The Week In - Issue 767 - 8th February 2023

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

8th February 2023

Issue 767

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Redrow unveil plans for up to 149 homes on Green Belt land in Hanham A public consultation has been launched over plans to build up to 149 homes on Green Belt land at Hanham.

Ashfield Land, which owns the three-field site known locally as The Batch, has partnered with Redrow Homes to unveil plans for a mix of housing, from one-bedroom apartments up

The land is known locally as The Batch

Also in this week’s issue

to four-bedroom houses, to include shared ownership properties and some for social rent.

The site lies to the south of Hencliffe Way and west of Castle Farm Road, on the edge of Hanham. A public right of way crosses the middle of the site from north to south and a circular one runs around the northern boundary. Hencliff Wood is to the south and west and to the north are homes in Hencliffe Way. Local residents received letters from consultants Grass Roots Planning at the end of last week when the plans were also unveiled on a dedicated website.

Earlier in the week the fields, where sweetcorn has been grown for many years, were ploughed up and people were seen on the site in hi-vis jackets.

The proposals are outlined on the consultation website which says that the land provides an “excellent opportunity to deliver much-needed market and affordable homes for the area in a sustainable location”.

Along with the new homes a new woodland, picnic/recreation area is planned with a pedestrian/cycle link from the existing public car park, and other areas of public open space.

Consultants Grass Roots Planning say that agreement has been sought with one of the properties in Hencliffe Way and this would be the primary access. They say a road safety audit shows the access is safe and that the road network is capable of serving an additional 149 homes without causing adverse effects. There would also be a pedestrian, cycle and emergency access from

Better news than feared for No. 17 bus route . . . page 3

Reaction after judge rules Bristol Airport expansion can go ahead . . . pages 4 & 5

The site in Hanham. Image: Grass Roots Planning

Castle Farm Road. The consultants acknowledge that change can be “concerning, and particularly where a site is in the Green Belt – but most people know someone that is struggling to get on the housing ladder and desperately in need of a home of their own”.

They say: “Having reviewed land south of Hencliffe Way, we consider that this site, given its urban edge location and its visual self-containment, does not particularly contribute to the purposes of the Green Belt.”

Some local residents are already voicing concern about the impact on local services of 149 more homes, including GPs, dentists and schools, and local roads, especially as there are up to 200 new homes already lined up for Hanham on the old Kleeneze factory site off the High Street. Those plans are currently being considered by South Gloucestershire Council.

Continued on page 2

Spotlight on local dentistry crisis . . . page 6

Bridge linking Keynsham & Hanham moves a step closer . . . page 7

Redrow unveil plans for up to 149 homes on Green Belt land in Hanham Continued from page 1 In March 2018 we reported Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society’s warning of a “very serious and direct threat” to many of the area’s green spaces – including The Batch – where the landowner had at the time suggested to South Gloucestershire Council under the ‘Call for Sites’ process that up to 182 homes could be built.

Explaining the reasoning for the housing plans being brought forward now, even though the site is designated as Green Belt, which helps stop urban sprawl, Grass Roots Planning explain: “South Gloucestershire Council’s last Local Plan that allocated sites for growth was adopted in 2013 – 10 years ago now.

“There have been two failed attempts at strategic planning in the area since this time – firstly the Joint Spatial Plan (a joint working approach between Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset) which was found unsound by the independent Planning Inspectorate in

2

2018, and then the Spatial Development Strategy which was abandoned in 2022, largely due to a lack of agreement about how Bristol’s unmet housing need would be dealt with by the neighbouring authorities.

“There is therefore a lack of a clear plan for growth in this area and what is becoming clear is that South Gloucestershire Council will not have a new Local Plan in place for many years to come which will allocate sites to meet the desperate need for both market and affordable housing in the wider Bristol area.

“Based on the council’s current timetable, a new plan will not be in place until at earliest 2025 – and this plan doesn’t intend to allocate smaller sites, but instead will simply propose ‘areas’ of growth. As such, we consider that action is required now to address this critical issue, which is why this site is being brought forward.”

The consultation runs until 26th February.

Visit https://hencliffewayconsultation.co.uk/

Life sentence for double murderer A man from Dundee was convicted on Monday of the murders of a South Gloucestershire mother and daughter.

Andrew Innes, 52, had admitted killing 25-year-old Bennylyn Burke and two-yearold Jellica but denied murdering them, claiming diminished responsibility.

However, the judge at the High Court in Edinburgh instructed the jury to find Innes guilty of the double murder and he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 36 years.

Bennylyn, who had lived in Staple Hill before moving to Kingswood in 2020, was lured to Dundee by Innes after he targeted her through a dating website. The two bodies were found buried under the kitchen floor of his Troon Avenue house on 18th March 2021.

On Monday Det Chief Insp Graham Smith, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said it had been a “harrowing investigation” and their thoughts were very much with the victims' family and friends, including relatives who travelled from the

Bennylyn & Jellica

Philippines for the trial.

And Det Insp Will Thorpe, of Avon & Somerset Police, said: “Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Bennylyn and Jellica Burke upon today’s verdict.

“Avon & Somerset Police launched a missing persons enquiry upon their disappearance being reported to us in March 2021 and it was through diligent analysis from detectives and our Intelligence Department that we managed to link Andrew Innes to the investigation. Once his vehicle movements were traced from South Gloucestershire back north, we asked Police Scotland colleagues to assist and attend Innes’ address in Dundee and hoped to find Bennylyn and Jellica safe and well. Sadly, that was not to be case.”

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

‘Only small number of No. 17 bus journeys will be lost’ The managing director of First West of England has reassured people that only a few journeys on the 17 bus route between Kingswood and Southmead Hospital are to be lost from April.

There has been concern about the impact of many bus services being slashed following the latest round of funding cuts.

But now First’s boss Doug Claringbold has clarified that the 17 will continue to run, apart from some late-night evening journeys, which had been subsidised by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

He said: “The 17 service is largely a commercially operated

service between Southmead and Kingswood and WECA provided the funding for a small number of late-evening journeys which had very low patronage.

“It is these late evening journeys which WECA has decided not to support which will therefore be removed in April. We will continue to operate the rest of Service 17 on a commercial basis.”

The specific journeys Monday to Friday which will no longer operate are the 21.20 departure from Bristol Bus Station (21.40 from Southmead) and the 23.00 from Southmead.

On Saturdays the 20.00 from Bristol (20.20 from Southmead) and 21.50 from Southmead will no longer run and the 20.30 and 21.30 from Keynsham will also be withdrawn.

Six houses with access from council car park are approved SPlans to build six houses that will be accessed via a public car park in Mangotsfield have been approved.

Acton Homes Ltd submitted plans to South Gloucestershire Council for land at 29A and 29B St James Place. The pair of semidetached houses and garages will be demolished and four three-bed houses and two four-bed houses built.

The scheme includes parking for 13 cars and

21 cycles.

Local councillor Michael Bell flagged up concerns about the access to a building site through a public car park, saying the councilowned short-stay car park at St James Street is relatively small and to have construction traffic mixing with vehicles and pedestrians at the same time needs to be very tightly controlled.

He also raised concern about the increase in

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

parking due to builders bringing their own vehicles into a probably already full car park as there is very limited parking in surrounding streets.

But council planners said the car park access and circulatory route through it will be able to accommodate the traffic associated with the proposal and an agreed construction environmental management plan is one of the conditions of the planning permission.

St James Street car park

3

Judge rules Bristol Airport expansion can go ahead, but campaigners fight on A judge has ruled that the expansion of

to cover the costs.

Bristol Airport can go ahead following a

Lord Justice Lane announced his decision at

High Court challenge by opponents.

Bristol Civil Justice Centre last Tuesday,

But Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN)

saying that expanding the airport would

say their legal team feel strongly that there

impact the environment but that the decision

are grounds to be contested at the Court of

is for central government, not local.

Appeal and they have started crowdfunding

Bristol Airport, which is owned by the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, applied in

Bristol Airport

December 2018 to expand by two million passengers a year. This would mean more than 20,000 extra flights producing an additional million tonnes of carbon a year, an extra 10,000 car movements a day, many more night flights and a new multi-storey car park on Green Belt land. The airport has also published plans to ultimately double in size to 20 million passengers a year.

After a local campaign involving 11,000

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%.

people making written comments (77%

airport emissions. This must change. We are

against the plans), the expansion plans were

all seeing the devastating effects of climate

turned down by North Somerset Council in

change with floods in Keynsham a few

2020.

weeks ago and record-breaking temperatures

The airport then appealed and after a public

this summer. So many plants and animals are

inquiry, the planning inspectors gave the

under threat of being lost for ever.”

airport the go-ahead to expand. BAAN then

Cllr Sarah Warren, Bath & North East

brought a High Court challenge against the

Somerset Council’s cabinet member for

Planning Inspectorate’s decision, which they

Climate & Sustainable Travel, said: “This

claimed was unlawful, but that challenge was

decision flies in the face of overwhelming

rejected by the judge last week.

public opposition to further unwarranted and

Dave Lees, chief executive of Bristol Airport,

polluting development at Bristol Airport and

welcomed the judge’s decision to uphold the

completely

planning permission to increase Bristol

emergency and democratic decision-making.

Airport’s capacity from 10 million to 12

It exposes local communities to continued

million passengers per annum. He said: “The

and accelerating degradation of their quality

decision is excellent news for our region’s

of life and wellbeing, and trumpets the power

economy, allowing us to create up to 5,000

of international investors, working through

new jobs, deliver more international

their lawyers, to work with impunity against

destinations for the South West and South

the vital interests of the very communities

Wales, and invest hundreds of millions of

where they take root.”

pounds improving the customer experience.

The Green Party’s co-leader Carla Denyer,

ignores

both

the

climate

We will do this while working towards our

who is a Bristol city councillor, said: “This is

The Week In Community Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA

ambitious target of net zero carbon

a devastating outcome. Bristol Airport’s

0117 986 0381. www.theweekin.co.uk ISSN: 2052-9767

operations by 2030.”

unnecessary expansion will mean thousands

He said expanded capacity would allow the

of extra flights which will produce one

airport to explore new direct links to Europe

million tonnes of CO2 equivalents every

and further afield. “As well as providing

year, right at the point we most need to be

economic links for our region, new routes

reducing our emissions. Not to mention more

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

will remove some of the millions of car

traffic, noise and air pollution for local

journeys made from the South West and

people, and it will risk harming endangered

South Wales to London airports each year.”

local species. All this in face of clear local

@theweekineditor

Following Tuesday’s ruling the West of

opposition.

England Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “The

“To make matters worse, we know up to 20

deep concerns of local people and the

other regional airports have their own plans

the_week_in_news

decisions of local politicians have come into

to expand and will have been watching this

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.

head-on collision with national government

case very closely to see if the Government

policy that is not fit for purpose.

will enforce its own climate policy. As the

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.

“Lord Justice Lane confirmed that the

Government’s own committee on climate

expansion will impact the environment but as

change has pointed out, airport expansion is

we know, Government policy gives no

completely

consideration to the combined impact of

commitments on climate change.”

4

incompatible

with

our

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

Keynsham campaigners at rally Campaigners held a No Airport Expansion rally at College Green in Bristol on Saturday at which Keynsham Extinction Rebellion (KXR) were well represented.

Member Rich Prior told The Week In: “KXR, as well as so many others were devasted by the appalling news on Tuesday. I was there in person to hear the news being delivered, which was so hard to understand. It is undemocratic with so much local opposition.

It is shocking news for us as locals but catastrophic for the planet.

“The impact of flying has such significant impact on our planet and the climate catastrophe we are already experiencing, with millions already affected; the recent College Green rally

flooding in Keynsham is a relatively insignificant example of one of the impacts we will be increasingly facing. The

wish to double the number of annual flights

(nearly 2,500) work at the airport now than

any say over the airport's wish to increase

expansion is estimated to result in a million

from not just to 12 but to 20 million flights a

worked there in 2005 when there were nearly

their profits at the cost to the planet. It is left

extra tonnes of CO2 per annum.

year. That is twice as many as the 10 million

2,600.

to the voluntary work of those of us that are

“Furthermore, it is really concerning to hear

cap that was in place before this rise to 12

Mr Prior also said that far more people fly out

trying to protect the planet, including the

that the airport have announced that they

million: the fact is that in the last year they

of the airport than fly in and spend millions

work of the awesome Bristol Airport Action

flew 7.6 million and even at their

of pounds abroad, rather than supporting the

Network.”

peak pre-Covid they hadn’t

local economy and tourism.

For more information on the crowdfunding

reached anywhere near 10

He added: “No one seems to be able to have

appeal visit https://tinyurl.com/mr3mzyza

million, so the airport is big enough.

“Also it gives the green light to about 20 other regional airports that also want to expand; some already have announced their plans since Tuesday’s ruling.”

Of the airport’s claim that “up to 5,000 jobs” will be created, he said that last time the airport expanded in 2006 (from six to 10 million) the masterplan promised 1,200 new jobs by 2015 but by 2015 there were only an additional 165 jobs.

Rich Prior

He added that fewer people

Green Party victory Patrick McAllister last week won the Hotwells & Harbourside by-election in Bristol in a historic result for the Green Party, making them the outright largest group on the city council.

Mr McAllister took the seat left vacant by the resignation of the Lib Dem councillor to become the Green Party’s 25th councillor in Bristol and the largest group in City Hall for the first time ever.

It means 17 of the 20 councillors in the Parliamentary seat of Bristol West are Greens, which they say adds to the growing evidence that their candidate Carla Denyer can become Bristol’s first Green MP at the next General Election.

Mr McAllister secured 26 votes more than the Lib Dem candidate Stephen Williams, who was Bristol West MP from 2005 until 2015.

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

5

DIY dentistry as NHS access crisis deepens People are resorting to DIY dentistry as they cannot

representatives at the meeting how desperate the situation is.

slightly lower than the

access NHS provision.

She said: “In terms of people performing their own treatment,

England rate as a whole

That’s how serious the crisis has become, Cllr Andrea Reid

we are way past that point. It’s not a future tense we are trying

(37.4%). The number of

told South Gloucestershire Council’s health scrutiny

to avoid, it’s already happening.”

children who had seen a

committee meeting at which there was cross-party concern

Cllr Reid said her son recently had a dental emergency but

dentist

that a growing number of people aren’t getting treatment as

because her family had skipped check-ups during the

Gloucestershire increased

they can’t afford to go private.

pandemic as advised, they had lost their registration. Their

from 29.7% in June 2021

The Labour councillor, who represents the Kingswood ward,

practice - Christchurch Dental Centre in Downend - has lost

to 42% in June 2022.

said that in the Bristol, North Somerset and South

three NHS dentists and gone private.

However, that access rate

Gloucestershire (BNSSG) health area of a million people,

Even though she sits on the scrutiny committee, she said she

is lower than England as

there are 121 dental practices but only one (understood to be

had not realised how bad things had become and was

a whole (46.9%).

in Hartcliffe) taking on NHS patients.

surprised to discover that dental help is available via the NHS

The South West dental

She said she was not hearing from NHS England South West

111 line. She ended up accessing treatment for her son at the

commissioning

dental hospital.

recently

How to get help

Fellow Labour councillor Sandie Davis, who represents the

initiative to increase the number of urgent care treatment slots

New Cheltenham ward, cited the case of a Ukraine family

by asking practices to provide additional urgent care sessions.

There is a dedicated dental helpline for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area.

When someone calls 111, there is an interactive voice response that allows callers to choose ‘Dental’ from a menu. The service manages both in and out-of-hours appointments for the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire area.

The helpline assists patients in finding an NHS dentist for routine care and arranges urgent NHS treatment for those without a dentist.

staying in South Gloucestershire who had not been able to

However, to date no practices within South Gloucestershire

access a dentist so had gone back to their war-torn country

have signed up but the team say they are continuing to do all

for treatment.

they can to secure extra urgent care slots with the funding for

Frenchay & Downend Conservative councillor James

a further financial year.

Griffiths said he was concerned about health inequality and

Health chiefs at the meeting acknowledged the challenges

that the system was in a “death spiral” with an increasing

and said that the key issue affecting access to NHS dentistry

number of practices going private as dentists can earn much

across the country is workforce. They said efforts are being

more.

made to make it more attractive for dentists to stay in the

A report to the committee said the number of adults seeing

NHS in the South West and they are working to improve

an NHS dentist in South Gloucestershire fell from 42.6% of

the lot for new dentists, including ongoing training and

the population in June 2021 to 36.7% in June 2022. That is

support.

6

in

South

launched

team an

Andrea Reid

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

Bridge linking Keynsham and Hanham moves a step closer A long-awaited bridge across the River Avon between Keynsham and Hanham has taken a step forward following funding from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

Construction of a pedestrian and cycle bridge was one of the conditions attached to the planning permission granted to Taylor Wimpey in 2013 to build more than 600 new homes on the site of the former Cadbury factory site at Somerdale.

The legal (Section 106) agreement signed the following year between the developer, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Mondelēz (Cadbury’s) contained a provision for a £1.1m contribution towards the bridge (shown on the left of the map).

While most of the other Section 106 conditions for the Somerdale site have since been discharged, very little had been heard about the progress of the bridge. In 2018, The Week In was told that scoping work was

being carried out by the council.

But now it seems that work will be soon be under way with the initial contribution of £295,771 from WECA to develop a full business case for the project. The award is being matched by a £160,931 contribution from Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The bridge will form part of the WaterSpace project, a partnership between WECA, Bristol, B&NES and South Gloucestershire councils, Wessex Water, the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency to improve the river corridor between Bath and Bristol.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “In order to reach our ambitious net-zero targets locally, we need to make it as easy as possible for locals to choose to walk, wheel and cycle their way across our West of England Mayoral region, particularly for those shorter everyday journeys. I’m proud a £295,000 cash injection from my West of England

Authority means we can get on with progressing plans for WaterSpace, in particular the bridge between Keynsham and

Hanham which will be a great boost to getting people out of their cars and connecting our brilliant region.”

Where the bridge will go

House fire ‘accidental’ Crews from Kingswood and Hicks Gate fire stations were called to reports of a house blaze in Montrose Drive in Warmley at 9.30pm on Sunday 29th January.

On arrival, crews found a fire on the first floor of a property.

With four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, crews used three high pressure

hose reels, a covering jet and safety jet to extinguish the flames.

Crews isolated the utilities to the property and used fans to clear the smoke.

Following a fire investigation, the cause of was determined to have been accidental.

Police, ambulance and Red Cross crews were also in attendance.

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

7

LETTERS ‘Council to blame for flooding on Wellsway’ Dear Editor With reference to your article in Issue 765 re sewage flooding on the B3116 Wellsway in Keynsham, may I point out to your readers the ‘waste water’ photo you show is highway floodwater pouring into my home, complete with

changes to this very busy roundabout when they

them. I should love to see Hanham High Street

some ear conditions and emotional stress.

do eventually get out their pot of paint. Many

become a beacon for independents.

Sometimes, there’s no recognisable link at all.

drivers entering the junction from Kingswood

D Matthews

Many people get tinnitus for a short time – for

heading east on the A420 select the middle lane

Editor’s note: We look forward to hearing and

example, after being exposed to loud music, or

to turn right along the A4174 dual carriageway,

sharing details of the plan in due course. The

when they have congestion because of a cold. But

heading for Keynsham, which is incorrect. This

project officer has said a decision is expected

for some people, it doesn’t go away, and it can

lane is ahead only.

shortly and there will be further local consultation

have a significant impact on their daily life.

And the fact you can use the right-hand lane to CROSS the roundabout to continue towards

The good news is that RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People) is here to help. Our free

trying to turn right in front of you, is just an

Support for people suffering from tinnitus

accident waiting to happen. I do hope the council

Dear Editor

self-help options. It also includes information on

will consider my recommendations.

This week - 6th to 12th February - is Tinnitus

useful apps and technology, how to support a

Rich

Week and latest research suggests that one in

loved one with tinnitus, and what to do if tinnitus

seven adults have tinnitus.

is affecting your sleep.

Plan needs to tackle traffic and parking issues

Everyone’s tinnitus is different, but it’s usually

RNID is committed to funding research to silence

described as a ringing, hissing, buzzing, roaring

tinnitus, and our guide contains the latest

or humming sound. There may be one or more

information on our work to identify the causes of

Dear Editor

sounds and the noise may be there all the time or

tinnitus and develop strategies to treat it. You can

It’s good to read that South Gloucestershire

come and go.

find all this and more by downloading our free

This flooding has been a regular occurrence

Council’s regeneration team is seeking Love our

The causes of tinnitus can be linked to different

tinnitus guide at rnid.org.uk/tinnitus

during the last few years and is caused by Lib

High Street funding from the West of England

things, including hearing loss, exposure to loud

Crystal Rolfe

Dem Bath & North East Somerset Council’s

Combines Authority (Issue 766).

noise, certain medications, ear or head injuries,

Director of Health, RNID

negligence to maintain the highway drainage

It’s also good to read that Nicola Bartlett was able

system, plus highway alterations carried out by

to present suggestions to Toby Savage, leader of

that authority.

South Gloucestershire Council.

During stormy weather, the Wessex Water

However, I cannot believe that the West of

manhole cover up the road lifts and allows release

England Combined Authority would consider

of raw sewage and flood water which after many

funding anything without a viable plan being

years they are soon to address.

submitted to justify the bid. So, what is the plan?

So far the council have denied all responsibility

I certainly didn’t read anything about such a plan

for flooding my home, even with photo evidence,

in your piece in The Week In.

as it seems the customer is always wrong.

I applaud Nicola for her suggestions but unless

Mr Waymouth

the plan (assuming it exists!) addresses the

Trustees thank outgoing secretary

situation regarding through traffic and the lack of

The trustees of Bitton Recreation Ground bid

parking, I cannot foresee anything to tempt folk

a fond farewell to their outgoing secretary

into opening shops now closed and local people

and adviser Ken Gibson who is stepping

to use them.

down after 17 years in the post.

Dear Editor

Time and again I have suggested making the High

In a ceremony at the Rec’s clubhouse, friends

I was very pleased to read in Issue 766 that South

Street one-way (Bristol-bound traffic only),

and fellow trustees presented Ken with a

Gloucestershire Council have accepted the faded

widening the pavements which would allow the

token gift to say a heartfelt thank you for all

lanes and lines on the Deanery Road Roundabout

creation of parking bays but, so far as I can tell,

his support and advice given over the years.

need to be repainted.

this has been ignored or rejected for fear of

Anyone interested in becoming a trustee is

I am a driving instructor and for the last 12

upsetting residents who in the only other one-way

asked to contact the chairman Paul Cooney

months I have been reporting this problem to the

street – Lower Hanham Road; at least, that was

council. In November they deemed the road

what I was told by one councillor several years

markings as adequate and then, two weeks later,

ago. I’m not sure if they would object to the idea,

agreed they needed repainting.

especially if the pavements in that road could also

I have asked the council to consider making some

be widened and parking bays integrated into

added raw sewage.

Will council heed my advice about junction?

8

Chippenham, when you have drivers on your left

Tinnitus Guide contains information on ways to manage tinnitus, from professional support to

Future of the 17 bus Thank you to those readers who sent us letters of concern about the future of the 17 bus between Kingswood and Southmead Hospital. Please see page 3 for our story in which First’s managing director clarifies that only a few journeys on the 17 bus route between Kingswood and Southmead Hospital are to be lost from April.

to find out more on 07396 352986 or email

the left are treasurer Roger Blake, chairman

paulcooneyemail@aol.com

of the trustees Paul Cooney, the secretary of

Ken is seated on the left next to the cricket

Bitton Archers Scott Crump, and trustee

club’s trustee Dennis Willmott. Behind from

Clementine Smith.

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

Work starts on new £500,000 park Work was getting under way this week on Cadbury Heath’s new £500,000 Jubilee Park in Cadbury Heath at

A path was being laid on Monday

the former pitch and putt site.

The first phase of works, lasting 12 weeks, will involve widening the shared path, improving street lighting and estate railings. During this time half of the park, near Brereton Way, will have restricted access to ensure public safety.

A temporary accessible path will be built so people can still walk through the park.

Public feedback was invited on the design before Christmas.

The park will be a haven for wildlife and will include a community orchard, wildflower meadows, woodland garden of reflection and thousands of spring flowers, including the late Queen’s favourite Lily of the Valley.

The park marks the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and is also in memory of HRH Duke of Edinburgh and his interest in wildlife and nature.

In a poll, locals chose the site as the best place, above Banjo Island and Tarzan Park.

Bereavement

An aerial view of the site

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 12th 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 8th February 2023

9

New Skills Hub helping to reinvigorate town centre Kings Chase Shopping Centre in Kingswood is now fully occupied, following the purchase of the centre by South Gloucestershire Council in 2021.

The newest addition is a Skills Hub where people can get help to develop skills and qualifications to get into employment or progress their careers.

The ultimate aim is to roll out such hubs to other high streets in the district following the pilot in Kingswood, which will run through 2023.

The space in the Kings Chase Shopping Centre is designed to allow one-to-one and classroom sessions. Services will be provided by a range of providers. Classes have begun on site, with full opening to take place in March.

As well as now having all units in the shopping centre occupied with a variety of businesses and services, other improvements have also been completed in recent months, including upgrades to the public toilets.

Enhancements to the shopping centre, the renovation of the Whitfield Tabernacle in Park Road and the approval last year of the Kingswood Masterplan are all designed to restore and

reinvigorate the centre of Kingswood for locals and visitors alike.

Council leader Toby Savage visited the new Skills Hub with the cabinet member responsible for education, Erica Williams, and the member responsible for council property, Ben Burton.

Cllr Savage said: “Kingswood is thriving and Councillors with members of South Gloucestershire the plans we have produced Council’s Community Learning & Skills team alongside local people and businesses will ensure that it continues to do so into the revenue to support our council budgets, with all units now occupied.” future.

“I am delighted that since we have taken ownership of the The Skills Hub is funded with a grant from the West of shopping centre, we have been able to use our position as the England Combined Authority’s Community Renewal Fund, landlord to promote the business and we are now using the as well as a grant from the Department of Work and Pensions space to help the whole community, as well as to generate and the council’s own resources.

Quiz night in aid of Ukraine families Chernobyl Children's Lifeline (now known as The Helping Hand for Ukraine), will be holding its annual quiz night at Christchurch Hall in Downend on Saturday 25th February, starting at 7.30pm.

The evening aims to raise money for children and families in Ukraine being directly affected by the war.

The charity has had to change dramatically since the war started in February 2022. It now provides aid and support on the ground in Ukraine to help refugee families, many of whom have special needs

Crossword

or disabilities. This includes the current project to set up a ‘safe house’ in northern Ukraine for those fleeing conflict areas, but who are unable to leave the country easily, if at all.

People can bring drinks and food to the quiz night and the cost to enter is £6 for adults and £3 for any team member under 16.

If you want to enter a team (maximum six quizzers), or know someone who would be interested, get in touch via the Facebook page @ccllbristol.

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Meeting schedule (6)

1. Help (6)

4. Moneylender (6)

3. Type of window (6)

8. District adjoining a town (6)

5. Calm (6)

10. Source (6)

7. Park warden (6)

11. Pale purple (5)

9. Wounding remark (4)

12. Separate (6)

10. Ended (4)

14. Course at dinner (6)

13. Move to music (5)

16. Attire (4)

18. Reliable (6)

17. Tall grass (4)

19. Abut (6)

19. Land measure (4)

20. Worship (6)

22. Metallic element (4)

21. Islamic ruler (4)

26. Buy back (6) 27. Breed of sheep (6) 28. Essential (5) 29. Light rainfall (6)

2. Receding (6)

6. Esteem (6)

15. Male voice (5)

22. Muslim prayer leader (4) 23. Charge weapon again (6) 24. Agile (6) 25. Breed of dog (6)

30. Unwholesome (6) 31. Over there (6) 32. Stick (6)

10

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

CCTV footage of crimes ‘not being shared with the police’ Concerns have been raised that video evidence of crimes and anti-social behaviour at Aspects Leisure Park in Longwell Green is not being shared with the police.

The recent Community Engagement Forum meeting heard that even though the CCTV there is being monitored 24 hours a day by an on-site security team, it is not compatible with the police online reporting system.

The local beat team said the company that manages the site

Spring show Keynsham’s inaugural Spring Show will be held on Saturday 25th March at the Scout Hut in Ashton Way. The show, which is being organised by the town council, will have competitive classes in flowers, fruit and vegetables, cookery, art and handicrafts, plus a children’s craft and cookery section. There will also be a children’s colouring competition for pupils at local infant and junior schools.

On the day there will be workshops, including flower arranging by Saltford & District Flower Club. The full show schedule and event programme and details of how to enter are on the town council’s website. To find out more call 01179 868683.

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

– Savills - has not been able to sort out the technology needed to send footage to the police.

The police said it is too labour intensive for officers to go out and collect discs or memory sticks of evidence for lower priority crimes and that they are trying to “push back responsibility” to the company. They said a similar situation with system compatibility at the nearby Asda store has recently been rectified by the supermarket.

The police did issue a reassurance that in the case of a serious crime, such as a robbery, they would attend.

A local resident voiced concern about the situation, particularly as the police are not getting accurate statistics

about what is happening there.

The Week In has invited Savills to respond to the concerns raised but we had not received a response as we went to print.

Problems with youths Police have been dealing with groups of young people gathering around the Newton Road shops in Cadbury Heath at weekends.

The recent Community Engagement Forum meeting heard

that the local beat team have been doing a lot of work around that to try to identify the individuals. Just before Christmas they were trying to identify 51 youths who were hanging around and causing police issues.

11

Council assurance over breastfeeding service’s future Open access and free support for breastfeeding will continue in South Gloucestershire, the council has pledged, in response to concerns raised about the future of the community-based service.

The council said: “The contract with the current providers, Barnardo’s, is due to end in March and we’re in the process of recommissioning the service.

“We are confident a provider will be appointed before the end of March. This means there will be no gap in service and open access and free support for breastfeeding will continue for South Gloucestershire residents.”

The council says the workforce, paid and voluntary, of the new service will be the responsibility of the appointed provider “but we recognise and thank the current team for their good work and dedication in delivering the breastfeeding support service. We will work with the providers to ensure that all opportunities for existing staff and volunteers are considered.”

The reassurance has been welcomed by Healthwatch South Gloucestershire.

Become a hedgehog hero People are being asked to become hedgehog heroes as part of South Gloucestershire Council’s efforts to help halt the severe decline in the species over the last 20 years.

As part of the council’s nature recovery vision, it is working with town and parish councils in South Gloucestershire to encourage people to create a target of 3,000 ‘hedgehog holes’.

Hedgehog holes are typically 13cm holes in garden fences, walls and gates to enable hedgehogs to safely access gardens. These From left, Hedgehog Rescue volunteer Tom Hampson, South Glos hedgehog holes or ‘highways’ will help form cabinet member responsible for the environment Steve Reade, & a garden network of places for them to find Yvonne Cox, founder of Hedgehog Rescue food, shelter and even other prickly pals.

Under the scheme South Gloucestershire will become a climate and nature emergency. hedgehog-friendly zone, leading the way to improve this vital The project will actively run for one year and is expected to species’ recovery as part of the council’s long-term climate continue passively for several further years. Anyone who takes part and creates a hedgehog hole highway can log it on and nature emergency strategy.

There are both urban and rural hedgehogs; those in built-up the big hedgehog map www.bighedgehogmap.org areas seem to be showing signs of stabilising and it is hoped South Gloucestershire Council is also working with this project will mean the more rural populations can recover. Hedgehog Rescue in Yate who help care for injured The council will be coordinating the project through its Local hedgehogs and have worked in the community for more than Nature Action Plans (LNAPs) which support town and parish 20 years, raising awareness of hedgehog welfare. For more councils to draw up their own action plans to help tackle the information visit http://hedgehogrescue.info/

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The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

Duchy’s plans to restore fountain The Duchy of Cornwall has asked Bath & North East Somerset Council for permission to carry out restoration work on the village fountain in Newton St Loe. Listed building consent is being sought to stabilise the eroding historic stone fountain structure which was erected in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Car-free housing plan approved South Gloucestershire Council has approved the change of use of a commercial building in Kingswood into five flats.

Abode & Co Holdings sought prior approval for the redevelopment of Kingswood Joinery in Honey Hill Road.

Two one-bedroom flats and three two-bedroom flats are proposed in the two-storey building.

It will be a car-free development with space for cycle parking. The council acknowledged that it is in a highly sustainable location and there are frequent bus services.

The old joinery

Situations Vacant

The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023

13

Making South Glos safer for women and girls South Gloucestershire Council has launched an online

Gloucestershire is a safe place to live and work; however, not

February when there will be a presentation by Fiona

survey for people to share their views and experiences of

everyone feels safe and it wants to understand more about

Lewis, the council’s domestic violence and abuse service

violence against women and girls.

this before making changes and taking action.

officer, and Sgt Claire Leakey, from Avon & Somerset

The survey is open to everyone but the council is particularly

Take

keen to hear from women and girls about what makes them

https://orlo.uk/Womens_Safety_Survey_xDjEM

There is a choice of two sessions – the first from noon to 1pm

feel safe or unsafe, and incidents they have experienced or

The deadline for the survey is 24th February.

and the second from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. For details on how

witnessed.

There is also a chance for people to share views, opinions

to join email CommunityEngagement@southglos.gov.uk or

The council says that compared to the national average, South

and experiences at one of two online sessions on 23rd

call 01454 868113.

part

in

the

short

survey

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

at

Police.

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

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Similar percentage discounts apply equally to larger sized adverts.

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The Week in • Wednesday 8th February 2023