The Week In - Issue 766 - 1st February 2023

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

1st February 2023

Issue 766

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Fury at council decision to sell off shoppers’ car park for housing Bristol City Council is to sell off the car park that serves the shopping centre in Stockwood for housing.

The decision by Mayor Marvin Rees and his Cabinet has prompted furious local councillors to fire off a letter of complaint.

A report from council officers said that the Harden Road Car Park is next to a library and near shops and a medical centre: “However, despite this location, demand for parking appears to be low.”

The car park is one of four across the city where usage is said to be low (the others being in Withywood, Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston) and which will be sold for housing.

Stockwood ward councillors Jonathan Hucker and Graham Morris say Harden Road Car Park is always completely full

Cllr Jonathan Hucker

during school run times when users also use the shops.

The decision is the latest blow to Stockwood which last month saw the closure of the McColl’s store and Post Office branch.

In their letter of complaint, the councillors say the loss of the car park will affect the viability of the shops and that their ward has Harden Road Car Park the second highest proportion of over-70s in Bristol, as well as the second highest proportion of residents information to show that the homes would not be unduly affected by noise and disturbance. The council also said the with illness or conditions which limit day-to-day activities.

The closure will increase the traffic into Stockwood Medical developer had failed to provide enough evidence to show that Centre and impact the No 2 bus route as the car park entrance the scheme would not harm the viability of the Stockwood is off the main route, say the councillors, adding that if local centre. council officials had consulted them, a different decision may • Meanwhile the Mayor and Cabinet also agreed last Tuesday that parking charges (£1 an hour, for up to four hours) will have been reached.

The councillors are now urging people to complain to the council and Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy. Cllr Hucker has also written to The Week In (see Letters, page 8).

Meanwhile there is also a question mark over the future of the adjoining piece of land in Harden Road that is essentially a delivery area for the shops but is used as a free car park.

Last autumn it went under the hammer for £64,000 but the sale didn’t go through, and it is coming up at auction again on 15th February. The guide price is £50,000.

Planning permission was granted in 2012 for four detached properties on the land but lapsed and the most recent bid for four detached houses was refused by the council in 2019 when it said that the proposed houses did not meet minimum space standards and the applicant had failed to provide

be introduced at council-owned car parks to help encourage turnover of spaces to support local economies, including Callington Road and Repton Road in Brislington, Beechwood Road in Fishponds, and Chalks Road and Derby Street in St George.

The private car park that is back on the market

Also in this week’s issue

Funding bid to boost Hanham High Street . . . page 3

Who can save Cadbury Heath’s community centre? . . . page 9

Council’s pledge over Warmley roundabout concerns . . . page 11

Well-known Keynsham man unveils his autobiography . . . page 12

2

The Week in • Wednesday 1st February 2023

Traders welcome funding bid to improve Hanham High Street South Gloucestershire Council is seeking ‘Love our High Streets’ funding to help Hanham’s traders who are mainly independents.

Last Thursday’s local community engagement forum meeting heard that as part of its commitment to supporting high streets recover from the impacts of the pandemic, the council had carried out a public survey which confirmed that while the community valued Hanham High Street, they welcomed improvements to make it even better.

Since then the council’s regeneration team has been exploring options and is currently seeking Love Our High Streets funding from

Up for sale

the West of England Combined Authority.

The project officer said a decision is expected shortly when there will be further local consultation.

Hanham Business & Community Partnership chair Bernard Jackson, who is also a Hanham parish councillor, told the meeting that traders appreciated all that South Gloucestershire Council has done so far and welcomed the bid for funding at a time when parking remains an issue, many businesses close early because the High Street is so quiet, and as uncertainty reigns over the future of the popular Wetherspoon’s pub where a ‘For sale’ sign has just gone up.

He said the free car park at Laburnum Road is not very big, and the community centre’s car park remains private, despite repeated requests for shared use. Meanwhile a public car park is not part of the proposed redevelopment of the old Kleeneze site just off the High Street for housing.

In the first round of Love Our High Streets funding in 2018 a £10m pot was split

Hanham High Street

between South Gloucestershire, Bath & North East Somerset and Bristol.

South Gloucestershire used the funding towards the revitalisation of Kingswood

town centre, B&NES split its share between Midsomer Norton, the north of Bath city centre and Twerton High Street. In Bristol, the money went to Bedminster.

Shop owner shares her hopes Independent trader Nicola Bartlett, who runs Eclectic Gift Shop, this week welcomed the prospect of investment in Hanham High Street and spoke of her hopes.

She said that during the first round of the Love Our High Streets scheme, she’d written to Nicola Bartlett council leader Toby Savage asking him to choose Hanham: “At the the community what they want.” time, he agreed to meet me and I presented She also said one of the council's main priorities should be bringing empty units many ideas to improve the offering.”

Nicola said that while parking could be back into use. “For instance, the Lloyds improved, the most important thing the Bank could be transformed into a modern council could do with the funding is look café and bakery. I would urge anyone thinking of opening a business to consider at ways to bring the community together.

“Every week for the last five years, I hear Hanham, especially if it is a new offering customers saying they wish there was a such as a zero waste shop, fruit and veg farmers’ market. Last week, I had a shop, book shop, kids’/baby shop, or a meeting with the high streets team on the different food and drink offering.” council to present this idea. A monthly She said the closure of the Wetherspoon’s market with a fantastic range of street food, offers a “fantastic opportunity” for a entertainment and a space for producers to modern pub offering locally brewed beer, sell locally grown and produced food and cider and spirits with a focus on freshly drink would draw visitors from further cooked meals and the upstairs space used afield and be a great way to boost the local for community groups, music and comedy economy and support traders, while giving events and private functions.

The Week in • Wednesday 1st February 2023

3

MPs get satirical blue plaques to highlight pollution Activists against the dumping of raw sewage and other pollutants into the River Avon and other local waterways installed satirical blue plaques at the weekend.

Members of Extinction Rebellion, local health professionals and a group of cold water synchronised swimmers put up blue plaques on Saturday, targeting Bristol Harbour and the River Frome as well as a theatrical unveiling, accompanied by a samba band, at Conham River Park by a parody of North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.

The unveiling of the blue plaque at Conham River Park

It was part of a national day of action with the plaques

that ultimately flow through Bristol.

highlighting

Campaigners say they are planning to unveil more blue

the

Government’s

failure

to

tighten

environmental regulations and stop profit-grabbing by water

plaques including in Bath & North East Somerset.

companies.

Locally the plaques mentioned Mr Rees-Mogg as well as Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall who along with 265 other Conservative MPs in October 2021 voted down an amendment that would have required water companies to “demonstrate improvements in the sewage systems and progressive reductions in the harm caused by untreated sewage discharges”.

THE WEEK IN

The Dirty Water Bristol

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.

because

campaign

targets

Jacob

Rees-Mogg and Luke Hall they

represent

constituencies with rivers

Campaigners at Conham River Park

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

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

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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 1st February 2023

Leading gym club prepare move to ‘forever home’ The leading gymnastics club which had been facing an

longer term plans to redevelop the wider

uncertain future because of the impending loss of their

campus for housing.

unit in Longwell Green are now making plans to move

This week club directors Candice

into what they describe as their “forever home”.

Littleton and Michelle George said they

Majestic Gymnastics are currently based in rented premises

were excited to reveal that Majestic

at the old Saville’s Freights site that faces demolition as part

Gymnastics will be moving into the

of plans to redevelop the Kingswood Industrial Estate at

refurbished venue in April and thanked

Aldermoor Way.

everyone for their support in fighting to

The

proposals,

which

were

submitted

to

South

save the club.

Gloucestershire Council at the end of 2020, include

In a statement they said: “The venue will

employment, leisure and community facilities and a decision

house breakout rooms, fitness studio, a

is still pending.

café, large gym hall, pits and podium and

We reported last February that the council had helped find a

will ultimately become our forever home.

gymnasts to have a space that can allow them to grow in

new home for Majestic at the old sports centre at the Grange

“The space has been designed by us to allow us to maximise

confidence and achieve their goals in an awesome

School site in Warmley which closed in 2016. There are

its usage and accommodate growth. We are excited for the

environment. All ages and abilities will thrive in our new

Majestic are moving from Longwell Green

space with it being fully accessible and therefore hopefully enjoy the journey with the future Majestic Gymnastics CIC. It has been a long process full of the unknown, however we can confirm our current venue will close on Monday 17th April and we will reopen in our new venue on Tuesday 2nd May.” They say there will be more variety of sessions, an expanding coaching team, hosting competitions, larger development programmes, inclusive gymnastics and a new large car park and heating.

Work (left and right) under way on Majestic Gymnastics’ new home

The Week in • Wednesday 1st February 2023

There will also be rentable rooms and they are keen to form more links with the community.

5

Woman fined for littering A Speedwell woman has been ordered to pay £708 after South Gloucestershire Council prosecuted her for littering in Kingswood.

Alison Godfrey, of Green Croft, failed to attend Bristol Magistrates’ Court for the hearing last Monday and was found guilty in her absence. She was fined £220 with £400 in costs and a £88 victim surcharge.

The court heard that on 20th June last year street enforcement officers in Regent Street saw Godfrey pass a roadside bin and then throw a cigarette on to the floor, making no attempt to retrieve it. She then entered a nearby bank.

One of the officers waited outside and when she emerged they pointed out the offence but she was dismissive and walked away. A short while later she was seen returning to a parked car and the officer again approached her and requested her details. She obliged and was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Subsequent checks showed that she had failed to make any payment so prosecution for the offence of littering was progressed through the court.

Quad bike stolen A green Honda quad bike was stolen after thieves broke into a garage on Common Lane in Compton Dando during the night of Saturday 21st January.

If you have any information about this incident, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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

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Web: thetileandbathroomwarehouse.com | Tel: 01179 770011 The Week in • Wednesday 1st February 2023

Man dies at fishing club A man died following an “incident” at the fishing Golden Valley Fishing Club in Bitton.

Avon & Somerset Police said they received a call shortly after 11am last Tuesday from the ambulance service about an

Bridge repair work Repair work by a specialist contractor was scheduled to take place this week on the failed joint on Avon Valley Bridge which carries the A4174 Ring Road.

Safety concerns forced South Gloucestershire Council to close the inside lane just north of the Hicks Gate roundabout last month. The two-day repair programme was scheduled for yesterday and today (Wednesday).

incident they were dealing with in Bitton.

"Sadly, a man was pronounced deceased at the scene. His next of kin has been informed and our sympathies are with them. His death is not believed to be suspicious but we will carry out enquiries on behalf of the coroner."

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “We were called at 10.54am to an incident in the Bitton area. We sent a double-crewed land ambulance, a hazardous area response team, an operations officer and an air ambulance.”

346 drink/drug-drive arrests in winter operation Avon & Somerset Police say they arrested 346 motorists for driving under the influence of drink and/or drugs during ‘Op Tonic’ which ran between 21st November and 31st December. Of these arrests, 278 were made in December – a 13% increase on the 246 arrests made in the equivalent period in 2021.

Drink-driving accounted for 216 offences and drug-driving for 130 offences, the latter seeing a dramatic increase on previous figures of 39 (2021), 45 (2020) and 31 (2019).

The operation also resulted in many other road-related

The Week in • Wednesday 1st February 2023

offences being detected and dealt with, including speeding, no insurance, seatbelts, vehicle condition, possession of drugs, disqualified drivers, and a wanted person.

During this year’s Op Tonic, drivers in the 25 to 34-yearold age group accounted for around a third (117) of arrests, followed by 35 to 44-year-olds (77 arrests) and under-25year-olds (75 arrests). Just over 81% of those arrested were male.

In 2021, a third of RTCs in Avon and Somerset had a drink and/or drug factor. They involved the deaths of 12 people.

7

LETTERS East Bristol residents treated ‘despicably’

Car park loss will have serious consequences

Dear Editor

Dear Editor

I recall, back in what must be in late 2009,

On Tuesday 24th January, the Mayor and his

attending an area forum in Kingswood where

Cabinet colleagues approved the sale of Harden

there was a presentation about plans to build a

Road car park in Stockwood, along with three

new super hospital at Southmead. I also recall the

mismanagement of council finances.

neighbours in the 1960s after the rag and bone

Jonathan Hucker

man’s horse went by. I wish we had manure left

Bristol City Councillor

in the road, all we get is junk food wrappers and

Stockwood Ward (Conservative)

crashed car plastic! No compost heap? Now that should be a criminal offence. Please note, I do not own or ride a horse, just appreciate their uses.

other district car parks in the city. The apparent

Safety fears over reduced lighting in South Glos

concerns being raised by myself and others and I

justification for this decision is that the car park

Dear Editor

recall the assurances being made in response, a

is “under-used”.

Yet again I find South Gloucestershire Council

community hospital in Frenchay, minor injury

My colleague Cllr Graham Morris and I are

putting women’s and girls’ safety at risk by stating

Thanks for helping my wife after High Street fall

unit at Cossham, blah, blah, blah.

utterly dismayed at the decision to sell Harden

in their annual budget: “We will reduce the

Dear Editor

I recall concerns on transport; at the time it was a

Road car park and are determined to get it

illumination of street lights by 25% after 11pm.”

I would like to thank the kind lady and gentleman

doddle to get to Frenchay or Cossham Hospital,

reversed. Harden Road car park is not ‘under-

This is to save money!

who helped my wife when she fell last Monday

but what about Southmead? We wouldn’t have to

used’. It is a vital public asset that serves the

Instead of switching off street lights, they should

(23rd January ) on Keynsham High Street.

worry, indeed these plans were approved in 2009,

shops, the library and nearby medical facilities. It

be switching off traffic lights. The lights on

Also I would like to thank the staff in Costa

weren't they, it was all reported in the papers at

is always completely full during school run times,

roundabouts are on 24/7, why? This is a waste of

Coffee for taking care of her.

the time. Well, we all know the outcome of this

being located close to Waycroft Academy.

energy and taxpayers’ money. These lights should

Tony

empty promise, don’t we?

My postbag is full of complaints from residents

be part time.

Now, to add further insult to residents living here

about dangerous and inconsiderate parking in the

South Gloucestershire Council did not apply for

in the East Bristol Fringe, it has been mooted that

vicinity of Stockwood shops. Therefore, I

Government money that was available to keep

Lost bag

the No 17 to Southmead from Kingswood is being

regularly ask Parking Operations to carry out

women safe; maybe if they had the street lights

Did you lose a Sainsbury’s carrier bag

removed in April. Goodness knows if you can’t

patrols in the area. There are existing road safety

could be kept on at night. With the local elections

containing some items on Dunster Road in

drive, it’s already stressful enough to try and plan

concerns which the closure of the car park will

coming up this year, people have an opportunity

Keynsham recently? If so contact The

a bus journey to an appointment or a visit to a

only exacerbate.

to get rid of these councillors who waste

Week In and we can put you in touch with

minor injury unit from here when you are nearly

It is obvious that closure will have an economic

taxpayers’ money and whose actions demonstrate

the person who found it.

always dealing with hourly, sometimes two-

impact, affecting the viability of the shops. There

they do not care about the safety of women and

hourly bus services, not even taking into

are also equalities considerations. Stockwood

girls.

consideration bus switch timescales because for

Ward has the second highest proportion of

demonstrated their lack of concern as they have

nearly all of these visits to health establishments

residents over the age of 70 in the city (16%) and

stated that installing lights in a local park could

in Hengrove, Yate, Southmead or Bath, two buses

the second highest proportion of residents whose

cause anti-social behaviour! Yet when it comes to

are required and heaven help if you need to visit

daily activities are considerably limited by health

the new Jubilee Park at Cadbury Heath, the local

on a Sunday.

conditions (14%). These people will suffer from

council will be installing lights for safety reasons.

Then there’s cancelled services, perpetually

the loss of the car park.

Talk about contradiction. This again proves to me

worrying if your bus will turn up on time or at all,

The Mayor and his Cabinet colleagues need to

how out of touch parish councils are.

and how you might get to your appointment on

look at the wider picture. The decision they have

Things need to change and the local elections give

Bitton

Parish

Council

have

Mrs L Owen

also

Free slow cookers Families in Keynsham will be able to get a free slow cooker and energy debt advice, thanks to a new project that’s just been awarded funding from the Bath and West Community Energy Fund.

Keynsham

Community

Energy

is

collaborating with Keynsham Children’s

time if it doesn’t. As if worrying about being late

taken will have serious negative consequences for

people the opportunity to do this.

isn’t bad enough, what are you going to do for an

road safety, economic activity and equalities.

S Freeman, Bitton

hour if you’re early because you couldn’t get the

For many years Stockwood has been starved of

timing right, what if appointments are running late

the investment that has gone to other areas of the

and you miss an hourly or two-hourly bus back

city. Selling this vital public asset will just add

home. A high proportion of the people needing

insult to injury. The stated reason for selling this

Put the poo on your compost heap

these vital health services are elderly; to them

asset is deeply implausible and does not stand up

Dear Editor

They will be giving away slow cookers at

particularly it is a complete nightmare and

to any scrutiny at all. Clearly, the real reason is to

Perhaps the person who is ashamed of their views

Keynsham Children’s Centre’s Food Club

unnecessary stress. We have been deceived, we

raise revenue at a time when the council need to

in last week’s paper, but wants horses to wear

sessions on 9th and 16th February. Slow

have struggled with existing provision, now we

borrow a huge sum of money to finance the

nappies, would consider nipping out with a shovel

cooker meal tasters, a recipe booklet and

are being cut off even further. Despicable!

disastrous Bristol Beacon (Colston Hall) project.

(or a piece of stiff card) and popping the

store cupboard ingredient packs will also

Mrs C Henson

I suspect the decision to sell important public

“offensive” poo on their compost heap!

be free for people to take home.

Longwell Green

assets

My mother used to nearly come to blows with

8

is

a

direct

consequence

of

the

Centre, Bath & North East Somerset’s Cook It team of dietitians and the Centre for Sustainable Energy to help families cut their energy bills and CO2 emissions, eat more healthily and keep their homes warm.

The Week in • Wednesday 1st February 2023

Council steps up efforts to reopen community centre South Gloucestershire Council will be seeking formal expressions of interest as it tries to get The Batch Community Centre in Cadbury Heath reopened.

The Batch closed last autumn after Banjo Island Community and Sports Association which managed it, handed back the keys. The cost-of-living crisis and operational difficulties were understood to be the reason.

Since then the council has held discussions with local organisations about taking over facilities at the £2m building, which opened in 2015 and includes the local youth club.

During the closure Creative Youth Network has still been supporting young people through detached sessions, engaging with them in the

community and some one-to-one support.

In a statement given to the local community engagement forum meeting last Thursday, the council said: “So far none of the local organisations involved in these talks have been able to commit to taking over the whole building. While these discussions have been taking place the council has undertaken essential repair and maintenance work whilst the building is closed.

“The council will be opening a formal expression of interest process over the next month.”

Roadworks now under way in Temple Street Roadworks on the five-month ‘Temple Street Improvement Project’ got under way in Keynsham last week, with 24-hour parking suspension and temporary lights in place to filter traffic through.

Local businesses stress that they are open during the heritage-led works that involve installing new paving, planters, cycle parking and seating.

Bath & North East Somerset Council says that parking is available at the car parks at the Civic Centre, Ashton Way and Bath Hill East.

Meanwhile No 2 River Terrace on the Riverside stretch of the street is currently undergoing a full refurbishment and is due to be brought into use as a community arts and local business space this month.

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 5th February

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 1st February 2023

9

Meet the talented young singersongwriter from Hanham At just 22, singer-songwriter Robbie Snowden from Hanham has already released four singles.

He says that streaming of his latest song, ‘Don’t Tell Nobody’, has “rocketed” since it got airtime on Radio Bristol last month. Presenter John Darvall said the song “sounds like summer” while fellow colleague Adam Crowther, who champions new talent, interviewed Robbie as Don’t Tell Nobody was chosen as the station’s Track of the Week.

Robbie describes the single as a “summer vibe song about a secret relationship with electro-pop synths and funky guitars”.

He tells us: “I wrote the rough lyrics about three years ago when I was a deckhand on super yachts - I signed up to that industry because I love travelling. However, Covid happened and so I couldn’t stay out there. But this was actually a blessing as it meant I could focus on music. It was when I was out there, with no recording equipment but just my phone for lyrics, that I knew this is what I want to do.”

Robbie’s father, who plays the guitar and piano, signed his son up for guitar lessons when he was a pupil at Hanham Abbots Primary School. “But at that age, although I enjoyed it, like most people, I wanted to play football during lunch instead of music so I didn’t really use it for a time. I also joined the local choir outside of school,” says Robbie.

“However, surprisingly, I did carry on writing lyrics, it’s actually quite therapeutic and I find my best ones pop into my head at night when the world is quiet and I’ve got my headphones on. Then I got back into it and started recording

music during my teens as a hobby.”

Robbie, who went on to attend Oldfield School in Bath and St Brendan’s Sixth Form at Brislington, says he plays a bit of guitar and piano and is also learning the drums with the help of YouTube videos.

“Aside from the stacks of lyrics and voice recordings in my notes, I think what spurred me on to record was aged around 16 and 17 I started going to festivals, and nights outs where you see how cool live music can be and how much energy there is,” he says.

“Next year I want to perform live. I’d love to get signed, collaborate with artists, which I think is the fun part of making music. And release tracks more frequently - at the moment I hope people appreciate I don’t do this full-time so I’m working as quick as I can while also balancing out my environmental health apprenticeship which I go to the University of the West of England for. I want to reach as many new fans as possible while keeping the old ones.”

Robbie’s other singles are another summer song called Heat of the Moment, a sadder song about bereavement (No Man’s Land), and what he describes as a “chilled” pop song about a relationship ending out of your control (All Good Things).

He says: “I like to mix two genres, one always being different and the other always being pop.”

Fans can next expect a pop song with a “rocky vibe” about rebounding relationships.

Robbie’s Instagram is R_snowden and you can hear Don’t Tell Nobody on YouTube at https://bit.ly/3Hbn7T1

Robbie, seated, with Adam Crowther

Praise for ‘kind’ school

Crossword ACROSS

DOWN

1. Sparkling wine (9)

1. Male swan (3)

6. Burnt remains (3)

2. Predict (5)

8. Mendicants (7)

3. Drama (4)

9. Drying frame (5) 10. Deserve (4) 11. Vehicle (3) 13. Look stupidly (4) 14. Pixies (5) 16. Fortress (6)

4. ------ Klimt, artist (6) 5. Test (inf.) (4)

Redfield Edge Primary School in Oldland Common continues to be a Good school, says Ofsted following a recent inspection.

The report, published last week, says that pupils enjoy attending the “kind and nurturing” school where leaders and staff share a passion for every child to do well.

Staff are said to be proud to work at the 207-pupil school and morale is high.

6. Unpaid debts (7) 7. U-shaped plate (9) 10. Extremely good (9) 11. Uninfected (5) 12. Nonconformist (5)

18. Beetroot soup (6)

14. Tree (3)

19. Men (5)

15. Distress signal (3)

21. Chunk (4)

17. Precis (7)

22. Zero (3)

20. Horizontal beam (6)

23. Labyrinth (4)

24. Greek letter (5)

27. Accurate (5)

25. Stalk (4)

28. Tread roughly (7)

26. Girl (4)

30. Plaything (3)

29. First woman (3)

31. Frothy drink (4,5)

10

The Week in • Wednesday 1st February 2023

Council’s pledge over Second fire in a month at roundabout concerns Kingswood industrial unit South Gloucestershire Council says it will be repainting markings on the Deanery Road roundabout at Warmley after concerns were raised about how faded they have become.

There has been recent debate on social media about the impact on safety at the roundabout which is where the A4174 Ring Road and A420 meet.

A local driving instructor said the roundabout at different sections around it has two, three and four lanes which, and the absence on lines and lane markings “leave the driver guessing where to go”.

She said there have been numerous shunts there and urged people to report the issue to the council which had said that nothing was wrong with the markings.

We asked the council week to respond and a spokesperson said: “We have scheduled the repainting of the road markings on the A4174 at Deanery Road later this spring

There has been another fire at the industrial unit in Moravian Road in Kingswood where a huge cannabis factory was discovered on Christmas Eve. Crews from Kingswood and Temple fire stations were called out last Tuesday at 12.20am to reports of a blaze involving a large amount of tyres and rubbish to the rear of the building.

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

reels and one 45mm jet to extinguish the fire.

They also used thermal imaging cameras to check for fire spread and gas monitors to ensure the scene was safe. The cause of the fire is thought to have been deliberate.

It follows the blaze at the premises on 24th December when firefighters alerted the police to the discovery of approximately £1m of cannabis plants and drug paraphernalia.

The cause of that fire was not thought to be suspicious.

when the weather improves.

“This follows feedback from road users that the current markings have started to wear.

“We thank people for their feedback and encourage people to let us know if they spot an issue on our roads by contacting us at https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/report or by calling 01454 868004.”

The Week in • Wednesday 1st February 2023

11

Alan pens his life story A Keynsham man who has dedicated more than 50 years of his life to public service has written his autobiography.

‘The Musings of a Retired Policeman: A different world then - arguably a better world’, is written by Alan Hale.

The book title has been the title of a talk he has delivered to Women's Institutes and other groups throughout the old Avon area and into Somerset and Wiltshire for more than 20 years. At one of those talks he was asked whether he had written it down because it is

history, which was the start of the book.

It provides social history from his childhood before joining the police. He was born in St Pauls in Bristol and moved to Keynsham with his family when he was 10.

Alan served the police service for 33 years, including two years in the cadets, and the book records many of the happenings through that time including full-scare riots and incidents involving knives and guns.

Off duty he served his community through being a member of the Lions Club of Keynsham for 36 years. He became a Cruse bereavement counsellor which helped him in dealing with the bereaved relatives of those who died on his beat. Alan also chaired the Avon County Duke of Edinburgh Award coordinating committee for a number of years and the Keynsham Guide Dogs for the Blind committee.

He founded Keynsham Foodbank in 2012 and managed it for nine years and also founded and also led the Keynsham and Saltford Dementia Action Alliance. More recently in 2022 he founded and continues to lead the Bereavement Support Keynsham drop-in service.

Alan also edits his church magazine and examines for the Institute of Advanced Motorists. He is also a Bath & North East Somerset councillor.

The foreword to the book is written by Avon & Somerset Police retired Assistant Chief Constable Hugo Pike OBE. Alan’s book is published through The Choir Press and is on sale from tomorrow (Thursday) on Amazon and also The Book Depository.

Alan Hale

Author signs copies of her fascinating memoir Saltford author Diane Harding signed copies of her memoir ‘Always in the Dark’ at The Space in Keynsham Library as part of radio station KTCRfm’s recent third anniversary celebrations.

Diane’s moving book tells of secrets, scandal and survival. After her parents emigrated post-war, Diane spends an idyllic childhood in Cape Town, which is ruined at the age of three after the arrival of a visitor. Her rollercoaster existence and mother’s mental breakdown when she is eight adds to her confusion. Her father works for Cadbury’s and after securing a

transfer to Somerdale in Keynsham, the family move back to England when she is 14. It is only after her mother’s death that she unearths a wealth of staggering information she does not know exists and Diane undertakes numerous missions to talk to many people, only to discover that she is the last to know about her dysfunctional family. She is left with one goal - to hear an apology for her ruined formative years.

Published by BLKDOG Publishing, Diane’s book is available from Amazon and Mr B’s Emporium book shop in Bath.

Diane Harding

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The Week in • Wednesday 1st February 2023

Independent agency adds to portfolio Chris Hill, the director of independent estate and letting agency CJ Hole, has acquired Attwoods, based at Two Mile Hill

Road in Kingswood.

Lisa Attwood set up her estate and letting agency over a decade ago with her daughter

Volunteers and trustees needed The Park Centre in Kingswood is looking for new volunteers able to help with running community groups as well as helping in the café.

The centre is also looking for trustees to help with the running of the well-established and well-respected charity. Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and accountable for the overall management of the charity.

For more information call 01454 862190 or email enquiries@theparkcentrekingswood.co.uk

Shannon. Between them, they have had many successful years serving East Bristol and the wider community.

With Lisa now retiring, Chris and his team at CJ Hole say they will endeavour to continue the high level of service Attwoods’ clients are used to. Shannon will join the CJ Hole team as an experienced lettings manager and a familiar face for existing clients.

This is Chris’s fourth acquisition in recent years across the Bristol area.

Chris Hill & Lisa Attwood

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13

Man prosecuted for illegally transporting scrap metal A man has been ordered to pay £1,600 after South

Broadlands Drive in Bristol, who was driving.

Gloucestershire Council prosecuted him for illegally

The rear of the vehicle contained scrap metal and Loveridge

transporting scrap metal.

told officers that he was a landscape gardener by trade but as

Leonard Loveridge, 56, failed to appear at Bristol

work had dried up, had started collecting scrap metal.

Magistrates’ Court last Monday but was found guilty in his

He stated that he would collect metal before taking it to

absence of the offence of having no scrap metal dealer

Avonmouth to cash it in. When questioned, he said he knew

licence. He was fined £660 with costs of £676 and a victim

that he required a licence for different areas of the country;

surcharge of £264. The court heard that on 23rd August

however, it was established that he did not have a scrap metal

officers from Avon & Somerset Police stopped a flatbed van

dealer licence for South Gloucestershire nor any waste

on Larch Road in Staple Hill and spoke to Loveridge, of

transfer notes.

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