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It’s looks like it’s going to be an elf-y Christmas BEDMINSTER is renamed Elfminster this Christmas as 100 elves hide all over the place – in trees, windows and streets.

Children are being invited to find them all with a special map, available at many shops.

If they register the number they have found at special Candy Check Points, they may even win a prize.

They can also track down four places where the elves get together, including the Elf & Safety office next to Asda on Bedminster Parade.

At some locations you can even talk to the elves – Aaliyah Bloomfield, 9, right, is one of those who helped the elves find a voice. And at other places across North Street, East Street, West Street and nearby, some elves have elfie-sticks. You can post elfies at #bedminsterelves.

The project is run by the Bedminster Town Team, artist Russ Henry of Hot Soup House, and arts organisation Knowle West Media Centre. To find out more: The Elf & Safety office near Asda; inset Aaliyah, 9, who helps elves talk • www.bedminster.org.uk

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NOW 32 PAGES! Shock as GPs face £2m cuts Page 3 Parking: First days of new RPS

Pages 4-5

Green Capital: The verdict Pages 8-9

Best gifts made in Bristol Pages 12-13 Are men afraid to sing?

Page 15 Making it easier to walk in BS3

Pages 16-17

Five BS3 eateries zero-rated Page 26 Advertiser’s offer: £100 off bike for 2 lucky readers Page 4 On Facebook www.facebook.com/southbristolvoice

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southbristolvoice Paul Breeden Editor and publisher

07811 766072 | paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

Editorial team: Beccy Golding and Giles Crosse TOWN & COUNTRY HOMES

Christmas has come early at Besley Hill BS3!

Instruct Besley Hill to sell your home between now and December 20, 2015 and we will, upon completion, give you an iPad Air!

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Intro

WELCOME to the second Bedminster edition of the South Bristol Voice.

Thanks for all your kind words about the first issue – it’s been so well supported that we’ve already been able to go up from 24 to 32 pages.

As ever, our aim is to give you plenty to read about your neighbourhood.

In this issue you can find out how a band of dedicated volunteers are making it easier to walk instead of drive in Bedminster. You

can see Part 1 of our assessment of what being European Green Capital has done for South Bristol.

We bring you an exclusive gift guide of items made in the city and on sale in Bedminster.

We reveal how the poorest patients in our area are likely to lose out under cuts to GPs. We find locals who are passionate about finding young players for the not-so-sedate game of bowls. Plus Christmas events, columns, letters ... yes, and parking zones ...

Merry Christmas to all.

How do I get in touch with ...

My MP? Karin Smyth MP By email: karin.smyth.mp@ parliament.uk By post: Karin Smyth MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA By phone: 0117 953 3575 In person: Surgery on Friday December 11 at Knowle West Health Park, Downton Road BS4 1WH, from 9.15 am10.45 am. Call 0117 953 3575.

My councillor?

Gary Hopkins Lib Dem, Knowle (Lib Dem leader) By email: gary.hopkins@bristol. gov.uk By phone: 0117 985 1491 or 07977 512159

Bedminster Office 165 East Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4EJ 0117 953 5375 bedminster@besleyhill.co.uk www.besleyhill.co.uk www.facebook.com/BesleyHillBedminster

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USEFUL NUMBERS Bristol City Council www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000 Household waste, road maintenance Recycling and waste collections, maintenance of roads and pavements, street lighting, graffiti and fly-tipping, street litter. email: customer.services@bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2100 Pest control and dog wardens Report anti-social behaviour, noise and other pollution, risks to public health and safety (such as food risks), issues with pests or dogs 0117 922 2500

Christopher Davies Lib Dem, Knowle By post: Brunel House, St George’s Road, Bristol BS1 5UY By email: christopher.davies@ bristol.gov.uk Deborah Joffe Green, Windmill Hill By post: Brunel House, St George’s Road, Bristol BS1 5UY By email: deborah-mila.joffe@ bristol.gov.uk By phone: 07469 413308 Sam Mongon Labour, Windmill Hill By email: sam.mongon@bristol. gov.uk By phone: 07884 736112

Council tax

0117 922 2900

Housing benefit

0117 922 2300

Adult care & social services 0117 922 2900 Police www.avonandsomerset.police.uk General enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire

www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999

EDITOR’S NOTE: South Bristol Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation.

Feedback is welcomed: call editor Paul Breeden on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk.

All stories and pictures are copyright of South Bristol Voice and may not be reproduced without permission in this or any other plane of the multiverse.

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News

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Poorest lose out in GP cuts PATIENTS in South Bristol face losing up to around £2 million in the next five years under plans to reduce funding to GP surgeries in the area.

Doctors at six family practices in South Bristol say the move will lead – at a minimum – to cuts to services for patients and longer waits for appointments.

At a time when several practices in Bristol have struggled to recruit GPs, it adds to the sense of near-crisis affecting the NHS. MP Karin Smyth has joined others in objecting to the plans, which will see extra funding removed from surgeries in deprived communities.

She says the plans should be reconsidered.

Dr Trevor Dean, a spokesman for GPs at six surgeries in St John’s Lane, Knowle, Bishopsworth and Hartcliffe, warned that the redistribution of

funds “threatens to hit hardest those with the highest health needs.”

The practices worst hit are Crest, in St John’s Lane and Knowle West; Grange Road, in Bishopsworth; Merrywood, in Knowle West; Hillview, in Hartcliffe; and Hartwood, in Hartcliffe. The five are supported by the Lennard surgery in Bishopsworth, which is not so badly affected by the changes.

Dr Dean said: “Our practices provide primary care to the most deprived communities in Bristol and the South West.

“It is well known that deprivation is the biggest factor affecting people’s health and creates the need for extra healthcare. In the past we have received extra funding which has been used to employ additional doctors, nurses and other staff to meet this need.

“This funding is now being

St John’s Lane health centre dramatically cut.” Karin Smyth, Labour MP for Bristol South, said a review by NHS England had decided that measures of deprivation should no longer be used to set funding for GPs. A decision about where and how to redistribute the £2m was due to be announced by the Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as the Voice went to press. However, the Voice understands that the CCG is backing the reduced funding for

deprived areas. Ms Smyth said: “Six surgeries in some of the most deprived areas of South Bristol are worried about the impact on patients if they lose money on this scale.

“Money that has in the past been allocated on the basis of deprivation will be removed under these plans.

“Local, accessible GP surgeries that deliver high quality health care form a key part of any community, but patients living in some of our city’s poorest areas would find it harder than ever to register with a GP or to get an appointment to see one.

“While others elsewhere may gain from this redistribution, it is not right to rob Peter to pay Paul.”

She said there was still time for the CCG to “act wisely” by ordering that the £2m can be ‘redistributed’ straight back to these areas that would lose out.

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Lantern parade looks like the brightest yet BEDMINSTER’S annual lantern parade looks like being the best-supported yet, with scores of floats with hundreds of paper lanterns.

All eight Bedminster primary schools will take part in the event at 4pm on December 5.

For the first time the route will be traffic free.

Starting at North Street, it passes Cannon Street to British Road, watched by thousands.

The parade’s lead artist, Alan May, said: “There are sure to be some spectacular surprises when the lanterns are illuminated on the streets.”

Leading the parade will be Bristol Samba Band as well as the city’s own New Orleans-style Ambling Band, Ravens Marching Band from Bedminster Down, the Hooping Go Christmas Mad troupe and many Bedminster performers.

• Volunteer stewards are still needed – email info@bwlp.org

Sphinx alert: Pupils at Parson Street primary were happy to show off their Egyptian theme

LANTERN PARADE – Who follows who?

(Subject to change) 1. Bristol Samba Band; 2. Ashton Gate Ancient Greece; 3. Compass Point; 4. Victoria Park Rainforest Parrot; 5. Holy Cross Solar System; 6. 255th Scouts Space; 7. Ambling Band; 8. Bedminster mix; 9. Ashton Vale Hub; 10. Patchwork; 11.

St John’s; 12. Southville Centre; 13. Luckwell Giants & Dragon; 14. Parson Street Ancient Egypt Sphinx; 15. Scouts Band; 16.

Ashton Vale Dragon; 17. Southville Primary Aliens; Tail vehicle.

Attack on a woman mars start of RPS in Southville THE INTRODUCTION of parking restrictions in Southville has met a mixed reaction from residents and businesses – and appears to be the cause of one violent incident.

A spate of vandalism preceded the area’s second Residents Parking Scheme (RPS)with several signs being painted over.

On October 27, a woman who saw a man removing parking signs and cones in Raleigh Road was attacked when she tried to photograph him.

The woman was not badly hurt but did have her phone stolen. Police are appealing for witnesses – see panel opposite.

Bristol city council was asked about the impact of the vandalism on the Southville RPS but had not responded as the Voice went to press.

The RPS became active on November 23, with a two week grace period where no penalties will be issued. Meanwhile residents are expressing different

Residents split between those who find parking easier and those who don’t views about the impact of the scheme. Some were angry that despite paying for a permit, they still can’t park. One posted on Facebook: “I came home late and had to drive around for at least 10 minutes to find somewhere to park. We have now lost approximately five spaces in the road due to double yellow lines, with more planned.

“Why am I paying to park, when there are now less spaces than before?”

Others living just outside the Southville scheme, to the south of North Street, were also frustrated. “After one day I can

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New flats proposed for Bedminster Parade

Change of view: How the Motaman building would look, rebuilt with nine new flats above

see how awful it’s going to be for us residents having to compete with commuters, shop workers on North Street, shoppers, restaurant-goers, football fans and most annoyingly of all people who live in Southville who can’t find parking in their RPZ. They have the option to come here to park, but we have no such option,” wrote one.

Another complained that the new road markings made it impossible for emergency vehicles to pass: “I was so shocked to see an ambulance stuck in Lower Sidney Street unable to get through to respond to an emergency call! Vehicles were parked legally in the new designated areas. The paramedic had to waste time finding the owners so the vehicle could be moved to allow them access.”

But other residents welcomed the RPS, with several saying they were able to park easily near their homes for the first time, and their permit was worth the money.

Among businesses, the impact seemed to have been slight. No obvious cases emerged of companies saying their trade had been badly affected – although several protested in February when the scheme was announced.

However, Vicky Harrison, owner of Paper Village in North Street, is worried that footfall is down because people think they won’t be able to park.

She said on Facebook: “I’ve had lots of people saying they are not sure that they are going to be

A NEW vision for a corner of Bedminster Parade has been revealed by the owners of Motaman, the motor accessories shop.

The Ramlugon family, who have run the business for 25 years, want to redevelop the site, keeping the shop and adding nine flats above.

They say they want to provide “high quality housing for local people.”

Ahead of seeking planning permission, they held an open evening on November 26 seeking opinions, and published the idea on Facebook.

One woman commented: “Can today’s architects not think bigger than cubic? How does this sit next to the other buildings... like an eyesore.”

Another said: “I think it looks really smart.

Nice to see some of the tatty old buildings in Bedminster being updated.”

Assault follows attacks on new parking signs

able to continue to shop at Paper Village due to the RPZ situation.

“I am certainly very worried by the situation but more by the fact that people are making that decision without checking it out first. When I walked down to the shop there were plenty of empty bays close by.”

The Bedminster Town Team, which represents businesses, is conducting a survey of 10 firms on North Street to compare their trade before and after the introduction of the RPS. In the Bedminster East RPS area, introduced a month earlier, more than 2,000 people signed a petition in support of traders in Bedminster Parade who say a lack of parking makes deliveries difficult and deters customers.

The Fiddlers nightclub nearby in Willway Street says it suffered a dramatic drop in trade.

White out: An RPS sign vandalised in Beauley Road

SEVERAL weeks ago residents noticed that some signs announcing the RPS restrictions had been blanked out with white paint.

Then, at about 5.30pm on Tuesday October 27, a woman spotted a man removing “No Parking” cones and signs in Raleigh Road.

The woman used her phone to take a picture of the suspect, but he saw her and followed her towards the Birch Restaurant.

He then pushed her and took her phone before running off towards Coronation Road.

The suspect is said to have tanned skin, and is between 6ft 1in and 6ft 3in tall, with broad shoulders, aged about 35. He had dark stubble and dark wavy hair. He wore a mustard coloured top with the hood up and dark trousers.

Anyone who was in Raleigh Road or Coronation Road at the time and might have seen something is asked to call police on 101.

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This gate could really be going somewhere ONE of Bedminster’s much neglected gems –Ebenezer gate on North Street – is the subject of a new plan to revive it.

The Victorian stone gateway once framed a short avenue to the Methodist church behind it.

But for 20 years it has been locked and derelict – though offering tempting views of what could be a pleasing public space.

Now architecture students from the Univeristy of the West of England are hoping to lead a restoration of the gateway and to bring the space behind it back

UWE students gather views about the gate, each written on a flag into public use. As a first step, the students set up their own gateway – made of plywood – outside the gate on November 7 to gather views from members of the public.

Amy Evered, one of a group of

UWE students in their fifth year of their architecture qualification, said she was surprised how many people weren’t aware of the gate.

“Many people haven’t noticed it, which is quite surprising,” she said. But several remembered

December, 2015

using it as a handy short cut from West Street to North Street.

The students found plenty of enthusiasm for revamping the site, and several ideas for new uses. “It’s an avenue with trees so it’s the right shape for a market,” said Amy. However, any changes are some way off.

The other end of the path behind the gate leads to old people’s accommodation and security concerns mean it is unlikely to become a public right of way.

But judging by the support the students found, a pop-up market or temporary open space would be popular.

Bedminster Town Team is involved in the discussions and will be involved in raising the several thousand pounds likely to be needed for any restoration.

George Grace, administrator at the Town Team, believes the most likely option is to make a pocket park, the size of a small shop. Further ideas are expected to be revealed in December.

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Brighter bridge is a better route

Bridging the gap: New murals at Bartletts Road

PICTURE: Stef Brammar

YEARS of hard work by a group of volunteers and community organisations are finally helping make a vital walkway into a more welcoming route.

The Bartletts Road footbridge over the railway has been painted with bright murals by local artist Andy Council.

It’s part of a walking route from the Marksbury Road area to West Street and was revived as part of the Let’s Walk Bedminster

campaign. Stef Brammar at Way Out West, the West Street community group, worked for two years with Marksbury Area Community Association, Parson Street school and the Friends of Marksbury Road library, negotiating with the council, Network Rail and others.

The Parson Street bridge is next for repainting, and new signs for the area are also on the cards.

• Let’s Walk Bedminster: p 16-17

New parking idea for arena as the plans finally emerge

THE PLANNING application for the Bristol Arena is about to be submitted – revealing to residents the final proposals for the 12,000 spectator venue and its surroundings.

Two applications for the £93 million scheme were expected to be published just as the Voice is being distributed in the last days of November.

A second public meeting in Totterdown has been announced where residents can quiz officials about the plans. Six weeks of public consultation will follow.

It has been arranged in conjunction with community group Tresa after an earlier public meeting at Totterdown Methodist church, called at short notice after protests that no local meetings were planned.

For details of the new meeting on December 10, see panel below.

Meanwhile the council is being urged to look at the potential for several hundred extra – and currently unused – parking spaces to serve the arena.

There are hundreds of empty

spaces at the rear of the Avon Meads retail park, says Gary Hopkins, councillor for Knowle and Bristol’s Lib Dem leader.

He was alerted to the opportunity by Dave Woods, a member of the rail union RMTU and railway columnist for the Evening Post.

“We counted over 500 places in Avon Meads alone which appear never to be used,” Cllr Hopkins told the Voice.

He believes there are also other spaces under the flyover which could be brought to use.

Access to the arena could be by shuttle bus along Feeder Road and Cattle Market Road, he suggested. An access from the rear of Avon Meads exists, but is chained off.

He believes Avon Meads would give easier access to the arena than other car parks which have been earmarked, such as Cabot Circus.

The council said Avon Meads car park had not been considered because it is for customers of the retail park. Objections can be

HOW TO FIND OUT ABOUT ARENA APPLICATIONS Monday November 30 – Monday December 21, foyer of Central Library: Exhibition of the key changes to proposals following the pre-application consultation, and key points from the Environmental Impact Assessment and Transport Assessment.

Tuesday December 8, 7-8.30pm, The Junction at Engine Shed, Temple Meads: Presentation of proposals and key changes by members of arena project team, with Q&A. Thursday December 10, 7-8.30pm, Saltcellar, Totterdown Baptist Church: Presentation by members of the arena project team, with an opportunity to ask questions. (Entrance to the Saltcellar is on Cemetery Road, through railings and down steps.)

• Details also at www.bristoltemplequarter.com/arenaconsultation

made as part of the consultation, said a spokeswoman.

• Five construction firms have made the shortlist to build the arena: BAM Construction, Bouygues UK, Sir Robert

McAlpine, Laing O’Rourke and Buckingham Group Contracting.

They will submit bids by December 18 with a decision about the winning contractor expected in February 2016.

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News Green Capital 2015: A triumph For some, Bristol’s Year as European Green Capital has been a triumph. Others feel the impact could have been greater. Part 1of a South Bristol Voice special investigation MOST South Bristol residents know Bristol became European Green Capital in 2015; the fact is emblazoned across buses and signage throughout the city. But fewer understand the initiative’s controversies and successes.

As 2015 closes, making sense of Green Capital’s true impact is challenging. Just weeks ago, a Bristol University report claimed that 10,000 jobs could be created if the city invests in wind farms and renewable energy, and savings made of nearly £1 million per day on the city’s energy bills, if momentum created by the year is sustained.

Contrastingly, before 2015 even got started, the Bristol Cable media coooperative

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the real work would be done in communities, by local people, and that has proved to be true.”

Toy appeal: Unwanted toys were collected for an art installation in a £10,000 Green Capital art project at Knowle West media centre claimed nearly half the £1.35m Green Capital grant money was given to organisations with close links to the awarding body.

Green Capital funded more than 187 projects throughout the city in 2015. Andrew Garrad, chair of Bristol 2015 Ltd, is staunch in his defence of the

programme. “A lot has happened in Bristol in 2015. It has been a remarkable year for the city. I am under no illusion that the success of our Green Capital year is due to the efforts of the Bristol 2015 company, or the city council, or any other particular organisation.

“We knew at the outset that

South Bristol’s green connection Mr Garrad highlights South Bristol communities like Knowle.

“Knowle’s green journey started a long time before Bristol won this accolade. Local food projects have been happening here for over 10 years.”

He points to Knowle”s anti-littering campaigns, the number of Knowle residents reusing or recycling their waste, and active travel – walking and cycling – as evidence of intense community involvement in sustainability. “That positive energy will continue long after 2015 is over. The people here truly are in it for good.”

When it comes to assessing impacts though, Mr Garrad says it’s hard to measure in figures.

“We know that thousands of Bristolians have attended events, created art installations, taken part in workshops. We know people have planted trees, improved the energy efficiency of their homes, upcycled furniture and bicycles, greened their streets and enjoyed local food.”

He accepts some of this would

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News or Bristol’s wasted opportunity? have happened anyway, but is adamant Green Capital was the key catalyst. “The ideas and the enthusiasm to deliver those projects were here already and we tried to tap into it.

“It has reached out all over Bristol and we hope and expect that it will provide a long-lasting and powerful legacy, not only in Bristol but much further afield.”

Local realities on the ground Vicky Beckwith is chief executive at Re:work, a Green Capital-funded social enterprise in Filwood Broadway. “We run a furniture reuse shop, a carpentry unit that upcycles donated items and a team of builders who work with local residents to improve energy efficiency in their homes.

“Green Capital has helped at two levels, providing us with money to support initiatives like swap shops, sewing and craft groups, and at a strategic level helping pull together lots of smaller organisations with similar themes.”

She accepts Filwood and Knowle West are areas that suffer from considerable poverty. “But people are passionate about conserving resources. Sometimes when you don’t have much you find creative ways of saving and using what you do have.”

She hopes Green Capital will make this creativity more visible, supporting people to make their area what they want it to be, reducing waste and reusing what they can.

A politician’s view Cllr Gary Hopkins, Liberal Democrat leader on Bristol city council and a member for Knowle, says Bristol’s sustainable journey has been a long one.

“There was huge positive momentum with a large number of individuals and organisations committed over a lot of years,” he said.

“There was also a big chunk of money from the previous government. Given that, the impact has been rather less and certainly less spread out than it should have been.”

Cllr Hopkins believes the year started with a lack of understanding of many existing groups and structures, and of

Sky-high vision: The Skyline walk connecting South Bristol’s many great viewpoints, here at Perretts Park, was funded by Green Capital how to get them on board. He wanted to see the orgainsation “... not hiding the finances; far better and more transparent handing out of grants. Less spin; more substance. If it did not fit the central model it was ignored and sidelined.”

Crucially, he believes Bristol has gone backwards over the last couple of years on sustainable waste management and energy.

“The Bristol Energy company [a council-owned company which aims to cut bills and promote sustainable energy] was delayed by the mayor.

“This, together with the new Government’s abandonment of the environmental agenda, means many energy saving schemes will fall.”

Climate Energy, part of a national company charged with delivering insulation and other measures for Warm Up Bristol, recently went bust, leaving many Bristol households wondering when work they have paid for will be completed.

Bristol Green party said this August that only 0.1 per cent of Bristol’s domestic waste is reused, despite estimates that 40 per cent of discarded large kitchen appliances are still in working order.

In addition, the Bristol Evening Post reported that 200 adults are dying each year in Bristol as a result of poor air.

George Ferguson is considering the idea of a punitive, cash-based low emissions zone in the city centre.

Against these statistics, can Green Capital be called a success? In Part 2 of this investigation next month, we look further at South Bristol Green Capital projects.

Green Capital projects across South Bristol • £15,000 to establish a Bristol South Skyline Walk, launched in May during Bristol’s Walking Festival (pictured above) • Re:Work Ltd awarded £900 for project titled Noel’s Multi-coloured Swapshop • Youth Moves awarded £2,250 for a project, Urban Escape, to develop part of Springfield Allotments, Knowle • Knowle West Media Centre awarded £1,850 for food waste and health project • Knowle West Media Centre and Ludic Rooms awarded £10,000 for arts engagement project (pictured left)

Is Green Capital working?

Bristol’s problems remain stark, reported a major UK waste management journal in June.

“Bristol, the European Green Capital for 2015, saw a four per centage point fall in its recycling rate from 45.3 per cent in 2012-13 to 41.5 per cent in 2013-14”, according to letsrecycle.com. Meanwhile, the

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TER T E

Who can get a parking permit?

I HAVE lived in Hebron Road, Bedminster, off North Street, for over 30 years. It is a one way street and has always been bad for parking.

I have always parked on North Street and now this parking scheme has started I’m stuffed. Because I don’t live on North Street I cannot have a permit. So where do I park?

Because at the bottom of my street is a firm that has at least 10 people working there and they all have a car each!

There are taxis everywhere, and now they have to pay they will park on the side roads and make it even more difficult for me and my family to park. It’s stressing me out already and that’s before it’s started.

Roger Turner Hebron Road, Bedminster • I WAS interested to read about the introduction of the parking zones. I notice that people doing child care are a grey area. This seems unfair as they may be unpaid family members, yet they can’t get an annual permit.

This must affect other people too. What about pet sitters who look after people’s cats and dogs?

They have to travel all over the place and it isn’t easy to find pay and display spaces in some areas.

The list of people who can get traders permits is mostly those who have to carry a lot of tools – builders, plumbers and so on.

That is fair enough but there are a lot of other people who have to drive to do their job.

JS, Totterdown

Use hospital or risk losing it I AGREE with the MP Karin Smyth when she warns that South Bristol hospital in Hengrove is in danger of being underused. If you speak to

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people when they need hospital appointments they always seem to be off to the BRI or Southmead.

I have just been to South Bristol hospital for an endoscopy and though it is not the most pleasant procedure it was much less stressful having it done there rather than at the BRI. I hope people in South Bristol start to use their hospital more or we will be told it is unneeded and it will be run down.

MT, Bedminster

What is the Green benefit?

WINNING the Green Capital was a great achievement for Bristol and should be a mark of pride.

But a lot of Bristolians are left asking what the long-term benefit of all the fanfare will be.

Here in Southville, our local environment looks pretty much the same. Too often, we walk down the streets on a Saturday morning only to find broken bottles, split binbags and overflowing bins.

“Greening” our lives is too important to reduce to selfappointed experts telling us to eat our leftovers and take shorter showers. We need a decent and clean built public environment for all, or the ideals of the Green Capital will remain unfulfilled.

As Labour councillors, we wouldn’t be afraid to take the fight for clean streets to the mayor – whatever their party. It might be clichéd, but as councillors we would never see rubbish on the streets as not worthy of our concern.

Yes, we can do more here to keep the streets clean, and that’s why Fred is signing up to be a Street Rep and we want to organise community cleanup days.

But we also need investment in plants, public squares and rubbish facilities.

Fred Jerrome, Rob Massey Labour candidates for Southville ward

2016 Senior Entry

ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS Saturday 9 &16 January Contact Mrs Carolyn Matthews 0117 930 3068 www.qehbristol.co.uk

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Christmas gift guide Stuck for gift ideas?

We’ve found some lovely stuff made in Bristol ...

www.southbristolvoice.co.uk

December, 2015

Stained glass balloon made on premises in Bedminster Shop 3

The Bristol Giants Save Christmas: The number by the item tells you where Children’s book, £6.99 Shop 2 you can buy it 1. Windmill Hill City Farm art shop 2. Greville Wick, North Street BS3 3. Glass Designs & Gallery, North St 4. Health Unlimited, North Street 5. Bristol Blue Glass, Bath Road 6. SS Great Britain shop • Other ideas: Local crafts and food at BS4 Market, School Road, Totterdown, Sunday December 6; Fresh meat from Windmill Hill City Farm; Local art on show in Duchess of Totterdown, Craftisan and Totterdown Canteen, Tree all in Wells Road; Books and decorations memorabilia from Arnos Vale

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December, 2015

uilders of Royal York Crescent in tious. They did not include a no. 13 t – instead they built a 12a.

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Christmas gift guide THE LITTLE BOOK OF

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E: paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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December, 2015

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News

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15

Helping men conquer their fear of the mixed choir ...

Creating a male-only space for the vocally shy

WHERE have all the men gone?

Despite the soaring popularity of community singing, that’s what they’re asking in Britain’s choirs, where the women outnumber the men by a large margin.

Now the people behind Bristol’s largest community choir, Gurt Lush, reckon they have the answer – ManChorus – and it’s starting in South Bristol.

Sam Burns, who is leading the new venture, explained: “Boys love singing in primary school but after that they get to thinking it’s not very cool.

“Boy bands are one thing, but singing in a choir is not seen as masculine.

“So after primary school a lot of men never go back to singing.”

But Sam is convinced that a lot of men would love to give their vocal chords a workout if only they had the chance.

“My theory is that there are hundreds and thousands of men up and down the country who are just waiting to be invited in,” he said. “We know blokes like singing – there’s no question.

You just have to listen to a football crowd.

“The question is why they avoid the big mixed choirs so much,” he said. ManChorus will

Singalonga-men: The ManChorus aims to get men united in singing together – in a malle-only environment be men only. Sam thinks it is probably very intimidating for a man who hasn’t sung in front of anyone for 30 years to walk into a choir of many women where his voice may be very noticeable.

“You have got to be a fairly brave bloke to go in and hold the bass line up more or less on your own!” said Sam. ManChorus will build on the great traditions of the male voice in British culture – the Welsh male voice choirs and barbershop – while being much less formal.

There won’t be the strict dress code of the formal choirs and the songs will be wide and varied,

from spirituals to world music and many other traditions.

It will also include some of the new songs that have been written for men to express the modern male condition – the delights of the garden shed and the smell of Swarfega, for example.

There is no audition and it doesn’t matter what standard you are: “This is designed for people who haven’t sung for 30 or 40 years,” said Sam. He believes the formula will be a winner and ManChoir will finish 2016 with around 100 members.

They will mainly sing on their own but it’s hoped they will also

contribute at concerts with the 250-strong Gurt Lush singers.

Sessions will be held on Tuesday at the Southville Centre from 12.30-2.30pm and at St Michael and All Angels church on Gloucester Road on Monday, 7.30-9.30pm. Trial sessions are free and later ones cost about £7.

“It’s a great sound when you hear 100 men breaking into harmony,” said Sam. “We want the power of the football crowd with the sophistication of a Welsh male voice choir.”

Now there’s an ambition.

• www.facebook.com/BristolMan-Chorus

Jobs are there but there’s a shortage of candidates, says agency UNEMPLOYMENT rates may be stubbornly high but finding skilled workers in Bristol is becoming a real problem, says a Bedminster employment agency.

Mainline recruits people for permanent and temporary jobs in the commercial, industrial and driving sectors.

Recent changes to the rules on driving licences for goods vehicles have cut the number of drivers available for HGV jobs.

And in the last three months Mainline has also seen a shortage

of people for skilled positions such as secretarial and administrative work.

“We are struggling across the board,” said area manager Geeta Rowland.

“There’s a lot of competition for skilled office staff, for example.

“We are finding people accepting a job one day and then being offered a better one two days later. It’s also pushing wages upwards.

“We are pushing clients when

they have a candidate to make a decision the same day, because if you don’t then the candidate will be gone tomorrow.”

Candidates are making decisions on which jobs to take based on how convenient the location is, whether there is parking, and the salary.

Meanwhile changes to the regulations for van and lorry drivers have resulted in a shortage of candidates in this area too.

Most professional goods

drivers now must have a CPC certificate which they have to renew every five years to check their knowledge of safe driving, what do to after an accident, and driving law.

The test means up to 35 hours – or a week – of classroom study and costs several hundred pounds, which drivers may have to pay themselves.

The upshot, says Mainline, is that many drivers have decided not to bother and to retire instead.

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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December, 2015

A year of hard work to get

W

HY don’t we all walk more? Most people are agreed it would be a good idea, but there are obstacles – bins on the pavements, a lack of safe crossings, cars parked on the footway – the list goes on.

Hats off then to Let’s Walk Bedminster, a partnership of no fewer than 75 organisations, sharing one goal: to make South Bristol more walkable for residents. In particular, it seeks to get the young, the elderly, parents with buggies and the disabled out and about.

This year, the project won £40,000 from Bristol Green Capital 2015, to add to £60,000 gathered from other sources.

“We want to improve, mainly by community action, the walking environment in the two wards of Southville and Bedminster,” said Ben Barker, the project’s originator. Ben got the scheme off the ground after

Green Capital funds have helped outline new safe routes for walking

struggling to navigate bins and poorly parked cars, while taking his temporarily wheelchairbound brother out for a pint.

It’s been overseen by Greater Bedminster Community Partnership, and involves many smaller groups including Way Out West, the West Street action group, and the Friends of South St Park, and has the support of Bristol city council.

Let’s Walk Bedminster has worked to establish a network of walking routes, improved parks

and pedestrian-friendly streets across Bedminster. For example, the Daisy Route goes from Warden Road behind East Street through quieter roads to Beauley Road and the New Cut.

The challenges ahead Let’s Walk Bedminster tackles simple, but important concerns.

Cramped pavements, overparking, heavy traffic and unsafe crossings are negating the many benefits of walking.

“We are particularly concerned that young children and people with mobility or sight problems, often older people, are disadvantaged by a poor walking environment,” says Ben. He believes that walking is a low priority for the council – even though it has contributed funds – compared with cycling and keeping cars moving.

But some of us are to blame too: “Many people thoughtlessly

block narrow pavements with overhanging bushes or recycling bins,” he said.

Sitting is the new smoking The project aims to counter the lifestyles, jobs and entertainments that lead us to spend hours each week in one place. “There are lots of overweight children around who run the risk of future illnesses,” said Ben. “The recommendation for walking is at least 30 minutes, five days per week. It’s cheap and can be pleasant. Most people work less than two kilometres from home; that’s about 30 minutes each trip, so even a small change in lifestyle can be enough.”

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December, 2015

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Bedminster back on its feet The wider picture Ben’s argument is well made, nonetheless there is evidence that walking rates in South Bristol could be worse. Council statistics from a 2014 report show that, in Southville, some 32.6 per cent of 16-74 year olds walked to work.

In Bedminster, that figure fell to 24 per cent, perhaps because the commute into the city centre is further, or perhaps because it involves walking along busy highways. Only 15.8 per cent of Knowle residents walk to work, illustrating the trend towards less walking as distances grow.

Overall, walking in Bristol is gaining more attention. An ongoing Bristol University study, set to conclude in 2018, is evaluating the costs of walking schemes. It will compare these to the benefits of a more active workforce and reduced car use.

The university quotes Public Health England figures: £7.4 billion is spent every year on health problems related to a lack of exercise. “There is evidence of

Planting a community orchard, Warden Road, on the Daisy Route a link between adult obesity levels and the way people commute to work,” said Dr Audrey, from the School of Social and Community Medicine at Bristol University.

“Walking to work is an ideal way for some adults to include moderate exercise in their daily

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routine.” Ben responded: “The Let’s Walk Bedminster project is really about making it more pleasant for walkers, by removing obstacles from pavements and improving the look of streets by encouraging good gardens or interesting artwork.”

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The future for Let’s Walk Bedminster Register with Let’s Walk Bedminster, at the website below, to get access to smartphone pedometers, tips, maps and links to walking partners, plus news and views on street improvements and events.

It does appear that Let’s Walk Bedminster and its partners are having success. Thanks to Way Out West, improvements to Victor Road, South Street Park and Stanley Street between West Street and North Street are now being delivered.

They include a widened pavement, new trees, dropped kerbs and new signs.

Other affiliated groups have also won support, for example to improve the walkway between Marksbury Road and West Street (see page 5).

To find out more, email getinvolved@letswalkbedminster. co.uk • www.letswalkbedminster. co.uk/next-steps/

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Police update

I

AM pleased to report the south of Bristol had one of the quietest Halloween and Bonfire Night periods for years.

Traditionally, these times of the year can be busy for police teams due to anti-social behaviour and people intent on causing trouble.

However this year, the pro-active approach taken by neighbourhood teams, who worked in partnership with the fire service and stepped up patrols in hotspot areas, paid off.

Children and families had a great time trick or treating and attending fireworks displays and didn’t have to worry about other people spoiling their fun.

I hope that this joint way of working can continue so that local people can enjoy community events, without the fear that a small number of people will ruin them.

One crime type which has increased slightly recently is theft

from motor vehicles – there have been six in the past few weeks in the Greater Bedminster area. In most of these cases, a window has been smashed and items such as sat navs left in glove boxes have been stolen.

I would urge everyone to make sure they take everything out of their car when they lock up, including items from the boot, because if someone breaks into the main body of the car, they can easily access the boot.

Leave gloveboxes open to show there is nothing in there and never leave bags on the seats, even if there is nothing valuable in them. If you want to be extra

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With Sgt Paul Honeychurch, Bedminster police station

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Too tempting: A bag left in an empty car is liable to be stolen careful you can leave the back seats down so it is obvious there is nothing in the boot worth

stealing. If you’re out and about doing Christmas shopping, please don’t come back to your car to put shopping bags in your boot and then leave again. We do know that some thieves wait in car parks for people to do just this, they then break into the car when you have returned to the shops.

On the subject of Christmas, please remember to register all your new gadgets and valuables on www.immobilise.com, the national property database. This way, if any of your possessions are stolen, we have a better chance of returning them to you.

I would like to take this chance to wish all the residents of Bedminster and Southville a very merry Christmas and a peaceful new year. We will of course be on duty keeping you safe during the festive period, so please do come and say hello if you see us out and about.

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JIVE FUSION DANCE

Leroc partner dancing Jive with a hint of Latin & Ballroom Wednesday 8pm-10.45pm Kingswood Community Centre Classes resume January 13 Sunday 4pm-6pm St Francis Church Centre, Ashton Gate Classes resume January 10 With dance teacher DEREK KNAPMAN 07549 590269 dereklionstores@gmail.com www.jivefusiondance.co.uk

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Paul on 07811 766072 or Emma or Hollie on 0117 908 2121.

December, 2015

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19

Features Slapstick – a festival of funnies that’ll never go out of fashion THERE’S no keeping quiet about the Bristol Slapstick Festival.

This celebration of the world of silent film and all it inspired was the dream of a Totterdown film fan 15 years ago – and now it’s an international success.

Organiser Chris Daniels of Somerset Road is slightly awed by how much his brainchild has grown – and how many famous names it’s attracted on the way.

From its beginnings with Have I Got News for You’s Paul Merton, who supported the festival through its early years, the guest list now looks like a roll call of the greats of British comedy.

From Michael Palin to the Goodies, from Rob Brydon to Chris Addison; Omid Djalili to Griff Rhys Jones; stars of the small screen are more than ready to come to Bristol every January to pay homage to the silent stars who inspired them.

Sometimes the link is obvious: the Goodies, who were among the most popular TV comedians of the 1970s, were fond of physical comedy and often used elaborate set-ups such as a giant kitten that stalked London.

But many other stars are eager to popularise an art form that’s perhaps comedy at its most pure.

For Chris it is a journey that began in the early 1990s when he took a course in film studies at the University of Bristol.

“We were shown lots of silent films and I was just blown away.

I thought, why doesn’t everyone love this stuff?” said Chris.

Like many, he remembered seeing Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton and other silent comedy stars on TV as a child. But he realised that since then they had disappeared from the small screen.

And in any case, these films were big in every sense: made to be shown on a big screen with live musical accompaniment. For a large part of the 20th century, cinema was the world’s biggest art form. Charlie Chaplin was the most recognised face in the world as early as 1914.

Without sound, and with very limited black and white camera technology, film actors needed particular skills to project their

Oh, so many famous names

Victoria Wood: Pictured at Slapstick 2015 with director Chris Daniels

Biggest names in comedy back a unique festival role onto the flickering screen.

But for comedy, film allowed stunts that had never been seen before, from the high-speed risky antics of Buster Keaton to the choreographed man-with-plank routines of Laurel and Hardy.

Chris wanted to save these classics from being forgotten. He proposed to the Watershed that they try some screenings, with the support of Paul Merton, a longtime fan of the silents.

What began as Bristol Silents in 2000 attracted 1,000 people.

Now called the Slapstick Festival, it comprises more than 20 events at the Colston Hall, St George’s, the Arnolfini and the Watershed.

Supporters in 2015 alone included Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, Barry Cryer, Victoria Wood, all three Goodies, Griff Rhys Jones and Stephen Fry. Chris believes today’s stars support the festival because the traditions of silent films have been carried on by many of them.

The late Eric Sykes, who won a Slapstick award for excellence in 2009, made his own tribute with his multi-award-winning silent film The Plank in 1967.

One constant of the festival is a gala screening of a silent

classic, with music by a full-size orchestra. In January 2016 it’s the 1921 Chaplin classic The Kid, with guest host Robin Ince.

Hiring orchestras and presenting fragile old films on the latest digital equipment is not cheap, however. Chris estimates that the real cost of a gala show is £40 per audience member, yet tickets cost £10 to £25.

The difference is made up by support from Bristol’s animation giant Aardman and the British Film Institute and patrons from the Goodies to Michael Palin who often give their time free. (But more help is needed: see right).

Bristol’s own Stephen Merchant is hosting a Top Comedy Moments event.

“Today’s stars give audiences a new perspective on the films,” said Chris. They get the audience involved too – on January 24 for example Barry Cryer will lead a “kazoo-along” to a rare Felix the Cat and another animated short.

And it is always appreciated: “Time after time, the hosts of the gala evening say, ‘What a lovely audience!’” said Chris.

He thinks it’s because the festival is a unique occasion.

“These films are not on the TV any more so this is the one way that audiences can engage with it. There’s nothing like it – there isn’t anyone alive like Chaplin, and he made his films for the big screen and a live orchestra.

“I feel this is my life work – this is where my heart is.”

THE 2016 Slapstick Festival from January 21-24 has more famous names than you could ... er ... shake a stick at.

Marcus Brigstocke quizzes Aardman writers about Shaun The Sheep; The Goodies share anecdotes and clips from their TV show; gag master Tim Vine salutes his hero Phil Silvers (aka Sgt Bilko); and Dad’s Army actor Ian Lavender and music legend Rick Wakeman talk about their passion for Buster Keaton before introducing two of his films to live music featuring guest Adrian Utley of Portishead.

• Details of all events at www.slapstick.org.uk

Help keep the slapstick flying THE Slapstick Festival is the biggest, the best, in fact the only slapstick festival in the world. It costs a fortune to run, and it needs to raise £5,000 to: • Protect rare film prints • Cover rising venue costs • Include world class music • Commission new scores • Improve projection quality • Keep tickets affordable If you become a Slapsticker rewards include tea with the Goodies, VIP and backstage tickets and the chance to get custard-pied by a celebrity!

To find out how to be part of the festival, search ‘slapstick’ at: www.kickstarter.com

Win tickets!

SOUTH Bristol Voice has two tickets to see live music and classic comedy from Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden on January 24. To win, tell us who is leading the kazoo-along on Sunday January 24?

Email your answer to paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

by December 15.

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

20

News

Ashton travel upgrade hope TWO transport proposals for Ashton have met with a welcome.

Mayor George Ferguson has included £50,000 in his budget to make a business case for a railway station at Ashton Gate.

He also announced a new consultation on an upgraded Metrobus stop at Paxton Drive to serve Ashton Gate.

Green councillor Charlie Bolton welcomed the ideas, saying there is a need for “some sort of decent provision via Metrobus on match days”.

Merry fair

L

OOKING for something different for a Christmas present? Something artistic, attractive, and made locally, with love, with the proceeds going to the person who made it?

The Home Grown shop at Windmill Hill City Farm in Phillip Street, Bedminster, may be what you are looking for. It showcases the work of 19 artists, most from South Bristol with a few from further afield in the city.

The appeal is simple, says one of the artists and organisers, Eva Thyghoj: “I think people are fed up with things that are mass produced and they are ready for things that are homemade.”

But that’s not to say that anything on sale is amateurish – everything from illustrations to jewellery is made to a high

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southbristolvoice

www.southbristolvoice.co.uk

December, 2015

The unique gift shop everything is made by

T

SOUTHVILLE Primary School is holding a Christmas Fair on Saturday December 5. It’s from 3-5pm at the Merrywood Road site. There will be stalls, Christmas trees for sale, a visit from Santa, bar, raffle and much more.

ER TI S CK

N

T: 07811 766072

Artists get together to show off their creations at Windmill Hill City Farm standard. The shop has been open for more than a year and now has a huge range of art and gifts, from paintings and photographs to cards and decorated glass.

Art also takes the form of ceramics and creative textiles, jewellery and felt items, clothes and wild food.

Some are quite well known in Bristol such as artist and portrait painter Natalie Faithful. Sandra Moore paints many scenes of Totterdown on her greetings cards but also paints pictures.

Eva’s speciality is handmade

women’s fashion – not surprising, as she was previously a pattern cutter and designer in London.

She said: “It’s all handmade because that’s how I like doing it, though to compete with big manufacturers is difficult.”

Brenda Duddington of Windmill Hill makes art from glass, painted and stained silver, as well as cards and felt work.

Tess McDermott, also from Windmill Hill, makes ceramics that are functional but almost seem hewn from a blue-veined stone.

There’s organic soap from Happy Holistics as well as foraged foodstuffs from Alyson and Nigel Hunt, who keep bees in Downend and sell honey and wax candles among other products.

Earthed Wood make very

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News where hand

solid oak and ash benches and other furniture in an old mill off Feeder Road in Barton Hill.

Eva is one of three artists who take an active role in running the shop. However, all 19 artists who display there take turns to staff the shop for half a day a week.

They pay a commission on their sales and a small rental fee but in return receive most of the money from sales of their art.

The shop is open most of the time that the farm is open – generally 9.30am to 3.30pm in the winter, seven days a week.

There is a waiting list for artists wanting to join Home Grown, but numbers can change quickly, so new applications are always welcome.

Contact thefarmgiftshop@ gmail.com or www.facebook. com/windmillcityfarmshop.

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Have your say on Green plans WHAM, the Windmill Hill and Malago group which discusses planning, holds a weekly stall every Saturday where residents can voice their concerns.

It’s at Malago Green, near the St Catherine’s shopping centre, 11am-1pm. The group is arguing for a less intensive development of the Bedminster Green area.

The group is also holding a Wham Christmas Party at the Windmill pub on Windmill Hill at 8pm on Friday December 18 with live music, food and a DJ.

Santa and deer

Wide appeal: Laura Whittington (textiles) and Eva Thyghoj (clothing)

CHILDREN will get the chance to meet Father Christmas and help him feed the deer when he visits Ashton Court on December 23.

Santa will join families for a Christmas party in the mansion.

Email acm.events@bristol.gov.uk or call 0117 963 3438.

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Columns Opposition to parking schemes is fading away

A

S WE turn our attention to Christmas festivities, December is also a time when people think of those less fortunate.

With that in mind, I am pleased to be able to announce our bold new Bristol City Council initiative to invest £5 million in a fund to purchase properties to house those who have been homeless or are at risk of homelessness.

The scheme will see up to 80 one and two-bedroom properties purchased in Bristol that will be available at affordable rents.

The intention is that households will be able to stay in this accommodation for two to three years and, during this time, will be helped to make progress in their lives.

A very different announcement includes another key milestone for the Bristol Arena,

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The Mayor’s view Each month Bristol mayor George Ferguson shares his take on South Bristol life which is one step closer to delivery after the council held a bidders’ day for contractors interested in building the venue.

Five shortlisted contractors were invited to attend a site visit earlier this month to find out more about the tender process.

The companies that attended the day included: BAM Construction, Bouygues UK,

Give the gift of health & fitness for christmas!

December, 2015

Sir Robert McAlpine, Laing O’Rourke and Buckingham Group Contracting.

Bids will be submitted by December 18 with a decision about the winning contractor expected in February 2016.

Finally, Bristol’s residents’ parking scheme (RPS) programme is set to finish in the New Year when the Spike Island scheme goes live.

Spike Island is the twelfth and final RPS area to be approved in the current programme and follows Southville.

The rollout has done what I hoped it would, with opposition generally fading once a scheme goes live, and a number of residents and traders reporting that they have been pleasantly surprised. We continue to learn from experience and welcome requests for changes as we reach each six month review.

Even in its reduced form the RPS is undoubtedly improving the local environment as well as helping to encourage a switch to public and active transport.

As I suspected would happen, the strongest representation I now get is from some of the areas that asked to be left out of the scheme pleading to come back in.

Surprise a loved one this christmas with our new year personal training package!

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Left, Arthur and Sam get into the swing of bowls

Fun time on the green, and not a blazer in sight THINK of the game of bowls and you may picture elderly men in blazers and women in unfashionable skirts, playing a sport that is more about social exclusivity than having fun.

Well, it needn’t be like that, as the Greville Smyth Community Bowls Club is proving.

Members are on a mission to bring more people onto their green to have fun learning a new sport – and there won’t be a blazer in sight.

A tortilla evening last summer set the scene, with dancing on the green.

So successful have they been in encouraging younger people to try the game that the club has won a £10,000 Lottery grant.

“It doesn’t seem to make much sense for people to be asked to wear particular clothes

Among the comments from children following taster sessions were: “When I first heard we were doing bowls I thought it sounded boring but now I really want to do more,” and: “I usually don’t enjoy sporty activities but I found bowls really fun.” when they are wanting to have a good time,” said Rosie Tomlinson, the club secretary.

All the club asks is that people wear flat shoes or play in bare feet, in order to protect the grass.

The aim is for an atmosphere more like that in Australia, where many play barefoot, or in France,

23

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where a similar game, petanque, is played in every village.

The club has already welcomed children from Ashton Gate primary school and a nearby after school club.

The lottery grant will enable it to buy more equipment and train more coaches to run weekly

out-of-school sessions next summer for young people across Bedminster and South Bristol.

“This will be a new opportunity, allowing those who are put off by more traditional sports to have an alternative option for physical activity,” said Rosie.

“We want to widen participation in bowls and promote it as an inclusive, accessible, social and enjoyable activity for all.”

Greville Smyth Community Bowls Club has only been in existence for five years but the bowling green has been there since 1908.

The club rescued the green after it was abandoned by the previous club which, like many, had struggled to recruit new members.

The club is open access, so anyone, as a full or temporary member, can play whenever the green is open – usually from April until the end of September.

• www.facebook.com/ grevillesmythbowls

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December, 2015

How I came bouncing back

‘

The Missing Piece is a book in which people tell how they dealt with a life-changing experience. On this page, Helen Sanders from Southville tells us how she learned to cope after her threeyear-old son survived a major brain tumour

IS he going to die? Please don’t tell me he’s going to die.’

The walls were inching closer.

A little like in Star Wars where Princess Leia and Han Solo are in the crusher. In my crusher, I was staring at a picture of my son’s head. This brain didn’t look right.

It didn’t take a doctor to tell me.

This golf-ball-sized tumour was pushing his eyeball out of his head. He was three years old.

How can this doctor be telling me my only son has cancer?

I was recovering from major surgery. As a result of that surgery, my son was my only child and would be my only child.

It now feels like all this happened in a different time and place and not seven years ago.

Today my son is alive. I’d like to say alive and well but when you blast radiotherapy at a child’s brain at the age of three, well it’s safe to say there’s going

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to be some collateral damage.

Doctors warn you. If your son survives this, this and this will all happen. At the time, you only take on board what you need to be able to get through the next hour, day, perhaps the next week.

Yes, we are not surprised by what the doctors call late effects, as they did tell us over and over again. Cataracts, no growth hormone, learning disabilities, early or late puberty, increase in secondary cancers, increased risk of skin cancer, cancer will return if her drinks or smokes, and many other life altering things.

We do what we need to, in order to embrace the life-altering aspects of the past, bounce back and create a new life. I’m not saying it always felt like this.

I will be honest. The January after our son finished treatment, my husband wanted to go back to work. Weekly community nurse visits and hospital trips were all in hand and we’d also managed a few days in Disneyland Paris.

My husband wanted to return to work and I just didn’t get it. I was fuming that he didn’t want to spend every waking moment with our son.

What if today was the day the cancer came back? What if his oncologist calls today and says he’d like to see us ASAP? Yet my husband’s at work being ‘normal’?

For two years, this is how the cancer controlled my head. It controlled my every cell.

I am not too sure what happened, but I realised my husband was living life. I was so peeved at him for being normal and carrying on.

It didn’t quite go like that for me. I made sure our son slept with me every night. Yes, he wasn’t sleeping well and yes, he had many nightmares.

I wanted to ensure that each time I woke up, I could check if he was still alive. Was he still breathing? Were his cute little hands still warm? I think we’re talking maybe 10 to 20 times a night that I’d wake up to check he was still with us.

Somehow as the days, weeks and months went by, my brain was ridding itself of this control.

Of the cancer. I perhaps woke five times a night. This reduced to once or twice. Then my son

Helen Sanders: ‘I had to move on’ went into his own room and my husband and I returned to our own bed.

I began, slowly to realise that maybe we will be the lucky ones.

Some children do survive, so perhaps our son is the one? As this small hint of a thought that luck was on our side grew bit by bit, and the guilt subsided ever so slightly, I started to realise that I had a tremendous choice.

I could live life. A new life. Or live life suffocated by cancer. Or mourn the life we had.

The choice was obvious. I owed it to the families and children who had also been told that their child had cancer. Plus, the cancer may still return so what was I doing letting it control me so much?

I had to grab life by the scruff of the neck, stop being so angry with everyone for having normal lives, and move on.

My husband had to return to work. I now get that. It took me two years.

My thoughts then were ‘he can’t die’. My thoughts now are that he must live, live life well, and with purpose. Otherwise all this heartache, all the tears, all the stress to him, my husband and me, his grandparents, aunts and uncles and everyone around us, it would have been pointless.

If you’re going to love, you may as well do it with purpose.

• Helen Sanders is managing director of Bristol recruitment firm Wingrove Taylor. She has copies of the Missing Piece book to sell with all the proceeds going to Starlight Children’s Foundation. Contact her at helen@wingrovetaylor.com

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The number of people living on the streets is going up NO ONE is sure how many people will be forced to sleep rough on Bristol’s streets this winter – but clearly even one person is too many.

It’s believed there were around 40 people who were sleeping outdoors in October 2014, but that figure is thought to have almost doubled now.

The number of those who sleep outside at least one day a week is more than 100.

There are, however, a number of organisations which help those without a roof – and there are several ways people can help.

“We are always very appreciative of warm hats, gloves, socks and sleeping bags at this time of year,” says Joanne Brown. She volunteers on Wednesdays with the Julian Trust nightshelter in St Pauls.

The trust offers facilities for homeless guests in a dormitory with 18 beds, a dining area, and bathrooms. It also offers a kitchen and laundry. There are separate facilities for volunteers that include a lounge, bedroom, toilet and showers.

The shelter is open five nights a week throughout the year; a warm welcome and a hot meal awaits rough sleepers.

“I volunteer on Wednesday evenings so if people would like a look around the shelter to see how your donations are utilised, I’d be happy to show you around,” Joanne said.

“Donations can be dropped

Christmas fair

A SPECIAL seasonal guest – guess who? – will be making an appearance at the Christmas Craft Market at the Southville Centre in Beauley Road on Saturday December 5, 11am-5pm.

Gift ideas include jewellery, handmade toys, vintage home wares, millinery, accessories, children’s clothes, decorations, cards, crafts, art and more.

• Tickets for Santa’s grotto, £4, can be booked on 0117 923 1039.

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Items you can donate to the Julian Trust – Little Bishop Street, St Paul’s, BS2 9JF juliantrust.org.uk Food Tinned chilli, meatballs, carrots, peas, UHT milk, curry cooking sauces, tinned hotdogs, baked beans with sausages.

Non-food Washing powder, toilet rolls, razors.

Items you can donate to the Spring of Hope women’s shelter – 32 Stapleton Road, Easton BS5 0QY www.crisis-centre.org.uk New or nearly new single duvets; money; toiletries

Place of hope: The women’s shelter run by Crisis Centre Ministries

Remembering those with no roof in winter

into the shelter any evening after 8pm, except Thursday or Sunday, or cleaning volunteers are there on Monday and Friday between 9am and 12 noon.”

Women left without a roof can go to the Spring of Hope night shelter above the Wild Goose café at 32 Stapleton Road, Easton. It is open five days a week – Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It is run by Crisis Centre Ministries.

An online petition has called

on Mayor George Ferguson to open empty buildings in the city to the homeless, as has happened in Manchester.

Mr Ferguson said it was a “complex issue”, but said he had asked for the use of empty buildings to be explored.

“Although it may seem simple, we cannot just sweep people off the streets and put them in unserviced warehouses,” he said.

There are other, more local charities, to whom South Bristol

Reindeer ride in to East Street

LIVE music, fairground rides and more come to East Street’s Christmas Fayre on Saturday December 12.

Also on offer are arts and crafts, Christmas market stalls, festive entertainment and real reindeer!

Brought to you by the organisers behind Make Sunday Special Bedminster, the event will see East Street closed off and traffic free.

Test your festive creativity

with arts and crafts workshops, be inspired with craft displays and live street art organised by Upfest and enjoy live music, buskers and carol singers.

Over 25 local market stalls will offer inspiration for gifts and festive treats, from decorations and home wares to jewellery and clothing.

Santa’s also arranged for Rudolph, Dasher and Dancer to make an appearance.

South Bristol foodbanks and homeless charities • Victoria Park Baptist Church Food Bank 10am-12pm Friday, Sylvia Avenue 0117 977 2484 www.victoriapark.org.uk/ victoria-park-foodbank/ • Refresh Bedminster Free hot lunch for homeless, Friday, 12 noon -2pm 81 East Street 0117 908 6015 www.refreshbedminster.co.uk • Salvation Army, Dean Lane, Bedminster 0117 966 4952 www.salvationarmy.org.uk/ bristol-bedminster • South Bristol Christian Centre, Churchlands Rd, open for food donations Saturday 10-11am residents can donate. Refresh Bedminster in East Street offers meals for the homeless on Fridays, from 12 noon to 2pm – a free hot lunch and pudding.

For those on low incomes, the meal is available for £1.50. There is occasional lunchtime live music and singers.

The Salvation Army in Dean Lane and Victoria Park Baptist Church are also active in helping the homeless. Many are seeking volunteers too.

It’s Panto Peter

PETER Panto is a man with a problem – he is responsible for the demise of several fairies.

An audience is needed to restore Peter’s faith in fun – that’s according to those behind this year’s Southville pantomime, at the Southbank Centre in Dean Lane. Performances are from Friday December 4 to Sunday December 6 at 5pm and 7.30pm.

• Details on 0117 966 5552 or www.southbankclub.webs.com

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December, 2015

Reports from your councillors – Southville I

HAVE been contacted by residents at Northfield House.

For those who don’t know, Northfield is a Charlie block of flats on Bolton Catherine Mead Green, Street, Bedminster. Southville The residents have had concerns over parking for some years. The introduction of residents parking has heightened these.

In essence, the issue revolves around the use of the existing underground car park. There is ample space here, but it fell in to virtual disuse.

This resulted in an accumulation of rubbish in the garages in the basement, and doors becoming bent, broken or gone altogether. I gather this was partly as a result of damp issues above (now resolved).

The council cleared out a number of garages in a secure area and let them, but with garage doors removed. However,

there seems to be demand for more. Alex and Gilbert who live there have collected a petition containing 88 signatures from residents (from 102 flats).

They contacted me to ask me if I can help them with this, so I submitted the petition to the last full council meeting, and have spoken to officers. They have agreed to review the demand, and – if it exists – will look into bringing more garages back into use.

A result – at least in part.

There is a second issue about the charge for the garages, especially because there are a lot of elderly residents of Northfield (ie on fixed incomes, and possibly with mobility issues).

Officers are more reluctant to do anything about this, because they say there is a standard charging system across the city.

However, this doesn’t help those residents on fixed income incurring additional costs – and the cost is significantly higher than that for residents parking scheme permits.

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ATTENDED the Bristol 2015 European Green Capital Awards which was a great event. Two local primary schools Stephen were winners: Clarke Parson Street for Green, their ‘green’ teams Southville in each class, and Ashton Vale for their work around food waste and organic gardening – well done!

Many Green party councillors in Bristol (including myself) participated in the bidding process for European Green Capital and the run-up to the event. The awards ceremony got me thinking about Bristol’s year, which is now nearly at an end, and whether it had been a success. Certainly it’s not difficult to read and hear from people who have been pretty negative about the impact but, when I talk to people around Southville and Bedminster, I find a less vocal majority have really enjoyed Bristol’s year in the spotlight.

Many of them have attended and enjoyed events connected to the celebrations and seem very positive about the experience.

I looked at some facts from the year and they are really pretty impressive. £10m cash was raised (that would not have come to Bristol otherwise) and it has been spent on 187 projects across the city, many of which will have a long- lasting legacy. Of course, some worked better than others, but between them they have catered for a wide range of local people (especially children) as well as businesses. For example, over 10,000 people have been involved in individual Neighbourhood Arts Projects during the year and projects such as Sustainable Shaun have got Bristol worldwide attention.

Finally, to those who say ‘waste of time and money’, I say; read the recent report by Bristol University which states that up to 10,000 extra sustainable jobs could be created by our year as Green Capital. What’s not to like I say?

North St bar among 5 in zero hygiene rating

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THE owners of a North Street restaurant publicly given a zero rating for hygiene have pointed out that the improvements they made have not been taken into account.

Zazu’s Kitchen in North Street – part of a chain with branches in Gloucester Road and Stokes Croft – is still waiting for a reinspection two months after doing the work requested by food safety officers from Bristol city council.

A zero score – out of a possible five – means officials have serious concerns about a food premises and urgent action is required.

Zazu’s was told to install more hand basins because it had added an extra chef to the two already on its roster.

Bosses shut the kitchen for two days in September to get the work done – but are still waiting to be reinspected. Meanwhile the zero rating was published by the government’s Food Standards Agency on November 25, along with a number of other zerorated establishments.

“Safety and hygiene

are absolutely paramount to Zazu’s. We serve families and youngsters and it is something we take incredibly seriously,” said a spokeswoman for Zazu’s.

“We have full confidence that we have now fully met the necessary high expectations demanded by the council and our valued customers and will have our proper rating restored in the very near future.”

The council said it could not discuss individual cases but said sometimes the owners of premises had to book a re-inspection themselves.

The Bedminster area contains five out of the 17 zero-rated premises in Bristol.

Bedminster food premises given zero for hygiene • Zazu’s Kitchen, North Street • Coronation Curry House, Coronation Road • Kings Head, Bridgwater Road, Bedminster Down • Rope Walk, Nelson Parade, Bedminster • Wai-Sing, Bishopsworth Road, Bedminster Down

Source: Food Standards Agency

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27

Reports from your councillors – Bedminster

L

OOKING back through some files, I found photos from the various stages in the almost 10-year journey Mark to improve South Bradshaw Street park.

Labour, It is really quite Bedminster amazing what local residents, working with Compass Point school and children’s centre and other partners have been able to deliver. It hasn’t been easy and not all the plans have been fulfilled, but I think those involved can be very proud.

Today’s park was once an under-used, inaccessible field, with high spoil mounds and tall, rusting fencing around the disused tennis courts. All with a fair bit of anti-social behaviour too. It is now a well-managed, pleasant community park and children’s play area. Other projects complement this: the recently-built Victor Road link from West Street and North Street across the park; the path

from South Street across the playing fields, and with the brand new Acta café looking out towards the park and the soon-to-start traffic lining and signing to make the area around the school safer.

With so many people living nearby in flats and terraced homes, having a decent, safe and accessible green space is at a premium. As councillors, we’ve played our part supporting the groups campaigning to get the funding. For me, this is proof that communities can come together and work to achieve something so beneficial.

Gores Marsh is another example, as is the Luckwell Park group working with the school.

Over the wider area, the common thread is a phased plan of action and a partnership of volunteers, fundraisers and organisers. So, next time you wander through the park, please spare a thought for your fellow residents who worked incredibly hard to transform what was there before into a prized local gem.

Y

OU’VE seen the adverts: Christmas is coming, but not everyone enjoys this time of year.

We should think Celia about anyone who Phipps, might be lonely; Labour, sadly this is often Bedminster an older person in your street. There is evidence that the urban environment may put older people at an increased risk of isolation.

Having attended the Age Friendly City conference, I feel activities closer to home in the community will make the real difference. We are fortunate to have resources from Bristol Ageing Better, which is a lotteryfunded programme comprising 16 activities aimed at tackling isolation among over-55s. For information go to www. bristolageingbetter.org.uk or email bab@ageukbristol.org.uk If we can make Bristol Age Friendly, everyone will benefit.

Greater Bedminster is a pilot

area for some of the projects. I am involved in a number of local initiatives and am passionate that prevention and early intervention are the most important actions we can take.

Several local interested and interesting people, often older, have set up an informal group called WOOP (What’s On for Older People). We have met over the last month in a variety of venues, including Mezzaluna café, Windmill Hill community centre, Acta theatre, Silver Social in Ashton Vale and the Lounge.

The value of this is not only to share knowledge in an informal way but also to act as very local co-ordinators to activities in the area. We also have the space to talk about a range of topics.

Some of the group are new to the area and face the reality of dealing with change in older life.

So, there is a lot to do in the New Year and while wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a healthy 2016, do keep an eye out for anyone you think might be on their own at Christmas.

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Planning applications Former Pring And St Hill Ltd Malago Road BS3 4JH Request for Environmental Impact Assessment for construction of Energy Centre with visitors centre, delivering over 10MWof Combined Heat and Power to local community.

Withdrawn

63 Pearl Street BS3 3DL Prior approval for single storey rear extension to extend beyond the rear wall by 5.3 metres, with maximum height of 3.2m and eaves 2.2m high. Prior approval not required Windsor House, Greville Road BS3 1LJ Render of external walls, replacement of all windows, change of some windows to doors and installation of a new roof light Granted subject to conditions 22 Rownham Close BS3 2JN Erection of single storey, side, rear and front extension.

Granted subject to conditions 258 Ashton Drive BS3 2QA Erection of a single storey, side extension with part front and rear extension. Granted subject to conditions 19 Milford Street BS3 1EE Erection of single storey rear extension. Enlargement of windows to rear on first and second floors. Granted subject to conditions 14 Gerald Road BS3 2DN Single storey rear and side extension. Granted subject to conditions 7 Rownham Close BS3 2JN Proposed external wall insulation. Granted subject to conditions 198 Ashton Drive BS3 2QA Proposed two storey side and rear extension. Pending consideration 137 Parson Street BS3 5RB Application to approved details in relation to conditions 3 (Flood Evacuation Plan) of permission 15/01699/F Retrospective change of use to part of land to rear of 135-137 Parson Street from open storage and ancillary workshop/office buildings to bus parking with ancillary workshop/

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office buildings. Pending consideration

gates to undercroft. Pending consideration

100 - 110 North Street Bedminster BS3 1HF Non-material amendment following grant of planning permission 06/05456/F, which approved the demolition of a car sales office and construction of 22 flats in a three and four storey building fronting North Street with parking at rear, in order to convert the advice listing the approved plans/documents into a condition. Agreed

St Dunstans House, Bedminster Down Road BS13 7AB Outline planning permission with appearance and landscaping as reserved matters: demolition of existing decommissioned church building and erection of new business and retail units and 9 flats. Pending consideration

South Street Primary School, South Street BS3 3AU Application for a non-material amendment following planning permission 14/01731/F. Demolition of WC block and erection of two storey extension with a nursery on the ground floor, and two classrooms on the first floor – now proposed new buggy shelter, new bin store area and omission of high level fencing (Children Centre entrance). Rainwater pipes re-positioned. Pending consideration 72 Islington Road BS3 1PZ Single storey infill extension.

Pending consideration The Old Dairy, 18 Smyth Road BS3 2BX Application for approved details in relation to condition 2 (SUDS) and 6 (Landscaping) of permission 12/02970/F Demolition of existing warehouse and erection of seven, three storey town houses. Pending consideration Land to rear of 144-152 York Road, Totterdown Application to approve details in relation to condition 19 (Watching Brief) of permission 13/04143/F Proposed 10 apartments and associated car parking. (Major application).

Pending consideration 126 Smyth Road BS3 2DP Lawful Development Certificate for small single storey rear extension, extending less than 3m. Pending consideration Redcliff Crescent 144 York Road, Totterdown Nonmaterial amendment following planning permission granted 13/04143/F for 10 apartments and associated car parking – now proposed addition of collapsible

76 Greville Road BS3 1LJ Proposed rear single storey infill extension. Pending consideration Asda Stores Ltd, East Street, Bedminster BS3 4JY Proposed hand car washing and valeting business to involve the exterior and interior cleaning motor vehicles, includes jet washing, waxing, vacuuming and polishing of vehicles. Pending consideration 12-14 Lower Sidney Street BS3 1SW Demolition of existing warehouse and replacement with two semi-detached dwellings (Class C3). Pending consideration Bristol South Swimming Pool, Dean Lane BS3 1BS Proposed replacement signage.

Pending consideration 58 Greville Road BS3 1LL Demolition of existing workshop/ garage. Construction of new two storey house. Pending consideration The Old Dairy, 18 Smyth Road BS3 2BX Application to approve details in relation to condition No. 5 (Archaeological Works) for planning permission 12/02970/F: Demolition of existing warehouse and erection of seven, three storey town houses. Pending consideration 43 Osborne Road, Southville BS3 1PW Single storey rear extension. Granted subject to conditions 48 Bower Road BS3 2LW Proposed rear single storey and part two storey extension.

Refused 123 East Street, Bedminster BS3 4ER First floor residential development and use of the flat

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roof as a roof garden including construction of a stair lobby to the roof. Granted subject to conditions 17 Gerald Road BS3 2DN Prior approval for the erection of a single storey rear extension to extend beyond the rear wall by 4.07 metres, with maximum height of 3.85m and eaves 2.78m high. Prior approval not required Mount Zion Church, Victor Road BS3 3LW Conversion of church (Use Class D1) to eight flats (Use Class C3). Granted subject to conditions Former filling station, Coronation Road, Bristol Application for Removal of condition No. 11 (Codes for sustainable Homes) attached to planning permission 12/03634/F. Granted subject to conditions Trident VSU, Balfour Road BS3 2AF Change of use to residential use (C3) from community use (D1) including the erection of two town houses and three apartments with gardens, car/bicycle parking, and refuse and recycling storage.

Granted subject to conditions The Brigade Centre, Garnet Street BS3 3JS New nursery school and community venue.

Granted subject to conditions Car Park, Asda Stores Ltd, East Street, Bedminster Trees: T1 - Birch, crown lift to 5m to prevent trees being struck by delivery tankers exiting the car park. T2, 3, 4, 5 - Maple, crown lift to 5m to prevent trees being struck by delivery tankers exiting the car park. Preservation order not required 4 Dampier Road BS3 2AT Proposed conversion of existing two storey annexe to the side to a self-contained 2 bed dwelling, including the erection of a single storey front extension. Granted subject to conditions

• The status of these applications may have changed since we went to press. Check for updates at planning online.bristol.gov.uk

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T: 07811 766072

Columns What should we do to help young people aim higher?

O

F ALL 650 UK parliamentary constituencies, Bristol South sends the second lowest number of its young people to university.

For a city with such talent and enterprise, second worst in the UK is a shocking statistic.

It underlines how inequality makes Bristol a Tale of Two Cities, with thriving universities, finance, hi-tech and creative sectors, yet with areas of severe economic disadvantage all too common south of the river.

I fear the Government’s removal of meanstested maintenance grants for students from low and middle-income families will dampen many local youngsters’ ambitions. These grants provide vital support to help students meet living costs at university.

But of course it’s not just those with academic ambitions whose interests need

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The MP’s view Each month Bristol South Labour MP Karin Smyth gives her perspective protecting. I know many people are also worried about possible changes to further education, which could impact especially hard on vocational and training opportunities.

In an ever-changing economy it’s more important than ever that our young people are equipped with the skills they’ll need in the job market. So the city’s further education is central to a successful future – for young

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consumables for motorists of replacement bulbs, wiper blades and batteries, sourcing from Osram, Valeo and Varta, among others. We also have the tools to repair and maintain vehicles and stock essentials such as oils; cleaning products from car wash items to top range waxes and polishes for the enthusiast; travel aids, from road atlases to sat navs and dashboard cameras.

We provide a broad range of roof bars and fitting kits, including Thule, and cycle carriers. Roof boxes are available to buy or to hire. We can help you fit these,

December, 2015

people and those looking to retrain for a career change.

But despite all the international evidence showing that the most productive economies invest in their further education, cuts loom here at home. I’ve written to ministers urging their support for our colleges. Timing is key.

Bristol and its neighbouring councils recently submitted a bid to the Government for greater local control over a number of things, including taking on responsibility for skills. If this devolution bid were to succeed, but huge funding cuts went ahead, the rug would be pulled from beneath our young people.

On top of this, the Government is carrying out a series of area reviews of further education nationwide, leading to fears we could face a reduction in courses available locally, forcing young people to travel much further for the training and education they need. South Bristol Skills Academy at Hengrove, which offers vocational training and specialised courses that aren’t available elsewhere in the city – and which only opened in 2010 – could lose out.

I’d welcome the views of Voice readers: whether you’re a parent, apprentice, employer, student, graduate or someone who’s currently at school, please let me know what politicians should be doing to help Bristol’s young people aim and reach higher.

More than 30 years in the Parade: the team at Motaman have all the answers.

Left to right: James, Kyle, Chris & Harry

Business Profile Motaman (Bristol) Ltd. Tell us about your company?

Motaman was established in 1985 and has now been trading at the Bedminster Parade premises for some 30 years.

The manager, James Clark, has been with the company for more than 25 years, starting as a junior sales assistant and working his way through the ranks, accumulating a vast array of knowledge and experience along the way. If James can’t answer your query himself, he will know where to find the solution. Alf Johnson, our resident Geordie and bike mechanic, has been with us for five years and can mend most things on two wheels and Chris Witcombe has particular expertise in the roof box and leisure market. Harry Knowlson-Baker keeps the stock system up to date, along with providing general sales assistance, and Kyle Paulin, the most recent addition to the team, is on hand to help with bike servicing and advice in particular.

What service do you provide to the people of South Bristol?

Motaman supplies the staple

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too. Through our website we can also deliver locally or nationally.

We stock a selection of bicycles, including electric bikes, and have recently been appointed

by Peugeot as dealers for their latest range of electric cycles.

Alongside this, we offer bike servicing and repair.

What is the best part of running your business and working in South Bristol?

We have been a part of the South Bristol community for a generation and have many customers who have been with us from the outset. As BS3

continues to develop we look forward to being part of the growth in our own backyard.

What makes your service different from other companies?

We carry a wide range of stock, which means we can fulfil most customers’ requirements immediately. Our long standing relationship with our suppliers, however, also means we can source less common items more quickly than many competitors.

We also have on-site facilities to make number plates and also to mix paint to the precise specification for any vehicle.

What are your plans for the future of the business?

Our aim is to continue offering exceptional service to our customers in Bedminster and the wider Bristol area. Through our website we aim to increase this service to the South West and the whole UK. If you know who we are, thank you for your support. If not, please come and see us, you will be offered a warm welcome!

Motaman, 94-96 Bedminster Parade, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4HL t: 0117 9666142 e: sales@motaman.co.uk Find us on Facebook, www.motaman.co.uk

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Paul on 07811 766072 or Emma or Hollie on 0117 908 2121.

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E: paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

What’s on

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Thursday November 26 The Light Princess Until January 10. The Tobacco Factory’s major Christmas family show, inspired by George MacDonald’s fairy tale about a princess who lives without gravity. Ages 6+. Preview tickets from £8, full £15-£19, concessions £11-£15, family tickets £45 -£60.

• www.tobaccofactory.com

Christmas party, Windmill Hill Community Centre, Vivian Street. Pensioners’ Christmas lunch, a kids’ party, and evening entertainment.

• www.whca.org.uk

Tuesday December 1 Southville Gardening Club’s Christmas get-together with quiz, a raffle, a hands-on craft activity, mulled wine and snacks.

7.30-9pm, St Paul’s Church, Coronation Road, Bedminster.

• southvillegardeningclub@ gmail.com

Wednesday December 16 Out There Music Christmas Show South Bristol Community Choir at Southbank, Dean Road, BS3 1DB, at 8pm. Director Tom Jones. In aid of Changing Tunes.

Tickets £10 (£6 under 18s) from admin@outtheremusicbristol. co.uk or 07866 587424.

• www.outtheremusicbristol.co.uk

Thursday December 3 West Street Carols and Lights Celebration, 6pm, with the Bedminster Citadel Salvation Army Band, and mince pies and mulled wine provided by West St traders. Elves expected!

Saturday December 5 Christmas Craft Market, Southville Centre, 11am-5pm.

Relaxed Christmas shopping with unique gift ideas: enamel jewellery, silver jewellery, handmade toys, vintage home wares, millinery, accessories, children’s clothes, decorations, cards, crafts, art and more. Café.

• www.southvillecentre.org.uk Celebrate Mikołajki (St Nicholas Day) at Marksbury Road Library, Bedminster, 4-6pm.

All welcome to learn about this Polish custom. Santa, gifts for children, seasonal music, stories and festive food. Booking essential. Children £2.50, adults free. Call 0117 903 8574 or email magdalena.kowalik-malcolm@ bristol.gov.uk.

Ali & Joe’s Christmas Tree Sale, Tobacco Factory.

Nordmann fir Christmas trees, all sizes, 10am-4pm. Also December 12; and at 10am-3pm on Sunday December 6 and 13. Reserve a tree at aliandjoes@gmail.com • www.facebook.com/aliandjoes Monday December 7 Victoria Park Action Group meeting at the Bowling Club, from 7.30pm to 9pm • www.vpag.org.uk Tuesday December 8 Living Spit’s A Christmas Carol Bristol duo Howard

Monday December 14 Carols in Victoria Park led by members of St Michael’s Church at 6pm, next to Mrs Brown’s cafe, Victoria Park.

A bit of Christmas chaos: Kid Carpet and the Noisy Nativity

The joy of Christmas chaos THIS Christmas Kid Carpet & The Noisy Animals promise to take the family on a journey of silliness and mischief at the Tobacco Factory.

This lively show mixes live music, theatre, comedy, puppetry and animation.

New tracks from electro-pop Coggins and Stu McLoughlin deconstruct Dicken’s Christmas classic with silly songs, pitiful puppetry and Dickensian daftness. Until January 3 at the Brewery theatre. Tickets £13 (£9 concessions available until December 17) • www.tobaccofactory.com

musician Kid Carpet include Jungle Bums, The Holly and the Eyeballs and Surfing at Christmas.

It’s for ages 3+, from December 2 until January 3. Tickets cost from £6 (previews) to £30 (family).

• www.tobaccofactory.com Saturday December 12 Christmas fair, Windmill Hill City Farm, 11am-4pm.

Music, Santa’s grotto, Crystal Grotto, chestnuts, mulled wine, children’s activities, BBQ and stalls. Order Christmas trees on 0117 963 3252. £1 entry.

• www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk

Wishing for Winter: Is it a tale told by Gran to a little girl – or could it be true?

WHAT would happen to the Christmas season if Winter went missing?

The seasonal show at Acta theatre is an original festive story of when Spring, Summer and Autumn go on a mission to find Winter

before it is too late, with a little help from some unusual characters they meet along the way. It’s at Acta theatre, Gladstone Street, Bedminster, from December 10-17. For all ages. Tickets £3.

• www.acta-bristol.com

Thursday December 17 South Bristol Wellbeing Choir Christmas Concert, 7.30pm, St Michael & All Angels Church, Vivian Street, Windmill Hill. A night of great music, refreshments and nibbles.

Donations welcome.

Friday December 18 Churchlands family carols and Christmas readings with the Bedminster Citadel Salvation Army Band, 6pm, South Bristol Christian Centre car park, corner West St and Churchlands Road.

Mulled wine and mince pies.

Monday December 21 Festive music with The Fantasy Orchestra Presenting Navidad Nuestra (an Argentinian folk nativity from the 1960s) and other festive music to celebrate the solstice. 7.30pm, St Michael’s Church, Windmill Hill. Tickets £6.50 adults, £4 under 16s from shaun@thehennessys.net, or £7.50/£5 on the door. In aid of Victoria Park Action Group’s bid to renovate the Park Lodge.

• www.vpag.org.uk Thursday December 31 Steampunk Circus Ball, Tobacco Factory from 7.30pm.

Circus and fire performers, contortionists and burlesque, live bands, DJs, podium performers.

Hot food court. Tickets £35.

• www.tobaccofactory.com New Year’s eve party, Windmill Hill community centre, Vivian Street. Special licence allows non-members to attend. Children allowed.

• www.whca.org.uk

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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December, 2015

INVITATION

CJ Hole Southville invite you to accept our offer of a free sales or lettings valuation.

To arrange an appointment, please telephone the office or call in personally.

If you have instructed another agent on a sole agency and/or sole selling rights basis, the terms of those instructions must be considered to avoid a possible liability to pay two commissions.

MEDIUM SOUTH WEST

268 North Street, Southville, Bristol BS3 1JA

t: 0117 963 4373 southville@cjhole.co.uk With 17 offices covering Bristol, Gloucester and Somerset

OPENING HOURS Monday - Friday 9am - 7pm Saturday 9am - 5pm

SOUTH WEST

MEDIUM AGENCY ESTATE AGENCY YEAR 2011

The Multi Award Winning Agent

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