The Week In - Issue 762 - 4th January 2023

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

4th January 2023

Issue 762

FREE

Read by more than 40,000 people each week

Police seize drugs worth £1m after blaze at warehouse Police have seized approximately £1m of cannabis plants and drug paraphernalia following a fire in Kingswood on Christmas Eve. They were called out to an industrial unit in Moravian Road at around 5.50am on Saturday 24th December after Avon Fire & Rescue Service advised that they had discovered what was believed to be a cannabis factory Crews from five fire stations tackled the flames and residents were urged to keep doors and windows closed to reduce smoke entering their home.

After the structural integrity of the building was approved, police officers were able to gain access to the building last Friday and seized the plants which are estimated to hold a street value of £1m. The scene has been closed and

investigations are ongoing. The cause of the fire is not thought to be suspicious.

Officer in the case DS Ricky Norman said: "Thanks to the quick response from the fire service and officers on the scene meant there was no risk to nearby residential buildings from the fire.

"The cannabis factory we have uncovered appears to be a professional set-up and inquiries into who is behind it are ongoing. We would now like to call Police released pictures of the scene on Friday on the public to support us in our investigation. If you have any information, or saw any suspicious activity around the by a member of the public. property, please call 101 and quote reference 5222306102 to At the time they discovered electricity had been diverted from a nearby substation to power the equipment used to the call handler.”

Alternatively, you can report anonymously through grow the plants.

Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through their online form at https://tinyurl.com/nhc5bbjy If you suspect someone is using, dealing, or growing drugs in your neighbourhood, call 101 line or report it online at https://tinyurl.com/2rux4w98 • In September 2019 police seized more than 1,000 cannabis plants with a potential street value of more than £1.1m from an industrial unit in Moravian Road after a tip-off provided

Cannabis plants were discovered

Police investigations at the site in Moravian Road

Also in this week’s issue

Ring Road bridge declared unsafe . . . page 2

Tesco’s hopes of new Warmley shop set to be dashed . . . page 3

Shaws liquidation sees shops in Kingswood & Fishponds close . . . page 4

Keynsham golf course closes . . . page 7

Scooter rider hurt in collision with suspected drink-driver Police have appealed for witnesses after a collision in Oldland Common last Thursday evening in which a scooter rider suffered injuries at first feared to be life-threatening.

A woman was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving following the collision in Court Road, which was closed between West Street and The Croft while investigators examined the scene.

Police said they were called just after 7pm to a collision on Court Road involving a grey Vauxhall Astra car and a red Honda PCX 125cc scooter.

“The man riding the scooter went to hospital with injuries

initially described as potentially life-threatening. His family were notified and supported by officers and thankfully following further assessment at hospital his injuries are no longer believed to be life-threatening. A woman arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and causing serious injury by careless driving was later released under investigation.”

Police are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision or the moments beforehand.

Investigators would also like anyone with dashcam, doorbell or any other footage to call 101, giving the reference 5222309341.

The scene of the collision

Bridge safety fears close lane of Ring Road A section of the A4174 Ring Road has been closed since 21st December due to safety concerns about the Avon Valley Bridge, close to the Hicks Gate roundabout.

South Gloucestershire Council has put the lane closure in place because the movement joint at the north end of the bridge has partially broken up.

The closure of lane 1 southbound (the inside lane) is on the stretch between Kingsfield roundabout by Aspects Leisure Centre and extends beyond the bridge on the South Gloucestershire/Bath and North East Somerset border.

The council said it would not be able to replace the joint until the new year so for safety reasons the lane had been closed to prevent vehicles from running over the joint.

2

A proper investigation of the bridge is due to be carried out and arrangements made to install a replacement joint.

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

Plans for a Tesco next to the King Billy face refusal The controversial planning application for a Tesco convenience store next to the King William IV pub in Warmley is being recommended for refusal because of road safety concerns.

South Gloucestershire Council has received 202 objection comments - and five in favour - of the scheme which involves demolishing the pub’s single-storey extension and building a shop on land to the side, with a new access off Tower Road South to serve a reconfigured car park. A delivery area is proposed to the front of the pub.

Concerns raised by local residents have included the impact on road safety, parking, the risk of a rise in anti-social behaviour and harm to other local independent shops.

The plans, which were first filed with the council some 18 months, have been amended several times including altering the design of the building and making changes in respect of transport movements.

The council commissioned independent consultants to produce a report on the retail impact locally which recommends the council should be careful not to be swayed by sympathy for existing retailers as refusal on those grounds would be difficult to defend at an appeal.

The reason being given by the planning officers is that the proposed service bay in front of the pub, so close to a pedestrian crossing, would be likely to increase highway dangers.

The King Billy

Person and dog rescued from river

Homeless hostel proposal

Avon Fire & Rescue crews pulled an adult and a dog from the river in Keynsham Memorial Park last Tuesday.

Crews from Hicks Gate and Bath fire stations were called out to reports of people in difficulty in the water at 12.15pm. One adult and two dogs had got out before the crews arrived and they rescued the remaining adult and dog using a reach pole and throw line.

River levels have been high following the recent heavy rainfall.

Plans have been submitted to South Gloucestershire Council to change the use of a Barrs Court property from a mixed use house and guesthouse.to temporary homeless accommodation.

The application relates to 60 Barrs Court Road and says that the proposed development will provide nine high quality, self-contained rooms with tenants referred on a needs basis, based on registration with local public sector partners.

The planning reference is P22/06499/F.

Plans for 7 homes approved Plans to change the use of Redwood House on Bristol Road in Keynsham from vacant offices into seven flats have been given the green light by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The three-storey Victorian building will be divided into three two-bedroom and four one-bedroom homes. The site has parking for 13 cars.

Christmas Day fire Crews from Kingswood fire station were called to West Street in Oldland Common on Christmas Day just after 7pm to tackle an unsupervised bonfire.

The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate.

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

3

Shaws branches close as firm enters liquidation Soft furnishings firm Shaws The Drapers, which had 28 branches including in Regent Street in Kingswood and Fishponds Road in Fishponds, has gone into liquidation after weeks of uncertainty.

The closure follows branches selling off stock at bargain prices.

The family-owned company, which locally also had branches in Yate and Bath, ceased trading on 23rd December.

The 150 staff affected received an email confirming the closure of the business which had been trading for more than a century.

The owners of the company, which started in Cardiff, reportedly said that it had not been an easy decision, but the business was simply not viable and they could not see a way of making it so. Insolvency company Stones & Co of

Shutters up at the Kingswood store last Thursday

Swansea has been instructed to assist the directors with voluntary liquidation.

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.

Verified pick-up rate of 97%.

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

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

Advertising

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

The sale at the Fishponds store

Plans to widen drive-thru get the green light Plans to widen the drive-thru at McDonald’s at Aspects Leisure Park in Longwell Green to allow more customers to order at the same time and reduce queuing have been approved by South Gloucestershire Council.

The alterations to the drive-thru lane will increase the width to allow two cars to order at the same time, rather than one as existing. Three trees will need to be removed for the alterations.

In Issue 760 we highlighted traffic problems at Aspects, including delivery companies blocking the road waiting to get the next order. The council has received complaints about cars queuing on the public highway to access the restaurant and the proposal is seen as going some way to address that problem.

The plans also involve re-modelling the restaurant, with a small rear extension to the service area and two under-eaves extensions. Stands to accommodate six cycles will also be provided. Two new digital menu board signs have also been approved.

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

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

4

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

Plans for a third high street betting shop are recommended for approval Plans for a third betting shop in Staple Hill are being recommended for approval despite a groundswell of local opposition.

The controversial plans to turn the old Lloyds Bank in the High Street into a betting shop have prompted 216 objections to South Gloucestershire Council.

BoyleSports (UK) Limited want to change the use of the building which has been vacant since Lloyds closed the branch in 2019. But there are already two bookmakers within sight of the former bank - Backhouse Bet and William Hill - and there are fears about the impact of another betting shop in one of the most economically deprived areas of South Gloucestershire.

Local councillor Ian Boulton has requested that the decision be made by the development management committee, rather than being delegated to a planning officer.

He said as well as “massive local opposition” to the plan, the economic impact has not been properly assessed with BoyleSports’ supporting document ‘lifted’ from an assessment of Wakefield town centre with no

relation to the uniqueness of Staple Hill.

If the committee is minded to approve this application, he said that an independent economic impact report should be commissioned with particular regard to the context of a third betting shop within such an economically deprived area.

“The applicants’ claim that ‘there is little conclusive evidence that the proposal would, individually or collectively, result in harm to people’s health and education, or prevent them from leading healthy and active lifestyles’ would appear to be disingenuous at best and a simple Google search will find plenty of well-sourced arguments to the contrary for anyone who cares to investigate this.

“The planning application states that the property has been empty for some time and this establishment will bring this property back into use, however this property has never been made available on the open market. The Staple Hill Chamber of Trade are aware of a number of unique businesses that are keen to invest in Staple Hill High

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

Work was recently being carried out on the old Lloyds Bank

Street as soon as suitable units become available. These businesses would also provide inward investment to the location and would also provide a number of full-time and part-time roles, as well as supporting employment indirectly in the wider locality for services and goods; however unlike this application they would improve on the diverse offering and viability of our valuable High Street.”

The report from the planning officer says that

a good mix of shops is represented on Staple Hill High Street and having three betting shops would not be a negative clustering of this type of premises.

“The proposal would bring back into use vacant floor space, would ensure that an active ground floor frontage is maintained, there would be not loss of any retail or main town centre uses and it would not harm the vitality, vibrancy and function of the centre.”

5

Get real-time River Avon sewage alerts People can keep track of how often raw sewage is being dumped in the River Avon with a new real time alert system set up by a group campaigning to end the pollution.

Conham Bathing send out real-time storm overflow (combined sewer overflow) alerts via Twitter from monitoring locations in Hanham, Keynsham and Saltford.

Data comes from Wessex Water.

The ‘Bristol Avon Sewage Alerts’ showed for example that on Christmas Day there were several incidents in Keynsham including one lasting for 470 minutes and another for 236 minutes, while on Boxing Day there was one for 42 minutes.

An incident that started in Keynsham on Tuesday 27th December ran on into the following day, lasting a total of 756 minutes. For the rest of Wednesday 28th December there were close to 20 incidents in Keynsham lasting more than 1,000 minutes in total.

Conham Bathing have been preparing an application to Defra (the Department for Environment, Flood & Rural Affairs) for designated bathing water status at Conham River Park and Eastwood Farm Nature Reserve, an historic bathing spot that is also popular for paddleboarding, kayaking and boating. The Environment Agency would then monitor the levels of

Utility firm’s pledge over storm overflows Wessex Water’s website highlights that it is aware of customers' increasing concerns about the effect storm overflows have on rivers and the sea.

Although overflows are permitted by the Environment Agency, Wessex says it agrees that they have no place in the 21st century, but that it will take time and significant investment to progressively eliminate them.

“We are committed to completely eliminating the discharge of untreated sewage, starting with storm overflows that discharge most frequently and those that have any environmental impact.”

The utility company’s Storm Overflows Improvement Plan sets out measures to plan to address storm overflows between 2022 and 2025 with the pledge of a 25% reduction in the number of hours of storm overflow discharges by the end of that period.

sewage pollution at the site and be responsible for implementing improvement measures if the water is of persistently poor quality.

But the group need Bristol City Council’s permission, as landowner, to submit the application. A by-law currently prohibits swimming in the harbour, including the stretch of river at Conham River Park, despite it being some distance away.

Even though Conham Bathing’s 5,200-name petition to the council in October, asking for support for the campaign and for the by-law to be amended, won cross-party support from councillors, campaigners were disappointed that the Mayor

of Bristol Marvin Rees said he would not be altering the by-law.

He said that to allow swimming, the city’s harbour master would have to give his express consent and that without investing in significant safety measures, the council would find itself liable should anyone come to harm.

Blue plaque highlights MP’s voting record A new campaign group called Mogg Watch was launched last month and members marked the occasion by installing a commemorative blue plaque, pictured, outside MP Jacob Rees-Mogg’s surgery in Midsomer Norton.

The North East Somerset MP was one of those who voted down an amendment to stop private water companies from dumping raw sewage into the UK’s rivers and coastline in 2021.

Mogg Watch is the North East Somerset branch of the national group MP Watch which works to encourage MPs towards urgent action on the climate crisis.

At the same time as installing the plaque, the group launched a crowdfunder to support their upcoming work to raise the profile of Mr Rees-Mogg’s voting record on climate change issues and his actions including issuing new gas and oil licences whilst acting as Energy Secretary.

More changes proposed at the New Inn In our last issue we reported that Stonegate Pub Company was seeking listed building consent from Bath & North East Somerset Council to make external alterations to the New Inn on Bath Hill in Keynsham, with new signage, lighting and colour.

Now another application has been lodged with the council to demolish the condemned timber decking to the rear external beer garden area and replace it with new timber

decking.

The decking will be a slightly different shape to allow for more space and will include lighting and have a handrail to the perimeter. The works will also include the removal of the existing defective fencing and installation of new, as well as repairs to the stone boundary wall at the rear.

The planning reference is 22/04906/FUL.

Pre-school keeps Good rating The pre-school based at Kingswood Methodist Church in Grantham Road has retained its Good rating following a recent visit by Ofsted.

The inspector said that children arrive happy and eager to

6

start their day, that staff promote children's independence and equip them with knowledge and skills for their future learning, and that parents are extremely positive about the pre-school and the staff team.

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

Members ‘devastated’ as Keynsham golf course closes Somerdale Pavilion Golf Course in Keynsham closed for good at the end of 2022 despite efforts by players to keep it going.

Fry Golf Club members say they are “devastated and bitterly disappointed” at the loss of their much-loved golf course which has been their home for 35 years and was the sole remaining low-cost golf membership venue in the Bath & North East Somerset area. Nigel Edgell, on behalf of members of the club, told The Week In: “The Somerdale Pavilion Trust (SPT), who manage the playing fields at Somerdale, cite an unbridgeable gap between maintenance costs and revenues received from golf membership fees, due to the small number of fee-paying members remaining, as the reason for closure.

“This follows a very large hike in membership fees in 2021 which resulted in the exodus of over half the members, many of whom are OAPs. “At a recent meeting with the Fry Golf Club, representatives of the SPT refused to reverse their closure decision and dismissed a number of positive proposals which, in the club’s view, could have boosted future membership and bolstered the golf course finances, if pursued.”

These included investigating the possible

availability of seeking sports funding grants.

Mr Edgell continued: “During the meeting it emerged that the SPT had already earmarked areas taken up by the golf greens for alternative use by what were described as better supported sporting activities, the inference being, in the view of the Fry Golf Club, that golf at Somerdale had been effectively competed out.

“The golf course, which is predominantly flat, is especially suitable for older players and those with minor mobility impairments and also ideal for novices learning the game.

It has a lovely backdrop with the river and trees behind it.

“Closure will especially impact older members of the Fry Golf Club, some of whom at their recent emergency general meeting identified being able to play at Somerdale as crucial to them in maintaining their physical and mental wellbeing. Several will reluctantly give up the sport, feeling unable to cope with the topography of alternative venues, the extra travelling involved or being unwilling to pay the significantly higher fees charged at some courses.

“Fry Golf Club members are devastated and bitterly disappointed at the demise of their much-loved golf course.”

The club have thanked those who have

Somerdale Pavilion Golf Course

helped them including local councillors Alex Beaumont, George Lucas and Andy Wait, and North East Somerset MP Jacob ReesMogg who made representations on their behalf.

Somerdale’s nine-hole golf course, which has been partly under water following heavy rainfall, opened Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm with membership costing £250 a year or pay-as-you-play options at £12 per visit.

A spokesperson for the Somerdale Pavilion Trust told The Week In: “Following a period of consultation between the members of the

Fry Golf Club and the Somerdale Pavilion Trust in August, the difficult decision was made to close the nine-hole golf course at the end of the year.

“Sadly, due to its dwindling membership, the Fry Golf Club has been operating at a substantial loss for a number of years and it was felt that the fields occupied by the golf course could be repurposed to provide greater value for the local community.

“We would like to thank the members of the Fry Golf Club for their contribution to the Somerdale community over the years and we wish them the very best for the future.”

The golf course had nine holes

Good first report for nursery Butterflies Nursery, which is based at the former Shortwood Lodge Golf Club, has been rated as Good by Ofsted following its first inspection.

The inspector praised the “good team spirit” at the nursery at Carsons Road in Mangotsfield which opened in 2020 and where there are 131 children on the roll.

Children are said to feel happy and safe in the warm and nurturing environment and staff and managers aim for every child to become confident, independent and a good communicator by the time they leave the nursery.

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

7

LETTERS Bridge design ‘uninspiring’

During this period I rarely encountered

Dear Editor

congestion around the old roundabout. Drivers

Once again Bath & North East Somerset

simply gave way to others approaching from

Council has excelled itself in producing a

their right. Now when I visit Asda early on

design for the replacement bridge in

Saturday mornings with only a handful of

Keynsham Park, which is both uninspiring

other cars navigating the new throughabout, I

and unimaginative.

sometimes have to wait for up to five minutes

One would have thought that three years

for the lights to change in my favour. Perhaps

would have provided plenty of time for

the highway planners need to get clued up on

inspiration. The replacement will be in place

synchronised lighting?

for 60+ years so great design, which need not

In association with the theory that a rogue

be expensive to construct, is essential.

butterfly in Buenos Aires can trigger a chain

In addition, could not an area be cleared on the

of events causing havoc thousands of miles

opposite bank of the weir so as to construct a

away, I suspect that residing within our region

seating area with views overlooking the weir?

is the busybody who spawned the notion that

It could be a most attractive area and would

replacing a suitably functional roundabout

not impinge on the present play equipment.

with their bells and whistles throughabout was

With regard to Temple Street, again

a good idea. This improper use of public funds

imagination

represents a betrayal of taxpayers’ faith in

is

in

short

supply. Any

seating/planters would be constructed with

politicians to spend their money wisely.

long-term

and

A mile away from this glittering folly is a local

attractiveness in mind. Natural stone,

hospital in urgent need of a minor injury unit.

sustainable hardwood and cast iron would

The £7m wasted on this superfluous

seem to be the best options.

throughabout could have been spent towards

The problem with anything designed by local

providing the medical facility Cossham

authorities is that the drawing equipment

Hospital was established for in 1907.

seems to be limited to a ruler and set square.

Former Bristol East MP Handel Cossham

Not much in the way of elegant curves is in

must be turning in his grave!

evidence.

Philip Gannaway

ease

of

maintenance

John Blanning, Keynsham

Why bother advertising the senior bus pass?

Throughabout is a ‘glittering folly’

Dear Editor

Dear Editor

It’s very interesting to see the advertisement

I was pleased to read in Issue 758 of The Week

on ITV asking people to apply for their senior

In that South Gloucestershire Council has

bus pass.

scrapped plans for more throughabouts along

It would be good to know when we can use

the A4174 Ring Road. About time too. Their

them as most if the buses are now being taken

fetish for ostentatious roadworks was getting

off or the journey shortened, the excuse being

out of hand. The 26 traffic lights throughabout

lack of drivers. It really is laughable.

at Wraxall Road, costing £7m, which opened

When we have a decent bus service, perhaps

in October 2021 was arguably a complete

we could use our passes. I have no idea how

waste of public funds.

much the advertising costs but perhaps the

I have been making regular trips from

money could be used more wisely.

Kingswood to Keynsham for over 50 years.

J Jefferies, Oldland Common

8

South, the party that came second was not the

Call for integrity and honesty

Lib Dems but Labour. For Keynsham South, the top-placed Lib Dem was beaten by both

Dear Editor At the end of the year I receive yet another leaflet from the Liberal Democrats telling me that local elections in Keynsham are a twohorse

race

between

them

and

the

Conservatives.

I currently have about half a dozen leaflets showing that the total share of the 2019 vote in Keynsham was Conservative 36% and Lib Dem 33% (these figures are correct: I have checked). This would all be fine if Keynsham were a single ward, but it consists of three wards. In Keynsham North and Keynsham

the candidate for the Green Party and the candidate for the B&NES Independent Group, and was only narrowly ahead of the UKIP candidate. The other Lib Dem came last!

I have recently had the privilege of being selected to be the Green Party candidate for the Parliamentary constituency of North East Somerset. I strongly believe that effective democracy relies upon integrity and honesty of the candidates taking part and I think that political parties should not use misinformation in their campaign literature.

Edmund Cannon

Nightspot finally wins bid for longer opening hours A Kingswood venue has finally won its bid to increase opening hours.

Rumors Lounge Bar and Pub in Regent Street first applied to South Gloucestershire Council last February to vary the premises licence.

But there were concerns regarding noise and nuisance and in April the licensing sub-committee refused the application (as we reported in Issue 727).

An acoustic consultant’s report confirmed that the fire escape door was the main area from which noise was breaking out. The new application said that a fully sealed acoustic door is now in place, which has reduced noise levels significantly, and the premises licence holder constantly monitors the music and has implemented changes recommended by the council’s environmental health team.

There was no objection to the application from the police although a local resident and councillor highlighted ongoing concerns, in particular excessive noise and

nuisance and the impact on local residents.

The applicant’s solicitor told the licensing hearing that the premises was a respectable lounge bar and pub and the applicant had actively worked to promote the licensing objectives and address historic problems of crime and disorder; whilst objections had been received on the grounds of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder, these could not be directly attributed to Rumors, A condition of the new licence is increased door supervision. The club has been granted permission to open until 3.30am on Fridays and Saturdays with last orders half an hour earlier – 90 minutes later than at present. The playing of live and recorded music was extended by two hours from 1am to 3am. Opening hours from Sunday to Wednesday were extended from 11pm to 1am in line with Thursday, with food and alcohol sales ending at 12.30am.

The licence could be reviewed should any issues arise in the future.

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

‘Massive blow’ as Netham hydropower project is paused Bristol Energy Cooperative has announced with “great regret” that work on the Netham Weir hydropower project is being paused.

The hydro scheme was set to be a first for Bristol but a number of increasing challenges have now made it unviable to continue work at the moment.

In a statement Bristol Energy Cooperative (BEC) said: “Whilst hydropower schemes are long lasting (40 years or more), the upfront cost can make it nearly impossible to get these projects going. This scheme at Netham Weir benefitted from a European Regional Development Fund grant, which enabled us to funnel time and energy into development and help the finances stack up.

“However, post-Brexit the situation changed somewhat.

Construction costs increased significantly, making the scheme less financially viable, which led us to spend time redesigning the structures and construction contracts to soften the blow. Covid-19 also affected project development, as staff resourcing issues led to delays in the delivery of the final technical designs. The hydro sector in England is significantly smaller than for other renewable technologies, meaning there are far fewer firms and technical staff working in this area.

We found there was a shortage of bidders for the turbine supply, which delayed things further.

“Delays like this are bad news for such a complex scheme.

There are many key stakeholders involved, such as the landlord, the harbour authority, the Environment Agency and the grant funder. And the longer a project goes on, the higher the risk that contracts need to be renegotiated, key stakeholder personnel move on and organisational priorities shift as a result.

“Over the past six to nine months we have tried all possible

ways to make the project work, but higher costs, less landlord support and an ever-smaller window to use the grant fund have all come to a head. We are now at a point where our executive team and board agree that the risk of failure is currently too high to merit investing more staff time on the scheme.

“This comes as a massive blow to our team, as it will to our

scheme: “A huge amount of work has been done that paves the way for the future – we have a fully-detailed design and implementation plan, and have demonstrated there’s real local enthusiasm for the scheme. For the moment however, we are investigating whether we might be able to engage local buildings near Netham Weir in other renewable technologies, including solar and battery storage.”

investor members. The Netham hydro scheme was going to allow Bristolians the chance to get up close and personal to some renewable technologies that they can hear, see and visit at their own leisure.

“The BEC team has put a significant amount of energy into this scheme over a good number of years, but we simply feel it would be poor judgement and use of funds to continue at this point.”

BEC added that it is not necessarily the end for the hydro

They add that those who invested will be feeling deflated but investments are not wasted: “Right now, we are building out solar panels on community focused buildings in Bristol, we’re involved in battery storage projects that will reduce emissions in some of Bristol’s most economically deprived areas, and we’re looking at ways to deliver wide-scale energy efficiency in Bristol.”

BEC welcomes comments or feedback at https://tinyurl.com/3n2795nb

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 8th January

2 -Hard

Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (10.30am-4pm) Asda, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) 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 4th January 2023

9

Developer must pay council costs after dropping appeal The Secretary of State has ordered the developer behind a proposed supersized anaerobic digester plant near Keynsham to pay costs after they abandoned their planning appeal.

Bath & North East Somerset Council asked for costs on the basis that Developer Resourceful Energy Anaerobic Limited (REAL) had acted unreasonably by withdrawing the appeal at a late stage.

The Secretary of State has concluded that the developer did not show sufficiently good reason for withdrawing when they did and that a partial award of costs on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, resulting in wasted or unnecessary expense, is justified.

REAL had launched the appeal after the council’s planning committee refused permission last March to almost quadruple the previously approved capacity at the plant in Charlton Field Lane. A previous unfinished anaerobic digester (AD) plant at the Green Belt site, which had approved capacity for 25,000 tonnes of organic material per year, closed in 2017.

REAL wanted to increase capacity to 92,000 tonnes to produce gas and electricity for local grid networks, and also proposed to restore ecology in the old quarry at the site.

Campaign group Protect Our Keynsham Environment (POKE) helped rally objections from more than 800 people and the proposal was rejected by the planning committee on grounds including that it was an unsuitable site, would see thousands of additional HGV journeys per year on

inappropriate roads, would be inappropriate and harmful development in the Green Belt and would harm protected species.

REAL’s appeal was submitted on 5th April and the 12-day inquiry was due to open on 11th October. But on 4th August the developer’s agent wrote to the Planning Inspectorate requesting that a case management conference scheduled for 8th August be postponed as the developer was considering dropping the appeal. The inspector The REAL site agreed and on 18th August the agent confirmed the appeal had been withdrawn.

After the appeal was submitted, the developer said they were made aware that the council had awarded a waste contract to a syndicate of other anaerobic digester plants, two of which were outside the council area. Due to the possible impact of this on available food waste for the proposed plant, the appellants instructed a consultant to carry out a ‘need’ analysis of the proposed scheme which was completed in July. This concluded that, despite the reduction in available waste due to the new waste contract and additional plants being in operation, there would be sufficient waste to feed the proposed plant. This led to the developer recalculating and proposing a commercial model which would use 20,000

tonnes less feedstock per annum than the original planning permission envisaged.

REAL sought legal advice on whether this alternative commercial model could be put forward for the inspector’s consideration as part of the appeal. The legal advice was that this model was too different to support the appeal and this led to the decision to withdraw it.

The Secretary of State ruled that the reasons for withdrawing the appeal amounted to a personal or commercial decision and had no bearing on the planning merits of the appeal.

The amount payable will be for the parties to resolve by agreement or failing that, via an application to the Senior Courts Costs Office.

Crossword ACROSS

DOWN

1. Cautious (7)

1. Client (8)

8. Arsenal (7)

2. Jewish leader (5)

9. Append (7)

3. Plant life (5)

10. Laid bare (7) 11. Pacific island (7) 14. Not at home (3) 16. Door fastener (4) 18. Satisfy (4) 19. Egg-shaped (4)

5. Prayer ending (4) 6. Natural clock (7) 7. Tudor composer (4) 12. Small metal spike (4) 13. Predatory canine (4) 15. Roman garment (4)

20. Barrier (4)

16. Icy rain (4)

21. Sub-tropical fruit (3)

17. Sumptuous (8)

23. Inflatable rubber

10

4. Covered carriage (6)

18. Skill, expertise (7)

bag (7)

22. European peninsula (6)

26. Supervise (7)

24. Tropical vine (5)

28. Be aware of (7)

25. Express an opinion (5)

29. African spear (7)

26. Spoken (4)

30. Educational institution (7)

27. Wise person (4)

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

Local people recognised in King’s New Year Honours The man who turned Kingswood-based Creative Youth Network into the largest charity provider of youth services in the South West has received an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours.

Sandy Hore-Ruthven, who was chief executive officer of Creative Youth Network for 15 years, has been honoured for services to young people. He was also chair of the South West Committee for BBC Children in Need. Last year he was appointed as the chief executive of sustainability charity Severn Wye Energy Agency.

Mr Hore-Ruthven stood as the Green Party mayoral candidate at the 2021 elections in Bristol and polled the second highest number of votes after Labour’s Marvin Rees who was re-elected as the city’s mayor.

Other Bristol people receiving honours are Louise Mitchell, chief executive of Bristol Music Trust, who has been given a CBE for services to the arts.

There are MBEs for writer, academic and curator Dr Edson Burton for services to the arts and to the community in Bristol, and for Joanne Scott, the commercial lead of the

Sandy Hore-Ruthven

Vaccine Taskforce in Bristol for services to public health during COVID-19.

British Empire Medals (BEMs) have been awarded to Nura Aabe, founder of Autism Independence, for services to people with autism in Bristol; and to Torkwase Holmes, donor ambassador and outreach officer for NHS Blood and Transplant, for services to diversity in blood donation in Bristol.

Ian Satherley, secretary and treasurer of Avon Fire and Rescue Service Pensioners Association, has also been awarded the BEM for voluntary and charitable service, as has William Mellersh, head coach of Chew Valley Badminton Club, for services to badminton.

Search for ‘masked swordsman’ Police had an anonymous call just after 1am on New Year's Day reporting a masked man seen in the area of Caldicot Close in Willsbridge with what was described as a sword.

Officers attended within 10 minutes and searched the area, supported by armed officers and the National Police Air Service helicopter.

There was no trace of any such individual, no further calls and no one who officers spoke to on the ground had seen anything untoward.

Keep in touch, let us know what you think, send us your news www.facebook.com/theweekin

£895 5

WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH EVERY DOOR: • EXPERT MEASURING & FITTING • 2 REMOTE CONTROLS • ACOUSTIC & THERMAL INSULATION • FREE DISPOSAL OF YOUR OLD DOOR • AVAILABLE IN 21 COLOURS Garolla garage doors are expertly made to measure in our own UK factories, they’re strong and solidly built. The electric Garolla door rolls up vertically, taking up only 8 inches inside your garage, maximising valuable space.

CALL US TODAY ON:

ƫĀāāĈƫăćĊƫāĀćā MOBILE:

07537 149 128

Give us a call today and we’ll come and measure up completely FREE of charge. *Offer valid for openings up to 2.4m wide & including 2 remote controls, 55mm white slats, internal manual override.

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

11

Helping parents struggling with family life Home-Start Bristol (HSB) supports parents with at least one child under five and who are struggling with family life. As the cost of living crisis bites, many families are coming under additional and increasing pressure.

New volunteers are needed to give support and confidence to parents facing particularly tough circumstances. HSB staff and volunteers work alongside families in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, linking them to local services and helping them find solutions to their problems Manager Terri Fletcher says: “We know from our existing pool of volunteers that volunteering with Home-Start Bristol is a great way to learn new skills. Improved

communication skills, more confidence in their own abilities and valuable experience of working with families are just some of things they say they gain from volunteering with us.

Overwhelmingly, they feel they are making a difference to families going through tough times.

“The cost of living crisis is hitting families hard, and particularly those who were already finding family life challenging due to isolation, food poverty, multiple births, or mental and physical health issues. That’s why we need new volunteers to join us now.”

Volunteers receive free training and are supported throughout their volunteering by an experienced staff team and manager.

Volunteers are matched carefully with a

family and usually visit them in their home once a week, for two to three hours, for a period of around six months.

They are usually parents or grandparents themselves or have experience of looking after children. They can offer compassionate, non-judgemental support, tailored to the family’s individual needs.

If you think you could spare three hours a week to make a difference to a family in Bristol or South Gloucestershire, Home-Start Bristol would love to hear from you. The next training course of five sessions will take place on Thursdays 19th and 26th January, and 2nd, 9th and 23rd February at the Greenway Centre, Southmead from 9.30am to 2.30pm (no session on 16th February due

to half term).

Further courses will start in April and September in Southmead. Volunteer travel expenses will be paid. If you would like to find out more visit www.homestartbristol.org.uk or phone Terri Fletcher on 0117 9501170.

Road safety improvements move a step closer People who responded to a consultation about improving road safety near Lyde Green Primary School have come out largely in favour of the proposals.

There has been a long-running campaign to tackle speeding along Willowherb Road in Lyde Green. South Gloucestershire Council aims to provide a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road whilst reinforcing the effectiveness of existing traffic calming to ensure the 20mph zone is self-enforcing.

A total of 58 people and organisations responded to the questionnaire, with 91% supporting the council’s scheme as a whole; 86% backed the proposed parallel crossing north of Newlands Lane and 84% supported the proposed speed table with informal pedestrian crossing facilities north of

Hawthorn Way. The proposed pedestrian refuge south of Hawthorn Way was backed by 88% of respondents and 91% were in favour of a zebra crossing east of Pennycress Close.

The measures will form part of the ‘Linking the Greens’ scheme to enhance and promote sustainable travel and cultural links between Lyde Green and Emersons Green. The communities are separated by the A4174 Ring Road.

During the consultation a number of points were raised including the potential to extend road markings to discourage parking inappropriately, and the use of guard railing on the eastern side of the refuge. The council says these ideas will be investigated at the detailed design to confirm if they are suitable and the scheme will be legally advertised.

Land sells for £50k

Willowherb Road

Situations Vacant

Two strips of land either side of the Winfield Road junction with the A420 in Warmley sold prior to auction last month for the guide price of £50,000.

Hollis Morgan had been marketing the land as “potential building plots” which prompted South Gloucestershire Council to put a provisional tree preservation order on two trees on one of the plots.

12

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

New Year message from the publisher This may be the start of a new year, but many of the issues

pathway to make the future of The Week In less dependent

of the old one are still very much with us. Losing bus

on advertising income and more relevant to the changing

services, post offices, bank branches and much-loved local

ways in which people consume news. As a cooperative

retailers affect the community in so many ways beyond

owned by shareholding members of the public, The Week In

the physical disappearance on the high street or the

is a genuine part of the community and committed to

inability to get to school or to work.

balanced and accurate reporting on local issues. We have also

2022 was a hard year for the local community and probably

received grant funding for initiatives which benefit the local

the hardest yet for us at The Week In. From the preceding

community in the longer term.

paragraph, there was evidently no shortage of news but for a

While we are only two years into this journey, the results so

publication

Stephen Rodgers

funded

far have been encouraging. By this time next year though, it

through advertising

is clear to me that these additional income streams will be

sales, The Week In

even more important to the long-term sustainability of The

can only be as big as

Week In. As the local economy continues to suffer hardships,

revenue

advertising sales will no longer be sufficient to pay all our

permits.

Declining sales and

bills.

increased production

During talks and presentations I made during 2022 about the

costs (paper alone

history and the future of The Week In, it became clear that

rose by 25% in 2022)

many people appreciate and support what we do, but did not

The

have made trading so

want to become shareholder members. That’s why we have

www.theweekin.co.uk

much harder – and at

launched our supporter scheme whereby you can simply

2023 promises to be another year of interesting news issues

a time when the need

make an ad hoc donation. There is a jazzy QR code (opposite)

– not least the local council elections in May. I look forward

for publications like

for those who use smartphones which allows you to make an

to being able to bring you the same high level of reliable

ours is even greater.

online payment of however much you wish. Alternatively

reporting on those events as I have for the last 15 years.

You will no doubt be

send an old-fashioned cheque to The Week In Community at

Happy New Year.

aware that we have

8 Temple Court, Keynsham, BS31 1HA.

Stephen Rodgers

embarked

If you are interested in becoming a shareholder member of

Publisher

on

a

THE TILE AND BATHROOM WAREHOUSE

Week

In

Community

visit

our

website

-

National Trust Tile Collection by Sarsen Stone Group

A passage through time A remarkable collection of beautiful tiles showcased exclusively in Bristol's largest independent Tile & Bathroom Warehouse

6 Eldon Wall Trading Estate, Bristol BS4 3QQ The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

Web: thetileandbathroomwarehouse.com | Tel: 01179 770011 13

20-metre phone mast proposed near office park Phone giant CK Hutchinson Networks (UK)

equipment including four cabinets.

Ltd wants to erect a 20-metre high mast near

Confusingly the planning application also

Eclipse Office Park at Staple Hill High Street.

mentions the site as being off Kingswood High

South Gloucestershire Council is being asked

Street, but the given postcode and map show it

whether prior approval will be required for the

as being in Staple Hill. The deadline for

siting and appearance of the Phase 8 monopole

comments to the council is 21st January and the

which would support six antennas and other

planning reference is P22/07037/PN1.

How the pub will look

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

2 3 6 8 4 1 7 5 9

8 7 5 9 6 2 4 1 3

1 6 7 4 3 5 9 2 8

Crossword Solution

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

3 2 4 6 8 9 5 7 1

9 5 8 1 7 4 2 3 6

6 4 3 5 2 8 1 9 7

7 1 2 3 9 6 8 4 5

Service Directory Aerials

Aerials

THE WEEK IN adverts call 0117 986 0381 DEADLINE FOR PLACING DIRECTORY ADVERTS IS FRIDAY 4.30PM 14

Appliances

Blinds

Blinds

Carpentry

Car Spares

Computers / IT

Electrical An advert like this costs

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

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

Service Directory An advert like this costs

Home Help

Painting & Decorating

Sewing Lessons

Tree Services

D.JAMES DECORATING Over 40 years’ Experience.

Qualified tradesman Efficient/Reliable.

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

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

Book a series of adverts and save even more Our Directory is the perfect place to find a local tradesperson.

An advert like this costs

Plumbing

Flat Pack Assembly

£21.00 Home Maintenance

Roofing

Venue Hire

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

Adverts cost £4.20 per centimetre (min 5cm) The more weeks you book the cheaper each insertion

Garden Services

becomes

Scaffolding

1 week - £21 Waste Disposal

2 weeks - £18.90 4 wk - £17.85 6 wk - £16.80 8 wk - £15.75 12 wk - £14.70 26 wk - £13.65 52 wk - £12.60 All prices per week exc VAT

DEADLINE FOR PLACING DIRECTORY ADVERTS IS FRIDAY 4.30PM

You don't have to book successive weeks.

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

Tree Services

Oven Cleaning An advert like this costs

Similar percentage discounts apply equally to larger sized adverts.

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

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023

DEADLINE FOR PLACING DIRECTORY ADVERTS IS FRIDAY 4.30PM

Call us now on

0117 986 0381 15

16

The Week in • Wednesday 4th January 2023