THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset
31st May 2023
Issue 783
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Police seek protection order in crackdown on car meets The police are calling for a Public Spaces Protection Order to help crack down on nuisance car meets in Longwell Green. Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) enable local authorities to deal with a particular issue that is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those in the local community. This week a spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “The police have asked us to consider an application for a PSPO in respect of car meets and
Pedestrian dies after collision Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage following a fatal collision on the A4174 Ring Road near Warmley between a pedestrian and a van. Emergency services were called at around 4.25am last Thursday. Despite paramedics’ best efforts, the pedestrian died at the scene. The road was closed in both directions between the Deanery Road and Wraxall Road junctions while officers carried out enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 101, quoting reference number 5223121662.
Also in this week’s issue
cruise activity at Gallagher Retail Park and we are currently working with them to assess the volume of evidence that might support such an application.” The neighbourhood police reported to the recent meeting of Oldland Parish Council that patrols to collate reports for a PSPO application were ongoing. They also flagged up that small groups of cars still appear to be congregating at other nearby locations – namely the lower car parks at Asda and Aspects Leisure Park, and outside Tileflair at Aldermoor Way. This week a local resident told us that Aspects Leisure Park previously had a lot of trouble with cars racing around and parking up playing loud music, but that since speed bumps had been installed all around the car park, offenders have instead been carrying out “very irresponsible/dangerous car racing, skidding and creating terrible noise elsewhere”. He said that vehicle and other anti-social related crime affects Gallagher Shopping Park and Asda, as well as Gallagher Retail Park. Another reader shared a report of “boy racers” revving engines and youths on mopeds speeding in the car park of Asda at 8.30pm, along with gangs of teenagers hanging around outside the store. We have also heard from a reader that a large knife was found last month in undergrowth next to the footpath that leads from Asda to the Ring Road footbridge,
Plans for 50 ‘affordable’ homes in Oldland Common are submitted . . . page 3
South Glos Tories accused of ‘sour grapes’ . . . page 4
which he said was concerning as a large group of teenagers had previously been seen fighting outside the main entrance of the store. Meanwhile the recent update from the police to the parish council highlighted problems in the Aspects Leisure Park area with youths on bikes wearing head coverings to avoid being identified. The police also said that there have been reports of antisocial behaviour at Cock Road Ridge, on the other side of the A4174 Ring Road, with motorbikes being ridden around on common land.
Wessex Water’s £17m investment in Keynsham . . . page 6
Stockwood nursery branded Inadequate by Ofsted . . . page 10