover, 45, of Maesbury, was sentenced to four years and eight months at Taunton Crown Court last

away kit.

The boys have just won the U11s Hanham Minor League Autumn Cup, a great achievement as they are playing

month. He admitted two counts of burglary, one of theft and three of driving while disqualified. The court further banned him from driving for five years.

Glover had travelled to a Frome hotel on 14th May and

teams a whole year older than them.

Longwell Green Sports Junior Football Club welcome inquiries for youngsters from the age of two up to 18 for

again on 4th June. He entered rooms and stole guests’ bags.

He was caught on CCTV driving away both times and was also seen on CCTV on 6th June committing theft at

boys and girls into the award-winning family club. There is an inclusive section for children with disabilities from the age of five through to adult.

Contact goaliegriff@tiscali.co.uk for all enquiries.

a golf club in Farrington Gurney.

Temporary ward opens

Crossword

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Slide (7)

1. Ceases (5)

5. Tree sap (5)

2. Asian country (5)

8. Playing card (3)

3. Rumour (7)

9. Elderly unmarried woman (3,4)

4. Type of tyre (6)

10. Group of witches (5)

6. Grassland (7)

11. Chairs (5) 13. Organise (7) 15. Competent (4) 17. Sufferer (6) 19. Reach (6) 22. Highest point (4) 24. Therein (anag.) (7) 26. Sea movements (5) 29. Diadem (5) 30. Melodic (7) 31. Organ of sight (3)

5. Happen again (5)

7. Cotton fabric (7) 12. Epoch (3) 14. Paper quantity (4)

A temporary ward has opened at St Martin’s Hospital in Bath to support people who are well enough to leave hospital but not ready to go home.

The community ward, which has 23 beds, will help relieve pressure on local acute hospitals and free up beds for the most ill patients. The ward also opened last winter to help provide extra capacity to the local health and care system.

The pressures on hospital services are expected to be intense over the coming winter months and people are being asked to play their part by using health and care services appropriately at the right time.

16. Scottish hillside (4) 17. Taxi (7) 18. Rootstock (7) 20. Lockjaw (7) 21. Anger (3) 23. Shell-hole (6) 25. Sharpened (5) 27. Postpone (5) 28. Work out (5)

32. Staple food (5) 33. Earmark (7)

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The Week in • Wednesday 2nd November 2022

The Community Page

News from Keynsham Town Council Letter from the Chair Believe it or not, this is my seventh year as Chair of Keynsham Town Council, and probably my last. It has been a delight and I have enjoyed working with our new town clerk Dawn Drury. We have found a lot of new staff who will, I’m sure, offer an excellent service going forward. We have a new team of youth workers and youth service TimeOut is now open three days a week.

At this time of year, thoughts turn to Remembrance Sunday which this year is on Sunday 13th November. I’m pleased that the centre of town is free from disruption and the usual marching route is once again available. The church service at St John’s starts at 9.30am, members of the congregation then move to the Memorial Gates where there is a two-minute silence and the laying of wreaths at 11am.

I am always proud of our town’s respect for this event as thousands of people get involved in such an important anniversary.

At the annual Winter Festival on Friday 25th November, Father Christmas, Chuffy the Train and other Christmas delights will lead the switching-on of the town’s Christmas lights. This year looks to be a good one with a record number

of stalls booked already. The festival runs from 6pm to 9pm.

I will be there to welcome you all and present the winners of the children’s colouring competition and best-dressed window. I look forward to seeing you all there!

Cllr Andy Wait Chair of Keynsham Town Council

Helping Keynsham go blooming wild (and our hedgehogs too) Keynsham town councillors gave out more than 400 wild seed packets and almost 50 ‘Hedgehog Highway’ arches to local residents at the Keynsham Eco Festival on 15th October.

The council has given away close to 1,000 packets of wild UK native flower seeds to local residents this year.

Many people who had planted our seeds earlier in the year told us how they had got on. It was pleasing to hear the many success stories, despite the long hot and dry summer.

Our Hedgehog Highway arches also proved popular. Many people we spoke to had already made their gardens hedgehog friendly by leaving gaps in their fences and leaving out water and appropriate food to help our little friends. Our hedgehogs have been in rapid decline in recent years, over 50% since 2000. One reason is that their roaming areas to find food,

shelter and mates have been reduced by garden fences, leaving no spaces for them to get through.

Cllr Alan Greenfield, who chairs the Environmental and Sustainability Committee, said: “It was great to meet and talk to so many people who all want to make a difference to improve our natural environment in our fight against climate change and its effects.”

Keynsham Youth Service Keynsham Town Council’s new Youth Work Team opened the club in October and have been running after school and evening sessions with young people aged 11 to 19 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during term time and half term.

The purpose-built youth club TimeOut has been shut for some time, however, since the launch of its opening it has been a buzzing place, with young people making the most of the space, facilities and staff.

If you are attending the Winter Festival on 25th November then pop down to the club at 16 Bath Hill to decorate cookies and cupcakes and meet the team.

The Paddock Keynsham Town Council is in the process of purchasing The Paddock. This is the triangular piece of land behind St John’s Church on Station Road, measuring approximately 530m2.

We are asking the community for any ideas or suggestions on how this land could be used to benefit you, the residents and the community. Please call us on 0117 9868683 or email admin@keynsham-tc.gov.uk with your suggestions.

News from Whitchurch Village Council As the nights begin to draw in our thoughts turn to the upcoming Christmas festivities. We as a village will again be organising a Christmas lights ‘switch on’, Father and Mother Christmas and their Elf will be in attendance so we

It is hoped that they will return again to tackle other areas and be part of our ongoing efforts to keep the village clean.

look forward to a bumper crowd to join us. Please look out for further information on our website and Facebook

This year’s Christmas lights ‘switch on’ will take place on Friday 2nd December at 7pm.

The Salvation Army Band will lead us in a seasonal

page.

Nick Kirk – Chairman Whitchurch Village Council

CHRISTMAS NEWS

singalong followed by festive refreshments.

CLEAN AND GREEN

GRANT AWARDS 2022

Councillors joined with B&NES Clean and Green Team to carry out a joint litter pick and clean-up of the village including weed removal and bus stop tidying.

Whitchurch Village Council were delighted to present their annual grant awards at the recent council meeting.

Grants were given to Whitchurch Cricket Club Youth Section, St Nicholas Pre-School and 107th Bristol (Whitchurch) Scout Group.

The Chairman thanked the representatives for attending and all their hard work in running the valuable groups in the village.

The Week in • Wednesday 2nd November 2022

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TV presenter’s surprise visit TV presenter Craig Rowe was a surprise visitor to a Zumba class at Hanham Community Centre last Thursday.

Craig, who presents Channel 4's A Place in the Sun and is also a presenter on shopping channel QVC, was visiting family.

Craig's mum lives in Hanham and regularly

takes her two grand-daughters to the weekly Zumba Gold classes.

Members were delighted when Craig dropped by and joined in teacher Philomena Connelly’s class!

Christine Rogers

Spotlight on Girlguiding Avon Valley South Division, made up of Keynsham and Saltford Girlguiding districts, met for their annual Thanks & Recognition event.

The event celebrates volunteers and leaders and thanks them for their hard work towards Girlguiding.

Avon Valley South has units available for all ages, from Rainbows to Rangers. There is also an active Trefoil Guild in Keynsham for adults who would also like to join in the fun.

Craig Rowe with his nieces and Zumba teacher Philomena Connelly

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