filtonvoice March 2021 Issue 113
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SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Council unveils recovery budget SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has agreed a budget of more than £400 million to deliver public services next financial year, focusing on helping people to recover from the pandemic and rise to meet the challenges of the future. The Recover and Rise budget will further the council’s key priorities of improving school standards and outcomes for young people, improving infrastructure within local communities, and delivering value for money. The budget is balanced, despite the tough financial climate.
Vital support
The budget allows for vital support for residents hit hardest by Covid-19. It includes a £1 million resilience funding package to widen the support net for those who had previously been ineligible; £102,000 “surge funding” for expanding welfare debt advice; more support for domestic violence victims, and a pay boost targeted at the lowest paid council staff.
Children and young people
Improving school standards remains the council’s top priority. Following last year’s launch of its trailblazing Recovery Curriculum, the budget includes a £1.2 million investment to launch phase two. This phase will continue the essen-
tial work to help schoolchildren to catch up on lost learning and support their general wellbeing. The council’s capital investment into school buildings hits a new record with funding committed to ensuring new primary school buildings in Winterbourne, Frenchay and Lyde Green are low carbon, reflecting the council’s climate emergency commitments. Elsewhere, upgrades and improvements to buildings are planned across the district.
Adult social care
The council tax rate will rise by 4.99 per cent, which includes three per cent to be focused on boosting adult social care services. As normal life returns, the pressure on adult social care services will continue. The remaining 1.99 per cent increase will go towards protecting wider services. This means the South Gloucestershire Council element of Council Tax for a Band D property for 2021/22 will be £1,620.39 –an extra £1.48 per week.
Boosting communities
The budget includes investment in major projects such as purchasing the Thornbury Hospital site for plans for a brand-new healthcare facility for the town; £25 million regeneration plans for Kingswood Town Centre and completing the new Yate Park and Ride, due later this year.
Getting around
Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Employment Cllr Erica Williams at Courtney School in Kingswood
The council will continue its record investment in the local highway network, with millions more to be invested in resurfacing roads and filling potholes across South Gloucestershire. It is also supporting sustainable travel options and improving cycle and pedestrian routes.
Platinum Jubilee
To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the council has
View from the Leader of the Council, Cllr Toby Savage
WELCOME - We’re proud to partner with The Voice, a great local business, for this special edition that brings you our latest news. It focuses on our new ‘Recover and Rise’ budget, designed to help you overcome the challenges of the past year. At the same time, we’re prudently managing our finances on your behalf. The pandemic is particularly tough on children and young people. For this reason, we’re launching the next phase of our trail-blazing Recovery Curriculum, a new Youth Employment Hub, and we’re significantly increasing record investments in school buildings including rebuilding Frenchay Primary School. The budget also triggers infrastructure projects to further improve local communities, including regeneration of Kingswood Town Centre, purchasing the Thornbury Hospital site to secure its future, and the completion of the Yate Park and Ride. We will also continue record investment in highways and improve how we get around the area. allocated £50,000 to prepare an activities programme across South Gloucestershire.
More to help Cllr Toby Savage, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This last year has changed our day-to-day lives and the council and our services have had to adapt
to meet the needs of residents, businesses and communities in the wake of Covid-19. I am proud that through this budget we are doing even more to help residents and their families recover and to rise above the challenges over the past year, widening the safety net to offer much-needed help to more people. “
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SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Financial support
Protecting wellbeing SOCIAL distancing and self-isolating can be daunting for all of us so it’s really important that we look after our mental and physical health. The South Glos One You service for adults, offers advice and support to help keep well, covering a range of topics, from how to stay active at home, to maintaining mental health, tips on sleeping well, quitting smoking, healthy eating and getting enough to eat. The website
is oneyou.southglos.gov.uk or people can call 01454 865337. The South Glos Mind You website www. mindyou.org.uk has advice and information on mental health for young people and children and their parents and carers, including videos and webinars, and contact details of where to get more help.
MANY people are struggling financially at the moment. It’s important to know that there are benefits and grants available. For support on looking at which options are available, please book an appointment to speak to one of the South Glos One Stop Shop customer advisors www.southglos.gov.uk/ contactus or call 01454 868009.
Successful local vaccination rollout LAST month (February), saw the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area reach a major milestone, as all care homes had been offered the Covid-19 vaccination. As of 18 February, in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) area, 200,000 people had received their first dose. That success continues. To keep up to date on the rollout, please visit the BNSSG Healthier Together’s website bnssghealthiertogether.org.uk. When you qualify for a vaccine, you can book online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week. At the time of going to print, those aged over 65; clinically vulnerable adults with underlying health conditions and those who work in social care, providing hands-on support to those vulnerable to Covid-19, are eligible for a vaccine. Remember that no one will be asked to provide personal details as part of this process and no payment is required.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adults and Housing, Cllr Ben Stokes visiting the Vaccination Clinic at West Walk Surgery in Yate
Free support for South Glos businesses SMALL Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Gloucestershire, and residents considering setting up their own business, can get up to 12 hours of free business support from the South Gloucestershire Business Support Service. It is offering group webinars, and
one-to-one business coaching (subject to assessment and availability). The publicly funded programme forms part of Universal Business Support – a West of England Combined Authority initiative, delivered in partnership with the council.
Webinars cover topics such as starting and planning a business, business strategy, digital marketing, social media, finance and more. All the webinars can be viewed on this webpage: www.coolventures.co.uk/ training/
FREE MONTHLY for people and businesses in Filton ... and parts of Horfield
filtonvoice March 2021 Issue 113
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ADVERT, page 30
Residents' delight after gates installed - Pages 10-11
Giving Filton's E-Scooters a spin Pages 8-9
Developer appeals after another HMO is rejected Full story on Pages 6-7
HMO fear over plans to demolish garages - Pages 14-15
Arrests follow £12.5m drugs seizure in Filton - Page 12
Charity to return to youth base after loan - Page 16
Contacts Richard Coulter Editor and publisher
0777 555 0607 | richard@filtonvoice.co.uk
Ruth Drury Advertising sales
You can find Filtonvoice on Facebook www.facebook. com/filtonvoice and on Twitter @filtonvoice
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newlandconstruction70@outlook.com COMPLAINTS If you have a complaint about anything in the Filtonvoice, contact the Editor using the details below. We take complaints seriously and 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 www.localvoicenetwork.co.uk, or can be obtained by contacting the publisher, above. EDITOR’S NOTE: Filtonvoice 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 although we have used some of the services. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Filtonvoice is distributed each month to all Filton residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from Filton Library. Feedback is welcomed, call editor Richard Coulter on 0777 555 0607 or richard@filtonvoice.co.uk.
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March, 2021
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Filton Town Council roundup by Rich Coulter Playpark bench: Filton Town Council will install a bench near the playpark at Elm Park in memory of community activist Jackie Sims, who died recently. Councillors heard that Jackie and her husband Stan, a former town councillor, were the driving force behind the creation of the playpark in 1991 but seeking support from business and showing councillors what had been achieved in other Bristol parks. Council vacancies: An election will be held in Northville ward for the vacancy following the resignation of Cllr Ailsa Johnstone. The by-election was triggered after at least 10 residents petitioned South Glos Council. The vacancy in Congygre ward following the death of Cllr John Tucker will be filled by existing councillors co-opting the new councillor. Cllr Chris Wood asked if
councillors could vote to hold a by-election but town clerk Lesley Reuben said the existing rules did not permit this. Community plan: The council has
committed nearly £5,000 to ask the FACE charity to draw up a community plan. A report by FACE director Debbie Teml said: "We believe a piece of work should be done
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to build on the previous public survey and stakeholder meetings held back in 2018-19 and to build on the draft 'community plan' which was created by Southern Brooks in 2018. "There does not seem to be a clear strategy currently on what the ongoing interests or priorities are, of the local council members or wider community, and what the "Community Plan" looks like in Filton. "The Covid19 pandemic has had a far-reaching effect on the community and has led to some community groups closing or working differently and therefore if there is an existing plan then this should be re-evaluated to ensure the area's provisions are meeting needs both now and into the future. "We believe a concise and clear Community Plan would bring together a direction for the area moving forwards out of the pandemic, giving a good focus for community and council outcomes in to the future."
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March, 2021
HMOs in Filton
Second blow for developer as HMO plan rejected by BBC LDRS staff for Filtonvoice Councillors have again thwarted the plans of a developer who wishes to turn two bungalows in the same Filton street into large shared houses. Sam Andrews of Andrews Capital Ltd failed to get planning approval to convert 64 Northville Road into an eight-bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO) last month. Now his proposal to turn another semidetached bungalow a few doors down at 58 Northville Road into a large HMO has been rejected by the same council committee for the same reasons. Members of South Gloucestershire Council’s planning committee opposed both applications on the basis they would provide insufficient parking for occupiers and add to the “proliferation” of HMOs in the area, which would be harmful to the neighbourhood. Councillors also heard that
the applicant has lodged an appeal. Filtonvoice revealed in January that Filton has more than 40 % of all the large (5 beds+) HMOs in the whole of South Gloucestershire. We also reported that developers are lined up waiting to buy whenever a property with HMO potential in certain areas comes up for sale. But the council will have to defend its rejection of the second application before a government planning inspector, because Mr Andrews has appealed on the grounds the decision was not made within the statutory timeframe. A resident told councillors that Northville Road already had 24 HMOs, as well as 20 flats, and there were four more applications for HMOs in the pipeline. If those applications were approved, that would mean a
“staggering” one in five of the street’s 150 dwellings on the street would be HMOs, Clare Sealey said. “Where the proportion of HMO dwellings exceeds 10 per cent of residents’ properties, this is often recognised as the tipping point at which harm to communities occurs,” Ms Sealey said. “With 16 per cent of HMOs on Northville Road, this tipping point has already been exceeded. “The question is, how many HMOs-stroke-student lets can a community encompass before the area starts to exhibit signs of distress?” Ms Sealey cited problems with parking, traffic congestion, anti-social behaviour, noise, poor maintenance of properties and gardens, rubbish, parking, traffic and “a lack of community integration and cohesion”. Filton councillors also spoke out against the application,
with Labour’s Adam Monk from South Gloucestershire Council noting there was a “growing resentment” among residents against HMOs, and Darryl Collins from Filton Town Council saying the area was “really struggling” with the issue. The planning committee heard the district council was developing a policy to tackle the growing problem of HMOs, but until the policy is adopted, members must deal with each application on a case-by-case basis. Current policy only requires planning permission for “large” HMOs – those with at least seven bedrooms – and demands a minimum of 0.5 parking spaces per bedroom. A council officer told members Mr Andrews had applied to convert 58 Northville Road into a seven-bedroom HMO, but had submitted an application for eight bedrooms
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HMOs in Filton February, 2021
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HMOs in Filton
Councillors heard warnings of “rat infested, overgrown” gardens and pedestrian “casualties” before voting to reject the application last week. Northville Road is a popular cut-through road for drivers travelling between Filton Road and Gloucester Road and for those visiting Millenium Green park. The proposal from Andrews Capital Ltd included a single floor extension to the rear of an existing three-bedroom home on a bend in Northville Road close to the park entrance. The applicant’s agent said there was “ample” onstreet parking for the four spaces required for an eightbedroom HMO under South Gloucestershire Council planning policy. Adding a fifth HMO to the 150 houses on Northville Road was not an “overconcentration”, he added.
'HMOs have their place'
Apprentice filtonvoice Localwww.filtonvoice.co.uk
plans for eight-bed HMO 6Councillors throw out T: 0777 555 0607 by Rich Coulter and BBC LDRS reporters for Filtonvoice Councillors have blocked plans to create a shared home for eight people in Filton, saying there are too many HMOs in the town already. The plans would have seen a semi-detached bungalow at 64 Northville Road converted into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) with eight bedrooms and shared common areas. The property has had scaffolding surrounding it for several weeks now. But members of South Gloucestershire Council’s planning committee said Filton was suffering from a “pandemic” of HMOs already, creating problems with litter, parking, traffic and scruffy gardens. Last month, Filtonvoice revealed that Filton has more than 170 'large' HMOs - five bedrooms or more - representing 41% of all the large HMOs in
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But residents and local councillors strongly disputed the claims, saying Northville Road was already dangerous because of the lack of parking available and that another HMO would only make the situation worse. One of the 47 residents who wrote letters of objection said the rising number of HMOs in the area meant Northfield Road was treated as an “overflow car park” by neighbouring roads. Darren Stainer said: “Most vehicles are parked on pavements as this is the only place to park without causing a major obstruction to the highway, presenting a hazard to pedestrians. “Often there isn’t enough room for prams, buggies or wheelchairs to pass, forcing vulnerable people onto the busy road. “In addition, parked cars
On the Filton News and Views Facebook page, some users have said HMOs are often a good thing. I don't think people are against them completely. Just keeping the number under control. Filton has a really high number of them and some streets have loads. There is obviously a need for this type of housing for students and individual adults who need cheaper housing and don't require a full house to themselves."
February, 2021
Opportunities Plummet “MUST DO BETTER”: is 'A pandemic of Covid and a pandemic of HMOs' the message from HMOs in Filton From Page 5
a month from an HMO, which is exempt from council tax if occupied entirely by students. “We are snowed under with HMOs,” he said.
block the view of the road for 64 Northville Road crossing pedestrians, and, South Gloucestershire, including Turn to Page 6 of 11 bedroooms.on with no pedestrianonecrossing Northville Road, this presents a Filtonvoice been bringing risk of injuryhas or casualties.” ‘snowed with theFilton issue of HMOsunder to light in Are you ready to take on a new challenge by joining our HMOs’ recent months established Community Rehabilitation Teams (CRTs) Mr Stainer’s claims were supporting the residents of Bristol, North Somerset and South backed Filton councillor the day by before the meetingAdam took Gloucestershire? Monk who noted that two more place. Come and build a career within a NHS community healthcare applications to create HMOsopportunities. in Officers were satisfied provider with many development We have both full Northville Road have also been part-time flexible roles to meet the needs of your life. theand applicant had provided lodged with thewere council. We have athere variety of rolesenough available, find out more on our webpage. evidence A third of South Roles available: parking spaces – one off-street • Associate Support Worker, BandHMOs 2 £18,005 - £19,337 (pro rata) Gloucestershire’s licensed and on-street to satisfy • three Rehabilitation Support– Worker, Band 3 £19,737 - £21,142 (pro rata) are in Filton, the meeting heard. theLocation: policyroles requirement, he Bristol, said.South Gloucestershire throughout Some 179available – or four per cent and North Somerset But member – of thecommittee homes in Filton are More Brown, details and Conservative to apply: Ernie licensed HMOs with at least http://ow.ly/Av9l50D8gH3 councillor for Stoke Gifford, five bedrooms, and there is an Or you use your mobile phone said onecanoff-street parking unknown and this QRnumber code to findof outunlicensed more: space large people. HMO was a HMOsfor forafewer “nonsense”. Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Richard on 0777 555 0607 or email richard@filtonvoice.co.uk Filton Town Council chair Jayne Stansfield, Liberal Darryl Collins said landlords Last month's Filtonvoice proliferation of HMOs in this could makemember up to around Democrat for £2,500
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locality. This will be detrimental Thornbury, said she thought to the character and amenity Northville Road already had of the area which would no its “fair share” of HMOs and longer function as a sustainable should be protected from residential location and not getting any more. respect the requirement for The nine-strong committee balanced communities. voted unanimously to oppose “Not withstanding the the application relating to survey submitted, number 58, citing the same familyparking Established firm with 25 years experience the proposed development reasons they gave when provides insufficient parking refusing the plans for number provision for the needs of future 64. occupiers, to the detriment These reasons, read out by of wider highways safety and a planning officer, were: “The the residential amenity of addition of a house in multiple neighbouring occupiers.” occupation will add to the
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“There are too many of them, simply too many.” The issue Collins isn't Mr said the main the tenants as much as it is the difficulties with HMOs were landlords. We've had some great students parking, mess and litter, and live in our street who have been a value untidy hedges and gardens. to the community but equally, when But planning officers who they're troublesome and the landlord recommended the application doesn't intercede, it turns people against the idea of HMOs. for approval said the proposed Also, some streets aren't really would built for HMO not harm the them and the large number of people and neighbourhood. vehicles crammed into a small street can be Two parking surveys carried detrimental." out by the applicant in October showed there were around 50 parking spaces available on Northville Road, an officer said. ‘It’s terrible and we should be resisting this’ – councillor But committee members said they did not trust the survey findings because they were carried out in the middle of a pandemic. They refused the application, saying it would add to the “proliferation” of HMOs in the area with their attendant harms for the neighbourhood and road safety.
Cllr Ernie Brown said: “This
Labour’s Metro Mayor will put extra cars on the road. road cannot take it.” " candidate Dan NorrisTheCllr Sarah Pomfret said students and professional adults who has condemned“don’t generally bother” with garden maintenance, which was the Conservative West of England her “other gripe” withMetro HMOs. “So you end up with a ratMayor for failing on infested, apprenticeships. overgrown heap of brambles if you’re not careful,” Latest figures show that during the current she said. “Obviously then the Metro Mayor’s term neighbours of officegetthe number of infested with rats and everybody gets upset.” new apprenticeships inCllrthe West of England Brian Hopkinson said: “We’ve got a pandemic of Covid has plummeted. There are 1630 fewer in South and we’ve also got a pandemic of HMOs. Gloucestershire, North“IfEast Somerset, Bristol you look around Filton, that there’s quite a lot and Bath than whenyou’ll the find Tory Mayor came to of areas where the place looks trashed. It really looks bad: stuff power. falling out of dustbins. terrible and wefor should be The Metro Mayorresisting is“It’s responsible this. “I feel really sad what’s 65% apprenticeship cash happening and policy butabout around up there to Filton.” of small businesses across the West of England have never used apprentices. Showhomes Finance wanted options Dan Norris said “Apprenticeship available! 5 and 10-year BUY NOW, opportunities in the West of England are at guarantees PAY OVER job good 12,their 24 ORlowest level in 5 years. That’sNonot too big 36 MONTHS or small enough. to create .. contact us The Metro Mayor is failing the opportunities local young people need. Investing in training will be central to rebuilding our economy after the pandemic. If elected I will be a ‘jobs first’ Metro Mayor.”
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Get in touch for free As Filtonvoice went to print, South Glos Council published plans by estimates and quotes ... a developer to turn this 3-bed end terrace at 2 Third Avenue into an 8-bed HMO for up to 16 people, involving rear, side and loft building www.stonewaypaving.co.uk | 01179 595894 works. There are also current HMO applications awaiting councillor E: info@stonewaypaving.co.uk Promoted by Paul Tucker on behalf of decisions at 25, 99 and 136 Northville Road as well as 109 Station Dan Norris both at 136a Walcot St, Road. Residents can search and make comments at beta.southglos. Bath BA1 5BG To advertise, contact ruth@filtonvoice.co.uk or Richard on 0777 555 0607 or Ruth on 07590 527664 gov.uk/search-planning-applications/
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News Shane Gibson asks his daughter to try out Filton's E-Scooters
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March, 2021
Fun, fast and kind to the planet ... but E-Scooters have some practical limitations In recent weeks it's been hard to miss the banks of pink scooters along Gloucester Road North and Filton Avenue as well as a few other corners in Filton. The VOI E-Scooter from Swedish company VOI is currently being trialled in the WECA region and is being led by the West of England Combined Authority in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council. But what is the point? Is this another environmentally friendly fad? And what are they like to ride? Being a sensible and responsible adult, I coerced my 19-year-old daughter, Sami, into taking one of the E-Scooters for a ride. The E-scooters are easy enough to activate by simply signing in to the VOI phone app to hire. However, before you do, there is an initial identification process and laws to abide by. The app requires you to input your method of payment and then requires that you take a photo of your driving licence and a selfie. After the pictures have been accepted, the scooter will start. It is recommended that you wear a helmet, but it is not required. It is also stated that it is illegal to ride the E-scooter on a pavement. After completing the process,
Sami walked the scooter off the pavement, outside the Spar on Filton Avenue and hopped on to ride it along Kipling Road. “It takes a minute to get used to how the scooter reacts. But once you do it is a lot of fun. It can go quite fast,” said Sami. There are several areas where the scooters cannot currently be activated. This includes schools, parks, train stations and certain cycle paths. For example, the E-scooters can be ridden along the cycle path around the MOD and heading towards UWE. They cannot be ridden where the cycle path heads into Lockleaze. “It’s kind of like UBER. You can just pay to ride somewhere,” said Sami as we took the scooter around Cheswick Village. Although most retail is currently closed, the E-scooters routes allow them to be ridden through the centre of Bristol, and out to Winterstoke Road in south Bristol. Heading in the opposite direction the E-Scooters can be taken to The Venue at Cribbs Causeway. I asked Sami where she would choose to ride the E-Scooter? “They are for leisure; they are not a necessity. I would not take one of these on a shopping trip. I don’t think that they are really practical," she said. If people are going to ride them for fun, how much will that fun cost? Day and month
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March, 2021
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Free rides for key workers
packages can be purchased at £4.99 and £34.99, respectively. If you just want hop on it will be at a charge of 55p for the hire and then 14p for each minute that you are connected to the scooter via the app. “The price isn’t too bad, but I would recommend paying for a day rather than the per minute option,” said Sami. The E-Scooters can be left anywhere in the designated range. If it can be seen, its fine to be left. Are these the future of local transport? In Sami’s opinion, not quite. “These will not replace cars, but some people might use these over taking the bus," she said. Far left, Sami tries out the E-Scooter. Opposite below, scooters in Filton Avenue. Above, the 'dashboard' of the E-Scooters; and left, an app shows you where you can and cannot ride
Residents across South Gloucestershire and North Bristol are using rental E-Scooters to access essential work and services. Following the successful launch of the West of England E-Scooter trial, the trial area for the ‘hop-on hop-off’ e-scooters expanded to include Horfield and Lockleaze in Bristol and areas such as Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Filton. This latest expansion follows the roll out in January to Bishopston, St Werburgh's, Easton and Bedminster in Bristol, and Oldfield Park and Bathwick in Bath. While the lockdown is in place the E-Scooter operator, Voi Technology, is offering free rides to NHS workers, emergency service personnel and the armed forces, providing these key workers with a green and socially distanced alternative to commute to and from work. With the trial expansion, the numbers of scooters will increase to 400 in Bristol and 200 in South Gloucestershire, giving more residents access to a green and
flexible way to move around the city. Since launch, back in October 2020, there have been more than 100,000 rides taken, and nearly 250,000km travelled in the region In Bristol there have been more than 86,327 rides taken by 19,275 unique riders with 207,111 km travelled. Mayor of the West of England Tim Bowles said: “The West of England has really embraced our e-scooter trial and I’m pleased that many more people will now have a chance to benefit from this lowcarbon alternative to the car for short journeys to access essential work and services.” The West of England Combined Authority has also recently introduced long-term e-scooter rentals that can be stored at home and used by residents. For more information: Travelwest page: https://travelwest. info/projects/e-scooter-trial To view the expanded boundary, visit the Voi app: https:// www.voiscooters.com/
A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT FIELD HOUSE NURSING HOME Field House in Horfield offers safe and nurturing care
We also ensure:
Whilst we are taking care to ensure distancing, residents are still enjoying daily activities, and access to our beautiful gardens. We also have the technology to keep our residents in ‘virtual’ touch with their families.
• Strict Infection Control measures approved by Public Health England are fully implemented • Care staff wear PPE at all times and we have ensured a high volume of supply
“Field Field House remains a place of happy daily life and excellent nursing care.” care Dee, Nurse Manager
• Skilled nurses are on site 24/7 and respiratory equipment is at hand • Safe face-to-face visits where possible
We’d love to hear from you and we’d be very happy to give you a virtual tour of the home...
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Residents more secure after lane gates installed by Shane Gibson Last July the Filtonvoice reported on the attempts of residents living in Mortimer Road and Wallscourt Road South to have a lane gate installed. Finally, they have succeeded! Resident Mike Walker explained the need for the gate. He said: “For about, 8 or 9 years we had been trying to get everyone to come together to instal a gate, to help secure these lanes. Our biggest problem had
been fly-tippers using the lane as a dumping ground. However, the surge in crime late last year put security to the top of everyone’s agenda.” The gate has been installed at the entrance of a lane at the back of Wallscourt Road South, which looks above Filton Abbey Wood Station. Whilst there were efforts to include residents of Mortimer Road whose homes back on to the lane it was not possible to secure the required number of
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homeowners owing to the high number of absentee landlords. There are currently eight homes that have access to the lane. Mike explained that getting more people involved could have saved each homeowner up to £50 for each home that came on board. “We certainly did not want to exclude anyone. These are private lanes after all and each of the homeowners own part of the freehold on the lane.” Residents with access to the gate have a key and the peace of mind of extra security for their home and their families. Mike spoke of the concerns that his neighbours had concerning security. “I’d say that in the past 6 or 7 years, that if you took a block of around say 10 houses, at least 7 or 8 of those questioned would have had concerns of thieves, or people mooching around their
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Residents make new bid to install gates in lane blighted by flytippers Residents in Mortimer Road and Wallscourt Road South have vowed to try again to have lane gates installed. Other streets in Filton have lane gates, which help prevent crime and fly tipping, but the process is often long and arduous, with all residents needing to be approached and to agree. The installation is also down to residents and this can also lead to issues with some homeowners being reluctant to contribute to the gates, which can cost around £1,300 each, or £60 per household. The lanes are privately owned and while South Glos Council supports applications from residents, they are not in a position to install them. Mortimer Road has access at Wallscourt Road South and Nutfield Grove as well as an entrance in the middle of the
road itself, meaning three gates would be required to make the lane secure. The residents’ campaign is being led by Michael Walker and Gareth Keel, who have tried in the past to organise the gates. Gareth said one obstacle they have faced in the past is persuading landlords, who do not live in the property, to agree to gating. He said: “The problem has always been lack of returns from leaflets we've dropped off. Landlord properties form a large proportion of Mortimer. I know a few of them and they are supportive but a council letter to them would be more directive perhaps. “I'm happy to get new quotes for gates if I can be assured that South Glos will mail out letters to all residents, including direct to landlords. “The secondary issue is the
July, 2020
lack of grounds maintenance from Nutfield House where the housing association's lack of pruning has made the lane nearly unusable. Filton councillors previously got them to trim it but they haven't kept it up.” It is understood that if landlords are approached but do not respond, a scheme can still go ahead if a majority of residents wish it to happen. Michael said fly tippers are able to bring their vans into the relatively wide lane and dump sofas and other rubbish without much fear of being caught in the act. He added that he wanted to explore ways of having gates which meant there were not dozens of padlock keys being passed around and instead was keen to investigate a key code system. In the past, led by former Filton PCSO Sheryl Drewitt, residents have managed to have gates installed in other lanes. Previously she has helped residents in Charborough Road, Fourth Avenue, Third Avenue, Kipling Road, Mackie Road,
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Filtonvoice reported the issue last July. Left, fly tipping has been a problem for residents along with the threat of crime. Right, Mike Walker beside the new gates Electrical Test & Inspections / PAT testing Full and partial electrical rewires Consumer unit upgrade to 17th edition New or replacement switches / sockets / lights Shower installation Smoke / heat / carbon monoxide detector installation & servicing Garden, garage, shed power / security lighting Electric vehicle charging points Free quotations and advice
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property. I think for some, the ability for us to report concerns across social media has led to more people being aware of what might happen.” Now that the gate has been installed, Mike and his neighbours are feeling more at ease.
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News “Some of us have vintage cars and motorcycles, that type of thing. More importantly we have young children. With the layout here, there were obvious concerns. Now I feel that if I were to allow my kids to go out the back into the lane, they would be safe,” he said. There have been other benefits of installing the gate, not least an increase the feeling of community spirit amongst Mike and his neighbours. “When people are encouraged to get involved at look at the back of their houses you can see what you are missing, even if its jus an increase of 3 feet of space by cutting back some of the overgrowth.” Mike saids Each of the residents, now must unlock the gate to gain access to that piece of their property. “It’s a little bit of extra effort each morning to get the cars out, but as time goes on, I think we will all see that it has been worth every penny.”
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Arrests after drugs worth £12.5m seized in Filton National Crime Agency officers have made two arrests in Filton after a total of 300 kilos of heroin and cocaine was found concealed in a consignment of parcels heading to the UK. Two men – Hungarian nationals aged 31 and 32 - were arrested on the evening of February 8, after taking delivery of 15 boxes into which the 250kg cocaine and 50kg heroin had been loaded. The drugs - potentially worth up to £12.5 million had they reached UK streets - had been intercepted on 3 February by Border Force officers stationed at the Channel Tunnel terminal at Coquelles, France. The boxes were delivered to an address in the Filton area of Bristol, where officers moved in to arrest the recipients. The men were questioned by NCA officers and released on bail.
NCA Branch Commander Martin Grace, said: “The size of this haul indicates the involvement of significant organised criminals, who would have made millions by getting
these drugs successfully to the UK market. “Heroin and cocaine fuel violence and exploitation throughout the UK. "The NCA works tirelessly
with partners including Border Force to disrupt the class A drugs trade and identify those behind it. “Our investigation is continuing”
NEED AN ELECTRICIAN? CALL 0117 9145400 Electrical Test & Inspections / PAT testing Full and partial electrical rewires Consumer unit upgrade to 17th edition New or replacement switches / sockets / lights Shower installation Smoke / heat / carbon monoxide detector installation & servicing Garden, garage, shed power / security lighting Electric vehicle charging points Free quotations and advice
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Patients help trial of treatment which reduces risk of Covid fatalities Patients and staff at Southmead Hospital have been involved in a research trial that has found an anti-inflammatory treatment reduces the risk of death when given to patients hospitalised with COVID-19. The hospital is one of the sites involved in the RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy) trial, looking into potential treatments for COVID-19. The trial demonstrated that an anti-inflammatory treatment, tocilizumab, reduces the risk of death when given to hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19. The study also showed that tocilizumab shortens the time until patients are successfully discharged from hospital and reduces the need for a mechanical ventilator. A total of 2,022 patients were randomly allocated to receive tocilizumab by intravenous infusion and were compared with 2,094 patients randomly allocated to usual care alone. 82% of patients were taking a systemic steroid such as dexamethasone. Treatment with tocilizumab significantly reduced deaths: 596 (29%) of the patients in the tocilizumab group died within 28 days compared with 694 (33%) patients in the usual care group, an absolute difference of 4%. This means that for every 25 patients treated with tocilizumab, one additional life
would be saved. Tocilizumab also increased the probability of discharge alive within 28 days from 47% to 54%. In June 2020, the RECOVERY trial found that the inexpensive and widely available steroid dexamethasone reduces death for patients with severe COVID-19. This rapidly became part of standard-of-care given to all such patients. The benefits of tocilizumab were clearly seen to be in addition to those of steroids. The data suggest that in COVID-19 patients with hypoxia (requiring oxygen) and significant inflammation, treatment with the combination of a systemic corticosteroid (such as dexamethasone) plus tocilizumab reduces mortality by about one third for patients requiring simple oxygen and nearly one half for those requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Martin Landray, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, and Joint Chief Investigator, said: "The results from the RECOVERY trial clearly show the benefits of tocilizumab and dexamethasone in tackling the worst consequences of COVID-19. We simply would not know this if it wasn’t for the incredible support of NHS patients and staff in the most challenging of circumstances."
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HMO fear as garages to be demolished for parking Residents in Conygre Grove and Sandown Road have been ordered to vacate the garages they rent from Bromford Housing Association. Bromford told the garage tenants that they had deteriorated in quality and are no longer 'fit for purpose'. They also confirmed the space would be used for parking and a letter to tenants instucted them to vacate the garages. The garages had been rented privately and were not exclusively for Bromford tenants. One tenant, Aidan Darley who lives in Sandown Road, said Bromford had failed to maintain the garages despite receiving £52 per month per garage from tenants. He said he and others had been reporting the problems for many years without and action being taken by Bromford. One garage has seen large concrete slabs fall from the roof
Left, the damaged garage. Opposite, Aidan Darley and some of the the garages
after a period of frost. Mr Darley said he feared the additional parking created would make it easier for landlords to create large HMOs in a part of Filton which already has several of the multi-bedroom style lets. He said his garage had already been vacated and Bromford had been unable to offer any alternatives.
He said: "Given that Bromford are not willing to make alternative provision for garages, this decision effectively means there will no longer be local authority controlled garage space available in Filton. "This represents a material loss in terms of facility/service available to local residents. Having spoken to our
Bramford Neighbourhood Coach I understand that the decision to demolish is primarily to create more parking spaces for the flats at the southern end of Conygre Grove. "Demolishing the garages and replacing them with on street parking is a decision that will only favour or encourage HMO residents rather than long term local residents. "The condition of the garages is also cited as a reason for demolition – residents have been reporting defects and damaged brickwork for around five years now with no action taken – wilful neglect on the part of Bromford and its predecessor Merlin. "Bromford have alternative garage stock in the Elm Park area which I understand from Hannah they are unwilling to let due to Covid-19 resource limitations – an illogical argument given they clearly have sufficient resource
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for the demolition of Conygre Road garages. The garages in question are of solid, brickbuilt construction. In the light of numerous recent instances of arson and theft from local garages this type of solid, secure garage is exactly what Filton needs. "I understand that Bromford are concerned that some licence holders use the garages for storage rather than keeping vehicles. That doesn’t really matter given that they are still a local asset being used by local resident." Sian Humphreys, associate director of localities for Bromford, said: “We are reviewing all of the garages that we own and assessing their condition and suitability and have concluded that our garages in Conygre Grove are no longer fit for purpose. Two of the garages that were already empty have deteriorated so much that we have had to take immediate action to demolish them. “We wrote to all of the
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remaining garage users in the middle of November asking them to empty their garages by January and to contact us if they were going to struggle to meet this deadline. Once the garages
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have gone we will be making the site available for parking.” At Filton Town Council, Mr Darley raised the issue of the garages. Cllr Adam Monk said he was in touch with South Glos
Council to get an update. Cllr Ian Scott said the garages were not council responsibility but suggested Bromford could offer them to their own tenants in the nearby flats.
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Charity return to youth centre base after kind loan Local charity Foundation for Active Community Engagement (FACE) are pleased to report that they are back in their youth centre base in Elm Park after a temporary move to the church building next door in November when the boiler at the youth centre broke. Thanks to a loan from a kind church member the boiler has been replaced so there is now heat! A new lease agreement is also being worked out with the landlords, St Andrew's Methodist Church, which should start early in the summer. The Community Store has now moved back across to the youth centre building and continues to be open 10am-12pm Mon-Friday for Filton residents who are shielding, or need a helping hand, or those aged 70+ who do not wish to go to supermarkets. The self-isolation helpline is still also running on 0117
The FACE building has has some work done recently 9691938, so if you are having to you, or need other support or self-isolate and need shopping signposting during the pandemic, or prescription collections and they may be able to help. have no one else who can help Whilst the youth centre building has been closed, the charity have been busy inside with electrical works being undertaken, lots of early spring cleaning and sorting, and thank to a generous £2,500 contribution from Councillor Chris Wood’s Members Award Funding allocation, the kitchen Established family firm with 25 years experience floor has been replaced and the gents toilets have been ripped out, making way for a modern unisex cubicle and an accessible toilet, with a baby changing table also put in. FACE is now planning for re-opening sessions for young WITH T H people in the coming months, ADVERTIS with community learning courses opening up again soon too. Senior Citizens Special Charity Director Debbie Garden Clearance — Regular or one-off Teml said: “Throughout the Patios ★ Fencing ★ Tree Work ★ Turfing pandemic we have continued to offer support online, through Hedgecutting ★ Planting (Shrubs etc) the post, and over the phone to Organic manure delivered — Also applied our members and through the
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community store and jigsaw loaning. "The building has had some much-needed attention and we are looking forward to everyone seeing us again soon when we can safely open, with groups starting hopefully in April. "Thanks to Chris for his award funding which enabled the work to get started! We are excited to be back in the youth centre building and are giving things a good freshening-up to be ready to open for groups again soon.”
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Filton Town Council Council offices Filton Town Council office is now staffed 9am until 1pm Monday to Friday, but due to the current pandemic there is still NO public access. Access can only be by telephone appointment. Please contact us at office@ filtontowncouncil.gov.uk or by phone 01454866698 to arrange an appointment if necessary. Staff are working from home. If you have an enquiry or wish to report a problem email office@ filtontowncouncil.gov.uk.
Town council meetings March 9th 30th
Full Council Finance & General Purposes Full Council
April 6th 13th
Staffing Committee Full Council Finance and General Purposes 27th Full Council
May
4th Staffing Committee 11th Full Council Finance & General Purposes 25th Full Council Full Council Annual Meeting/Parish Assembly
June 2nd 8th 29th
Staffing Committee Full Council Finance & General Purposes Full Council
July
6th Staffing Committee 13th Full Council Finance & General Purposes 27th Full Council Physical council meetings are unable to take place so meetings are being held online via the Zoom platform, with details at www.filtontowncouncil. gov.uk
ELM PARK | FILTON | SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE | BS34 7PS Town Clerk: Lesley Reuben Web: www.filtontowncouncil.gov.uk E-mail:lesley.reuben@filtontowncouncil.gov.uk Tel: 01454 86 6698
VACANCY FOR COUNCILLOR An opportunity has arisen for Filton Town Council to co-opt a member of the local community onto the Council to represent the Conygre Ward. If you are interested in finding out more please express your interest to the Town Clerk, Lesley Reuben Closing date 5p.m. on 29th March 2021 Contact details are at the top of this notice.
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Low number of cases after Covid surge testing by BBC LDRS staff for Filtonvoice Surge testing for Covid-19 in Filton, Horfield and other parts of bristol and South Gloucestershire has revealed that very few residents are carrying the virus without knowing it. More than 40,000 people without symptoms were tested in the programme, which was carried out across 24 postcodes areas of Bristol and South Gloucestershire over two weeks. Less than one per cent of those who took part returned a positive result for the virus, the local authorities for both areas have announced. The community surge testing programme, which ended last month, was introduced after 11 cases of a coronavirus variant ‘of concern’ was identified in Bristol. The so-called Bristol variant is a version of the more infectious Kent variant with an additional mutation, E484K, feared to make
the virus less preventable by vaccination. Speaking during one of his regular Facebook Live Q&A sessions, Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, above, said public health officials were still awaiting the results of genomic sequencing to determine how many of the positive cases identified through
surge testing were carrying the mutation of concern. “The background positives were around less than one per cent, which is really good news because what it tells us is there aren’t a large number of people without symptoms just lingering in the background that we don’t know about,” he said. “We are waiting for the analysis back on those test results to test on just how common the prevalence the mutation of concern – the variation of concern – was amongst those positive tests.” Mr Rees said the variants had sprung up as a natural consequence of the ongoing spread of Covid-19. “So stamping on this virus early…is a really strong lesson for us,” he said. “The less virus is out there in people, the less opportunity it has to mutate, the less
opportunity it has to mutate into a form that may be more able to spread or resistant is some form to the vaccines.” Case numbers may be falling and vaccination numbers rising, but people should continue to stick to the rules of “Hands, Face, Space” and not become “prematurely overconfident”, he said. Mr Rees said the rate of new cases in Bristol was still “high”, at 131 new cases per 100,000 people as at Monday, February 22. Since the meeting, this figure continues to drop with latest figures showing fewer than 100 in 100,000. As of February 14, over 230,000 vaccines were administered over Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, the area covered by the local NHS clinical commissioning group.
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Lots of issues around HMOs Your articles about HMOs need answering. My daughter has an HMO in Filton. She visits it regularly and keeps it clean and tidy. The issue needs breaking down to the following faults .Car Parking. Everyone over 18 these days has a car and many also park commercial vehicles as well, so where do you park them? On the street seems to be the answer. Tenants of HMOs tend to not own or afford a car and need to be in an area where they work. What about rented houses, they are equally to blame. Around Filton you have need to house workers for MOD, Airbus, the university, supermarkets, big companies and the NHS. There are many shops and restaurants and planning permission just passed for a new Hotel. Where are the hotel workers going to live? There there is litter. Filton is a windy place and any loose rubbish blows everywhere. The loose fitting recycling bags are part to blame. It's true young people do not like to have to recycle and just
overload bins and someone has to make sure it is sorted placed out and collected on the right day. What about absent landlords? Why not keep landlords of HMOs including rented accommodation and some home owners, liable to keep their property tidy? Many landlords put their houses with agencies and so long as the rent comes in do little else to maintain the property. Agencies work on a tight budget, only doing a minimal amount of work. If they give the landlord too much hassle they will lose the house to someone who will do it cheaper. I wish everyone could own and afford their own houses. Just look at the number of second homes that spoil villages and towns in this country. Housing is used as an investment and unless this changes things will only get worse. At least the HMOs are filling the present need for housing. Finally, it's OK to make rules and regulations but no one ever enforces them. Bob Glanville, Filton
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Update from Filton MP Jack Lopresti
I want to hear about the issues that matter to you
T
he changing nature of a pandemic involving a new virus has meant that one of the most challenging aspects of the last year has been the difficulty to plan. The Government has had to respond quickly to changing circumstances while also trying to protect lives, the NHS, the economy and jobs. Unfortunately, this has so often meant that plans have had to change quickly, and obviously we haven’t been able to do many of the things that we normally would. It’s absolutely right to be cautious; we can’t afford to let the virus run out of control and have to lock down again. But it’s also right to give as much certainty as we can, so that we can see and plan a way through to life returning to a new normal. That’s what the Prime Minister did with his roadmap,
which charts a course for us to get back to seeing family and friends and going out do to the things we love. From restaurants to rotary clubs, and sports stadiums to salsa dancing, if the numbers keep going down and the vaccine programme continues at the as it has been, we can hit the four steps of reopening that the Prime Minister has set out. As we look towards the end of lockdown and beyond, it’s entirely natural that our perspectives may have shifted.
We have seen a remarkable growth in people getting involved in and supporting their communities and I have no doubt that this will continue long after we’ve beaten the coronavirus. I want to make sure that, as your representative in Parliament, I am responding to the issues that constituents care about most. A lot of that engagement comes through my email inbox. Already this year, my team have dealt with thousands of emails from constituents on almost every topic you can think of. But there are many who either don’t need my immediate help, or who might not have considered getting in touch with me. That’s why I’ve launched my 2021 Residents Survey, to find out more about the issues that really matter to you, both in your community as well as nationally. I’ve always worked to make
sure that I am responsive to the needs of our residents and I’m excited to hear what you’re passionate about, so we can work together to make our area even better. You can find the survey on my website at www.jacklopresti. com/survey. If you don't have access to a computer or would prefer to fill out a paper survey, please call my team on 01454 617783 and they will send a copy to you with a freepost envelope to return it. Please do share this link with friends and family who live in the constituency; I want to hear from as many people as possible so please spread the word! If there’s anything else my team or I can help you with, please don’t hesitate to email me on jack.lopresti.mp@ parliament.uk, or call the team on the number above between 9am and 6pm, Monday – Friday.
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New cycle path would lead up to busy junction Filton residents are being urged to give their views on a proposed new stretch of cycle path on Southmead Road. South Glos says the purpose of this scheme is 'to provide a better and safer facility for cyclists along Southmead Road and therefore encourage sustainable travel. Segregation from motor vehicles offers a direct and convenient alternative to motor vehicle use and so can help with the climate emergency'. This scheme will form a continuation of the existing northbound cycle facilities on Southmead Road. The cycle path would run northbound between Charlton Avenue and the Air Balloon Roundabout. There will be a kerb segregated cycleway and an on carriageway cycle lane along the length of the scheme and this will require amendments to traffic lanes. At the Golf Course Lane junction northeast bound cyclists will have their own
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dedicated traffic signal separate to left turning vehicular traffic. The existing pedestrian crossing facilities across Golf Course Lane and Southmead Road will also be amended as part of these works. According to the counsultation document, no
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facilities are being proposed for southbound cyclists but it is intended that in the future, subject to funding, a facility will be provided that complements this scheme. This scheme is subject to traffic modelling to ensure that
the proposed changes will not have a substantially detrimental effect on signalised junctions within the scheme area. Modelling has not been possible to obtain prior to consultation and will be sought during/ after the consultation period. In
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advance of traffic modelling we are seeking views on the concept of these proposals. The consultation documents added: "The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has had a terrible impact on the lives and health of many UK citizens, as well as severe economic consequences. But changes in
how and when we travel has also resulted in cleaner air and quieter streets, transforming the environment in many of our towns and cities. That is why towns and cities in the UK are proposing changes to roads to make it attractive for more people to make journeys on foot or by bicycle, more often.
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"Short term temporary measures have been implemented across South Gloucestershire Council whilst longer term more permanent measures have been in development." If adopted, the scheme twill be implemented during the 2021/22 financial year.
The consultation ends on March 9. To make any comments, email: transportservices@southglos. gov.uk or write to South Gloucestershire Council, Department for Environment and Community Services, PO Box 1954, Design and Operations Team, BRISTOL BS37 0DD
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March, 2021
News
'Most important budget in our 25-year history' by Adam Postans, BBC LDRS writer for Filton Voice South Gloucestershire Council has agreed the “most important budget in its 25-year history” which will include £120,000 for three high streets, including Filton. Opposition demands to do more to tackle the climate crisis and boost low pay were voted down. The Conservative administration says the package in excess of £400million to deliver public services for the year from April puts the district on a firm footing to “recover and rise” from the pandemic, with a wide range of support for communities, families and young people. Lib Dem and Labour say it doesn’t go far enough to tackle inequalities or meet carbon targets. The proposals agreed by
4.99% Increase in South Glos Council Tax cabinet last week (Monday, February 1) were formally accepted at a meeting of full council last night (Wednesday, February 10) with one addition via a Tory amendment to grant an extra £120,000 for high streets, focusing on Downend, Filton and Chipping Sodbury. The money is from reserves, including £100,000 from the Brexit Preparedness Grant.
Labour joined the Conservatives in voting to approve the budget while the Lib Dems abstained. But while a 4.99 per cent increase in the local authority’s portion of the council tax was approved, residents face a delay in knowing exactly how much their bills will be. Members were set to confirm the totals for each household band but had to postpone it because the police and crime panel has rejected Avon & Somerset police and crime commissioner’s budget proposals, so its precept is not yet known. The Lib Dems proposed giving the climate emergency greater priority at last night’s meeting. In an amendment supported by Labour but opposed, and ultimately outvoted, by the majority Tories, the group
wanted to use the additional £120,000 to help the three high streets “build back greener”. It said the priority should be on reducing businesses’ energy costs and CO2 emissions in the area and providing more electric vehicle charging points. Group leader Cllr Claire Young told the meeting: “We fully support long-overdue investment in Chipping Sodbury, Downend and Filton high streets. “This funding should be used to build back greener in our high streets. “As we support the recovery of our local communities, we want to give the people and businesses of South Gloucestershire a clear route map to zero carbon, setting out house by house and business by business how they can contribute to and benefit from this.” Lib Dem Cllr Louise Harris said: “The point of the climate
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Filton 'high street' to get share of £120,000 but proposals on low pay are voted down emergency is that it is an emergency and that requires action now, we can’t afford to wait a year or two. “The council needs to do more to stop its climate emergency work being a desk-based exercise and start to see significant action on the ground.” The amendment, which also supported the authority working towards becoming a Real LIving Wage employer and ensuring future long-term investments take their environmental and ethical impact into account, was criticised by Conservatives as “too prescriptive” for the three very different high streets. Labour tabled its own amendment allocating £50,000 to start a pay modelling review to ensure the council’s lowest paid staff receive the Real Living Wage. Group leader Cllr Pat Rooney said: “The council employers roughly 500 people who earn less than the Real Living Wage. “The vast majority of these are women. “The Council Plan is full of statements about reducing the inequality gap, eliminating child poverty, tackling food insecurity and fuel poverty, maximising household incomes, having a decent home which meets their needs and having access to rewarding employment. “The Real Living Wage can be seen as a cost to the council but it can also be seen as an investment – both in the worker and also in
the impact on the local economy of their increased spending.” Deputy group leader Cllr Ian Boulton said the Tories, who have controlled the council since 2015, had broken a pledge made when it was under no overall control to pay the living wage and that 500 employees had fallen back into poverty pay. Conservative council leader Cllr Toby Savage said: “The Real Living Wage is a laudable aim but it is difficult to see where the funding is going to come from unless you’re looking to cut frontline services. “We have been clear as an administration that we need to be careful and prudent how we manage the council’s finances.” He said Covid had “ravaged” the country’s finances. The amendment was voted down with the Lib Dems abstaining. Cllr Savage said the budget that was approved was the “most important in the 25-year history of this council” and was “shaped by a single overriding aim to put South Gloucestershire in the best possible position to recover and rise” from the pandemic. Cllr Young said that despite all the dramatic changes of the last 12 months, many of the budget’s themes remained familiar, including social care under pressure and massive savings required in the near future. As reported, according to the budget papers, the authority will
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Filton's shopping areas could benefit from a share of £120,000 allocated in the South Glos budget be hiring consultants to come up with ways to plug a £16.3million blackhole by 2024/25. Commitments in the budget include £1million to help people struggling to pay council tax who may not have qualified for support previously, a new youth employment hub and record capital investment in new and existing school buildings.
There will be £102,000 “surge funding” for welfare and debt advice services, more money for domestic violence support, £1.2million for the groundbreaking Recovery Curriculum to help pupils catch up on lost learning and boost their wellbeing, and a £1.3million pay rise targeted at the lowestpaid staff.
"The budget was shaped by a single overriding aim to put South Glos in the best possible position to recover and rise from the pandemic." - Cllr Toby Savage
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March, 2021
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MoD backing new talent with apprentice scheme Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) in Filton celebrated the talent of its workforce during National Apprenticeship Week 2021 in February. The procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), headquartered at Abbey Wood, Bristol, currently employs more than 400 apprentices at a number of UK sites who are learning and developing their
skills for a career within DE&S or its sister agency, the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA). DE&S recruits hundreds of new faces every year, from all backgrounds and experiences, and provides tailored training. There are currently four apprenticeship schemes open to apply for across sectors including engineering, finance and accounting and project
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management. Anyone going on to join one of the schemes also has an opportunity to join the SDA. Sue Snowball, Entry Talent & Learning Support Lead, said: “We’re always looking for talented and enthusiastic people across all backgrounds to start their exciting and fulfilling career with us. “Our opportunities suit individuals who can apply themselves, bring their drive and energy at the start of their career and are outcome focused. We’re always expanding our
range of training and what we offer through our apprenticeship schemes. “Here in DE&S, we make sure we help you develop your career throughout the organisation and we’re always developing tomorrow’s talent today by providing a great foundation and career progression.” This was the 14th annual staging of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) and events took place across England, highlighting the benefits to employers of all sizes in taking on an apprentice.
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News APPRENTICE CASE STUDY - EMILY WILSON Emily Wilson from Filton has the proud honour of being a two-time apprentice. She had already completed a level three apprenticeship in civil engineering, worked for a year in that profession and achieved her Eng Tech status – a recognised level of professional registration - before joining DE&S. She is now in the first of five years of her Engineering Degree Apprenticeship where’s she’s specialising in Aerospace. The 21-year-old said: “It’s not the conventional route of getting here, but I’m here now. “I’d applied for a lot of apprenticeships in the aerospace sector, but DE&S did have the best scheme available in terms of the company benefits and I think the main reason for me was this sense that it didn't seem as corporate as other employers. “You wouldn’t think planes and buildings are very similar, but they actually are. They’re all just one big beam. “The studying is really interesting. Obviously, it's a step up from a B-Tech to a degree so it has been hard, but I have been enjoying it.
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“In terms of being at DE&S, I think the proudest moment has been being offered a place. It was a bit stressful going through the first couple of months of COVID thinking is it still going to go ahead or is it going to be postponed a year?” Emily’s ambition is to work on Hercules or A400M aircraft and she is even building a 1:72 scale model of an A400M in her spare time. As well as working towards her degree and long-term career she volunteers on science, technology, engineering and mathematics outreach projects and is a member of the University Officer Training Corps aiming to become a reserve Army officer one day. Emily added: “I think the main benefits of working with DE&S is the scale of opportunities you actually have. “There's so many different things you could be doing and that the variety makes it really attractive. The other benefits of being a civil servant are the pension, the defence discount card and the security of being a civil servant compared to a more commercial company. I find that really comforting at the minute.”
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Horfield News
'Worried parents could be asked about income' by BBC LDRS staff for Filton Voice A councillor is worried parents who drive their child to hospital in an emergency will be charged to enter Bristol’s clean air zone – depending on how much they earn. Councillor for Horfield Claire Hiscott said she was worried parents would be asked “crazy questions” about their income after she heard the council was considering waiving the charges for people on lower pay who have to go to hospital. The Royal Hospital for Children and Bristol Royal Infirmary are both in the clean air zone (CAZ) due to be in place by October 29. Only polluting vehicles – those with emissions that do not meet EU standards – will be charged to enter the zone. Bristol City Council, which must introduce the CAZ by law, is still in the process of working out who will be exempt from the
charges, a council meeting heard this week. The lead officer for the clean air plan told members of the overview and scrutiny management board on Tuesday (February 2) that the council was considering exemptions for hospital visitors on lower incomes or for those who have appointments. She said the matter was “incredibly complex” and that officers were in weekly discussions with the hospital to understand where visitors come from, how they get there, and what alternative transport is available so people don’t have to drive. “We can’t exempt everybody, obviously, because that will affect compliance,” the officer said. “So how do we manage that relationship with the hospital in working out who needs to be exempted and who doesn’t. “I think we’re getting there
now, so for example, people on lower incomes, people who have to attend appointments.” But Cllr Hiscott said she was “really not happy” about possible exemptions for people on lower incomes. “I got the impression you were suggesting that some people could afford to pay to take their child to hospital, whereas some people can’t afford to,” she said. “That worries me quite a lot. “If I was a parent in A&E, or wherever, I do not want to answer a question ‘what is your income level?’ or ‘are you on Universal Credit?’. “I just want my child treated. “I think if you’re going to start going down the alleyway of… really segregating people and asking people crazy questions about whether they deserve to come to the hospital in the way that they have…I just think it’s wholly inappropriate.” Cllr Hiscott added she was
“worried” the council was being unrealistic about people no longer driving to hospital. “If you’re bringing a sick child from Exeter, you’re not going to get on the train,” she said. “Let’s be real. If you’re bringing a sick child a long distance for treatment, that [driving] is probably how you’re going to get there.” The officer said she thought Cllr Hiscott would be reassured once she saw the details of the exemption scheme in its entirety. “I think what the trouble is, we’re talking about one very isolated aspect of a much bigger, broader programme,” the officer said. The council plans to submit its final CAZ proposal to the Government on February 26. The business case is set to be signed off by the ruling Labour cabinet the day before, and must be approved by the Government before it is put in place.
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PUZZLES for all
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March, 2021
Horfield News
Councillor stops parking plan for play space A local councillor has stepped-in to stop council contractors tearing-up a much loved green space near Southmead Hospital and replace it with a on-street parking places. Alarmed constituents urgently contacted Cllr Claire Hiscott when work was about to commence last month in Butterfield Close, a normally quiet residential area, right. Cllr Hiscott says little to no prior notification or appropriate consultation had taken place with householders over this plan. She said local people felt this was a pointless sacrifice of land – regularly used by children as a play space – to create some extra parking capacity that would quickly be taken up by visitors or staff at Southmead Hospital. Now, following Cllr Hiscott’s intervention, housing officers have
agreed to freeze progress on this project until proper discussions have taken place with local people. Cllr Hiscott said: “The shoddy and shameful way residents have been completely side-lined in this matter is an absolute disgrace. Once again people living in this part of my ward have been ignored. “Estates management and housing officers are now, thankfully, having to
back-track on moves made without proper consultation. I imagine this was a wellmeaning idea to provide extra parking spots but the Council should have sought local views first. "In this case, it’s pretty clear that the threatened land has a higher value as a play space than anything else. If asked, I could easily have advised officials of this fact. It is to be hoped that lessons will be learned.”
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SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
3
Getting around: Major project updates GETTING around in South Gloucestershire is set to be safer, quicker and greener, thanks to major projects which are currently underway. These include: • Cribbs Patchway Metrobus Extension: The bridge move, the heaviest ever bridge lift of its kind in the U.K, has now been completed as part of this project. Once the remaining works are finalised, the metrobus route will travel through the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood, on the former airfield site, and link with Highwood Road at the San Andreas roundabout, next to the Mall at Cribbs Causeway • Wraxall Road roundabout: Work is underway on South Gloucestershire’s first through-about (a roundabout with lanes of traffic through the middle). The improvements will reduce traffic congestion and increase capacity at the busy junction on the A4174 Avon Ring Road • Yate Park and Ride site: Opening later this year, the £3.5 million park and ride on Badminton Road will help reduce traffic by encouraging people to use other travel options such as public transport, cycling or car sharing. It will include 192 parking spaces, 38 electric vehicle (EV) charge points, and secure cycle storage for 46 bicycles. Existing bus routes and
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure, Cllr Steve Reade next to the new electric vehicle charging hub at Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green services, ahead of the expansion of metrobus services to the area, will take passengers into Bristol and Yate • Electric vehicle charging hub at the Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green: the council has installed a 12-charging bay hub complete with a solar canopy, with six EV charge points, as part of the Revive vehicle charging
Land purchased for new Thornbury healthcare facility SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is to purchase the Thornbury Hospital site to support the development of new healthcare facilities. In a landmark agreement with North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), South Gloucestershire Council will secure the land to advance longterm proposals to deliver improved GP primary care, outpatient and social care services for Thornbury. This follows a £13.3 million bid to Government for the redevelopment of the site. It will also provide a new home for the town’s local GP practices, enhanced mental health support, social care and NHS beds and a proactive ‘frailty hub’ which would focus on the elderly community receiving care in their own homes.
network • Links between Lyde Green and Emersons Green: A £6.5 million project to improve pedestrian and cycling routes between Emersons Green and Lyde Green • Flood resilience: The Government has awarded £3.2 million to help improve the drainage of roads in South Gloucestershire. The council is also contributing a further
£500,000 to the scheme from existing maintenance budgets • E-scooters: Following the successful launch of the West of England e-scooter trial, the trial area for the ‘hop-on hop-off’ rental e-scooters is expanding to include areas such as Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Filton in South Gloucestershire.
Extra funds for Kingswood town centre project KINGSWOOD’S town centre regeneration project has received significant additional funding. The West of England Combined Authority has announced a £7.56 million investment, supported by a further £5 million from South Gloucestershire Council. Together, this matches the £12.5 million secured by the council through the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, announced in December. The funding will pay for: the pedestrianisation of Regent Street; the creation of a new public open space providing opportunities for markets, performance arts and cultural events; traffic re-routing; and promoting cycling, walking and access to nearby green spaces and Kingswood’s local heritage sites. It will also fund the full restoration of the historic Whitfield Tabernacle, which has lain derelict for three decades, to become a cultural and community venue. Finally, the funding will allow the council to invest in property and commercial premises that will directly contribute to the town centre regeneration at a time when the market faces considerable challenges. Local feedback has played a major part in developing a masterplan for Kingswood and the council aims to publicly consult on this more widely in the coming year.
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SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Think NHS 111 first
Census 2021: Take part
IF you have an urgent but non-life-threatening medical need, make sure you use NHS 111 first rather than going straight to A&E. NHS 111 will help you right away. If you need urgent care, the NHS can book you in to be seen quickly and safely at an appropriate local service such as a minor injury unit or the out-of-hours GP. If you need an emergency ambulance, one can be dispatched immediately. Clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists and paramedics, play an increasingly important role in NHS 111. In many cases clinicians in the service can assess patients and provide the advice you need over the phone without having to visit a physical service You should still dial 999 if you have a life-threatening illness or injury. Just think 111 first. When you think you need A&E, contact NHS 111 by phone or online.
HOUSEHOLDS across South Gloucestershire will be asked to take part in Census 2021 this spring. Census day is Sunday 21 March, it is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. Understanding the needs of the nation helps everyone from central Government to organisations, such as councils and health authorities, plan and fund public services across England and Wales. Census outputs inform where billions of pounds of public funding are spent on services such as transport, education and health. Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.
EU Settlement Scheme: reminder
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family members need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK. To be eligible, you need to have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020. The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021. You can apply and find organisations that can help with your application on this website www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
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