Yate & Sodbury Voice February 2021

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February, 2021 Issue 70

FREE EVERY MONTH IN YATE, CHIPPING SODBURY & SURROUNDING VILLAGES

Home for his birthday A BOY from Yate who has spent weeks in hospital having treatment for leukaemia made it home in time for his 4th birthday.

PAGE 7

Lockdown at school West Walk Surgery staff Matt Tidy, Elaine Gibson, Vicky Hawkins, Paula Clarke, Jane Deacon, Wendy Fivian and Ruth Reader at the start of vaccinations in Yate.

Picture: South Gloucestershire Council

Covid vaccinations begin PEOPLE living in the Yate and Sodbury area have started being vaccinated against COVID-19, as the national programme reaches GP surgeries.

The first local jabs were administered in the week before Christmas at West Walk Surgery in Yate, which was also vaccinating patients of Courtside, Frome Valley, Kennedy Way and Wellington Road surgeries.

The first people to receive jabs locally were those aged over 80, with underlying health conditions or

working in care homes.

The Healthier Together partnership of ten local health and care organisations, which is organising vaccinations in the area, said that by mid-January, 19 local centres were acting as hubs across the region, along with Southmead Hospital and Ashton Gate stadium, where a "super vaccination centre" has been set up.

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UP to a third of pupils are attending lessons at some schools in the Yate and Sodbury area during the lockdown.

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'Urban sprawl' plans

TWO new housing estates near Yate are at the centre of rows about the expansion of the town into neighbouring villages.

PAGES 8-9

80th anniversary of deadly raid

FEBRUARY will bring the 80th anniversary of one of Yate's darkest hours – the first of two deadly bombing raids on the Parnall aircraft factory.

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February, 2021

n NEWS

Rapid testing as covid deaths pass 280 RAPID tests for COVID-19 are now available to anyone living or working in South Gloucestershire.

Critical workers and community volunteers – including nursery workers, funeral directors, staff in essential shops and bus and taxi drivers – are being offered weekly tests, as the programme to find Sara Blackmore people who have the virus but no symptoms is expanded.

It comes as the number of cases of coronavirus in the area stands at more than double a month previously – and the total number of residents who have died with the virus passes 280.

The rapid testing programme is aimed at finding people who have coronavirus but no symptoms, so that they can isolate and prevent the virus spreading. The test involves taking a sample of saliva to look for signs of COVID-19, returning results within an hour.

The first testing site was set up at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre on January 18 and a second site in Kingswood was expected to be set up in the week beginning January 25.

Rapid tests can be booked online at beta.southglos.gov.uk/bookrapid-flow-test.

They are separate from the tests for people who have coronavirus symptoms or have been advised to take a test, which are booked through the NHS by calling 119 or visiting www.gov.uk/getcoronavirus-test.

South Gloucestershire director of public health, Sara Blackmore, said: “Anyone can spread the virus without having symptoms, which is why this new testing programme is an important new tool for us to identify people who may have the illness without knowing."

The council is also helping the Test and Trace system by picking up cases the national service has been unable to contact and ensuring people who test positive keep themselves isolated.

The most recent Office for National Statistics figures as the Voice went to press showed that during the week to January 15, 118 cases had been confirmed in Yate, with the highest number – 41- in the Yate North area, between the town centre and Eastfield Drive. In Chipping Sodbury there had been 12 confirmed cases, with 30 in Marshfield, Wick & Hawkesbury, which includes Old Sodbury, 46 in Charfield, Wickwar & Iron Acton, and 46 in the ONS's Pucklechurch & Westerleigh area.

In almost all areas, case rates were more than double the level of a month before but were all below the national average of 497.3 per 100,000 people, except Yate North, where the rate was 544.1.

For South Gloucestershire as a whole, the number of confirmed cases in the week to January 15 was 1,108 – down from 1,307 a week previously but almost twice the total four weeks before.

In total since the start of the pandemic, 11,925 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in South Gloucestershire by January 15 – around one person in every 24. The national rate is one in 19.

The number of South Gloucestershire residents who have died since the start of the pandemic had reached 276 by January 1 – just over one in 10 of the annual 2,825 deaths from all causes.

A further five deaths were recorded in the first week of 2021, taking the overall total to 281.

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021

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n NEWS

Covid vaccination drive is underway From page 1 West Walk Surgery was one of the second wave of vaccination sites announced by the NHS and is part of the Yate and Frampton Primary Care Network (PCN) of five GP surgeries, and shared an initial batch of 3,000 doses with two other PCNs. Yate and Frampton PCN clinical director Dr Sam Davies said: “We were delighted to run our first covid vaccination clinics for those who were either over the age of 80, or healthcare or care home staff.

"We really hope this marks the turning point in our fight against Covid-19 and look forward to vaccinating as many patients as possible over the coming months.”

As the vaccination programme is extended to those aged over 70 in the coming weeks, people are again being urged not to call or visit their surgery to ask when they will be given the vaccine but instead to wait until they are called in to have their jab.

The Healthier Together partnership said: "Staff are working tirelessly to ensure the necessary measures are in place for those most at risk to get their vaccine first.

"We ask for your patience and understanding; we are doing everything we can to stick to our timelines, however we may need to cancel or amend appointments depending on delivery of the vaccine.

"Please be assured that no one will be left behind – this is the start of the vaccination programme and there will be enough for everyone."

A spokesperson for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, which is part of the partnership, said each PCN was planning vaccination days according to planned deliveries, with some organising them on consecutive days and some aiming to use an entire delivery of vaccines in a day.

South Gloucestershire Council deputy leader Ben Stokes visited West Walk surgery

to thank staff for their work.

He said: “While we must remain vigilant against covid in the coming weeks and months to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities protected, it is wonderful to be able to greet the New Year with the good news that the vaccine is now being given to those most in need.”

The first vaccines administered in the region used the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab also offered from early January.

But the government's decision to delay second doses of vaccinations from three weeks to 12, to ensure more people could quickly receive a first shot, meant that some patients had second appointments cancelled.

The decision to delay is controversial because, while evidence has been found that a longer gap can increase the effectiveness of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca jab, Pfizer says its

Deputy council leader Ben Stokes thanked surgery staff carrying out vaccinations vaccine has only been tested with a 21-day gap.

Each PCN was being given discretion to either honour existing bookings for second doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab or rearrange them for 12 weeks after the first.

Concerns over travel for jabs CONCERNS have been raised over the distances some Yate residents are being asked to travel to have their COVID-19 vaccinations.

While most GP surgeries in the area are vaccinating people at West Walk, patients of Abbotswood Surgery are being asked to travel around six miles to Christchurch medical centre in Downend.

The situation has come about because Abbotswood – which has been closed for 10 months – is part of the Green Valleys health group of surgeries, which is based in Downend and part of that area's primary care network.

South Gloucestershire councillor Claire Young said: “It is unacceptable that elderly and vulnerable people from Yate are being asked to travel to Downend to get their covid vaccine.

"Most people are being offered vaccines locally and it should not be impossible to arrange a system whereby everyone registered with a GP in Yate can get their vaccines in Yate."

Cllr Young also said some residents had received letters from NHS England inviting them to the vaccination centre at Ashton Gate, which made them believe this was the only place they could be vaccinated, whereas they could wait for their GP to invite them.

A spokesperson for the Healthier Together Partnership supervising vaccinations in the area said community transport was available to take people to and from their appointment "at a minimal cost", adding: "This can be arranged through individual GP practices."

"People are welcome to wait for their local GP site to make contact if Ashton Gate Stadium is not convenient," he said.

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February, 2021

n NEWS

More children in schools for lockdown 3

UP to a third of pupils are attending lessons at some schools in the Yate and Sodbury area, as staff, children and parents face new challenges in the third lockdown.

It comes as the amount of home learning organised online for other pupils is stepped up, with more live lessons via video links and increased contact and interaction.

Schools are also organising laptops, through both government schemes and donations, to give to families who do not have the necessary technology.

All the schools that spoke to the Voice reported increases in the numbers of pupils coming in compared with the first lockdown, as the rules allow more key worker families to send children to school and class more as 'vulnerable'.

Maxine Sewell, head teacher at St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Yate, said: “We had requests initially from 106 children (out of 205 on the school roll).

"After making further communications and explanations to parents, we reduced those requests to around 75.

"We are seeing about 60 children in school on average. This is a massive increase compared to the previous lockdown where we were operating with an average of 10 children in total each day.”

At North Road Primary in Yate, a third of pupils are attending, which is also up, and at Iron Acton Primary School there are about 30 children in school on certain days – around 30% of the roll and double the number from the first lockdown.

Different schools are delivering the required hours of education specified by the government in different ways.

Iron Acton Primary is providing live lessons each day, St Paul’s Catholic Primary is doing a mixture of online activities and paper-based work.

North Road Primary is using online learning platforms with daily feedback sessions, and class teachers are teaching two groups each: pupils who are at home, and the children of key workers in school.

Distanced seating for children working at St Paul’s Catholic Primary School Head teacher Sarah Stillie said: “The increased work capacity on the staff team has required a team effort by all members of the school family to make it work successfully.

"I am proud to say that we have a fantastic school team who have risen to every challenge that we have faced and met them together with perseverance and positivity – two of our school values!”

There is still a significant shortage of equipment for those learning remotely.

Residents have donated laptops to North Road Primary, and local charity Acton Aid has offered to pay for two. St Paul’s Catholic Primary has received nine from the government, but needs at least 20 in total.

Iron Acton Primary School has found that some children are unable to attend lessons because working parents need priority access to a shared family device.

Yate Rotary Club is running an appeal to collect laptops and tablets from people who no longer use them, wiping them and donating them to schools.

Despite widespread public concern nationally over the quality of food parcels for children on free school meals, the schools told the Voice they had had no complaints about theirs. At St Paul’s, a link with the charity FareShare, which redistributes surplus food, has enabled the school to run its own foodbank.

Mrs Sewell said: “This service has been in constant use since the beginning of the pandemic and we are regularly providing weekly food parcels to between 15-20 families a week.”

All the schools are however now joining the national voucher scheme, to give parents more dietary choice, and to avoid having to travel to pick up parcels.

The next challenge on the horizon for secondary school leaders is running COVID-19 testing on site for teachers and pupils; the plans for primary schools are currently for testing staff only.

Rotary laptop and tablet appeal: Page 22

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February, 2021

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COVID-19 support groups evolve

ORGANISERS of COVID-19 community groups set up for the first lockdown to help people with essential needs say their role is evolving, as many residents are more confident about how to manage.

For the Yate and Sodbury Neighbourhood Scheme (YSNS), and its affiliated Facebook page Yate & Sodbury Covid19 Help & Support, it’s only now that lockdown is underway once again that people are back shielding or self-isolating, and may ask for help from a Emma Doney is running the Yate and volunteer with shopping or Sodbury Neighbourhood Scheme collecting prescriptions. through a third lockdown.

The conversation on the Facebook group has changed since the pandemic began, with people talking about which shops are open, and sharing local information and advice.

Organiser Emma Doney said: “There have been some really handy hints.

"For example, someone posted about vaccinations in Yate, to suggest that if you’re taking an older person with you, maybe take a portable seat. A couple of the surgeries are really on it and their posts have been shared.”

The administrators on the Facebook group have found that, after so many months of various restrictions due to coronavirus, people have connected and got to know more of their neighbours.

However, during this lockdown, the feeling among its 3,900 members is different.

Emma said: “We notice that people get a lot more anxious and we are there to help and make positive posts and direct people to the community listening group.”

Community listeners are people who volunteered for the role in the first lockdown, who provide support by having a chat on the phone.

The group has around 100 active volunteers, down from 130 in March 2020.

Emma said: “We mapped every single volunteer on Google Maps in lockdown 1 – we’ve got ad hoc volunteers and road volunteers.

"Road volunteers are encouraged to set up a WhatsApp group for that road. We worked with town councils so volunteers are ID checked. People know they are genuine.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer for any role will find more information on the Facebook page by searching for Yate & Sodbury Covid19 Help & Support.

A virtual community drop-in service is also available in the Yate area, run by Abbotswood Action.

People can talk about anything that is on their mind, and it also offers information on support services and volunteering opportunities.

The contact number is 07890 569196, the email is community. aag@gmail.com and the service can be found on Facebook by looking for Abbotswood Action Group.

In Iron Acton, village charity Acton Aid is ready to help people who are poorly, shielding, self-isolating, or just needing a friendly phone call with shopping, collecting prescriptions and transport to vaccination centres. Their helpline is open 24/7 on 01454 300190.

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February, 2021

n NEWS

Bank set to shut BANKING giant HSBC is closing its Yate branch.

The bank in North Walk, in Yate Shopping Centre, will close its shutters for the final time on June 25, with the next nearest branch for customers in Downend, six miles away.

HSBC did not reveal how many jobs would be affected by the closure, and whether staff

The HSBC branch in North Walk, Yate

would be made redundant or redeployed elsewhere within the organisation.

It has told customers that all but one of the 82 branches it intends to close are "within one mile of a Post Office, where customers can carry out day-today transactions".

The global financial firm says it is making the closures "to reflect local market trends, customer behaviour and branch usage".

HSBC UK head of network Jackie Uhi said: "We know there will always be a need for face-to-face customer support and the evolution of our branches very much takes that into account.

"In recent years we have introduced more digital options to make our customers’ lives easier – depositing cheques or putting a temporary block on a card, for example – and we know that

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customers are becoming more comfortable primarily using online and mobile banking to take control of their finances, turning to other channels for very particular interactions.

"Giving more and better options to enable customers to

manage their finances, including self-service, has uncovered a latent demand. The direction of travel is really quite clear and this is borne out by the reduction in branch usage and increase in digital interaction that we are seeing first-hand."

Man chases women

POLICE are investigating after two women were chased by a man hiding in bushes in the middle of Yate.

In two separate incidents, a man who appeared out of the bushes on Kennedy Way, near Tesco, chased after the women until they escaped into the supermarket car park.

The first incident happened on December 1, at about 6.50pm.

The victim did not report it to police until reading of the experience of another woman, who wrote about what happened to her on social media after she was chased on January 15, at about 9.10am.

Both women described the man as balding and in his 40s or 50s. One said he was wearing black trousers and a blue coat. The other woman said he was slim and about 6ft tall.

Police are appealing for anyone who thinks they know who the man is, saw what happened or has dashcam footage to call them on 101, quoting crime reference 5221 011 297. Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A police spokesperson said: “Officers urge anyone who is fearful for their personal safety due to the behaviour of a stranger to head for a busy public area, such as a shop, and call police straight away.”

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021

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n NEWS

Jaxson is home in time for his 4th birthday A YOUNG boy from Yate who has spent weeks in hospital having treatment for leukaemia managed to make it home in time for his fourth birthday.

Parents Mitch Clark and Sophie Kenvin were desperately hoping their son Jaxson would make it back for Christmas, but unfortunately he had had to stay at Bristol Children’s Hospital for a four-week stretch.

Sophie described how she wept as a "very poorly" Jaxson slept in hospital on Christmas Eve. After he arrived home in time for his birthday on January 8, she said: “He finally got home just in time for his fourth birthday.

"Due to being in hospital for Christmas he came home to lots of birthday and Christmas presents. We were so pleased he was finally feeling well enough to tear through them all and have a play with his new toys!

“I know all of his suffering is to help him get better, so that he can enjoy many more Christmases to come.

"I can’t help feeling so upset and sad for Jaxson, we had hoped that he would be home on Xmas day to open his presents.

"We all have to be strong and positive; we are human and everyone needs a shoulder to cry on at times.”

A fundraising campaign set up to support the family, who are struggling financially, has now raised more than £11,400, with nearly 500 people donating.

Yate Town Council Commitment to Action on Climate and Ecological Crisis SINCE making our declaration in response to the Climate and Ecological Crisis and sharing our commitment to action in February 2020, the Town Council is proud to share information about some of the changes we have made since then.

Last year we made a commitment to holding paperless meetings and printing as little as possible. We pushed pause on our plastic usage by introducing new plans to maximize plastic reduction through sustainable purchasing, increasing recycling and getting creative to repurpose the unusual plastics we come across! We asked our partners and hirers to help us at our venues by going plastic free if possible; we introduced new recycling bins in our open spaces and play areas and reviewed waste contracts to ensure as much waste as possible from our bins ends up being recycled.

We saw the light and made a plan to replace all our venue lighting with LEDs and signed up to a Green Energy Tariff. We recycled waste from projects for reuse by our community, including 2.4 tons of bricks from the new play area at Abbotswood, some of which were used to create pizza ovens! We’ve found ecological solutions to maintenance works,

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It was set up by a family friend after Mitch lost his job due to the coronavirus pandemic and the couple were left constantly juggling their lives between shifts at the hospital and looking after Jaxson’s younger sister, Bella, at home.

Sophie said: “We are absolutely amazed how well the GoFundMe page has done.

There are no words that can explain how thankful we are to everyone for all the donations and shares.

"The money has been a massive help with all the travel to the hospital and also allowing Mitch to stay off work for at least the next few months.”

Jaxson is undergoing intense chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a form of cancer affecting the white blood cells, and although his treatment has a high success rate, it will need to continue for 3.5 years.

He was diagnosed in November last year, after he developed a range of symptoms including severe leg pains, a sore throat, nose bleeds and an enlarged thyroid gland on his neck.

To support the online fundraising campaign visit uk.gofundme.com/f/daddywhen-can-i-go-home.

reducing chemicals and introducing environmentally friendly products. We have increased our use of natural materials, planted trees, created new wildflower areas and introduced lovable bug hotels to support our local wildlife and ecology.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic we had a council wide black out, turning down our buildings to minimize use of energy while our teams work from home. We supported the launch of Yate and Sodbury Toy and Activity Bank (follow them on Facebook), repurposing unused toys, games, books and other entertainment items to those experiencing challenging times. We donated surplus food stock from our cafes to food banks, community food projects and stocked up local emergency services with coffee and biscuits to keep spirits high.

But above all, Yate Town Council is looking to the future to protect the environment and reduce our carbon footprint with every task and every decision we make. There is still more to do; we welcome our community to join us and invite you to get in touch if you have ideas or suggestions for us to reduce our community carbon.

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

yate&sodburyvoice

8

February, 2021

n NEWS

Developer changes councillor's mind as refusal overturned CONTROVERSIAL plans for two housing developments, both of which are seen as connecting the village of Engine Common to Yate's "urban sprawl", were discussed at three planning meetings in the space of a week.

PLANS for 89 homes at North Road, Engine Common, look set to go ahead after councillors overturned a decision to oppose them.

But it took four attempts to break a deadlocked vote, at the end of a tense twoand-a-half-hour debate on the proposals, before South Gloucestershire Council’s spatial planning committee eventually resolved by 4-3 votes that the new houses should be allowed, along with the demolition of a historic stone cottage to make way for a junction for the access road to the new estate.

Committee member Roger Avenin abstained during three votes on the application – to approve, to reject and to attach additional conditions – with the others tied at 3-3.

He said he could not decide either way because the pros and cons were evenly

The two controversial housing plans are a few hundred yards apart. A is the Newlands Homes scheme for 89 houses, B is the site of the Redrow site and C is Yate Town FC's ground. balanced, and was adamant that the cottage at 276 North Road should not be bulldozed, despite the fact it could be knocked down

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anyway because it was not a listed building.

Cllr Avenin was finally persuaded to vote in favour after applicant Newland Homes' planning director Tom Sheppard told members that the cottage’s residents were happy to move, and an additional condition was agreed for natural stone to be prominent at the new road’s entrance.

At a previous committee meeting on Friday, January 8, objectors said demolishing the cottage would be an “act of vandalism”.

Councillors heard the field earmarked for the homes, of which 31 would be affordable, had lost its ecological value as a site of nature conservation interest because it was ploughed in 2019 – which did “not show good faith” - but consent had not been required and there was no wrongdoing.

The vote on January 13 reversed a decision by a different set of councillors, on the development management committee, a week previously, who had sided with 85 residents and two parish councils and rejected the plans.

They had been told the plans would exacerbate traffic problems and destroy the village’s identity, turning it into a suburb of Yate.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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February, 2021

n NEWS PLANS for a new housing estate with more than 100 homes near Yate have been rejected after councillors said it would swallow up a village in “urban sprawl”.

Redrow Homes’ proposal to build 118 houses on Iron Acton Way, around three sides of Yate Town Football Club's ground, was thrown out on January 7 by a planning committee, which said it would lead to the village of Engine Common being “subsumed”

by Yate.

But because the vote went against an official recommendation, a final decision was due to be made on January 25 by a higherlevel committee of South Gloucestershire Council.

Now Yate Town has upped the stakes by unveiling development plans it says are dependent on funds from a planning deal with Redrow.

The land is in the countryside outside Yate’s settlement boundary and is not designated for housing, so building on it “conflicts with” council planning policy, the committee heard.

But as national planning policy directs councils to boost the housing supply, the benefits of the scheme “outweigh the harms”, an officer told councillors.

Redrow is promising to make 42 of the homes affordable and has said it will upgrade the floodlights at the football club, upgrade two bus stops on Iron Acton Way,

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Estate would create 'urban sprawl' - but benefit club

What the development site looks like now and provide nearly £1 million for community infrastructure and services.

On January 20 Yate Town FC released plans showing how it wants to build a new multi-function community building, a ‘multiuse games area’ pitch and new car parking layout, to be run by a new charity, Bluebells Community Interest Company.

It says the pitch and outdoor elements of

the proposals are dependent on funding it hopes to secure via developer contributions from Redrow's development.

Club chairman Colin Pick said: “These proposals have been a long time in coming and we’re very excited about them. Our plans include a new community clubhouse, sports bar, gym and function rooms which can be used for a range of different activities.

“The Redrow plans could represent a significant opportunity for the club to secure the funding it needs to help realise these new plans."

Opposition to the application from 84 residents, two local district councillors, Yate Town Council and Iron Acton Parish Council included arguments that the rural character of Engine Common would be ruined by the estate.

Conservative committee member June Bamford said: “We’re going to have Yate, Engine Common and Iron Acton just one long scene of urban sprawl.”

By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

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10

February, 2021

n NEWS

80 years since deadly bombing raid on Yate FEBRUARY marks the 80th anniversary of one of the darkest days in Yate's history, the bombing of the Parnall aircraft factory.

A daylight raid on the previously-untouched factory on February 27 killed 53 people and injured 150 more. Just over a week later, on March 7, the same German bomber returned, bombing the factory again and killing three more people.

Days before the start of the Second World War Luftwaffe reconnaissance planes secretly photographed Parnall's, providing an image of the target to help bomber pilots identify it.

As the main producer of Frazer-Nash gun turrets, used to defend bombers including

the Wellington and Lancaster, Parnall's was an obvious target.

But a total of 19 Luftwaffe raids aimed at the plant between August 1940 and February 22 the following year had all either failed to find the target, aborted their missions or been brought down by air defences.

Workers grew to expect the factory not to be hit, with one saying: "We were under the impression that Germany didn’t know where Parnall’s was."

All that would change on the afternoon of February 27 1941, when a lone Heinkel 111 finally reached Yate and released six delayed action bombs over the works.

Arriving undetected on a cloudy day, the bomber flew in

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The aftermath of the February 1941 raid. Picture: Creda Archive below the range of anti-aircraft guns and its crew described making a shallow dive towards the factory before seeing "our bombs fall into and through the roofs".

Workers described "bullets coming through the roof like hailstones".

As well as 53 workers being killed and 150 injured, considerable damage was caused to the factory and drawing office. However, staff turned up for work the next day and production continued.

But a second raid by the same aircraft on March 7, which claimed the lives of three people including an RAF wing commander sent to assess the damage, led to a complete standstill in operation. A warning siren meant that most

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A gun turret produced by Parnall's. Picture: Creda Archive

staff had got to the shelters this time around.

Production was dispersed to factory sites across the Bristol region - from Dursley, Wickwar and Charfield to Fishponds in Bristol and Melksham in Wiltshire, as well as the Slab Works at Yate - but Parnall's Yate factory was not ready to resume full production until 1944.

After it was rebuilt, 3,500 employees worked to manufacture nose and tail turrets for a number of British bombers, Avro Lincoln and Avro Lancaster bomber parts, Supermarine Spitfire airframes and wing components, and components for the revolutionary Gloster Meteor jet fighter.

Those workers who lost their lives in the two raids were never forgotten by the people of Yate.

A memorial erected in the churchyard of St Mary’s church, and dedicated on February 26, 1950, records the names of all those who lost their lives in the bombings.

Three of them, however, remain unidentified to this day.

Every November the memorial still provides a focus during the town’s Remembrance Sunday service.

This year the pandemic means that no major public event to commemorate the anniversary is possible, but those who died will be in the thoughts of many.

This article has been produced using accounts written

by John Penny, Alison Newey and David Hardill, with thanks to all three.

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021

n NEWS A NEW development that could see 150 homes built on fields behind a village primary school is being planned by a housebuilder.

Parish councillors in Wickwar say they are concerned the village lacks the infrastructure to cope with the new homes, which would be built on land off Inglestone Road if the scheme goes ahead.

Developer Crest Nicholson has been consulting with the parish council and local residents ahead of submitting a planning application to South Gloucestershire Council.

A Crest Nicholson spokesperson said: "We build sustainable communities, so in addition to the 150 high quality, new homes, our proposal includes new habitats for wildlife and the development would deliver a net gain in biodiversity."

In its official response to an early consultation, on the scheme, for which a formal planning application has yet to be made, Wickwar Parish Council states that the village "does not have the infrastructure

yate&sodburyvoice

11

Up to 150 homes could be built behind village school to support yet more housing development".

It has recently had 170 new homes built on two separate sites.

The council says its main concerns are: increased commuting by car for work and services which the village does not have; increased traffic on an inadequate road network; pressure for places at Alexander Hosea Primary School, which is already oversubscribed, and the impact on Little Avon River and Lower Woods Nature Reserve.

It says that for the scheme to be viable the village would need a bypass, a dedicated multi-user path for two miles along the road to Yate, a mini-supermarket, a location for satellite health services, school buses to secondary schools and subsidies to improve public bus services.

The parish council’s stance

is supported by the Wickwar Residents Action Group, which has a website and a Facebook group with close to 250 members.

Crest Nicholson has been carrying out its early consultation since December, leafleting homes and directing people to a dedicated website, inglestoneroadwickwar. The fields that would be built on are behind co.uk.

Alexander Hosea Primary School The parish council has asked for the On its website for the consultation to be extended proposed development, Crest on the grounds that more than Nicholson says it wants to 300 homes in the village have create a "sustainable residential not received leaflets, and that community", including new open it has taken place during Tier 3 spaces and a "greater diversity of restrictions and then a lockdown. habitats".

The developer is due to Hedgerows will be retained, attend the parish council’s online the company says. meeting in February.

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yate&sodburyvoice

12

February, 2021

n NEWS FROM STROUD AUCTION ROOMS

Auctionsonhold-but we'restill hardat work

L

IKE many businesses, Stroud Auctions had high hopes for the New Year, with a two-day auction scheduled for the first week of January. However, the new start we all hoped for has had to be postponed again, due to the government instruction for all auction salerooms to close to the public until further notice.

We take the safety of our customers and staff very seriously, and we decided that the only sensible option was to hold the auction at a later date. We are aware that some auctions have decided to go ahead with the ‘online only’ option, but our professional opinion is that this does not benefit either buyer or seller. We do not think it is fair to proceed with a sale where goods cannot be viewed before the auction or easily collected afterwards, and we especially do not wish to encourage any non-essential travel at such a critical time.

However, we can still offer home visits for all types of valuation, including those for probate purposes – the auctioneer is very careful to adhere to all the social distancing and safety guidelines and comes equipped with mask/ visor, gloves etc.

Don’t forget that Stroud Auctions can also help with house clearances and offer

A Beretta SO3 EL 12 bore over and under shotgun

professional advice on all aspects of the auction process, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our offices are staffed during the usual opening hours and we are answering all emails.

We are also continuing to offer free valuations by email, just send images of your item to valuations@stroudauctions.co.uk and our specialists will come back to you promptly.

We have a small staff working behind the scenes preparing future auctions, the catalogues for these will be online as soon as they are finalised. The catalogue for the next sale can be viewed via our website, where updates will be posted as things evolve over the coming weeks.

The next auction will comprise a very large single owner collection of vinyl records, also musical instruments, medals & militaria, guns and weapons, taxidermy and sporting items.

Guns and weapons specialist Stuart Maule particularly likes Lot 1957, a Beretta SO3 EL 12 bore over and under shotgun, and Lots 1680 and 1681 which are two extremely rare Tell Model 3 air pistols, unusually in 6mm and 6 1/3.

The sale following this will be paintings and pictures, books, ephemera, stamps, toys, ceramics and glass, cameras and binoculars, scientific instruments and weights and scales.

We will then hope to return to our published schedule!

Stroud Auctions would like to extend their best wishes to everyone: stay safe and we hope to see you as soon as it is safely possible.

STROUD AUCTION ROOMS Contact our specialist valuers for a free home visit or email valuations@stroudauctions.co.uk

For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

yate&sodburyvoice

February, 2021

13

n NEWS

Dance school's work through lockdown recognised A DANCE school which has adapted to the lockdown with online classes and workshops has won an industry award.

ROKH Dance, which has branches in Iron Acton, Frampton Cotterell, Wottonunder-Edge and Charfield, was named Dance Company of the Year award in the Corporate Livewire South West England Prestige Awards 2020/21.

The awards aim to recognize small and medium sized businesses which have shown they are the best in their market over.

The judges said they were "impressed with the team’s personal touch, consistency of reviews and community feel".

Kathryn Hurley originally started the company as the Kathryn Hurley Dance Academy, before joining forces with the Ruth Osborne School of Dancing to form ROKH Dance.

Together they are celebrating their combined 50th anniversary

Dancers from ROKH performing just before the first coronavirus lockdown this year, and run 50 classes a week covering a range of dance styles and drama to people of all abilities from children aged two and a half to adults.

Kathryn said: “The feedback from the judges was really lovely, positive and encouraging. The passion for what we do really came across.

"It was a real boost after a tricky year and I dedicate the award to our amazing team of teachers, children and

n PHARMACY NEWS

Getting the NHS care you need on time ONE thing that frustrates members of our community is the hassle of navigating through the NHS to get the care needed quickly.

Systems that were strained before covid are now buckling. How can we all work together to make things better?

Nothing pains NHS professionals more than knowing people cannot reach us for the help we desperately want to provide. This is the reason all of us work so hard, with late working something we all do. It is undoubtedly not more dedication but better solutions that are needed.

Starting the journey right is critical.

I would suggest that anyone who needs to order repeat medication contact their local pharmacy. We all have processes to manage this. Put in a medicine request at least seven days before you run out. If you do run out, don’t panic: speak with your pharmacist, as emergency medicine supply may be possible.

Each year, 650,000 visits to A&E and over 18 million GP consultations could have happened in a community pharmacy instead. If you contact NHS 111 or your GP, you may get a formal referral to a community pharmacy, with your clinical details shared. Pharmacists are trained clinicians, undertaking five years of initial training before qualification.

Experts at identifying the right treatment choice for you and your loved ones, which most of the time will not be a medicine.

Our local NHS is committed to making the most of this broad expertise by allowing pharmacists to issue prescription-only medicines for certain conditions.

At Abbotswood Pharmacy this includes urinary tract infections, impetigo, hydrocortisone and chloramphenicol drops and ointment for children aged under 2.

We agree on a decision together after considering the safest and best option for you.

Abbotswood Pharmacy is part of a local network of NHS Clinicians. You can reach us on 01454 313193.

For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120

families that have supported us throughout this difficult time and continue to do so and keep going.”

Over the past year Kathryn has had to find ways to continue classes through the pandemic.

During lockdowns she has moved from initially using online lessons, activities and workshops to teaching a full timetable of classes via live video.

Kathryn said: “Teaching online has been a massive

learning curve for us all – teachers, students and families alike.

"Our youngsters are the forgotten heroes in the pandemic. The impact lockdown has had on our young students is huge. Their mental and physical health has been massively affected.

“We are hoping that trying to maintain a 'normal' timetable of classes, with additional workshops and 'social' Zoom meetings, provides support and some continuity to our students and their families.”

Students are still working towards exams, something which Kathryn feels is valuable now that academic exams have been cancelled. They are also hoping that an invitation to perform at Disneyland Paris, which was secured through a competitive auditioning process, will go ahead after being postponed from last summer.

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yate&sodburyvoice

14

February, 2021

n RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Ann Murray founded the Cooking4 Cookery School based in Chipping Sodbury. She’s teamed up with Yate & Sodbury Voice to pass on her wealth of experience in the kitchen.

Preserve some sunshine THIS time of the year can be a bit dreary, but in January and February the Seville marmalade oranges are in season. Just the colour of them makes me feel brighter!

Marmalade can be made out of all sorts of citrus fruits and then it can be used in all sorts of recipes, with gammon, duck or even in Chinese pork. It can feature in an orange souffle, pudding or tart.

But if you’re cooking with mar-

malade it has to be the really good stuff - and that means homemade.

It’s time-consuming, so hunker down and allow yourself a whole morning or afternoon, with lots of cups of tea. After all with all the various blooming lockdowns going on, time is something that a lot of us do have.

Basic Recipe for Modern Marmalade Many different types of citrus fruits can be used for marmalade making, but

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the basic method is always the same.

This is my adaptation of the traditional method with a few little shortcuts.

Makes about 7 ½ lb (3 kg) Ingredients: Seville oranges – 1kg 350g (3lb) OR citrus fruit mix of sweet or Seville oranges, lemons or limes, grapefruit or tangerines – 1kg 350g (3lb) (eg about 2 sweet oranges, 2 lemons, 2 Ruby grapefruit).

Extra lemons – 2 Granulated sugar – 2.7 kg (6lbs) Water – 1.6 litres (3 pints) (or 1.45 litres if making the Buck’s Fizz variation – see Cook’s Tips) Here’s what you do: Scrub the citrus fruit being used with sodium bicarbonate.

Halve the fruit and squeeze the juice into a medium saucepan.

Bring the pips and juice to the boil and then simmer for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes pass through a sieve to remove the pips. Make sure you scrape the sieve carefully to get all the sticky residue which contains the pectin necessary for setting. Add this to the juice and put to one side. Bin the pips.

Meanwhile cut the halved fruit again into quarters and put into a large saucepan or preserving pan.

Add 3 pints (1.5 litres) of water. Bring to the boil and then cook on a medium heat for about an hour until the peel is really soft.

Allow to cool, then finely slice the soft peel.

Whilst slicing, put the sugar to warm for about 10 minutes either in a low oven, or on top of the oven, if hot.

Put the warmed sugar, sliced peel and strained pip mixture into the preserving or large pan.

Over a medium heat, and stirring from time to time with a flat-edged wooden spatula, continue to heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Turn up the heat and bring to a fast boil until setting point is reached. Put a small plate in the freezer at this point to test for a set later.

Once it has reached a really fast boil, start timing. The time for setting will vary, but I normally start testing after 25 minutes ‘tho it can take double that!

To test, spoon a little onto the cold plate from the freezer. Leave the plate in the fridge for about 5 mins to allow the marmalade to cool. Then, push the sample with your finger. If it is really wrinkled, it’s set. If not, continue to boil and test every 10 mins until it is set.

(See cook’s tip) Leave for about 15 mins in order for the peel to disperse evenly through the mix.

Whilst that is happening, sterilize the washed jars either by putting in a moderate oven for 5 mins180C, 350F, and gas 4 or put about a couple of inches of water in to each jar and microwave for 2 mins on HIGH. Pour the marmalade, using a funnel and ladle or a jug, into the jars. Seal either with metal lids or cellophane discs and rubber bands. Do this whilst the marmalade is still hot, but leave labelling until completely cold, otherwise the labels won’t stick!

Cook’s Tips: You can decrease the sugar to your own personal taste, but be aware this will increase the time it takes to set the marmalade.

If you are having problems setting your preserve, add the juice of half an extra lemon and continue to boil until set.

An interesting change, for celebrations, is a Buck’s Fizz version, using 1 lb (450g) clementines or satsumas and 2lb (900g) sweet oranges. When measuring the water, take out 150mls.

At the end of cooking, add 4tbsps of inexpensive fizz and 2 tbsps triple sec or orange liquor.

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

yate&sodburyvoice

February, 2021

15

n YATE HERITAGE CENTRE JIM Elsworth, who passed away on New Year’s Eve, was one of the most influential figures in local history in the last 50 years.

He was a great servant to the Chipping Sodbury community during that time, and involved in so many facets of Chipping Sodbury life it will be difficult to do him justice in a relatively short tribute.

Jim had been chair of the Sodbury and District Historical Society since 1979, chair of the Town Lands Charity since the 1980s and an integral part of the Sodbury Festival since the mid 1980s, along with a string of other community roles.

More than anything else, Jim became the voice of Sodbury history and the “go to” historian for local enquiries. His emergence on the Sodbury scene began with Sodbury Historical Society.

Although other local historians, notably Percy Couzens, were involved in setting it up, it was Jim who stepped forward as chairman of the society, blissfully unaware that he would occupy this post for over 40 years.

Although he had a full-time job at Filton, Jim was still able to devote so much time and energy to developing Sodbury Historical Society, building it up from a core of enthusiasts to being the largest history group in the area. Over the decades, the society has regularly attracted over 100 attendees to its Friday night lectures. Much of this success has been down to offering popular speakers and sustaining the base of followers through word of mouth.

As chairman, Jim not only provided interesting speakers for society members, but also brought Sodbury History to life for scores of local groups and individuals.

Initially inspired by a gift of a

A tribute to Jim Elsworth

Jim Elsworth selection of historic slides by the family of local GP Dr Casson, Jim developed a prodigious collection of local images, taken as, or transferred to, slides which he took round to pubs, parish and community halls for over 35 years.

He subsequently transferred these slides to PowerPoint and, during recent coronavirus restrictions, he gave his Changing Sodbury presentations as Zoom talks. Jim calculated that over 40 years, he chalked up over 1,000 talks in the area.

There were myriad permutations of Changing Sodbury as the collection grew to over 4,000 slides, often focusing on local shops, houses or places, while the US Army in Sodbury and Sodbury charities were other popular themes. Every year, from the mid-1980s, Jim delighted audiences with his annual talk for the Chipping Sodbury Festival. As well as lectures, Jim was always

ready and available to lead history walks around Sodbury and elsewhere in the area.

From my own personal view, Jim was both a great source of local knowledge and stories and could always be relied upon for good

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common sense. Throughout 20 years of Yate Heritage Centre, Jim sat on the management committee from 2000 to 2011, and answered scores of my history enquiries.

He was also generous in loaning parts of the Sodbury history collection for our exhibitions and collaborating in numerous history projects, the last of which was the ’Sodbury 800’ exhibition project and event in 2018.

It is difficult to quantify how much someone like Jim Elsworth will be missed. He remained a popular local man to the end, always ready to have a chat in the High Street and, whenever possible, always prepared to offer a history talk or walk for any local group approaching him. From my own experience, having Jim do a talk always added extra “bums on seats”. His easy charm, great knowledge and humour will be remembered for years to come.

David Hardill

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yate&sodburyvoice

16

February, 2021

n LOCAL MP

Thornbury Health Centre plan moves forward

A

S local NHS services lead our fight and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, behind the scenes hard work has continued to put together a strong bid for £13.3 million funding from the Government to redevelop Thornbury Health Centre.

The proposal, submitted to the Department of Health in December, would see a redeveloped Thornbury Hospital site, providing greater primary care and outpatient services, enhanced mental health support, facility housing for the three local Thornbury GP practices, social care and NHS beds and a proactive ‘frailty hub’, which would focus on the elderly community receiving care in their own homes.

This would mean that residents in Thornbury, Yate and the surrounding towns and villages can access the care they need, closer to home and without having to travel outside the area, and helping to relieve pressure on Southmead Hospital.

Our community has been waiting for this to be a reality for far too long.

Therefore, I am pleased to inform Voice readers that I have brought the Health Minister to South Gloucestershire (virtually) and chaired a meeting of all the senior health directors and key decision makers to finally move the redevelopment of Thornbury Health Centre forward.

The meeting was successful, and was a great opportunity to bring the relevant bodies

YATE: 01454 837677

For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120

together to discuss the £13.3m bid and timeline for our Health Centre.

This follows my discussions with Matt Hancock last December and his subsequent pledge for national support to help us deliver it.

If this bid is successful then we will progress to Stage 2, the master planning and outline business case, followed by Stage 3, the full business case completion. This will then mean that we are on track to deliver the health centre in 2024.

If this bid is successful, there will be a clear timeline for Thornbury Health Centre becoming a reality.

I can assure readers that, as we enter 2021, improving our local health services even

Luke Hall MP writes for Yate & Sodbury Voice

further with this vital Thornbury Health Centre is a top priority for our community and remains a steadfast part of our positive plan for South Gloucestershire.

As ever, I will keep you all updated on the progress of this bid and our positive plan for South Gloucestershire.

In the meantime, if you have anything else that you are concerned about then please do not hesitate to get in touch, at luke.hall.mp@parliament.

MOBILE: 07922 069253

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021

yate&sodburyvoice

17

n NEWS

Council investigates developer's gravel road ELDERLY residents at a new housing development cannot put their bins out on collection day because they cannot drag them through the road's gravel surface, it has been claimed.

A councillor has taken up the fight on behalf of the occupants of the small development in Rangeworthy after they complained.

Redmay Grove contains five detached bungalows and lies at the end of a private road off Wotton Road, not far from Rangeworthy village hall.

South Gloucestershire Council granted planning permission for the new homes in 2017, but developer Rangeworthy Management Ltd was required to fulfil a number of conditions.

It had to get its plans for surface water drainage to prevent flooding signed off by the authority before starting to build the bungalows, planning documents show.

And it had to make sure the first 13 metres of the private road were made of a “permeable bound surface” before the first occupants moved in.

But residents say the entire road is still topped with gravel and is almost unusable by wheelchair users, mothers with pushchairs and elderly people with walking aids or trying

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“It’s been brought to my attention that these can cause a number of problems,” she told cabinet members in December.

“And at one such development in Rangeworthy, shortly after the residents moved in, the developer felt the need to change the type of aggregate used because cars and delivery lorries were getting stuck.

“But even with the new aggregate it makes it difficult, verging on impossible, for wheelchairs, pushchairs, bicycles or elderly The access to the development at Rangeworthy residents using walking aids to move over it.

“Some of the residents are over 70 and they simply cannot drag their bins through the gravel for 120 metres to get to a collection to move their bins, says councillor Claire point on bin day.

Young, whose Frampton Cotterell ward “So this surface, while it’s absolutely includes the village. permeable, is clearly not suitable as a surface The council is investigating a possible for a development like this.” breach of planning conditions, a spokesman The council said it was investigating said. a possible breach of planning conditions Cllr Young said developers sometimes related to the surfacing. use gravel as a “cheap” way to meet drainage A spokesperson said: “We are currently requirements on private roads in new investigating the matter in the normal way developments. and our planning enforcement team will be The Liberal Democrat told members considering if there is any action which needs of the council’s ruling Conservative to be taken forward with the developer.” administration that aggregate top surfaces, while suitable for drainage purposes, were

By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy not necessarily suitable from a user's point Reporting Service of view.

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18

February, 2021

n PETER'S VISION

Caring for your eyes reduce dramatically when concentrating. My top tip here is to start blinking each time you make a repetitive action, whether for example it’s turning the page of a book or clicking send on an email. The momentary pause whilst waiting for something to happen that doesn’t require our immediate attention (unlike a young family member who’s accidentally pressed delete on their school work!), means that we can re-learn to blink and at the same time, not miss anything important. That’s a win win in my book.

Oh and thanks to cloud computing, I can be super Dad just now and again by recovering pages of seemingly lost work from the ether at the click of a button. I’m sure in no time at all the children will realise how easy document recovery is, but for now and while they're young I’ll enjoy my brief moment of glory thanks!

Another tip is to keep your glasses clean for those long hours

AS we’re in lockdown (again) I thought that I’d write about the things you can do to look after your eyes from the safety (and comfort I hope!) of your own homes. I’ve been reading with interest how fellow eye care professionals across the globe have been caring for their patients. I’ve been pleased to note that we compare very favourably with some of our good and well respected colleagues.

For your eyes, I’ll start with the basics. Please drink a good amount of water. Every day. It’s easy even for us to miss this one, particularly on the days we’re home schooling! Drinking water as well as eating a balanced diet that includes oily fish or plant based omega oils, helps ensure we have the ingredients needed for a good tear film. When we blink, our glands are then able to release good quality tears to freshen the surface of our eyes.

On to blinking. Our research shows that our blink rate can

on the computer, whether in work or at home. It may sound obvious, but please, if your glasses have a fancy high tech lens surface (as ours do), don’t just reach for a convenient item of clothing or tissue. It is important to use a quality microfibre lens cloth - these are designed to gently lift particles off your lenses, not smear them further as items of clothing do!

Don’t forget, we’re still here when you need us, for eye care, advice, glasses & contact lenses, six days of the week. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to see how we can help you.

Times are tough for many of us, and as a thank you for choosing us for your eye care we’re offering to help you in return with a glasses voucher with your extended eye exam. Just ask about our look in to help out offer.

To help us keep you all safe, we’re still asking you all to telephone first to book a time to come in. Please call our Henleaze

practice on 0117 962 2474 or our Fishponds practice on 0117 965 4434.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Peter

Peter Turner is a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, and also works part time as a Senior Optometrist at the Bristol Eye Hospital.

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yate&sodburyvoice

February, 2021

n NEWS Appeal over sex assault POLICE are calling on the public to help an investigation into a serious sexual assault.

A woman in her 40s reported being assaulted in a white van on a road or lay-by between Yate and the M5, sometime late on Boxing Day morning, but was unsure of the exact location of the attack.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Maureen Kent said it was most likely to have been in the area between Engine Common, Rangeworthy, Cromhall, Leyhill and Tortworth.

She said: “Have you found any women’s clothing discarded in these areas since Boxing Day? Did you see a white van parked in a road or lay-by around the time of the incident?"

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote crime reference number 5220 288 541.

A 59-year-old man has been arrested and released on bail while further enquiries take place.

19

Pubs fined for covid breaches

More Metro Mayor candidates unveiled

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council says it has supported enforcement action against two pubs found to be operating during Tier 3 COVID-19 restrictions which required them to close.

The authority said it has worked with police to issue fines to the managers of Ye Olde Inn in Westerleigh and the White Swan in Downend after we received complaints that people were drinking inside both pubs.

In both cases, the council says the managers had received fixed penalty notices and had been asked to leave by the licence holders.

Paul Hughes, chairman of the council’s regulatory committee, said: “The activity at both these pubs was not in line with the rules and risks spreading the virus further in the community.

We will not tolerate this.”

TWO major parties have announced their candidates to stand in May's West of England mayoral elections.

Current Metro Mayor Tim Bowles, the first person to hold the position created in 2017, announced last year that he was retiring from politics.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have already selected former MPs as their candidates to replace Conservative Mr Bowles.

Now the Greens have announced that Jerome Thomas, the deputy leader of the party’s opposition group on Bristol City Council, will contest the election for them.

He has pledged to make "well-paid green jobs, affordable warm homes and low-carbon green transport" his priorities.

Shortly before Christmas the Conservatives announced that Samuel Williams would be their candidate for the Metro Mayor election.

Samuel, the founding director of communications firm Hodos Consultancy who lives in South Bristol, was previously his party's candidate for the Bristol mayoral election, campaigning on a platform to scrap the mayoral role entirely in the city.

Last year the Voice reported that former Chipping Sodbury School pupil Dan Norris, who represented Wansdyke and was a minister in Gordon Brown's government, had been selected as the Labour candidate, while ex-Bristol West MP Stephen Williams, who was a minister in the coalition government from 2010-15, had been chosen by the Lib Dems.

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20

February, 2021

n NEWS GEORGINA Moore's work in accessible sport has brought her national recognition and seen her meet some massive stars.

But the coronavirus pandemic has meant Georgina, who has a severe physical disability, has had to shield at home for most of the past year.

The GEM Boccia club she set up at Yate Leisure Centre won her a BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero award in 2019.

After meeting stars including Gary Lineker and Sir Chris Hoy at the televised awards, she then sang with childhood pop idol Rick Astley on a charity single.

However the lockdown means GEM Boccia has had to suspend sessions, and other activities Georgina enjoyed have also been cancelled Through it all she has had one constant companion to help her through – her assistance dog, Tally.

Georgina says that Tally, a seven-year-old black Labrador, "makes all the difference" to what can be a frustrating and isolating life.

After growing up in Frampton Cotterell, Georgina moved to

“No job too big or small”

Four-legged friend helps Georgina through pandemic Georgina Moore with her assistance dog, Tally.

Chipping Sodbury four years ago, when she had secured funding to enable her to live independently with the help of carers.

She’s in a support bubble with her parents, but Tally is her companion. After spending over

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five years together, it’s Tally who has kept her motivated to go out for a daily dog walk during the months of the coronavirus pandemic, and who sits with her when she’s crafting.

Tally came from the charity Dogs for Good and is the second dog Georgina has had from them. As puppies, assistance dogs spend a year with a family being socialised and having basic training, before returning to the charity for more intense, taskbased training.

The dog meets its potential owner to ensure they have compatible personalities, then, if it’s a good match, training is adapted to the owners’ specific needs.

Georgina said: “Tally is a lively young dog but they knew I would get on well with her, because my life is quite active

and busy. If you were someone that had a lot of down time then they would match you with a more docile dog.

“Tally picks things up when I drop them and placed them on my lap. She gets the post and brings it to me (sometimes gets a little excited and it gets half eaten!). She opens and closes doors. She pulls off my socks and clothing. She can bark on command to get attention. She can also press buttons such as those on lifts.

Tally has also increased Georgina's confidence.

She was previously shy and didn’t speak to strangers, but says: “Now I’m more than happy to chat to anyone who stops me.

“Ultimately it is having the company of a dog that makes all the difference to what can be a frustrating and isolating life. I couldn’t imagine my life without them now. I’d be a much more lonely and unhappy person!”

Dogs for Good is so inundated with requests that it isn’t currently taking any new applications for assistance dogs for adults with physical disabilities.

It receives no government funding and to train a dog costs tens of thousands of pounds.

However, it prioritises existing clients because an assistance dog has become part of their lives.

You can sponsor a puppy or donate to Dogs for Good at www.dogsforgood.org

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February, 2021

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21

n MOTORING

A guide to pre-owned cars with Richard Cooke

Second-hand Style Bertone Beauty

I

SHOULD probably be on a diet.

I definitely should do more exercise.

I blame this perennial problem on the creeping onset of middle age, or a slowing metabolism. Both are lame excuses.

Car manufacturers also wheel out reasons why their products are getting bigger and chubbier.

This includes enhanced safety systems, stiffer bodyshells, four wheel drive transmissions and automatic gearboxes. Extra weight is inefficient though – I know this each time I try to stagger up a hill on my irregular runs.

Alfa Romeo learnt the lesson when they teamed up with GM to build the fat, sluggish 159.

The chassis suffered from some unsightly love handles that the gorgeous bodywork struggled to contain. That sleek body was also writing all sorts of cheques the asthmatic engines couldn’t ever hope to cash. The result, back in 2005, was a car far too slow, thirsty and underpowered.

Today things are better thanks to turbocharging, but the trend for SUVs means more power and fuel consumption, rather than less weight. Alfa is as stuck in the Crossover SUV rut as everyone else.

Worse still, they don’t even have a competitor for the German coupes from BMW (4 series) Audi (A5) and Mercedes. What if you, the savvy used car buyer, could get hold of a lightweight, practical Alfa coupe, and all for very little cash? Enter the stunning Alfa GT.

The GT was based on the flyweight 147 and 156 when it came out in 2003. It weighed around 1,300kg whilst still offering seating for four and a large boot.

My test car is the 2.0 ‘JTS’ petrol, good for 165hp and about 135mph. 0-60 is in the mid 8 seconds, but it feels faster somehow. I think this is because the engine just wants to rev the whole time, aided by a slick (but long-throw) 5 speed manual gearbox.

JTS is Alfa-hokum for Direct Injection. In 2003 this was big news, as by directly injecting petrol into the cylinders manufacturers hoped to achieve lower emissions and fuel consumption and higher power. Today direct injection is everywhere, and does produce real fuel and emission benefits.

Typically Alfa only succeeded in producing more power (the JTS engine is up 15hp on the previous Twin Spark).

No matter – the engine is a peach. The Bertone-designed body looks fabulous. Even better, prices start low: a pristine 2.0 won’t cost more than £5k. The 3.2 V6 is already up at £10k, and has ‘classic’ written all over it.

That’s the good news. The bad is that GTs are at least 11 years old now, and all will be knee deep in a perpetual cycle of repair.

An industry friend summarised the issue neatly to me years ago: A 50k mile Alfa should be approached with the caution you would have for another car with

double that mileage. Maybe it’s a good lockdown purchase then?

You can look at it without having to add any miles!

The GT buyer’s checklist includes: 1) Cambelt change intervals (every 36k miles). £500, and do the fragile water pump at the same time. 2) Oil burn – normal but assume 1 litre per 1k miles, check and top up with the good (and therefore expensive) stuff. 3) Suspension. Made from finest Italian chocolate, it will need constant attention. 4) Clutch health. A replacement requires the gearbox to come out, costing at least £1k. 5) The JTS eats ignition coil packs for fun; easy to replace but not cheap at £100. Not funny either, when they only last 30k miles.

Buying a GT is an exercise in

due diligence. Look for a car with a history file that needs its own chapter headings and index. The seller must convince you they’ve not just maintained the car, but loved it. Otherwise you could be stumbling into someone else’s money-pit. Get a good one, though, and you won’t want to let it go. Today Alfa don’t offer anything with such a perfect, low-set driving position, naturally aspirated rev-hungry engine and lightweight chassis. You can have it all for less than the cost of a leasehire deposit.

What to pay: Alfa GT 2.0 JTS 2003 – 2010; £3k - £5k

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yate&sodburyvoice

22

February, 2021

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club's community group takes root AT the end of 2020 the club agreed to establish a local community group.

The group will identify individual projects and we hope to attract local friends and members of the community to help us to execute these projects.

The group got off to a flying start at the end of December with its first project – tree planting.

We managed to plant some 400 new trees near Brimsham Green School and in Pucklechurch. We are now looking to identify the next area for tree planting in the coming months.

Anyone wishing to join our Community Group can contact the club by email at csrotaryapplication@gmail.com.

Before Christmas we were delighted to help Dan and Aimee

Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club's new community group planting trees in late December. Picture: Doug Lodge Waters at Family Food4Free to distribute food hampers to those in need in the local community. Dan

and Aimee continue to provide a great service to those in need of help.

In January the club participated in a quadrilateral meeting via Zoom with our twinned Rotary Clubs in Toulon (France), Mannheim (Germany) and La Spezia (Italy). This provided an opportunity to share experiences through the COVID-19 Pandemic and ideas for the future. We hope to be able to host a visit of the three other clubs later this year, should covid-related restrictions ease sufficiently.

Despite the current lockdown the club is determined to continue to function, helping wherever we can to provide support in the local community and further afield.

And of course we continue to rely on our friend Zoom to sustain effective club communications.

Stuart Fraser

Yate Rotary Club laptops and tablets appeal IT has been much publicised in the media in the last few weeks that many of our school children are unable to access their online lessons, either to learn or to submit their work, or to conduct research on the internet, because they have no computer at home.

Our schools are doing a fantastic job, somehow managing to teach the children of key workers who have to be in school and, at the same time, providing a curriculum online for the children who are home-schooling.

There must be many people in our community who have recently upgraded their home computers, or indeed their office computers, and now have unused laptops or

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n AVON & SOMERSET POLICE ON KNIFE CRIME

Knife crime: A new way forward

I THINK it’s fair to say that the past year has been full of ups and downs and has left many of us wondering where our ‘normal’ life went. 2020 challenged all of us in so many ways and this was especially true for us in the police, as we adapted quickly to new legislation to help manage the Coronavirus pandemic, and had to juggle this alongside our normal day to day duties to keep our communities safe.

Whist the pandemic did mean some types of crime such as burglary and road traffic incidents reduced temporarily, other crime types, particularly those which affect the most vulnerable members of our community such as domestic abuse, did unfortunately increase.

Despite the added pressure the pandemic has brought to our service, we haven’t taken our foot off the pedal when it comes to keeping our young people safe. Last year, we ran a successful project with a number of schools in Avon and Somerset which led to the creation of short, animated films exploring issues around knife crime.

The films, produced by secondary school aged children in partnership with students at UWE Bristol, are all original and thought provoking, and explore a range of themes such as the role of social media, bullying, speaking out if you suspect someone is carrying a knife,

By Sergeant

Terry Murphy

and the cyclical, retaliatory nature of knife crime. The films can all be viewed at www.avonandsomerset.police. uk/knifecrime and are a great starting point for conversations with young people about serious violence.

Some of the young people involved in the above films also made a documentary, in partnership with a local film maker, which explores how agencies must work together and listen to young people if we are to break the cycle of violence and calls for sustained, long term investment in youth services.

The film, called Knife crime: A new way forward, can also be viewed via the link above.

No matter where they lived and went to school, the young people involved in this project told us time and time again that their main concerns were the lack of safe spaces for them to go to and their need for trusted adults to speak to.

It’s no secret that engaging young people in activities that interest them ais a successful way to divert them

away from crime and anti-social behaviour and we’re thrilled that our successful Crime Prevention Through Sport initiative has received the funds needed to continue throughout 2021.

We have partnered with Somerset Active Sports Partnership (SASP) and West of England Sports (Wesport) who will help us to manage and administer the fund, meaning we benefit from their expertise and can join up with partners to ensure the smooth delivery of sporting activities for young people which will help to divert them away from unfavourable behaviours and into more positive and beneficial activities.

In Yate and Chipping Sodbury, the restrictions in place as a result of the pandemic have presented us with a challenge when it comes to supporting children and young people, with many schools, youth clubs and other spaces where we would usually have the opportunity to engage with them shut, or limited in the access they can offer.

However, as the vaccine is rolled out and the restrictions slowly start to ease, we hope to start going back into schools to give talks about knife crime and online safety.

As we move into 2021, we remain committed to working with our local communities to find opportunities to support young people and to help to keep them safe.