Yate & Sodbury Voice April 2025

Bridge bites the dust

Workers use heavy mechanical claws and pneumatic drills to demolish the bridge.

THE bridge that carried the main road between Yate and Bristol over the M4 has been reduced to rubble after a roundthe-clock demolition operation.

The motorway was closed between the Bristol and Bath junctions for nearly 60 hours while a team of 45 contractors

worked in 12-hour shifts to bring down the concrete and steel Badminton Road bridge, which was closed to motor traffic after being declared unsafe by inspectors in 2023.

Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians now face another year of waiting until the

replacement bridge is expected to be ready to use.

During that time a 50mph limit will be imposed on the M4 past the site, and there will be at least one and possibly two more weekend closures to install the new bridge.

Turn to page 3

Players' cunning plan

A THEATRE group will stage live performances of four episodes of classic BBC comedy Blackadder II in Chipping Sodbury.

PAGE 9

Death after arrest

A CHIPPING Sodbury man who died after falling onto the M4 had been arrested the previous day, following a 'sting' by online antipaedophile activists.

PAGE 2

Mosque plans withdrawn

PLANS to create an Islamic cultural centre in Yate have been withdrawn after almost 500 planning objections against the chosen site.

PAGE 4

Factory sell-off

THE contents of Yate's former tumble dryer factory have been sold off in an online auction.

PAGE 6

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May deadline

Our May edition deadline is April 23.

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Man died after online 'sting'

A MAN who died after he "fell from a height" onto the M4 had been arrested the previous day, following a sting by online anti-paedophile activists.

Adrian Smith, who was 48 and from Chipping Sodbury, died from multiple injuries after falling onto the M4 between the Almondsbury junction with the M5 and Awkley junction with the M48 on February 22.

At the time Avon & Somerset police said his death was not being treated as suspicious but the incident had been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct because the man had had previous contact with officers.

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Local information

South Gloucestershire Council

www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Environment/trading standards 01454 868001

COMPLAINTS

Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101

Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk

General enquiries: 0117 926 2061

NHS Health Call 111

Well Aware

health & social care information www.wellaware.org.uk

Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

An inquest hearing into his death held in March at Avon Coroners' Court was told that Mr Smith had been accused of paedophilia during a livestream on February 21, hosted by a Facebook group that describes itself as an "online child protection team".

The group searches for people trying to make sexual contact with children online and confronts them, posting the video live and informing the police.

The BBC reported that Mr Smith, who was married, had been arrested the same night and released on bail the following day, and was found dead later that day.

He had not been charged with any offence.

A full inquest hearing is due to be held in June.

A police spokesperson told the Voice officers were continuing to gather evidence for the coroner.

He added that IPSO had referred its conduct investigation back to the Avon & Somerset professional standards department, which concluded that no further investigation was needed.

Cash for playground

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is passing on £67,000 handed over by developers to Yate Town Council so that it can improve a play area in Yate.

The money will be spent on an upgrade to the play area at Longs Drive Open space in the north of the town, with £32,626.36 towards capital spending and £34,306.87 towards ongoing costs.

It has been handed over by builders as part of a legal deal to develop land north of Lodge Road, Engine Common.

South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member Sean Rhodes said: "The play improvements at Longs Drive Play Area in Yate will offer young children and their families a safer and more enjoyable environment.”

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.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Yate & Sodbury Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Yate & Sodbury Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

Bridge is brought down and crushed

From page 1

The operation to remove the bridge, which carried the A432 across the M4 next to the Wick Wick roundabout, started at 7pm on Friday March 21, when the motorway was closed to traffic so that workers from contractor Taylor Woodrow could move in.

National Highways, which is responsible for the bridge and M4, says the closed stretch of motorway usually carries 3,000 to 4,000 cars per hour at peak weekend times.

Although drivers had been advised to avoid the area if possible, over the weekend there were queues along the diversion route on the M32, the Avon Ring Road between Hambrook and Warmley, on the A420 between Warmley and Wick, and on the A46 approaching Tormarton.

Traffic was also heavy on roads used by drivers trying to avoid the official diversion, with queues on Westerleigh Road in both directions approaching the Henfield Road and Westerleigh traffic lights, and between Codrington and the A46. Drivers also queued on Cotswold Way, between Hinton and the A46.

Once the M4 shut, piles of railway sleepers stacked next to the hard shoulder were moved onto the motorway to create a 1,600 square metre "mat" under the bridge to protect the road surface.

Workers added 400 tonnes of aggregate and placed a row of shipping containers on top of that, to absorb the impact and break up the concrete bridge as it came down.

Excavators with pneumatic drills and claw-like crushers moved in to cut through the concrete sand steel cable bridge, which was built in 1966 and intended to last 120 years.

Work to take down the deck lasted throughout the Saturday, and the sound of pneumatic drills could be heard across Downend into the early hours of Sunday morning.

By lunchtime that day most of the structure had disappeared, as rubble was taken away to be separated into concrete and steel for recycling.

National Highways' engineering manager for structures Terry Robinson said about 2,500 tonnes of material had to be removed.

Workers took asbestos pipes out of the bridge before demolition started.

Although an exclusion zone was set up around the demolition site, National Highways set up a temporary building nearby where passers-by could watch a live video feed.

Many people walked onto the Church Lane bridge between Downend and Moorend to watch.

Mr Robinson said a new bridge has been designed and National Highways is close to choosing a UK-based firm to build it.

The cost is expected to be around £20 million.

He said the new bridge's beams would be made from lowmaintenance 'weathering steel', which has a specially-formulated layer of stable rust that seals off the rest of the metal from the elements.

It is being designed to last 120 years - the same as the old bridge, which was condemned after “accelerated deterioration

and cracking” was found in the concrete and steel cable structure.

The new one will not have moving parts such as bearings and joints that need to be replaced, as the whole structure

is designed to expand and contract as temperatures change. It will be 4m wider than the old bridge, with the same space for road traffic but extra room to carry wider cycle and pedestrian paths.

Mr Robinson said: "When it's finished it will be a better facility for everyone.

"It should never need painting, although it will look rusty!"

A giant mechanical claw crunches through concrete and steel

Now you see it: the bridge on the day before the motorway closed

Now you don't: Rubble being cleared three days later

Yate Islamic centre plans are dropped

PLANS to create an Islamic cultural centre in Yate have been withdrawn.

The application was been made last October by Yate Islamic Cultural and Resource Centre Ltd for a vacant site at a row of shops in Wellington Road.

The centre was proposed alongside the chip shop, Spice restaurant and Tesco Express shop, opposite Cambrian Green Court between the Farmhouse pub and Mormon church.

In a statement outlining the plans last October, agents Studio Yaqub Limited said the planned centre had a "carefully considered design", which "not only has influences of Islamic

architectural flair but is also intertwined with crafts and skills of Great British traditions".

Nearly 500 people wrote on South Gloucestershire Council's planning website to oppose the plans.

Most said there would not be enough parking on the site for the number of people who would be likely to use it, which would lead to problems on nearby roads.

However, with some people writing that they objected on religious grounds, some of the 80 supporters of the scheme accused its opponents of Islamophobia.

A formal objection was also made by Yate Town Council, which wrote to say that while councillors "strongly support" the provision of an Islamic Cultural and Resource Centre in the town, they believed the scheme was "in the wrong location and the design is inappropriate to address the needs of the community, based on the numbers attending the current Yate prayers, parking and other ancillary issues".

The town council said it was currently providing a venue for around 40 Muslim residents to hold Friday prayers at the town's YMCA building, which it owns, and supporting them in a search for a suitable permanent venue.

But its statement added: "The applicant has not demonstrated control over any land suitable for public parking, with no offering of off-street parking or cycle parking."

On March 24, South Gloucestershire Council's planning website, where the plans and objections had been posted, was updated with a notice that the plans had been withdrawn.

Responding, a town council

An image of the planned cultural centre submitted to planners by agents Studio Yaqub Limited

spokesperson said: "Yate Town Council welcomes the decision by the applicant to withdraw the application.

"Our Muslim residents will continue to worship in rooms they hire locally whilst continuing to search for a more suitable site for a permanent location."

The decision has been backed by Thornbury & Yate MP Claire Young, who said: "While the news will be disappointing to those behind the application, this wasn't the right location.

"I am confident that our community can come together to find a local place where people can worship that would work well for everybody."

Heidi and Emilia Davis reading a book they found in Kingsgate Park

Celebrating books

SPECIAL events to mark World Book Day were held indoors and out in Yate during March.

Volunteers from the Friends of Kingsgate Park staged their own Book Week in the park.

More than 100 books, picked to appeal across the age range, were "hidden" around the park to be discovered by visitors, and there was a pop-up reading event with storytellers.

Sue Swanborough, of the Friends, said: "The books were bought with the money raised by selling duck and swan food in the Vintage Birdcage Cakery, plus many were donated by users of the park.

"Waitrose and Tesco donated the plastic bags that were used to keep the books dry - fortunately we had good weather for the week!

"We are pleased to say that the plastic bags were taken home to reuse.

"We have received positive feedback from those that found the books.

"Having watched from a distance it was wonderful to see the books being found, either for little ones, teenagers or adults."

The Friends of Kingsgate Park are planning more events this year, with an Easter egg hunt and bonnet parade on April 21, from 10am to noon, the next big attraction.

More details can be found on the group's social media pages.

At Woodlands Primary School in Yate, teachers dressed up as their favourite book characters to celebrate World Book Day on March 6.

Key Stage 1 pupils had a visit from author Josephine Davies, who encouraged them to read for pleasure and join the next generation of writers.

Key Stage 2 pupils had a storytelling performance by puppeteer Mr Brown’s Pig.

Early Years teacher Charlene Turner said: "The event was a resounding success, with students engaged and excited by the world of books!

"The day also featured a heart-warming story promoting inclusion, followed by a lively character parade, where students proudly showcased their favourite book characters."

Teachers from Woodlands Primary School on World Book Day

Local Plan deadline

PEOPLE who object to South Gloucestershire Council's blueprint for the future development of the district are being urged to have their say before it’s too late.

The final draft version of the council's Local Plan is out for consultation until April 11.

It includes more than 2,000 new homes south of Westerleigh and 1,300 on sites around Yate and Chipping Sodbury.

Responses will be passed to the government’s planning inspectorate for review before hearings next year.

Campaign group Save Our Green Spaces South Gloucestershire (SOGSSG) believes the Green Belt homes will place unacceptable pressure on roads and other infrastructure.

The plan can be viewed and commented on at the consultation website, localplan. commonplace.is, until April 11.

Anyone who is not online can call 01454 868009 for help.

Factory contents sold off

THE contents of Yate's former tumble dryer factory have been sold off in an online auction.

Bidders competed for everything from lathes and workbenches to a table football game and even an entire mezzanine floor from the Hotpoint UK plant in Station Road, which closed at the end of last year after more than a century of production.

The online sale lasted three weeks, from mid-February to March, and featured a large amount of working equipment from steamers, printers, plate benders and two-way radios to an entire set of canteen furniture, including 32 tables and more than 100 chairs.

NCM Auctions, which ran the sale on behalf of Hotpoint UK, said it offered "a rare opportunity

to acquire specialist equipment from one of Europe’s leading home appliance manufacturers".

The company's partnership lead, Amy Rutherford, said: "Our proven approach and commitment to sustainability ensures that these surplus manufacturing assets are reintegrated into the circular economy and diverted from landfill."

The 15m x 20m (49ft x 66ft) mezzanine floor was among the most expensive items auctioned, finally selling for £4,600, while the table football went for £110.

NCM did not respond to a request from the Voice to say how much the sale raised in total or what the most expensive item sold was.

Beko Europe, which owns Hotpoint UK, announced plans to shut the factory, with the loss of 142 jobs, last July.

It said the plant had been making a "considerable loss" and that it was not "technically or economically feasible to remodel the Yate site to continue operations."

The factory stands on the site of the former Parnall aircraft

factory, where more than 50 people were killed during two air raids in 1941, and manufacturing on the site goes back around 107 years.

The factory site was bought from Whirlpool by South Gloucestershire Council in 2021 for just under £10 million.

At the time the council said it was "of strategic importance for the town of Yate and South Gloucestershire".

The Station Road site is earmarked for 150 homes in the latest version of South Gloucestershire Council's Local Plan.

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This table football game was among the items up for sale.

Georghie's gonks help Paul's Place fix roof

A MEMBER of disability centre Paul’s Place is doing her bit to help the charity pay to repair the roof of its new home.

Georghie Porter has been making and selling gonks to raise money for the charity for physically disabled adults, which is currently based at Coalpit Heath Cricket Club, despite only being able to use one hand.

Paul's Place is preparing to move into its own premises at the former Shire Way Community Centre in Yate in the summer, giving it space to support more physically disabled people with improved facilities and a wider range of services and activities.

Last year, thieves stole lead from the roof of the former community centre - the only part of the building that hadn’t been

in need of any work.

Georghie, of Kingswood, decided to support the appeal to pay the cost of repairing the roof by making and selling the woolly gnome-like mascots.

So far, she has made over 100, raising £335 towards her £500 target.

A Paul's Place spokesperson said: "It’s a delicate craft, where Georgie can only use her one hand to thread wool to create a

small and woolly gnome figure.

"It's a huge achievement, despite having a physical disability which affects her hearing, sight, legs and arms."

Georghie started making gonks during the covid lockdown years when a support worker introduced the activity at Paul’s Place.

Since then she has made them for members and staff at Paul’s Place, for carers, family members

and friends of friends.

As word spread, care workers requested Georghie’s handmade gonks for other clients, with themed versions for Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day to Valentine’s Day.

She even made 25 for a junior football team in their blue and yellow colours.

Georghie said: "My favourites were the Christmas Gonks, because they had glitter, and the first eight I made came out fluffier than I expected.

"I get asked, ‘how do I make them with one hand? I reply that you find a way.

"I love making gonks. The end product is so satisfying and it’s a project I can do myself.”

After reaching her £500 target for Paul’s Place, Georghie intends to keep making gonks to raise money for Cancer Research and plans to make a batch of them with multi-coloured hair for the Disability Pride event in July.

Anyone who would like to help the charity make the new Paul’s Place Hub ready can visit its website at www.paulsplace. org.uk/hub for more details.

FRAMPTON GARAGE

Your local choice for vehicle maintenance and repairs Call Frampton on: 01454777841 or Yate on: 07393730774

NEW WORKSHOP OPEN IN YATE

We have expanded and opened another garage in Yate to run alongside our existing Frampton Cotterell workshop. We have an additional mot facility offering class 4 and class 7 mots. We have more space to cater for your needs, carrying out the following repairs: Diagnostics, services, clutches, cambelts, tyres and much more.

Frampton Workshop: 6 The Causeway, Coalpit Heath, BS362PD

Some of Georghie's gonks

Georghie Porter

Murder still unsolved after 15 years

THE murder of a man at his Iron Acton home remains unsolved, 15 years after his death.

Barry Rubery, who was 68, was found dead at Crossing Cottage in Latteridge Road on the morning of April 29, 2010.

He had been tied up and beaten to death.

Despite a series of public appeals for information in the years since his Barry's death, as the 15th anniversary approaches no-one has been charged over the crime. Two men arrested and questioned in 2014 were released without charge.

Avon & Somerset Police say they know Barry was killed after returning to his home from a night out at about 10.45pm on April 28.

He was found in his porch at 8am the following day by a friend.

His wrists had been bound together with large, white cable ties and then tied, with a long extension lead, to his ankles.

Police say there was clear evidence of a struggle in his back garden and a post-

mortem examination confirmed he had suffered fatal head injuries during a violent assault.

His home had been ransacked but, apart from his Nokia 3310 phone and a set of keys, very little was taken. Cash, jewellery and a safe were left behind.

Detectives particularly want to hear from anyone who:

• Saw suspicious vehicles, particularly a Land Rover or black Mitsubishi L200 pickup, parked nearby

• Was connected to the crime but has not come forward out of fear or previous loyalties.

• Noticed a change in a friend or relative's behaviour after the crime, or someone "showing a particular interest" in the investigation.

• Knows where the stolen property might be – it may also include a gold Masonic pocket watch, a Makita drill and an extension lead.

• Knows about trouble Mr Rubery was having at his yard.

• Has any other information they think might help police identify his killers.

During an appeal in 2012 linked to a BBC documentary about the case, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Almond said police "remain as determined and committed as ever" to finding the killer, or killers.

firmly believe those responsible for Barry’s murder had detailed knowledge of his movements and lay in wait for him to come home that night.

“In the weeks leading up to his death, Barry was described as being ‘uncharacteristically short or distracted’ and he made reference to problems at the yard, which included a dispute. We still need to know what this dispute was about and who it involved."

He appealed for those who know who was responsible to "do the right thing" and tell police what they know.

He said: "This case has been subject to a number of hypotheses over the years, but I

Anyone with information can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or give information online at tinyurl. com/5n7w7f4p.

Barry Rubery was found dead in April 2010

Players bring Blackadder to the stage

SODBURY Players have a cunning plan to entertain audiences - by staging a live performance of iconic BBC comedy Blackadder II.

The group will bring four episodes from the classic Elizabethan-set series to Chipping Sodbury Town Hall in May.

Members have been working intensively to make sure they can bring to life the characters, performances and one-liners that generations of comedy fans know off by heart.

Series writers Richard Curtis and Ben Elton have made Blackadder available to amateur groups to perform, with the show's licence fee going to Comic Relief.

Theatre groups use the original TV scripts of the misadventures of Edmund Blackadder, Baldrick. Percy, Queenie and Melchett and adapt them to suit the stage.

Asked how he feels about taking on a leading role so

well known and loved by TV audiences, Players chairman Rob Creer said: "As the person playing Blackadder, I can say it’s an incredibly exciting challenge to pay homage to Rowan Atkinson’s iconic performance.

"The entire cast has dedicated a lot of time to studying the original episodes to ensure we capture the essence of these wellloved characters in a way that is both faithful and recognisable to

audiences."

Rob Creer as Blackadder and Kate Webb as Queen Elizabeth I

The production is based on four episodes from the second series: Bells, when Edmund tries to get married; Potato, when he plans a sea voyage; Head, when he is appointed lord high executioner and Beer, when he tries to hold a booze-up and entertain his puritanical aunt and uncle at the same time.

The Players promise to "bring to life the sharp wit, memorable

characters, and historical humour that have made Blackadder a British comedy institution".

Director David Lord said: "Bringing Blackadder to the stage is an incredibly exciting challenge.

"The series’ sharp humour and historical absurdities provide the perfect foundation for the stage, and we are thrilled to present these four iconic episodes in such a unique way."

Co-director Pauly Milton said: "As a long-time fan of the TV series, I first suggested the idea of bringing Blackadder on stage about 10 years ago and I’m so happy that Sodbury Players are now able to do it!

"I can’t wait to share the laughs with our audiences."

The show will run from May 7 to 10 May at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, with all performances starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £13 plus booking fee and are on sale at www. sodburyplayers.org.uk.

VE Day celebration

Thursday 8th May, 3pm - 6pm

Join us to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Enjoy an afternoon of delicious food, entertainment and dancing as we celebrate the spirit of the 1940s.

Typical signs of ageing

or dementia?

Thursday 12th June, 2pm - 4pm

Join us to hear Suzanne Mumford, Head of Nursing, Care and Dementia at Care UK, share insights about typical signs of ageing and how symptoms differ from dementia, we will also give guidance on how to live well with dementia.

Trusted to care

To attend please call 01454 513 375 or email

daniel.glover-winfield@careuk.com

Experience quality dementia care, led by experts

At Care UK’s Ladden View care home in Yate, our team is passionate about supporting your loved one to maintain independence and make choices, whilst receiving the very best dementia care in a place they can call home.

Care you can trust

We work with academic partners and respected leaders in the field, to ensure we stay up to date with the latest approaches to dementia care. We have worked closely with the Association of Dementia Studies to create bespoke programmes of dementia training. Whilst Dr Nori Graham - a renowned dementia expert and Vice President of Alzheimer’s International – supports the development of our dementia strategy with Suzanne Mumford, a Queen’s Nurse and Head of Nursing, Care and Dementia at Care UK.

Living well with dementia

Our dedicated team will work with you and your loved one to deliver a care and lifestyle plan entirely tailored to their unique needs and preferences and our busy activities schedule is always packed with meaningful activities that support them to live life to the full.

Recently, residents have enjoyed making pizzas with our talented chefs and enjoying group singing sessions.

Purpose-built facilities

At our purpose-built home, everything from colour schemes, signage, and furniture to the design of our crockery, has been carefully chosen to support residents living with dementia to be as independent as possible.

Each floor at Ladden View is divided into smaller suites that create a calm atmosphere, keeping hustle and bustle to a minimum.

Ladden View also has a Namaste care room and trained Namaste care practitioners, who provide a calming sensory experience using soothing lighting and gentle hand massage, for people living with advanced dementia.

Ladden View care home in Yate is part of Care UK, the country’s most

awarded large care provider. We’ve been delivering high-quality, personcentred care for over 40 years. That’s why over 9,000 families trust us to care for their older loved ones.

To find out more about Ladden View, call 01454 513 375 or scan the QR code.

Ladden View Fletcher Road, Yate, Bristol BS37 7ER careuk.com/ladden-view

n METRO MAYOR ELECTION PREVIEW

n METRO MAYOR ELECTION PREVIEW

On May 1 voters in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and B&NES will choose the region's next Metro Mayor.

On May 1 voters in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and B&NES will choose the region's next Metro Mayor.

The leader of the West of England Combined Authority has the task of coordinating the region’s transport, housing, infrastructure, jobs, skills and business support strategies.

The leader of the West of England Combined Authority has the task of coordinating the region’s transport, housing, infrastructure, jobs, skills and business support strategies.

What would you do?

technology innovation.

I would also highlight the need for genuinely affordable housing in locations with good transport connections.

The mayor works with the leaders of the three councils to deliver policies.

The mayor works with the leaders of the three councils to deliver policies.

The Voice asked each Metro Mayor candidate to answer three questions to find more about who they are, their priorities and plans.

Mary Page: We need a New Green Deal for the West of England.

Current Metro Mayor Dan Norris is standing down after being elected as Labour MP for North East Somerset and Hanham last year.

Current Metro Mayor Dan Norris is standing down after being elected as Labour MP for North East Somerset and Hanham last year.

Aiming to succeed him for Labour is Helen Godwin, a former Bristol City Council cabinet member. The Conservatives, who held the post from 2017 to 2021, have also picked a former Bristol city councillor, Steve Smith, to try and win it back. The Greens, third in 2021, have selected Mary Page, a community activist who was their candidate for the Bristol North West seat at the last general election. Bath & North East Somerset councillor Oli Henman is the Liberal Democrats’ choice. South Gloucestershire councillor Ian Scott is standing as an independent. As the Voice went to print, Reform UK had not announced a candidate. We invited the party to contribute to this article.

Nominations opened on March 26 and will close on April 2.

Aiming to succeed him for Labour is Helen Godwin, a former Bristol City Council cabinet member. The Conservatives, who held the post from 2017 to 2021, have also picked a former Bristol city councillor, Steve Smith, to try and win it back. The Greens, third in 2021, have selected Mary Page, a community activist who was their candidate for the Bristol North West seat at the last general election. Bath & North East Somerset councillor Oli Henman is the Liberal Democrats’ choice. South Gloucestershire councillor Ian Scott is standing as an independent. As the Voice went to print, Reform UK had not announced a candidate. We invited the party to contribute to this article. The deadline for registering to vote is April 11. For more details visit tinyurl.com/2mwsnmxt or call 01454 863030.

75 or over, or

weakened

What are the three biggest issues for the region?

Helen Godwin: The lack of a smart, integrated transport network that effectively connects communities and meets local needs.

The critical shortage of affordable homes in communities with essential services.

The need for sustainable economic growth that delivers quality jobs and training opportunities across our entire region.

As your Labour Mayor working alongside a Labour government, I'll bring together stakeholders and private companies to tackle these challenges with my proven track record of delivery.

Oli Henman: The top issue is the need to improve public transport. This includes rapidly expanding reliable buses, alongside an integrated approach to trains and mass transit as well as improved cycle routes.

Secondly, we have an opportunity to build the jobs of the future, we need pathways through training and into employment in key areas such as renewables, net zero construction, engineering and

Public transport is unreliable or non-existent. We are experiencing biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, conflict between development versus nature yet also a lack of affordable housing.

I will prioritise making public transport accessible and available 24 hours a day. Improve our environment and sustainability policies, support communities with local plans and upskill our people. Work with social housing developers and use the Green Infrastructure Fund to unlock private investment.

Ian Scott: Government Funding – Give us our money back. The West of England is a net contributor to the economy, so why is it not in the first tranche of the Integrated Settlement, like West Yorkshire? West of England or West Yorkshire? West of England voters will want to get fair funding and gets its money back to fund local services.

Mass transit system – We are the biggest city in Europe without a mass transit system Cheap bus fares.

Steve Smith: Ending local councils' war on the

motorist who are hitting people with new parking charges and wasting limited regional funding on closing off roads.

Transforming public transport by opening at least five new local train stations (three in South Glos), increasing service frequency. And prioritising bus services to improve coverage for communities affected by cuts like Chipping Sodbury.

Championing our Green Belt by promoting a “brownfield first” approach to housing and promoting higher density development in the centre of Bristol.

If you win, what would your first action be?

SS: To stop frittering away regional transport funding on schemes that close and curtail road access. The first to go will be the Labour Mayor’s planned congestion-creating and deeply unpopular A4 Bus Lane on the Keynsham Bypass between Bath and Bristol.

IS: Call in the bus operators to plan better bus

routes to increase bus usage and keep bus fares as low as possible, whilst demanding a fair funding system from the government for the West of England.

MP: Meet all staff to outline my plans and hear theirs. Instruct an audit of policy documents and ways of working to ensure a sustainability first approach.

Start investigation into Franchising and set up outline brief for a Freedom travel card.

OH: This is a key moment to rebuild trust in the role of the Mayor to drive new opportunities for our region. I would start by bringing together all the key stakeholders to listen and design a shared strategy on transport, housing and jobs.

HG: If elected, my first action will be assembling a top-tier team at the West of England Authorityprofessionals demonstrating clear regional value while delivering immediate results. No wasted time, just tangible outcomes for our communities from day one.

What qualifies you for the job?

MP: Worked in community development support at Shirehampton Jobs, Training and Enterprise, Jobs 22 Marketing Manager, DWP Work Coach, National Composites Centre Business Development, South Gloucestershire Council political advisor, National Union of Journalists SW Exec, Trustee and Residents’ Association Chair.

SS: I’ve worked in business, the NHS and local government. Crucially I have a proven track record of campaigning on local issues. This includes taking the fight to Lib/Lab South Gloucestershire Council against their Green Belt destroying, congestion creating Local Plan.

HG: As a deeply-rooted local with generations of family across the West Country, I've proven my ability to deliver real change as both a business leader and Bristol cabinet member. My reputation for getting things done by bringing together key stakeholders will secure the investment our region deserves.

OH: I have local roots and an international outlook. I have experience as a local councillor in the leadership at Bath & NE Somerset and deep expertise in sustainable development. I can deliver locally, raise the profile of the region and draw international investment.

IS: I have been a councillor 25 years - Filton 15 years and South Glos 10 years. I worked as a local government policy adviser for South Glos Council two years, Bristol 10 years, and South West councils Local Governance Assessor.

Helen Godwin Oli Henman Mary Page Ian Scott Steve Smith

n LOCAL MP for Yate

Bridge demolition was a huge operation

IT'S finally down - the Badminton Road bridge over the M4 has been demolished.

It was a huge operation that saw the motorway closed for more than 55 hours.

I visited a few days before it happened to hear about the operation. Already on site were 100-tonne breaker machines, which hammered away at the concrete beams.

The M4 itself was shielded by hundreds of sleepers with aggregate on top.

Shipping containers were positioned on the motorway so when the middle of the bridge finally broke, the containers cushioned the fall, as both ends pivoted towards the centre.

The bridge material is being crushed on site and recycled, the aggregate being used in cycle lanes and other rights of ways.

Many people have commented on how long this process is taking, something I questioned National Highways about on site.

Twenty one different options were considered at the outset, but experience told them a complete replacement was the most likely outcome.

So, at the same time they were inspecting the current bridge, they designed the new one. It meant they were able to move more quickly once the bridge was finally ruled irreparable.

Diverting four major services was a big task, requiring the motorway to be closed for a

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weekend. Things outside their control also came into play – such as the discovery of dormice on the site. It’s a criminal offence to disturb them, so the site now has a dormouse licence.

During the time the bridge has been closed, it has been useful in one respect - research. Engineering teams from Italy and Strathclyde University have used it to test out new bridge safety monitoring systems.

Plans for the new bridge are

well advanced, but it will take a year before it opens - assuming all goes to plan.

The 48m steel beams take 20 weeks to make and the weather has to be right for them to be installed. Piling starts in June and the beams should be in put place later this year - the last time the M4 will close for this project.

The new bridge will have a wider cycle lane and higher parapets, but crucially it will sit on a similar footprint, meaning no planning process was needed, or extra funds for land buying. This has ensured no extra delays in the project.

The good news is the new bridge will be of a low maintenance design, making it easier to repair and reducing the need for prolonged closures in the future.

Hopefully, the bridge saga will be brought to a close in spring next year, and we can look forward to an easier journey into Bristol.

Claire Young with National Highways staff under the bridge

New chief for firefighters

AVON Fire & Rescue Service has announced a new chief fire officer to take charge of the organisation.

Matt Cook was most recently the deputy chief fire officer at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

His new employers say he "brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the role," which has a salary of £164,351 per year.

He will take over from Simon Shilton, who is retiring after 32 years as a firefighter, in the coming weeks.

Mr Cook joined Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service as a firefighter in 2001 before transferring to London Fire Brigade.

He has served as assistant chief fire officer in Oxfordshire before being appointed interim deputy chief in 2023 and then moving to West Sussex as deputy chief fire officer.

Mr Cook said: "I am honoured to take on the role of chief fire officer at Avon Fire & Rescue Service.

"Simon’s leadership and distinguished 30-year career have left a lasting impact on

this service, and I wish him all the very best for the future.

"I look forward to working alongside the dedicated people that make up our service and the wider community to ensure we provide the very best service we can.

"I am committed to ensuring we remain resilient, responsive, and innovative, always striving to deliver the highest level of Service for the communities we serve."

Interim Avon Fire Authority chair Paul Goggin said: "Matt’s extensive experience and forward-thinking approach make him the ideal leader for Avon Fire & Rescue Service.

"His commitment to innovation, public safety, and workforce development will be instrumental in driving the service forward.

"On behalf of the Fire Authority, our communities and the Service, we would like to thank Simon Shilton for his invaluable contributions."

The leadership change was announced shortly before the publication of a consultants' report to the fire authority, which found morale at the fire service control room at Lansdown, Bath, was at “rock bottom” and the department is at risk of a mass exodus through resignations.

The consultants said there had been allegations of bullying, discrimination and misogynistic language, and staff also complained of heavy workloads and lack of opportunities for career progression.

Mr Shilton said the service has developed a "staff-led action plan" to address concerns and "positive changes are already taking shape".

He said: "We are dedicated to ensuring that all staff in our control and communications team feel valued, supported, and heard.

“Our leadership team is fully committed to driving this transformation, and we are passionate about creating an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to the success of the service."

Incoming chief fire officer Matt Cook

n RECIPE OF THE MONTH

A retro dessert with eggs for Easter

EASTER time is obviously when kids (and lots of adults!) think of chocolate Easter eggs.

This month my recipe showcases eggs in a classic, retro dessert from the ‘80s.

Crème caramel is a delightful combination of indulgence and lightness.

It seems to have been overtaken in the popularity stakes by crème brulee, another classic French dessert.

But for me, there is nothing better after a rich meal than my old favourite crème caramel.

This time I’ve given it a twist and an extra lightness by using orange juice rather than milk. This would be perfect for a special Sunday lunch, or indeed Easter Sunday, when you crave a little sweetness but not too much!

It should be prepped ahead, so that means you don’t have to think about it on the day of your special meal.

Crème Caramel With Orange

Preferably, make this the day before or at least in the morning when you are eating it later.

Makes 4 individual ramekins

Ingredients:

For the crème:

Grated zest of one orange Eggs – preferably free range and as fresh as possible -3 whole plus 3 egg yolks

Caster sugar- 3 level dessertspoons

Fresh orange juice or good quality orange juice (not from concentrate)

10 fl oz or half pint

For the caramel:

Caster sugar – 100g

To serve:

A jug of single cream - optional Preheat the oven to 180C, gas mark 4

Finely grate the zest from the orange and leave it to steep in the orange juice.

Meanwhile, warm the ramekins and make the caramel. Make sure that you have a full kettle of boiling water ready, to clean any residual caramel from the pan in which it has been cooked.

For the caramel - put the 100g of caster sugar and 4 dessertspoons of cold water in a heavy-based saucepan.

Using a low heat, stir gently using a metal spoon until the syrup is clear which means the sugar has dissolved.

Turn up the heat and allow to bubble. Without stirring, leave the syrup to cook until golden brown. Watch the syrup carefully and when it starts to turn golden brown at the edges, swirl the pan to ensure an even colouring. Remove from the heat.

Pour a little caramel into each ramekin and twist quickly to coat the bottom. Use heavy duty oven gloves as the ramekins will be very hot.*

Then make the orange cream. Whisk the whole eggs and yolks and the 3 dessertspoons of sugar until creamy.

Heat the zest and orange juice gently in a separate pan.

Once the juice is almost boiling,

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.

turn off the heat and strain the orange mixture into the eggs, stirring briskly until well combined. (otherwise you could end up with orange scrambled eggs!)

Pour carefully into the ramekins. The mixture should come near to the top of the dish, as it will settle a little in cooking. Cover each ramekin with buttered greaseproof paper.

Set the ramekins in a roasting pan with one inch of hot water.

Bake in the oven for about 30 mins or until lightly set. (When you jiggle the roasting tin, the cream shouldn’t wobble too much. If in doubt, a cocktail stick inserted in the middle should come out clean.)

Set aside in a cool place (not the fridge). Once cooled completely, transfer to the fridge.

Remove from the fridge 10 mins before serving.

Unmould the crèmes onto individual plates and serve with a splash of single cream to taste.

*Cook’s Tip – Once you have poured the caramel out of the saucepan, pour in the boiling water and leave for about 10 mins to make cleaning the pan easier.

Don’t be disappointed the finished crèmes don’t look overly orange. They will taste of orange and you can add some fresh orange segments to add colour and extra flavour if you wish.

Exhibition celebrates South Yate

YATE Heritage Centre's latest exhibition, A New Start, covers the history of the South Yate community from the 1960s through to the present day.

Since January, students from the University of the West of England have been working with students at Yate Academy and St Nicholas Church, to research the rich history of the area, uncovering 60 years of memories, as told by the areas’ residents.

Where is South Yate? It really depends on who you ask! Our project focuses south of Briavel’s Drive and north of Shire Way, on the former Stanshawes Estate, which was developed for housing after 1965.

Interviews with residents have demonstrated a strong community spirit and uncovered a rich seam of new information, often challenging reputations that the area has unfairly endured.

Due to its rapid development between mid1960s and the early 1970s, becoming one of the largest private housing estates in the country, South Yate was seen by some new residents as soulless, and residents talk of isolation and being marooned in new developments with nothing to do.

Eventually the local pub, church and shopping

area came to be and for many, these amenities were central locations for community life.

A key theme in our research has been pride in the area, and a determination to defend it.

Many talked of the Radburn housing system of “back to front” houses, surrounded by green spaces that aimed to provide safe places for children to play, and walking routes between houses.

Unlike north Yate, South Yate could boast its own community church, St Nicholas, and youth centre. The congregation spoke of a warm and welcoming church community, where people stayed for decades, many becoming valued volunteers locally.

Our interviews found that South Yate, like many communities, has experienced societal changes aplenty.

Abbotswood Shopping Centre once enjoyed a range of useful shops including a butcher, grocer and haberdashery, which has evolved into many takeaways, a handful of small businesses and a post office/convenience store.

The ideals of the 1960s have also moved on.

Where once young families encouraged children to play in the green spaces, older residents now prefer peace and quiet.

But the South Yate community spirit lives on in St Nicholas, and the adjoining youth centre still thrives with activity and inspiration for younger residents.

Abbotswood Action is a dynamic new force in the heart of the area, supporting those in need and organising community events.

Our exhibition hopes to capture the strong community spirit of south Yate from the 1960s through to those who live there today.

If you have a story to tell about life in South Yate, or have relevant photographs or artefacts, please contact our team at Yate Heritage Centre on 01454 862200 or e-mail info@yateheritage.co.uk. Yate Heritage Centre is part of Yate Town Council. David Hardill

Diary dates

April 1-May 3: A New Start, exhibition on the history of the South Yate community from the 1960s to the present day. Free entry.

April 14, 10am or 1pm: Crafting For the Climate workshops with Gloucestershire Archives Green Pledge Project. Free entry - book your place at tinyurl.com/4mbv2f85

April 26: St George Celebrations, 10.30am-4.30pm: Full day of traditional music and performance, history-themed activities and community stalls. Free entry.

April 29: Yate Lecture Series, 7.30pm: The 1st Medical officer of Bath, with Stuart Burroughs. Email info@ yateheritage.co.uk or call 01454 862200 to book.

Caption: Father Christmas visits Abbotswood Youth Centre, 1971. Picture: Gazette

Car park charge work starts

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has started work to install payment machines in car parks where charges are being brought in.

The council has yet to confirm a date for the introduction of charges in many of its car parks, including two in Yate.

A spokesperson said: "While the scheme will go live later in the year, work to prepare for installation of machines that will accept contactless and chip and pin payments is being carried out now."

The plan to introduce charges, which was agreed by councillors last year with the aim of raising £800,000 per year in revenue, has been widely opposed in many areas, including Thornbury, where the Thornbury Town Centre Partnership wrote an open letter last year calling on the council rethink the plan due to its potential effect on businesses, residents and visitors.

In Yate, charges are being introduced at the Kennedy Way long stay car park and Yate Leisure Centre (South), which will have a mix of short and long stay spaces.

Car parks not owned by the council, including Yate Shopping Centre, Chipping Sodbury and Riverside retail and leisure park are not affected by the charges.

Short stay car parks will have a limited number of spaces available for free for stays of up to 30 minutes: charges will range from 70p for an hour to a maximum of £5 for up to four hours.

Long-stay charges will range from £3 for up to four hours to £5 for more than six hours, with season tickets charged from £20 for a week to £840 for a year.

Disabled Blue Badge holders will be able to park in any space free, for up to four hours.

Charges will apply on weekdays from 8am-6pm.

More details on the charges can be found at tinyurl. com/2j3yp8bp.

Win a family ticket to Good Times Live 2025!

We've teamed up with the organisers of Good Times in Chipping Sodbury to offer 1 lucky reader a family ticket to a show of their choice in May 2025. Choose from a range of headline concerts ranging from Billy Ocean to Craig David or perhaps Scouting for Girls or Will Young - the choice is yours!

Protesters call for slaughterhouse to close

ANIMAL rights campaigners are calling for the closure of an abattoir where they say up to 3,000 pigs a day are slaughtered.

Protesters are holding regular vigils outside the Pilgrim's Europe plant at Westerleigh, south of Yate.

They believe the method used to stun the pigs before slaughter, using carbon dioxide gas, is cruel and that the animals suffer "immense distress" during transportation to the plant in trucks.

The protests, which take place every other Monday

morning outside the plant and on nearby Westerleigh Road, are coordinated by the Bristol Animal Rights Collective, and also involve members of other groups, including Bristol Animal Save and We The Free.

People had travelled from as far as Evesham, Swindon and Weston-super-Mare to take part in a demonstration seen by the Voice in March.

Carol Sharpe, from Downend, has been attending the protests, which happen fortnightly on Monday mornings, since 2018, a year after the first one was held.

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She said: "We do it to raise awareness.We ask passing drivers to beep in support and one of us uses a clicker to count how many we get - some weeks it's over 250."

Jody Wilkins, who travels from Weston to regularly take part, said: "We also go there as a mark of respect to the pigs, to bear witness to the trucks coming in and raise awareness to the public that the facility is there.

"The industry tries to keep this side of it secret."

Jody said carbon dioxide is

used on 90% of pigs slaughtered in the UK and was "an extremely painful way to die".

The campaigners are calling on people to watch a documentary called Pignorant, released last year, which includes undercover filming at an abattoir using carbon dioxide.

The Voice has contacted Pilgrim's Europe to request a comment on the protests, the campaigners' claims that the use of carbon dioxide is cruel and that animals suffer distress during their journey to the abattoir.

Protesters film pigs inside a lorry arriving at the plant.

Animal rights protesters outside the abattoir in Westerleigh

Waste collector fined £15,000 for bonfires

A WASTE collector who burned waste at a disused historic Manor House and hotel has been ordered to pay more than £15,000 in fines and costs.

South Gloucestershire Council prosecuted Waste Bristol Limited and owner Mark Stephens, 59, of Barrowmead Drive, Lawrence Weston, Bristol for a series of offences.

He appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on March 17 and pleaded guilty to unauthorised treating, keeping or disposal of waste; fly-tipping and failing to produce waste transfer notes.

His company was fined a total of £12,000, and he was also told to pay costs to the council of £1,288, and a victim surcharge of £2,000, totalling £15,228.

The court heard that in April last year, residents became

aware of fires being lit in the car park of Rangeworthy Court in Church Lane, Rangeworthy.

A council spokesperson said: "A white Transit sized tipper truck would arrive after dark and tip waste within the hotel car park.

"The occupants of the truck would then arrange the waste into a bonfire and set it alight.

"This would happen on a weekly basis, with the men using an accelerant to ignite the fire. The fire would burn intensely, and the men would remain at the bonfire for up to 45 minutes before driving off to leave the fire to burn out unsupervised."

In July last year a local resident observed a large plume of smoke and called the fire brigade before going to the car park and finding the ‘Waste Bristol’ truck in front of a bonfire.

Another fire was spotted in the car park of Rangeworthy Court burning unattended in September.

South Gloucestershire envirocrime officers found the remains of three further bonfires and traced the owner, who said

no permission had been given for them.

In October, Stephens confirmed he was the director and sole worker of Waste Bristol Limited and admitted regularly going to Rangeworthy Court.

The spokesperson said: "Stephens stated that his subsequent visits to the site were to relax and connect with ‘spirits’ that he sensed were present there."

"When shown the photograph of a Waste Bristol truck in front of a bonfire, he denied any involvement stating that the fire was already lit when he arrived there."

Council cabinet member for

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One of the bonfires at Rangeworthy Court

environmental enforcement

Sean Rhodes said: “This case saw an unscrupulous waste company ignore all of their legal responsibilities and set alight vast amounts of potentially harmful waste at the historic Rangeworthy Court.

“Our advice to residents, is to be wary of businesses or people advertising waste clearances on social media sites such as Facebook."

Illegal fly-tipping can be reported by contacting the council’s StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, emailing streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/ flytipping.

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Train delays tracked

RAIL passengers using Yate station will be able to keep track of how reliable their train services are as performance data is posted online.

The Office of Rail and Road is publishing figures, updated every four weeks, for the percentage of trains that run on time or are cancelled for every station in the country.

The latest figures showed that for Yate station, 83.7% of trains ran on time and 3.2% of services - about one in every 30 - were cancelled during the

four weeks from February 2 to March 1.

The live updates can be found online at dataportal.orr.gov.uk/performance.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the publication "marks the beginning of a new era of rail accountability".

She said: "These displays are a step towards rebuilding trust with passengers using our railways, as we continue to tackle the root causes of frustrating delays and cancellations."

Figures are provided by Network Rail and broken down by operator, with Yate served only by Great Western Railway.

Help Sodbury to bloom

SPRING is here, and Sodbury in Bloom is stirring and looking around the town to see what needs to be done ready for another colourful year.

This year we are taking on extra planters on behalf of the Town Council. This means we shall be looking after around 80, as well as the Millennium Garden, the boat, the Community Garden and the Community Orchard.

That’s a lot of work for a small group, so we could really do with some more volunteers!

If you would like to join us and can spare a couple of hours on Thursday mornings every once in a while, please get in touch.

We’re a very friendly group (there’s always coffee and cake at the end of sessions) and you don’t need any gardening expertise.

You can contact us via our Facebook page, by emailing jbatsodburyinbloom@yahoo.com or come and chat to us on April 5, when we'll have a stall in Hatherell’s Yard.

We are also starting a sponsorship scheme for our planters. You can find details on our Facebook page and The My Sodbury website. Julia Bernau Sodbury in Bloom

A great response

MY motorcycle was stolen on the afternoon of March 5 in Chipping Sodbury High Street.

I wandered around some of the shops, hoping to see if I could find some witnesses or CCTV and had a very positive response.

Molly from Allen & Harris estate agents went above and beyond, taking to social media to try and find any information or witnesses.

My motorcycle was located, undamaged, and recovered the same day.

A great response from the community. Thanks to Charlotte for keeping an eye on it until I came and collected it.

Brian Sutlieff

Thank you

THANK you for a lovely article on our daughter (Sienna inspires huge total for charity, Voice, March).

It has been fantastic to share our journey, help raise awareness, fundraise and thank the nursery for their support.

One day Sienna will be able to read these stories and see how amazing everyone has been.

Jo Mullins Chipping Sodbury

Council revamps rooms

DODINGTON Parish Council has held an official opening ceremony for its refurbished council chamber and office.

Thornbury and Yate MP Claire Young was invited to officially open upgraded facilities at the end of February, following the earlier completion of the work.

The rooms have been

extended into what was previously storage space at the back of the parish hall and the chamber now has space to seat councillors and members of the public "comfortably" at meetings.

Heating and insulation were also improved, audiovisual equipment upgraded, offices modernised and a new accessible toilet installed.

Over 50 guests joined Ms Young, including council chair Chris Zapata, Dodington’s longest-serving Councillor, Paul Hulbert and architect Derrick Hardwick, who designed both the original office in 1998 and the refurbishment.

G

Ms Young said: "Dodington is a parish I know well and it's great that the new space will be used not only by the council, but by the local community."

Parish clerk Hannah Saunders said: "The upgrades make for a flexible range of

facilities to suit groups of all sizes for years to come."

The chamber, hall and Foxall-Powell meeting room are available to hire. Call 01454 866546 or email clerk@ dodingtonpc.org.uk for more details.

MP's school visit

MP Claire Young visited St Mary's Primary School in Yate to discuss her job and how parliament works.

Year 5 and 6 pupils have been learning about democracy and how they can make their voices heard.

The school is encouraging children to become 'brave change makers' in the world, and pupils have been exploring how to engage with issues and campaigns.

After studying ancient Greek democracy and the impact it has had on modern parliaments, they had a chance to hear from Ms Young and ask her a range of questions.

Claire Young with St Mary's Primary School pupils

Claire Young MP with architect Derrick Hardwick and councillors Chris Zapata and Paul Hulbert. Picture: Rich McD

WILL & PROBATE ADVICE

Chipping Sodbury Library

free Lego club. The next Lego club session is on April 26 - no need to book.

Free craft sessions are held during the school holidays: the next one will be on April 16.

the library, have a look round and chat to the volunteers?

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IT'S nearly nine years since Chipping Sodbury Library was relaunched as a community library, staffed by volunteers.

A partnership of South Glos Libraries, Sodbury Town Council and some 40 volunteers has successfully run the library since then.

February 2025 is LPA month at local experts Simpson Solicitors. Call their friendly Kingswood Team on 0117 960 8594 and quote LPA25 and our readers get a fantastic 25% off their full cost.

It’s a very rewarding and fun way of volunteering and our volunteers are a lovely group of people.

Craft sessions need to be booked in advance, either by calling 01454 864772 or in person at the library.

(OPG) and providing solicitorcertified copies.

The Easter Trail is earlier than usual this year, and will run from April 4 to 22.

If you are interested, contact lucy.shilcock@sodburytowncouncil. gov.uk. Julia Bernau

Yate library

YATE Library will host an afternoon with author Tim Weaver on April 12 at 2pm.

by an adult.

Reading group ‘Have You Read’ takes place on April 25, from 10.3011.30am.

Craft Group meets on April 5 and 26 from 10am-noon, for knitting, sewing or crochet projects.

Computer support with digital champion volunteers is on Saturdays & Tuesdays from 10amnoon – book in advance.

We are open every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9.30am to 4.30 pm and Friday and Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

A Will covers your wishes when you die. An LPA is how you make sure your wishes are followed when you are alive. It is how you appoint those you trust with your finances and decisions about your health and treatment.

Apart from borrowing books, you can have reservations delivered for collection, use the public computers, printer and photocopier.

The theme is 'Animals in Literature' and you will be able to follow the trail round Chipping Sodbury to find the clues.

• Aftercare: No one want to be a burden, so their service also includes support to your Attorneys in activating and using them when the time comes.

Some clues will be in shop windows, as well as at places looked after by Sodbury in Bloom.

Powers of Attorney are so important. Arguably even more important than Wills. Go quickly.

Tickets cost £5, to include refreshments, and are available from sglibraries.eventbrite.com or Yate Library.

The library will be closed over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

make it easy for you and those you appoint. For example your Attorney is likely to need a copy of your LPA certified by a solicitor. Being a firm of solicitors this is not extra hassle for them - we can just provide it when needed.”

Storybuilders family friendly story and Duplo session for preschool children is on Tuesday mornings at 10.30am.

Vision West of England information, advice and support drop-in every second Thursday, 10am-noon.

Legal advice with Wards Solicitors: April 3, 10am-noon; Bevan Evemy, Saturdays by appointment.

You can pick up a form from the library, the Tourist Information Centre, the Sweet Emporium or Waitrose or download it from My Sodbury.

• Peace of mind: With Simpsons there are no long forms for you to complete. Their Complete Service covers so much more than paperwork. It includes Certifying your mental capacity and registering them with the court

I don't care how old you are. I got mine at 35. It's always best to go through solicitors

Stay & play Duplo and trains is now on Thursday mornings at 10.30am, term time only.

LPAs are essential protection in case you need help paying bills, managing money or deciding on treatment options. It is not just about dementia but - perhaps due to severe stroke, illness, injury, an operation going wrong or just old age.

We also have Rhyme Time for mothers and pre-schoolers every Friday during term time, and a

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We are always looking for new volunteers. Currently, we are finding it challenging to staff all the sessions, so we need more people to join us.

SOLICITOR CERTIFED COPIES:

Wriggle & Rhyme: Rhymes and songs for parents and babies/ toddlers, is on Friday from 10.30am.

So contact Simpson Solicitors today. They are opposite Costa Coffee in the Kings Chase shopping centre. Quote LPA25 for 25% off the full cost!

John at Simpsons says, “We just

If you can spare three hours every two weeks, why not pop into

Lego Club is on April 5, 10.3011.30am and April 11, 4pm. Dropin sessions. Suitable for children 4-10 years, must be accompanied

Staffed times are 10am-5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9am-12.30pm on Saturday.

Open Access, at times when the library is unstaffed, between 8am and 7.30pm daily.

Kings Chase Shopping Centre, Kingswood 0117 960 8594

For more information call 01454 868006, enquire at the library, email yate.library@southglos.gov. uk or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/ libraries.

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Or visit our ground

“We were made to feel

“You

n WHAT'S ON

April 5

n SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT FROM BENNIE VEE, with dancing at Frampton Cotterell & Coalpit Heath RBL Club, Ryecroft Road, Frampton Cotterell, 8pm. Also Falcons on the 12th, City Limits on the 15th and Shayne Driscoll on the 26th. New visitors welcome. £6 entry - cash only.

April 7

n YATE AND DISTRICT BOWLS

CLUB Monday club night, Sunnyside Lane Playing Fields, Moorland Road, 6pm. Friendly matches amongst members every Monday night. All you need to start is a pair of flat soled shoes.

April 8-17

n EASTER HOLIDAY EVENTS at Yate Shopping Centre, Central Square: Easter basket craft workshop on April 8, Easter-themed event including glitter tattoos, balloon modelling and craft workshop on the 10th, Easter Bunny meet & greet on 15th and 17th.

April 8

n CHIPPING SODBURY MUSIC SOCIETY ZRI Cellar Sessions, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, 7.30pm. From Brahms to Taylor Swift, inspired by the Red Hedgehog Tavern in Vienna. Tickets £18 on the door. School-aged children free.

April 8

n SODBURY AND DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT SOCIETY practice class, Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm. Making an arrangement without using floral foam. Also on 22nd, same time and place, arranging in the Japanese Ikebana style. More information from rosemary.cummins2@gmail.com

April 14

n ARTS SOCIETY SEVERN VALLEY LECTURE at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, 10.30am and 1.30pm. Cantiones Sacrae 1575: The Lives and Music of Tallis and Byrd. Explore the lives of the two men who created the first ever volume of English printed music and listen to some of its treasures. Non-members welcome, £6. Contact memb@tassv.org.uk.

April 17

n ARTS APPRECIATION GROUP meets at The Greenfield Centre, Park Avenue, Winterbourne, 2pm. Illustrated talk on artist Maggi Hambling, by Justine Hopkins. More details from Sally on 0794 650 8316.

April 26

n AFTERNOON TEA at St John's Church, Wickwar Road, Chipping Sodbury, 1-3pm. Choose from a selection of savouries and sweet treats. £5 a ticket or £8 a with a glass of bubbles. Music, raffle and gift stall. All proceeds to church funds.

May 1-5

n SEVERN VALE ART TRAIL. Diverse range of arts and crafts on show across bank holiday weekend in venues from Berkeley to Frampton Cotterell and from Slimbridge to Wickwar. Artist and venue details at www.

severnvalearttrail.org.

REGULAR EVENTS:

Monday

n BRISTOL BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY holds open meetings at Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Little Stoke, at 7.30pm on the second Monday of each month. More details from Ron Ramplin at ronnie. ramplin@btinternet.com or 07748 740794. Visitors always welcome without commitment or charge.

n FLOW-IN YOGA WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga classes 6.15pm & 7.30pm in Chipping Sodbury. Become more flexib le, worry less and sleep better with an easy to follow flowing yoga. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n GENTLE YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga class 9.30am. Easy to follow gentle yoga, ideal for back pain relief and joint issues. A slower-paced, mindful and lighter yoga in Chipping Sodbury with experienced teacher. Beginners Welcomed. Sodbury Masonic Hall, 1 Hatters Lane, Chipping Sodbury. From £6.00. Book online www.yogain.co.uk or call 07804598353

n YATE & SODBURY ART & CRAFT

CLUB meets every Monday, 7-9 pm at Ridgewood Community Centre. Painting, drawing, collage and many other crafts in a friendly informal setting. £5 per session. More information at yateandsodburyartsociety.weebly.com or call Roz on 07941 946412.

Tuesday

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

n SERENGETI BRASS BAND, small band for improvers, meets every Tuesday from 9.45-11.45am at Yate Methodist Church in Moorland Road. Straightforward pressure-free music making in good company. For more information email SerengetiBrassClass@gmail.com or phone Paul on 07851 239500.

n SUNRIDGE GOLF CROQUET

CLUB meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Coalpit Heath and has players at all levels. Learn how to play, club equipment is available to use. To find out more contact croquet@wilko.eclipse.co.uk or call

07977 201440.

n SOUTH COTSWOLD PROBUS GROUP meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month at Masonic Hall Sodbury, 10am. Contact Pete Chaplin for details. 01454 324956.

n YATE CHORAL SOCIETY rehearses at St. Nicholas' Church Centre, Chargrove, Yate, 7.30 - 9.30 p.m. For details call 07833 597114

n PUCKLECHURCH FOLK DANCING CLUB, Pucklechurch Community Hall, Abson Road, every other Tuesday from 7.30-10.15pm. All welcome, with a partner or solo. Call Alan on 07812 508396 or Linda on 07843 240414

Wednesday

n LINE DANCE CLASSES AT RIDGEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTRE, Wednesdays 9.30am to 12. Cost £5. No partner needed. A fun way to keep fit, reduce stress, improve memory and make new life long friends. Contact Gill 07837 784816, or FB gill.butler.90

n CRAFT MORNING, St Mary's Church, Yate, 10am-midday. Bring a project, get help learning something new or just come to sit and chat, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit. Small donation requested to support church heating.

n GENTLE YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga class 9.30am (term time). Easy to follow gentle yoga, ideal for back pain relief and joint issues. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n YATE AND CHIPPING SODBURY GOOD AFTERNOON CHOIR, St Mary’s Church, every Wednesday from 2-4pm. New members welcome, especially men, to thriving community choir, with no auditions. First rehearsal free. For more information phone Jody on 01761

472468. Thursday

n GOLDEN OLDIES SING & SMILE SESSIONS, Cambrian Green Court, Wellington Road, every third Thursday from 10.30-11.30am. Sing along to hits of the 50s onwards, chat and laugh with friends. £3 donation to attend. Call 01761 470006 for more details.

n LIONS CLUB OF CHIPPING SODBURY meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month at the Cross Hands, Old Sodbury, 7.30pm. More information from chris.dodd47@hotmail, call 01454 882655 or via Facebook.

n COELIAC UK LOCAL CAFÉ MEET UP occurs every third Thursday of the month, 10-11.30am, at Iron Acton Garden Centre cafe. Join us to share experiences of living gluten free. For further info contact volunteering@coeliac.org.uk.

n YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly Flow-in Yoga 6.15pm & Back Care Yoga 7.30pm in Chipping Sodbury. Become more flexible, worry less and sleep better with an easy to follow yoga. Beginners Welcomed. Chipping Sodbury Sports Centre. From £6.00. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n YATE COMMUNITY CHOIR, Ridgewood Community Centre, Station Road, 7.30-9pm. More details from nicelizmartin@yahoo.co.uk.

n CHIPPING SODBURY LIONS CLUB meets 2nd Thursday of the month at the Cross Hands, Old Sodbury, 7.30pm. For more information on volunteering/membership email chris.dodd47@hotmail or call 01454 882655. Friday

n CHIPPING SODBURY COMMUNITY CHOIR, 10-11.30am, Old Grammar School, Chipping Sodbury High Street. More details from nicelizmartin@yahoo.co.uk.

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Chipping Sodbury Lions Club

CONGRATULATIONS to the lucky winners of the highly successful Lions giant Easter Egg draw, which has been taking place in 24 pubs across the region.

Funds raised from this draw will be used to support good causes locally, including Yate Food Bank and youth organisations. Thank you to all who took part.

We are already planning for Chipping Sodbury Carnival on June 14. Stall spaces are available to book at £40 each for this vibrant community event.

The club is changing its name to the Lions Club of Chipping Sodbury, Yate and District, to better reflect its membership and the area it serves.

We welcome enquiries from community-minded people who want to give something back through service, all undertaken in a wonderful spirit of friendship, kindness and fun.

We are looking for volunteers who can assist us with social media, to help spread the word about the excellent work the Lions do in the area, and to publicise the community events they support. To get in touch email chris.dodd47@hotmail, call 01454 882655 or visit our Facebook page.

Meetings are on the second Thursday of the month at the Cross Hands Pub, Old Sodbury.

Kate Saunders

Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel

IT'S been a busy month for the club, with the usual mix of social activities, community involvement and meetings.

We are progressing well in our skittles matches, and 12 of our members travelled to Clevedon for an afternoon of fun and friendship where we were treated to a cream tea and challenged to a quiz and a strange whistling game.

Inner Wheel members provided and served refreshments at this year’s tea dances in the Town Hall.

We were delighted to welcome district chairman, Margaret Bracher, to our March meeting.

We were praised for all that we do and proud to be called a shining example of Inner Wheel in action.

Part of this was our collection of Easter eggs, which were delivered to the local food bank to ensure that no family has to miss out on special items, as well as the basics.

We also had a very friendly and sociable get together at Chipping Sodbury’s newest cafe - Willow and Fig - where 21 of us were well looked after in their lovely upstairs area.

As always, we welcome potential members to our meetings in the Town Hall. The next one is on May 12, from 2pm.

Liz Pattison

Old Sodbury WI

OUR March meeting was all about dogs, and our members shared their wonderful dog ornaments.

We welcomed a volunteer speaker from the Medical Detection Dogs Charity, who shared the wonderful and insightful work that they do.

Its dogs are trained to detect early cancers and other diseases by smell, and also support people with life-threatening health conditions by warning them of impending collapse or crisis.

We held a craft fair and coffee morning on March 8, and were overwhelmed with the amount of support from the local community. Thank you to everyone who visited.

Our next meeting is on April 2 at Old Sodbury Village Hall at 7.30pm, and we have a talk on Millinery.

You would be most welcome to attend. Sam Newick

Rachel Flowers of the Beaufort Hunt pub receives a giant chocolate egg from Chris Dodd of the Lions.

Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club

CLUB member Andy Kybert took part in a charity firewalk event at Bristol Cathedral with over 40 others walking barefoot across embers in February.

Andy raised over £500 for the Bristol-based One25 charity that provides a wonderful support service to marginalised women.

Our club president Ian Hodgson inducted two new members at our business meeting in March. They are John Giles and Stuart Bryant, chairman and director of Bryant Associates

Wealth Management, and the first ever club corporate member.

Our final tea dance of the season was held on February 26 at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, with over 80 guests present. Over £360 was given in donations, with nearly £1,500 raised over the five events, all of which will go to deserving dementia related causes.

Our thanks to the members of Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club, the Alzheimer’s Society, town hall staff and trustees of the Town Lands Charity, and to Sharon and Belinda for providing the music.

Following a very informative presentation, the club has made a donation to support the work of Community Action Trust, which provides mobility aids, food and support to elderly and disabled people in Zimbabwe.

You can still enter or sponsor our annual Charity Golf Day, on May 23 at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club. For more information contact Ian Joseph at bigjos1953@gmail.com.

Club members joined other Rotary members at the PhysioNet warehouse to load a container with surplus medical equipment for North Macedonia. We also joined the Upper Frome Friends Group to clear rubbish from the Stover Bridge area of Yate.

A social skittles evening at Horton Village Hall on March 12 raised over £100, which will go to a deserving cause.

Stuart Fraser

Upper Frome Friends

WHY do we need so many volunteers for Himalayan balsam bashing, and why are we hoping that you will join us this spring and summer?

Although many people think the plant looks pretty by the riverbank, it is now our most prolific non-native invasive species, and can seriously damage the ecology of our rivers, including the Frome.

As Himalayan balsam has shallow roots and grows very tall, it can erode riverbanks. It also grows quickly, crowding out the native species. Dead material from the plants can cause flooding.

Each plant can produce up to 600 seeds, and the seeds can travel seven metres in every direction. The seeds are also viable in the ground for three years, which means we have to revisit sites to ensure there are no plants left.

The best removal method is by pulling the roots up, and this process must happen before the seeds are ready, which is why the Balsam Bashing happens every spring and early summer.

It’s vital that we clear the Himalayan Balsam in Yate, as if we don’t, it will continue to travel down river and grow on sites downstream.

If you aren’t on Facebook to access the UFF Group page, which has details of river cleans and Balsam Bashing, you can find out more information by contacting riverfromereconnected@southglos.gov.uk.

Jane Davies

Andy Kybert's firewalk

& sodbury voice

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Arts Society Severn Valley

THE Arts Society Severn Valley is a welcoming organisation for people who enjoy learning about all aspects of decorative and fine arts.

Meetings are held in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, on the third Monday in the month from October to June.

Lectures last approximately an hour, and include all aspects of the arts including paintings, sculptures, architecture, music and photography.

Our lecturers are experts in their fields, and the lectures are both informative and entertaining. They are held in the mornings at 10.30am for 11am, and repeated at 1.30pm for 2pm: tea and coffee are available prior to the lectures.

Visitors are warmly invited to join us at a cost of £6, although booking is essential - email memb@tassv.org.uk.

For more information visit our website, tassv. org.uk.

Christine Burn

Chipping Sodbury Morning WI

OUR speaker in March, Martin Tobitt, took us into Uncovering Our Past using a metal detector. We were lucky enough to hold a 10,000-year-

old item, plus others he has discovered.

On April 15 we have someone from the Air Ambulance to visit us.

We are just finalising our program for the rest of the year and have some great events to look forward to, including a talk about SS Great Britain, a visit from a pantomime dame, and a day out at the RNLI in Poole, plus our regular lunches in local venues.

We meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 10am in the Masonic Hall, Hatters Lane, Chipping Sodbury.

The building is fully accessible, with plenty of parking, just as our coffee break has plenty of biscuits! We are a friendly group and would love to welcome new members.

For more information please call 07809 534107.

Sue Bird

Chipping Sodbury WI

OUR year began with a very talented speaker, Briony May Williams.

She gave a a lively talk about her baking experiences on Bake Off, as she stepped from being a teacher into a totally different career on the TV and radio.

In February, Chloe beautifully presented the 'Tropic' skincare range. Their products contain natural nutrients rich ingredients, all

environmentally friendly.

We have another busy year ahead of us, with interesting speakers covering many different subjects, coffee mornings, craft evenings and day trips.

We are a friendly group of women who meet every month in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. You would be more than welcome to join us. Our next meeting is on April 3 at 7.30pm, with a talk on triplets. by Rob Jones.

Barbara Kemp

Yate and Sodbury u3a

THE u3a Yate and Sodbury Art Group exhibition at Yate Heritage Centre delighted visitors with its vibrant display of creativity.

Running throughout February, the exhibition showcased the diverse talents of members, offering something for every artistic taste.

Strong sales and positive feedback highlighted the success of the event.

Group leader Mike Hayward expressed pride in the group’s achievements, saying: "It’s wonderful to see such enthusiasm and support for local art."

The group looks forward to returning to the heritage centre for a future exhibition in 2026.

For more information on our courses see yate-sodbury.u3asite.uk.

Jenny Smith

Yate dominate Bristol Barbarians

YATE Rugby’s incredible league run continued in emphatic fashion, as they stormed to a 73-3 victory over Bristol Barbarians 1st XV away from home.

This latest triumph marks their ninth consecutive league win, reinforcing their positive run as the season nears its conclusion.

From the first whistle Yate set the tempo, showcasing their attacking firepower and defensive resilience.

Chris Moore led from the front, opening the scoring and maintaining pinpoint accuracy with the boot throughout the match with conversions and penalties.

Rhys Summerville, Stacey Price (2), Adam Bishop (2), Johnny Graham, Sam Manning, and Dan Davies (2) all crossed the try line in a relentless display of skill and teamwork.

Bristol Barbarians struggled to contain Yate’s fast-paced, clinical play, managing only a single penalty in response to the visitors’ onslaught.

Yate’s defensive structure remained solid, shutting down any attacking threats and ensuring their impressive points difference continued to grow.

Afterwards Yate Rugby chairman Matt Davies praised the squad’s commitment.

He said "The team has worked incredibly hard this season, and performances like today show just how much progress we’ve made.

"The energy, teamwork, and execution were fantastic. Now, we focus on finishing with a positive result in our final game."

Jamie hands over

CHIPPING Sodbury are preparing for the start of the new season under a new captain.

Jamie Rendell has stood down after spending a grand total of 15 seasons in two spells at the helm.

The key role has now been taken by powerful opening batsman Tom Laver, who last summer came close to scoring 1,000 runs, including eight half-centuries, in all formats for Sodbury.

Rendell, aged 45, admitted the decision had been one of the hardest in his long career.

He said: "The time feels right for me to step aside and for someone else to take the club forward. "I’ve absolutely loved doing the job and I believe that very solid foundations have been laid for us to keep progressing ... we have a very talented squad, great team spirit and a tremendous number of exciting young players coming through."

Rens, as he is universally known, began his career at the club before joining Knowle and Frocester. He returned in 2006 and made an instant impact, going on to take more than 400 league wickets with his off-spinners and score over 4,000 runs.

Highlights include guiding Sodbury to three league promotions.

The club have now set their sights on winning WEPL’s Gloucestershire division after finishing third and then second in the last two seasons.

Rendell will continue to play and do his best to assist Laver in his quest to help Sodbury move up to WEPL’s second tier and become one of the leading 30 clubs in the cross-county competition.

Pre-season fixtures include home games for the 2nd XI and 3rds/4ths v Golden Hill on April 19, 1st XI v Frenchay and 3rds v Coalpit Heath on April 26, and v Carsons & Mangotsfield on April 27.

Stewart Stacey

Yate Rugby continues to grow both on and off the pitch, providing free rugby for all—men, women, and children—in various formats of the game.

Steve Hill

Jamie Rendell

Title race tightens up for Bluebells

£291 from a fans' bucket collection, for Bashley player Jordan Chiedozie, who was seriously injured whilst changing a tyre on the M27 while returning from a game at Tavistock in February. He has life-changing injuries and will never play football again.

Bristol-based The Window Hub progresses on green goals

Bristol-based home improvement company, The Window Hub, is aiming to plant 3,000 trees over the next three years as part of its commitment to being a climate conscious business.

YATE Town's race for the Southern League Division One South title looks like going down to the wire.

With just six games to go as the Voice went to print, the Bluebells' lead at the top of the table had been cut to three points over second-placed Evesham United, who have an identical goal difference.

The trees will be planted at Boyd Valley Lake, which is located in Bitton. This is in addition to continuing its policy of recycling all old frames so they don’t end up in landfill.

Wins at Thatcham (3-1) and at home to Shaftesbury (3-1) were followed by draws against Willand Rovers (3-3) and Melksham Town (1-1).

The window installation company was launched during lockdown in 2020 by seasoned industry professional Danny, who wanted to create a business that was “built on quality rather than greed”.

Sandwiched in between those two draws was a narrow defeat at Evesham, only their fifth of the season, when Yate took the lead through Lucas Tomlinson before conceding two goals.

Making his debut for the club in this game was Isaac Finch, a goalkeeper on loan from Bristol City, covering for the injured Aaron Sainsbury.

In fact, a new showroom is scheduled to open this month.

A late goal from Marlon Jackson secured a 2-1 win at Westbury and it was followed by a 1-1 away draw against Bideford, with Yate's goal coming from Jamie Adams.

you know what? It is so easy to be amazing if you don’t cut corners.”

The club is looking for the Yate public to continue to come out in force to support the side through what looks like being an exciting but tense finish to the season, with three away and three home games to go.

And the Window Hub has the customer reviews to prove it –90% of reviews for The Window Hub on Trustpilot are for five stars, with customers celebrating the company’s professionalism, friendliness, tidiness, and attention to detail.

A cider festival has been arranged during the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, on Sunday May 4, and the player presentation evening will take place in the clubhouse on May 9.

For more updates about what is happening at Yate Town visit the club website, www.yatetownfc.co.uk.

Bob Chester

The hard work of Danny and his company was also recently recognised and commended, with The Window Hub being named the ‘Best in the South West’ at the G24 Awards last year.

Remaining fixtures (all 3pm)

From humble beginnings, The Window Hub now operates from a head office and showroom in Staple Hill in Bristol with offices, showrooms and installation depots across the South West.

Danny launched The Window Hub because he wanted to be much more than just a double glazing company.

More than 100 fans travelled up to Worcestershire to support the club, and saw Ross Stearn make his 600th appearance in senior football. In this time Ross has scored 171 goals.

The following Saturday a crowd of 634 saw the 1-1 draw against Melksham, with Nick McCootie scoring Yate's goal.

into your home can be stressful, so we have introduced as many initiatives as possible to be fair and reasonable in our approach to give our customers the best experience possible,” he said.

Fans also had their first opportunity to see the new players' tunnel, another sign of progress both on and off the field.

“We know that choosing new windows and inviting someone

The club has donated £400, including

March 29: Bemerton (home)

April 5: Helston Athletic (away)

April 12: Mousehole (A)

In 2025, The Window Hub will grow to cover domestic homes between Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and Lands End in Cornwall.

April 18: Cinderford Town (H)

April 21: Bristol Manor Farm (A)

“Sales begin and end with treating customers properly. And

For more information, please visit TheWindowHub.co.uk.

April 26: Didcot Town (H)

for a FREE no obligation quote from the ONLY company in the South West & South Wales in the final of the industries Prestigious G24 Awards!

0117 3134 862

01392 642 634

Abbot: 01626 932 964

Ross Stearn challenges Evesham's keeper during Yate's defeat at their title rivals.

The Heathers Nursing Home

Our aim is to give a high standard of nursing and personal care in a traditional, homely and friendly environment. The Heathers is a home of great character and charm. The interior architecture, with many of its original features, gives a perfect setting for the home comforts we aim to provide.

The Heathers Nursing Home is a privately owned, Grade 2 Listed Georgian manor house, situated within walking distance of the town centres of Chipping Sodbury, and Yate.

First Class Facilities and Support

• A history of providing 24 hour, high quality care in South Gloucestershire

• Each resident is unique to us and treated as such

• The home is small and family run, offering a highly personalised service

• Exceptional standards of cleanliness and hygiene

• Respite, residential care and day care available

• Special diets catered for by our expert Chefs

Get in touch and speak with our team, or arrange a viewing to see our facilities for yourself.

Aneesh – Registered Manager • Julie – General Manager