THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset
18th January 2023
Issue 764
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Floods cause disruption and leave people stranded Continued heavy rain has caused widespread flooding with roads closed and people stranded, including a community of around 50 boaters in Keynsham. The A431 at Swineford was closed to traffic last Thursday as floodwaters rose. South Gloucestershire Council’s StreetCare teams assisted residents with sandbags and moving furniture. The road was finally reopened on Monday afternoon. On several occasions motorists got caught out trying to drive through flood waters in Old Bristol Road in Keynsham and some had to be rescued by firefighters. And Avon Fire & Rescue crews were called out on Friday to reports of people trapped on a boat due to rising floodwater next to The Lock Keeper pub in Keynsham They had all managed to get out and on to dry land by the time help
Cars stuck at Old Bristol Road
Also in this week’s issue
arrived, but due to the precarious position of the 38-foot boat, firefighters secured it using rope and water rescue equipment. Sports pitches in the town have also been under water and the River Chew bursts its banks in Keynsham Memorial Park, leaving footpaths there submerged. At Phoenix Marine in Keynsham around 50 boaters and mobile home residents were marooned for two days. Jo Taylor, who has lived on her boat there for 12 years, said they were trapped by a two-metre high spiked fence that was erected a few years ago by local farmer Simon Bendall. She said they had warned him it would cut off access to a safe route out in the event of a flood, as well as dividing their close-knit community in two. She said: “It used to be that when things got bad down here, we could canoe or wade out along the higher end of the field
From left, Jo Taylor and neighbours Laurie Woodhouse and Dr Rebecca O’Grady at Phoenix Marine after the hole was cut in the fence
South Glos shopkeepers fined for selling illegal e-cigs . . . page 3
Stockwood Post Office closes . . . page 4
The A431 was closed at Swineford
but the fortified fence has effectively trapped us in.” With a vulnerable neighbour undergoing chemo who needed to get to hospital on Sunday, someone else who needed insulin and many people in need of food and supplies, the residents decided to take action on Saturday and used angle grinders to cut a hole in the fence. Jo said: “This meant we could get out to the shops for supplies for everyone, get our neighbour to hospital and all get back to work on Monday.” She added: “Although our local councillors have been extremely supportive, everyone seems powerless to prevent this fence being there.” The residents’ landlord owns the stretch of land bordering the farmer’s. The fence is on the boundary line between Keynsham Water Front (KWF) and Phoenix Marine. Jo said they had written politely to Mr Bendall in 2020 requesting a pedestrian gate for emergencies, which they would pay for, but had not received a reply. Continued on page 5
Cadbury Heath street demolished . . . page 7
New on-demand minibuses to launch later this year . . . page 10
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The Week in • Wednesday 18th January 2023
Shop owners prosecuted for selling illegal e-cigarettes in landmark case Two shop owners in Hanham and Kingswood have been ordered to pay a combined total of almost £11,000 in fines and costs for selling illegal disposable ecigarettes to customers in the first prosecution of its kind brought by a local authority in Britain. Appearing at Bristol Crown Court last Tuesday, Ariyan (SW) Limited and its sole
director 34-year-old Gaurav Kotia, from Downend, pleaded guilty to selling illegal disposable e-cigarettes and being in possession for supply of a further 355 devices. Krishna Trading (Bristol) Limited and its sole director Ronakkumar Rajendrakumar Parikh, 31, also from Downend, pleaded guilty to selling disposable e-cigarettes and being in possession for supply of a further 291 devices. Kotia operates MJ’s News in Hanham High Street, whilst Parikh runs Kingswood Food & Wine in Regent Street. South Gloucestershire Council’s Trading Standards team received complaints that both were selling illegal disposable e-cigarettes. When officers visited the premises in June 2022, they found labelled devices containing up to seven times the 2ml legal limit of nicotine eliquid. The products were seized. Kotia and his company have now been fined £2,750 and ordered to pay council costs of £2,500, plus £68 in victim surcharges. Parikh
and his company were fined £2,450, with council costs of £2,950 and £68 in victim surcharges. Cllr Rachael Hunt, the council’s cabinet member responsible for Trading Standards, said that during 2022, more than 4,000 illegal disposable e-cigarette devices with a retail value of over £32,500 had been seized in South Gloucestershire and destroyed in an environmentally friendly way. She said: “Although vaping is considered far safer than smoking traditional tobacco products, inhaling nicotine through a device is not risk-free. That is why there is legislation in place to regulate products placed on the market.” Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) chief executive John Herriman said: “Trading Standards teams across the UK are working
hard to remove illegal vapes from our high streets. The proactive work undertaken by South Gloucestershire Council is to be commended and the subsequent landmark ruling is a reminder to businesses that selling illegal and non-compliant products will not be tolerated. “There are also growing concerns from Trading Standards colleagues up and down the country that vaping products are being sold or supplied to children and young people, and CTSI will be ramping up our advocacy activities in this area.”
Confusion over Temple Street roadworks Traffic light-controlled improvement works set to last for five months were due to start in Temple Street in Keynsham on 9th January but the only activity observed last week was the placement of cones on Friday with notices saying that parking would be suspended from Monday 16th January. However, at the start of this week there were new notices saying 24-hour parking suspension would start on Monday 23rd January and run until 5th May. Confusingly a sign on the corner of Carpenters Lane last week (since removed) said “Routine Highway Maintenance works” on Temple Street start on 23rd January and will take 11 weeks. Two replacement signs appeared at either end
The sign that has since been removed
£895 5 The new sign
of Temple Street this week however saying the Temple Street Improvement Project will run from 23rd January until May. Last Thursday Mark Roper, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and growth, maintained that site preparation works had begun prior to construction with final surveys being carried out and a site compound and welfare unit being set up nearby. In a letter to The Week In (see page 8) Ian Mills, of Baby & Co in Temple Street, asks how the council expects businesses to trade when they had been told that provisions would be made for daily deliveries and collections to continue but they face five months without parking.
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The Week in • Wednesday 18th January 2023
3
Stockwood McColl’s and Post Office close The Stockwood branch of McColl’s in Hollway Road, which included the local Post Office branch, closed on Sunday. The McColl’s was one of dozens across the UK identified last autumn for closure, including another four in the Bristol area and two in Bath city centre. Councillors Graham Morris and Jonathan Hucker, who represent Stockwood on Bristol City Council, have been investigating options to try to keep Post Office facilities in Stockwood and say that they will continue to work hard to try to find a solution. They understand that Asda are looking to open around 300 convenience stores nationally and have contacted them to promote the case for a store in Stockwood. At the time the closure was announced Post Office Ltd told The Week In: “We regret to confirm that Morrisons have taken the difficult decision to close some McColl’s stores that hosted Post Offices, due to the unprofitability of the retail in that store, not helped by the
THE WEEK IN
difficult
high
street
Customers are advised that
which is on the No 2 bus route, although there are reliability
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.
their
issues with that service. There is also a branch in Loxton
conditions facing retailers.” nearest
alternative
branches are in Knowle,
Square in Hengrove but that has limited opening hours.
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
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The Week in • Wednesday 18th January 2023
Floods cause disruption and leave people stranded Continued from page 1 She said: “We’re a community of hardworking builders, plumbers, teachers, psychologists, parents and retirees who just can’t understand why someone is allowed to effectively trap us into a dangerous situation for no reason.” Mr Bendall had no comment to make when The Week In contacted him on Monday. Meanwhile in Saltford the River Avon breached the bank along Mead Lane while at Hanham Mills rising water levels saw The Old Lock & Weir pub flooded and The Chequers pub garden and car park under water. The lane leading to St Anne’s Church in Oldland Common was also under water as the Siston Brook bursts is banks. Other roads affected by flooding have included Siston Lane. Rail services have also been disrupted. See Letters, page 8
The Chequers at Hanham Mills
People living on a boat in Keynsham had to abandon it after it became free from its mooring Picture: Jim Parry
Flooding at Swineford
Keynsham Memorial Park
Mead Lane in Saltford
THE TILE AND BATHROOM WAREHOUSE
A paddle boarder on the flooded fields at Keynsham Rugby Club Picture: Jim Parry
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 18th January 2023
Web: thetileandbathroomwarehouse.com | Tel: 01179 770011 5
Suspended jail sentence for woman who hit boy A woman who assaulted a 12-year-old boy with a paddle on a riverbank in Brislington has been handed a four-month jail term, suspended for six months. Fay Johnson, 32, from Yate, admitted causing actual bodily harm to Antwon Forrest at an earlier hearing, and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court last Thursday. She was also ordered to pay £500 compensation.
Antwon suffered a head injury during the incident on the banks of the River Avon on Saturday 26th March last year. A woman was arrested, but later de-arrested and interviewed at a police station. Statements were gathered and the outcome, based on the evidence gathered at the time, was that no further action would be taken. A review was immediately launched after
Vandals attack heritage site Police are appealing for witnesses after a Grade II listed chimney at Troopers Hill Nature Reserve in St George was extensively damaged with graffiti. It happened late on Friday 30th December. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote reference number 5223003302. Last week the Friends of Troopers Hill said that Bristol City Council was looking at the possibility of using an external contractor to remove the graffiti. It is understood to be a difficult task without damaging the pennant sandstone and limestone mortar.
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senior police officers became aware of this decision following significant public concern. It included a review of all available video footage, as well as identifying and taking statements from as many people who witnessed the incident as possible, reexamining 999 calls and compiling medical evidence. A file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which later authorised a charge of causing actual bodily harm to be brought against Johnson. After the court case Chief Inspector Mike Buck said: “We’re extremely grateful to Antwon and his family for meeting with us in person so we could listen to their views and concerns, explain what action we were taking, and so we could offer our apologies for the outcome of the initial investigation and for the things we didn’t get right.” He said the force has identified a number of learnings, including the fact the family should have been offered a right to review following the initial decision. “We recognise the strength of community concern following the initial outcome of this case and the perception that Antwon was treated differently because of his race. While
we’ve found no evidence to suggest race played any part in the police decision to take no further action, we’ve listened deeply to the concerns and issues raised by the victim’s family and the wider community, and we’ll use the lessons from this investigation in the ongoing work we are doing under the National Race Action Plan – which is central to our mission to become an anti-racist organisation.” The police say they are looking to improve their service to Black victims of crime as research shows they often do not feel they receive the same level of service as others, which can lead to under-reporting and a lack of trust and confidence in the police.
The Week in • Wednesday 18th January 2023
Demolition complete at regeneration project The regeneration of part of Cadbury Heath has begun after a housing association completed the demolition of 24 concrete homes. Bromford has begun work to regenerate Hampton Close after receiving the go-ahead
from South Gloucestershire Council last September. Eighteen properties in Hampton Close and six in neighbouring Newton Road, plus a block of 10 garages, were demolished at the end of December to make way for 44 new affordable homes.
The new homes will be a mix of eight onebedroom flats, 18 two-bedroom houses, 16 three-bed homes and two four bed homes, which will be available to rent through South Gloucestershire Council’s HomeChoice system. All the properties demolished were nontraditional Cornish-style properties made of precast concrete. They were built as a quick solution to the housing shortage in the period after the Second World War, but in recent years had begun to suffer from issues such as damp and draughts, as well as becoming more expensive to heat. Bromford’s project manager Noreen Twomey said: “We’re delighted to have
completed demolition of these properties which is a key milestone in this project to provide 44 new modern, affordable homes in Cadbury Heath. “Now the demolition is complete, we hope to get started on building the new homes in the spring. It has taken a long time to get to this point and I’d like to thank neighbours for their patience while we have finalised our plans for the site.” The completed development will provide more parking spaces per property and will include charging points for electric vehicles. Work to build the new homes is being carried out by Bromford’s development partner E G Carter.
Annual fayre cancelled Hanham Abbots Parish Council has announced that the annual Hanham Common Fayre will not be going ahead this May. In a statement the parish council said: “We are demolishing the old run-down pavilion
and building an amazing new one that everyone can enjoy. This will entail fencing off a good portion of the common and does not give us access to run the fayre safely.” The council says it will do its utmost to ensure the fayre in 2024 is the best one yet.
The Week in • Wednesday 18th January 2023
The site following demolition
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LETTERS Time to take Keynsham flooding seriously Dear Editor The severe flooding suffered in Keynsham in recent days has affected many. I am focusing on the problems seen at the Crown Fields, Broadlands playing fields, the AJN Football Stadium, the rugby club and the Fry’s sports fields. Lost revenues and serious repairs have a real adverse financial impact. This area has a high water table as reflected by the deep water seen in the old Charlton Bottom mine shaft not far away and of course it is technically in a flood plain. It is hard to understand, that in living memory, there was a small inhabited cottage right in these
thinking and greedy developers.
Keynsham?
minutes. When questioned, North Bristol Trust
Very clever to let the developers on the Fry’s site
Ian Mills, Baby & Co
admitted that 44% of Southmead Hospital beds are currently occupied by ‘bed blockers’ but UBH
to significantly raise the ground levels on part of the flood plain so new houses should not be flooded, but that has reduced the size of the flood plain and caused backed-up water to spread deeper and wider elsewhere in the flood plain. No real intelligent thinking about consequences. The new houses at Bilbie Green, where does all that run-off go? Straight into the Charlton Bottom Valley, but that water course has never been maintained, let alone improved. So, when will the authorities take this flooding seriously, see the error of their ways and do simple things to reduce its extent? I am not holding my breath! B J Newton
A crisis that’s been 12 years in the making Dear Becky
were unable to give their figures. Thirdly, Helen Whately was seen attending No 10 as part of the Prime Minister’s recent crisis talks on the National Health Service. Hopefully, she
I am reporting on three recent events that may be good news for those of us waiting for our longawaited community hospital at Frenchay.
reported the dire circumstances we face in South Gloucestershire with the problem of insufficient intermediate bed capacity and consequential
Firstly, we attended the last meeting of South Gloucestershire Health Scrutiny Committee (HSC) in December to give two submissions. The first pointed out the failure of the HSC to carry out their statutory duty to scrutinise NHS plans and protect the health of residents, due to their failure to have scrutinised the sufficiency of
sporting fields. So what has happened to cause the
hospital provision for the last three years. The
problem and is now making it worse? I contend it
second submission gave figures for the number of
queues
of
ambulances
forming
outside
Southmead Hospital. In 2010, after the cancellation of a fully-approved plan for a 68-bed community hospital at Frenchay with outpatients and diagnostics, which was to have been built on the site reserved for it, we have waited 12 years, in vain, for something to happen to complete our reconfiguration of healthcare. The failure to deliver Frenchay Community Hospital
all phrase so often trotted out. There are several
How are we expected to carry on trading?
related factors exacerbating things.
Dear Editor
The figure was 320 Frenchay Hospital beds, eight
First, the water authorities shutting flood gates
It seems to me that the Temple Street traders are
end-of-life Macmillan care beds on the site and
east of Bristol and east of Bath leaves the area in
being misinformed during Bath & North East
20 community hospital beds at Thornbury,
between with water banking up after heavy rain
Somerset Council discussions to see how the
making a total of 348 beds in all.
as it has nowhere to go. Always worse when high
works will be conducted to minimise disruption.
For the last eight years we have either been
tides are happening as now. Clearly Keynsham
We were told provisions will be made for our
ignored when we used the figure of 320 or it has
and the surrounding area are the sacrificial lamb
daily deliveries and collections to continue during
been denied so at last, we feel confident in that
for those authorities who do not care.
the works but when I read the letter B&NES left
figure as it has now been confirmed by the NHS.
Secondly, the Environment Agency and Bath &
with me it is proposed to remove all street parking
Since
North East Somerset Council planners are just
during the five months of works, (that is if they
Gloucestershire has increased to 296,000 with no
Turning the tide
asleep on the job. The water course from Charlton
keep to schedule), and to install traffic lights to
additional healthcare infrastructure. We have lost
Dear Stephen
Bottom becomes a raging torrent after rainfall, but
create one-way controlled traffic.
hospital and community provision and there has
We very much welcome your article - Helping to
beneath the dual carriageway and beyond to the
How do B&NES expect us to trade in that
been no additional provision such as doctors,
turn the tide - in Issue 763, which gave a first-rate
Avon, the course is littered with debris, old prams,
environment? They don’t understand some basic
pharmacists and dentists.
picture of the advances made in the last few
fridges, etc. all dumped and never cleared. The
concepts of retailing; our customers require
After the meeting we were invited to join a cross-
months on this issue.
Environment Agency employs the same ‘do
kerbside parking to collect their boxed prams
party of councillors in a task and finish group to
Since your article we have sent a second letter to
nothing’ policy that caused the flooding on the
which cannot be carried any distance, whilst
which we readily agreed. We are awaiting our
Katherine Bennett CBE, Chair of the Western
Somerset Levels a few years back.
delivery drivers are on strict time schedules and
invitation.
Gateway Partnership (WGP), asking (for the
No deepening, no maintenance and no clearance,
will not wait around or carry parcels several
Secondly, last autumn, the front page of The
second time) that the public (us) be updated on
with the adjacent town discharge pipe never
yards.
Guardian newspaper reported that Southmead
what progress has been made by the “New
looked at and probably fractured, if current
We have had many instances when unloading has
Hospital was the worst-performing hospital in the
independent commission to explore Tidal Energy
reports are correct. Just more water to pour into
not been straight forward and drivers have driven
country. Soon after this was reported, Helen
in the Severn Estuary”, announced 8th March
these sporting locations. The council, as the
off and taken our delivery back to the supplier.
Whately, a Minister for Health & Social Care,
2022. As you pointed out in your article,
riparian landlord, is equally culpable.
Many believe B&NES contributed to the demise
together with Department of Health officials,
considerable progress has been made in terms of
Now let’s turn to the planners. Too many new
of two of the oldest retailers in Keynsham by the
arrived at Southmead Hospital and carried out a
Parliamentary questions being raised and indeed
houses all around with no improvement in the
disruption they caused in the High Street, are they
whistle-stop tour and then convened a meeting
answered generally in the positive. We believe
drainage provision, just dumping extra water into
now aiming at ourselves, Baby & Co, to try and
including University Hospital Bristol (UHB) and
WGP has significant human and financial
an existing water discharge system. Short-term
close down the next longest serving retailer in
council officials, according to North Bristol Trust
resources at its disposal, so we expect it to have
is nothing to do with global warming, the catch-
8
acute and intermediate hospital beds lost when Frenchay was demolished, and subsequent losses.
2005,
the
population
could only have resulted in the crisis we now see, solely due to lack of community beds. This crisis has been 12 years in the making and was entirely foreseeable. Dare we hope these are good signs and that our much-needed Frenchay Community Hospital will
of
soon be delivered? We can only continue to hope. Barbara Harris Save Frenchay Community Hospital (SFCH)
South
The Week in • Wednesday 18th January 2023
Key road closed for metrobus route work
LETTERS begun to address the question left open by the
Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), offering test
2010 Report, which recognised “that factors
facilities for marine energy in Scotland, stressed
which will determine the feasibility of a (Severn
that: ‘For commercialisation, the majority of the
Estuary Tidal Range) project could change over
finance required will come from the private
time”.
sector, but the risks and uncertainties associated
Well, who could possibly argue that things have
with proving novel technologies will hold this
not massively changed since 2010; a new look at
back. The public sector has thus an essential role
the whole matter is surely essential if we are to
in supporting the deployment of pre-commercial
achieve strategic energy self-sufficiency here on
technologies for demonstration purposes. Once
our island by turning our very own tides to
successfully demonstrated it is inevitable that
advantage. On 13th January, in his independent
private investment will flow in and deliver at
review on the Government’s approach to
scale.’ (page 90, para 265).”
delivering its net zero target, Kingswood MP
So, in amongst Chris’s 340-page report there is a
Chris Skidmore reports with respect to tidal range
clear indication that the present Energy Minister
energy that: “For tidal range projects, one of the
Graham Stuart should indeed “get on with”
main barriers is the high upfront building costs,
revisiting the 2010 Report!
with suggestions that the sector would need
Terry & Siri Edwards of Keynsham
similar deals as provided to the nuclear industry
SEE-T Severn Estuary Energy
to become cost-competitive. The European
Transformation (SEE-T) advocates
Part of Willowherb Road in Lyde Green has been closed to traffic for up to two months while work is carried out to upgrade the bus stops near the primary school so the metrobus route can be extended. The M3 service will be able to travel from the A4174 to the Bristol & Bath Science Park, along Feynman Way and Newland Lane, then Willowherb Road to serve the newly upgraded stops before continuing onto Lyde Green Park & Ride and Emersons Green. There is a signed diversion in place during the work. In a post on social media South Gloucestershire Council said the works will take eight weeks but the sign by the closure says six weeks from 9th January. People can access the car park outside the school and community centre.
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The Week in • Wednesday 18th January 2023
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New on-demand minibus service to help cut-off communities West of England Regional Mayor Dan Norris has unveiled a new localised minibus service which should be up and running this summer. The new WEST link network is designed to counter the difficulties experienced by people living in the more rural areas or away from the main transport corridors. The new green minibuses will provide an on-demand service which will connect people to key transport hubs where they can then catch a bus or train.
Crossword
Passengers in ‘zones’ across the West of England will be able hail a minibus by using an app on their smartphone, visiting a website or by phoning up. The minibuses will be unrestricted by a timetable, and technology will use algorithms to best join up several people’s needs. The service will run between 7am and 7pm Monday-Saturday and ticket prices will match the recently reduced fares on West of England buses. The scheme is one of the projects to come out of the mayor’s public consultation which saw him attend a number of meetings across the region last summer. It is being funded from the £105m Bus Service Improvement Plan which was secured by the West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council last year. Crucially, this money cannot be used to support existing bus services but only for innovative projects. WEST link will cover large areas across the West of
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England region and North Somerset which are shown in green on the map. Within this overall area there will be smaller zones and passengers will be able to use a WEST link in their local zone to link up to their local main routes. Despite the shortage of bus drivers which has been causing major disruption to services operated by First and Stagecoach West in particular, the hope is that minibus drivers will be easier to find and take less time to train. Mayor Norris said: “I know change is difficult and people will be concerned about other cuts to supported bus services funded through local councils. But WEST link will provide a much-needed new public transport option to help people get out and about to their destinations. “I hope we can encourage many people to use WEST link as a feeder service to connect to more high frequency bus or rail services. It should also provide access to a wider range of destinations and support local travel essential to many communities.” As with any new venture, there are risks attached but with falling fare revenues and driver shortages continuing, a new approach is required to persuade people out of their cars. The Mayor said: “The status quo doesn’t work. For those impacted, it is a really big deal so things must improve. We also need to encourage more people out of their cars if we’re going to meet our vital and ambitious 2030 net zero targets.” • On the day this week’s edition was published (Wednesday) the West of England Combined Authority committee was meeting to agree the award of new contracts for supported bus services. It is understood that tender prices from bus companies have risen to such an extent because of inflation and wage costs and that less than half of the current 80 supported bus routes will continue beyond the end of March. Among the casualties are the 178 and 17 service between Kingswood and Southmead Hospital. Updates will be posted on our website.
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The Week in • Wednesday 18th January 2023
Greggs’ expansion plans Plans withdrawn
Plans that were submitted to South Gloucestershire Council to build a block of three flats on land to the rear of Express Shoe Repairs and Key Services on Staple Hill High Street have now been withdrawn.
Greggs in Broad Street, Staple Hill, is planning to extend into the shop next door and put outdoor seating on the pavement. The planning application lodged with South Gloucestershire Council is to extend from No 27 into No 29. Eight tables and 16 chairs, temporary barriers and a litter bin are planned outside the two units. All furniture would be removed from the pavement outside of trading hours and stored within the shop. • Although planning permission to turn the old Carphone Warehouse shop at the Gallagher Retail Park in Longwell Green into a Greggs was approved by South Gloucestershire Council at the end of last March, and a Greggs sign has been installed at the entrance to the park, the unit remains empty.
New salon Plans to tun the Carpe Diem Therapy Centre in Broad Street, Staple Hill, into a nail and beauty salon have been approved by South Gloucestershire Council.
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Accessibility improvements at Page Park West of England Mayor Dan Norris was in Staple Hill last week to meet with local disability campaigners and catch up on developments at Page Park. Steph Purser, Chair of the Friends of Page Park, updated the mayor on the progress towards building a ‘Changing Places’ disabled facility in the park which will include hoists, curtains, changing benches and room for carers. The group has raised half of the estimated £20,000 cost and is also working towards adding extra public toilet facilities in the
The Week in • Wednesday 18th January 2023
park. Mr Norris, who is a patron of disability charity the Snowdon Trust, said: “When you’re out and about sometimes you need to use the loo, but for too many people in our region that is not possible. Being caught short means cutting short whatever they are doing and heading home because there are no suitable facilities. That’s humiliating and unfair, as well as being bad for our regional economy. A Changing Places toilet in Page Park will be a real game changer.”
11
Free Café Concerts return The 2023 series of Trio Paradis Café
The concerts will continue every last Friday
Concerts begins on Friday 27th January
lunchtime of the month and move back into
at 1pm at St John’s Church Hall,
the church on 31st March.
Keynsham.
Organised by Somerset-based Musicians South West, a not-for-profit group who facilitate ‘Friendship through Music’, Café Concerts are informal events with a pop-up café where you can meet friends and make new ones, or simply relax and enjoy beautiful music for piano and strings in a range of styles. Organiser Jacquelyn Bevan says: “We keep our daytime events free with donations invited to make sure everyone can attend.” Concerts last about 45 minutes and entry is free with a pay-what-you-feel donation invited. Refreshments - tea, coffee & home-
half an hour before the concert. There is no
seats.
made cakes - are available in the pop-up café
need to book, just turn up early for the best
Find out more at http://www.trioparadis.com
Club’s adventure film festival fundraiser Keynsham Life Saving Club have hit upon a novel way
the chance to learn essential life saving skills. When the
raised from ticket sales will support Keynsham Life Saving
to raise funds - they're running their own adventure film
opportunity came up to host our own adventure film festival,
Club and help them bring essential first aid and water safety
festival.
I thought it was a great way to raise money for the club. There
skills to more people than ever before.
The life savers train at Keynsham Leisure Centre where rising
are some really exciting films in this year's selection.”
The festival will be at The Space in Keynsham on Friday 3rd
energy costs have pushed up the cost of hiring the pool.
The festival will feature a packed programme of inspirational
March from 7pm. Full details and tickets are available at
Club chairman David ‘Blondie’ Fielding said: “We try to keep
outdoor and adventure sports films, hand-picked from the
www.klsc.co.uk – use discount code TheWeekIn for 10% off
our membership fees as low as possible so that everyone has
London Mountain Film Festival programme. All money
the ticket price.
12
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13
Proposals for three more School Streets in Bristol Three more schools in Bristol are taking steps to improve
use at the start and end of the school day.
safety, reduce congestion and improve air quality outside
Barbara Lee, headteacher of St Bernadette Catholic Primary
their gates by proposing to join the city council’s School
School, said: “We welcome the benefits Bristol’s School
Streets programme.
Streets Programme will bring to our school and to the
St Bernadette Catholic Primary School in Whitchurch, Fair
residents of Gladstone Road. This includes a cleaner route to
Furlong Primary School in Hartcliffe, and Ashley Down
and from school with the freedom for our children to walk,
Primary School in Horfield are the next three schools looking
wheel, scoot or cycle safely.”
Permanent School Streets in Bristol include Wansdyke
to introduce School Streets.
To find out more about the proposed schemes and fill in a
Primary School in Whitchurch and Minerva Primary
This is the initiative that turns streets outside schools into
survey visit https://travelwest.info/projects/bristol-school-
Academy in Hillfields. One is being trialled at Chester Park
priority zones for people to walk and cycle, and restricts car
streets
Junior School in Fishponds.
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