The Week In - Issue 770 - 1st March 2023

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

1st March 2023

Issue 770

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Plans for a safe new cycling and walking route between Willsbridge & Keynsham People are being asked to have their say on plans for a safe new cycling and walking route connecting the Bristol and Bath Railway Path at Bitton Station to Keynsham.

Following a campaign by the Bristol East Fringe Cycling & Walking Group, which The Week In has helped to support, initial plans for the new route have now been drawn up by South Gloucestershire Council which could see the new path created within two years.

The group, who have been working with the council on the project, this week said they are “delighted” to see the proposals for the ‘Keynsham to Willsbridge Path’ from Bitton Station to the overflow station car park at Keynsham, which include improving the existing sub-standard shared use path along the A4175 Keynsham Road to make it suitable for cycling, walking and wheeling.

Avoiding the roundabout where the A431 Bath Road joins

Also in this week’s issue

Keynsham Road, users would instead be able to leave Bitton Station, travel along a widened path on Bath Road to a new toucan crossing (which has an additional signal for bikes) by The Park. There is an existing public footpath from there which runs through the Jarretts Garden Centre site and comes out on Keynsham Road where there would be another toucan crossing to take users across to the shared use path along to Keynsham. There would be another toucan crossing opposite the Portavon Marina, and part of the route would be off the road and four metres wide.

The new route is designed to be suitable for use by people of all abilities. The proposals are part of a wider programme of bus and cycle investments and improvements across the region by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

The proposed route from Willsbridge to Bitton is separate from, but will complement, the plans being developed by

Threat of Green Belt development in Hanham is serious, warns MP . . . page 3

The latest good and bad news on local buses . . . page 6

Part of the path would be off road

Bath and North East Somerset Council for a bridge across the River Avon at Somerdale to link up with Hanham, which we reported on last month (Issue 767).

The consultation is on South Gloucestershire Council’s website and the closing date for comments is 24th March.

The council says it will consider the feedback it gets and will then decide whether to take the proposal forward to secure funding from WECA, and if any changes are needed to the design of the scheme.

See Letters, page 8

Concern in Keynsham over ongoing High Street falls . . . page 7

B&NES Council leader’s ‘hot mic’ apology . . . page 9

Jacob Rees-Mogg adopted as candidate for new constituency Jacob Rees-Mogg has been accepted as the Conservative candidate to fight the new Parliamentary seat of North East Somerset and Hanham at the next General Election.

Mr Rees-Mogg is the current MP for the North East Somerset constituency.

As we reported last November, a shake-up of boundaries – designed to make voter numbers per MP more equal - will see the Conservative-held Kingswood seat disappear and the constituency broken up. At the time Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore announced that he would not be looking to fight another constituency.

Mr Rees-Mogg took to Twitter last week to thank the selection committee for adopting him as the candidate for the new seat, adding.

“Naturally, I will continue to serve all my North East Somerset constituents until the election.”

Much of the former Kingswood constituency heartland – Warmley, North Common, Cadbury Heath, Oldland Common, Bitton, Longwell Green and Hanham - will join up with Keynsham and Saltford in the new constituency (as they were for the old

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Jacob Rees-Mogg

Wansdyke seat which disappeared in 2010).

Many of the rural North East Somerset communities to the south of Keynsham and as far as Paulton will remain but villages close by like Marksbury and Hunstrete will be in the new constituency of Frome, along with Radstock and Midsomer Norton.

Mr Rees-Mogg’s opponents for North East Somerset and Hanham seat have yet to be announced but the Electoral Calculus website predicts a clear win for Labour in the new constituency.

The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

‘This is a serious attempt to develop the Green Belt’ Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore has met with concerned local people outside the house that has been purchased by developers who hope to demolish it to create an access to a new housing estate on Green Belt land known as The Batch.

Local residents who turned out for Friday’s meeting said that the house in Hencliffe Way has been bought for £1.3m by Ashfield Land, which has partnered with Redrow Homes and is proposing that 149 homes are built on the fields.

Mr Skidmore said: “There is no formal application as yet but there is a serious attempt to build on this land because they would not have necessarily decided to buy the house and knock it down and try to create

an entrance.

“We’ve got to make sure that we treat this extremely seriously and organise straight away, from the beginning. We will be organising a cross-party petition. It really is important that this is cross-party, regardless of who you vote for. I am standing down as an MP at the next election. I want to work with the Labour Party, with the Green Party, with the Liberal Democrat Party. We all come together on a common cause to protect our environment.”

Mr Skidmore, who is a former Energy Minister and has undertaken an independent review into Net Zero for the Government, continued: “Yes, of course we need new houses and there is a place for new housing but when we look at this particular land, this

Campaigners gather outside the house in Hencliffe Way that is due to be demolished

is high grade agricultural land. It is also right next to a river environment and when it comes to looking at the Hanham Green Belt in particular, one of the reasons why I have always made the case that above all we protect the Hanham Green Belt is that this is a green lung, a space between Bristol and Bath that we’ve got to protect, not just for local residents to have access to nature, but for nature itself.”

As well as being concerned about the loss of the Green Belt, concerns voiced by local residents include the impacts of extra traffic, on wildlife and on already stretched local services.

Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society, which had members at Friday’s meeting, is concerned that “favourable discussions” may have taken place between representatives of the site and South Gloucestershire Council officers for the developers to be sufficiently confident to purchase the house to enable access.

• A reader has pointed out that authorised maps refer to ‘Hencliff Wood’, rather than the widely used ‘Hencliffe Woods’ which we have referred to recently. Thank you for the clarification.

Fight to protect the Green Belt at Whitchurch Village, page 11

A banner on Hanham Common gets the message across

Crime concerns in Kingswood People concerned about a spate of vehicle related crime in Kingswood are being urged to tell the police about it, rather than just post it on social media.

At the community forum organised by South Gloucestershire Council last Wednesday, it was clear that there was a large disparity between what is being reported to the police and what’s posted on Facebook. One person described the situation as being of “epidemic” proportions.

The meeting heard that there is a gang known to be interfering with vehicles in the area and a separate individual who makes prolific attempts and against whom vigilante action has been threatened.

Resources are deployed based on the The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

number of actual reports to police and PC Jack Withers from the beat team urged people to report incidents online at https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/re port He also gave his email so that any CCTV or doorbell footage of incidents can be sent straight to him at Jack.Withers@avonand somerset.police.uk • The meeting also heard that up to 30 youths are gathering around Bank Road where there is currently scaffolding on a building. PC Withers said there had been instances of some youths climbing on the scaffolding and they had been spoken to.

He said that police have engaged with the group but they can’t be stopped from just socialising.

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Poll shows lack of enthusiasm for new leisure centre plan An unofficial poll on social media has revealed not a lot of support for relocating Kingswood Leisure Centre from Soundwell into the town centre.

As part of its masterplan for the regeneration of Kingswood town centre, South Gloucestershire Council wants to see a new leisure centre on part of the car park at Kings Chase Shopping Centre.

The council has previously said that a leisure centre to replace the one at Soundwell would help make the town centre a destination hub. The current centre, run in partnership with the Circadian Trust, is over 60 years old.

Some people at the combined meeting of the Kingswood and Staple Hill, Mangotsfield & New Cheltenham community engagement forums last Wednesday said they had heard that

The current leisure centre

a swimming pool might not be included in the project.

engagement with the community.”

After the meeting a council spokesperson told us: “We will

Following the meeting Kingswood trader Joanne Doyle

be exploring options and opportunities to relocate the leisure

carried out a poll on Facebook to “get some genuine local

centre to Kingswood, including the swimming pool. The

opinions”. Close to 600 people voted, with 80% in support

future for the existing site in

of investment being made in the current leisure centre, while

THE WEEK IN

Soundwell will form part of

14% supported a move to Kings Chase and 6% said they

the next stages of work being

didn’t care.

undertaken, no decisions

Comments included: “Leave it where it is, maybe expand on

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.

have been made and any

the back but perfect next to the park.” Another observed:

future proposals will include

“Whichever costs less.”

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The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

Work starts on replacing old footbridge in Keynsham Memorial Park A replacement footbridge over the weir in Keynsham

The demolition is expected to be completed in mid-

Memorial Park is being installed this summer as part of

April before the new bridge is installed ahead of

a range of improvements to the area.

opening in the summer.

Bath & North East Somerset Council started work this week

The bridge will be constructed off-site before being

to demolish the existing bridge ahead of building the new

built on the existing supports. The council says that

superstructure, after planning applications for the demolition

a contractor to install the bridge is due to be

and new bridge were approved last week.

appointed in early March.

The smaller children’s play park at Bath Hill is closed as is

The existing bridge was closed to the public in

the entrance at Avon Mill Lane during the demolition works.

October 2019 when a visual inspection found it was unsafe, due to deterioration of the beams forming the superstructure.

Alongside calls for a new bridge, a public

survey

about

Keynsham

Memorial Park carried out by the council

Echo Bridge

The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

in spring 2022 also identified localised flooding

Understanding Survey showed the top five reasons for using

under Echo Bridge as a high priority for

the park were enjoying nature, exercise, a place to meet

improvement at the park. Works will begin to

others, children’s play and to have lunch or a picnic.

address the issue this year.

The schedule of works is subject to flooding of the River

Residents and visitors also expressed interest for

Chew and conditions remaining safe for contractors to work

an indoor or covered café space, improved natural

in the river.

landscape and better play facilities for all ages.

Cllr Andy Wait, the chair of Keynsham Town Council, said:

These will be explored as long-term improvements

“I am aware of the large amount of work that has gone on to

during 2023 and 2024.

get to this point and would like to thank the users of Memorial

The Keynsham Memorial Park Discovery and

Park for their patience whilst the bridge was out of action.”

5

Bus service boost on trunk routes, but there’s bad news for the 349 and 47 Last week saw three announcements which will have profound effects on local bus services.

The first was the unveiling of a £7m package of measures from West of England Mayor Dan Norris to increase frequencies of trunk routes from 2nd April.

Next came details of bus operator First’s planned timetable changes which will see the removal of some “lesser used” services.

More details about how the new WESTlink demand responsive transport system were also unveiled. These issues are all entirely separate from the subsidised bus routes which have fallen victim to funding cuts from Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils which also come into effect on the same day.

First the good news. Last year, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), along with North Somerset Council, was awarded £105.5m from the Government to improve bus services. Crucially, the money could not be used to prop up existing services, only for new projects. The overall plan is to improve frequencies on major

6

routes with other services and demand responsive transport feeding into them.

Last week’s announcement involved a deal with First to establish ‘turn up and go’ services on five routes through central Bristol including the 48/48A/49 from Fishponds and at least 15-minute frequencies on eight others including Kingswood, Keynsham and Bath.

The 42/43 will increase to five buses an hour and will dovetail with the 44/45 to provide nine or 10 buses through St George.

Between Bath and Bristol there will be extra departures added to the X39 and crucially, a new route (the 522) to replace the 178. The combined effect will see up to eight buses an hour along the A4 between Brislington and Bristol.

After First withdrew the 178 last year, WECA provided temporary funding for a partial replacement between Paulton and Brislington Park & Ride until the end of this month. After that a new hourly 522 bus will operate from Bristol to Bath via Keynsham, Timsbury, High Littleton, Paulton, Midsomer Norton, Paulton and Peasedown St John. A new-look 172 bus service will also operate a

half-hourly service from Bristol to Midsomer Norton along the Wells Road via Whitchurch and Pensford.

But First also announced changes to the 349 Bristol to Keynsham service. Although primarily they are to coordinate the 15minute X39/39/349/522 frequencies, evening services around Keynsham’s Park Estate will cease.

And on Sundays buses on the 349 from the city centre to Keynsham will change number at Keynsham Church and become a 17 to Southmead Hospital before continuing around the Keynsham loop. Elsewhere, the 47 is being withdrawn, meaning once again there is no bus between Downend and Yate.

All the above changes come into effect on 2nd April and new timetables will be published shortly. On the same day, Stagecoach West will take over the operation of the Brislington Park & Ride service.

How new demand response transport system will work Some more detail has been given about how the WESTlink demand response transport system (DRT) will operate when it goes live in just a month’s time.

Phil Wright, the person at WECA responsible for delivering the network, took part in last week’s Keynsham Area Forum. He admitted the situation was evolving on almost a daily basis but that a full information campaign would be launched later this month.

In short, a network of 30 minibuses will operate WESTlink over two zones, divided very roughly by the River Avon. It will function in a similar way to the Uber taxi hailing system in that passengers will be able to book a journey up to 24 hours before they set off. Unlike Uber however, the minibus will not collect you from your door but at a pre-arranged location, such as a bus stop or landmark with a maximum one-hour wait. Initially the service will operate from 7am to 7pm every day except

Sunday.

The easiest way to book WESTlink is via the app which will then be able to provide real-time information. But journeys can also be booked by phone and the website.

Fares are the same as the West of England capped bus fares and concession cards apply.

Journeys can be to locations within the same zone (South or North) but in most cases WESTlink will feed into the enhanced bus corridors for people travelling further afield. The Keynsham area will have a special status, sitting close to the dividing line between the two zones.

Journeys will be possible between both zones.

The minibuses will be wheelchair accessible. Once the new fleet of vehicles is delivered in July, all will be low emission.

Arrangements are in place to use agency drivers to cover any initial shortfall.

The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

‘My warnings over Keynsham High Street have been ignored’ A year on from the Keynsham High Street redevelopment, which has seen dozens of people falling and in some cases seriously injuring themselves, there have been no attempts to alleviate the situation in any way, says a local councillor.

Alan Hale said the dangers presented by the contraflow cycle lane were made clear almost immediately with injuries reported within the first week. But accidents have continued, including significant fractures, loss of teeth, facial injuries and serious bruising.

Alan Hale This week Cllr Hale, who represents Keynsham South on Bath & North East Somerset Council and is the member advocate for road safety, is calling for immediate action.

He said that he had done as the council requested and directed

people to log their falls on the ‘Fix My Street’ website.

Following B&NES’ request for feedback comments, reports and complaints about Keynsham High Street, he had provided the necessary details about injuries, and was informed that all responses are formally logged, reviewed and responded to with input from the highways authority as part of the ongoing review and monitoring process.

Cllr Hale said: “Despite much correspondence, there has been no positive action, save to tell me they are monitoring the situation. That was last September and since then there have been many more casualties. I have written to the chief executive and the council leader Kevin Guy, warning that should someone fall and die, they as principal officers may well find themselves being charged with corporate manslaughter. That has been ignored.”

As the road safety advocate, Cllr Hale said he had been quick to identify the risks at the planning stage: “I warned that they were introducing a significant trip hazard, but that was dismissed by the officers.”

Keynsham High Street

He added: “There can be no other local authority in the UK who spend good money on arguably a vanity project which achieves a long and continuing list of serious injuries in the local community due to the design of the project and then continue to sit on their hands, rather than treat it as an emergency and try to resolve it. Perhaps the legal action for damages which is pending from some of the casualties might open their eyes and ears.”

Temple Street works on schedule, but trader says businesses are being treated with ‘disdain’ The Temple Street improvement works in Keynsham are on schedule, says the project team, but a local trader has hit out at the “disdain” with which he feels local businesses are being treated.

In their latest update, the Keynsham High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Partnership Programme – which involves Historic England, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Keynsham Town Council – say they are pleased that good progress is being made.

They reassure businesses, landlords and residents that pauses due to “in ground” findings are to be expected while design solutions are agreed on. The say the parking suspension remains in place and they will continue to work with contractors to free up parking on an ad-hoc basis as works allow; and that arrangements have been made with

The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

businesses for access to be provided for large delivery vehicles.

Chris Oliver, who runs Keynsham Hardware, says in a letter to The Week In (see page 8) that he wrote to the project team to outline the disruption to his business and asking when traders would receive compensation. He also highlighted issues with access to his shop and inaccurate work timings.

He says: “Telling me that ‘businesses have no right in law to a maintained level of passing trade’ and ‘temporary or permanent reductions in traffic flow are considered to be part of the risks of running a business’ are insulting statements. This scheme is not an assessed business risk. It is a risk burdened on businesses through a conscious decision by HSHAZ to impose council policy. To reply with

such disdain not only to me but other businesses as well, just shows their total lack of empathy.”

The improvement works involve installing new paving, planters, cycle parking and seating. The project is set to finish in May.

7

LETTERS Traders are being ‘insulted’ by council Dear Editor I wrote recently to Keynsham High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) to tell them how their Temple Street scheme is causing disruption

residents throughout this scheme yet the disdain

my beloved late husband used to use it.

with which we are treated is palpable. After this

A big thank you all round.

scheme is finished, what will it have achieved?

Mrs Q

They claim this scheme is to support businesses.

Asda customer

Seriously!

Plea to parish council to keep seating

Chris Oliver Keynsham Hardware

to my business and ask when would the businesses receive compensation. I expected and

Flooding at Wellsway

Meanwhile, despite an assurance from the

Have your say on active travel proposals

foreman that works outside my door area would

Dear Editor

start at a more convenient earlier hour, they

South Gloucestershire Council has launched an

started ripping up the pavement at 11am on

initial public consultation on the proposed

Wednesday. They were still working outside the

improvements to the active travel route between

window on Thursday morning. There is still a

Keynsham and Willsbridge (Bitton Station).

barrier blocking access from one direction and a

Improving this route has been a key campaign

narrow access to the other side. On Thursday

objective for the Bristol East Fringe Cycling &

afternoon this was blocked off and manhole

Walking Group and we have been working

covers removed whilst a discussion was held.

closely with South Gloucestershire Council to

Petrol fumes, dust and cutting machine noise have

contribute and support this project. We are

lasted throughout the length of this project so far

therefore delighted to see these proposals coming

and will continue. Health and safety are also

forward which aim to enable more people to

lacking as on number of occasions confused

choose walking, wheeling and cycling on this

pedestrians have strayed within half a metre of the

route.

stone cutter. One woman trying to access the shop

This is a timely opportunity with the route design

was told she couldn't come past the contractors.

at an early stage for the whole community to have

She explained she wanted to come in my shop and

their say and I would encourage anybody with an

literally barged her way through. The council told

interest in this route to take part in the

me before they started this scheme that access

consultation and express your views, comments

would be maintained!

and suggestions. Please note the closing date for

Back to the HSHAZ reply. It does not matter what

comments is 24th March.

“work timings” are given as they are not accurate.

The

The level of communication is dreadful. Posting

https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/keynsham_

an update through the letterbox is not

cycle_route/consultationHome

communication, just information, whether useful

If you cannot access the online survey please call

or not. Telling me that “businesses have no right

me on 07504 841569 and I’ll be happy to help.

in law to a maintained level of passing trade” and

Jon Parker

“temporary or permanent reductions in traffic

Chairperson, Bristol East Fringe Cycling &

flow are considered to be part of the risks of

Walking Group

received their arrogant reply.

online

consultation

link

flooded, but not due to “recent heavy downpours” as mentioned in that letter.

is:

running a business” are insulting statements. This scheme is not an assessed business risk. It is a risk

This photo shows stormwater flooding the highway and ‘pavement’ which is also pouring into my home. This particular incident was July 2018 and has been repeated several times since, the last being October 2022; B&NES Council emergency team never arrive.

When I rang our East ward councillor to come and

Dear Editor While shopping in Downend shopping centre the Saturday before last I met a man with a placard protesting against the Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council’s proposal to remove the wooden seating that surrounds trees along the pavements.

Apparently this work will cost £12,000. More importantly it will mean the disappearance of a much-valued feature. Whenever I am in the vicinity I see people sat on the seats, often talking

see and ask again what can be done to prevent this happening future, his advice was, well if I were you I should do it yourself. Thanks for the visit.

I have reported this problem many times to B&NES Council and local admin over the years; several inspection visits later, no action, no remedy. What a magnificent response from Lib Dem B&NES Council.

I hope one day I can praise the authority

One of the wooden seats

responsible for doing their jobs and correct the highway to prevent my home flooding, although it’s not looking very promising.

The official gully cleaning programme for this road is “on an annual basis”. As proof shows, this is not achieved and no concerns from any authority, perhaps because this address is not in the flood plain.

to friends and I hope very much that the parish council will reverse this decision, thus enabling this much-valued facility to remain.

Mr P Gould Editor’s note: We have asked the parish council to respond

Mr Waymouth

Spotlight on Kingswood’s public loos

Thanks for handing in my walking stick

Dear Editor

Dear Editor

What do we do when public toilets are

I would like to thank the lady who handed in my

inaccessible? I am so happy that we in Hanham

walking stick to customer services at Asda in

have very well-kept public toilets beside the car

decision by HSHAZ to impose council policy. To

Council’s emergency team never arrive

Longwell Green when she found it in the trolley.

park on the High Street.

reply with such disdain, not only to me but other

Dear Editor

I was very upset when I realised I had left my

However, an unforeseen set of circumstances

businesses as well, just shows their total lack of

Re the ‘Magnificent response from council’

stick in the trolley and had to come back to find

arises when facilities in Kingswood are in places

empathy.

(Letters, Issue 768) I only wish I could have said

it. Many thanks kind lady.

that are shut at certain times. I have been told that

HSHAZ completely miss the point that there is

the same over the last few years when my home

Asda should be proud to have kind, honest

those in the Kingswood Library, One Stop Shop

and will be a level of disruption to businesses and

on the Wellsway in Keynsham has often been

customers. My walking stick means a lot to me as

and even the public toilets outside Kingswood

burdened on businesses through a conscious

8

The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

LETTERS Park can all be closed to the public at the same

happened several years ago and they are at school

time. The public toilets for the disabled in

now but I still remember it to this day).

Moravian Road are closed (padlocked) and are

I rarely go on buses now and use them when I

said to be used to store equipment. I have seen the

have to but I would use them a lot more if I knew

padlocks but not inside the facility.

I didn't have time restrictions.

I have a card - which luckily I have never had to

Name & address supplied

use - called ‘Can’t wait’ which is for companies signed up to a scheme that allows people to use their facilities.

I hope that as in so many towns, signage in Kingswood will not only give information for people as to where Kingswood’s toilet facilities are but that they be well maintained and usable.

April Begley

World Day of Prayer Dear Editor The annual World Day of Prayer, which this year is on Friday (3rd March), is an ecumenical, women-led day where the same service takes place throughout the world, this year prepared by the Christian women of Taiwan.

It is a service for everyone, this year’s theme

Remove time restrictions on bus passes

being ‘I have heard about your faith’.

Amongst several services in the area is one at St

Dear The Week In

Anne’s Church in Oldland Common at 2pm. All

I just read your story about ‘Government support

are welcome.

for buses extended’ (Issue 769).

Jo Sowry

It was interesting but I think bus companies need to do more to make buses more appealing to use, like letting people who use a disabled bus pass or

Write to us

over 60s bus pass use it before 9am.

Lots of older and disabled people work but can't

The Week In is independent of any political or

use their pass before 9am which meant I had to

commercial interest.

use ‘access to work’ taxis when I was well enough

balanced and accurate view of local news and

to work so that was one of the reasons I avoided

welcome comments from our readers.

buses.

Normally, we will publish letters in full but

Another reason I avoided buses was that judging

reserve the right to shorten or clarify the contents

look I got from some drivers when I use my

or to refuse publication. Please try to keep letters

disabled bus pass as none of my multiple health

under 300 words and supply your full name and

conditions are visible.

address for reasons of authentication. Only the

And I remember when I was heavily pregnant

name and district where you live will be

with my youngest daughter and had a hospital

reproduced. Anonymity is possible under certain

appointment at 9.40am so needed to catch a bus

circumstances.

at 8.40am to get to my foetal heart scan

Copy can be sent by post or, preferably, e-mail

appointment.

and should arrive at our offices no later than

But the driver wouldn't let me on at first as it was

9.00am on the Monday of each week. E-mail

before 9am, though they did in the end (this

to:admin@theweekin.co.uk

We aim to produce a

B&NES Council leader apologises for his ‘hot mic’ comment The Lib Dem leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council has apologised for a comment that was picked up on his mic at last Tuesday’s budget meeting.

Castigating Cllr Kevin Guy, the Conservative group said in a statement that they, “like everybody sitting in the council chamber and watching via the live feed, were shocked and appalled by the behaviour of the Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Kevin Guy towards members of the public.

“To hear the leader of the council refer to a member of the public as “that bloody Louisa McFarland”, and then spitefully propose that an abattoir be built at Entry Hill, despite her concerns for public health, was disgraceful.”

Ms McFarland – who is standing as a Tory candidate at the forthcoming local elections had raised concerns during the public session about redeveloping land at Entry Hill in Bath without a proper risk assessment as it was formally a rubbish tip.

The Conservative group said that a second remark from Cllr Guy’s cabinet colleague Richard Samuel, calling Ms McFarland “miserable”, was “equally repulsive”, adding: “The conduct of Cllrs Guy and Samuel displayed an abject lack of respect for these principles and cannot be tolerated at BANES Council. We, the Conservative Group, therefore support calls for both men to make an immediate public apology to Ms McFarland.

“Moreover, councillors present in the council chamber also made complaints about the way they were treated by Cllr Guy when speaking.

In particular, comments were made about his aggressive body language and smirks towards

Sudoku 1-Easy

them, which they felt were designed to intimidate and disparage them.

“We completely condemn Kevin Guy’s playground bully behaviour during Tuesday night’s session of council. This chamber and the public who attend to observe and speak are worthy of the respect of their council and deserved much better than what was witnessed.”

Cllr Guy did apologise later in the meeting and again that evening on Twitter, saying: “I made a comment to a colleague which I shouldn’t have at tonight’s meeting, and I apologise unreservedly. I will reach out to the person speaking at the time and offer my apologies.

No excuses, no wasting of council’s resource on an investigation. I’m sorry.”

• The council’s 2023-24 B&NES budget was approved by councillors at the meeting, voting 32 in favour to 19 against. A council tax increase of 2.99% total was agreed, which equates to an additional £47.10 per year, or 91p per week, for a band D property. The administration said that this increase is well below the current rate of inflation and B&NES council tax remains amongst the lowest in the South West. An additional social care precept rise of 2% (equivalent to £31.50 on a Band D property, 61p per week) was also agreed.

Cllr Guy said that to help counter rising costs and balance the books the council had identified more than £14m of savings and additional income: “We’ve managed our finances well over recent years and, through making savings and increasing our income, we are confident the majority of residents won’t notice any change to the council services we all rely on.”

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 5th March

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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 March 2023

9

Three people prosecuted for littering offences in South Glos South Gloucestershire Council secured successful prosecutions at Bristol Magistrates’ Court last Monday after street enforcement officers caught three people littering on streets in Kingswood and Staple Hill.

Sarah Hopkins of High Street, Staple Hill, was ordered to pay a total of £867 after street enforcement officers saw her throw a cigarette down a drain in her road. Officers spoke to her and she was handed a fixed penalty notice (FPN).

But a subsequent check revealed that she had made no effort to make any payment against the penalty, so the case was progressed to the court. Hopkins failed to attend the hearing and was found guilty in her absence and handed a £220 fine, ordered to pay £559 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge.

Sam Murphy, of Downend Road, Kingswood, was ordered to pay a total of £867 after street enforcement officers saw him discard a drinks can on Regent Street in Kingswood. He too was handed an FPN and because he made no attempt to pay the penalty, the case went to court but he failed to turn

up and was found guilty in his absence. He was fined £220, ordered to pay £559 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge.

And Charles Holly, of Gill Avenue, Fishponds, was ordered to pay £850 after officers observed him throw a cigarette down a drain on Moravian Road in Kingswood. When challenged, he accepted his actions and was given a FPN. However, he failed to make any payment against the FPN so the council took the case to court.

Holly failed to attend and was found guilty in his absence.

He got a £220 fine, was ordered to pay £542 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge. Cllr Rachael Hunt, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Discarded litter such as cans and cigarette ends are an unsightly blight on our high streets and environment.

“We all have a responsibility to dispose of our litter correctly and there is no excuse for carelessly discarding waste and expecting others to clean it up.”

£50,000 Ring Road clean-up starts Because of the terrible state of litter along the A4174 Ring Road, South Gloucestershire Council says that its StreetCare teams are prioritising a major four-week clean-up ahead of other work. The operation started this week, with lane

closures on different sections of both sides of the carriageway which the council warned would cause disruption but is the only way to keep the five clean-up teams safe.

The council said: “The whole operation costs the council

Crossword ACROSS

DOWN

1. Foyer (9)

2. Cricket team (6)

9. Inside (6)

3. Metal container (3,3)

10. Eager (4)

4. Dance form (6)

11. Pine, yearn (4) 12. Ditch (6) 13. Tardy (7) 16. Soon (4) 17. Pulls behind (4) 18. Furrow (3)

5. Wound dressing (4) 6. Occupy completely (7) 7. Robe (4) 8. Model (9)

15. Twelve (5) 18. Irritate (4) 19. Montage (anag.) (7)

23. Applaud (4)

22. Walk unsteadily (6)

25. In no place (7)

23. Swiss house (6)

26. Fringing (6)

24. Melodic recitative (mus.) (6)

31. Restricts (6)

Crews from Kingswood were called at 7.03am last Wednesday to Farendell Road in Emersons Green where a car was on fire.

The cause is thought to have been accidental ignition.

14. Feel affection (4)

21. Assist (4)

30. Weaving frame (4)

Car fire

13. Trifle (9)

20. Consumed (3)

29. Compass point (4)

more than £50,000 which is why we only do clean-ups like this usually once or twice a year.

“Help us keep the roadside views better – do not throw rubbish out of your car window. Secure all waste and items on lorries and open-backed vehicles - you could be fined for not taking action to prevent litter.”

Meanwhile Bath & North East Somerset Council workers collected dozens of bags of rubbish from along the Keynsham bypass last week.

27. Sport (4) 28. Pant (4)

32. Surgical procedure (9)

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The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

‘Whitchurch Village is the wrong place for even more city expansion’ There was a well-attended public meeting held in Whitchurch Village last Thursday to highlight the need to carry on the fight to protect the Green Belt.

Local councillor Paul May spoke at the meeting at the Royal British Legion, as did representatives of Whitchurch Village Action Group and the South Bristol Wrong Road Group, who are campaigning against a ring road which would link the A4 and A37, starting at Hicks Gate and passing through the Green Belt between Stockwood and Whitchurch Village, and then cutting through more Green Belt land to Whitchurch Lane.

The fields under threat of housing development stretch from the A37 in Whitchurch Village in Bath & North East Somerset across to the edge of the Windways estate in neighbouring Whitchurch in Bristol.

Housing proposals are now being started for

the next 20 years as part of the Local Plan for B&NES and Cllr May, who represents Whitchurch Village on the council, stressed that it is not a sustainable location for substantial new housing.

He said: “Developers have land options on many fields. The planners will have to have evidence that they have examined all options effectively. We must and will fight to defend the Green Belt because the village has already expanded by 50% from the last Local Plan. We know there is a housing need in Bristol but Whitchurch Village is just the wrong place for even more city expansion. It would create a horrible urban sprawl.”

He added: “B&NES Council are listening so we will continue with the village council to engage with them at every stage.”

Faye Dicker, from the South Bristol Wrong Road Group, spoke of the campaigners’

Land under threat

frustration that the proposed road has not been removed from the West of England Combined Authority’s transport plans, and that the Green Belt review that the combined authority carried out has not been

issued.

Cllr May added: “The world has changed re the climate emergency and the justification of spending approximately £200m through the precious Stockwood Vale is very wrong.”

Kath from Keynsham celebrates her 100th birthday Kath Creighton became a centenarian on Monday 20th February, celebrating her milestone birthday with family and friends at Hawthorn Court care home in Keynsham while holding her special card from King Charles.

Kath, who was born in Australia, came to the west country aged three and has spent her years in Bath, Saltford and Kath pictured in 1968 at Fry’s

The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

Keynsham.

At the age of 41, she joined the Fry’s chocolate factory at Somerdale and spent most of her time in the catering department helping to feed the 5,000 employees.

In 1968, she applied for and got the prize job of catering assistant to senior managers and directors, and served most of the Cadbury family until retiring at the age of 60.

But Kath stayed on with Fry’s, helping with catering in the Fry Club for another 14 years to complete more than 33 years at Somerdale.

Behind the scenes for Kath’s surprise 100th celebrations were grand-daughter Helen Parker and niece Loraine Morgan Brinkhurst, who brought together more than 60 of her family and friends to celebrate at Hawthorn Court.

Included in the group were five generations - Kath, her daughter Pat Bayley, son Richard Burr, grand-daughter Hazel Caldwell, great-granddaughter Emma Davies and great-great granddaughter Ella Rose Davies.

Kath, who is the oldest member of the Somerdale Pensioners’

Five generations

Association, was also given a special presentation at Hawthorn Court by former factory manager John Fricker and committee members Elaine Carter and Jane Brailsford of flowers and special chocolates.

John Gingell

11

Fighting poverty and making trade fair As the annual Fairtrade Fortnight gets under Secondly, the farmers receive extra cash, for example for each This year the annual way, Clarice Corfield from Keynsham Fairtrade sack of coffee or each box of bananas that they produce. This Fairtrade Fortnight is is called the Fairtrade premium and this money is given to from 27th February to Group talks about the campaign.

Fairtrade is a very good model for doing business and at the same time helping the poor.

Firstly, Fairtrade makes an agreement with the farmers to guarantee a minimum price that they receive for their products. This is very important because if the market price falls, the farmer will not lose money and if the price rises, the farmer earns more. Without Fairtrade, farmers in poor countries do not have guarantees or insurances to cover their losses. The farmers on their own have little ability to compete with the huge, powerful multinational companies.

Today many farmers in poor countries who are growing crops to provide food for us are living on less than £1 per day. As the farmers working with Fairtrade receive a just and fair price for their products, they can have a decent standard of living, feed their families, and continue their businesses.

Coffee morning To mark Fairtrade Fortnight, Saltford's Fairtrade Group has arranged a coffee morning from 11am to 1pm on Friday 10th March at Saltford Hall.

A warm welcome awaits, with Fairtrade coffee, tea, and cake and a raffle.

the community. The community then decides how to spend the money. It may be used for the local school, or a hospital, to build a road or a water pump or to buy a tractor, etc.

When Keynsham became a Fairtrade town, farmers from developing countries came to visit. They gave talks to our community and in schools. We discovered from these firsthand talks and experiences what a difference Fairtrade had made to their lives. Their children could go to school, parents could buy shoes for their children, and they lived with greater security.

The Fairtrade products that we buy are priced to support the farmers, as described above, and may be a bit more expensive than non-Fairtrade brands. However, the price difference is small and, in some cases, Fairtrade products are even cheaper

12th March.

Supermarkets usually put Fairtrade products on offer and this is an opportunity for us to try them out. Then we will be enjoying a good product and at the same time helping to fight poverty. We will be helping to feed the poor.

There will be a Fairtrade exhibition in St. Dunstan’s Church (Bristol Road, opposite Tesco) during the Fairtrade Fortnight.

All are welcome. The church is open every day during daylight hours.

Council rejects 20-metre mast plan Plans to erect a 20-metre high mast at Staple Hill High Street, which received 30 objections, have been refused by South Gloucestershire Council.

CK Hutchinson Networks (UK) Ltd sought prior approval to put a Phase 8 monopole supporting six antennas and other equipment, including four cabinets, near Eclipse

THE TILE AND BATHROOM WAREHOUSE

Office Park.

The council’s planning team said the proposed mast would be “very imposing” and would tower over nearby homes, adding that the “unreasonable impact” was not justified by technical need. They said that other locations which reduce the impact should be considered.

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

Developer ordered to pay over £9,000 for damaging protected tree protected sycamore tree being cut. An officer from the planning enforcement team visited the following day and advised Andrew Cake, who was the foreman for the building site, that no further work should take place until

A developer has been ordered to pay a total of £9,023 after South Gloucestershire Council prosecuted him for seriously damaging a protected tree in Kingswood which had to be removed.

Andrew Cake, 61, the owner of Acton Homes Ltd, Woodlands Lane, Bradley Stoke, pleaded guilty to the offence of damaging a tree under a tree preservation order when he appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court last Monday.

The court heard that on 20th July last year the council’s arboriculture team became aware of a report relating to a planning application at Spring Hill for an attached house and associated work. The report referenced the digging of a trench and the roots of a

an inspection had been completed.

On 25th July officers from the arboriculture team attended and met with Cake before following out an inspection in his company.

It was observed that the trench had been filled in and the tree roots evident in earlier photographs had been removed, contrary to planning enforcement advice. In addition, fencing had been placed around the protected tree which was not present in photos taken four days previously. The officers instructed Cake to seek independent professional arboricultural advice regarding the structural integrity of the tree.

On 6th September officers received an email from Acton Homes Ltd which contained the arboricultural report and acknowledgement of responsibility for damage to the tree.

The report concluded that the majority of the roots had been severed or seriously damaged, leaving the tree in a dangerous,

The protected sycamore

unstable condition and therefore recommended it be felled and replacement planting undertaken. Two weeks later the council received another email from Acton Homes Ltd seeking permission for a five-day notice to remove the damaged sycamore. The council said that at no time since that consent was provided had Acton Homes Ltd been in contact to confirm the replacement.

On 9th November Cake was interviewed by the council’s arboriculture and environmental

enforcement teams where he presented a prepared statement relating to his involvement with an admission of fault in damaging the tree and an offer to correct the situation. He was advised that he would be receiving a summons to court where last week he was fined £5,600, along with £1,423 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge.

• Acton Homes Ltd have recently been granted permission to build six houses at St James Place in Mangotsfield.

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Nationwide in Kingswood to close The Nationwide Building Society has announced that it is to close its branch in Regent Street in Kingswood on 20th April.

In 2019 Nationwide promised its members that if there was a branch in their town or city, it would still be there until at least 2024 - but with the caveat that “there will always be circumstances that make it impossible to keep a branch open”.

Nationwide now says unfortunately, that is what’s happened in the case of Kingswood.

Total transactions at the branch have fallen from over 71,000 in April 2015 to 33,286 last February, but day-to-day running costs keep rising.

Nationwide says that 209 “vulnerable members” use the Kingswood branch and 68 members use it “exclusively and frequently”. It will be offering support, including proactively calling vulnerable members before and after the closure to ensure they are supported through the change.

Customers are advised that the nearest

Nationwide branches are in Cabot Circus – a 25-minute drive or 22 minutes by bus – or Yate which is 8.2 miles away, which takes 27 minutes by car or almost an hour by bus. Nationwide also mentions that there is a branch in Westbury-on-Trym. It says the nearest cash machine is Santander in Kings Chase Shopping Centre, as is the nearest Post Office branch.

The Week in • Wednesday 1st March 2023

13

Bristol City Council sets its budget Councillors in Bristol have passed the Labour Mayor’s budget plans for the coming financial year, which involved a financial challenge requiring £16m of savings.

The budget contains a 4.99% increase in council tax that includes a 2% rise in the adult social care precept.

Mayor Marvin Rees said the council had “dug deep” to deliver the seventh balanced budget of the administration that maintains a commitment to the services people want most: “We’ve protected libraries, children’s centres, and parks. We’re

supporting vulnerable people by safeguarding our Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Local Crisis Prevention Fund.”

He said the capital programme sets aside over £450m over four years to invest in building much-needed new homes. “There’s a further £35m being invested in Special Educational Needs provision for disabled children and their families, over £8m to invest in our leisure centres and £4m to spend on community improvements. We’re also taking the tough decisions now on spending the money needed to futureproof the city’s

Crossword Solution

Sudoku Solutions 1-Easy

infrastructure by investing tens of millions on flood defences, bridge repairs, rolling out low carbon street lighting and delivering repairs across an ageing road network.”

The final budget included amendments by Green Party councillors – the largest group on the council – among them improvements to parks and local streets. However, Green Party leader Cllr Emma Edwards said that “because of the deep and unsustainable cuts to council services”, Greens had abstained on voting for the overall budget:

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