The Week In - Issue 778 - 26th April 2023

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset

26th April 2023

Issue 778

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Extent of casualties in Keynsham High Street is revealed Our Freedom of Information request to discover the

and leader of the council, warning that should

extent of casualties in Keynsham High Street since the

someone die of their injuries it is his belief that

new layout was introduced in March 2022 has revealed

both of them could be investigated for corporate

that 59 people have reported falling and hurting

manslaughter.

themselves.

This week Susan Charles, who chairs disability

We used the legislation to get answers from Bath & North

campaign group Access B&NES, said: "The

East Somerset Council.

accidents caused by these changes are

We also asked B&NES how many personal injury

unforgiveable. It's very sad that the council took

compensation claims have been received as a result of falls

little notice of the users' comments in pre-

in Keynsham High Street in the last year. The answer is 21.

planning.”

Of those claims, none have been settled and seven have been

One of the most recent reports, which the

rejected. The council says the remaining claims are still open

FixMyStreet website shows is still under

and under investigation.

investigation by the council, happened on

Last month one of those who fell, Sue Hulbert, shared with

Thursday 23rd March.

have thought that I would be one of these people that suffered

us that the council’s insurance company had denied her claim

The person who fell wrote: “I have recently seen various

a fall from the cyclepath on to the road. I am in my 50s and

because: “The design met all the relevant planning and design

reports regarding the new layout of the cyclepath/pavement

fell off of this indistinguishable edge while looking for traffic

requirements”; “The incident occurred in the middle of the

which runs down the high street of Keynsham. I never would

that was coming to my left, I hit the ground with force in the

Keynsham High Street

day and therefore in daylight”; and “The location of your fall

middle of the road, hitting my wrists, knees and side of

was well maintained”.

face… People who witnessed told me this is nearly an

There is cross-party unity from the six councillors who

everyday occurrence. I was very lucky that I did not break

represent Keynsham on B&NES Council, all of whom have

any limbs or lacerations but I was very bruised and body

been lobbying for a solution to be found.

shocked due to the impact. Surely if you are receiving other

Concerns that the new stepped cycle lane would be a trip

concerns this should be looked into before a more serious

hazard were raised by councillors Alan Hale (Conservative)

accident occurs which I am sure B&NES Council wouldn’t

and Andy Wait (Lib Dem) when they were first shown the

want on their conscience.”

plans but they were assured that all guidelines were being

The council responded saying: “Thank you for bringing this

followed.

Cllr Hale, who’s the council’s advocate for road safety, has written on a number of occasions to both the chief executive

Susan Charles pictured in Keynsham High Street before the cycle lane was painted

matter to our attention. It’s currently being reviewed by the relevant teams and your report will be included in the Stage 4 Road Safety Audit.”

Continued on page 3

Also in this week’s issue

National TV appeal in hunt for woman missing from Kingswood . . . page 3

Teachers’ union holding regional rally in Keynsham . . . page 4

Keynsham’s Good Citizens are honoured . . . page 6

Dismay as inspector allows 260 homes on Brislington Meadows . . . page 11

2

The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

Detective makes renewed appeal on national TV to help find Denise The detective leading the investigation into

Channel 5 programme, presented by Dan

Extensive searches of the area where

the disappearance of Denise Jarvis from

Walker, which was broadcast on Thursday

she was last seen have also been

Kingswood has made a renewed appeal for

night.

carried

information on Channel 5’s Vanished: The

It’s available to watch again – go to

intelligence and POLSA-led searches,

Hunt for Britain’s Missing, which also

https://tinyurl.com/229kyphx

some of which have involved the use

features interviews with her family.

Denise’s mother Bernadette and sister Rachel

of police divers while CCTV from the

Denise, 44, has been missing for more than

also made heartfelt appeals, with her mum

area has also been reviewed.

eight months and Avon & Somerset Police

saying: “She’s not another person missing,

Police say they have been unable to

continue to appeal for the public’s help.

she’s our daughter, she’s Rachel’s sister - she

locate any CCTV footage of her

Senior Investigating Officer Det Insp Ben

is loved. If somebody has seen her, we want

following the last confirmed sighting.

Lavender was in the studio for the live

her back, because we love her.”

DI Lavender said on the programme: “While

to find out what happened to her.

Denise was last seen on the evening of

we’re carrying out land searches, specialist

“This will include continuing enquiries

Wednesday 3rd August in the area of Southey

searches and with our dive team, we are

around her phone and communications data,

Park. That remains the last confirmed

preparing for the worst but really still hoping

as well as past financial transactions, and

sighting of her.

for the best, and we hope that this will come

we’ll continue to speak with all known

Newly-released CCTV images of Denise,

to a positive outcome for her family.”

relatives, friends and associates of Denise.”

recorded on the day before she went missing,

On the CCTV showing Denise wearing the

If you know where Denise is or have seen or

shows the coat she was wearing when she

coat she was last seen in, he said: “It’s quite

spoken with her since Wednesday 3rd

was last seen in the park – a grey, thigh-

a distinctive coat…while clearly time has

August,

length sleeveless coat.

moved on, and she’s unlikely to be wearing

5222186376, or call 101 with any other

A thorough investigation has seen officers

the same clothes now, if anyone has seen that

information.

complete more than 700 actions and speak to

coat discarded or if she’s still wearing it, that

Avon & Somerset Police have also set up an

more than 90 of Denise’s contacts in the hope

will jog some memories.”

online portal featuring the appeal, which will

of finding her.

Speaking after the programme, he added:

allow people to send information direct to

“We’re committed to getting the answers

officers working on the investigation. Go to

Denise’s family so desperately need and

https://mipp.police.uk/operation/5222C16-

we’ll leave no stone unturned in our efforts

PO1

Denise Jarvis

Extent of casualties in Keynsham High Street is revealed Continued from page 1 It is still not clear when that audit will be

out,

as

well

as

other

CCTV imaghes of Denise

call

999

quoting

reference

Signs were put up shortly after the changes

published.

Just last Friday, there was a report of another fall, posted on the Keynsham Community Facebook page. A witness said that an elderly lady walking along with her husband had not realised there was a kerb and thought it was flat: “She was very shaken, but fortunately didn't appear to have sustained any injuries at the time. However, we urged her to add her name to the 'victim list' to present to the council, which she did. Something HAS to be done ASAP!” As we have previously reported, some victims’ claims are being taken up by Wards Solicitors. See Letters, page 8

The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

3

Plans for HMO are approved despite concerns Plans to turn a detached property in Keynsham into an

Keynsham East ward according to the public register, the

could be dealt with by a planning officer under the delegated

eight-bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO) have

scheme would not tip the concentration to 10% or more

procedure. The officer’s report said the scheme was

been approved by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

within a 100-metre radius, in line with council policy.

compliant with council policy and even though it is larger

Reliable Property Invest Ltd applied to refurbish and alter

There were also two objections from neighbours and local

than a typical HMO, there would be no strong justification

Goodfield House on Bath Road to comply with council

councillor Andy Wait wanted the application called in, saying

in seeking a significant increase in the five parking spaces

standards for licensed houses in multiple occupation.

there have been “major difficulties “with multi occupation of

proposed.

The applicant said that with three licensed HMOs in the

properties in residential areas locally.

Union demo in park

In his letter he said: “This

The National Education Union (NEU) is planning a rally in Keynsham tomorrow (Thursday) which is a teachers’ strike day.

Union members from across the South West are being invited to take part in the rally. The NEU says the demonstration in the “constituency heartland” of Jacob Rees-Mogg is part of the national strategy to target constituencies of prominent MPs. The rally is due to take place at the bandstand in Keynsham Memorial Park from noon to 1pm.

past has led to unacceptable

type of change of use in the noise, overcrowding, traffic problems and parking issues.

I think that such a change needs to receive the scrutiny of the B&NES Planning Committee.”

But Cllr Wait’s request was turned down by both the committee’s vice chair and chair last week, saying it

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.

Goodfield House

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4

The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

Details of Wellsway diversion revealed Details of the diversion that will be in place

that Wessex Water can construct 170 metres

The alternative route now announced will be

back more than 20 years, with issues raised

when part of the B3116 Wellsway in

of new sewer and manholes.

via the rest of the Wellsway to the B3116

by residents, including those on Wellsway

Keynsham is closed for up to 14 weeks have

Earlier this year Wessex said it would be

Burnett Hill, then the A39 Wells Road, A4

and

been revealed.

working closely with Bath & North East

Bristol Road and A4 Bath Road (and vice

occasions.

The stretch from outside the entrance to

Somerset Council to set up a diversion route

versa). The work is anticipated to take 12

incidents, including those in the grounds of

Rockhill Estate down to the junction with

that should avoid traffic taking short cuts

weeks. There will be essential access where

Keynsham Cricket Club, Wessex Water is

Bath Road will be closed from 24th July so

through local estate roads and lanes.

required. Reports of flooding at that site date

investing more than £500,000.

Limekilns To

Close,

on

numerous

reduce

these

flooding

Calls to lower speed limit in lanes There have been calls for the speed limit

Road.

in the lanes between Keynsham and

Due to the roads being in both Saltford and

Saltford to be lowered from the national

Keynsham, the council resolved to contact

speed limit of 60mph to 20mph.

Keynsham Town Council to discuss the

Saltford Parish Council discussed a request

possibility of a joint approach to B&NES

to ask Bath & North East Somerset Council,

Council for a reduced speed limit, coupled

as highways authority, to reduce the limit on

with traffic calming measures, including how

the lanes between Grange Road in Saltford

such actions may enhance or benefit active

and the residential areas of Manor Road and

travel.

Courtenay Road in Keynsham for the safety

Any change in speed limit would require a

of all users.

Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) which

The parish council said it recognised the use

would include a public consultation. It is

of the lanes specifically by schoolchildren,

expected that TROs for Saltford and

pedestrians, horse riders and those using the

Keynsham would next be considered by

community woodland on both sides of Manor

B&NES Council in spring 2024.

The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

Manor Road

5

Keynsham Good Citizen Award winners The Keynsham Good Citizen Awards for 2022/23 have been presented to six recipients.

The chair of Keynsham Town Council Cllr Andy Wait presented awards for outstanding contribution to the Keynsham community to the winners at the annual town meeting held at The Space last Thursday.

Each received a framed certificate and an award of £100 payable for their chosen organisation or charity.

The winners were: • Russell Pocock, treasurer of Keynsham &

District Mencap Society.

• Trevor Cruse, from Keynsham Life Saving Club.

• Geoff Davis from Somerdale Shed, Keynsham's community shed project.

• Mark Tanner, founder of Keynsham Table Tennis Club.

• Tracie-Jane Bath for her work supporting Keynsham Music Festival.

• Matty Jackson (under 25s award) for his work with local organisations including youth group KeynshamNow, the Scouts and the music festival.

Russell Pocock

Trevor Cruse

Matty Jackson

Mark Tanner

Geoff Davis

Tracie-Jane Bath

Mangotsfield woman fined for dropping a cigarette A woman from Mangotsfield has been ordered to pay a total of £1,483 after South Gloucestershire Council prosecuted her for dropping a cigarette in Staple Hill.

Terie Green, of Arnold Road, failed to attend Bristol Magistrates’ Court for the hearing last week but was found guilty in her absence and convicted for the offence of littering. She was ordered to pay a fine of £660, along with £559 in costs and a £264 victim surcharge.

The court heard that on 9th November 2022 council street enforcement officers were on uniformed patrol on Broad Street when they noticed Green smoking a cigarette as she walked towards the supermarket. She then threw the

6

cigarette onto the floor before entering the store, making no attempt to place it in a bin.

A street enforcement officer who witnessed her actions was waiting to speak with her when she came out a few minutes later. The officer explained she had been seen discarding the cigarette and was being issued with a fixed penalty notice for the offence of littering.

The defendant provided her personal details, but subsequent checks showed that she failed to make any payment against the fixed penalty so a prosecution for the offence of littering was progressed through the courts.

Amie Copley, built environment enforcement manager at

South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Discarded cigarette ends can blight our town centres and communities, and are one of the most common forms of littering that we see.

They can harm the environment and take many years to decompose.

“Anyone issued with a fixed penalty notice must pay their fine otherwise we will bring the matter before the courts.

We encourage smokers to dispose of their smoking litter responsibly by using the bins provided or take it home with them.”

Littering and other anti-social offences can be reported by visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/report

The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

7

LETTERS Council ‘ducking and diving’ over falls Dear Editor

last week.

street.

We had been asked twice before about whether

But, in the vast majority of cases I find that

Laura Rickards

people wanted a town or parish council in

people are not using official crossing points,

Mangotsfield

Kingswood or not. Back came the answers from two consultations: ‘No, we don’t’.

which are level, and choose to cross at a

I’ve just witnessed yet another person trip on the kerb that is either side of the Keynsham High Street cycle lane (earlier in the week I observed an ambulance being called).

diagonal anywhere they want from one side to the other. At which point they don’t pay attention and the kerb of the cycle lane catches them out.

The lady that I witnessed today (Friday) was shaken and badly bruised but like many before her was helped up by members of the public; she sat for a while and eventually went about her business. Bath & North East Somerset Council statistics, we are told, indicate that less injuries are now taking place.

If people don’t cross at the right places, then they surely do so at their own risk? Any standard road is going to have two paths with a kerb and we should factor that in.

I just get frustrated that I see people trip where they would not have done so if they crossed where it is signposted as safe to do so.

This is the third time that I have witnessed such

Name and address supplied

Critics ‘got the wrong end of the stick’ Dear Editor In Letters, Issue 777 Paul Sims and Edmund Cannon appear to have got the wrong end of the stick concerning my letter about the Green Belt.

I am pro-immigration. Mr Sims did the usual and stated it was systemic racism because I stated a fact that the Green Belt must be consumed to help house migrants. He also said the

statement

was

unsubstantiated

and

an incident. B&NES will no doubt say that they

inflammatory, but the census shows that

have complied with all safety regulations and

migration is a significant factor in new

Simple enough you may think. A straight opinion expressed quite clearly by a majority of those who answered the consultations. Then more recently a third consultation booklet on the subject was sent out. The booklet had several flaws including no costings and a map with no detail of any kind. Again, the answer came back, no thank you! But I began to hear the words ‘I want a town council’ repeated at a South Gloucestershire and other meetings.

Fair enough you may say, a variety of opinion is acceptable; are we not a democracy after all?

But don’t forget the answer to the three consultations was no!

appear to wash their hands of any responsibility.

Seeing red over green screens in Downend

When will common sense prevail? People are

Dear Editor

Edmund Cannon seems to think that stating a

being injured almost daily in our High Street,

I feel I must comment on the idea of green

fact is being nasty to asylum seekers; he also

irrespective of what regulations B&NES state

screens in Downend high street (The Week In,

said I was being disingenuous. The only person

that it is abiding by, the fact remains that people

Issue 776).

being disingenuous on this subject is Chris

are still being regularly injured by the layout of

What a waste of time and money. Yes, the

Skidmore MP, who “claims” to support

the High Street and so why do B&NES fail to

flower beds look nice but if the council want to

migration, whilst blocking the multiple cities

admit that they got it wrong and actually do

transform and invest in the high street, they need

that are required for their housing in favour of

what we pay them for, that is look after the

to come up with better ideas.

protecting the dog walking fields of the

people of Keynsham rather than constantly

Come the end of April we will not have any

privileged elites on the Green Belt. That’s an

ducking

is

banks in Downend, only the Post Office. The

anti-migrant and anti-poor policy.

their responsibility. Are they waiting for a

cake shop which did wedding cakes is going to

Better education, as Mr Cannon proposes, won’t

Querying council tax claim

be changed into flats. The council can spend

make the millions of missing homes magically

Dear Editor

I understand that there are legal proceedings

thousands of pounds on screens and benches,

appear for those people who come to support

With

being undertaken, so are B&NES unwilling to

but it will not bring shoppers to Downend. We

our NHS.

Gloucestershire council tax Band D in last

take any action until these proceedings are

have too many places to eat and not enough

John Woodruff

week’s edition. Simon Davies, of Bristol and

resolved which could take years? I can only

interesting shops to make people want to come

assume that they consider the safety of its

to Downend. Have a survey and ask what

‘A Tory disgrace’

community to be less important than their

implemented recommendations, they then

and

diving,

ignoring

what

fatality?

household formation. It’s a well-known fact this country has a chronic housing shortage.

So, we are then into the next stage - who sits on the Kingswood council? Not the person whose words I listened to: ‘I want a town council.’ Nor it would appear any Tories.

Some Labour people have agreed to become members of the council, as have others, but not sufficient people to require a vote.

You call it a row; a Tory disgrace seems appropriate!

April Begley

regards

your

letter

re

South

South Gloucestershire Conservatives, is not correct in stating that Band D this year is £1,752 as I am in Band C and I am paying £1,902.07.

people that still come to the few shops left

Dear Editor

reputation and any potential penalty they may

want. And see if there are some better ideas

The

have to pay if found negligent.

around!

Kingswood’s new town council (Issue 776).

Editor’s

Nick Norris, Keynsham

Yes, we have a few businesses, they need help

An issue that relates to the nature of democracy

Gloucestershire Conservatives this week said

to survive. They are hanging by the teeth. So

itself. We live in a democracy. Most people

it’s a “fact” that the South Glos council tax bill

Safe crossings are provided

please do something about the two empty banks

welcome that. Life begins to become difficult

for an average Band D property is £1,752,

Dear Editor

or they will sit empty and make the high street

when we engage in the process known to us as

which is £200 lower than Bristol’s.

I see letters and articles about the High Street in

look awful. Planters and screens are a waste. It

‘consultation’.

They reiterate that the Band D council tax is the

Keynsham

may be beneficial to the air quality, but it will

What does the word mean? Primarily we will be

standard measure used nationally, and all other

not make people spend money in Downend high

asked to give our opinions on a specific matter.

bands are set as a proportion of Band D; as the

and

people

falling.

I

have

experienced seeing people fall. As recently as

8

headline

I

write

about

concerns

G Langley note:

Bristol

and

South

The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

LETTERS figure is represented as an average, some properties may receive a slightly lower or higher bill due to a range of factors including charges set by other bodies, such as the police or a local town or parish council.

Fly-tipping of gas cylinders Dear Becky We have been used to seeing a few silver N2O ‘whippets’, often seen with a balloon, discarded as litter, probably where they were used.

The cost of new councils in South Gloucestershire A precept has been put in place for each of the four new authorities in South Gloucestershire – Kingswood Town Council, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield Parish Council, Stoke Park & Cheswick Council and Charlton Hayes Parish Council - which will start work following May ‘s local elections.

South Gloucestershire Council has allocated £50,000 towards the set-up costs of the new parish and town councils. Next year the new authorities will run their own budget-setting processes and submit

these to South Gloucestershire for council tax billing in the normal way. The precepts are on top of the other components of the bill.

Kingswood Town Council’s precept for 2023/24 is £125,100 and the annual cost for the standard measure Band D property is £14.99. In Staple Hill & Mangotsfield parish the precept is £106,800 (£26.68 for a Band D property).

In Stoke Park & Cheswick Council the precept is £66,700 (£38.78 for Band D). In Charlton Hayes it is £65,700 (£35.10 for Band D).

Now we are witnessing the change in nitrous oxide abuse practice. Large cylinders of the gas are being used and the empties are being taken from wherever they are being used and dumped.

This photo was taken on 19th April in the

English wine and food festival

footpath between Abbots Avenue and Rangers

Tickets are now on sale for a fundraising English wine and

fundraising was badly hit by the pandemic.

Walk in Hanham. I reported it to South

food festival at Avon Valley Railway at Bitton on Friday 2nd

Roger Eynon, the event’s organiser, said: “English wine is

Gloucestershire Council as fly-tipping.

June.

becoming more popular, and this will be a unique opportunity to

Fifteen of the very best vineyards in England are taking part.

taste a wide selection of English still and sparkling wines.”

There will also be gins from two local award-winning distilleries

The event will take place from 6pm to 9pm and tickets are £15.

and a range of local food producers.

The station’s buffet and shop will be open during the event.

The event is in aid of Avon Valley Railway Heritage Trust which

Tickets

says that like many other organisations and businesses,

https://bit.ly/avrwinefest

(for

over-18s

only)

are

available

at

New bridge to be in place by September Wessex Water has outlined the proposed timetable of work on the

The bridge itself, which will also provide a public footpath, will

new access road and bridge over the River Avon which will link

be constructed in August and September. Then from September

its water recycling centre at Saltford with the A431 near

to December, drainage, services and surfacing will be completed.

Swineford.

Early next year the ground will be reinstated and the site will be

The main construction phase got under way this month and bulk

cleared by February.

litter problem might have been reduced but is

earthwork and embankment work will be taking place up until

The existing access to the centre along Mead Lane in Saltford has

now a fly-tipping problem?

July. From May to June there will be bridge support construction,

narrow sections and a low bridge and floods when the river level

Robin Champion

including piling work.

is high.

These 10 full cylinders would have cost about £200 and provided the gas dose equivalent of 800 whippets. Should we be pleased that the

Hanham

SUNDAY CHEMISTS

Sudoku 1-Easy

Sunday 30th April

2 -Hard

Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (10.30am-4pm) Asda, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) Boots, Emersons Green Retail Park (10.30am-4.30pm) Sainsbury’s, Emersons Green Retail Park (9.30am-4.30pm) Stockwood Pharmacy, 78 Hollway Road, BS14 8PG (9am-7pm) 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 26th April 2023

9

Appeal to build 22 homes in the Green Belt is withdrawn It was revealed on Friday that developers have withdrawn their appeal in respect of Green Belt land off the A420 in Wick where they were planning 22 homes and a car park to serve the Golden Valley Nature Reserve.

Last week we featured Wick Land Ltd’s appeal against South Gloucestershire Council’s refusal of the plans. An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State had been due to preside over a four-day public inquiry starting on 27th June.

Celebrating the Coronation In next week’s issue we’ll have a round-up of local events taking place over the bank holiday weekend of 6th to 8th May to mark the Coronation.

If you are holding an event, let us know.

Crossword

The outline planning application for the land south of Church Road and High Street was for 14 fourbed houses along with three threebed houses, three two-bed flats and two one-bed flats.

The council had refused the scheme on several grounds, including inappropriate development, and that it would harm the setting of nearby Grade I listed Wick Court. There were also road safety concerns.

The council had received 118 letters of objection and 11 in favour of the plans.

The developers’ agents had said that it would be shown at the inquiry that there are 11 very special circumstances to allow development in the Green Belt, that the location is sustainable, and that a new pedestrian crossing would not be warranted.

They also said that the council’s Local Plan is out of date, that it does not have a five-year housing land supply and that it is under-delivering on affordable houses.

There has been a cautious welcome to the withdrawal of the housing appeal, with some thinking that the developers will return with revised plans.

A separate appeal against the council’s enforcement action

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Lecturer (6)

1. Meal (6)

4. Approach boldly (6)

2. Agreement (6)

8. Outdoor meal (6)

3. Fit to eat (6)

10. Guard (6) 11. Carried (5) 12. Saunter (6) 14. Facet (6) 16. Food regime (4) 17. Saucy (4)

5. Dairy food (6) 6. Opening, vent (6)

The site off the A420

over fencing that was put up without permission to screen the site has not been withdrawn.

Rise in thefts from vehicles The South Gloucestershire Neighbourhood Policing team say that in recent weeks they have received an increased number of reports about thefts from vehicles, mostly in the areas of Downend, Lyde Green and Staple Hill.

They say: “We are prioritising this by allocating the required resources to make the necessary enquiries to identify those involved in this type of criminal activity.

“We want to advise all residents to make sure their vehicles are being locked and secured overnight and no valuables are being left inside.”

Anyone who has been a victim of crime or witnessed anything that might help them trace the suspects is asked to use the online reporting service on the Avon & Somerset Police website.

7. Assignations (6) 9. Young horse (4) 10. Break (4) 13. Lubricated (5) 15. Arrogant (5)

19. Views (4)

18. Sculpture (6)

22. Sixty minutes (4)

19. Trapped (6)

26. Treeless plain (6)

20. Rubber (6)

27. Fervent (6)

21. Condiment (4)

28. First Greek letter (5)

22. Sunken boundary (2-2)

29. Driving force (6)

23. Colour (6)

30. Temper, toughen (6)

24. Feel remorse (6) 25. Taken dishonestly (6)

31. Tolerate (6) 32. Sir Isaac ------, mathematician (6)

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The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

Inspector gives green light to 260 homes – but Government is urged to reconsider The decision by a planning inspector to allow up to 260 homes to be built on Brislington Meadows has been met with dismay.

The site had been allocated for housing in Bristol City Council’s 2014 Local Plan to help address the city’s acute housing shortage. Homes England, which in 2020 spent £15m buying the Meadows, pushed ahead with plans to build on the site even though the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees announced in April 2021 that it would be kept as a local green space as part of the council’s plan to tackle the ecological emergency.

The appeal to the Planning Inspectorate was made against the failure of the council to determine the application within the statutory period. The council subsequently took the application to its planning committee and it was agreed that the application would have been refused.

Following an inquiry held earlier this year the inspector last week upheld the appeal for up to 260 homes together with

We should work with the developers now, says MP Local MP Kerry McCarthy has told Brislington Meadows campaigners that while “extremely disappointed by this decision, I think our best course of action now is to work with the developers to ensure that the development is as environmentally friendly as possible and that it mitigates the loss of biodiversity and wildlife as much as it can.

“I will play my part in that, and I think that community groups that care about the environment, such as yourselves, can make an even more important contribution to the process.”

But that has not gone down well with the campaigners who responded on Twitter saying: “Unfortunately @KerryMP has decided to work with @HomesEngland and even accused us of not caring about the environment if we don’t do the same. Very disappointing behaviour from our Labour MP. You can email her and ask her to reconsider this stance.”

The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

pedestrian, cycle and vehicular access, cycle and car parking, public open space and associated infrastructure.

The inspector concluded that the benefits of the scheme “significantly outweigh the harms” - namely loss of trees and hedgerows, ecology, and loss of open space and recreation.

He also said the city council could not demonstrate a fiveyear supply of housing land and the land was still officially listed by the council as a place to build new homes.

Mayor Rees said that he was “deeply disappointed to see the Government approve plans to build on Brislington Meadows”. He added: “This wildlife haven needs protection.

Homes England's plans are at odds with my administration's efforts to save the site from my predecessor’s 2014 Local Plan.”

The Save Brislington Meadows campaign group said: “Unfortunately the planning inspector decided to be on the wrong side of history. We are beyond disappointed that democracy was ignored and we are looking at our options moving forward.”

The group said that 74% of the ancient hedgerow will be lost, including the bluebells and “veteran trees”.

Bristol Tree Forum added: “We are deeply disappointed this precious green space, filled with important habitat including exceptional trees and important rare, historic hedgerows, is being sacrificed to housing.”

In a statement Brislington East councillors Tim Rippington and Katja Hornchen said: “We are bitterly disappointed that the Planning Inspectorate has allowed Homes England to build on Brislington Meadows - an ecologically important, wildlife-rich meadow that is loved and used by the local community. We, alongside residents, believe that Brislington Meadows’ ecological values far outweigh the benefits of building houses there and we made this view clear to the Planning Inspectorate.

“This is not only our view but the view of Bristol City

Council as a whole. We have declared an ecological emergency and, recognising the value of the Meadows, have removed the site from the emerging Local Plan following its inclusion by our predecessors in 2014 – instead including alternative brownfield sites to make up for lost housing.

“As local councillors we have opposed the proposals alongside Mayor Marvin Rees and Kerry McCarthy MP, based on the ecological evidence provided by the likes of Avon Wildlife Trust. Sadly, Homes England and the Planning Inspectorate have chosen to side-line local democracy and impose this development on us against the will of the city.”

Cllr Rippington added: “It could still be stopped, regardless of what the law and planning regulations say. There is still time for the Government to change its mind. I will be writing to Michael Gove (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) to personally plead that he reconsiders the position of the Meadows and puts himself on the right side of history.”

• An application for costs was made by Bristol City Council against Homes England which will be the subject of a separate decision. And an application for costs was also made by Homes England against Bristol City Council. Again, this will be the subject of a separate decision.

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The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

Primary school places offer day Families last week received offers of primary school places for September.

In South Gloucestershire the council said there had been an increase in the percentage of children being offered one of their three preferences. The total number of on-time applications from residents was 3,254 and the total number of first preference offers was 2,991 (92%).

The most oversubscribed primary school in South Gloucestershire was Lyde Green in Willowherb Road which issued 33 refusals. As we reported in Issue 773, the expected opening date of Lyde Green’s long-awaited new secondary school and the community’s second primary school has been delayed yet again, with building work yet to start. The schools look unlikely to open until 2026.

Bristol City Council said that for the second year in a row, 99% of families were offered one of their top three choices, with 92% getting their first preference. A total of 4,787 applications were received.

• We asked Bath & North East Somerset Council last week for their figures but had not received a response as went to print.

Scarecrow trail is just the job For a great May Bank Holiday family day out, discover scarecrows hidden in gardens in Pucklechurch.

Collect your trail map, tickets and clues/entry forms from St Thomas a Becket Church from 11.30am on Sunday 30th April or from 10.30am on Monday 1st May. The cost is £5 for a family ticket (two adults and two children), £2 per adult and £1 per child or student. Cards are accepted for tickets but bring cash for purchases from stalls.

Walk around the village, guessing the names and jobs of the scarecrows. The event will raise funds for the church which will be offering sandwiches, cakes and cream teas.

Return your forms by 4pm each day. There will be a presentation of the answers on Monday at 4pm in the church and they will be added to the scarecrow Facebook page in the week after the event.

Prizes are available for the best scarecrow, as voted by visitors, and for the most correctly guessed scarecrow names.

St Thomas a Becket Church, Pucklechurch

Situations Vacant

The Week in • Wednesday 26th April 2023

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