Yate & Sodbury Voice October 2021

yate&sodburyvoice www.yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

October, 2021 Issue 78

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Anyone for table tennis?

Tribute to Shirley A FAMILY has paid tribute to a woman who died after the mobility scooter she was riding was involved in a collision with a car in Yate.

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Nursery 'inadequate'

This all-weather permanent outdoor table tennis table is the main attraction among a host of new outdoor facilities for pupils at St Paul's Catholic Primary School in Yate. Full story: Page 7

'Appalling' charges must stop A CALL has been made for "extremely unfair" maintenance charges paid by owners of new homes to be abolished.

Yate councillor Mike Drew says the annual ‘estate charges’ for the upkeep of outdoor communal areas, such as roads, footpaths, green spaces and play areas are "appalling".

The fees cannot be challenged and there are no

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legal restrictions on what can be charged.

Mr Drew is calling for communal areas in all new estates, such as Ladden Garden Village in the town, to be adopted by the local authority so residents no longer have to pay what critics have called "fleecehold" charges.

Full story: Page 4

THE owner of a Yate nursery says she is devastated at being given an 'inadequate' rating by Ofsted, after a child escaped.

PAGE 3

Mum makes Ms GB final A MUM-of-two from Yate says she is delighted to have finished in the top five of the Ms Great Britain contest.

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Council funds patrols A PARISH council paid for extra security patrols when police were unable to attend a Yate park affected by anti-social behaviour.

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November deadline Our November edition deadline is October 13.

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Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in Yate & Sodbury Voice, contact the publisher using the details below. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

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October, 2021

n NEWS

Woman dies after scooter crash A FAMILY has paid tribute to a woman who died after the mobility scooter she was riding was involved in a collision with a car in Yate.

Shirley Meaden, 83, suffered critical injuries in the collision, which happened on Westerleigh Road on the morning of August 29. She died of her injuries later that day.

Avon and Somerset police released a tribute from her family, who said: "In memory of Shirley Meaden: mother of Mark and Shirley Meaden Maurice and grandmother to James, Tom, Maddison, Amber and Liam.

"To a lady that had endless giving in any way she could help, from sewing to shopping and just being a friend.

"She will be missed by people from all walks of life.

"Good night, God Bless Mum." A police spokesperson said: "Specialist officers continue to offer support to Shirley’s family.

"Enquiries into the incident are ongoing."

Anyone with information about the collision should call 101 and quote the incident reference number 5221 199 643.

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October, 2021

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Nursery rated inadequate after child escapes THE owner of a Yate nursery says she is devastated at being given an 'inadequate' rating by Ofsted, after a child escaped.

The education watchdog said children's health and safety was "significantly compromised" at Moringa Day Nursery, in Stanshawes Court Drive.

Owner Cindy-Leigh Fassler, who opened the nursery in 2019, said the incident had happened when the child pushed through a 15cm (about 6in) gap between a fence and the side of the building.

She said the issue had been rectified and the nursery had since been given a positive rating in a South Gloucestershire Council safeguarding audit.

Ofsted visited the nursery, which has 63 children aged up to four on its roll, in the summer.

While ratings for quality of education and children's behaviour were both 'good', inspector Kelly Sunderland gave the nursery 'inadequate' ratings in two other categories: personal development, and leadership and management.

The inspector's report said: "The provider has not taken appropriate action to ensure the nursery is fully secure after a child managed to escape from the nursery. Risk assessments completed by staff are not effective and do not minimise all risks to children.

"The provider has not ensured that the outdoor area is secure enough to prevent children being able to get out to the nursery car park unattended.

"While the provider has put some measures in place, these are insufficient, as children can still access the side of the building without being seen by staff."

In other areas the report was far more positive.

The inspector said: "Children are happy and settled within the nursery.

"They have developed close bonds with staff, and babies seek out staff for cuddles.

"Children behave well. Staff remind children of the rules within the nursery and are attentive to children's needs.

"Staff have high expectations of children and challenge them well in their learning."

“Partnerships with parents are positive. Parents value the care and education their children receive. They comment that their children enjoy their time at the nursery and that the staff are friendly and welcoming.”

Ms Fassler said action had been taken to block the gap where the child escaped immediately afterwards.

She said: “We blocked it off with a pallet and other obstacles but the inspector thought it wasn’t sufficient, because someone could still come through the site.

"We rectified the problem within 24 hours of her visit, with a pole and a massive plank attached to the side of the building, so there is now no way that anyone, no matter how large or small, could get through.”

Ms Fassler said the nursery had been working "very closely" with South Gloucestershire Council since the inspection.

She said: “They come in every couple of weeks to make sure that we are hitting our targets.

“We managed to stay open throughout the pandemic and are pretty much full all the time, so to have such an incident happen was truly devastating.

"And despite the Ofsted report, we are so grateful that our parents have stood by us and have been to see what the problem was and have expressed disbelief that that is why we got the rating we did.”

A further inspection will be carried out by Ofsted in December.

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October, 2021

n NEWS

Call for end to 'unfair' new home charges COUNCILLORS have called for "extremely unfair" maintenance fees charged to new homeowners to be abolished in South Gloucestershire.

Mike Drew, the Liberal Democrat member for Yate North, said the estate charges for owners of new-build homes were “appalling” and asked at a public meeting what the local authority was doing to stop the practice.

Freehold and leasehold owners of homes in new housing developments such as Ladden Gardens in Yate are increasingly having to pay annual ‘estate charges’ - dubbed "fleecehold" charges by critics – for the upkeep of communal areas, such as roads, footpaths, green spaces and play areas.

Councils traditionally adopted new housing developments and maintained the common areas as part of the services funded by council tax.

But increasingly developers keep possession of the communal areas and hire a private maintenance firm, or sell off contracts to them, to keep them tidy and functional.

There is no restriction on what companies can charge, and the estate charges – also called ‘maintenance fees’ or ‘rent charges’ – can rise year on year.

There is also no legal recourse for

homeowners to challenge the fees, as the obligation to pay is written into their property deeds.

Homeowners – even freehold owners who own their home and the land it is built on – must pay the estate charge as well as paying council tax.

Cllr Drew told the South Gloucestershire strategic sites delivery committee: “It is extremely unfair because there’s absolutely no control on the amount that the developers can charge.

"Some of these people on my estates are paying more in their estate management fees than they are paying the town council in council tax – and the town council does far more than an estate management [company].

“It’s appalling that we are allowing this to happen in our areas.”

Council solicitor Tonya Meers told the meeting in late August that the council has no control over what management companies charge and it was a matter between the developer and the homeowner.

She said legal agreements signed off by the council require developers to put in place a system for managing public open spaces within a new housing development.

Emersons Green Conservative councillor

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Mike Drew called the charges "appalling".

Colin Hunt, who chairs the committee, said he would make enquiries about whether the council had raised the matter with the Government.

Campaign group Home Owners Rights Network (HorNet) says tens of thousands of households are subject to the charges.

It is calling on councils to adopt new housing developments and for the law to change to protect homeowners from the charges.

By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

October, 2021

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Yate mum makes Ms Great Britain finals

A MUM-of-two from Yate says she is delighted to have finished in the top five of the Ms Great Britain contest.

It was the first time Nicola Clancy had entered a beauty pageant and she decided to do it on the spur of the moment.

Nicola, who runs her own wedding hairdressing business, was chosen to represent the Bristol region in the finals, which took place in Leicester on September 17 alongside the Miss Great Britain contest.

Nicola, who is 42, said: w "The Ms Great Britain title is a category for the more mature women, so it gives us slightly older ones a chance to compete and do the same things as the younger ones who are in the Miss Great Britain competition.

"At first I decided to enter and not tell anyone. I was putting myself in at the deep end but thought 'why not'?

"I saw the details on

Nicola Clancy with her son Lewis at the Ms Great Britain finals Instagram and the closing date was the following day, so I applied. I was told I would hear within a week but a day later it was confirmed that I had been accepted as a finalist so I was in!”

Nicola believes society has moved on from the days when

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beauty competitions were accused of exploiting women.

She said: "In the age group I am in, it is more acceptable these days to wear swimwear and I certainly don’t feel uncomfortable.

"Maybe in the past my

grandparents would have objected but I think people adapt and move on with the times.

"Its not just stage presence and a pretty face. It’s about charity, publicity, interviews and a press conference."

The finals consisted of interviews and a cocktail dress round followed by swimwear and ballgowns. Nicola, who adopted Cancer Research as her charity, was accompanied to the finals by her 11-year-old son Lewis, and says he enjoyed the experience.

She said: "You could see how proud he was, and he cheered his mum on!

"I am also proud of myself, because I was competing against women who have done this for many years and I’ve met so many lovely people."

Nicola is now concentrating on her business, which is booming as weddings which were cancelled during lockdown are "coming thick and fast".

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

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October, 2021

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Row intensifies after alpaca killed AN alpaca at the centre of a legal battle over animal disease testing has been killed - but protests over the government's handling of his case have become louder.

Government vets accompanied by police went to the farm in Wickwar where Geronimo was being held in quarantine and took him away in a horsebox on August 31.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs later said that the alpaca had been put down, in accordance with a court warrant issued following the end of a four-year fight by owner Helen Macdonald to prove that Geronimo did not have bovine tuberculosis (bTB).

Defra's action to put down the animal, four days before the deadline for executing the court warrant expired, and the rough handling of Geronimo by the team sent to her farm was described as "thuggery" by Helen, who had been trying to persuade Environment Secretary George Eustice and Prime Minister to look into the effectiveness of testing policy, using him as a case study.

Afterwards she said she felt "betrayed"

by Defra's actions, accusing the government department of "using bully-boy tactics" when they could be learning lessons.

Helen, who argued the original tests which

Helen Macdonald with Geronimo shortly before he was killed. found Geronimo had bTB were flawed, said: "We offered them a research opportunity and they have just fobbed us off.

"We've had police and drones and God knows what here today to remove a perfectly healthy animal."

Afterwards Helen attended a protest in London and called on Mr Eustice to resign.

Naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham was among those to publicly condemn Defra's handling of the case.

A row over the post-mortem examination

erupted after Defra said veterinary pathologists from the Animal and Plant Health Agency "found a number of TB-like lesions".

Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said they were "undergoing further investigation," adding: "These tests include the developing of bacteriological cultures from tissue samples, which usually takes several months - we would expect to complete the full post-mortem and culture process by the end of the year."

But Helen's veterinary scientific adviser Dr Iain McGill says the results released to date suggest Geronimo was free of the disease, saying there were "no typical lesions" of bTB. Helen is calling on the government to disclose more information from the postmortem examination as well details of where, how and when Geronimo was put down.

She said: “The government continue to make this as distressing and as difficult as possible for everyone concerned. They are using every tactic they can to prevent any disclosure, and indeed any closure for myself and everyone who was campaigning to save Geronimo’s life and improve bovine TB policy."

Yate Town Council Update Yate Ageing Better Festival Thursday 30th September 2021

2 Minute Litter Picking Board We are excited to be a part of this growing initiative. The free to use 2 minute litter pick stations are designed to encourage people to take just 2 minutes out of their day to help reduce litter. Equipped with hand sanitiser and reusable collection bags, simply pick up a grabber and a bag and return the

equipment once you’ve finished your pick and deposit the litter in the nearest bin.

Take a picture of your haul and post on social media using the #2minutelitterpick to encourage others to get involved.

For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120

The Yate Ageing Better Festival is taking place on Thursday 30th September at three of Yate Town Council venues, the Pop Inn Café, The Armadillo and Yate Heritage Centre, as well as in the open space in Yate Shopping Centre.

The Festival will showcase what recreational, sporting, educational and volunteering activities are available in Yate and the surrounding area, for people nearing retirement and beyond.

It will also be a great opportunity to promote the Town Council facilities.

A wide variety of community

groups will be available to chat to interested parties, with stalls within and outside our venues and in the shopping centre to show the great variety of activities and opportunities that are available.

Musical performances will be held inside and out, to draw interest, giving a festival atmosphere and also giving an opportunity to find out more about joining singing and musical groups.

A short ceremony is also planned to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Pop Inn Café.

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

yate&sodburyvoice

October, 2021

7

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Police cars rammed

School takes lessons outside

POLICE are still trying to trace the occupants of a car which rammed police vehicles in Yate then drove dangerously for at least four miles before disappearing.

An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said the incident started shortly after 2.30pm on September 6, when officers spotted a wanted man in a car on Westerleigh Road in Yate.

The silver Seat Leon then rammed two police cars before driving off at speed.

The spokesperson said: "It was then driven dangerously on the A4174 towards Keynsham, colliding with a number of vehicles and driving the wrong way around a roundabout.

"Additional units were deployed and pursued the vehicle for a short distance before losing sight of it.

"The police helicopter was also called in to assist in the search but they were unable to locate it."

People on social media reported seeing the car undertaking traffic on the ring road using a lay-by near the Bristol and Bath Science Park before driving the wrong way around the Siston Hill roundabout near Mangotsfield.

The car was later seen in Kingswood.

Police have not revealed the identity of the man they are looking for but say he is wanted on recall to prison.

The spokesperson added: "Thankfully, we’ve not had reports of any vehicles being significantly damaged or anyone sustaining any significant injuries.

"Enquiries to locate the driver of the vehicle and the wanted man are ongoing."

Police have called on witnesses who have not yet come forward or anyone with information about the occupants to call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5221 206 396.

A YATE primary school is sending children out of class – to have more fun outdoors.

St Paul's Catholic Primary School in Sundridge Park worked over the summer to give pupils more opportunities for working and playing outdoors as part of its covid recovery strategy.

The school has The outdoor classroom at St Paul's updated its Key Stage One playground with new fitness trails and activities for both structured lessons and free play during break times.

Head teacher Maxine Sewell said: "We are developing an outdoor classroom as a base for forest school activities and also a space for quiet reflection.

"The logs in the log circle are repurposed from trees that had to be taken down in the school in the summer.

"Most of all we are excited about the installation of an all-weather permanent outdoor table tennis table. This was donated and installed by a former member of staff.

"We are extremely grateful for this generous gift to the school. It’s a wonderful resource that few other schools have access to and is a wonderful addition to our outdoor provision.”

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Parish paid for security patrols at park A PARISH council paid for extra security patrols in a Yate park after complaints over anti-social behaviour and drug dealing.

Details of the problems faced by residents living near Lilliput Park and the limited resources facing police were discussed at a meeting of the Yate Area Community Engagement forum in September.

Dodington ward South Gloucestershire and parish councillor Louise Harris said she was writing to Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford to call for more resources to be directed to policing the area in the light of the problems at the park, off Kennedy Way. She said: "I've had a huge amount of people contact me, with a lot of complaints about drinking, drug taking and noise.

"Dodington Parish Council paid for extra security patrols when police couldn't cover it over the last bank holiday weekend.

It meant residents were paying twice to police their area but I felt it was the least we could do."

The meeting heard that, while the neighbourhood policing team dealt with calls when they were on duty, they could not be available around the clock.

A response team of four officers based at Chipping Sodbury police station was on duty 24 hours a day - but the meeting heard that the area they had to cover had recently been extended beyond the South Gloucestershire boundary to include several areas of East Bristol, including Fishponds and Eastville, where there is a bigger population and more demand for police attendance.

Neighbourhood constable Angharad Baynham told the meeting other neighbourhood teams were available when Yate officers were not working and urged people to carry on reporting every incident, saying: "Every call is important so we

can show officers where it is happening."

Cllr Harris reinforced the point, saying: "It's no good just putting it on Facebook or Nextdoor."

The meeting heard two areas where police had been taking action were e-scooters and antisocial drivers.

Neighbourhood constable Sean White said people riding privately-owned electric scooters, which are currently illegal on all roads, paths and public spaces, were being stopped when police saw them.

He said: "A lot of people don't know that they're illegal and at the moment the directive is to educate - but we record their details and give them a warning.

If they get caught another time we can take formal action."

This can include prosecution and seizure of the e-scooter.

As well as a recent operation against speeding drivers in Scott Way, reported in last month's

Louise Harris Voice, police had also targeted Shire Way, Station Road and Ladden Garden Village, where one driver was visited at home by police after complaints about a loud "popping" exhaust.

The Voice has contacted the PCC and Avon & Somerset police for comment on the changes to response officers' areas.

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Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

yate&sodburyvoice

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October, 2021

West Walk's big walk

School path to move

STAFF at a Yate surgery completed a gruelling challenge to raise money for a cancer charity.

The 15 members of West Walk Surgery, including the GPs, practice manager, clinical pharmacist, health care assistant, care navigators, secretary and research nurse trekked for 26 miles across the hills of the Wye Valley for their charity of the year, Macmillan Cancer Support. The team have so far raised £6800 from their walk and money is still coming in.

Practice Manager Victoria Hawkins said: "I'd like to thank the West Walk Surgery team in completing the walk for such a worthy cause and the kind patients of the surgery who have sponsored them.

The team's fundraising page is still open for donations at justgiving.com/team/teamwestwalk

A PUBLIC footpath which has run through a Yate primary school playground for up to 50 years is being diverted on safeguarding grounds.

St Mary’s CE Primary School in Church Road received planning permission last year to install a security fence with the intention of having the route changed to run around the edge of the site, a council meeting heard.

But the work was finished quicker than expected and it could no longer use the planning process, so it applied to the local authority under its highways powers.

South Gloucestershire Council's public rights of way and commons registration sub-committee has now issued an order to divert the footpath.

Members heard this was formalising what had been the situation on the ground for many years.

Officers told the meeting on September 9 that a 63-metre section of the route had cut through the grounds since at least the 1990s, and probably since the school was built 20 years earlier.

However, it had long been unusable because of a dense hedge and a chain-link fence on Church Road, as well as a low-level picket fence in the school grounds.

The diversion will take the public footpath down School Road cul-de-sac from the school entrance, through the edge of the adjacent car park and onto Church Road a few yards from where the existing, impassable route emerges.

Councillors were told no objections had been received.

Sub-committee member Mike Drew said: “I don’t think this path has been accessible as long as I’ve been a councillor, which is nearly 40 years."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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October, 2021

11

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Children fascinated by Yate's history

Children from Woodlands Primary School studying maps for their history project

PUPILS at a Yate primary school have been delving into the town's history.

The project has seen them investigate everything from the Second World War to Yate's mining industry, railways and the history of Kingsgate Park.

Woodlands Primary School in Sundridge Park has been helped by support and materials from Yate Heritage Centre, including some German maps of the town used by the Luftwaffe during the war, when

Studying an old photograph

Yate's factories were bombed.

The maps were found at a German record office in the 1980s by local historian John Penny.

Head teacher Rachel Dean said: "Children have been fascinated by the local topic and were amazed to discover, through the use of old maps and photographs, that there used to be an airport on the outskirts of the town, and that bombs fell in the area during World War II.

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"It is hoped that by using old maps and photographs, courtesy of the Yate Heritage Centre, children will learn new skills and be able to learn more about the town in which they live.

"Bringing history and geography to their doorstep has been really interesting and will help them to have a greater understanding when studying other areas and countries."

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12

October, 2021

n NEWS

High levels of pollution found in river Frome A SURVEY by "citizen scientists" to test the health of the river Frome found high levels of pollution in more than half of samples.

Charity the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust recruited 193 volunteers to take part in water quality testing in local streams and rivers across the Bristol Avon Catchment in its WaterBlitz event, held during one week in July.

They were given sample kits and asked to make visual observations of the colour of the water and the presence of oil or litter.

Their results, which have now been analysed and published, show levels of pollution on the rise.

A total of 47 samples were taken from the river Frome – which flows through Chipping Sodbury and Yate on its way from its source in Dodington to Bristol's Floating Harbour – and its tributaries.

Of those, 25 were taken in the Yate and Sodbury area.

High levels of polluting nitrates or phosphates were recorded at Nibley Lane, near Goose Green Way and next to Wickwar Road. Medium levels were recorded in most other locations in Yate and Sodbury, with dumped litter and algae also spotted in several locations.

Testing samples of river water Overall, 53% of samples from the river showed a high level of nutrient pollution while 34% showed a medium level.

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust project manager George Clark said: "Nutrient pollution level is the combined impact of phosphates and nitrates in the watercourse.

"Nutrients, particularly phosphates and nitrates, are amongst the most common pollutants of freshwater across the world. As a result of their wide-ranging effects, levels of phosphate and nitrate are widely used as indicators of water quality."

He said that the results showed a "significant increase" in the proportion of samples showing high nutrient pollution,

from around 1 in 5 last year to more than half 12 months later.

High nutrient levels can affect wildlife and cause a decline in water quality, making it less safe, because they encourage plant growth, in particular algae which uses up the oxygen in the river and blocks out light.

Causes of high nutrient levels include: agricultural pollution, caused when livestock are kept near a river or fertilisers are washed off the land; garden pesticides and fertilisers washed into our rivers, especially through the drainage network; combined sewer overflows (CSOs) used to provide relief to the sewer system and prevent homes from flooding during periods of heavy rain.

George said: "Unfortunately, when CSOs kick in, rainwater mixed with raw sewage, containing nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate, is discharged into our rivers."

The project was funded by bodies including Bristol Water, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and the People’s Postcode Lottery.

More information on the results can be found online at bristolavonriverstrust. org/waterblitz and anyone who wants to volunteer or ask questions about the project should email george@bristolavonriverstrust. org.

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yate&sodburyvoice

14

n NEWS

Luke loses job THORNBURY & Yate MP Luke Hall has been sacked from his ministerial job in the latest government reshuffle.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson relieved Mr Hall of his job as local government minister on the day after new Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Michael Gove took over the department, with added responsibility for the government's "levelling up" agenda.

Mr Hall, who had been a minister for more than two years and held his last role for a year, is replaced by Saffron Walden MP Kemi Badenoch.

After the announcement Mr Hall made a short statement on Twitter, saying: "It’s been a huge honour to serve as Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government and am proud of all we achieved.

"Looking forward to supporting the Government from the backbenches."

October, 2021

n LOCAL MP

Have your say on Heron Way junction REINSTATING the right-hand turn from Heron Way onto Kennedy Way is a part of our positive plan to help get Yate and Chipping Sodbury moving.

A consultation has been launched following our campaign over several years to reduce congestion and to improve journey times for local commuters.

Currently, buses, taxis, bikes and motorcycles can use the rightturn lane at this junction, but cars must turn left towards the Link Road roundabout, pushing more cars towards Yate.

Now that the Kennedy Way speed limit has been reduced from 60mph to 40mph, and the carriageway has a single lane in each direction, many residents have suggested that allowing vehicles to use the right-hand turn will reduce journey times and

enable a more controlled exit of traffic from Heron Way. Reducing congestion in Chipping Sodbury and Yate will also help reduce pollution levels, improve air quality, and support a more environmentally-friendly road network.

There are huge benefits of reinstating the right-hand turn from Heron Way onto Kennedy Way. It will help get Chipping Sodbury and Yate moving, create a greener road network, and prevent knock-on congestion in our local towns and villages.

We are currently in the early design stages and I therefore want to hear from you about what you feel is the best outcome for motorists and residents living nearby.

I have been grateful to the many residents who have already

Luke Hall MP writes for Frome Valley Voice

shared their views about the type of right-hand turn they would like to see.

The options include installing traffic lights, a roundabout, allowing all vehicles to turn right onto Kennedy Way or no change.

You can let me know your thoughts via my survey, at www. lukehall.org.uk/form/heron-wayright-turn

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yate&sodburyvoice

October, 2021

15

n NEWS

Daredevils take the plunge for charity A TEAM of fundraisers from Chipping Sodbury has raised more than £3,000 by abseiling down the wall of Southmead Hospital.

The Chipping Sodbury Daredevils, made up of members of the town's Rotary Club, Inner Wheel club and family members, took part to raise money for the Southmead Hospital Charity Appeal, which organised the event on September 11.

The team collected donations from club members and via an online fundraising page, which can be found at bit.ly/3hZ0SE2.

Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club has also made a donation to Paul’s Place, a charity in Coalpit Heath supporting adults with physical disabilities, for a project called ‘Paul’s Place at Home’ where the charity will buy refurbished devices to help members communicate.

The club has made a donation to the Chipping Sodbury School Rotary Racer Greenpower team

John Wells prepares to abseil down the side of Southmead Hospital.

Picture: Doug Lodge to enable them to buy new batteries for their car as they start the new racing season.

Club members have

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continued to be active in the Sodbury in Bloom Community Garden, growing potatoes, carrots and beetroot.

Social activities are also back in full swing, with regular faceto-face meetings at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club, social gatherings at homes and pubs and a competitive Rotary District boules season which is nearing its climax.

Recent club president Stuart Fraser was "surprised and delighted" to receive a personal Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding service to Rotary and the community over the past year.

He said: "I felt gratified to receive this award, given the challenging nature of my year as club president.

"Our club is now back into full swing, following the challenges of the past eighteen months.

"We are a welcoming club and always keen to attract new members."

For more information on the club email csrotaryapplication@ gmail.com.

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Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

16

yate&sodburyvoice

October, 2021

nW HAT’S ON

n NEWS

n September 30: Yate Ageing Better Festival, 11am to 4pm. Events throughout the day at Yate Town Council venues including the Pop Inn Café, Armadillo Youth Café and Venue, Yate and District Heritage Centre and in Yate Shopping Centre, showcasing the variety of activities available for people approaching retirement and those already retired. Music, opportunities and local activities as well as light refreshments and representatives from community groups offering information.

Crane company boss dies in accident

OCTOBER 9 n CRAFT & GIFT FAYRE Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, Saturday 9th October, 10 am to 4 pm For more info & to book please contact Amanda or Gem at bythewoodsfayres@hotmail.com or 07895 187292 n October 6: South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group talk: 60 years of change in the Bristol Coalfield 1961-2021, by David Hardwick.

Miner’s Institute, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, 7.30pm for 8pm start.

Non members welcome - £2 each. n October 11: Bristol Budgerigar Society. Members' exhibition budgerigar competition, 7pm, Little Stoke Community Hall, Little Stoke Lane.

Visitors welcome without commitment to join. For more details contact secretary Ron Ramplin at ronnie.ramplin@btinternet.com or 07748 740794. n October 13: Court Players and Winterbourne Players present an "un-lockdown double bill" of two comedies, Anger Management and Hiatus. Performances at WADCA, in Watleys End Road, Winterbourne, on October 13 and 20, at 8.30pm each night, and at Rangeworthy Village Hall, in Wotton Road, at 2pm and 7.30pm on October 23. Tickets can be bought online at TicketSource.co.uk/whats-on?q=Un-Lockdown or by calling 0333 666 3366.

REGULAR EVENTS

Tuesday n YATE POETRY GROUP meets every Tuesday morning. Small, informal and friendly group to share and enjoy poems. For further details and to learn more about the meeting venue, contact Tony on 0770 4140682 or email yatepoetrygroup@gmail.com.

For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120

A COALPIT Heath company boss has died after a crane carrying a heavy load tipped up as he was working with it.

Michael Burcombe, who was 73, is understood to have died as a crane was lifting a hot tub from the front to the back garden of a house in Springleaze, Mangotsfield.

Mr Burcombe was a director of Burcombe Crane Hire Ltd, a familyrun company based in Coalpit Heath.

He is understood to have been in the business for more than 40 years.

Ambulance crews were sent to help after the accident, which happened at around 9.20am on September 13, but Mr Burcombe died of his injuries at the scene.

The road outside the house was cordoned off afterwards, as a police and Health and Safety Executive investigation got underway.

An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said officers' thoughts went out to Mr Burcombe's family, who do not wish to speak publicly at this stage.

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

October, 2021

yate&sodburyvoice

17

n NEWS

Hundreds visit Sodbury Climate Fair CHIPPING Sodbury held its first Climate Fair to raise awareness and spur action to tackle the crisis facing the world.

The event at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall was hosted by the town council, with members of Climate Action Yate and Chipping Sodbury (CAYACS) and volunteers organising a mix of exhibitors, talks, free giveaways, information and advice stalls.

There were activities for children, the chance to test ride an electric bicycle, talk to electric vehicle owners and a limited supply of free trees and wildflower seeds.

About 400 visitors attended the event on September 18, which included exhibitions from Sodbury Woodland and Nature group, Hedgehog Rescue Bristol and South Gloucestershire and Ecotricity.

A café with home-made cakes and hot drinks raised £222 for Cancer Research UK. CAYACS member Lydia

Emma Morrison and Sally Pattison of CAYACS at the Climate Fair.

Picture: Rich McD Photography Francisty said: "We are grateful to everyone who came and hope you enjoyed the day and learned something new.

"We are always looking for new people to get involved in our activities, including our Bee Friendly Front Gardens campaign, craftivism, activism, litter picking and similar."

STC and CAYACS aim to work

n PHARMACY NEWS

The numbers that can save your life WE are all familiar with BP machines and the cuffs they use, but what is blood pressure?

Blood goes around our body using a network of vessels like pipes. The force in this pipe is measured to find out systolic pressure (top number)– the pressure when your heart pushes blood out and diastolic pressure (bottom number) – the pressure when your heart rests between beats. Blood pressure (BP) measures the force that your heart uses to pump blood around your body. An ideal blood pressure is under 120/80mmHg Why is it important? Untreated high blood pressure puts extra strain on your heart and other organs, damaging them.

High blood pressure increases the risk of a Stroke - a serious life-threatening medical condition when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.

Heart attacks happen when the blood supply to part of the heart is cut off because a blood clot blocks it.

Every day in the UK, 350 people have a stroke or heart attack that could have been prevented. The number of strokes in younger adults is also on the increase.

Kidneys can get damaged by high blood pressure, with the resulting damaged kidney further raising your blood pressure.

A type of dementia called vascular dementia is caused by the damage of raised BP to blood vessels leading to the brain.

High blood pressure can damage your blood vessels and restrict blood flow to the penis, leading to erectile problems.

The good news is that high blood pressure can be treated and managed safely.

The bad news; it has no specific symptoms, so it is a silent killer. We know 6 million people have high blood pressure and don’t even know it.

Addressing unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight, and not exercising enough, can lower raised BP. Still, we know family history with raised BP, being of black African or black Caribbean descent as we as particular jobs, work patterns, and even post codes increase your risk.

All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. With pandemic health measures limiting usual opportunities to measure blood pressure, it is worth considering a home BP machine. Many also pick up an irregular heartbeat. Abbotswood Pharmacy team are happy to offer advice and guidance. Check out #KnowYourNumberstoday.

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with at all levels from residents, businesses and landowners to other councils.

They have started a programme to share information, local examples and guidance of how people can reduce their carbon footprint and restore nature Anyone who would like to join CAYACS or has questions

can email climateactionycs@ gmail.com.

Chipping Sodbury Town Council declared a climate emergency in 2020 and has published an action plan on its website at www. sodburytowncouncil.gov.uk.

Town mayor James Ball said: "We are all responsible for the future of our planet and we can all make a difference, whether great or small that will help future generations.

"I am very pleased we were able to hold our first climate fair at the Town Hall that provided local residents with useful information on how we can all get involved and also raising funds for charity at the same time.

"I would like to thank Sodbury Town councillors on our climate team and also CAYACS for their help in organising the event and I urge all residents to look at what they can do to cut down their carbon emissions."

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Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

yate&sodburyvoice

18

October, 2021

n COMMUNITY NEWS on October 7, a birthday lunch at the golf course and a trip to Blenheim Palace.

Our November meeting is the AGM and the good cause presentation from Ian Riddell, of Southmead Hospital Charity Jeanette Oakley

Yate WI

u3a boules

Yate and Sodbury District u3a YATE and Sodbury District u3a French groups kicked off their new series of meetings after lockdown with a game of boules and a picnic on Westerleigh playing fields.

Jean Powell, who coordinates the activity, said: "We were really lucky with the weather, and it was so nice to get together again after such a long time of not being able to meet."

There are three groups for different levels of ability, who meet to learn French and practice conversation.

Other language groups are available for Spanish, German and Italian.

These are just some of around 85 different interest groups tailored for people who are no longer in full-time work through u3a locally.

There are no exams or qualifications, just people having fun doing a shared interest.

A few places are available if you would like to join a French group.

You can get in touch and find further information about the range of activities available on Yate and Sodbury District u3a website

u3asites.org.uk/yate-sodbury/home.

Jean Crispin

Chipping Sodbury WI WE'RE back – Chipping Sodbury had its first face-to-face meeting in September, which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

This year we are celebrating Chipping Sodbury WI's birthday, as we have reached 100 years.

It has turned out not to be the full year of activities that had been planned, but we are all thankful for all the key workers who have got us through to this point.

The evening started earlier than usual with a member photograph.

My thanks to Rich McD, who successfully and skilfully arranged 40 ladies into place - not such an easy task when this was the first time some members had seen each other for 18 months.

The speaker was Susan Symons, who gave a very enthusiastic talk on the colourful personal life of Queen Victoria from the circumstances of her birth to her wedding.

Activities coming up are a celebration birthday meeting for members and invited guests only

IT was lovely to meet again indoors on the second Monday in September, at our temporary home in Yate Outdoor Sports Complex.

Fourteen of us enjoyed ‘Bristol Prisons Unlocked’, Andy Griffin’s interesting insight into the history of prisons in Bristol and a look at what life is like now.

Our next meeting, at YOSC on October 11 from 7.30pm, will be our AGM, followed by a craft demonstration.

Please feel free to contact us through our social media pages if you would like to join. You will be assured of a warm welcome.

Beverley Hodgson

Yate Rotary Club

YATE Rotary Club has always had a close relationship with Tools for Self Reliance, an amazing charity which collects and refurbishes, sharpens, and repairs workshop tools. The tools are then assembled into complete carpenter’s kits and

Greenway Gardens

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WE meet in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall every second Wednesday morning, from 9.45am-noon.

We are a very friendly group, who love to welcome new members, chat and drink coffee.

We have a variety of interesting speakers and run several groups, including knit and natter, gardening, art and walking.

Our next meeting is Wednesday October 13, when our talk is on the Royal British Legion, and we'd love to see you there.

Please contact Rhona Cowie (chairperson) on 01454 881532 or Christina Shinton (vicechairperson) on 01454 321731 for more details.

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sent abroad, mainly to African countries, along with trainers who provide instruction in the use and care of the tools.

The recipients can then return to their communities and start a small business, support their families and possibly even employ others.

Yate Rotarians have been collecting old tools, or tools no longer needed, during September, and neighbours and friends have been only too pleased to clear out their sheds and garages, resulting in a generous collection of very usable tools.

These will be passed to the Bristol collection point and will be taken to the charity headquarters in Netley Marsh.

To find out more please go to www.tfsr.org.

If you have any tools which you think would be useful for this project, please call me on 01454 321323 and we will collect them from you.

Marian Gilpin

Based in Winterbourne

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Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

yate&sodburyvoice

October, 2021

19

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

A stress-free family feast WITH all the horrible things that are going on in the world, it's comforting that at least we can take solace in meeting with our loved ones to break bread together – or in this case, roast beef!

Jamie Oliver recently stared his new series Together, in which he prepared a feast for his family.

The idea was to make something celebratory, but able to be prepared ahead, so that he could be with the family when they came, not stuck in the kitchen.

That’s an idea that I totally approve of.

So, my recipe is a simple piece of beef fillet, roasted with citrus juices and thickened with a little cream.

My tip is to assemble all the ingredients and then pop it in the preheated oven when your guests arrive. Make sure you take the beef out of the fridge about a half an hour before, so it can come to room temperate before roasting.

If you prep your favourite root veg to cook at the same time as the

meat (allow 40 minutes at 220 C) you’ll have a stress-free family feast.

I think Jamie would approve!

Karen is a great friend and a great cook and I have great pleasure in sharing with you:

Karen’s citrus beef Serves 6

and place in casserole.

Add fruit juices, stock and vinegar to the frying pan and bring to boil.

Then add seasoning and pour over meat in the casserole.

Cook for about 35 minutes uncovered, basting once.

Transfer the juices from the meat to a saucepan to make the sauce.

Cover the meat with foil to keep warm and let it rest for at least 10 minutes.

Meanwhile add mustard and brandy to the pan juices then blend cornflour and cream in a small container and add to sauce.

Bring slowly (so as not to curdle the cream) back to the boil.

Simmer for a couple of minutes.

Slice the meat and transfer to a large serving plate. Drizzle with the sauce.

Cook’s Tip The sauce quantity is only sufficient to drizzle on meat, so you may wish to double quantity if your guests are saucy people!

Ingredients: 1 ½ lb fillet beef Juice of 1 orange and 1 lemon 4 tbsp beef stock 1-2 tbsp wine vinegar 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard 2 tbsp brandy 6 tbsp single cream 2 tsps cornflour Here’s what you do: Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees C or 180 fan, Gas Mark 5.

Fry meat in frying pan until brown

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20

October, 2021

n PETER'S VISION

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I’VE been undertaking that oh so dangerous activity again this month. Yup, you guessed it, thinking. This month I’ve been thinking about why we do what we do. Why? was the question our children asked, innocently at first, and then they quickly learned that it’s a fun game to play too! No matter what I used to reply, how much thought and time I used to take to explain something, they’d pause, look at me and with an ever-so-innocent quizzical look, and again say why?

As an Optometry practice, our ‘why’ is maybe not all too well known. In essence we do what we do because we love it! Yup it’s out there. Officialially we love our work & the people (that’s you that is) that we get to meet, care for and hopefully see for life. Now I suppose, being honest, we can all have very good and at least the odd not so good days at work. I’m definitely in the privileged position of saying I have far more very good days at work than anything else!

I also have a slightly longer answer to the question. We aim to provide eye care and vision correction (glasses, contact lenses, sunglasses… really the list goes on) so well that each of our patients is delighted and chooses to see us again and again over the years, bringing their friends and family with them. It’s not a new aspiration or idea, and not an original one either.

Grandfather Harold set out this way in the 1930’s and we’ve done our best to develop the patient care, ethos and approach he started almost a century ago.

As the nights draw in, I’m returning to my favoured contrast enhancing lens for night driving. These are lenses I’ve designed to make the most of the light our eyes benefit from, and reduce the light that quite frankly just gets in the way and causes glare. The result is calmer, more balanced and easier vision for many of us who choose these super lenses. In fact, I’m actually wearing these as I write having just returned from running our evening errands, they also come in variable focus as well as single vision lenses you see.

When it comes to your eyes, we’d love to see you and for you to experience the world class eye care, we firmly believe you deserve. Don’t forget, whether it’s for reassuringly thorough eye care, or for glasses you look great in, as well as letting you see clearly day & night, we’re here when you need us, six days per week. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to see how we can help you. We continue to offer COVID safe ways to choose your new glasses too!

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.

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

yate&sodburyvoice

October, 2021

21

n COMMUNITY NEWS St Mary's Christmas Tree Festival and Trail

Matt Talboys of Country Style Supplies delivers the fencing to Sodbury in Bloom

Sodbury in Bloom SODBURY in Bloom needed to fence round the pond in the Community Garden to make it safe but knew it was going to cost us several hundred pounds.

The husband of one of our members approached Country Style Supplies in Wickwar, hoping they might give us a discount – and they very kindly donated everything, including the sand and cement needed for the posts.

Given that prices for these things are on the increase, this was amazingly generous and Sodbury in Bloom is very grateful.

Hopefully, we will be able to hold an open day in the Community Garden next year, so that people can come and look and see if they want to get involved.

Julia Bernau

BELIEVE it or not, Christmas is coming.

Before you know it, the decorations, trees and lights will be going up everywhere, so now is the time to register your interest in sponsoring a tree in St Mary's Yate 2021 Christmas Tree Festival and Trail.

Only ten sponsored trees will be displayed in the church this year, to allow for more social distancing throughout the event, and these will be available on a strictly first-come basis.

Our theme for the festival and decoration of sponsored trees is 'A Gift at Christmas' Our festival will run from December 3 to 12, and will feature sponsored trees in the church and churchyard gardens, and also in the local street where you live.

You can sponsor a tree and learn more about our festival by contacting parishoffice@yateparish.org The last date for sponsoring a tree is October 31.

As a community-focused event, we will be fundraising for St Mary's Church Roof Project and St Peter's Hospice for their ongoing work in the community.

Mary Farrell

Chipping Sodbury Library

DUE to the successful re opening of Chipping Sodbury Library, following the pandemic, we are looking to open another session on a Tuesday afternoon. We would love to have four new volunteers to work every other Tuesday from 1.30-4.30pm, providing a welcome and helpful service.

We are also looking for a publicity coordinator volunteer for the Library Partnership, to provide social media support and help share details to the community about library activities.

Volunteering at Chipping Sodbury Library is a great way to make new friends and give back to our fabulous community.

For further information, please contact the town clerk at Sodbury Town Council on 01454 321336 or at enquiries@sodburytowncouncil.gov.uk, or Chipping Sodbury councillor Linda Banister on 07919 651464.

Julia Bernau

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yate&sodburyvoice

22

October, 2021

n SPORT

Club members at the president's day

Supporter inspires hockey club's charity drive YATE Hockey Club dedicated fundraising from its annual president's day to charity Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis, in recognition of a long-time supporter's diagnosis with the condition.

Graham Ellis is the father of Sally Thomas-Ellis, who has been playing for the club for nearly 31 years.

Members raised a total of

£921 at the event, which involved fun and games for all age groups from Under 8’s to Seniors.

To further boost the funds, first team member Vicki Haigh has pledged to ride 10 miles for every year Graham has supported the club to date. So far, she has raised over £230 and has an online page where donations can be made, at justgiving.com/fundraising/

vicki-haigh1.

Sally said: "My dad has been an avid supporter of Yate Hockey Club since I started playing for them over 30 years ago.

"This fantastic cause has supported my dad since being diagnosed with this illness.

"Unfortunately this awful terminal illness still has a lot of research needed in order to try and find a treatment

that will hopefully prolong life expectancy, and it is only down to contributions like the one Yate Hockey Club has made that will enable them to continue with research and to support its sufferers.

"I would like to thank everyone involved in making the family club day such a success."

Rachael Giles

Mixed fortunes in league but Yate shine in cup YATE Town have home advantage as they look to progress in the FA Cup. The Bluebirds have been drawn at home to Redhill in 3rd qualifying round, after two victories at the start of the season.

David Sims-Burgess hit a double as Town progressed 2-0 in the 2nd qualifying round, although they were made to work hard against a Gosport Borough side who played for most of the

game with ten men.

In the first round, a double strike from Olly Mehew helped Yate to a 3-1 win at Dorchester.

It’s been a more mixed start to the league campaign. After a 1-0 win away at bottom side Kings Langley and fighting back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Merthyr Town at the end of August, two defeats left Yate in 16th place in the Southern League Premier South Division as they headed towards their

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That loss came after Yate

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