The Week In - Issue 758 - 30th November 2022

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

30th November 2022

Issue 758

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Council drops plans for more throughabouts South Gloucestershire Council has scrapped plans for more

motorists the council has made changes to road

throughabouts along the A4174 Ring Road between

markings and has installed louvred hoods on the

Longwell Green and Lyde Green.

signals so that the relevant lights are only visible to

The council says the £6.9m Wraxall Road throughabout in

the drivers they are intended for and don’t confuse

Warmley, which opened just over a year ago, has been

motorists on other sections.

successful in dealing with congestion.

A public consultation had revealed three-quarters of

Combined with post-pandemic travel habits, it means the

respondents were strongly opposed to any more

council no longer needs to pursue a proposed £30m funding

throughabouts. And now, after putting the wider

bid to the Government for changes to five more Ring Road

A4174 scheme on hold for a year to allow for further

junctions.

assessment, the council’s cabinet has announced that

The scheme included three more throughabouts - at the Siston

it won’t be seeking Government cash for more

Hill, Deanery Road and Kingsfield junctions.

junction changes.

South Gloucestershire’s first throughabout, which has 26 traffic

On Monday the council said: “A significant

lights, opened at the Ring Road junction with Tower Lane and

reduction and change in traffic movements was

Wraxall Road last October with the aim of improving traffic

found to have taken place since the proposals were

flow.

initially drawn up in 2018. There are now less delays on the

“Both southbound and northbound Ring Road traffic at

However, it has proved controversial and was the scene of a

Ring Road, as the pandemic has changed people’s travel habits

morning and afternoon peak times was found to have reduced

fatal collision in April. To try to make it less confusing for

and the Wraxall Road throughabout has had a positive impact.

by up to 14% between 2018 and 2022 in post-pandemic travel conditions. Therefore it was agreed that the junction proposals for the A4174 corridor between Lyde Green and Kingsfield roundabouts were no longer needed.”

Cllr Steve Reade, the cabinet member responsible for regeneration, environment and strategic infrastructure, said: “We monitored the Ring Road and have the evidence that traffic patterns have changed. We have seen that there are now not as many delays, largely due to our new post-lockdown travel habits and journey time savings thanks to the Wraxall Road throughabout.

“Our data for the Wraxall Road junction improvement indicates that many of the congestion issues on the Ring Road between Siston Hill and Kingsfield have now been reduced.”

Also in this week’s issue

Shock findings at Keynsham nursing home . . . page 3

ASB sparks Mangotsfield public space protection plan . . . page 4

Keynsham greengrocer to close . . . page 5

Green bin charge in South Glos Council set to rise by 83% . . . page 6

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

Shock findings at nursing home A council-run nursing home in Keynsham has been rated as Inadequate following an investigation that was prompted by safeguarding concerns.

The report follows a three-day inspection of Charlton House Resource Centre by a Care Quality Commission team.

The nursing home at Hawthorns Lane provides support to people living with dementia, older and younger people and those with a physical disability.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has apologised for the failings.

The catalogue of concerns includes: • People weren’t supported to access emergency medical support without delay.

One person fell and trapped their arm, which was said to be "purple" in colour. Staff failed to contact the GP until two hours later.

Another person told staff they had experienced a stroke; staff recorded the person had arm weakness. Staff failed to seek emergency medical assistance for seven hours after the stroke was first reported. The hospital confirmed that the person had experienced a stroke.

• Sensor alarms were inexplicably turned off and their doors closed. One day someone experienced two unwitnessed falls, on both occasions the bedroom door was closed and the falls sensor were inexplicably turned off.

The person was assessed as being at "high risk of falls".

• The provider failed to ensure people were consistently and robustly protected from

abuse, and the risk of abuse.

There was no oversight of safeguarding.

Photographs showed one person with an imprint of a watch on their wrist, bruising and marks to their torso.

The registered manager did not know who the victim was, or that the photographs existed. This meant no action was taken to investigate, or refer, the cause of the injuries.

• The provider failed to implement processes that ensured Charlton House potential safeguarding concerns were investigated effectively and received such training. immediately. One investigation was delayed • During a late-night visit, two inspectors got because the lead investigator felt "shocked in without being asked for identification by from the distress of the situation" despite the staff until they reached the first floor. investigator identifying in the same report • Soiled items were not always stored in ways that a staff member was "mocking and to minimise the spread of infection. taunting" a person and that other recordings The CQC report also said that there were not were evident. always sufficient staff on duty, and there • Staff used mobile phones to record people were concerns about the storage of medicines covertly, without their consent and mock a and people’s records. person with dementia. However, staff had “The registered manager and provider were been allowed to continue bringing their aware of their responsibility to act openly and mobile phones into work.

• A person fell and suffered a fracture. The staff member lifted the person into bed from the floor, without using equipment or additional staff support. An investigation found the staff member did not have practical moving and handling training. The provider failed to ensure subsequent agency staff

transparently when things went wrong.

However, when notifiable safety incidents occurred, they did not always act in line with the regulation and issue a written apology.”

Read the report in full at https://tinyurl.com/yck2x8tj The CQC had visited in May of this year with Charlton House told then to make improvements. The home had previously been inspected in 2018, when run by Sirona care and health, and required improvements then.

We’ve let people down, says council This week Cllr Alison Born, the council’s Cabinet member for Adult Services, said: “Our purpose is to improve people’s lives which makes reading this report very distressing. No amount of explanation can get away from the fact that we have let people down and I want to apologise to the residents and their families who will find this report very difficult to read.

“I want to reassure residents and their families that an action plan to improve the care provided at Charlton House is in place, which the Care Quality Commission has approved.”

She added: “We are all aware of the crisis facing the care sector. It is a fact that staffing in adult social care is at breakingpoint. However, the safety of our residents has to be our priority and we agree with the

CQC that some aspects of the care residents received was unacceptable.”

The council says it has: • Made immediate staffing changes to improve the quality of care at Charlton House.

• Supported staff to help them continue to provide care to residents in such challenging circumstances.

• Reported concerns about agency staff’s actions to the relevant regulatory body.

• Closed the home to new admissions and reduced bedspaces to focus on staff delivering the best possible care to permanent residents.

• Been open about the issues raised and discussed them with residents and their families.

• Agreed a CQC-approved action plan.

The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

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Council in land protection order

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.

South Gloucestershire Council is proposing to make a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in response to complaints from residents about anti-social behaviour on land that it owns in Mangotsfield.

The order is planned for land at the rear of Northcote Road, Rodway Road and Long Road which is an informal parking area bordered by gardens. A total of 24 houses have rear access from the land.

Problems that led to the council now consulting on a PSPO include: • The burning of materials.

• The breaking and storing of mechanically propelled vehicles and vehicle parts.

• Work on mechanically propelled vehicles which includes maintenance, modification, servicing, engine tuning but not limited to that list.

• Unroadworthy vehicles being driven in an anti-social manner.

• Noise emanating from the use of amplified music.

• Anti-social behaviour

which has been intimidating, harassing and threatening to others.

The council says that in response to concerns raised by local residents it is planning to introduced a PSPO to restricting activities on the land.

“The PSPO is being considered alongside other action targeting anti-social behaviour. We are screening the impact of restricting the use of the land.”

Take part in the consultation go to https://southglos.researchfeedback.net/s/45twhp It closes on 21st December.

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

Greengrocer to close in January Keynsham greengrocer WF Buss is to close in the new year.

Buss’s has traded in the High Street for several decades and used to have shops in Westgate Street in Bath and Stapleton Road in Bristol. A spokesperson said it is no longer viable for the business to continue trading.

The planned closure on 28th January will

follow the recent loss of long-standing Keynsham newsagent Church’s, dessert parlour Chillin’, HSBC bank, and the Go Mobile phone shop, and the closure at the start of the year of Wright Butcher’s Shop.

There are new businesses coming to the High Street, however. Church’s is becoming a PDSA charity shop, which is due to open this

The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

week, while Olivia’s Boutique has recently opened in what was Chillin’. A new café-bar – Mokka – is set to open in the HSBC. The Tandoori Garden restaurant is in the process

of expanding into the old Trojan Blinds shop which closed last year. And the empty butcher’s shop has a ‘Let agreed’ sign outside. See Letters, page 8

MP to stand down at next election Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore OBE, who was first elected in 2010, has announced he will stand down at the next General Election.

The Conservative-held seat is set to disappear in the upcoming boundary changes and Mr Skidmore said that he does not wish to fight another constituency elsewhere in the region or country “especially with a very young family who deserve to see more of their father in their lives”.

He plans to devote the next stage of his career to delivering a more sustainable future for energy and the environment.

Mr Skidmore has held several ministerial seats and is currently leading an independent review into Net Zero for the Government.

Chris Skidmore

He said: “There has been no greater honour in my life than to have represented my home area in Parliament. Have loved every moment of serving as Kingswood’s local MP for the past 12 years and look forward to serving my community for the rest of my term in office.”

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South Glos Council’s plans to tackle £29.3m budget gap An 83% increase in the annual charge for a green bin, cutting staffed hours at libraries and saving energy by dimming streetlights are just a few of the options South Gloucestershire Council is considering as it works towards closing a budget gap next year of £29.3m.

The council has published a range of savings and other options to tackle the shortfall for 2023/24 which it says has been caused by a combination of factors – rapidly rising costs, high inflation and increased demand for services caused by the cost of living crisis.

The council says that whilst the Government’s Autumn Statement has helped reduce the shortfall and provided some additional funding, this ‘perfect storm’ of factors outside its control has left it needing to make some tough decisions which will affect jobs.

The local authority says it will take further steps to improve efficiency and change the way it works to deliver the same levels of service for less cost. It will look to maximise income where possible and reasonable which includes additional

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funding from Government in grant funding for social care for example, as well as ensuring that fees, charges and council tax levels strike the right balance between protecting services and recognising the impact of the rising cost of living on households.

Thirdly, the council says that some public-facing services may need to change, reduce or be stopped to focus resources on the highest priority areas and support the people with the greatest needs.

The council is considering adding premiums on council tax bills for second and empty homes, as well as seeking feedback on increasing council tax and the adult social care levy. A rise of 1.99% in 2023/24 would contribute £3.4m towards council services and coupled with a 1% adult social care precept would contribute a further £1.6m (£5m in total).

This would mean an increase of approximately £49.90 per year (equivalent to £4.16 per month) for a band D household.

The current £30 charge for having a bin for green waste looks set to rise to £55 from April. The council is planning to increase use of Open Access in libraries by reducing staffed hours and is looking at reducing the brightness of streetlights by 25% after 11pm.

Reducing the size of the StreetCare teams is another option, as is reducing the running costs of council buildings and seeking to generate more income from assets.

The proposals will be considered by the council’s Cabinet next Monday (5th December) before going to public consultation.

‘Suspicious incident’ Avon & Somerset Police are investigating a “suspicious incident” in Kingswood in which a young girl was approached by a man on Friday 18th November.

A spokesperson said: “A man approached an 11-year-old girl at about 4.30pm on Lees Hill and asked if he could walk with her. Another man noticed the girl was upset and went over to her to make sure she was OK. “The neighbourhood team has been made aware of the incident and anyone with information or concerns about it is asked to contact them via 101.”

The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

Health chiefs being challenged over Cossham minor injury unit decision A cross-party group of councillors is to investigate the “broken” health system in South Gloucestershire following concerns raised about poor access to minor injury services.

Week In readers are among those who have been petitioning for Cossham Hospital’s once promised minor injury unit (MIU) to open as people cannot easily get to the unit at Yate,

Spotlight on ‘bed-blockers’ South Gloucestershire Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee is also being asked to look into the ongoing wait for rehabilitation beds in South Gloucestershire.

Campaigner Barbara Harris said: “The Frenchay proposal for 40-50 rehabilitation beds, together with elderly care beds in a care home, must be urgently referred to the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care on the grounds of inadequacy of provision in South Gloucestershire. A community hospital on the Frenchay site was intended to be an integral part of the patient pathway into and out of the new acute hospital at Southmead.”

She said there are currently 300 ‘bed-blockers’ confined in Southmead and 87 block-purchased beds purchased by North Bristol Trust in private nursing homes.

which itself is not always open because of capacity issues.

In April health chiefs refused to reconsider providing a minor injury unit at the Kingswood hospital despite a petition with over 5,000 signatures. Instead they said that an MIU at Cossham was not part of their urgent care strategy and highlighted recruitment difficulties.

Now South Gloucestershire Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee is to gather evidence on the issue and make recommendations to decision-makers at the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB).

They want the board to review the decision not to proceed with an MIU at Cossham and the impact of this on MIU provision across the district.

Kingswood councillor Andrea Reid said there is an urgent need to review the situation, particularly as the population of South Gloucestershire is growing rapidly: “As confrontational as it may seem we do need to confront this issue together and it might not be comfortable but it does need to be looked at. We have people who are not able to access healthcare.”

And Cllr Ruth Davis said people come to her as a Yate councillor to say they can’t get into the town’s minor injury unit because it’s too busy. She said: “The bottom line is people are coming there because they have nowhere else to

go. They are finding the place oversubscribed. They are then sent to either Bath or Bristol and surprise, surprise end up in an A&E that is already breaking for things that could have been dealt with very much more locally. You’ve got a system that is just broken.”

Added to that is the situation where some people don’t have a car and “the bus services that join up the various places don’t exist any more if they ever did before”.

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

7

LETTERS Thoughts on Temple Street

perpetrators of his murder have been held

prompt in dealing with this.

out at the bus stop and luckily several people

Dear Becky

accountable and sentence passed.

Chris Payne

were there to help me.

We can add our support to the recent article and

I remember Ben as a lively Cub who loved to

letters regarding the planned “improvement”

be part of his pack. He enjoyed his time with

for Temple Street in Keynsham.

us to the full. A bright, intelligent and polite

Firstly, why are the council funding this in light

child, with so much potential to go far.

of the current economic climate? Surely it

I'm privileged to have known him. My thoughts

would be better to support essential services

are with his parents.

rather than waste money on a “nice to have”

Lorraine Corbishley

project. In addition. we are not convinced that the traders are in support of this and it is their presence that is vital to securing the future.

We would support some modest enhancements by way of seating and planters on the riverside pavement as this area is rather bland but not at the expense of reducing parking spaces. The council should consider how they can retain and attract more traders to Keynsham by way of financial incentives otherwise more will close and how many more charity shops do we need? Perhaps the council should consider increasing the free parking time and spaces as previously suggested. The High Street and Temple Street are competing against retail parks that in the main offer up to two hours’ free parking. There is no point in trying to discourage car use until there is a viable alternative. Walking or cycling to the town centre is only available for those close and fit enough to do so, and the very limited public

in fact to the well-publicised troubles experienced post High Street “improvements” so would welcome their views on this and more detail about the future of the Keynsham East bus service mentioned in the flyer.

Brian & Cynthia Withyman

I wonder how many visiting fans to the Bristol City ground will get caught by the new Clean Air Zone?

It starts at Bridge Valley Road on the Portway the normal route taken by fans leaving the M5

Dear Editor

for the ground so Bristol City Council set this

Do Keynsham residents get what they deserve?

zone up to maximise income (fines)?

The saying goes ‘use it or lose it’.

David Whalley

The local butchers has gone, the newsagents

Keynsham

round the roundabout by St John’s Church and returned to Bristol, avoiding the Park Estate and Bilbie Green. (This happened the previous Tuesday as I was at a funeral in the church and saw it happen, leaving people stranded from the High Street onwards.)

I returned to Bilbie Green on the next 349 which drove the correct way and phoned my GP as I had severe pains in my knee. Wonderful support there as they offered me an appointment that afternoon. As I have low

has gone, now the local greengrocer is

blood pressure and have fainted on several

proposing to close end of January. All local

349 bus saga

occasions, Dr Bourke arranged an ECG. Great

businesses employing lovely local people who

Dear Editor

service from Westview Surgery as I haven’t

always have time for a friendly chat.

I often travel on the bus for a day’s outing to

seen a doctor there since 2019.

B&NES Council certainly gets what they want

various places, thanks to the free bus pass. I

I would like to thank those who helped me at

with thousands of houses built in the last few

keep warm on the bus and enjoy the scenery. If

Lays Farm and tell them that I am recovering

years in Keynsham, with no improvement to

it rains I just go in somewhere for a coffee as

OK at home and the knee pain is easing.

roads, more traffic jams, more pollution; all of

I’ve had a good breakfast, or just a walk

So though the bus drivers sometimes let us

the city of Bath’s refuse coming to Keynsham;

around.

down, the help from strangers and the GPs are

heavy traffic increase with skip lorries, cement

Last Tuesday the 349 did not turn up at Lays

still to be applauded.

lorries and an increase in learner lorry drivers

Farm so I waited another half hour but I passed

Pam Savage

coming through Keynsham.

A town cannot survive on charity shops, cafés and hairdressers.

Pete, Willsbridge

Praise for council’s prompt action Dear Editor On Monday 14th November I noticed some anti-social, uncaring person had dumped 12 black bags of rubbish at the end of the lane that leads down to the pretty little hamlet where I live.

I notified B&NES Council’s ‘Fix My Street’ of

Fond memories of Ben

this at 2pm on the same day.

Dear Editor

I am pleased to say that I received an email

Thank you for reporting that justice has finally

from Fix My Street at 11am the next day,

been done for Ben Pocock. It is small comfort

telling me the rubbish has been removed.

for his family but good to know that the

Well done, B&NES, thank you for being so

8

coffee and found out that the earlier 349 drove

Dear Editor

Concern for Keynsham

threat unless public funding continues. comment as to the Temple Street proposals or

bus to Bristol bus station where I got a cup of

Clean Air Zone

and includes Cumberland Basin Bridge. This is

transport is, and will continue to be, under We note that the recent Lib Dem flyer made no

I could not walk without pain so got on the next

Raising awareness of men’s mental health Men’s mental health charity HUMEN is linking up with the Fishponds Tap pub as the Bristol hub of its national ‘Rise Against Suicide’ campaign.

Pubs across the country are taking part in the annual initiative as part of the charity’s partnership with Star Pubs & Bars which aims to raise £500,000.

Supporters will embark on a 5,151m walk from the Fishponds Tap at 10am on Sunday (4th December), each metre representing a man who lost their life to suicide in the last year. After the walk they will return to the pub and be encouraged to donate the cost of a typical round to support HUMEN’s work in providing

A warm welcome from Abhu from the Fishponds Tap

anonymous and preventative spaces for men to talk.

Register to take part at https://tinyurl.com/5653t2wr If you can’t attend, donations can be made via the event’s JustGiving page.

The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

Criminal damage Someone damaged items in the garden of a home on Alcina Way at Bilbie Green in Keynsham between 6pm on Sunday 20th November and 6.30am on Monday 21st.

The offender cut wires to the Christmas lights, broke bird feeders, uprooted a large plant and cut the hedges.

If you have any information about this crime call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Coffee morning

Comedy night

Auction delayed

Tickets are selling fast for the 2022 Great Western Air Ambulance Charity’s (GWAAC) annual comedy night at Bristol Old Vic Theatre on Monday (5th December).

Aptly named Heli Laughs, this is the second annual comedy night in aid of GWAAC. Last year’s event Laughter is the Best - was a huge success.

This year, the audience will be treated to top comedians from Bristol and across the UK. To book visit greatwesternairambulance.com/comedy/

The proposed sale at auction last Wednesday of two strips of land either side of the Winfield Road junction with the A420 in Warmley was postponed.

In Issue 755 we reported that Hollis Morgan were marketing the land as “potential building plots” and that following concerns raised, South Gloucestershire Council had put a provisional tree preservation order on two trees on one of the parcels of land.

The auction will now take place on 14th December.

The Friends of Kingswood Museum are holding a Christmas coffee morning on Saturday (3rd December) from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

The museum gift shop will be open.

Public Notice

Vehicle crime Between 5pm on Saturday 19th November and midday on Monday 21st, someone slashed three tyres of a car in Whittucks Road in Hanham.

And someone tried to steal a van from Memorial Road in Hanham at around 1.55am on Sunday 13th November.

The offender smashed a window on the driver’s side of the van and tried to get the lock out.

If you have any information about these crimes call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Football club folds AFC Brislington says that with “deep regret” it has been forced to fold and withdraw from the Somerset County League.

The club has thanked supporters, management and players who have been committed to the club over the years.

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 4th December

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 30th November 2022

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Thousands enjoy Keynsham’s Winter Festival Thousands of people turned out for Keynsham’s Winter Festival on Friday night which was bigger than ever before.

There was a full line-up of entertainment and activities. The procession through the town centre was led by Chuffy the Train, Father Christmas, the Air Cadets 93 Squadron and the town council’s Christmas colouring competition winners.

Shops stayed open late and there were street stalls and entertainment. As well as performances on a stage outside St John’s Church and at The Space above the library, there was also a fun fair in Temple Street and Charlton Road.

The Winter Festival committee thank all businesses and traders who made sponsorship donations and support in kind towards making this year’s events so special.

Festive season kicks off in Downend The festive season got off to a fine start in Downend at the weekend. Friday night saw the official switch-on of the Christmas tree lights outside The Horseshoe pub when shops stayed open late.

Then on Sunday the Cleeve Wood Road shops in Downend held a Christmas event. Attractions included Santa’s grotto, live music, stalls, fairground games and rides and steam traction engine rides for children.

Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council news, page 13

Chuffy the train bringing Santa through Keynsham

Keynsham Town Council was giving away free Christmas trees

Steam engine rides in Downend The Christmas tree outside St John's

Crossword

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Unmarried woman (8)

1. Cries (4)

5. Moist (4)

3. Guide (5)

9. Entreat (7)

4. Breathe out (6)

10. Rental agreement (5)

6. Astonishing (7)

11. Request (3)

8. Chemical compound (6)

12. Car fuel (6)

13. Songbird (3)

15. Astray (5)

14. Wind instrument (4)

17. Ringer (4)

16. Obstinate (8)

19. Military display (6)

18. Escapade (4)

22. Weapon (6) 24. Concern (4) 26. Concise (5) 27. Meat pin (6) 30. Glacial (3) 32. Relating to the eye (5)

Hanham Hall Christmas Market Hanham locals Holly and Sarah are bringing together Bristol-based independent businesses for a fun festive event. Join them at Hanham Hall on Saturday 10th December from 11am to 4pm.

There will be an array of talented makers from handmade soap and candles to vintage fashion, illustrative artworks to handcrafted jewellery. Free mulled wine and mince pies will be available to get everyone in the festive spirit.

The market is founded on eco-friendly sustainability so you can enjoy mindful Christmas shopping, supporting both the planet and local businesses.

Holly and Sarah are enthusiastic about making connections within the community and bringing value to the local area. The market will be held in the beautiful Grade II* listed building that is now part of a vibrant ecovillage. Hanham Hall is England’s first large-scale housing scheme to achieve the 2016 zero carbon standard, the perfect venue for this event.

2. Progeny (5)

7. Game bird (8)

20. Prickly weed (7) 21. Place of business (6) 23. Uncooked (3) 25. Sanctuary (6) 28. Boredom (5) 29. Evade (5) 31. Mine entrance (4)

33. Listless (7) 34. Require (4) 35. About to happen (8)

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

Petition to save Stockwood Post Office A petition has been started to save Stockwood Post Office.

McColl’s store in Hollway Road, where the post office is based, will close early in the new year.

Local councillors Graham Morris and Jonathan Hucker have been lobbying Bristol City Council, Post Office Ltd and alternative retailers to try to ensure that residents are not left without easy access to essential community facilities.

Cllr Morris has now started an online petition and paper copies are appearing in local shops. A total of 3,500 signatures are needed to get the matter debated at the city council meeting on 13th December.

The petition calls on Post Office Ltd to work with local councillors and the council to find a replacement site to host a branch. It says:

“The closure of the McColl’s convenience store will leave the current post office with no premises; many people – particularly the old and vulnerable – will not have easy access to important services.”

It adds: “The threatened outlet is crucial not only due to the social aspects it provides but also for the economic benefits this brings to our main suburban retail centre.”

The online petition is at https://tinyurl.com/2dpkuwwm

Festive operatic evening Keynsham Light Opera Group (KLOG) present Christmas by Candlelight on Friday and Saturday (2nd and 3rd December) at The Space in Keynsham at 7.30pm.

Call the box office on 07432 828235.

The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

11

Situations Vacant

Ukrainian refugees encouraged to get behind the wheel Ukrainian refugees are being encouraged to become bus drivers.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris helped Stagecoach launch a special recruitment day to encourage the West’s Ukrainian guests to get behind the wheel.

At the special open day would-be drivers had a chance to try out driving a bus and meet current bus drivers who say it’s a great profession to join.

If the refugees sign up, the new recruits will take part in a tailored training programme as they learn new skills.

The West of England is suffering from an acute driver shortage with over 200 vacancies. This has been the major issue driving recent service reductions. Many bus drivers were lured away from the industry to become lorry drivers last year during the empty shelves crisis when the Government suggested they become HGV drivers.

Stagecoach has recently increased its hourly rates to £13.75 per hour (Monday to Friday), £14 per hour on Saturdays and £15.70 per hour on Sundays.

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The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

The Community Page

Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council

New pavilion project at King George V / Badminton Road Playing Field

Bromley Heath Playing Fields It is pleasing to note that Wessex Water have now completed the works required to the pond area. However, it is very disappointing to see the damage caused by their vehicles on site.

Many of you visiting these lovely playing fields in Downend

Rest assured that the parish council will be working with

will have seen two new shipping containers, clad in wood,

Wessex Water to get the playing fields back to normal as

located near to the children’s play area.

soon as possible.

The containers will be used for storage for both the football and cricket teams who use the facilities on site. In the coming weeks, landscaping will be completed and the compound behind the existing pavilion will be cleared, in readiness for the demolition of the pavilion in the new year.

D&BH Parish Council awaits the receipt of tenders for the new pavilion project. When the work commences, inevitably this will mean some disruption and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused during this time.

There are other projects going on at these playing fields: - South Gloucestershire Council will shortly be planting new trees after many were removed due to ash dieback.

- There will be a further two log seats which will be carved by a specialist contractor in the new year. These will, hopefully, look something like the photograph shown.

- A new recycled seat will be installed, as requested by the ‘Friends’ group, following a donation received from the Downend Round Table.

- Planting of wildflowers and spring bulbs.

Clearly there will be lots going on over the coming months.

This will be an exciting and challenging time for Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023!

APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The aim of Downend & Bromley Heath Parish

The Planning Committee of Downend & Bromley Heath

Council’s grant scheme is to promote community

Parish Council meets regularly to view and discuss the

activity within the parish.

planning applications received for the area.

By providing financial support for community

Meetings are held fortnightly at Badminton Road

organisations working for the benefit of residents, the

Methodist Church at 7pm. Members of the public are

council’s intention is to improve the range of activities

welcome to attend and submit their views on specific

and services within Downend and Bromley Heath.

applications. Please refer to the parish council’s website

Grants can be awarded to new as well as existing

- www.dbhparishcouncil.uk - to find out more.

organisations and are targeted at local organisations and groups benefiting local people. Each application will be considered on its individual merits. Please visit www.dbhparishcouncil.uk and complete the online application form or contact the parish clerk for a hard copy of the form.

The Week in • Wednesday 30th November 2022

Contact Details Parish Clerk: Angela Hocking Telephone: 0117 956 7001 Website: www.dbhparishcouncil.uk/

13

Spotlight on bus timetable failures Following our report in last week’s issue that First had “temporarily” removed almost 1,500 journeys from its current timetable, a timely warning has emerged for bus companies which fail to honour their commitments.

Stagecoach Devon has just been ordered to run free bus services in Exeter over two weekends in December after the Traffic Commissioner found that 21% of the company’s services did not run to timetable. At a public inquiry, the

Traffic Commissioner heard that Stagecoach Devon had not acted quickly enough to act on its shortage of drivers by deregistering services it was unable to operate.

In October, First made severe cutbacks to its timetables in the Bristol area for exactly the same reasons. But the company has faced severe criticism over its decision to make further cuts just a matter of weeks after the revised timetable came into operation.

While First has indicated there is no prospect of the

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bus journeys being re-instated, it has called the cancellations “temporary” until such time as a new timetable comes into being from next April. Unless there is a dramatic improvement in First’s recruitment strategy by then, there’s every chance these cancellations will become permanent.

To make a complaint about a local bus service contact complaints@bususers.org or write to Bus Users UK, 22 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1PR.

Crossword Solution

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