The Week In - Issue 801 - 4th October 2023

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset Issue 801

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4th October 2023

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Furious row over plans to abolish free parking in South Glos All council-owned car parks in South Gloucestershire are currently free but that looks set to change – and there is a furious row about who is to blame.

The council has a long-standing policy of free parking in all its town centre car parks to support local shoppers and encourage local spending.

As part of its plans to regenerate Kingswood town centre, the council bought Kings Chase Shopping Centre in 2021 and in May last year dropped the parking charges that used to be in place when it was privately owned.

In the run-up to May’s King Chase shopping centre car park

local elections, all three political

made

“under no illusion” about where the charges had come from.

responded saying: “The budget approved by council in

pledges that free parking

She said: “If we have to bring these Conservative parking

February did not seek to introduce car parking charges in

would continue. But last

charges in, we want to do it as fairly as possible, which is

South Gloucestershire – that is a fact. The Conservative group

week the Lib-Dem Labour

why we’ll be talking to residents and listening to their views

has never attempted, nor even desired, to introduce parking

team now at the helm of

on the right way forward.”

charges.

South

Gloucestershire

Cllr Jayne Stansfield, Lib Dem Lead Member for

“The budget contained a review of some potential income-

Council

said

could

Communities and Local Place, said: “We want to listen to the

generating schemes, with the aim of identifying other

confirm

that

parking

views of local residents and businesses as to how we can best

opportunities to raise income without passing charges onto

charges were included in

implement the Conservative charges, so that they don’t

residents.”

the previous Conservative administration budget.

impact badly on our town centres. Times are very hard for

Cllr Bromiley urged members of the Lib Dem-Labour

Cabinet Member for Communities and Local Place, Labour

everyone.”

coalition to “retract the false claims, apologise for

councillor Leigh Ingham, said she wanted residents to be

But the Conservative group leader Cllr Sam Bromiley

deliberately misleading residents, and conduct themselves in

Cllr Sam Bromiley

parties

it

a manner more suited to the holders of elected office.” He added: “Residents deserve better.”

In a joint response to Cllr Bromiley’s demand for a retraction and apology, the Labour and Lib Dem administration said that on page 113 of the previous administration’s budget there was mention of an income generation of £2m per annum: “While council officers have advised us they were working to introduce car parking charges, if the Conservative group now have an alternative way to do this, we look forward to learning about their £2m a year money-making scheme during the upcoming budget-setting process.”

See also page 4

Also in this week’s issue

Action to curb antisocial behaviour in Keynsham . . . page 3

South Glos police inspector dismissed for raping a woman . . . page 6

Opening of new Lyde Green schools delayed yet again . . . page 10

Major planning application for Upton Cheyney declared invalid . . . page 12

2

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

Action to curb town’s anti-social behaviour problems Following the recent spate of anti-social behaviour in Keynsham, the town council says it is working in close partnership with local community organisations and individuals to try to resolve the issue.

There have been problems in and around the library and some nearby shops and the problems worsened over the school summer holidays, with children aged from 12 upwards said to be causing anxiety and fear with their abusive and threatening behaviour during the daytime.

“We’re taking the recent increase of antisocial behaviour in Keynsham very seriously” said town clerk Dawn Drury. “We want to better understand the root cause of the behaviour in order to implement effective and long-lasting change – for the community, for the businesses and importantly for the young people affected.”

As part of a joint commitment between Bath and North East Somerset Council and Keynsham Town Council to address anti-

social behaviour, ‘Street Doctors’ (junior doctors) will provide training for the town clerk and youth staff, as well as holding sessions at the town’s TimeOut Centre for young people. This training follows a harmreduction model, giving young people first aid skills to keep themselves and their friends safer whilst also discussing related issues, rather than giving them a direct ‘just don’t carry a knife’ message, which it is felt doesn’t work for many of those who the team are working with.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s fire safety intervention scheme will undertake some direct work with young people who have been misusing fire in their homes, communities or schools. This is to address the numerous fires started by young people at the derelict Treetops building in St Clements Road.

The town clerk or a representative of the town council’s youth service will attend the monthly Avon & Somerset Police anti-social behaviour meetings to share intelligence gathering. The clerk will also attend a meeting with the department within B&NES Council that deals with missing children to better understand how the arrangements work.

The police have also said they aim to increase foot patrols.

Speaking at Thursday’s Keynsham Area Forum, Cllr Alan Hale said the councillors who represent Keynsham on B&NES Council had met with the police to discuss

Treetops

the concerns and they had explained how over the summer they had been taken away from local policing to deal with matters elsewhere. “Perhaps this just illustrates the level of policing that Avon & Somerset has at the moment,” said. Cllr Hale.

The intention is that the councillors will have regular meetings with the police going forward.

PC James Evans told the forum that the antisocial behaviour would reduce naturally now that young people are back at school. He said the police had identified young people causing problems in the town and had been to visit them and their parents and guardians.

“If they need criminalising and it’s appropriate then we will do that. But actually, educating them and changing their mindset is going to be a lot more beneficial, for me, than dealing with them as criminal and them then taking a path that they don’t like to interact with the police, they don’t want to interact with any sort of authority, and you lose them,” he said.

Residents and business owners are urged to report any concerns relating to anti-social behaviour via 101 or 999 immediately if the anti-social behaviour should involve violence or be of a serious nature to endanger people or property.

Youths break into derelict flats Police say that a group of six youths broke into derelict properties on Tintagel Close in Keynsham last week.

There were reports on both Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th of September. On one occasion the offenders pulled the pipework from the boilers, which caused flooding.

If you have any information, especially CCTV images, call the police on 101, giving reference number 5223237131. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

3

‘Incredibly difficult’ budget decisions lie ahead South Gloucestershire Council said its Cabinet would this week be considering proposals for next year’s budget that would include ‘incredibly difficult’ decisions to reduce spending and increase charges.

In a press release the council said: “The new draft budget, which will be subject to formal public consultation in the autumn, does not propose to make new savings, but does provide details of cost-cutting that was approved in the budget in February, prior to the election earlier this year, which are now due to be implemented in the coming years.

“Since that budget was agreed, the financial situation for South Gloucestershire and other councils across England has deteriorated further, by a predicted £3m next year (2024/25) and £2m in 2025/26. This will place further stress on the council’s budget and force the authority to consider additional

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.

savings if new money is not provided by Government.”

Council co-leaders Cllr Claire Young (Lib Dem) and Cllr Ian Boulton (Labour), who took over the running of the council in May, said they want the upcoming consultation to be “meaningful and constructive”, but the details of the preagreed savings and revenue-generating targets would be frustrating for many residents to hear about.

Cllr Young said: “We are going to be able to balance our budget for the coming year, but not without taking some incredibly difficult decisions that will affect much-loved and relied-upon services. We do have choices ahead, but none of them will be easy.

“The reality is that councils across the country are badly underfunded by Central Government, who seem content to pass the responsibility for increasing amounts of services onto local authorities without the money to pay for them, and to blame councils for increasing council taxes to balance the books.

“In recent years, the council has been able to do this by using its reserves and making efficiencies, but these decisions have been known about and pushed into the future. Well, the future has arrived and we are having to face up to this challenge. We want to do

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that together and find a path through it alongside local people.”

Cllr Boulton added: “Our residents need our help and support now. We need to be there for them, whether it’s providing social care for children or older people, making sure our schools provide the best possible education, or ensuring our transport system is fit for purpose. And we will be there for them, but we have no choice now but to confront the challenges head-on. We will have to prioritise, and that’s why we want to talk to and hear from residents during the consultations to come about how they want us to act on their behalf.

“In the meantime, we will continue to make the case to Government for significant increases to the funding they provide to councils because the burden cannot be allowed to continue to keep falling on our residents.”

The Cabinet will be discussing the budget tomorrow (Thursday) at 2pm and the meeting is being webcast.

Plans to cut opening hours at One Stop Shops Cash-strapped South Gloucestershire Council is consulting on plans to close

Publisher Editor Contributors

Stephen Rodgers admin@theweekin.co.uk Becky Feather 07403 273967 Christine Rogers

its in-person customer service centres

Advertising

0117 986 0381 sales.theweekin@gmail.com

The current hours of the One Stop

in Kingswood, Yate and Patchway at times when they are being used least.

Shops are 8.45am to 5pm Monday to Wednesday, and 8.45am to 4.30pm on

@theweekineditor

Thursday and Friday.

The council says: “We know that

the_week_in_news

relatively few people visit early in the morning and in the late afternoon/early The One Stop Shop in Kingswood is in the Civic Centre

No material in this publication, nor its associated website (www.theweekin.co.uk) may be reproduced without the written permission of The Week In. All rights reserved.

evening. We are therefore suggesting

The Week In is regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor for the Press CIC. As such, we adhere to the IMPRESS complaints procedure. A copy of this procedure can be found on our website or can be sent upon written request to the address above.

4.30pm Monday to Friday.”

them.

Everyone who visits one of the centres over

People can also share their views in a

the coming weeks will be asked to complete

consultation on the council’s website. It closes

a short survey to say how it might impact

on 23rd November.

4

changing our opening hours to 9am to

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

Advertising feature

A warm welcome at Golden Valley Farm Shop and Café Nestled in the beautiful and peaceful Golden Valley at Bitton is a farm shop and café that only opened in July but is already proving very popular.

The venue has become a particular favourite for cyclists and walkers, as well as families who enjoy meeting all the animals, including goats, ducks, chickens, pigs, sheep and Shetland ponies - as well as a family of emus!

The ethos is on using local producers, including The Warmley Bakehouse, Hanham Common Butchers, Somerset-based Jon Thorner’s meat and savouries and Marshfield Ice Cream.

Browse and stock up on the delicious produce available in the farm shop and select fresh fruit and veg, as well as flowers for special occasions, from Tooty Fruity’s stall right next to the barn.

Special events

The café and farm shop are in the barn

Golden Valley Farm Shop and Café is based at Little Normeads Farm. Former events caterer Charlotte House, who has lived there with her family for seven years, decided earlier this year to open the business, teaming up with Lyn Rawlings who runs independent greengrocer and floristry business Tooty Fruity.

Events coming up include a free Halloween-themed treasure hunt from 23rd to 31st October. On Halloween itself from 4.30pm there will be a children’s Halloween tea with spooky delights with youngsters encouraged to dress up for a competition. Booking is required.

Then on Saturday 2nd December there will be a Village Festive Evening from 4pm to 7pm.

Tooty Fruity will be running Delicious coffee Christmas wreath-making and pastries workshops on 3rd, 6th and 13th December, for which Charlotte will be providing Christmas grazing boards. Contact Lyn for more details.

The shop will be taking orders for turkeys, reared in Chipping Sodbury. Meanwhile Christmas trees grown in Bitton will be for sale, with a delivery and collection service available.

• Golden Valley Farm Shop and Café is open seven days a

One of the friendly emus on the farm

and Café from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and on Sunday from 10am to 3pm. They will continue to have a pop-up stall outside Oldland Village Hall on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8.30am to 1pm.

Telephone orders are welcome, with Christmas orders now being taken. Home delivery is available. Call Lyn on 07971 747915 or email tootyfruitydirect@virginmedia.com

Meet the goats

Tooty Fruity's stall is next to the café and farm shop

The café, which is dog-friendly, sits around 50 and there are tables outside as well to take in the lovely views. The menu includes an all-day breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and cakes, and there is a wide choice of hot and cold drinks. Food is cooked fresh to order and takeaway meals can be ordered too.

Afternoon teas can be booked

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

You can get fresh fruit and veg delivered

week from 9am to 5pm. There is plenty of parking and disabled toilets. It is less than half a mile along Golden Valley Lane from the A431 Bath Road in Bitton and on the longdistance Monarch’s Way walking route.

Bookings are being taken for afternoon teas, private parties, baby showers and children’s parties. For all enquiries contact Charlotte on 07980 741968 or email gvfarmshop@gmail.com The farm shop stocks • Find Tooty Fruity at the supplies from local Golden Valley Farm Shop producers

Ducks and chickens roaming in the orchard

Get flowers for all occasions

5

Police officer sacked for raping woman in a hotel A police inspector based in South Gloucestershire who raped a woman in a hotel while off-duty has been dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing.

The hearing found that Insp Clive Summerill committed rape against the woman, known as Person A, in a hotel room outside of the Avon & Somerset Police area in 2021.

A criminal investigation was carried out by an independent police force, with the outcome being no further action due to insufficient evidence. But a separate misconduct investigation was carried out by

Avon & Somerset Police, which resulted in a hearing being held at the force’s headquarters last week.

The panel found the officer had committed gross misconduct through breaching

independent legally qualified chair, has found that on the balance of probabilities – the burden of proof required at misconduct hearings – this officer committed rape against a woman.

standards of professional behaviour, specifically authority respect and courtesy, and discreditable conduct.

The hearing had heard how the officer discussed the incident and criminal investigation with colleagues in which he disclosed the name of the victim.

Supt Mark Edgington, head of professional standards, said: “The panel, led by an

“This has been a complex and sensitive investigation and our priority has been to safeguard and support the woman involved, while carrying out a robust and thorough examination of the circumstances.

“The panel’s findings mean this officer has committed a shocking and reprehensible act, and while there was insufficient evidence for criminal proceedings to be brought, he’s not fit to have the privilege of serving our communities and will be banned from holding another position in policing or law enforcement again.

“While the vast majority of our staff dedicate themselves to public service and keeping people safe, our mission to root out those who don’t belong in policing continues at pace. It’s important to stress this is likely to take some time.

“We’ll keep shining a light into all corners of the organisation to ensure there’s no place for those who engage in predatory behaviour

Rogue trader alert

6

Police say that a man called at a home in Rock

free of charge. Police say this could have been

Road in Keynsham at around 3.20pm on

a genuine trader touting for work, but this

Friday 22nd September, claiming the

approach is typically used by rogue traders

guttering needed fixing and that he could do

who often provide work of a very low

it cheap as he was working down the road.

standard and charge exorbitant prices.

The resident declined and went out but found

If you have any information about this

that the guttering was on the ground when

incident, especially CCTV images, call 101,

they returned. A second man arrived to fit new

giving

guttering but was told by the resident that they

Alternatively

wouldn’t pay for it, so he replaced the damage

anonymously on 0800 555111.

reference

number

5223231600.

call

Crimestoppers

Insp Clive Summerill pictured in Cadbury Heath in 2019

such as this to hide, and when allegations are made, they will be subject to rigorous and decisive examination with criminal and/or misconduct proceedings being instigated if the evidential thresholds are met.

“We take all reports of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) extremely seriously and will always ensure victims have the care and support they need throughout the investigative and criminal justice process.”

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

Appeal for witnesses after serious crash A motorcyclist suffered potentially lifethreatening injuries in a collision in Warmley last week.

Avon & Somerset Police said: “Emergency services attended a collision involving a motorcycle and a car in Warmley on Tuesday 26th September.

“The ambulance service called officers to the scene on Tower Lane at the junction with Kingsway Park just before 6pm.

“The rider of a black Honda WW 125 scooter went to hospital with injuries initially described as potentially life-threatening following the collision involving a black Audi A4. The Audi driver was uninjured.

“If you saw the collision or have any dashcam or other footage of the moments beforehand, call 101 and give the reference 5223235182.”

Scene of the crash

Will Lyde Green’s secondary school ever get built?

The opening of Lyde Green’s 900-place secondary school has been deferred yet again – this time until 2026 – with the Department for Education (DfE) warning South Gloucestershire Council that the project faces cancellation if there are any further delays.

The project has been plagued by problems.

So far there has been a change to location, a change in the sponsor and a change in builder. Conditions in the construction industry have also seen costs soar.

The letter to the council’s director of education outlines that the DfE had passed responsibility for delivering the project to the council as the local authority wanted to combine the secondary school with additional buildings for a primary school, along with community sports facilities, and manage it as one project.

The site earmarked for the new co-located schools

“Initially this school was to be opened in 2022 although it became apparent that this wouldn’t be possible and the decision was made to defer the opening until 2023.

“Little progress was made towards achieving this opening date and a second deferral of the

opening date was agreed in 2022, with the school projected to open in 2024. With progress still remaining slow it was accepted

by South Gloucestershire Council that this date would also not be met and thus Hannah Woodhouse, the Regions Group Director for the South West, has agreed to defer the opening of this school to September 2026.

“Whilst agreeing to this deferral it needs to be made clear that capital projects, including the Free School pipeline, are routinely considered for cancellation if they are indefinitely postponed as there may be other, more pressing uses for the funding across the school capital estate.

“South Gloucestershire Council should expect any further delays to trigger a formal review of the need for the school and how realistic the delivery of this project is in relation to the need for such a provision. We would reiterate that we do want to open this school, therefore the Department for Education will continue to provide the ongoing support it has done over the past two years but would like to see some significant progress with this project so that discussions about cancellation are not required.”

The Olympus Academy Trust will run the secondary school at Honeysuckle Road and Castle School Education Trust (CSET) will run the primary school. CSET already runs Lyde Green’s first primary school which opened in Willowherb Road in 2015.

The council is under a Lib Dem-Labour administration following May’s elections when the Conservatives lost their majority.

In July the new administration said it was keen to get the project completed but needed to secure more funding. The cost of the scheme was put at £30m in 2021 but more than £41m has been committed to date for

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

the new buildings, including agreement from the DfE to invest more than £30m.

A planning application was submitted in August for amendments to the previously approved planning permission and that is expected to be determined next month.

This week the council confirmed that building work is expected to start in the first half of 2024 and take two years.

In July last year the council said it hoped the

sports facilities at the site would be available for community use towards the end of 2022 but this project has been hit by delays too.

The council said this week: “We are finalising the agreements for the range of sports facilities at Lyde Green, before the new schools are built and opened. We will provide further information about the anticipated availability of the sports facilities in a future update.”

7

LETTERS Planners have no idea of impact of A4 plans Dear Editor Having visited the display by the planners re the A4 consultation on both occasions that it was in Keynsham and having spent over 30 minutes in discussion with the project manager, may I add some further comment to the correspondence that has already featured in your paper, referring particularly to the Keynsham bypass.

The intention is that it will no longer be a dual carriageway as one of the lanes in both directions will be converted into a bus lane in conjunction with the creation of an access hub on the bypass to cater for cyclists and pedestrians. Access to the hub will be from both sides of the bypass with pedestrian lights in place to stop the traffic to allow those on foot to cross.

Let us imagine the situation from 5pm onwards with traffic leaving the Ring Road at Hicks Gate roundabout when drivers will look left down the one-lane bypass at the queue of traffic, made even worse by folk pressing the button at the hub and stopping the flow to cross the road. What will they do other than drive through Keynsham, making our bypass a bypass no longer. On the basis of there being buses at 10-minute intervals, these

environment for pedestrians, particularly young

Surely not.

families, being converted into cyclepaths. I see no

Terry Edwards

mention in the backing jargon of any speed limit

Former Chair of Keynsham Neighbourhood

being imposed on cyclists.

Development Plan)

Youngsters play ball games on the grass area and

& Siri Edwards (previous Keynsham town

one can imagine a child being knocked over

councillor)

chasing a ball. I think it is ill-thought-out madness to allow cycling in Keynsham Park and access to

Praise for ‘fourth emergency service’

the hub should be by way of cyclists dismounting at the entrances and pushing their cycles.

Dear Editor

I would like to challenge the planners, who don't

I would like to publicly state my very heartfelt

have much of a track record when it comes to

thanks and praise to Keynsham and District Dial-

Keynsham, by asking them the question: Have

a-Ride.

you drawn up a business plan in support of this?

Since the loss of our local buses they have

Have you any idea how many people are going to

become an invaluable and vital resource to many,

use the hub on a daily basis and vacate their cars?

I would suggest that you have no idea at all, as is shown by me quoting from your own literature which reads “Memorial Park might be busier and how many people may use the park might change”.

Too many ‘mights’ and ‘mays’ for my liking, and hardly sufficient justification to spend millions. I would suggest that the planners have no idea what effect these plans will have but will they step aside from their computer imagery and listen to local people? I doubt it, as they rarely do!

Mike Barrow, Keynsham

including myself. I call them our fourth imposing an incomprehensible aesthetic regime

emergency service as without them I would be

upon frontages throughout, typified by perhaps

unable to get around. This was especially true

the uninspired Temple Street graffiti.

during my late husband's recent illness when

Of course, to state the ‘bleedin’ obvious’ is

Terry and Julie and the team went over and above

unlikely to have much effect, while the authorities

their remit to help me in so many ways and I shall

in the guise of saving the planet have been

always be deeply grateful to them.

convinced that the comfort of the few cyclists

Our Dial-a-Ride is a wonderful service with

who use the red slash is a sensible way of saving

helpful and friendly drivers and they bring so

the planet. Yet are those (very few users) saving

much to so many people's lives. They deserve all

the planet as they swish silently up it behind you

the praise, support and thanks we can give them!

as you walk the wrong way up the High Street?

Mrs Lesley Smith, Keynsham

traffic-closed lanes will carry six vehicles per Now let me move on to the cyclist issue. The plan

Seeing red

is to allow access to Keynsham Park through two

Dear Editor

entrances for cyclists to cycle to the hub. Firstly,

A great gathering of local councillors has

from Park Road onto a newly constructed

appeared pleading for a way out of the Keynsham

Tea afternoon in aid of cancer charity

cyclepath running across the grass area. The plans

High Street conundrum.

A Macmillan afternoon tea held in St

showed this pathway to run from the hub and link

Yes, the bloody great slash that runs from end to

Mary’s Church in Bitton has raised

up with the existing pedestrian path in front of the

end, reserved for those poor cyclists too worn out

£547.49.

skateboard area. I pointed out to the planners the

at the prospect of riding all the way along Ashton

It was organised by local residents

stupidity of this route as cyclists and pedestrians

Way to get through Keynsham toward Bristol.

Marlene Gallop and Pam Hacker and a

are a bad mix and that the most appropriate route

Of course, the poor souls would have to pedal an

team of helpers in aid of the cancer

would be to run it behind the skateboard area.

additional 90 yards, albeit we Keynsham residents

charity.

The second point of access is to be through the

would be able to enjoy a beautiful expanse of

Visitors, who were entertained by

park gates and up the pathway to the left, which

lovely paving with planters, seating, even trees.

Owen Cole on the piano, were invited

will be widened, heading towards the children's

Of course, it would mean that after a spend

play area. The route will then be the existing

already of several millions on our poor High

pathway that runs behind the bowling club and to

Street, more funds would be needed to remove the

link up with the new proposed path that I have

slash. Indeed, yet more money to top up the huge

mentioned above, and hence to the hub. So we

sums paid to consultants whose contribution so

have existing paths which currently provide a safe

far has been a blood red slash and planning edicts

hour.

8

to make a donation in return for a drink and cake.

Pictured from the left are Marlene Gallop, Gwynne Clark, Pam Hacker, Lyn Cole and Julian Lord.

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

New documentary focuses on unsolved murder A new documentary focusing on the unsolved murder of 25-

Her remains were found next to the northbound slip road of the

year-old Melanie Hall, whose remains were found in South

M5 at Junction 14 by a workman on 5th October 2009.

Gloucestershire 13 years after she disappeared, has been

Supt Riccio, who believes Melanie knew her killer, hopes the

broadcast.

documentary will trigger memories and prick consciences. He

The documentary, which features interviews with Melanie’s

said: “An E-fit was released as part of a public appeal in 1996

father Steve and sister Dominique, as well as Senior

of a man seen inside Cadillacs nightclub with a woman matching

Investigating Officer Supt James Riccio, was shown on Channel

Melanie’s description. This is still very much a focus of our

5 on Thursday.

appeal to the public today.

The last confirmed sighting of Melanie, who worked at the

“We’d also like information about an unconfirmed sighting of a

Royal United Hospital in Bath, was at 1.10am on Sunday 9th

woman, potentially matching Melanie’s description, who was

June 1996 in Cadillacs nightclub (now Walcot House) in Bath.

engaged in an argument with a man in Old Orchard, around the corner from the nightclub entrance, between 1.45am and 2am.

Vacant pub plan Plans to partly demolish a Downend pub to create two houses have been submitted to South Gloucestershire Council.

The application for The White Swan in North Street says the pub has been vacant since February 2021. A single-storey roof and supporting walls have sustained serious structural deterioration with visible cracks.

The plan is to knock down part of the pub and build a two-

We don’t know whether this was Melanie, so if anyone has further details which could help on this aspect, please call us.”

He said a number of enquiries are being pursued and there may be more related operational activity in the near future.

Melanie’s clothing and belongings have never been found. They Melanie Hall

include a pale blue silk dress, black suede mule shoes with straps across the front and an open toe, size 5 or 6, a cream singlebreasted, long-sleeved jacket and a black satchel-type handbag.

card. Also missing are items of jewellery including a Next watch

In the bag were cosmetics and a Midland cheque book and bank

and silver drop earrings. Provide information directly at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/5201020103A06-PO1.

storey side extension. The two houses would each have a

Alternatively call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800

garden and parking.

555 111.

The planning reference is P23/02669/F. The deadline for comments is 12th October.

THE WEEK IN

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Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (10.30am-4pm) Asda, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) 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 4th October 2023

9

£18bn underground for the region is ‘just a dream’ This week’s meeting of the West of England Combined

underground system, estimated to cost £18bn. But the last time

was the need to “clear road space for transport corridors”, and

Authority (WECA) Committee in Keynsham is due to

the Mayor was in Keynsham, talking to residents about taxpayer-

then futureproofing them. Advancing technologies mean that

consider a feasibility study which has been drawn up on

funded bus services last month, he was unequivocal on the

‘rubber wheel’ or fixed rail light transit systems are likely to be

options for a mass transit system.

matter when the subject came up.

far more affordable in the future, but initially it is buses that will

While the reason the item is on the agenda is not to choose a

“There won’t be an underground,” he told the meeting. “It’s

solve the immediate problem.

transport system but to agree funding for the next stage of the

not going to happen. £18bn is just a dream. And who in this

“But the reality is behaviour change,” said Mayor Norris. “Our

evaluation, Metro Mayor Dan Norris has already made his views

room believes that £18bn today will still be £18bn by the time

attitude towards the car needs to change. We also have to remove

clear on one of the options which has been considered – an

building began? We have to put our endeavours into

the stigma associated with buses – that only the poorest use

underground system.

overground.”

them. That’s not the case in London. I want to create a system

To be clear, the report drawn up by WECA’s transport team

In explaining his position further, he gave a very clear indication

that’s fast, affordable and I can plan my life around.”

considers a range of different transport options across four

of the thinking behind the recent consultation on the A4 corridor.

The WECA meeting at The Space in Keynsham on Friday (6th

identified routes and the most expensive of these is a full

One key phrase he used while talking to Keynsham residents

October) starts at 1pm.

Mayor officially opens £70m research centre A new £70m state-of-the-art engineering and innovation centre at Emersons Green, which is helping to decarbonise the region’s transport sector, has been officially opened by West of England Mayor Dan Norris and Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen.

They opened the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS) building which was part-funded by £10m from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

Based at the Bristol and Bath Science Park, IAPPS offers world-class expertise and the latest tech to clean up the region’s automotive and other hard-to-electrify sectors.

Mr Norris said the research centre would help make high-polluting vehicles a thing Mayor Dan Norris at the official opening

of the past, vital to helping take the steps towards reaching Net Zero.

Crossword ACROSS

DOWN

1. Noblewoman (8)

2. Seem (6)

8. Scoop-shaped tool (6)

3. Wild cat (6)

9. Fencing sword (4)

5. Musical lines (6)

10. Pasture (3)

6. Revulsion (6)

11. Truth (6)

7. Church officer (6)

12. Herbaceous plant (8)

12. Waterfowl (4)

15. Public speaker (6) 16. Filament (6) 20. Move unsteadily (6) 24. Edible grain (6) 27. Suspension (8) 28. Noted (6) 29. Possesses (3) 30. Long journey (4) 31. Contradict (6) 32. Blushed (8)

10

4. Cream cake (6)

13. Masculine (4) 14. Speck (4) 17. People in general (4) 18. Yemeni port (4) 19. Valley (4) 21. Glossy coating (6) 22. In both directions (3-3) 23. Bacon slice (6) 24. Stopped (6) 25. Child's toy (6) 26. Assent (6)

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

Public unimpressed by clean air proposals for South Glos A consultation run by South Gloucestershire Council has

of Kingswood is likely to make “significant changes” to vehicle

revealed public dissatisfaction with its plans to improve air

movements and to reduce pollution. That plan includes

quality.

pedestrianising part of Regent Street.

Only 16% of those who responded felt that the 30 proposed

The council is proposing to prioritise actions that will reduce

measures would be effective at improving air quality, whilst 41%

transport emissions, such as reallocating road space for active

weren’t sure and 43% felt they would be “ineffective”.

travel and public transport and improving the active and public

The main issue people wanted the council to address was to

transport offer to maximise usage; and actions to reduce

provide more reliable, more accessible and cheaper public

emissions from domestic solid fuel burning.

transport. Addressing traffic congestion was the second most

But comments from the consultation include: “Actions are weak

common request as this was perceived to be the main cause of

at best. Cutting off Kingswood high street to traffic will only

pollution.

push pollution to another road instead. It’s a poor plan and needs

Based on data from 2017, South Gloucestershire has an

completely rethinking.”

estimated 217 deaths per year attributable to the combined

Another observed: “Improve public transportation BEFORE

effects of exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate

penalising private car usage. Public transportation, particularly

of heavy rain when walking and cycling would not be possible.”

matter.

in more rural areas of South Gloucestershire, is appalling.”

Another criticised the trial traffic management plans that were

The council’s Clean Air Action Plan covers the whole district,

One person commented: “Elderly and disabled are forgotten

introduced to improve air quality at the Hambrook traffic lights

in addition to two Air Quality Management Areas already

again, many cannot walk, cannot cycle and buses are too far from

in 2019, saying that drivers are having to burn more fuel by

declared in Kingswood (and subsequently extended to Warmley

where they live so are dependent on car or taxi. Wood-burning

going up to the M32 roundabout and turning back.

along the A420) and in Staple Hill at the Broad Street/ High

stoves are seen as cheaper than using full heating and restrictions

A council spokesperson told The Week In: “The next stage will

Street/ Soundwell Road/ Victoria Street crossroads, and the High

on this would adversely impact those on lower incomes. Electric

be to produce the final Clean Air Action Plan, taking into

Street/ Acacia Road/ Pendennis Road junction.

vehicles are financially beyond the reach of those on lower and

consideration the outcome of the public consultation. We will

The plan does not include a Clean Air Zone or similar scheme

moderate incomes. Children living in rural areas are unlikely to

then seek formal approval of the Plan to enable implementation

to restrict access to Kingswood and Staple Hill, but the council

walk or cycle as they may live some distance from the school.

of the actions to improve air quality across South

has said that the masterplan being developed for the regeneration

No consideration of what happens when there is snow or periods

Gloucestershire.”

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

Regent Street in Kingswood

11

D-day on Green Belt housing plans delayed again South Gloucestershire Council is not now expected to make a decision on plans to build 149 homes on 20 acres of Green Belt land in Hanham until the new year.

Last month (Issue 795) we reported that the developers were planning to submit “revised and additional submissions” and that the decision date on the outline planning application had been pushed back from midAugust to 11th September.

But Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society has now been told by the council’s principal planning officer that

the new determination date has been further extended; the council was still awaiting revised submissions from the developers and once those become available, “consultation will be initiated”. The determination date is now 5th January 2024.

The plans for the fields behind Hencliffe Way have already received hundreds of objections and the group Hanham Say No to Redrow is working alongside the Green Belt society to oppose the proposed development by Redrow Homes and Ashfield Land.

The Batch

Controversial planning application declared invalid A planning application to demolish the greenhouses at the old nursery site at Brewery Hill in Upton Cheyney and build 111 workspace units has been declared invalid.

Parking provision for 357 vehicles and 222 bicycles was included in Upton Cheyney Land’s bid for outline planning permission for the 16-acre site at Springfield Lake Nursery.

We featured the plans in Issue 798 last month. But last week it emerged that as the application had been registered with South Gloucestershire Council without key information namely a design and access statement and a planning statement – it is not valid. An environmental screening will also need to take place. The council’s principal planning

12

officer has said that a new consultation will take place once the outstanding information is forthcoming.

In the time that the planning application was on the council’s website last month, more than 20 objections were submitted, highlighting concerns including the impact of extra traffic, the inadequate public transport and the unsuitability of the site which is in the Green Belt and close to the southern boundary of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Meanwhile three fire engines attended a fire in a caravan parked on the derelict site late on Sunday afternoon. The cause of the fire is throught to be deliberate.

The derelict site

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

WESTlink ‘not working well’ Metro Mayor Dan Norris has admitted that the demand responsive transport operation WESTlink “was not working well” and that the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) was withholding payments to the contracted operator.

He made the comments at a recent meeting with local residents in Keynsham to discuss local bus services. WESTlink launched in April using funding obtained from the Government by WECA, as a means of connecting people to the main transport network from places with little or no bus service.

Much like an Uber taxi-hailing service, passengers can book a ride using an app, website or telephone call service. But there have been problems with reliability, due

largely to a lack of drivers. The Mayor also told last month’s meeting that there were also problems with the way the app was working.

Later he told The Week In: “The Government wanted new and innovative ideas, not the same old, when they provided this transport funding to our region. WESTlink is an experiment seeking to break fresh ground to attract vital new passengers. Without them, our buses will see long-term decline. We can’t keep doing more of the things that have failed in the past.

“Hiccups should be expected and lessons will need to be learned in the light of experience.

The major hurdle has been the very large shortage of drivers from the outset. We’ve not been paying for a service that the operators failed to deliver and I’ve asked my officers to look at issuing fines.”

Top artist gives masterclass in portrait painting Art lovers and local history enthusiasts shared an interesting afternoon at New Cheltenham Community Centre when Warmley-based painter Vincent Brown, who The finished artwork

is a contributor to the National Portrait Gallery, held a masterclass in portrait painting.

He executed a striking and skilful picture in just two hours of the last minister at the Whitfield Tabernacle in Kingswood. Basil Rogers, who held the position for four years, talked of his time at the church and Vincent, whilst painting, told stories about his career including commissions of the various celebrities he has encountered as an artist over the years. Among those watching via a giant TV screen was the West of England Mayor Dan Norris who said he was “blown away” by the intricate detail.

The Grade I listed Whitfield Tabernacle is undergoing a major restoration and there are plans to display Vincent’s artwork in the venue once all the work is complete.

The tabernacle was erected in 1741 and is regarded as the birthplace of the Methodist movement. It was put on Historic England's 'At Risk Register' in 2003. It has gone through various ownerships and is now run by the Whitfield Tabernacle Trust which has completed the first phase of restoration, with the derelict building being improved with a

new roof, walls and windows.

There is still much to do and in order to provide the café, three staircases, performance space and seating for 150 people that is envisaged, more funding will be required. So far, Historic England, South Gloucestershire Council and the West of England Combined Authority have contributed to the project and Phase 2 of the rebuild is under way.

Any person or group who would like to be involved in the project, or become a member of the Whitfield Tabernacle Trust, can contact Kim Scudamore at kim.scudamore@whitfieldtabernacle.org Christine Rogers

Artist and sitter

Situations Vacant

Arts trail in South Bristol An arts trail showcasing more than 70 artists takes place this weekend (7th and 8th October) in venues across South Bristol from 11am to 5pm.

The trail also has a busy activity schedule, with free craft workshops for children and free music and poetry performances throughout the day on Saturday.

For more information, visit artonthehill.org.uk

The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023

13

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Sudoku Solutions 1-Easy

2-Hard

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The Week in • Wednesday 4th October 2023