The Week In - Issue 769 - 22nd February 2023

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

22nd February 2023

Issue 769

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Promise of 131 new jobs as plans for Greggs and McDonald’s drive-thrus are revealed Plans have been revealed for adjoining McDonald’s and Greggs drive-thrus in Emersons Green.

The fast food outlets would go near the Costa Coffee drivethru on land which had been earmarked for a pub/restaurant at the Harlequin Office Park development.

The planning application, which has been submitted to South Gloucestershire Council by Greene King Commercial Investments Ltd, says that 34 full-time and 97 part-time jobs would be created at the two drive-thrus.

The McDonald’s would be open round the clock while the Greggs would be open from 7am to 11pm each day.

The site is accessed from Fieldfare via Folly Brook Road, which in turn links to the A4174 Ring Road. The Greggs would be closest to the Costa outlet and outdoor seating is planned at each drive-thru, plus a small children’s play area at the McDonald’s. The application says that the nearest residential properties are separated by the Ring Road and that landscaping plans include planting more than 20 trees.

The Costa and Travelodge

Also in this week’s issue

The site of the proposed drive-thrus

It is the final undeveloped plot at the Harlequin development which includes offices, a Travelodge and a children’s nursery.

Two years ago, South Gloucestershire Council’s administration agreed to press ahead with a fast food exclusion zone policy within at least 400 metres of any school to help deter children from the temptation of junk food. That policy is still going through the council’s Local Plan process.

The planning reference is P23/00568/F and anyone wanting to comment on the plans has until 10th March.

• Meanwhile the sign went up last week outside the Greggs store which will be opening soon at the Gallagher Retail Park in Longwell Green.

Nearly 200 Tory newsletters fly-tipped in Bitton . . . page 3

More Government support for bus operators . . . page 5

The Greggs sign going up in Longwell Green

B&NES Council responds to Saltford river concerns . . . page 8

How Oldland Common Station is going back to the 1960s . . . page 11

Crash causes Ring Road chaos A collision involving a motorcyclist and a car near Hicks Gate on Friday afternoon led to long traffic queues on and around the A4174 Ring Road.

Avon & Somerset Police said the collision happened between Hicks Gate roundabout and the Kingsfield roundabout at Longwell Green at about 3pm, blocking the northbound carriageway. Traffic on the southbound carriageway was also at a standstill for some time.

The police said: “If you were travelling along that section of the road at that time and have any dash-cam footage or information which could help the police investigation please call 101 and give the log number 592 of 17th February.”

Police appeal after man is punched in the face Police have appealed for the public's help after a man was punched in the face in Keynsham having confronted a suspected shoplifter.

Officers were called at around 6.50pm to a shop in Queens Road on Friday 3rd February after the attack by an unknown man.

The victim confronted the man, believing he had stolen items from the store, and was attacked. He did not require hospital treatment but suffered bad bruising above his eye.

The unknown man ran off towards the park in Queens Road.

Police would like to identify the man in this picture, who they believe has information which could help their investigation.

He is white, slim and approximately 5ft 10in. He is shown wearing a red jacket.

If you have any information, can identify the man, or saw the incident, call 101 and quote reference 5223027349.

Slip road opening date

Picture credit: Richard McKenzie

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The new slip road for the Mangotsfield Sort It recycling centre is due to open on Thursday 9th March.

South Gloucestershire Council says that once it's open, all vehicles accessing the site will use the new entrance via the dedicated lane to help reduce the impact on other traffic when the site is busy. New lanes linking to the slip road have been installed on the approach from the A4174 Ring Road and from Siston Hill and Goose Green.

The new slip road under construction

The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Increased patrols after robbery in Kingswood Park Police have increased patrols after a man was robbed in Kingswood Park.

Between 3pm and 4pm on Sunday 5th February, a man was walking through the park, off Edward Street, when he was approached by a man wearing a balaclava who stopped and searched the victim’s clothing, taking cash and a watch, before leaving the scene.

The offender is described as white, approximately 6ft 1in and slim. It is believed he has curly, blond hair which was sticking out from under the balaclava.

He was wearing a complete black Nike tracksuit and black Air Force trainers.

If you were in the area and remember seeing the incident, or someone who matches the description, call 101 and quote reference 5223028677.

Police say there are increased high visibility patrols taking place in the area and anyone with any concerns is encouraged to speak with officers.

Investigation after Conservative newsletters are dumped in a hedge Almost 200 copies of a newsletter promoting the work of South Gloucestershire Conservatives have been found dumped in a hedge near the riverbank in Bitton.

A dog walker found the pile of newsletters on Tuesday and picked them up. The leaflet highlights the Tory-run council’s achievements – including protecting the environment.

Simon Davies, the chairman of Bristol and South Gloucestershire Conservative Federation, confirmed to The Week In that an

investigation is now under way.

He said: “I am disappointed to see our latest community newsletter being discarded in this way. I understand the newsletters were recovered quickly.

“Our local Party has many committed and enthusiastic volunteer campaigners who give up their spare time to make South Gloucestershire a better place to live and work.”

South Gloucestershire Council has a wellpublicised “zero tolerance” approach to flytipping.

The leaflets were found in a field close to the river by a dog walker

Intruder is disturbed The residents of a home on Mount Hill Road in Hanham were awoken by noises inside the property at about 3.45am last Wednesday.

One of them went to investigate and discovered someone on the stairs, who ran out the door as soon as he was seen.

Nothing was stolen as the culprit didn’t have time to take anything.

The offender had forced the latch on the front door to get in.

If you have any information call the police on 101 and quote the crime reference number 5223036781.

The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Charity shop reopens The Young Lives vs Cancer charity shop in Staple Hill, which had to close after someone deliberately set fire to clothing collection bags left outside on Monday 6th February, reopened last week.

The front door was damaged and lots of the

stock was smoke damaged.

The charity said: “Our shop in Staple Hill has reopened its doors and we can't wait to welcome back our fantastic shoppers.

“Thank you to everyone who donated to make sure we could restock the shop.”

3

South Glos council tax to rise by 4.99% South Gloucestershire Council has approved its spending plans for the coming year with a 4.99% increase in council tax from April.

This includes a 2% levy directly towards adult social care services. The South Gloucestershire Council element of council tax for a Band D property for 2023-24 will be £1,752.11, an increase of £87.47 or the equivalent to £1.60 per week.

The council says that balancing the budget has been a “major challenge” due to the cost-of-living crisis driving up what it needs to pay to deliver services, but that the most vital frontline ones have been protected.

communities.

More than £287m will be spent on day-to-day services, more

The council says that by using its reserves, much of which

than £132m on capital projects and infrastructure schemes,

are earmarked for specific purposes and can only be spent on

and more than £267m on schools, skills and early learning.

certain activities, funding will help preserve some threatened

Investments agreed at last Wednesday’s council meeting in

bus services on an interim basis while work across the region

Kingswood include funding the new street enforcement

continues to help ensure that rural communities in particular

service to tackle environmental crimes, such as littering and

are served by sustainable transport options. Money has been

dog fouling, for a further two years following a successful

found for the 84/85 run by Stagecoach (Yate to Wotton-under-

pilot; there is also an extra £1m for roads maintenance.

Edge) and 622 between Thornbury and Cribbs Causeway

More than £6.7m has been allocated to support the continued

operated by Eurocoaches (Bristol).

regeneration of Kingswood town centre and £3m to increase

Following public consultation a number of savings plans have

the provision of new homes

been scrapped or amended, including a proposed increase in

for children in care to help

the garden waste subscription from £30 to £55. Proposed

them stay close to their local

reductions to the StreetCare team, will also not happen.

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.

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4

Cost of new schools rise by £7m but there’s still no start date for building work More than £37m to “help deliver” the longawaited new primary and secondary schools in Lyde Green is part of the major infrastructure programmes in South Gloucestershire Council’s budget.

The scheme, which had previously been costed at £30m, has been hit by a series of delays since outline planning permission was granted in 2016.

The council’s latest prediction is that “delivery plans are expected to be approved in the coming months”, although there is still no indication of when building work on the co-located schools at Honeysuckle Road might start. The council said last summer that it anticipated the new schools would open in September 2024.

The problems that have beset the project began with the discovery of a high pressure gas main on the proposed site. The solution was to instead use land nearby that had been put aside for shops and other facilities.

Then South Gloucestershire and Stroud Academy Trust (SGS) Academy Trust’s bid to run an all-through school for children aged four to 16 under the Department for Education’s Free Schools programme was

The site of the proposed schools at Honeysuckle Road

turned down in 2019. The trust subsequently bid to open a secondary school and found out in early 2021 that it had been successful.

Castle School Education Trust, which runs Lyde Green’s first primary school in Willowherb Road, was named as the sponsor of the new one at Honeysuckle Road and full planning permission for the co-located schools was granted in March 2021 - only for the whole project to be delayed later that year when SGS was replaced by Olympus Academy Trust, and builders Willmott Dixon were replaced by BAM Construction.

The pandemic and market conditions in the construction industry have been blamed for the saga dragging on, with the council pledging to ensure that there are sufficient places at other schools to meet demand until the new buildings are available.

The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Government support for buses is extended A Government announcement last week

But the vast majority of local bus services are

announcement will be a timely boost to

may well have headed off what would have

still run on a commercial basis by operators

commercial bus operators who, in normal

been even more misery for local bus

such as First and Stagecoach West. After

circumstances, would have to be lodging

travellers.

lockdown in March 2020, those companies

applications about now to cancel services if

On Friday, Transport Secretary Mark Harper

saw fare revenues plummet and they have

the current funding ran out.

pledged a further £80m to support bus

been receiving grants from the Government

In addition to extending the recovery grants,

operators around the country as they continue

ever since to smooth the return to normal

Mark Harper also confirmed a further £60m

to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

operations. But while the number of

to allow operators to cap bus fares at £2 per

The current round of funding under the Bus

passengers has recovered to over three-

single journey. Nationally, the average single

Service Recovery Grant is due to end next

quarters of pre-pandemic levels, changes to

fare is calculated to be £2.80.

month, on the same day that local council-

people’s work patterns have meant they

After last month’s decision not to increase

supported services face draconian cutbacks.

travel less often. As well as reducing services

their contributions to the West of England

As first reported in Issue 765, more than 40

in line with lower demand, bus operators

Combined Authority transport levy, the

local bus routes were put at risk when Bristol,

have had to rely on continuing Government

leaders

Bath & North East Somerset and South

grants to survive.

Gloucestershire councils subsequently found

Gloucestershire councils refused to increase

Despite the minister indicating prior to

money to support some bus services directly.

Users of the 82 bus from Paulton were due to

their contributions to the West of England

Christmas that the Bus Service Recovery

B&NES Council leader Kevin Guy has been

hold a protest at the Guildhall in Bath last

Combined Authority to support a number of

Grant would most likely need to be extended,

accused of electioneering by pledging

night (Tuesday) – with free travel being

rural, weekend or late evening bus services

there was concern in the industry that nothing

£285,000 to continue support for services

provided by the bus company which will lose

which are not financially viable but deemed

more had been heard since. While the devil

within the city of Bath but none in North East

the contract to run it next month because of

socially necessary.

will always be in the detail, last Friday’s

Somerset.

the funding cuts.

of

B&NES

and

South

Mark Harper

Campaign launched for bus franchising A local campaign group is calling on

the transport authority decides on the bus

from people whose lives are impacted by the

to the WECA meeting on 17th March. You

Regional Mayor Dan Norris to get on with

network, fares and timetables and then

current state of the buses. One video is being

can follow the campaign of Facebook and

franchising local services and avoid the

contracts bus operators to run the services on

released on social media each day, leading up

Twitter using @ReclaimOurBuses.

current situation which is having a negative

its behalf. The mayoral authority in

impact on people who rely on the bus.

Manchester is now embarked on a similar venture and local group Reclaim Our Buses believes the West of England should do the same.

Having submitted a letter to the Mayor signed by 1,700 residents in December, Reclaim Our Buses wants him to start the franchising ball rolling at next month’s meeting of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) by issuing a Notice of

At the moment, bus services in this country

Intent. This is the first step required by the

are deregulated and are run for profit by

Government before any assessment for

commercial operators. Where services are

franchising can take place.

not profitable but necessary, they become the

In the meantime, the group launched a

responsibility of the local transport authority.

support campaign last week to publish 30

The only place that differs is London where

‘Reasons to Reclaim’ – personal testimonies

Public meeting Keynsham Area Forum was due to be held virtually at 6pm today (Wednesday) with the public transport programme manager from the West of England Combined Authority due to attend and take questions.

Joining details are on the council’s website and the meeting was being recorded and placed on the council’s YouTube channel to watch afterwards.

Keep in touch, let us know what you think, send us your news www.facebook.com/theweekin The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

5

Forest pond restoration work gets under way Works have finally begun on improving the state of the pond at Warmley Forest Park.

The Week In has previously reported local concerns about the state of the pond as far back as November 2019.

For some years the pond has been covered by a carpet of duckweed and the sluice gate has been broken. Last summer we reported on fears that the pond could pose a safety risk like at Nunney Castle near Frome where there had previously been an incident in which a three-year-old boy almost drowned in the green algae-covered moat which he had thought was grass.

Following recommendations from an ecological assessment, tree surgeons have been employed to open up areas around the forest pond, allowing more light through.

Work under way at the pond

The willows have been traditionally pollarded, the hazel trees coppiced and some dead standing timber has been left to

John Morris, the council’s partnerships and delivery officer,

create important habitats for bats and birds.

said that later this year the council will be spending time and

The project has been funded through South Gloucestershire

money on improving this water body but for now it is

Council’s Climate and Nature Emergency programme and

carrying out felling works before the bird nesting season

supported by the West of England Combined Authority.

kicks in.

More tree planting in South Glos The pond last summer

‘Urgent’ felling work needed Three mature trees on Willsbridge Hill are facing the axe.

Arboriculture consultants JCA Ltd have put a note on three of the trees that are part of a group close to the junction with Oldbury Chase. They say that “due to underlying circumstances, we seek to remove this tree as a matter of urgency”.

They say that if they are unable to determine the ownership of the trees, arrangements will be made for their removal after 18th March.

Volunteers from Wales & West Utilities have planted 24 trees in Downend’s King George V playing fields as part of a link-up with South Gloucestershire Council.

This is the second initiative that has seen colleagues from the gas emergency and pipeline service plant trees in the area to help improve local biodiversity.

The planting is part of Wales & West Utilities’ pledge to plant five trees for every one they have to remove as part of the essential work to keep gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses.

The event builds on the first planting exercise, which saw more than 20 trees planted in Mangotsfield during February last year. It supports the council’s own tree

Wales & West Utilities’ sustainability assistant Agnieszka Smagacz, left, with customer service assistant Nora Shopova who volunteered for the tree planting initiative in Downend

Payne Green

6

planting programme to enhance biodiversity and improve air quality.

Meanwhile a variety of trees have been planted at Payne Green at Barrs Court by South Gloucestershire Council and Oldland Parish Council.

In total 85 whips of crab apple, hawthorn and silver birch were planted, along with 25 plum and damson trees as part of South Gloucestershire’s Common Connections plan to link natural habitats to help nature thrive.

It is also part of the council’s goal to meet the climate and nature emergency by working with parish councils and local communities.

The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

The loophole ‘blighting’ new housing developments An issue which is “blighting new housing developments in South Gloucestershire and probably throughout the UK” was highlighted to South Gloucestershire councillors at their meeting last Wednesday.

Resident Ian Adams explained: “’Cuckoo parking’ is where a person from outside a development parks their vehicle within the estate, taking up precious residential parking spaces.

“The originally approved plans for new developments heavily restrict parking, so cuckoo parking only compounds the issue for residents. Current council and police highways policies

Help a carer take a break Carers Support Centre Bristol and South Gloucestershire is looking for kind, compassionate and reliable volunteers to join its team of ‘sitters’ to support the Carers Breaks Service in South Gloucestershire.

It’s sometimes impossible for carers to leave the person they look after so if you can regularly give a few hours of your time during the day each week or fortnight, they can take a break.

Contact volunteer coordinator Marilyn Crump on 07840 818 316 or email marilync@carerssupportcentre.org.uk A package of training and on-going support is offered.

The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

allow and encourage this situation.”

Giving the example of the Siston Hill development at Mangotsfield, he said: “The plan was opposed by the council but overruled by the then Housing Minister John Prescott. The original plan included an integrated public transport system, which was designed to encourage residents to ditch their cars.

“Unfortunately, the poorly planned internal road system meant buses could not negotiate the tight 90degree bends. By 2009 the inclusion of buses entering and exiting the estate was scrapped. This placed huge demands on parking and after three public consultations, £100,000 was spent on the implementation of double yellow lines.

“This isn’t a unique situation as I know Lyde Green and Brimsham Green housing development (at Yate) are experiencing the same parking issues.”

He said he had reported cuckoo parking at Siston Hill (see picture) to both the council and police but the council had said it couldn’t do anything as the vehicles were taxed and weren’t parked on double yellow lines.

“They told me to report it to the police. The police advised they wouldn’t do anything because other vehicles can pass. I

asked about pedestrians and was told pedestrians couldn’t pass because the brambles were in the way. I said well, what about the trailer. ‘Oh, you need to report that to the council’.”

Mr Adams continued: “I am not criticising the people I spoke to from the council or the police. They were providing advice based on current policy. However, as a resident I feel these policies no longer take into consideration the impact of cuckoo parking on residents throughout South Glos.

“I would therefore like to know if the current policies could be reviewed and updated to prevent this loophole from being exploited.”

Mr Adams was told that his comments would be passed to the relevant cabinet member.

7

Council responds to calls for it to clean up its act Bath & North East Somerset Council has responded to calls featured on our front page last week for it to clean up its act over the state of the River Avon at Saltford.

Our article featured a catalogue of concerns from parish councillors and local residents that the river has become an unregulated, unsafe area where abandoned boats are left to sink.

They cited problems of longer-term storage of boats by commercial companies on the 14-day moorings, hazards from motorised boats arriving and entering the river from B&NES Council land or from unauthorised use of privately-owned banks and slipways, unsafe large boats using the river without safety checks, sewage, litter, and dangerous activities by young people including jumping from the LMS Bridge.

Saltford Environment Group says its members have also been concerned about the gradual decline in river safety and cleanliness in recent years.

Responding to the concerns, Tim Ball, B&NES cabinet member for planning and licencing, said: “We agree with Saltford Parish Council that the River Avon is an irreplaceable asset for the region, and should be valued and protected for nature and people.

“We are working closely with partners such as Wessex Water

Litter at The Shallows

and the Environment Agency to improve water quality across the Bath and North East Somerset area. This includes being an active member of the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership, which brings together organisations that have an impact on rivers to co-ordinate action such as reducing sediment runoff into the river and reducing the amount of rainwater that enters our drainage system, decreasing the likelihood that sewage overflow systems will be used.

“We are equally concerned about recreational safety on the River Avon, and are working with the River Avon Safety Group, including partners such as Avon Fire & Rescue and Avon & Somerset Police, to improve recreational safety on the river corridor. We would welcome closer work with parish councils on this issue so we can ensure the river is as safe as possible for recreational users.

“There has been a clear increase in the amount of litter on the riverside banks following the flooding in January. The WaterSpace Volunteers, supported by B&NES and the Canal and Rivers Trust, are working hard to clear litter through the centre of Bath and are planning to address the areas further downstream from March.

“We are also working closely with the Canal and River Trust to address issues with moorings along this stretch of the river and are carrying out a Better Moorings project to look at

8

creating additional safe mooring opportunities for boat dwellers.

“Finally we have recently launched the WaterSpace Connected project, which is working with other councils such as South Gloucestershire Council, to improve the River Avon corridor. We recently held a stakeholder workshop assessing the WaterSpace Study five years on, to understand the issues we are facing today and how we can address these together.

“We would welcome engagement with parish and town councils along the whole of the river corridor to ensure we can improve this valuable asset for all residents.”

Tim Ball

The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

‘Designate woodland as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ A call has gone out for Hencliffe Wood in Hanham to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to protect it from the threat of housing development on neighbouring fields known as The Batch.

As we have reported in our last two issues, speculative plans for the Green Belt at Hanham have been announced with landowner Ashfield Land and Redrow Homes indicating that they want to build 149 homes on fields to the south of Hencliffe Way and west of Castle Farm Road.

This latest step towards trying to develop the land, which Ashfield has owned since 1990, was criticised by Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society in last week’s issue.

Now a local resident has contacted the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, suggesting that the wooded section of the River Avon valley be given AONB status because of the possible visual intrusion of proposed housing development into the scenery.

Wishing to remain anonymous, he told The Week In: “In my

Hencliffe Wood is next to land that developers are targeting

opinion, the scenery is comparable to that of the Wye AONB. The fact that it is a relatively small area compared with the Cotswolds AONB and the Mendip Hills AONB should not exclude it from designation by the deciding authority, which is Natural England.

“Natural England have a local team (Wessex) based in Bristol, and I shall be approaching them when I have a reply from the National Association. I am a regular walker of this area and feel that the problem of visual intrusion would be noticeable during the six months of the years when the trees are not in leaf.

“Designation would hopefully deter the submission of an application for planning permission with all the ongoing expense to the South Gloucestershire Council of dealing with it and a possible subsequent expensive appeal.”

One of the paths through Hencliffe Wood

Sudoku 1-Easy

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 26th 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 22nd February 2023

9

Foodbank thanks its generous supporters and appeals for volunteers Keynsham Foodbank trustees have thanked everyone who continues to donate towards emergency food parcels for local people in crisis, and say they also urgently need volunteers to fill some key posts that are vacant.

The charity, which is linked to the Trussell Trust, is run entirely by volunteers.

Trustee Lesley Jones said: “We are very thankful to all our donors in Keynsham and

Saltford who have given so much food and other items such as toiletries, cleaning items and pet food through the drop-off boxes in Tesco and Waitrose.”

In 2022, 7261 kgs of items were provided through Tesco and 7016 kgs of items from Waitrose.

New members of the trustee board are currently needed, where you would be involved in making strategic decisions to

improve access to support for local people.

The foodbank is also recruiting volunteers to the posts of project manager and admin manager.

Contact info@keynsham.foodbank.org.uk if you can help - and if you need support visit https://keynsham.foodbank.org.uk/gethelp/how-to-get-help/ There are also links to places where you can get further help and advice; at the distribution

centres in Keynsham and Saltford, volunteers offer a cup of tea and a listening ear.

Services of Commemoration

Backland development approved

South Gloucestershire residents and the district’s Ukrainian guests are invited to attend one of two Services of Commemoration this Friday (24th February) which marks a year since the invasion of Ukraine.

South Gloucestershire Council has approved a developer’s plans to build five houses on land behind 31 Orchard Road in Kingswood. A private access road already created by applicant EHomes Ltd was also given permission.

Council planners said building on gardens is not unacceptable in principle but careful consideration is needed regarding the

The services will be held at St Mary’s Church in Yate at 11am and again at 7pm.

The services and all readings will be in both Ukrainian and English and there will be music and an area for lighting candles.

Rodway School reunion Ex-pupils of Rodway School who attended from 1963 to 1972 (inclusive) are being invited to join a reunion to catch up with old friends on Saturday 23rd September.

The venue will be the Bromley Suite at Cleve Rugby Club in Mangotsfield from 3pm until late. There will be a bar, refreshments, a buffet and entertainment (to be confirmed).

There will be a memorabilia table and people are invited to bring along items such as old photographs. The organising committee are David James, Tim Organ and Judith Pinkett. To find out more email Rodway2023@gmail.com

Crossword

impact on an area’s character. In this case it would not be out of keeping as there are other examples of backland development nearby and there would be no unacceptable impacts on the neighbours.

They said that the access road is wide enough to allow vehicles to pass one another without having to reverse onto Orchard Road.

Spotlight on bike theft With bike theft a big issue in the city - there were 1,633 stolen in 2022 - Bristol Cycling Campaign has organised a webinar with the police tomorrow (Thursday) to hear about the challenges of catching and prosecuting thieves and discuss potential solutions.

Everyone is welcome. To reserve your spot at the online meeting, which starts at 7.30pm, go to https://tinyurl.com/2jwkpb4u

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Exclamation of praise (8)

2. Cuts back (4)

6. Fully occupied (4)

4. Joined (6)

8. Sticky substance (inf.) (3)

5. Old (4)

9. Natural desire (8) 10. Farm building (4) 12. Effluent drain (5) 14. Keyboard instrument (5) 17. Plunder (4) 18. Recanted (anag.)

(8) 20. Filmy material (8) 24. Infant (4) 25. Hail (5) 26. Happen again (5) 29. Indian garment (4) 30. Eastern (8) 31. Primate (3)

3. Hole for cord (6)

6. Spool (6) 7. Hallowed place (6) 11. Swedish punch (5) 12. Drench (5) 13. Consult (5) 14. Animal's foot (3) 15. Essential oil (5) 16. Projecting window (5) 19. Rodent (3) 21. Decorated (6) 22. Consecutive (6) 23. Eye membrane (6) 24. Incinerated (6) 27. Enemies (4) 28. Grey-brown colour (4)

32. Issue cards (4) 33. Lincolnshire town (8)

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The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Returning Oldland Common Station to the 1960s Avon Valley Railway Heritage Trust has unveiled plans to create one of the first heritage railway stations in the UK dedicated to the closure period.

The new project, being planned and run by young volunteers, is to restore Oldland Common Station to how it would have looked in the 1960s, with replica signage and restoration of the lamp posts.

The station and line were closed to passengers in March 1966 with the platforms and all other infrastructure swept away soon afterwards as part of the Beeching cuts.

Dr Richard Beeching, chairman of the British Railways Board, closed hundreds of branch lines and more than 2,000 stations under his plan to increase the efficiency of the nationalised railway system.

In the years following the line’s closure, Avon Valley Railway Heritage Trust, based at Bitton Station, worked hard to rebuild a portion of the line, reaching Oldland Common Station and building a new platform in 1997 to again connect the village with steam trains.

Twenty-five years on though and the station is in a rather sorry state, with the lamps particularly in need of refurbishment.

So a crowdfunding appeal has been launched to raise £2,500 with the plan being to capture the heritage

As it was, looking south towards North Street bridge from the Up side in the mid-1960s. © C Maggs

atmosphere of the station, telling its story and of the line and allowing visitors to enjoy it properly once again.

The station lamp posts will be repainted to a 1960s Western Region chocolate and cream colour scheme and Western Region totem signs will be fixed to the lamp posts to add to the period style.

A large station running in board reading OLDLAND COMMON, similar to the original seen in the 1960s, will be created; a

replica of the original closure poster will also be installed.

To donate and find out more, search for ‘Oldland Common Project’ on Crowdfunder.

The project offers rewards in return for your support, starting with a commemorative postcard for a £10 donation. More than £500 has been raised so far.

Any additional funds raised over the £2,500 target will be used for similar projects across the entire railway.

The platform as it is today

The history of the station Oldland Common Station was opened by the London Midland Scottish Railway in December 1935 to support suburban development in the area.

The station featured two wooden platforms with a corrugated iron shelter on each, along with pedestrian access via ramps up to road level. It also had the special feature of having electric lighting compared with other stations along the line which were all gas-lit.

The station thrived, seeing more passengers than Bitton after opening to the public, forming an important stopping of trains for the community. It came under the control of British Railways after nationalisation in 1948, in particular the Midland Region. In 1958 the station was moved under the control of the Western

region. This saw the addition of the Western’s trademark chocolate and cream colours, and the final running down of the station and line which closed to passengers on 7th March 1966.

The line continued to be used for coal trains to Bath gasworks, and was singled through the station in 1968, leaving only the up formation passing through. The remaining track was closed and lifted in 1971.

But dedicated volunteers started restoring the line back in the 1970s and to date, three miles of track have been re-laid and locomotive and carriages restored.

Avon Valley Railway is now a major tourist attraction, its trains run alongside the Bristol & Bath Railway Path.

The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

11

‘Inadequate’ academy is now making progress An Ofsted inspector says that progress has been made to improve Lansdown Park Academy in Stockwood which was rated as ‘Inadequate’ a year ago.

At the time Ofsted said that education and support were poor, there was “regular potential for violence” among pupils, their attendance was sporadic and the Stockwood Lane campus was “neglected”.

The school, which joined the Learn@MAT multi-academy trust in 2017, takes youngsters from across South Bristol and

Horse rescued Avon Fire & Rescue crews from Kingswood and Bath were called at just after 3.30pm on Saturday 11th February to reports of a horse trapped in a waterlogged ditch at London Road in Wick.

Wearing life jackets, firefighters rescued the horse using a slide board, harness and safety lines. The animal was led to a place of safety and assessed by vets.

Bath & North East Somerset who are close to, or have been permanently excluded, from mainstream schools.

The academy also teaches secondary pupils at a site at Rush Hill in Bath.

Primary aged children used to be taught at a unit at Broadlands Academy in Keynsham until it was decided that all primary pupils would be educated on the Stockwood site.

Following a recent monitoring visit, inspector Leanne Thirlby has now published her report, saying: “Lansdown Park Academy remains inadequate and requires special measures. Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the category of concern to be removed. I strongly recommend that the school does not seek to appoint early career teachers.”

She said there have been considerable changes to staffing and the leadership team have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. There are clear plans in place to improve

the curriculum for all pupils and an assessment system to check how well pupils learn.

The report said that staff feel well supported, despite the rapid journey of improvement. The academy council and trust have taken the recommendations from an external review and put systems of communication and accountability in place.

There have also been significant refurbishment and building improvements to the Stockwood site and ongoing work at Rush Hill.

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The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

A hidden inner city gem When visiting Bristol Cathedral, it was an unexpected

Chapter and his wife was invited to tidy the

diversion and breath of fresh air to visit its well-

then very overgrown burial ground.

established, nature-filled garden.

During the following decades, the

The garden is at the back of the Cathedral, and next to Bristol

graveyard has evolved into a beautiful

Cathedral School. This hidden inner city gem dates back to

garden with occasional gravestones and

1542. The then Augustinian Abbey was renamed Bristol

memorial seats.

Cathedral with the garden as the burial ground for senior

Sculptures also provide interest and colour

clergy and important people of the diocese.

to the plants, trees and flowers that are

In 1762 fees for burial at the Cathedral were £15 for interment

haphazardly but tastefully arranged. The

in the chancel, £10 for burial in the cloisters and £5 in the

herb garden is of particular note and the

graveyard. However, little is known about the people buried

weeping cherry on the left as you top the

here as many of the gravestones are so worn it’s impossible

entrance steps was planted by a Japanese

to read inscriptions.

lady who converted to Christianity while

In the 1930s Canon Freeman was appointed to the Cathedral

living in Bristol. Each important occasion during the church year produces its own tribute - at Christmas it’s hellebores; at Easter, daffodils; and at Pentecost, hollyhocks and

Bristol Cathedral from the garden

lavender.

Two interesting things to look out for are a

congregation. However, following the pandemic, major

sculpture called Refugee at the far end of the

renovation, pruning and restoration work has been undertaken

garden which was created by Naomi Blake, a

and ongoing development plans aim to keep the garden as it

survivor of Auschwitz; and a bench which

was once described: ‘A unique and unusual secret garden - a

commemorates the life of Olive Cooke, the

hidden gem in the city centre.’ It is now maintained by four

popular Bristol poppy seller who began selling

volunteer members of the congregation.

Christine Rodgers

poppies at the age of 16 and continued until she died in her 90s.

Until fairly recently the garden was tended by

Olive’s bench

wives of the clergy and members of the

Review

Bath Festival Orchestra, St George’s Bristol St George's Bristol, which is this year celebrating its 200th birthday, was the setting for a concert by the contemporary Bath Festival Orchestra last Wednesday.

With their impressive energy, the young ensemble (average age 26) were led through a varied programme by their internationally acclaimed conductor Peter Manning, who relaunched BFO during the pandemic. Education and creative learning are at the core, in line with the values of violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin who founded the orchestra in 1959.

BFO are committed to shining a light on lesser-known voices and always include at least one piece by a female composer. The evening began with Louise Farrenc’s Symphony No 2 which the French composer, pianist and teacher completed in 1845.

Then the brilliant trumpet soloist Matilda Lloyd, in her debut at St George’s, flawlessly accompanied the chamber orchestra for that classical favourite, Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto.

BFO’s rendition of Schubert’s Symphony No 5 closed a thoroughly enjoyable evening for an appreciative audience.

BFO’s 2022-23 season includes dates at both St George’s

The Week in • Wednesday 22nd February 2023

The ‘Refugee’ sculpture

Situations Vacant

Matilda Lloyd performing at St George’s with the Bath Festival Orchestra

and Cadogan Hall in London. The orchestra are back at St George’s on 11th April when the guest artist will be pianist Marie-Ange Nguci.

Becky Feather

13

Village now a 20mph zone 20mph speed limit signs have been installed in the village of Chewton Keynsham.

This week Bath & North East Somerset ward councillors Alastair Singleton and Duncan Hounsell said: "We are delighted to have secured the reduction in the speed limit for

Chewton Keynsham from 30mph to 20mph. This change has been requested by residents for a long time and has received overwhelming local support." The new 20mph limit extends from the junction of Chewton Road with the Wellsway, past Chewton Place, and all the way through the village.

Sentimental jewellery stolen A home in Cedar Drive, Keynsham, was burgled between 8am and 5.55pm on 3rd February.

The offender gained access through a rear door without force and did an untidy search throughout.

Jewellery of sentimental value was stolen before the offender left the way they came in.

If you have information that could help the police call 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Crossword Solution

Sudoku Solutions 1-Easy

Cllr Duncan Hounsell by one of the new signs

2-Hard

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