The Week In - Issue 807 - 15th November 2023

THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset Issue 807

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15th November 2023

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Apartments and retail planned for town’s old fire station site People will have a chance to see new plans for the old Keynsham Fire Station site in Temple Street next week.

A drop-in session has been arranged on Thursday 23rd November at the library in Market Walk from 6.30pm to 8pm for comments on plans for 21 apartments and two retail units, prior to a formal planning application being submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council at the end of the month.

The scheme is designed for over-55s living, which the owners Chewton Place Developments hope will mitigate the fact there is no provision for car parking.

The scheme comprises of 13 one-bed and eight twobedroom apartments spread over three floors with two retail units fronting Temple Street. Market Walk will be extended through the site to provide access to the leisure centre.

The fire station closed in 2016 when the new facility

The old fire station in Keynsham

opened at Hicks Gate. It was purchased by Chewton Place Developments in July 2017 for £750,000. At the time,

planning application generated widespread objection and

Consultation on housing plans for brownfield site in

Keynsham Town Council was interested in acquiring the

was withdrawn in January 2020.

Kingswood, page 3

site for a community building. Initially, the building served as a temporary construction office during the building of the Riverside apartments. At the same time, a proposal to build flats on the site was withdrawn following advice from B&NES Council.

Then in October 2019 the development company Phoenix Group (SW) brought forward a mixed-use development comprising of a 42-bedroom hotel, nine apartments, office space, a restaurant and two retail units.

The four-storey building would also have included a basement car park and a so-called ‘green wall’ facing the recently completed Riverside View apartments. The

Also in this week’s issue

Why Green Belt sites are at risk . . . page 3

Controversial plans for Keynsham children’s home approved . . . page 4

Elderly woman dies in Saltford crash . . . page 5

Ombudsman slams S. Glos Council for lack of respite support . . . page 9

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The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

‘Brownfield sites alone can’t solve this housing crisis’ People will be able to have their say from

All councils must have such a plan, which

from residents who are “losing

next month on a new planning blueprint

sets out strategies to build homes and ensure

sleep” as there are as yet no

for South Gloucestershire which includes

they meet local needs, not just in terms of

clear

removing

maps

about

where

numbers, but affordability, closeness to local

development could be.

Hanham and Oldland Common from the

services, and transport and jobs.

He asked the coalition: “Have

Green Belt to meet the need for housing.

Conservative

Sam

you overlooked a brownfield

The council’s Lib Dem-Labour cabinet this

Bromiley, who represents Warmley, told

development in favour of

week agreed that the draft Local Plan, which

Monday’s cabinet meeting: “Residents who

Green Belt sites?”

sets out where 20,490 homes will be built in

live in the east fringe are right to be

Cllr Chris Willmore, the Lib

South Gloucestershire up to the year 2040,

concerned that their Green Belt is going to be

Dem cabinet member with

can go out for public consultation. The

lost pretty much entirely.” He added that

responsibility for planning, responded by

every green field” - and stressed that there is

council has had to earmark land for more

thousands of homes are being planned

saying

“no magic land tree”.

than 9,000 homes that did not already have

around Warmley and Shortwood, which

Conservative leader Toby Savage had stated

She also told the meeting that Bristol City

planning permission or sites allocated in

could potentially see the two villages merge,

that any new development would be on

Council has written to say it does not expect

previous versions of the Local Plan.

and he had been inundated with concerns

brownfield sites but “I don’t know what

South Gloucestershire to takes its shortfall.

planet he was on at the time”.

As well as thousands of homes being planned

She explained: “We have taken every single

in the Green Belt around the Warmley and

brownfield

previous

Shortwood area, 350 homes are earmarked

administration had identified and allocated

on Green Belt land at Barry Road in Oldland

them.” She said the coalition would continue

Common and in Hanham at Castle Farm

hunting for more brownfield sites, including

Road (125 houses), on land south of Abbots

fields

around

Warmley,

group

leader

Cllr

New M4 junction not in the blueprint

that

the

site

council’s

that

the

Green Belt land north of Warmley

previous

The long-awaited new M4 junction at

of State if Junction 18a was included as it

by reviewing the council’s own property

Road (85 houses) and at Castle Inn Farm (60

Emersons Green does not feature in South

does not feature in any Government

portfolio. However, as things stand, she said:

houses). Among the other sites earmarked for

Gloucestershire Council’s emerging Local

funding plan so there is no promise that it

“We have maxed out all the brownfield you

major development are swathes of land

Plan.

could be delivered.

could possibly put into this emerging strategy

around Emersons Green and Lyde Green.

Cabinet member Chris Willmore told

Five years ago the council sent a report and

- and there will still be a gap.”

The six-week consultation begins on 6th

Monday’s meeting that the Local Plan

recommendation to Highways England that

Cllr Willmore said the draft proposals

December which is when maps will be

would be “blown out of the water” when

a new junction should be created next to the

preserve the purposes of Green Belt “but not

available.

submitted for examination to the Secretary

Bristol and Bath Science Park.

140 homes planned on brownfield site A planning application to redevelop the

and buildings. The plans have been drawn

Lucas Works site in Kingswood is due to be

up by BBA Architect and Planners in line

submitted to South Gloucestershire Council

with the council’s vision for the area in the

later this month.

Kingswood Masterplan and emerging

It will include up to 140 homes, alongside

Local Plan.

commercial space for local businesses.

The developers plan to submit an outline

A mixture of energy-efficient family homes

application, meaning specific details of

and apartments, with an “appropriate”

layout, design, appearance, and landscaping

amount of parking, is planned at Moravian

will be subject to later approval. Any

Road. The developers are MG&G, a local

comments prior to the plans being

business specialising in the acquisition and

submitted are welcome. Find out more at

redevelopment of former industrial land

https://tinyurl.com/3ys8yhpj

The Lucas site

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

3

Plans for children’s home are approved Plans to change the use of a house in Keynsham to a children’s care home, which drew objections from more than 30 local residents, have been approved by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The proposal for the property known as Shalom in Dragons Hill Close was lodged by Kingswood-based Premier Care Management Ltd, a provider of community and outreach services.

The two-storey property will become home for up to four children aged between five and 18 supported by two members of staff.

The objections primarily related to concerns about anti-social behaviour, noise and disturbance, as well as parking, access and

road safety. The possible impact on nearby house prices was also flagged up. There were also two comments in support of the application.

Following a request from local councillor Andy Wait for the application to be ‘called in’ for a decision by members of the planning committee, the vice chair and chair of that committee considered it was appropriate for it to be delegated to planning officers.

In turn the officers said that the proposals would provide housing for those in need, in a sustainable location with access to local services and opportunities.

They felt the level of noise arising from the change of use will be comparable to if the

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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.

house was occupied by a family with children in that age range. They said the access would be safe and suitable with no excessive traffic

associated with the change of use. Parking for two vehicles is included in the scheme as well as bicycle storage.

Flooding closes roads Heavy rain caused some local roads to be closed due to flooding on Friday.

Roads that were affected included the A4 from Hicks Gate to Brislington, Old Bristol Road in Keynsham, and the A368 between Chelwood and Marksbury.

There was also flooding on the Keynsham Bypass westbound but it was passable.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service said they had been called out on Friday morning to cars stuck in floodwater.

They issued a warning to drivers that water on the road can be deeper than you think so if you see a flooded road ahead, turn around and find an alternative route.

Village homes bid An application seeking permission in principle for up to three homes at Staunton Lane in Whitchurch Village has been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Context Planning Ltd have prepared the application for land north of Woodlands, which is within the Green Belt and outside of, but directly opposite, the village’s

housing development boundary.

They maintain that the site is in a highly sustainable location and that the new development would not cause any harm to road safety. The homes would be separated by hedgerows and accessed from Staunton Lane. The planning reference is 23/04121/PIP. The deadline for comments is 1st December.

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The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Keynsham care home set for new role Bath & North East Somerset Council is proposing to close the remaining beds at Charlton House nursing home in Keynsham and use the building for other purposes as part of an overhaul of its community care provision.

In Issue 803 (18th October) we reported that Cllr Alison Born, the council’s cabinet member for adult services, was considering a report which would see Cleeve Court in Bath becoming a centre of excellence for dementia and nursing care.

Now a public consultation process has been launched to assess reaction to these formal

proposals. As well as transferring the current care provision from Charlton House to Bath, enhanced facilities for younger adults would be provided at the third of the councilowned homes at Combe Lea in Midsomer

document states that discussions are under way with Bath’s Royal United Hospital about using it as a winter ‘step down’ ward. A further round of consultation will take place if that project is advanced.

our budgets.

“The decisions we take will always be in the best interests of the people we care for, now and into the future.”

The public consultation is open until 18th

Norton.

Charlton House only has 11 of its 30 beds occupied at the moment following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission just over a year ago which identified a number of shortcomings.

But being relatively new and of high quality, Charlton House would be retained for other community or care uses. The consultation

Cllr Born said: “I am very aware that we are consulting on people’s homes so residents, their families and staff must have their say on any plans we make. We must also bear in mind that providing care is very costly and like every council there are huge pressures on

December and you can find out more and make comments via the council’s website. A drop-in event will be held at Charlton House on Thursday 23rd November at 11.30am when people will be able to speak to council staff about the proposals.

Woman dies after collision A woman died after a collision in Saltford on Monday 6th November.

Emergency services were called to Pepys Close shortly before 6.40pm after a BMW 320D hit a lamppost and a parked car at low speed. Paramedics attended but the driver, who was a woman in her 70s, was pronounced dead. A passenger in the BMW sustained no physical injury. The road was closed while emergency services attended

the incident but reopened at approximately 12.40am the following day.

Police have been carrying out house-tohouse enquiries and are keen to hear from anyone who has doorbell or CCTV coverage that may provide further information about what happened.

Witnesses or anyone with footage is asked to call 101 and quote reference number 5223271643.

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Charlton House

5

Honouring the fallen Local services and parades on Remembrance Sunday

In Saltford, a march left Saltford Hall for a service at St

the war memorial in the churchyard.

were well supported.

Mary’s Church, following which there was a parade to the

Other events included a service at the war memorial outside

In Keynsham there was a parade from Ashton Way Car Park

war memorial for the 11am silence.

Hanham Community Centre. After the service the

to St John’s Church for a service, followed by a march to the

In Warmley a parade set off from the community centre to

congregation was invited into the centre for refreshments.

gates of Memorial Park for the two-minute silence at 11am.

the village war memorial for the Act of Remembrance at

In Kingswood there was a parade from Cecil Road via Regent

In Staple Hill, veterans and cadets were among those

11am.

Street to the war memorial outside Holy Trinity for an Act of

marching from Page Road to the war memorial in Page Park

The Bitton & Oldland branch of the Royal British Legion

Remembrance and a church service, followed by a fundraiser

for a service and the laying of wreaths. People also paid their

marked the occasion at the morning service at St Mary’s in

for the Poppy Appeal at Kingswood Entertainment and Sports

respects at the war memorial in Mangotsfield.

Bitton during when there was an Act of Remembrance around

Club.

Crowds watch as the procession heads through Keynsham town centre to the war memorial

MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg arriving at St John's for the service

Teddy bear raises £300 for Poppy Appeal A smartly-dressed teddy bear called Bill has been auctioned off to raise money for the Bitton & Oldland branch of the Royal British Legion.

The bear was found in a charity shop, and having served his time keeping children happy, he was cleaned and given a new lease of life with a poppy-inspired outfit made by Army veteran Chris Lock, from Whitchurch.

Chris served with the Royal Army Medical Corps 219th (Wessex) and later the 243 field hospitals. He then worked for the electricity board inspecting power lines before retiring.

He was recently given a sewing machine by his partner and says it took him two to three weeks of working in the evening and at weekends to make Bill’s outfit from a pattern that he created.

Bill took pride of place on the Royal British Legion’s poppy stand at Asda in Longwell Green and people placed bids for him, with the auction closing on the 11th hour on 11th November. He raised £300.

Bill is named after a veteran who served in both world wars, which was a rare occurrence. Leading Seaman William Offiler sadly lost his life after 23 years’ service in the Navy, being killed on HMS Gipsy when it hit a magnetic mine in 1939.

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Chris Lock with Bill the bear

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

The parade through Staple Hill

Parish councillor Julie Austwick and the Rev Nigel Williams walking to the war memorial in Saltford to lay wreaths

Marking Remembrance at the war memorial in the churchyard at Bitton

A service was held at the war memorial in Hanham

Poppy wreaths laid at Mangotsfield

Wreaths are laid at the service at Warmley

Holding wreaths are Cllr Ian Boulton, co-leader of South Gloucestershire Council, on the left, alongside MP Chris Skidmore OBE and Sgt Jamie Evans as they march to the war memorial at Holy Trinity Church in Kingswood

Mayor takes poppies to Paddington Regional Mayor Dan Norris travelled to London on Friday with a wreath which he laid on behalf of the West of England at the war memorial at Paddington Station.

‘Poppies to Paddington’ is organised by The Veterans

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Charity and Great Western Railway each year and the Mayor travelled on one of five trains from across Wales and the West. The journey symbolises the long journey made by soldiers on their way to war.

7

LETTERS Foodbank’s 10 years of serving community Dear Editor In 2013, members of the Bourne Christian Centre identified a need for a foodbank in Kingswood.

Following discussions with the organisation that ran the only other foodbank (at the time) in East Bristol, they started to adapt their premises in Waters Road to accommodate a foodbank.

However, they felt they would not be able to fully staff it themselves so appealed to members of other local churches for help. That help was soon forthcoming and on 4th November 2013, the Kingswood Foodbank opened its doors for the first time. It welcomed two clients, one a single person, the other a parent with a child. How times

Earlier I used the word ‘local’ but our clients are

one of many London land-based pirate stations

from sour grapes, since they no longer hold the

spread far beyond Kingswood and likewise our

whose bass heavy dance music filled the FM dial

majority at the council.

donors – Speedwell, Hanham, Staple Hill,

during the 1990s, despite many attempts by the

All they have done since the May election is

Oldland

broadcasting authorities to silence them

squabble like children. First it was the waste

Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Summerhill,

Finally, whilst we are on the subject, some

strike, now it’s the parking charges.

Whitehall and St George are amongst the

changes have recently also been made to the

It’s about time they grew up and got on with the

locations we deliver to and receive donations

larger scale commercial radio DAB transmission

job they are being paid to do.

from.

for Greater Bristol, and several commercial radio

S Freeman

I would like to think that, in November 2033, I,

services have also been added. You can now tune

or more likely my successor, will not have to

into Magic Musicals, Magic Chilled and Magic

write a 20th anniversary posting as the need for

Soul Radio, heavy metal station Kerrrang!!, pop

Dear Editor

us will have gone away. But that is not something

and celebrity network Heat (not to be confused

You would have thought that while work was

I feel confident about.

with the similarly named Heart Network of

being undertaken to so-called improve Temple

Once again, thank you all for your 10 years of

channels) and the Absolute Network's Classic

Street in Keynsham that this tape-wrapped 'stump'

amazing support.

Rock service.

would have been removed or tidied up.

Peter Shears

I do hope this information is of value to your

Or is it an art installation to gaze at whilst sitting

Kingswood Foodbank

readers. As we approach the winter period, radio

at the ridiculous road-blocking seating areas?!

and television is a great friend to a great many

Jasmine Crossman

Common,

Warmley,

Fishponds,

have changed – this year we are feeding an average 100 people a week.

people, from isolated teenagers to the older folk

I feel the occasion needs to be recognised. I am

So many radio options

looking for cheer. As someone who has been

using the word ‘recognised’ rather than

Dear Editor You have been good enough to publish in your

involved in community radio since the early days,

‘celebrated’ as a 10-year need for a foodbank can

inspirational community newspaper some of my

it gives me great pleasure to be part of teams that

never be a cause for celebration. What can be

letters on the subject of radio and TV.

bring joy and companionship to people.

celebrated though is all the work performed by

With that in mind, I have some news of

Terry Starr, Radio enthusiast, South Bristol

past and present volunteer members of staff. They

developments in local grassroots radio that might

(See also page 12)

have done a marvellous job and I love being with them.

be of interest to your readers.

What can also be celebrated is the incredible

As you printed back in January, a new

Councillors’ sour grapes

support the foodbank has received by way of

transmission facility has this year switched on,

Dear Editor

donations: food, other products and money. Local

allowing many community, independent and

It seems to me that the Conservative councillors

schools, churches, supermarkets, businesses,

small-scale radio stations get on the air alongside

at South Gloucestershire Council are suffering

community groups, youth organisations, church

the national and big players on digital DAB radio

groups and individuals have all contributed to the

sets across the region. Stations already on this

extent that the weight of donations has increased

facility include Keynsham's own KTCR and

year on year. Many donors are unknown to us but

Bristol-based services like BCFM, Ujima Radio

you know who you are and you are all wonderful.

and Bradley Stoke Radio.

We would not be able to do what we do without

I’m stumped!

Barn bid refused South Gloucestershire Council has refused

forward for the building, it was “vague and

Now, two new services are on the air joining the

a request to grant planning permission for

unjustified”.

you.

dozen or so community channels already

a barn to be erected in the Green Belt at

They said the proposed barn would appear

I expect you can appreciate that there are

available across Bristol and Keynsham. SWU

Bitton.

“disproportionate” to the amount of

hundreds of stories we could tell of the people we

(standing for South West Underground) has

The application for land at Beach Hill said

land

have served over the 10 years and you, our

recently returned to the air after a long period of

that the 30ft by 25ft barn, which would be

application.

supporters, have helped us serve. I will mention

silence, under new management. This service is a

10ft high, was needed for storing fodder

The other reason for refusal was that

just one though. We know of a young person who,

community radio channel dedicated to young

and machinery and would be screened by

insufficient information had been submitted

through no fault of their own, was left with no

people in Bristol and plays a variety of EDM (electronic dance music). As well as on DAB

mature hedgerows and additional planting.

to assess the future surface water disposal

food on Christmas Day. I say no food but what I

radio, the station can be found on 103.7 MHz FM.

But council planners said that the land is

of the proposed barn so the council could

mean is no food other than that which we, and you, provided. Going without food on any day is

Also joining the small-scale DAB transmitter is

currently grassland with no livestock and

not be assured that the development would

bad enough but imagine having nothing to eat on

Kool FM. Established in the autumn of 1992

although an agricultural need had been put

not result in potential flooding.

Christmas Day!

from the tower blocks of Hackney, Kool FM was

8

included

within

the

planning

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Ombudsman criticises council for lack of respite support Nearly a third of families of children with special needs in South Gloucestershire have not been receiving the respite care they need, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has discovered.

South Gloucestershire Council admitted to the Ombudsman during an earlier investigation that it struggled to find respite care for children in its area. But following a complaint, the Ombudsman opened a fresh enquiry and when pushed, the council admitted a further 29 families who were entitled to respite care were either not receiving some of their entitlement - or none at all.

The families affected had agreed support packages ranging from a few hours a week, with more in school holidays, to several hours two-to-one support a week. Some included weekly or several overnight stays each month at a respite centre, and there is also one child who has been assessed as needing a 52-week residential placement but was instead living at home with limited support.

Respite care allows families of children and young people with specific needs the chance to take a break from their caring responsibilities. The failure to provide the agreed support packages in full has the potential to cause significant difficulties and distress to the children and young people and their families who are likely to struggle to cope without it.

Paul Najsarek, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: “For too long, families in South Gloucestershire have been struggling without the vital respite support they need, and the indications we have from the council suggest for many there is no sign of this improving in the near future.

“While we recognise the difficulties the council is having finding appropriate support locally, it should not have taken

a complaint to us to spur them into more effective action. Statutory guidance is clear – if a council is satisfied it is necessary to provide support services, then it must provide them, and have the provision in place to do so.”

The Ombudsman remedies injustice and shares learning from investigations to help improve services. In this case the council has agreed to apologise to all the families affected.

The Ombudsman has the power to make recommendations to improve processes for the wider public. In this case the council has agreed to provide quarterly reports on its progress to improve the situation to a relevant committee to ensure it holds the council to account if timescales are missed or actions not completed. These actions should also be published on its website so those affected can monitor and track this.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson told The Week In: “We sincerely apologise for the shortcomings in the service we’ve been able to provide to these young people and their families. We also fully accept the findings and recommendations of the Ombudsman. Since the Ombudsman carried out its investigation, we have been able to provide support to more families, to either fully or partially deliver the respite care and positive experiences needed for their children.

“We are not yet able to fully deliver for all of our families, however, and we have an action plan in place that will be discussed at cabinet level next month to help to address the outstanding issues and enable us to meet our commitments.

“Since the original complaint was made, we have introduced much better systems and processes that will make a lasting difference to children and young people in future. Like

Sudoku 1-Easy

councils across the country, we are facing a major challenge in accessing the support packages to suit each family’s individual needs. This is often far less a matter of cost and more that the services simply do not currently exist on the scale required. We are committed to doing everything that we can to deliver for all our families and young people who need this support however and will continue to discuss with them individually not only their needs, but also their experiences of the help which is provided so that we can continue to make improvements.”

Culprits caught on CCTV CCTV caught two or three people standing on top of a car to get over the wall and enter the grounds of a property in Saltford High Street at 4am on Sunday 5th November.

They then broke into an outbuilding which is used as an office and stole electronic and gaming equipment.

If you have any information about this incident, especially CCTV images, call 101, giving reference number 5223270929. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 19th November

2 -Hard

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 15th November 2023

9

Sign up to Keynsham’s active travel network Keynsham Active Travel is a grassroots community group set up to promote safe active travel in and around the town.

Its mission is to make travel safe and achievable for vulnerable road users through improved road safety, lower speed limits and increased opportunities to cycle, walk, run and ride.

The current key campaign is to improve safety on Charlton Road, focusing on the section of the road between the Bilbie Green roundabout and the junction with Redlynch Lane.

The group says: “This section is a dangerous pinch point – drivers have little option but to heavily use it while vulnerable road users are forced to take their life in their hands just to access the nearby towns and villages of Whitchurch, Queen Charlton, Woollard and Chewton Keynsham.

“It is remarkable that although Whitchurch Village is only five minutes’ drive from Keynsham, there is no unified safe and accessible pavement, cycle path or bridleway – let alone a bus service.”

Keynsham Active Travel believes that pedestrians, horse

riders and cyclists are all poorly served by the local infrastructure. Members say that for cyclists there are a handful of useful routes, but they are fragmented and disjointed; many of the local safe routes must be accessed via a more dangerous road, making routes like the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, the Ring Road path or Queen Charlton Lane inaccessible to many less experienced or confident cyclists.

The group says: “Horse riders face a similar challenge, as recent housing developments have brought with them an increase in traffic, fragmenting the countryside and forcing many horse riders to travel along increasingly dangerous roads in order to reach safer side roads.

“Pedestrians must also often put themselves in serious danger just to get around. Anyone who has ever tried to walk along Charlton Road near Bilbie Green will know just how inadequate the pavement is. It disappears, reappears and doubles back on itself before finally coming to an abrupt end at the most dangerous point.”

Keynsham Active Travel believes that active travellers are stronger when they pull together. Road users often find themselves competing for the same limited shared space, but with intentional planning and joined-up thinking it will be

Crossword

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Widespread outbreak (8)

2. Sly look (4)

6. Stratagem (4)

4. Accident (6)

8. Be in debt (3)

5. Price (4)

9. Endures (8)

6. Depends (6)

10. Burden (4)

7. Rocked sideways (6)

12. American parrot (5)

11. Brusque (5)

3. Dreary (6)

14. Cut off (5)

12. Mediterranean island (5)

17. Cure (4)

13. Sweat (anag.) (5)

18. Fence of stakes (8)

14. Half a dozen (3)

20. Withdraws (8) 24. Sieve (4) 25. Attribute (5) 26. Relieved (5) 29. Heroic tale (4) 30. Assumed (8) 31. Rim (3) 32. Projecting knob (4)

possible to build a connected, safe and accessible active travel network.

To find out more, you can visit the Facebook group Keynsham Active Travel which now has more than 200 members. Alternatively, email keynsham_active_travel@outlook.com The group wants to start holding regular meetings and anyone with an appropriate venue is welcome to get in touch.

15. Legitimate (5) 16. Right-hand page (5) 19. Moist (3) 21. Wandering (6) 22. Bawdy (6) 23. Try out (6) 24. Moment (6) 27. Catch sight of (4) 28. Stitched (4)

33. Giving in (8)

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The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Knife crime awareness session for parents A knife crime awareness event aimed at parents will be held at The Space in Keynsham later this month.

The aim is to increase awareness of key issues surrounding knife crime, empowering parents and children to make informed and positive decisions to stay safe.

The event on Monday 27th November is being organised by the Bath & North East Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership. It works to understand and address the root causes of violence to prevent further violent crimes and provides resources and supports the work of professionals and community groups which help children at risk or involved in serious violence.

The event is supported by partner agencies including Avon & Somerset Police, Project 28, which is a young people’s drug and alcohol service, Youth Connect South West and the

Attempted break-ins Two people were seen on CCTV attempting to break into a home on Claudius Road in Keynsham at 2.25am on Tuesday 21st October. After failing to gain entry the offenders then unsuccessfully tried to break into the resident’s car, and that of their neighbour.

If you have any information about this incident, especially CCTV images, call the police on 101, giving reference number 5223267310. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

NHS. Those attending will have the opportunity to hear the lived experience of a parent who has been personally affected by knife crime.

There will also be a presentation by the national charity StreetDoctors, which puts young people at the centre of emergency first aid provision and empowers them to become part of the solution to violence.

The Week In has featured several stories in recent months highlighting concerns about anti-social behaviour in Keynsham. In September (Issue 799) we reported on a new initiative by Avon & Somerset Police, the NHS and defibrillator supplier HeartSafe to install ‘bleed kits’ in the force area to prevent deaths from knife crime.

The kits can be used in any incident in which a person is suffering from a catastrophic bleed.

The first one was unveiled outside A bleed kit and defibrillator have been Keynsham Library on the wall next to the installed at Manor Road playing fields defibrillator. Another, along with a to the event by email to defibrillator, has also now been installed at Manor Road prior VRU_Events@BATHNES.GOV.UK playing fields in Keynsham.

The event at The Space will also be a panel discussion with Spaces at the event, which runs from 6pm to 8pm, are limited. the opportunity to ask questions which should be submitted Book via Eventbrite at https://tinyurl.com/ycksfz7x

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Community radio station is coming of age It’s almost four years since community radio station KTCR erected its transmitter at Burnett, south of Keynsham, in readiness for trial broadcasting in January 2020.

A lot has happened since that time, including a pandemic lockdown during which broadcasting to the community became an even more important role than had originally been envisaged.

Today, KTCR broadcasts on 105.8fm to an area which, by a happy coincidence, is almost identical to The Week In’s readership, but with the recent addition of DAB, now reaches a potential audience of over half a million. Then there is the streaming service which allows listeners around the world to follow the local news via the station’s website www.ktcrfm.com. And they do.

Contact over the years has been made from people living as far away as Finland, India and Australia.

The station’s weekly output far exceeds the minimum conditions set by Ofcom when granting a licence and a broad range of music genres and spoken word programmes are produced from a very compact studio just off Keynsham High Street. KTCR broadcasts 24/7 and even the musical playouts which infill between programmes have achieved high praise from listeners.

But at its heart, KTCR is what it was always intended to be – a radio station for the community and run by local volunteers.

Those volunteers range in age from 16 to 80 and cover a variety of roles, not just

presenting. Indeed, as the station developed, it now has its own ‘correspondents’ in places like Bitton, Emersons Green and Saltford who provide stories for the daily ‘Good Morning’ show and weekly ‘KTCR Hour’.

The latter is regularly produced almost entirely by one of the youngest volunteers.

KTCR is a genuine voice for the local community. Its strapline is ‘local and vocal’ but that does not mean it is just adversarial.

The station celebrates local life and is a notice board for community groups which want to promote their activities or events.

One of its more successful outreach activities in recent months has seen KTCR team up with Keynsham & District Mencap to produce their own show. ‘The Barry and Suzie Show’ is now on its sixth edition and is developing an increasingly appreciative audience.

From the very beginning, KTCR has always seen radio broadcasting as just one part of community media. The station has always had a close connection to The Week In and the two organisations enjoy a complementary relationship. Even for a weekly newspaper, radio can be more immediate for some breaking news items. When lockdown was imposed in March 2020, the newspaper was not able to be printed or distributed for a few weeks. As KTCR had just started broadcasting at that time, it proved a useful alternative to keeping readers informed.

Since then, The Week In has provided news bulletins ever since which are broadcast twice weekly. KTCR also makes use of social

2023. The Barry & Suzie Show with guest Naomi from the Music Man project

media to support its output and its Facebook page is now enjoying around 20,000 hits each month.

KTCR does generate income from commercial advertising, but has so far been heavily reliant on grant funding and donations to meet its running costs. As revenue permits, there are plans for further developments to enhance the station’s standing in the community. A second studio facility is high on the list (the current studio also doubles as the office!) while outside broadcasts (including local events) have been successfully trialled and will be developed.

If you want to support or become involved with KTCR, there is always a need for new voices and pair of hands. Simply email

ktcr@ktcrfm.com You can also make a donation by scanning the QR code.

2020. Building the studio

2019. The antenna going up at Burnett

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The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Age is no barrier As part of the station’s community outreach activity, two local teenagers joined KTCR in 2020 as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award preparations. As well as helping out with production Anna and Imogen produced their own programmes. Once they took the train to Weymouth for a day out. On another occasion they simply went for a walk and a chat in the woods locally.

That broadcast was picked up and repeated by BBC Radio Bristol.

Our Earth Week 20th-26th November Next week, KTCR will be joining with community radio stations across the country in an innovative collaboration.

Our Earth Week will shine the spotlight on the climate crisis, and celebrate life on earth, in the run-up to the COP28 talks in the United Arab Emirates which start at

Birthday celebrations At the start of 2023, KTCR celebrated its third birthday with a sell-out week of events at The Space which held particular relevance to the history of Keynsham. The weekend began with a 21st century audio-visual presentation which brought the mysteries of Keynsham Abbey back to life. The next evening saw a reprise of ‘An Audience with Horace Batchelor’, Kevin Cattell’s one-man play from 2013. Actor Roland Tanner returned a decade later to portray the larger-than-life K-E-Ynsham resident who put the town on the map during the 1960s.

Then on Saturday night, KTCR’s Nick Pallett gathered together some of his musician friends to perform the Bonzo Dog Band’s album ‘Keynsham’ – so named after Horace Batchelor.

In just two months’ time, KTCR will be blowing out four candles instead of three and plans are under way for another celebration at The Space. Details will be announced shortly.

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

the end of the month.

This is the first time that so many stations have worked together on a common theme and each will have a different approach, whether with themed programmes, special guests or music. KTCR will be following the time-honoured tradition of Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme by broadcasting its own Eco-thought for the day during the ‘Good Morning’ show. The ‘KTCR Hour’, which is first broadcast on Thursday 23rd November, will also be dedicated to the environment.

Turnip Prize One of the recurring story lines since the start of the ‘Good Morning’ show has been the annual Turnip Prize.

It’s ‘local’ in so far as it originates in Somerset to satirise the far more serious Turner Prize for Art awarded by the National Gallery.

Started as a joke in 1999 by regulars at a pub in Wedmore, the Turnip Prize rewards deliberately bad modern art. Credit is given to entries which display a lack of effort and a pun in the title and previous winners have included ‘Ewe Kip’ (a sleeping sheep) and ‘Pulled Pork’ (a tractor pulling a pig).

The winner is announced each December and has been reported each year on KTCR. But this year, the station is hoping to actually become the news with its own entry.

In February, amid a shortage of tomatoes and salad items in the shops, the Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey made a speech in the House of Commons suggesting that people eat turnips instead. This is the inspiration for KTCR’s entry below. And the prize for the winner … a turnip nailed to a piece of wood!

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Petitions over parking charges Two petitions have been launched to stop the Labour and the Lib Dem coalition on South Gloucestershire Council from introducing car parking charges.

South Gloucestershire is currently one of the few places in the country that still offers free parking in all council-owned car parks and has been one of the Conservative group’s most long-standing policies.

But the cash-strapped council, which changed hands politically at May’s local elections, is currently consulting on plans to scrap the policy and start charging people to park their cars, despite both the ruling parties promising not to in their manifestos.

In response, the Tories, who are now in opposition, have launched a petition to urge the administration to change its mind. They fear that car parking charges will negatively impact high streets and local businesses and will see an additional cost being imposed on residents.

Cllr Sam Bromiley, leader of the Conservative group, said: “I would urge everybody to take a moment to sign the petition to declare their opposition to car parking charges. It is unfair and unnecessary to start charging people to park their cars in South Gloucestershire, and I call on the coalition to scrap the proposals at the earliest opportunity.

“The administration should be doing all it possibly can to support residents instead of saddling them with additional costs, costs that will inevitably be felt by local businesses right across the district. The Conservative group will fight these proposals every step of the way.”

As we have reported in previous editions of The Week In, the matter has become something of a political football with the current council leadership claiming the proposal was first included in next year’s budget plans by the previous administration. In Issue 804 (25th October 2023) Cllr Bromiley wrote to The Week In to categorically refute that

claim.

See the petition at https://tinyurl.com/2j3cuvzn Meanwhile one of the district’s Conservative MPs has also started a petition. Luke Hall, who represents the Thornbury & Yate constituency, said introducing charges would punish local businesses as people will go elsewhere, would lead to increased parking problems on residential streets, and reduce access for some of the most vulnerable residents in South Gloucestershire.

“This seems like just another way to penalise motorists,” he added.

His petition is at https://tinyurl.com/y4x6nw57

Tennis at your own pace Walking Tennis - a safe, fun and inclusive way of getting active - is now available at Pensford Tennis Club.

It’s a game for anyone who wants to play tennis but at their own pace. There is no running or jumping and you can let the ball bounce twice.

Walking Tennis offers an easy way for older people to keep their body and mind active while also enjoying the social

Christmas coffee morning The Friends of Kingswood Museum are holding a Christmas coffee morning at the museum on Saturday (18th November) from 10.30am to 12.30pm, featuring mince pies. The museum gift shop will be open for stocking fillers and children’s lucky dips, together with a wide range of local history books, second-hand books and vinyl records.

The museum will be open to visitors from 2pm to 5pm.

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Conservative group leader Cllr Sam Bromiley with the group’s deputy leader Cllr Liz Brennan

side of being part of a tennis community.

The new session takes place on Thursdays from 10.45am to 11.30am and costs £1.50 for members and £3 for nonmembers. To encourage new players, the first session is free.

For more details email Pensford Tennis Club at pensford@gmail.com or visit www.pensfordtennisclub.co.uk

Arts and crafts The Keynsham ArtSpace Group will be popping up in the Baptist Church on the High Street during the evening of this year’s Winter Festival (Friday 24th November).

There will be tea, coffee and a space to sit down whilst perusing the eclectic mix of art and craft items on display.

The hall will be open from 6pm to 9pm and everyone is welcome.

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

MP warns Tory Party is going in a ‘very dark direction’ Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore OBE broke ranks with his party last week, saying in an interview in the national press that certain individuals in the Conservative Party wanted to take it in a “very dark direction”.

First elected to represent Kingswood at the 2010 election, he served as Energy Minister in Theresa May’s Government which passed the 2050 net zero target into law. But last year he announced he would be standing down as an MP at the next General Election. His constituency will be disappearing under a boundary reshuffle.

During the short term of Liz Truss’s premiership, he was appointed to produce a report on the Government net zero plan. It was widely acclaimed on publication earlier

this year, but the Government’s environment policy took a significant change in direction since the autumn by-elections and Conservative Party conference.

In an interview with The Guardian at the weekend he said: “I am a liberal Conservative who came in under David Cameron. We used the language of hope, of opportunity, of facing the future, not turning to the past and claiming that things were somehow better.

“Politicians are turning their backs towards people who need help; speaking out about what they are against, rather than what they are for.”

Despite a history of loyal support in Westminster, the Kingswood MP broke ranks for the first time in September, voting with

Appeal after collision Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision in Kingswood.

A silver Vauxhall Corsa and a teenager on an electric bike were in collision at around 5.20pm on Monday 23rd October on New Cheltenham Road.

The victim sustained some injuries but did not attend hospital at the time.

If you were travelling in the area at the time and witnessed the collision, or have any dashcam footage, call 101 and quote reference 5223259248.

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Labour on its proposed amendments to the Energy Bill. He still believes the Conservative Party is a broad church “but there are certain individuals who want to take it in a very dark direction”.

While the interview took place in the immediate aftermath of the controversy over the Home Secretary, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is currently a neighbouring MP and the Tory candidate for the new North East Somerset and Hanham constituency, was also helping Mr Skidmore to highlight his point.

Speaking during the debate last week on the King’s Speech, Sir Jacob reiterated one of his long-held views on energy and the environment. Referring to the decision to allow annual oil and gas exploration licences, he said: “There has been some talk that the proposals have been watered down. Well, they should be watered back up again, so that we get as much out of the North Sea as we possibly can. It is in our economic interests and our environmental interests because the emissions are lower when we use domestically produced resources. But, as I say, we have to go further.”

MP Chris Skidmore OBE

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The great-grandmother knitting for Ukraine A 97-year-old woman is busy knitting

Elvira Goss, who has 10 grandchildren and

Hanham, collects the jumpers

baby jumpers for the Keynsham-based

14 great-grandchildren, lived in Hanham for

when she goes to visit her mum.

charity Hope for Ukraine.

many years and now lives in Creigiau, near

Elvira has previously knitted

Cardiff.

items for orphans in Romania

During the Second World War Elvira was in

and has raised money for

the Home Guard in Bradford on Avon, where

different charities, including with

she grew up. After her husband died in the

her knitted Nativity scenes,

late 1970s, she bought and ran a pub in

which were raffled and raised

Somerset before moving to South Wales.

hundreds of pounds.

Elvira’s daughter Sue, who still lives in

Sue said: “Her poor eyesight and arthritis mean that she can no longer knit fiddly things, so she does jumpers. For 97 years of age, she's amazing.”

Hope for Ukraine, which is currently collecting, sorting and packing aid ready for the next shipment by lorry, said: “We want to say a big thank you to Elvira. The people of Ukraine won’t forget this.”

Elvira would welcome donations of soft double knit yarn. To donate, or to find out other ways you can help the charity, visit

Some of the jumpers she has made recently

https://hopeforukraine.org.uk/ or

Elvira Goss

call 07933 712584.

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The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Options to improve active travel along the A4174 Consultations on proposals to improve bus, walking, wheeling and cycling facilities along key routes in South Gloucestershire are under way.

They are the A38 (between Thornbury and Junction 16 of the M5) and the A4174 Avon Ring Road between the Coldharbour Lane junction and the Wick Wick roundabout.

The council wants to deliver a step change in making it much easier for people to walk, use a wheelchair or pushchair and cycle around the area, and improve public transport. It says Government funding has been received to deliver both schemes.

The first set of ideas for improvements on these routes received a high number of comments. This latest version of the proposals aims to address as many of those comments as possible.

Proposals for the A4174 include a new bus stop, a new segregated two-way cycle lane, new and improved crossings,

speed limit reductions and some junction improvements to improve the flow of traffic.

Further details about both schemes can be found, along with a short survey, at www.southglos.gov.uk/a4174improvements A number of drop-in events are planned, with the first at Bromley Heath Infant School this Friday (17th November) How the improvements could look near the between 4.15pm and 7pm.

Bromley Heath Viaduct on the A4174 People can also find out more at the virtual community (28th November). engagement forums (CEFs) planned for Frome Valley (22nd To attend the forums visit www.southglos.gov.uk/CEF November) and Downend, Emersons Green and Frenchay The consultations close on Sunday 17th December.

More passengers needed to ensure shuttle bus can continue South Gloucestershire Council is encouraging more people to use the trial shuttle bus service put in place after the sudden closure of the M4 bridge at Badminton Road to ensure it can continue to run into the New Year.

The free service, funded by National Highways, was introduced in September to fill the transport gap.

Defects were discovered on the overbridge in July and it was closed at short notice. National Highways engineers hope to know by the end of the year whether they could potentially

reopen the bridge, whether it needs strengthening, or needs to be demolished and replaced.

National Highways worked with the council to get the service up and running. It is operated by Transpora and travels along the A432 from Yate Park & Ride to Cuckoo Lane every 30 minutes from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. It is then a fiveminute walk over the bridge, which remains open to pedestrians and cyclists, to access the m3 and m3x metrobus services to Emersons Green, the University of the West of

England and the city centre. People can also use the shuttle to connect with the Y1/Y2 services.

The council says the shuttle bus is already proving to be an invaluable service to morning commuters. Find out more at https://orlo.uk/Shuttle_Bus_0ZoAj

Awards for life savers Four volunteers from Keynsham Life Saving Club (KLSC) were recognised at the recent Royal Life Saving Society National Presentation of Honours.

At a ceremony at Coombe Abbey in Coventry, Beth Stevens and colleague Trevor received a Certificate of Thanks in recognition of eight years of service while David ‘Blondie’ Fielding was presented with a Service Cross to mark 20 years of volunteering.

Summer Meek, who is 16, was crowned Young Lifesaver of the Year. She has been a committed member of the club since 2014, working her way through all the lifeguard awards. She rarely misses a training session and regularly captains the Keynsham teams at university competitions against much older and stronger competitors.

In weekly sessions, KLSC teaches a range of skills showing how to deal with both water and land-based emergencies. The club offers a rolling programme of training so new members can join any time without worrying about missing the start of a course. The club also enters competitions throughout the year which is a great way to practice real-life skills in

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

simulated incidents. Members of KLSC can also work towards Royal Life Saving Society awards.

For more information visit www.klsc.co.uk Pictured at the awards ceremony (from left) are Beth Stephens, Summer Meek and David ‘Blondie’ Fielding.

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A stunning view from the Hanham HIlls

Walk on the wild side this autumn We really are spoiled for choice when it

get very muddy, so I recommend not wearing

is to cross over the bridge and

comes to lovely walks in the Hanham area,

your brand new trainers!

continue down the cyclepath.

with lots of nice cafés and pubs along the

Follow the path and you go through a gate

However, I prefer the more

way to stop and relax.

which takes you onto the main trail. Usually

adventurous route which is to go

One of Hanham’s finest is a walk down to

there is a friendly horse in this field to greet

through the gate and through the

The Chequers pub. I like to start off by going

you. Turn right and continue to follow the

fields. If you are quiet, you are

over the Hanham Hills. If you are coming

path. If you are on the lookout for wildlife,

sure to see a bunny or two. Cross

from Hanham, cross over the bridge by

this walk will not disappoint. You can count

the first field and hop over the

Wickes and turn right just after the bridge;

rabbits and deer along the way.

stone wall into the next where the

this will take you down a track which is nice

When you reach the opening by the second

big barn is. Cross over and then

and sheltered if it’s raining; however, it can

bridge, you have two options; the ‘easy’ route

through the opening into the next

Horses on the Hanham Hills

field. Here you will get a lovely

Abbeyfield welcomes new chief executive

view of the trees up on the hill –

warm up with a hot chocolate or relax with a

and probably say hello to a dog or two as this

prosecco – I like to do both. Life is about

field is a favourite for dog walkers.

balance after all!

Finally, cross the last field and you will come

I hope you enjoy this walk and would love

out onto the main road. Cross over and take

any recommendations of other nice walks to

Abbeyfield Bristol & Keynsham has welcomed a new chief executive.

Adam Rees has worked with community-based charities for the last 18 years and was formerly director of charitable impact at St Monica Trust.

Adam Rees pictured at Abbeyfield’s Kift In his new role, he hopes to further Lodge in Hanham strengthen Abbeyfield’s relationships around its retirement population. houses and create a living experience that “The Abbeyfield Society was established helps the charity’s elderly residents to to help alleviate loneliness and isolation flourish. among elderly people. An essential part of He said: “Throughout my career, I have my new remit will be to help our residents worked hard to develop local services and feel connected and involved in their local improve wellbeing for our older communities.”

Ferry Road down on the left towards The

do in and around Hanham.

Chequers. This turns into a narrow lane so

If you are interested in the local wildlife in

you may need to stop and let cars go by.

and around our area, join my Facebook page

Follow the lane and you come out at The

called Hanhamwatch.

Chequers, a cosy country pub where you can

Steffi Condick

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The Chequers

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Care home residents support shoebox appeal Staff and residents at Barchester’s Kingswood Court Care Home have been collecting donations for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child appeal in which shoeboxes are filled with gifts.

Kingswood Methodist Church coordinates the donations for the charity that distributes gifts in 170 countries around the world. The church holds a service in Kingswood Court each month and after this month’s service, the Rev PJ Jackson, along with church volunteers, assisted residents to put the boxes together, selecting items from the donations received from the home.

Items include soap, toothbrushes, pens, notebooks and toys.

Mathan Balsasubramaniya, general manager at

the home, said: “We are so grateful for the generosity of the staff, residents and families who have donated a fantastic range of items for the shoeboxes.

“The residents were so interested to hear about the work of the charity and put together gifts for the children. We were able to make up a dozen boxes, across all ages.”

Situations Vacant

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

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Why early diagnosis of ADHD is so important Our feature by Ciaran Armstrong on ‘hidden disabilities’ in Issue 805 produced quite a response – particularly regarding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The number of adults and children in the UK waiting for an assessment for ADHD is reported to have increased dramatically in recent years, with wait times as long as seven years in some cases.

Referrals to ADHD specialists rose by 226% between 2017 and 2022. It is important to continue the discussion and further global awareness around the signs to look for in yourself and others, and how to get the best out of children who have received a diagnosis.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, or a combination of all three. Individuals with ADHD may struggle to resist impulses, follow directions, complete tasks, and remain still, among many other signs and symptoms.

ADHD in adults As a condition primarily diagnosed in children, something which is rarely talked about is how ADHD can present itself in adult life. Here, Becky Ward, education experience specialist at Tutor Doctor and a qualified special educational needs (SEN) tutor, provides a detailed look into life as an adult with ADHD and a mother to a 10-yearold child who has received a diagnosis. She

reflects on the regret she felt for not being diagnosed sooner, almost mourning the life that could have been had she identified the condition in herself at a younger age.

As a gifted child in the 1990s, Becky was expected to absolutely fly academically. Top of her class and liked by her teachers, it was easy to believe that she did not suffer from any neurodivergences, let alone ADHD. Though she was – and says she still is – excessively chatty, she didn’t present with any of the symptoms typically associated with ADHD in that era; she wasn’t bouncing off the walls, her grades stayed consistently high, she made friends easily and didn’t struggle sitting still. She was rarely in trouble, other than potentially distracting her friends by chatting a little too much.

Without the structure of school, higher education presented challenges for Becky, which made her feel isolated and alone.

Thinking it was unique to her and she was just lazier than her peers, she found herself constantly leaving things to the last possible minute. She was having to consistently play catch-up with coursework, leading to an inordinate number of late nights, last-minute essays and a near-constant state of overwhelming anxiety.

The pandemic presented Becky with even more challenges, particularly as she found herself struggling to juggle multiple balls at once - her job, family life, and her children’s online school learning. She also found herself having to support her youngest son, who had

Volunteer to help with children’s reading Literacy charity Schoolreaders is looking for more volunteers who can help spread the joy of reading to children in primary schools in our area.

Every year, one in four children leave primary school unable to read to the expected standard.

Schoolreaders recruits volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools, focusing on schools where children require the most support. Volunteers are asked to listen to youngsters read once a week in term time and to commit to an academic year. 95% of children supported by a Schoolreaders volunteer improve their reading age. Partner schools also reported that volunteers had a positive impact on

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pupils with 95% improving their reading confidence and 87% their reading enjoyment. Additionally, children benefit enormously from the volunteers as positive role models in the classroom.

Jane Whitbread, founder of Schoolreaders, said: “Children who leave primary school unable to read well can’t access their secondary schooling fully which will compromise their life opportunities. One in seven adults in England are functionally illiterate and cannot read instructions on a medicine label, sit a driving theory test or fill in a job application form. Working together, we can change this.”

To find out more about Schoolreaders visit www.schoolreaders.org

Becky Ward

been diagnosed with ADHD in 2019.

Becky started to recognise early indicators of ADHD in her youngest son in the form of lack of focus, trouble relaxing, a delay in developing social skills to the same level as his peers, and hyper-focusing on things he was interested in. When she took him to see the doctor, he confirmed the diagnosis, but also informed Becky that the likelihood is that either she or her husband would have undiagnosed ADHD as the condition is often hereditary. She took the doctor’s advice and went to see a doctor herself, who asked all of the right questions and finally gave her a diagnosis for the unseen condition which had affected every aspect of her life until then.

Misconception A common misconception about ADHD is that it presents as a deficit, as the name would suggest, and causes only hyperactivity and a deficit in attention. Researchers and experts believe there’s a strong connection between executive function and ADHD, which then presents challenges with regulating attention and energy. This can then cause issues relating to memory, concentration, time management, sleep, impulse control, emotions and spatial awareness.

While diagnosing children with ADHD can be challenging, it's imperative to get an accurate diagnosis. This also applies to

adults, many of whom are undiagnosed. It is estimated that only 3-4% of adults with ADHD in the UK have a diagnosis.

While there are many challenges people with ADHD inevitably face, there are also many things to celebrate. People with ADHD are generally more creative; they have a keen eye for detail, are very good problem solvers, and have the ability to hyperfocus on subjects they’re interested in, meaning their long-term memory is often exceptional.

When it comes to education, often children with ADHD are left behind or discounted for being slower, less focused or simply not interested in education. A fantastic way to bridge this learning gap between children and their peers is to employ a tutor for one-to-one support as it allows personalised lessons, focused specifically on the child and free from classroom distractions.

Becky's personal journey highlights the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, while also shedding light on the unique strengths that individuals with ADHD bring to the table. By fostering a supportive environment and providing the right tools and resources, those with ADHD can thrive and reach their full potential.

For more information on ADHD or to find out how a tutor could help increase the quality of your child's education, visit www.tutordoctor.co.uk

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Appeal launched to help fund artificial football pitch An appeal has been launched to raise £20,000 towards a new all-weather artificial pitch and new LED lights at Mangotsfield United FC’s Cossham Street ground.

The plans to convert the grass pitch to a 3G artificial one, with perimeter fencing, team shelters, hardstanding areas and a storage container, were recently submitted to South Gloucestershire Council by Mangotsfield & Blackhorse Sports and Community Association.

The scheme aims to increase availability of the pitch to the local community. So far more than 80 people have written to the council in

support of the plans.

Comments include: “This development/ conversion is crucial for the increasing growth of Mangotsfield FC which is an important part of the local community with the large number of teams it supports, from the very young ones through to adult football, both men’s and ladies. It also provides an important social hub for the local community outside of football.”

Another said: “This upgrade to an existing facility would be great for the local youth and community and is long overdue. A similar upgrade occurred at Longwell Green Football Club and this club is now thriving

as a result, especially during the winter months when an artificial surface becomes invaluable.”

A few objections have also been received, with one concerned local resident highlighting health and environmental issues connected with artificial pitches and saying the pitch at Cossham Street would be available from 9am to 10.30pm, seven days a week, which is “totally unacceptable” for those living nearby. The resident added that there are already problems with floodlights, noise and parking.

The planning application says that surface

water run-off would be effectively managed and wouldn’t increase flood risk elsewhere; that any noise emission would not adversely affect local residents; and that the development is not expected to result in additional demand for parking.

Neighbouring Cleve RFC are supporting the proposal by Mangotsfield United FC. Some funding for the project has already been secured. The JustGiving page https://tinyurl.com/2uenxzhr which mentions fundraising for new LED lighting at the ground as well as the new all-weather surface, has a £20,000 target.

School plans to cut intake In consultation with the governing body of The Park Primary School in Kingswood, South Gloucestershire Council is proposing to reduce admission numbers.

The school in Hollow Road is currently one of the largest in South Gloucestershire, with three classes per year group.

It is proposed to reduce the admission number from 90 to 60 with effect from 1st

September 2025, bringing it more closely in line with recent and anticipated admissions to the school. It will apply to new applications received for admission to the reception class.

Find out more under the Consultations section on the council’s website. The closing date for responses is 15th December.

The Week in • Wednesday 15th November 2023

Mangotsfield United play at Cossham Street

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