Plympton Magazine November 2022

RODGERS OF PLYMOUTH

WEST

THE

Welcome...

November has arrived, the temperature is dropping, the sea is getting choppy and the Christmas lists are growing. Before you know it, it’ll be Christmas! In this edition of Plympton, we have five business profiles, lots of delicious recipes and our favourite advent calendars of 2022.

We spoke to Rodgers of Plymouth who are shining the light on the new fully-electric MG4. Find out why you should go electric and what Plymouth has to offer on electric charging.

We headed into the Plymouth Market this month to speak to some of the traders to find out what’s on offer this month.

We spoke to the owners of Sherford’s oldest coffee shop, Glen and Joanne to see what makes their coffee shop so special to the locals.

We learnt more about the visitor and learning centre located next to the Tamar & Royal Albert Bridge called, Bridging The Tamar and what they offer to the local community.

Not only do South West Highways maintain our roads, they also get involved in the local community too. Find out what they have been up to recently in the magazine.

We hope you have a lovely November!

A

The small coffee shop with a lot of love to give the new community of Sherford and beyond. We interviewed the owners of the independent cafe to find out more about what they offer and why you should enjoy your brew in the House of Brews.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how House of Brews came about?

House of Brews was founded, is owned and run by husband-and-wife team, Glen and Joanne Hilton.

Residents of Sherford, we’re both passionate about enhancing the new town which we call home. We’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of service to our guests and sourcing delicious, locally made food and drink – it’s really important to us to support fellow small businesses where we can. Our cosy coffee shop has become a real hub for the local community, which fills us with joy. A space for new neighbours of the town to meet one another, or for visitors to discover Sherford and its stunning local area, we are proud to be the place to stop at Sherford. That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day, putting smiles on people’s faces, and bringing them together over a warming cup of coffee and a generous slice of their favourite cake – perfect! House of Brews is the very first business to open in the new town of Sherford, an achievement

which we’re very proud of. We opened our doors in September 2021, amidst the pandemic – a real risk at the time but wow, hasn’t it paid off!

What do you love most about being in Sherford?

Sherford has a community spirit like no other town, it’s a fantastic place to live and work. It’s really the people which make Sherford so lovely. We have so many amazing regular customers, it’s a joy to welcome them to our coffee shop each day. We’re so grateful for their continued support, without them we wouldn’t be celebrating our first complete year of business.

Why should people travel to House of Brews in particular?

Our cosy coffee shop is the perfect place to meet up with friends, for coffee, cake and a good catch-up! We offer a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere, amidst a beautifully decorated interior, creating the perfect setting to take some time out during a busy week to sit back and relax. We’ve worked really hard to ensure that House of Brews is accessible to everyone. Even though our current establishment is temporary, it is of the upmost importance to us that it is wheelchair accessible with a ramp leading to the coffee shop and space within. Our coffee shop is also child friendly, with highchairs available on request. We’ve also considered dietary needs, ensuring that vegan and gluten free options are available. What’s more, we’re also dog friendly, so the whole family can enjoy a coffee shop date at House of Brews – treats aplenty!

Where do you source your coffee beans from?

Our most important product is of course, our coffee. In the early days of starting House of Brews we searched everywhere for the best beans we could find. We’re lucky enough to have an array of amazing roasters in Devon, so we kept our search local, researching and meeting with an array of Devon’s finest coffee producers. Impressing us with their standout ethical practice and the amazing taste of their coffee, we ultimately opted for Owen’s Coffee. Located just a stone’s throw from our coffee shop in neighbouring Ivybridge, our coffee is roasted as locally as possible.

Do you try to source your products locally and organically?

Not just immediately local to us, Owen’s Coffee is also organic, fairtrade and ethically sourced; all characteristics which are important to us. Looking to the rest of our light bites and drinks range, we recognise that Devon offers an abundance of exceptionally high-quality food and drink, and for this reason we have a strong passion for sourcing local

products as much as possible, as well as supporting the local small businesses that create such delicious products.

What sorts of food and drink do you offer?

Serving Devon’s finest warming coffees and teas, House of Brews also boasts an array of flavoured teas and luxury hot chocolates. We also offer an array of refreshing cool drinks, including our latest new additions, iced coffees and slushies. If you’re after an indulgent treat, we highly recommend treating yourself to one of our luxury desserts, cakes, bakes or cookies. Aside from a few crowd favourites, such as our Bakewell Slice and Biscoff Bake, we offer new sweet treats to discover almost every week. If you’re popping in for lunch, enjoy our range of savoury light bites.

Choose from our ever-popular hot sausage rolls, baked in nearby Plympton, or opt for a serving of our fresh sandwiches, paninis and pasta salads. We’re also very excited to launch some warming seasonal soups for guests to enjoy throughout the autumn and winter period. With plenty of delicious options to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find something to delight everyone’s tastebuds. We believe it’s incredibly important to be able to cater to our guests’ dietary requirements, so much so that we have continued to widen our vegan and gluten free options. A real hit with our customers, they love that our coffee shop experience is so inclusive.

Do you have any upcoming events we should keep an eye out for?

We’ve been working on some very exciting evening tasting events, which we hope to hold every month or so. Our first wine tasting evening was a huge success, and our upcoming autumn and festive themed cocktail making events have sold out in record time – tickets were gone in just 24 hours! To make sure you don’t miss out on the next one, follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest event updates.

Do you get involved in the local community in any way?

Since opening, we’ve quickly become a hub for our local community, a place for residents to meet and engage with their neighbours. It’s great to see so many members of the community come together over coffee each day, sharing their news, stories, and plenty of

laughter. We’re also currently gearing up to support the town’s Christmas festivities, which we are very much looking forward to. A time to eat, drink and be merry, we’re most excited about the outdoor carol concert held by Sherford Church, when we’ll have lots to offer attendees throughout the evening.

You have been awarded Gold by Food Drink Devon, what did you need to do in order to be awarded gold?

We are so thrilled to have been awarded Gold by the prestigious Food Drink Devon, it has meant so much to us to have all our hard work recognised this way. Only awarded to those who gain a judges’ score of 90-99%, this is a huge achievement for our small business, especially as we’ve only just been open a year.

Are customers allowed to work from your coffee shop?

We actually get quite a few people visit us to work with their laptops or even meet up with a few colleagues for informal discussions/meetings. Many have said that our coffee and cakes offer a much-needed reward, a treat to help them power through their to-do lists!

Where would you like to see House of Brews in say 5 years?

As we grow we endeavour to expand our services, this will include working with Owen’s Coffee to produce our own blend of coffee, as well as offering more frequent tasting evenings. Passionate about being an environmentally friendly business, as part of our progress we also hope to offer a green delivery service. This will consist of delivering our products to the Sherford community on an electric bike. Looking further into the future, we would love to expand the business into a wine bar during the evenings, once we have moved into our permanent premises. In keeping with our love of locally produced food and drink, our wine bar menu would boast wines from locally sourced vineyards; of whom we are already in talks with. Exciting things are about to happen for House of Brews, so watch this space!

2 for 1 on tea/coffee

At House of Brews

5.12.22

www.houseofbrews.uk House of Brews, Sherford, Plymouth, PL9

Please mention The Plympton Community Magazine when responding to adverts

Joanne Hilton

Massive

EMBRACE THE ELECTRIC REVOLUTION WITH RODGERS OF PLYMOUTH

Attention drivers of Plymouth! Something is coming. Something breathtakingly beautiful, groundbreakingly different and positively game changing.

This Autumn, Rodgers of Plymouth are beyond excited to introduce the brand new, all-electric MG4 EV to Britain’s Ocean City. Hailed as a triumph of innovation from the iconic brand, the MG4 is sleek, stylish, technologically advanced, and surprisingly good value for money to boot. In fact, with the entry level SE model starting from just £25,995 this car is a serious rival to some of the more familiar EV models such as the Renault Zoe and the Vauxhall Corsa E.

But the favourable comparisons don’t stop at the price. MG set out to create a compact EV centred around four key qualities: space; technology; affordability and driving quality and the MG4 delivers. It delivers big time.

With three specifications on offer – the SE Standard Range, the SE Long Range and the Trophy Long Range – drivers will be able to select the model that best suits their needs and with the top end Trophy range starting at just £31,495 you’re going to get A LOT of bang for your buck.

Range anxiety is a thing of the past with the MG4, with the Standard SE boasting a range of 218 miles in a single charge and the SE Long Range and Trophy pushing it to 281 and 270 miles per charge respectively. That’s enough to get you to London, Birmingham or even to Exeter and back 3 times should the mood take you! If you’re more likely to be using the MG4 to get you from A-B, then you’re more than covered – and if you’re running a little low, there are a wealth of charging points and pop-up chargers dotted around the city to keep your car topped up. On average, Plymouth’s charging points cost 25p per kWh and with the MG4 EV coming in at running costs of around 3p per mile, even with recent rises in energy prices, you’ll still be making significant savings over and above ICE vehicle drivers.

The compact hatchback doesn’t compromise on space, so it’s the perfect car for environmentally conscious, busy families. The boot offers an impressive 363 litres of space, which almost triples to 1177 litres with the seats folded down, so you’ll have ample room for pushchairs, luggage or the weekly shop. If your family is more 6ft teenager than toddler heavy, the MG4 stays relevant. The ultra-thin underfloor battery maximises leg and headroom, so your passengers are guaranteed a comfortable ride.

Comfort is a big feature in this winning little EV. From heated seats to a near silent driving experience, MG have utilised cutting edge technology to ensure that your journey is as pleasurable as possible. What’s more, the fully remote capabilities mean that you can get cosy before you’re even behind the wheel. So instead of freezing in the driver’s seat on a frosty

January morning, waiting for your car to acclimatise, you can enjoy a slightly more leisurely cup of coffee, whilst the MG app on your smart phone takes care of it.

Sound tempting? Then why not pop down to Rodgers of Plymouth MG and take it for a spin.

Nestled away in Christian Mill Business Park, just off Budshead Road in Crownhill, our MG retailer is a bit of a hidden gem. Our light, airy showroom is packed with the latest MG models for you to get up close and personal with. Explore the unique features of any MG model – be it the MG3, 4, 5 or HS and we guarantee that you’ll be impressed by the combination of innovative technology, comfort and style that takes the iconic brand to the next level. Cutting edge technology meets the quintessential British essence of the original MG in the new generation of models.

For those looking to buy a used vehicle, Rodgers of Plymouth MG is the place for you. As part of the Murray Group, we have access to a range of makes and models at exceptional prices and phenomenal part exchange rates.

Already own a car but think it needs a little TLC? No problem! Rodgers of Plymouth MG are authorised repairers for MG, Mitsubishi and Ssang Yong and offer a comprehensive range of servicing options.

For the remainder of 2022, we are offering MOTs for just £35 on any make or model – call our friendly team on 01752 773399 to book in today!

The new all-electric MG4 EV at Rodgers of Plymouth

Scan QR code to explore this model

As a product of post-war Britain, the 60-year-old market has stood the test of time and remains to be a welcoming hub of passionate sellers and friendly customers located in Plymouth’s ‘West End’. Plymouth Market is an iconic indoor market, popular with locals and tourists but often people are unaware of what’s inside. The market has an influx of local traders coming and going for various amounts of time resulting in a fresh and unique visit every time. As well as the new traders, you can always rely on the long-standing stalls to look after you whether it’s fresh fish & veg that you’re after or watch repairs and engraving. During our visit, we bumped into lots of humble entrepreneurs and had the pleasure to speak to some of them.

Atthe time of the interview, the Plymouth Market had a whopping total of 61 traders and the market was bustling with people. We arrived on a Monday at midday so the lunch trade was well underway. Plymouth Market house a variety of different cuisines from British and American, to Caribbean, Mauritian and Japanese, therefore, when combined, they produce a mouthwatering aroma that fills the building.

With the freedom of such a large space, they often hold family-friendly events and are heavily involved in the West End Carnival. This Christmas, Santa will be coming to the Market to meet you all, along with a few festive activities for the whole family.

Holding a stall at the Plymouth Market is an affordable way to try out a new business idea without the huge investment of a premise. These stalls provide a safe space to showcase your hard work and in turn, create a growth in the local economy.

The 36,000 sq. ft market hall complete with its unusual waved roof is best appreciated in person to understand the beauty of the building and what’s inside. But to take some of the guesswork out, we will be telling you about a few things that you can expect during your visit.

In need of a fry-up fix? On the righthand side of the mezzanine market floor is PJ’s Diner, an American/ British style diner serving American pancakes, gut buster breakfasts, burgers, homemade cakes and pizza. On the left-hand side of the mezzanine floor is Pete’s Place serving British cuisine such as English breakfast, steak pies and roast dinners.

Both PJ’s Diner and Pete’s Place are owned by Tracy and Keith after the original owner, Pete, decided to sell. Tracy and Keith are proud to call both eateries their own and have nurtured them over the years with the help of their children.

Fancy trying something new? Mauritian street food vendor ‘Maurish’ has been in the Plymouth Market for all but 6 weeks (at the time of the interview). The inspiration came from the owner’s family roots that originate from Mauritius. With Mauritian food, you can expect a mix of African, Indian and Chinese cuisine, with fresh ingredients, made from scratch that same day.

The chicken curry is the most popular dish on their menu and they have received a compliment from a customer saying that it was the best chicken curry he’s ever tasted!

With specials changing weekly and vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options always available, why not come down and try a dish or two?

Treat yourself to some natural health supplements. Little Hemp Shop has been successfully running online since 2018 but it wasn’t until January 2022 that they decided to take a space within the Plymouth Market.

The Little Hemp Shop

The Little Hemp Shop is a Devon-based familyrun business that pride themselves on their quality, freshness and ethical pricing. They are the manufacturer of a variety of different Hemp and CBD products from gummies and capsules, to honey and coffee. CBD was legalised for use in the UK in 2018, validating its benefits as a 100% natural health supplement, this legalisation prompted co-founder Marc’s idea to launch.

They regularly add new products and ensure every product is of the highest quality in the UK market. As the manufacturers, they play an integral part in the whole process from sourcing the hemp to bottling it up and selling it. They also wholesale and white label to 50+ other companies in the UK and Europe. Come on down to try it for yourself.

Bringing Nepal to the Plymouth Market. The newest edition to the market is Nepalese food vendor Everest Flavours. At the time of the interview, Everest Flavours was in its 4th week at the market when owner, Biraj, spoke to us about his new business venture.

Biraj’s idea is to transport people to Nepal with traditional Nepalese decor and authentic flavours. All of the dishes on the menu are affordable ranging between £2-£8 making it a perfect spot to try a few different dishes. Nepalese cuisine consists of lots of rice dishes, they also serve Momo, a traditional dumpling served with two chutneys, one sweet and one spicy to accompany the dish. Pull up a chair and dig in!

Craving something sweet for lunch?

Owners Sophie and Kieran have been selling delicious waffles in the Plymouth Market for 3.5 years and they’re not planning on leaving anytime soon. The community atmosphere of the market is something they will never get tired of being a part of.

Kawaffle is the only place in Plymouth to make and serve savoury waffles as the recipe was invented by themselves. Their best-selling waffles are the Choc-abloc sweet waffle and the Chilli Cheese Fiesta savoury

waffle. They have recently started offering American pancakes too!

The waffle mix is always vegan and gluten-free so there is always an option for everyone. They are happy to tailor the toppings to suit your dietary requirements.

Been meaning to get that watch repaired? Coronet Engravers & Jewellery has been trading in the Plymouth Market since day 1 of the market opening. They are the last remaining original business to have been at the Plymouth Market since the beginning and they pride themselves on that title. The engravers have seen three different owners and thousands of businesses come and gone throughout the years.

Coronet Engravers can personalise almost anything small or large including rings, dog tags and trophies. They also offer watch repairs, jewellery repairs and ear piercings. They find that a lot of their customers are very loyal and often come in specifically for Coronet.

Enjoy a Japanese experience in the heart of Plymouth. Co-founders Anne and Phoenix made the brave decision to set up their first business in the market 1 month ago (since the interview). They knew Plymouth Market would be a fantastic opportunity to grow their idea and meet the other local food traders.

Kiku is bringing traditional Japanese street food to Plymouth with soup Udon and Soba noodle bowls, Sushi and Bento. Kiku is far from your regular lunch spot, Kiku is a Japanese experience that ignites all your senses. Don’t believe us? Then try it for yourself!

The ground floor of the market is packed with independent stalls but don’t forget about the café’s on the mezzanine floor that offer an array of different cuisines from Vietnamese to homemade cakes.

Unfortunately, due to the sheer volume of traders, we were unable to visit all of them but stay tuned for the December edition where we speak to a few more…

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Kiku

Cornwall

Kawaffle

FESTIVITIES AT ROYAL WILLIAM YARD

The countdown to Christmas is on, and plenty is planned at Plymouth’s Royal William Yard throughout the winter to make it a memorable occasion.

There will be bustling Christmas markets under the stars with tempting treats aplenty; gifts galore from the South West’s best artisans and makers; festive tunes from a Barbershop Choir; and an abundance of places to eat, drink and be merry.

The Christmas Good Food and Craft Markets open with a bumper offering on the first Sunday in December, with over 70 stalls offering festive wares and unique gifts. Amongst these will be flowers from Sunday Bunch, handcrafted accessories from Terra Jewellery and Southway Silver, vegan skincare from Soap and Pamper, tipples from Barbican Botanics, tasty treats from Devon Fudge, Chunky Cookie Company, and Heyl Bakery, and much, much more.

Dates for your diary:

• For those looking to start their Christmas shopping sooner rather than later, the November Good Food and Craft Market will take place on Sunday 6th November, 10am-3pm and Native Makers will run a weekend market with a festive feel on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November in Ocean Studios.

• Le Vignoble is hosting its Mega Christmas Wine Tasting on Thursday 24th November. This popular annual event provides the opportunity to sample over 100 different wines. Tickets can be booked at www.levignoble.co.uk

• Christmas Good Food and Craft Markets will run throughout December on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. Add Sunday 4th, 11th and 18th December, 10am-3pm to your calendar, and Wednesday 7th, 14th and 21st, 5-9pm, for a spot of late night shopping. These will take place in the iconic Melville building at

the centre of Royal William Yard, both indoors and in its courtyard.

• On Sunday 11th and Wednesday 14th December, the Yard will come alive with the sound of a Barbershop Choir, performing festive favourites and bringing Christmas cheer.

• Children’s Christmas craft activities will run during the Sunday markets, offering fun for all the family, for free.

• As an extra special Christmas treat, there will be a Christmas hamper giveaway, featuring a selection of over 25 treats from Good Food and Craft Market traders. The hamper giveaway will open on 4th December and close on 18th December.

• Native Markers December market will take place on Saturday 10th December in Ocean Studios, offering unique gifts, mulled wine, live music, and kids crafts.

There are many other opportunities to shop at the Yard, with talented independent business offering a range of one-of-a-kind gifts, including hand-picked clothes and accessories at boutique, Identity Fashion; award-winning handmade chocolates from Domea Favour; luxury haircare sets from YOKE the Salon; locally made gifts in Ocean Studios ground floor shop; and gift vouchers available right across the Yard.

Find out more at: www.royalwilliamyard.com and stay up to date with all festive goings-on by following @royalwilliamyd on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

WARMERS WINTER

It’s officially woolly jumper and log burner season therefore, we have found the best recipes to warm you up.

Summer-in-Winter Chicken

Serves - 4

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 200g pack cherry or sun-dried tomatoes

• 3 tbsp pesto

• 3 tbsp crème fraîche (half fat is fine)

• fresh basil, if you have it

ONE Heat the oil in a frying pan, preferably nonstick. Add the chicken and fry without moving it until it takes on a bit of colour. Turn the chicken and cook on the other side. Continue cooking for 12-15 mins until the chicken is cooked through. Season all over with a little salt and pepper.

TWO Halve the tomatoes and throw them into the pan, stirring them around for a couple of minutes until they start to soften. Reduce the heat and stir in the pesto and crème fraîche until it makes a sauce. Scatter with a few basil leaves if you have them, then serve with rice and salad or mash and broccoli.

Coconut & Squash Dhansak

Serves - 4

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

• 500g butternut squash (about 1 small squash), peeled and chopped into bite-sized chunks (or buy a pack of ready-prepared to save time), see tip, below left

• 100g frozen chopped onions

• 4 heaped tbsp mild curry paste (we used korma)

• 400g can chopped tomatoes

• 400g can light coconut milk

• mini naan bread, to serve

• 400g can lentils, drained

• 200g bag baby spinach

• 150ml coconut yogurt, plus extra to serve

ONE Heat the oil in a large pan. Put the squash in a bowl with a splash of water. Cover with cling film and microwave on High for 10 mins or until tender. Meanwhile, add the onions to the hot oil and cook for a few mins until soft. Add the curry paste, tomatoes and coconut milk, and simmer for 10 mins until thickened to a rich sauce.

TWO Warm the naan breads in a low oven or in the toaster. Drain any liquid from the squash, then add to the sauce with the lentils, spinach and some seasoning. Simmer for a further 2-3 mins to wilt the spinach, then stir in the coconut yogurt. Serve with the warm naan and a dollop of extra yogurt.

Vegan Curried Squash, Lentil

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 butternut squash, peeled, deseeded & diced

• 200g carrot, diced

• 1 tbsp curry powder containing turmeric

• 100g red lentil

• 700ml low-sodium vegetable stock

• 1 can reduced-fat coconut milk

• coriander and naan bread, to serve

ONE Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the squash and carrots, sizzle for 1 min, then stir in the curry powder and cook for 1 min more. Tip in the lentils, the vegetable stock and coconut milk and give everything a good stir. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 15-18 mins until everything is tender.

TWO Using a hand blender or in a food processor, blitz until as smooth as you like. Season and serve scattered with roughly chopped coriander and some naan bread alongside.

Please

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Makes - 20 Cookies

• 125g cold coconut oil

• 100g golden caster sugar

• 150g light muscavdo sugar

• 125ml coconut milk

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 275g plain flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp bicarb

• 200g vegan chocolate chips or vegan chocolate, chopped into small chunks

ONE Tip the coconut oil and sugars into a bowl and whisk until completely combined, then whisk in the coconut milk and vanilla. Tip the flour, baking powder, bicarb and a good pinch of flaky sea salt into the mix to make a thick batter, then fold through the chocolate chips. Chill the batter for at least 1hr. Can be made two days ahead.

TWO Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a couple of baking sheets with baking parchment, then scoop or roll plum-sized balls of the dough and place them on the baking sheets about 2cm apart. Flatten ever so slightly and sprinkle with a bit more flaky salt if you want. Cook on the middle shelf for 12-15 mins, turning the tray once, until the cookies have spread and are golden but still soft in the middle. Leave to cool slightly, then lift the cookies onto a cooling rack while you bake another batch. Will keep in a biscuit jar for up to three days.

when responding to

SUPPORT SHAPLA BALTI CUISINE

Plympton’s award-winning Balti House, Shapla Balti Cuisine, has been nominated for two more curry awards; The British Curry Awards and the Bangladesh Caterers Association Awards.

code on the night of the awards. We join their loyal customers in wishing them the best of luck!

Shapla Balti Cuisine are also finalists for the Bangladesh Caterers Association Awards happening on the 30th October. This event celebrates the very best British-Bangladeshi restaurants. Mr Ali and his team would like to thank all of their customers for their continued support and for voting. Scan this on the 28th Nov to vote in the British Curry Awards!

BRITISH CURRY & BRITISH TAKEAWAY

COUNTDOWN

The

build up to Christmas is full of excitement, presents are being purchased, the turkey is getting ordered and advent calendars are in full swing. We have found our favourite advent calendars of 2022 and wanted to share them with you.

Yawn Brew Tea

£22 www.yawnbrew.com

Open a window every day and enjoy a proper brew of real tea. With 24 different teas ranging from the British fave of Yorkshire Breakfast to some festive flavours such as, Toffee Apple, Eggnog and Santas Milk & Cookies. To ensure you are making the most out of the tea, there is a brewing guide on the back of the advent calendar to help you achieve the perfect brew.

The Body Shop

£55 www.thebodyshop.com

A box packed full of The Body Shop goodies, usually worth £89.50. The Body Shop Box of Wishes contains skincare, face masks and beauty tools, perfect for pampering yourself during the run-up to Christmas, after all, it can get pretty hectic! There is something different inside each box such as, a Shea Cleansing face & body bar, a Vitamin C Glow Sheet Mask and Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash.

The Spicery

£29.95 www.notonthehighstreet.com

A very unusual take on the classic advent calendar but a brilliant idea that tastes sublime. Enjoy 12 sachets of spice blends and corresponding recipes to create 12 delicious festive dishes from around the world! From sweet treats like sticky Caribbean black cake to savoury Creole pies and rich Mexican mole poblano. This is the perfect gift for an adventurous foodie, or a treat to add some spice to your Christmas!

Whittards Hot Chocolate

£70 www.whittards.co.uk

For those winter nights; a hot chocolate, fluffy blanket and an open fire are all that is needed. We have you covered! Whittards have pulled it out of the bag with this beautiful and delicious advent calendar. Inside this advent calendar for two, you essentially get two for the price of one as there are two sachets per drawer.

Lily’s Kitchen For Dogs

£12 www.lilyskitchen.co.uk

Advent Calendars aren’t just for humans, why not let our dogs enjoy a treat in the run-up to Christmas too! Let your furry friend try Lily’s Kitchen’s biscuits and see for yourself how good they taste. Our office dogs are absolutely loving them. In the lead up to Christmas, Lily’s Kitchen will donate 60p to Dog’s Trust for every online dog food order.

Flapjackery

£50 www.flapjackery.co.uk

A flapjack every day up until Christmas, that sounds pretty good to me! With 25 different flavours to try, this is the perfect way to taste some of the award-winning flapjacks. They have included a wide range of flavours from their traditional milk chocolate flapjack and billionaire flapjack to a few festive flavours to try such as mince pie! All flapjacks are gluten-free and vegetarian and will taste great throughout December with a shelf life of 3 months.

Naked Marshmallow

£20 – Gourmet £20 - Boozy

The worlds first marshmallow advent calendar has gone a step further by giving the over 18’s a boozy edition! Behind each door of both advent calendars, you’ll find 25 pieces of gooey heaven, a brilliant motivation to get you out of bed each morning. Their marshmallows are handmade and come in a variety of different flavours. The boozy edition combines cocktails with marshmallow giving you flavours like Peach Bellini and Pina Colada.

Scrumbles For Cats

£8 www.scrumbles.co.uk

A Scrumbles advent calendar is the purrfect way to get your cat into the festive spirit. These cat treats are full of flavour that have functional benefits like gut health and dental care. Behind each of the 24 windows you’ll find Gnashers dental cat treats and Nibbles chicken cat treats that are kind to tummies and to the planet. They also have a dog version.

Yvonne Ellen Candles

£35 www.yvonneellen.com

Get cosy this Christmas, put the open fire on and light some of these gorgeously fragranced candles by Yvonne Ellen around the house. If you are unfamiliar with this brand, we recommend you check out their website listed above for more beautiful Christmas gifts! As soon as we took this calendar out of the packaging, the smell hit us and we immediately fell in love with them! Inside the 25 doors are four different scents; Purrfect Day, Rock Your Spots Off, Party Animal and Sparkling Snowflake. Enjoy a different smell around your home every day leading up to Christmas!

Gin in a tin

£50 www.gininatin.co.uk

Enjoy 12 days of gin from the experts, Gin in a Tin. This advent calendar holds a stunning collection, showcasing their twelve gins of distinction, that speak volumes, in stylish tins. A different G&T can be enjoyed each festive afternoon / evening throughout the 12 days of Christmas. They have amazing flavours such as Raspberry, Cardamon & Pomegranate and Orange Peel, Nutmeg & All Spice. Please note: Flowers, glass and ribbon in their lifestyle image is not included.

The fastest shortcut into Cornwall connects two communities that otherwise would be miles apart. The Tamar Bridge has enabled millions of vehicles to effortlessly glide over the river Tamar for 61 years and continues to provide this service to the people of Devon, Cornwall and beyond. Running parallel to the Tamar Bridge is Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s 163-year-old Royal Albert Railway Bridge. Adjacent to the Tamar Bridge Toll plaza lies the Control Office and new Visitor and Learning Centre where the magic happens. During this interview, we spoke to three members of the team to find out all about this hub of activity and what it brings to the community.

The

Bridging The Tamar Visitor and Learning Centre provides people young and old with the ability to learn about civil engineering and what goes into the day-to-day runnings of the bridges. This cannot be possible without the team of staff, contractors and volunteers that help to educate people on the heritage of both the 20th-century Tamar Bridge and Brunel’s iconic 19th-century Royal Albert Bridge.

Sharing the knowledge of thousands of highly skilled engineers, artists, mathematicians, scientists and innovators became achievable through a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) along with extra funds from the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee. In 2018, they were able to transform the old control office into a Visitor and Learning Centre and extend the building to create a larger control office with meeting rooms for collaboration projects. This hub is not only used for educational purposes but it is also created to keep people safe and the traffic flowing. Bridges are not just a continuation of the road, bridges are monumental structures that show engineering brilliance and highlight the history of civil engineering in Britain. The team hope that people come away from the Centre with a new level of appreciation for the history of civil engineering and a new or nurtured passion for the craft.

The Centre offers many free interactive activities such as mini bridge building, costume dress-up station, interactives and video content. In addition to the exhibitions in the Centre, you can book a guided tour of the bridges or a talk about the history and what’s involved in the creation and maintenance of the bridges, as well as Anchorage Tours where you head underground and see for yourself where the cables meet the earth.

Educational workshops prove popular with schools and colleges as an interactive way to learn more about engineering. Entry into the Visitor and Learning Centre is free of charge for everyone but you must prebook your talks, tours and workshops via www.bridgingthetamar.org.uk.

During our interview, we learnt a lot about the history of both bridges and how they are continuously maintained to the highest standards to ensure deterioration is kept to a absolute minimum so everyone can enjoy their beauty and use for years to come.

The Tamar Bridge was completed in 1961, 102 years after the Royal Albert Bridge was built in 1859. To ensure user safety and journey time reliability, the Tamar Bridge is managed by a dedicated 24hr/7 day a week Bridge Control Room supported by a highly specialised engineering team. Bridge Control constantly assess a range of environmental sensors, CCTV cameras and other data to ensure traffic plans match prevailing traffic flows and loading on the structure is efficiently distributed. This is important to both reduce delays and to enhance the life of the structure which is course, open to the SW climate and strong winds!

Following changes to the weight of European Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), the Tamar Bridge underwent a landmark Strengthening and Widening project between 1997 and 2001. As the bridge was already in use carrying tens of thousands of people each day, closing the bridge for 4 years wasn’t an option. The solution was to add two additional lanes, or cantilevers, to either side of the bridge onto which traffic could be diverted so that the replacement of the original central section of bridge deck could proceed.

Through innovative design and the use of lighter and stronger materials, the additional cantilevers became part of the permanent design giving five lanes where there were once three! Completed in 2001, the new revitalised bridge could now accept new HGV classes and had a Saltash local traffic lane as well as a dedicated footway and cycleway to promote sustainable transport. The project, the first of its kind to be strengthened and widened at the same time whilst still in use, won many awards and was officially reopened in 2002 by the Princess Royal. Princess Anne. This was a proud moment for not only the project team, but the people of Devon and Cornwall too.

Today, an average of around 45000 vehicles cross the Tamar Bridge every day, although this varies considerably over the days and months and especially so during the Summer holidays or when the SW hosts a popular event.

Regular users of the Tamar Bridge will have noticed the central traffic lane switches direction throughout the day. The Bridge Control Room can set various traffic plans to suit prevailing traffic conditions. Whilst years of experience and traffic flow statistics allow us to predict general trends, constant changes in our leisure and business activities requires vigilance by the Bridge Control team to constantly monitor and adapt to ever changing circumstances. If for some reason, the traffic unexpectedly changes, traffic plans can be set within minutes to keep people moving. On a typical day, lane plans are changed between 6 and 10 times!

The safety of all bridge users is paramount. Lane plan changes can often be made to aid the passage of emergency vehicles or to assist broken down vehicles. Bridge Control carefully and considerately monitor footpaths and cycleways to ensure everyone is okay and if required, customers receive help and assistance. Bridge Control also protect wildlife and pets who can sometimes find themselves on the bridge.

People use the Tamar Bridge for numerous different reasons, and whether it’s part of their daily commute or the beginning of their holiday to Cornwall, everybody has a story to tell. This is something Mark Meredith, Bridge Manager, finds incredibly fascinating and very much close to his heart -

‘Engineers of course love to build bridges, but it’s the fact a bridge connects people and communities together which is the most amazing and deeply human aspect that brings joy.’

To allow for a smoother journey and journey time reliability, the Tamar Bridge offers regular users the Tamar TAG discount scheme which uses a small electronic device (the TAG) in a vehicle’s windscreen to automatically open lane barriers without the need to open your window. During certain times , TAG only lanes are available to further aid transit through the toll plaza. For one or less frequent users, cash or contactless card payment options are available to all vehicle classes.

For further tolling information, the Customer Service Centre at the Bridge Office is available on 01752 361577 (0900 – 1700hrs, Monday to Friday) or via www.tamarcrossings.org.uk.

During your visit to the Learning and Visitor Centre, you will be able to learn about the complex work that went into making these magnificent structures and see for yourself how the bridges work on a day-to-day basis. Embrace the history of I.K.Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge and understand why the Tamar Bridge plays an integral part in today’s society. The Centre hopes to inspire young people and especially more women and girls into engineering and indeed all areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, arts and Maths).

By combining the ease of travel with the connection of two communities, the Tamar Bridge stands as a beacon in the landscape and a structure to be cherished.

Darren Desmond Jackie Marker

Andy Hampton

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South West Highways are the Term Maintenance Contractor (TMC) for Plymouth City Council. We won the contract in 2017, have recently secured the 10 year contract and we look to continue this partnership going forward. Our primary function is to undertake highway maintenance improvement schemes throughout Plymouth, as well as carry out daily safety defect maintenance. Examples of our schemes include the paving on Tavistock Place, outside The Box Museum and the creation of the Ponsonby cycleway. We employ 110 staff which include both office based workers and operatives.

Inaddition to our day-to-day works, SWH are dedicated in their contribution to the community of Plymouth, this is inclusive of Environmental Awareness, Community Events and Charitable Contribution.

Some of our initiatives and projects that incorporate this are:

Workplace in Bloom

Between spring to summer 2022, SWH undertook an environmental and community driven initiative to encourage biodiversity in the workplace and promote recycling. The objective was to utilise discarded materials and containers around Prince Rock Depot and create planters for a variety of fruits, flowers and shrubs. One of the most successful aspects of this has been the involvement of local primary schools, namely Hyde Park Primary School, Stuart Road Primary School and St Andrews C of E Primary School.

PCC Streetworks team donated discarded dust bins which we cleaned, put on a base coat, and delivered to the local primary schools to paint with the theme of ‘What Plymouth Means to You’ and ‘The Environment’. The paint was kindly donated by QC Engineering. Once complete, these have been positioned around the depot and planted with a variety

of flowers and shrubs generously donated by YGS Landscaping. This has been a communal effort from SWH, PCC, our suppliers and local schools. In addition to the bins we have used discarded traffic cones, wheelbarrows, hard hats, pallets, grit bins, tractor tyres, road signs and manhole rings. All work was carried out by volunteers and all materials used were donated from local suppliers.

Armed Forces Day

We annually volunteer our time to provide the traffic management for Armed Forces Day which is a celebrations for those who have served the country and promotes veterans charities. This includes providing and maintaining road closures throughout the city as well as gatemen to monitor the closure points and ensure the safety of the public throughout the event.

Building Plymouth

We sponsor and support Plymouth City Council’s ‘Building Plymouth’ initiative which is a scheme designed to promote local employment into the construction industry in Plymouth, thus encouraging career prospects and sharing opportunities. This involves the support of over 45 events in Plymouth, ranging from speaking to Royal Marines at Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre, to contributing to the delivery of fun educational activity days for children, such as Stemfest at the National Marine Aquarium.

Community Contributions

We host road safety scheme events for children to promote awareness of road safety and help to improve the mindfulness of children when negotiating the streets of Plymouth. In the wider community, we also supply traffic management for events such as Sail GP, the 60th Anniversary of the Commando Gunners Military Parade, and the Plymouth Half Marathon. Low-profile contributions include assisting with local activities such as community associations and residents’ street parties; providing and implementing

traffic management and the loan of barriers and signs, and project planning.

Schools

In addition to the Workplace in Bloom initiative, we are regularly involved with local schools around Plymouth via open-days, career fairs and school events. Delivering over 80 inspirational and educational sessions within schools and educational facilities across Plymouth, such as practical lessons relating to construction skills and assisting with mock job interviews. The artwork for the recently undertaken Bridge Refurbishment Scheme was carried through a design event from local schools. SWH also sponsors 4 schools in Plymouth under the Constructing Excellence South West’s ‘Adopt a school’ programme: Plympton Academy, Stoke Damerel Community College, Sir John Hunt Community Sports College and St Boniface’s College. Miller Way School also designed traffic signs for the new zebra crossing 20mph zone as part of a traffic safety scheme (please see picture below).

Apprentices

Internally, we maintain the recruitment of a minimum of 6 apprentices per annum, often we exceed this number and offer support throughout their career going forward. This is inclusive of both office-based staff and on-site operatives. We currently have 1 officebased business apprentice and are looking to recruit another in the coming months. On-site we have 6 apprentices under the supervision of our experienced charge hands.

Charities

SWH in Plymouth recently donated supplies to the non-profit organisation Shekinah, who specialise in helping those who are homeless, at risk of

homelessness or in temporary accommodation. The collection was achieved through generous donations from the Prince Rock office-based staff. In addition to this, SWH works closely with various other PlymouthBased charities such as Princes Trust, Remploy, Routeways and Tomorrow’s People, helping to provide opportunities for those who may need a helping hand. As an example of our support, in collaboration with a local design consultancy we have recently volunteered our time, labour and materials to help with paving works for Routeway’s ‘The Castle’ project to refurbish an area of Devonport Park Activity Centre.

Most recently we have undertaken a fundraising event in collaboration with The Mental Health Foundation UK in our Plymouth depot which took place between Monday 10th October to Friday 14th October 2022. We managed to raise £200 in total for the foundation. This was achieved via a bake sale, selling of green ribbons (for mental health awareness), donation pots and custom QR code to the donation web page. We also set up a ‘Positivity Jar’ with positive quotes, free for all to take one. The left-over cakes from the bake sale were then donated to Plymouth Soup Run who are a local charity that deliver soup and hot drinks to the homeless and those in need.

Local Supply Chain

We are dedicated to the support of local businesses and almost exclusively use local suppliers for our materials, fleet and sub-contractors (if ever they are required). This is not only beneficial to the local economy but also benefits the environment by reducing the need for fuel consumption and minimising our environmental impact wherever possible.

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Plympton Community Magazine