Over 2,000 drivers fined after speed limit changed on Bristol road with tiny new signs
Over 2,000 drivers received speeding tickets on a South Bristol road after the limit was changed with tiny new signs. In just a few weeks, 2,088 speeding offences were recorded on St John’s Lane outside the Brunel pub shortly after the limit was dropped from 30mph to 20mph.
The old 30mph signs were removed and replaced with fewer and much smaller 20mph signs, when the limit was reduced. A response to a freedom of information request revealed that 60 times more drivers were hit with a speeding ticket last November compared to November 2023.
The figures call into question how effective the new limit is in actually making the road safer. One affected driver called on Bristol City Council to install clearer signs, which could be more successful in reducing
excessive speed, instead of collectively fining people
£160,000 a month.
The driver, who lives locally but asked not to be named, said:
“It’s a huge waste of people’s
time and money to fine them or send them on a speed awareness course — rather than having clear signage that would actually have the most immediate impact
Continued on page 3 >
City Council considering black bin collection once every 4 weeks
BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL is proposing to reduce black bin collection to once every 3 or 4 weeks. This comes as part of measures to reform waste management in the city in order to reduce costs and encourage recycling.
The council has launched a public consultation survey in order to garner public opinion on the matter but the proposal has caused much debate. One anonymous Knowle resident said that “I would be okay with this change as my black bin is less than a third full usually
Bristol Council encourages residents to use the brown bin for food waste
Photo via BRISTOL WASTE
New 20 miles per hours sign on St. John’s Lane
Contacts
Ruth Drury Publisher & Editor 07590 527664 sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk
David Drury Layout/Design news@southbristolvoice.co.uk
Next month’s deadline for editorial and advertising is noon on March 19, 2025.
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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: Call the above number for an appointment
My councillor?
Post: (all councillors) City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.
Ellie Freeman Green, Bedminster Email: cllr.ellie.freeman@bristol. gov.uk By phone: 0738 669 8680
Emily Clarke Labour, Bedminster. Email: cllr.emily.clarke@bristol.gov. uk Phone: 0738 669 8678
Tony Dyer, Green, Southville Phone: 0758 418 2862 Email: Cllr.Tony.Dyer@bristol.gov.uk
USEFUL NUMBERS
Bristol City Council www.bristol.gov.uk 01179222000 Waste, roads 01179222100
Pests, dog wardens 01179222500
Follow us on social media:
Christine Townsend Green, Southville Phone: 0758 418 3843 Email: Cllr.Christine. Townsend@bristol.gov.uk
Cam Hayward Green, Knowle Email: cam. hayward@bristolgreenparty.org.uk
Toby Wells Green, Knowle. Phone: 07386 698771 Email: toby.wells@bristolgreenparty.org. uk
Ed Plowden Green, Windmill Hill Phone: 07584184577 Email: Cllr.Ed.Plowden@bristol.gov.uk
Lisa Stone Green, Windmill Hill Phone: 0758 418 6535 Email: Cllr.Lisa.Stone@bristol.gov.uk
Council tax 01179222900
Housing benefit 01179222300
Social services 01179222900
Police Inquiries 101 Emergency 999
New, changed speed limit on St Johns Lane is 20mph
From Page 1
on reducing excessive speeds.
“When I got flashed by the camera for driving at 30mph, I had no inkling they’d changed the speed limit because it was dark, the speed limit repeater signs are tiny and they’re only on the far side of the road when heading west. The car in front of me clearly also had no idea of the change in speed limit as they got flashed too.
“A 60 times increase in speeding offences isn’t a collapse in driver standards requiring enforcement — it’s a lack of awareness being drawn to the absence of a speed limit sign. People don’t drive around their local area as if it’s their first time, every time. Changes in road laws should be made clear, rather than expecting people to play ‘spot the missing road sign’.”
St John’s Lane is a busy road running round the back of Windmill Hill, connecting the A37 Wells Road with the A38
West Street, two main routes through the south of Bristol. Drivers caught speeding are hit with a £100 fine, with some given the option of going on a speed awareness course, costing
£90 and lasting three hours, to avoid getting points on their licence.
The freedom of information figures show that in 2023, 24 offences were recorded in
September, 34 in October and 27 in November. Enforcement of the new 20mph limit began on October 24 last year, when 440 offences were recorded. Then in November, 1,648 offences were recorded.
The driver added: “Using enforcement as a means of education seems, at best, heavyhanded, and at worst, a casual disregard for the time and finances of already stretched Bristolians.”
Both Bristol City Council and Avon and Somerset Police were asked to comment. A police spokesperson said the council was responsible for speed limit signs. The council chose not to comment by the time of publication.
Article by Alex Seabrooks, Local Democracy reporter
Location of the new 20 miles per hour speed limit where fines are being issued
■ PUBLISHER’S NOTE
WELCOME
WELCOME all to the March edition of our wonderful South Bristol Voice. This month brings us the Vernal Equinox where finally the weather should be turning and we begin to see lighter and warmer days - I can’t wait. Keep an eye out for signs of spring around South Bristol and please share the beauty with us, along with any events, stories and updates we need to know!
We asked what you wanted to see in the paper and have listened so hope you enjoy this month your new history section, all about our past cinematic locations, P24, a recipe column with a delicious recipe for sweet and sour chicken - perfect for a fakeaway, P16 and the much
demanded planning information, P27.
Don’t forget when spring comes we all like to have a tidy up of gardens so have a look at our new gardening column feature, P10-11 with plenty of advice as well as great gardeners awaiting your phone-call.
Enjoy the sunshine and take care
Ruth
GET READY TO NOMINATE your road and be part of this community celebration! Don't forget to sign up as a judge while you're at it. Nominations and volunteer sign-ups will be open from March 17th to 31st via the nominations page on our website:
https://bs4goodgardens.co.uk/ nominations/.
Judging will take place from June 1st to 30th, so now's the time to start sprucing up those front gardens!
New to BS4 Good Gardens? Learn more about our community-run scheme on our website, or join the conversation on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ groups/bs4goodgardens
Monthly bin collections - Under Consultation
From Page 1
when I put it out but there are only 3 of us in our household”.
However, many residents have expressed worry that reducing bin collections would increase litter about the city and ‘encourage people to fly tip’.
The council have stated that by switching to black bin collection every 3 weeks it would save them £1.3m a year, while every 4 weeks would save £2.3m. Many English local authorities, including North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, already have three-weekly collections.
Authority deputy leader Heather Mack said that “We would also offer larger bins for larger households, and an extra collection for people with sanitary products or nappies, so we don’t want people to unduly struggle with this”.
It’s the council’s belief that reducing black bin collection would encourage residents to sort through their waste more
■ ADVERTORIAL
thoroughly and dispose of it in a more sustainable way, leading to reductions in both costs and carbon. According to data published by the council, 50% of households do not recycle food waste, which can be recycled. Food waste can be converted into energy by burning the methane waste that comes from it. Council data shows that over a quarter of the average black bin in the city is made up of food waste. A further 15% of black bin waste is made up of mixed recyclable materials. Many residents have expressed confusion over the recycling rules. One resident said “It would be much easier if
Progressing your running from 5k to 10k
Did you start running more this year? Maybe you recently completed a Couch to 5k programme or your first Parkrun. Now you want to move on and progress up to 10k but aren’t entirely sure how to do it. We can help you make the next step in your running journey.
YOU HAVE BUILT a solid foundation from your 5k training but 10k is a significant jump so make sure you are in a position to commit to the increased distance. If you feel ready to build to 10k here are our top tips:
1. Create a training plan – give yourself enough time to build towards 10k and don’t rush it. Consider seeking out a coach or online training plan for guidance.
2. Slow down the pace – as the volume increases, keep the pace controlled to make the increases manageable and sustainable.
3. Introduce a long run once a week – make sure one run each week is longer in volume to build endurance and mental strength.
4. Be consistent – get into a good running routine and stick to it while gradually building volume, frequency and intensity.
5. Invest in a pair of running shoes – your body will be under more strain from the increased distance. Visit Kinisi Run Hub to find the right pair of shoes for you.
6. Enter a 10k race – this is one of the best ways to keep you accountable and motivated by having a goal to work towards. How about the Bristol 10k on May 11th?
Building from 5k to 10k requires patience and dedication so make sure to enjoy the journey by celebrating your progress along the way. Good luck!
we had one wheelie bin for recycling instead of various boxes and bags”.
The council is also facing increasing costs of treating waste, with rises of £4m in the last five years. Ms Mack said, “There’s due to be a tax on the residual waste we send to be processed, for the carbon in [it]. So we really need to consider how much we’re sending and where else could it go.”
The leader of the Labour group, Cllr Tom Renhard, criticised the plans at City Hall:
“There needs to be a focus on sorting out the existing service. I’m getting an increasing number of complaints from local residents across the city saying that recycling isn’t being collected and black bins aren’t
being collected on [the current] two-weekly basis”.
“You’re also starting to see that if residents’ recycling isn’t getting collected and it’s piling up, they’re going to put it in the bin, which isn’t going to help recycling rates.”
Data collected by ‘Waste Managed’ shows that Bristol has the best recycling rates in the country, and has done for many years. Whether this additional change will help or hinder remains to be seen.
The public consultation survey closes 10th March By
Genevieve Brown Consultation:
https://www.ask.bristol. gov.uk/waste-consultation2025
Councillor Heather Mack Photo via the Green Party
Hope Returns to ArnosVale Cemetery
The Hope Monument returns to Arnos Vale Cemetery following a long restoration project with Bath City College.
DAMAGED IN 2021 by a raging Bristol storm, the significance of this Victorian memorial for Anne Neilson (1890) is owed to its renowned symbolism, exceptional craftsmanship and community connection.
The monument represents hope portrayed as a woman leaning againstan anchor, an ancient Christian symbol of
Christ’s anchoring influence. The Virtues of faith and hope, depict dedication to faith, and a hope of eternal life in heaven- a comforting message of hope to those left behind.
Arnos Vale Cemetery’s longstanding Volunteer, Alan Bambury collaborated with The Friends of Arnos Vale and Bath City College to repair and restore the monument after it was dislodged from its plinth, causing parts of masonry to break. Since 2022 students of the Stone Masonry course, led by Paul Maggs and Steve Shute, have carefully cleaned and restored Hope to its former glory. Sadly, Alan passed away before the works were completed at the end of the summer.
In Alan’s memory, Arnos Vale cemetery volunteers have supported the completion of this complex restoration and celebrated Hope’s return on 24 January, where it was successfully re-instated upright on its plinth.
You can visit Hope at Combe Bottom area of the Cemetery, close to Mary Carpenters grave. The Hope Monument’s story is one of compassion and care.
Alan’s legacy and dedication to the cemetery lives on in the story of the Hope Monument and its fascinating journey. The Cemetery was saved by the community and is still protected today by our charity, Friends and team of volunteers, providing a place for everyone to return to their own stories of hope.
Contact the team at: Cemetery Trust, West Lodge, Bath Road, Bristol, BS4 3EW 0117 971 9117 https://arnosvale.org.uk/
Arnos Vale Cemetery is a place of heritage, tranquility, stories, respect and wildlife.
More than 300,000 people are buried or remembered here, from much-loved members of ordinary Bristol families to those who changed their world or sacrificed their lives in war.
Established as a Victorian garden cemetery in 1839, today it is run by a charity committed to protecting and caring for it as place of love, community, and remembrance.
Described by visitors as serene and peaceful, Arnos Vale is a beautiful natural landscape, and a welcoming location that encourages people to celebrate life and remember those who’ve passed.
Americans in Bristol, Help Needed!!
81 years ago, Bristol was awash with US servicemen, far from home but all here with the same purpose, the invasion of Nazi-held Europe.
I’VE BEEN RESEARCHING
Americans in Bristol in the Second World War and have learned much in that time. Clifton College was key as it was requisitioned by the US military for D-Day planning so was full of specialised units.
Avonmouth Docks was an important gateway into the city with both personnel and military hardware arriving daily and moved on to other facilities by rail. Battle casualties from North Africa, Italy and France were treated by the US Army at Frenchay Hospital. Patchway was the site of a USAAF base to reconstruct fighter planes shipped into Avonmouth and make them ready for battle. With all these hubs of activity brought thousands of GIs
(American soldiers) who needed accommodation either in large camps or in billets, spare rooms in private houses.
Everywhere mentioned so far has been in North Bristol and that’s because my knowledge of US activity in the south is limited. I know Bedminster had a series of food stores such as in Mill Lane/Stafford Street and in the south-eastern side of Victoria Park. Locals commented that these were guarded by black GIs. They may have been staying in huts alongside Colliter’s Brook in
Ashton Gate (due to segregation, African Americans were largely restricted to non-combat roles). Someone else told me their grandparents used to host a black GI who would play piano for them.
Certainly, American soldiers were housed across South Bristol with people informing me of billets on North Street, St John’s Lane and Wells Road. One account tells of GIs coming to the family home with a big tub of ice cream from US Army stores. With no freezer they had to eat
the lot!
Knowle Greyhound Track had a small camp that the Americans used including the 607th Quartermaster Corps Graves Registration Company whose job following D-Day would be particularly grim. Finally, Whitchurch Airfield was home to the 153rd Liaison Squadron and there was a small camp where Imperial Park stands.
Sadly, this is the limit of my knowledge!
Can anyone help?
Does anyone know more about the US military at any of these sites?
Did you or your (grand)parents live in Bedminster, Knowle or Hengrove and have stories of American Servicemen?
If so, please contact me at YanksinBristol@gmail.com or check out my website www.YanksinBristol.co.uk
Article by Oliver Davey
RAF mates when they were stationed in St John's Lane on barrage balloon duties near the end of WW2, around 1944 [Image from David Britton]
■ LOCAL SCHOOLS
Bedminster Primary School maintains its‘Outstanding’Ofsted rating
Oasis Academy Marksbury Roadhas retained its ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted Rating for its second inspection in a row.
THE PRIMARY SCHOOL, one of the many in the Oasis Academy Trust locally, was reviewed by Ofsted just before Christmas. Previously,it was last visited in July 2018 and was recognised to have an ‘outstanding effectiveness’.
Described as a “happy and welcoming school at the heart of the community it serves,” Ofsted noted that pupils work hard and show excellent behaviour and manners.
Oasis Academy Marksbury Road educates 400 children aged 4-11, whose attitude to learning is described as “exemplary” by Ofsted.
The school’s vision and values statement describes how staff at the school aim to deliver a “firstclass education” for the children
in Bedminster. They also work to create “happy, aspirational children who know and believe that they are capable of greatness.”
Children with SEND also thrive at the school, according to the inspectors. They praised the support from staff which helps these children access the curriculum, something which
was first recognised in their 2018 inspection.
The school’s Principal, Alex Dart (above), praises the school’s
environment and the work of his staff in a statement to South Bristol Voice:
“We’d also like to extend our gratitude for all the best wishes on our OFSTED inspection this week that we received from our wonderful families. It really meant a lot to all the staff here at Marksbury Road.”
Oasis Academy Marksbury Road had disappointing results
in their phonics assessments last year, however Ofsted recognised that significant steps had been made to improve this, saying “the impact of this is clear.”
This primary school is one of many excellent schools in the South Bristol area, showing how the standard of education is being raised for local children.
Article by Emily Jordan
SOUTH BRISTOL DEFIBRILLATOR LOCATIONS
Detailed below are the locations of the existing defibrillators accessible 24/7 (unless marked ‘restricted’) that Simon Brookes from Defibs4Bristol.com has compiled, together with ‘what3words’locations for each.
Trojan Fitness, Unit 204, South Liberty Lane, Ashton, BS3 2TY. jars.digs.sooner Bristol BS3 communities Chessels, BS3 3DN. herbs.gather.truck
C.J.Hole 268 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1JA. still.frogs.string Bristol BS3 communities Southville Centre, Southville, BS3 1QG. goods.luxury.comic Windmill Hill Community Centre, Vivian St, Windmill Hill, BS3 4LW. wings.spike.remain
The Masonic, 110 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1HF. exit.poetic.poetic Monarch House, Smyth Road, Ashton, BS3 2BX. casino.milky.other The Garages, Islington Road, Southville, BS3 1QB. loving.shades.fonts
The Luckwell Hotel, Luckwell Road, Southville, BS3 3HB. last.packet.garage 194, West Street, Bedminster BS3 3NB. shadow.elder.gather Bristol City Football Club, Ashton Road, Ashton, BS3 2EJ. hats.sank.complains County Gates, Ashton Road, Ashton, BS3 2JH. palm.award.polite Imperial Tobacco, 121 Winterstoke Road, Ashton, BS3 2LL (restricted). deflection.person.tonic Ashton Vale Church, Risdale Road, Ashton, BS3 2QY. empire.rises.secure Swimming Baths, Knowle, BS4 2LP. market.weep.taken Bristol Osteopaths, 253 Wells Road, Totterdown, BS4 2PH. marked.plan.broker Redcatch Park, Knowle, BS4 2RD. jazz.noted.tricks Knowle Cricket Club BS4 2RD (restricted). Knowle, lowest.fees.match Broadwalk shopping centre, Wells Road, Knowle, BS4 2QU (restricted). link.along.soap Grove Park, Brislington, BS4 3LG. bring.glitz.tunes
PureGym, Unit 2C, Brislington Retail Park, Bath Road, Brislington, BS4 4NG. soap.kite.finest Brislington & St Anne’s Conservative Club, 109 Wick Road, Brislington, BS4 4HE. save.booth.battle PYTCH, 4 Skyline Park, Hartcliffe, BS4 5QH. appeal.bolts.shaped Totterdown Baptist Church, Wells Road, Totterdown, BS4 2AX. loaf.charm.broker
Help us keep this list up to date! If you notice any errors or emissions, email us at news@southbristolvoice.co.uk
Simply take a photo of these pages on your phone and save it for emergency use, or cut the pages out and keep for reference.
The what3words location is given in red for each AED location. What3Words is a location finding app available on iPhone and Android phones and tablets which allows you to name, pinpoint and share locations anywhere in the world by way of a unique 3 word identifier. It is being used by emergency services to help locate people and incidents, and using it will enable you to find the exact location of any of these defibrillators in an emergency. Why not download the app to your phone now?
Image from Neil Owen
Hand-built, bespoke garden studios designed
CHEW VALLEY GARDEN
Studios is a small Bristol based business who pride themselves in providing very high-quality Garden Rooms and a personal service to match. See from our Google Reviews what our customers have to say about us.
All our Studios are hand built to order, fully insulated and
double glazed for all year-round use. Our cost includes ground screw foundations and installation.
Every Studio is designed to meet each customers requirements and the space they have available. Whether you have a small back yard or a large
garden we can design a Studio to fit.
All work from design to construction to finishing is carried out in-house so we will work with you every step of the way until your project is completed.
If you are working from home, would like a home gym, kids den, area to start a business or just a hobby room visit our website www.
chewvalleygardenstudios.co.uk and use the contact page to start the conversation with us on your new Garden Room.
■ NEWS FROM LOCAL COUNCILLORS
As Leader of the Council, Tony sometimes gets the opportunity to work on projects of regional importance that also have significant benefits for our area.
This happened most recently when Tony joined the WECA Mayor and leaders of our surrounding local authorities in negotiations with the Government to secure funding for the Portishead rail line, the success of which was announced in early February.
Unlocking the line between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads will provide a travel option that halves travel time for commuters, significantly reduce transport emissions, and create new opportunities that are forecast to bring millions of pounds of economic benefits to the West of England economy.
More locally it is also an important step towards reopening
Good news this month with the new 37 bus route (see the Knowle column) and the possibility of a station at Ashton Gate (see the Southville column above). We also have a cycle hanger going into West View Street. The Duckmoor Road crossing is now likely to be put in in May.
There has been a lot of discussion about the waste collection consultation. See the Windmill Hill column for more information on our position. Please do fill in the consultation by 10thMarch. It is really important to get everyone’s views and concerns. This review is about increasing the amount people recycle and making our money go further. Past decisions are still impacting the service, costs have gone up, and new government regulation means
Tony Dyer and Christine Townsend Green councillors Southville
a rail station at Ashton Gate for the first time since 1964.
Reopening the branch line not only brings travel and environmental benefits for our area, but also brings us closer to realising more local ambitions or expanding access to rail for residents across south Bristol. It also complements the plans for South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood, which local ward councillors are working on with communities across Southville, Bedminster and Windmill Hill, to design safer and quieter streets. With a reopened line bringing new passenger trains along the tracks through Ashton Gate, the prospect of reopening the longabandoned station can be brought a step closer. This will also provide the opportunity for visitors to Ashton Gate Stadium to use the new station on match-days.
Ellie Freeman
Green councillor
Bedminster
we will be charged more for sending rubbish to landfill or incineration. The changes we’re exploring are to respond to those challenges. One proven way to increase recycling is to reduce general waste collections. More recycling means more income for the council which can in turn be invested in improving the service, which could include collecting sanitary waste and soft plastic.
Another important consultation is the Safer Homes Residents Engagement Strategy, asking residents how we should engage with you about building safety in council-owned high-rise residential buildings, closing on 12thMarch.
Lastly, please do have a look at the Western Harbour consultation, which runs until 9thMarch.
We have seen a lot of rubbish in the media about the Council’s consultation on waste collection. To be clear, we need to explore options to improve our recycling. Citywide, we currently only recycle 45% of our waste, and 40% of what goes in our black bins could be recycled, much of it is food waste.
We are determined to make sure that we do consultation properly on this vital issue. That means giving people choices, along with the information to help them feedback on those choices.
If you haven’t already, please have your say – the online consultation is open until 10th March.
What is worrying is how the media and some political parties have claimed monthly collections are a done deal. Nothing is further from the truth. But it might give us
I have been out speaking to residents about key issues across Bedminster ward. In the last month, I have held street surgeries around Smyth Road/Raynes Road and British Road/Braunton Road. I also attended meetings in Bedminster and Ashton Vale to discuss applications for Community Infrastructure Levy funding. Key issues raised were rubbish on the streets following bin collections, ongoing parking problems and concerns about the Green Party’s consultation on monthly black bin collections.
Following another accident on the Luckwell Road/Winterstoke Road junction I have once again raised concerns with transport officers about the safety of this junction. I’m due to raise this issue at a Full Council meeting in March because we have been here before and no safety improvements have been made.
Lisa Stone and Ed Plowden Green councillors Windmill Hill
an insight how consultations were previously conducted – as boxticking for decisions already made.
This is no longer possible in the new committee system, which replaced the Mayoral system. There is much more transparency about decisions, which are properly and publicly debated by Councillors across all Parties, rather than simply rubber-stamped.
As a result we are more responsive to our communities and our city’s wider views. You may hear that this is an example of Uturns or caving into pressure. The reality is that in fact this is an example of being more responsive and more open to feedback, from both inside and beyond City Hall, bearing in mind that there is always a whole spectrum of opinions
Emily Clarke Labour councillor
Bedminster
I was pleased to see the Labour Government and the Labour Mayor of the West of England agree funding for the Portishead railway line which was left with a financial blackhole by the last government. Trains could begin as early as 2027 and this is a step in the right direction for a train station at Ashton Gate.
As Vice-Chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee, I have continued my focus on tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence. In February I visited The Bridge SARC (sexual abuse referral centre) to hear about the vital work they do 365 days a year. The Bridge offers medical care, emotional and psychological support and practical help to anyone who has been sexually assaulted. More details can be found at: www.thebridgecanhelp.org.uk
■ NEWS FROM BS3 COMMUNITY - THE CHARITY THAT RUNS THE SOUTHVILLE
Community PLAY Sessions
CENTRE AND THE CHESSEL CENTRE
Come together to talk and play at our new intergenerational play sessions. Join us in the Jasper Room at the Chessel Centre for our community session. They are FREE and there are activities for all ages. Free refreshments available.
Each session is on from 9.30-10.30am and has a theme:
• Friday 28 Feb – Shrove Tuesday/Pancakes
• Friday 28 March – Mother’s Day
• Friday 25 April – Poetry
The Chessel Centre, 47 Chessel Street, BS3 3DP. For more info contact us on 0117 923 1039 or info@bs3community.org.uk
Goldies Sing & Smile
NEW CLASS! Every second Wednesday of the month in the Jasper Room at our Chessel Centre. Everyone is welcome at this good old singalong!
Starting on Wednesday 12th March at 11.30am-12.30pm, £3 donation.
For more information, visit their website: www.golden-oldies.org.uk/bristol.html
Chair Pilates with Music
NEW CLASS at our Southville Centre!
Starting Wednesday 26th March at 2-3pm for six weeks of taster sessions,
This fun seated fitness class is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, with a focus on flexibility, posture improvement, strength, balance and pain improvement.
Classes take place in the Milford Hall - cost £5. Fully accessible venue. Just drop in - no need to book.
For more information, call us on 0117 923 1039, or visit our website: bs3community.org.uk/class/chair-pilateswith-music/
■ NEWS FROM LOCAL COUNCILLORS
Cam has secured new bus services for Knowle.
He was part of a group of councillors that has been looking how to invest revenue from the Clean Air Zone into funding new bus services, with 3 new routes agreed and funded to start in April.
The new 36 bus route will run every 35 minutes from Highridge to St Annes, and will connect Knowle with Brislington, Knowle West, Hengrove Park, Hartcliffe, and Withywood. It will provide a link to key destinations including Oasis Academy Brislington, The Park Centre, Imperial Park, South Bristol Hospital, South Bristol Skills Academy, and the underconstruction Youth Zone.
In addition, the new 37 route will run from Melvin Square in Knowle West to Avonmouth and
Cam Hayward and Toby Wells Green councillors Knowle
Severnside, via Hengrove, Hartcliffe and Bishopsworth. This will run around typical shift patterns and aims to link people in South Bristol to jobs in the industrial and business hub. A third route will serve East Bristol, which is designed to improve bus services in the liveable neighbourhood scheme and connect the east of the city with Temple Meads
Recently a local family run construction business called Jeff Way Group got in touch with Toby to ask how they could help the local community. Toby connected them with Jubilee Pool, and they are working on a plan to refurbish the pool’s entrance foyer.
Jubilee Pool is a community owned facility and relies on volunteers to keep it running, so gestures like this are always massively appreciated!
Clothes Swap
We're having a clothes swap!
Pop in any time between 10am – 1pm on Saturday 22nd March, at Quakers Meeting House, Wedmore Vale.
Bring up to six clean items of clothing and swap them for something different! Get advice on basic mending techniques and stay for a chat over a cuppa.
This will be a FREE event, open and accessible to all.
For more information, call us on 0117 923 1039 or email info@bs3community.org.uk
Bedminster post boxes to wear handmade hats this summer
THE BEDMINSTER SECRET GARDENS TRAIL is returning for another year, and a local community group is planning something special to celebrate.
Be prepared to spot the colourful, hand-knitted hats on top of the nine post boxes around BS3 in July.
Last year, the ‘Blooming Bedminster Growing Community’ decided to ‘yarn bomb’ the tops of the post boxes to promote the trail. Other post boxes across the country have previously had designs that featured ornate knitted flowers and small insects.
Carmel Ferguson, one of the project’s organisers, described the ‘yarn-bombing’ as “a fun idea to get the community involved.”
Matthew Simmons, the lead organiser of the Blooming Bedminster group, came up with the idea. After discussing the plan with his aunt in Coventry, he realised that there could be knitters and knitting groups closer to home that may be willing to help out.
This will be the first time that knitted covers for post boxes will appear in BS3 and the group
hopes to bring cheer to local residents in the summer months.
The group are still looking for volunteer knitters, so if you’re an avid knitter then reach out at: carmelferguson@aol.com, or join the Blooming Bedminster group on Facebook!
The 2024 Bedminster Secret Gardens programme welcomed over a thousand visitors across the two days which raised £3000 for their projects.
The money from the trail will be used to support local BS3 community gardening projects as a way to improve access to green spaces for residents south of the river.
Story by Emily Jordan
[Image: Stuart Wilding]
Luckwell School has‘good’success in Ofsted
“Luckwell has high aspirations for pupils, who are eager to learn and strive to do their best, and who thrive in a small, welcoming community”Ofsted
LUCKWELL PRIMARY SCHOOL in Bedminster is celebrating the publication of a highly positive Ofsted report (rated ‘Good’ in all areas), which highlights the school's unwavering commitment to the fostering of a culture where "pupils feel happy and safe”, “respect for others is
at the heart of the school’s ethos” and pupils are “enthusiastic, curious learners who achieve well”.
Since its previous inspection, Lead Inspector Faye Heming praised the school for having “a sharp focus on ensuring all pupils learn to read. Staff deliver the phonics scheme with skill and precision. There is a buzz about reading throughout the school. Pupils are eager to read books by a range of authors. Pupils have many opportunities to apply their reading knowledge and skills across the curriculum. This helps them to become fluent, enthusiastic readers.”
This is not a mere coincidence, but a direct result of collective energy and dedication to ensure this culture has been firmly established.
Luckwell is also recognised for its deep rooted culture of respect, with pupils valuing “the opinions, cultures and beliefs of
others”. Children are encouraged to “have a voice and the confidence to use it. Pupils engage in debate with care and consideration. They understand what discrimination is and will not tolerate it.”
Furthermore, children are taught to be active citizens, with older pupils running “clubs for their peers. They created the ‘YANA’ (You Are Not Alone) club to share positive mental health strategies with other pupils.”
Staff too are happy and supported. Ofsted writes: “Staff appreciate the support they have received to manage the many recent changes. They are proud to work at the school.”
Lilly Byers, Principal at Luckwell Primary School comments: “I am delighted to say that our school is in the strongest position it has ever been. Words cannot describe how proud I am to have been on this process, working alongside
dedicated and supportive staff, amazing and inquisitive children, and a proactive, supportive Trust.”
Nick Lewis, CEO of Excalibur Academies Trust adds: “This inspection report clearly acknowledges the commitment, determination and sheer hard work from all of the staff and governors at Luckwell. It also emphasises the value of being part of our Trust, supported by a skilled central team with their expert guidance and experience”.
Local engineering company reduces Knowle community project’s carbon footprint.
Volunteers from building engineering and specialists in decarbonisation, Hoare Lea, have upgraded the heating system at Redcatch Community Garden to improve volunteers’ experiences and reduce the charity’s carbon emissions.
USING THE £20,000 Hoare Lea decarbonisation transition fund, employees helped upgrade the heating in the Redcatch Community Garden event space, making it quieter, more efficient and converting it to use vegetable oil-based fuel, reducing carbon emissions by up to 90%.
The event space is used for many community activities that support mental and physical wellbeing including Welcome Spaces Community Lunches, running Art Therapy for children and adults with neurodiversity or who have experienced trauma, holiday clubs and school educational sessions.
The fund has also paid for a fuel store onsite to reduce trips to the petrol station making it easier for volunteers to refill the heater. Future plans for the remaining fund include installing solar panels on the roof of the site’s cabins to decarbonise the electricity used in the office and café. The work funded by Hoare Lea will save approx. 3,000kg carbon dioxide each year.
Kate Swain, Redcatch Community Garden CEO, said “We are very grateful and thankful for the improvements the engineers at Hoare Lea
developed and implemented with our staff and volunteers. It has made our event space, quieter, easier to heat, and will reduce our fuel bills and our carbon footprint, aligning with the Garden’s sustainability aims. It also provides a more workable system for us to use.”
Hoare Lea selects an employee-nominated community project each year to help reduce its carbon emissions. This is part of Hoare Lea’s wider commitment to being a net zero carbon organisation by tracking and reducing its carbon emissions, then offsetting the remainder with a payment to an
approved international carbon standard and investing in community carbon reduction projects in the UK.
Steve Peet, a Hoare Lea Mechanical Engineer and volunteer on the project said: “After spending time with the volunteers to understand how they use the space; we created a list of possible initiatives for the Garden and selected them based on their priorities and needs. I usually work on office projects so this has been really different and very rewarding to work on a project where you can see the benefits straight away.”
The Redcatch team celebrate the conversion of their heater
Checking the bio-diesel heater for the event space.
■ LOCAL SCHOOLS
Whitchurch school celebrates its ‘Good’Ofsted rating
ST. BERNADETTE Catholic Secondary School has retained its ‘Good’ Ofsted Rating for its third inspection in a row.
The school was inspected by the organisation on January 7th and 8th.
Pupils at the co-educational school “feel welcome and included” in its environment.
In the school’s mission statement, St. Bernadette claims to provide “Excellence in Faith and Learning” for the young people that attend.
The school’s Headteacher, Edward Walker, shared his joy at
the Ofsted rating in a statement to South Bristol Voice:
“The very positive Ofsted report is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our staff, pupils, supportive parents, and school governors. Every member of our school community plays a vital role in making St. Bernadette a place where pupils feel safe, valued, and inspired to achieve their full potential.
While this Ofsted report is an important milestone, it is just one reflection of our ongoing journey. As both Headteacher and a former pupil of this school, what matters most to me is seeing first-hand the short- and long-term achievements of our pupils.
Our commitment to excellence remains unwavering as we continue to seek to provide every pupil with a rich and fulfilling education, ensuring they have the very best opportunities for their future.”
Article by Emily Jordan
■ NEW RECIPE COLUMN - Provided by Michelle Vowles, Redcatch Community Gardens
THIS RECIPE is part of Redcatch Community Garden Shaping Places project in partnership with Oasis Hub, South Bristol based at Connaught School. It aims to build on community strengths and existing work around food insecurity, to work collaboratively with cross-sector partners, to resource and test new approaches and share learning widely.
The project also aims to understand if there is a sustainable model where these meals can be sold to the public and made available at an affordable rate to provide inclusive meals for all.
All sales of meals at the Garden will go towards providing affordable meals for those who needs them most.
These following meals are available this week on sale at Roots for £4.50 or 3 for £12:
Pasta Bolognese
Sweet & Sour with Rice
(chicken or tofu)
Mac & Cheese
Chicken Curry with Rice
Vegan Chilli with Rice
Know your risk: Prostate Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
This month is Prostate Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.
BOTH THESE CANCERS cause thousands of deaths annually and knowing the risk factors and symptoms is key to fighting cancer.
To mark the month, Prostate Cancer UK is encouraging people up and down the UK to ‘March the Month’ and commit to walk or wheel 11,000 steps daily for the over 11,000 dads, husbands, partners, friends, sons and brothers that die annually from prostate cancer in the UK. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and with over 50,000 men a year getting diagnosed. Prostate cancer is often asymptomatic in its early stages which makes risk awareness particularly important. There are specific risk factors for prostate cancer: Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer are around twice as likely to develop prostate cancer. Furthermore, if
OVARIAN CANCER,VISIT
TARGETOVARIANCANCER. ORG.UK
you’ve got relatives that have had breast or ovarian cancer with a known BRCA gene variant, this can increase risk. Age is also a key risk factor as prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50although for Black men they are at higher risk from age 45. Prostate Cancer UK has a 30 second risk checker tool online. Ovarian cancer is diagnosed in over 7500 women in the UK annually and this month Ovarian Cancer Action is calling on the public to walk 100 km ‘In her name’ to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.
PROSTATE CANCER VISIT
PROSTATECANCERUK.ORG
Ovarian cancer can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms can be difficult to articulate and pinpoint which contributes to late diagnosis and poorer outcomes. Main symptoms include persistent bloating, feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite, pelvic or abdominal pain and an urgent or more frequent need to wee. A key risk factor for ovarian cancer is age with most cases occurring in those that have already gone through menopause. However, for people with a family history of ovarian or breast cancer
caused by BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes as well as several other genetic variants, there is a higher risk of developing ovarian earlier. Other risk factors can be viewed on Target Ovarian Cancer’s website. Dr. Sharon Tate, Head of Primary Care Development from Target Ovarian Cancer said “We want every woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer to receive the highest quality treatment and to have the best chance of survival. For this to happen, every woman needs a prompt diagnosis, this starts with women knowing the symptoms of ovarian cancer and discussing concerns with their GP”.
If you have any concerns or any changes in your health, don’t hesitate to contact you GP. They can help talk through your questions, concerns, and any symptoms that you may have.
Footprints Footcare
Tel: 07503 157 894
www.footprintsfootcare.co.uk
Hannah
Knight - Director
Tell us about your company
I established Footprints Footcare in 2023, 20 years after I first started practicing Reflexology. I often get asked why I do my job, the short answer is that I find feet fascinating and love helping people feel better about themselves. Often people are embarrassed about their feet or put up with pain and discomfort which can be easily helped.
What services do you provide?
I trim and shape toenails (and fingernails for those who struggle), remove hard skin, treat cracked heels and painful corns and help with fungal or thickened toenails. Simple in-grown nails can be treated or I can advise referral on to a Podiatrist for any complex treatment.
I look after diabetic feet, ensuring they are kept healthy and checking regularly for any problems.
I can offer basic insole advice
Helping your feet become healthy and beautiful
and can make custom padding or silicone wedges for protection against corns.
I cover all of South Bristol and surrounding areas depending on postcode.
I can recommend and sell good quality creams for cracked heels, callus and athlete’s foot or fungal nail treatments.
What is the best part of running your business and working in the area?
I love to meet new people, and by visiting people in their own homes they are relaxed and comfortable. With my job you often can make a huge difference in just one visit so this is very rewarding.
Footcare is not just for those who struggle with toenail cutting, I see people of all ages from young children to the very elderly.
Feet are so important to your everyday life, they are a delicate tripod which can often be out of balance when deformities such as bunions or hammer toes form. Trips and falls are more common and if too much pressure is placed on the wrong part of the foot, then painful corns can recur and toenails can thicken.
I have found many people putting up with foot pain for years before they seek help, it can be very satisfying changing the way people walk.
What makes your service different from other companies?
I have worked in healthcare for 26 years as a Dental Nurse, this has helped me with treating nervous patients and putting people at ease. As a trained reflexologist, I am able to incorporate the relaxing massage element into every treatment.
In my spare time I love to run, so I have a special interest in how
running affects the feet and problems people commonly suffer with. It can be common to lose toenails after training for longer runs so it is important to look after your feet if you are very active.
What are your plans for the future of your business?
I am always learning new skills and attending workshops and seminars to learn new techniques, source new products and expand my skills. I am particularly interested in Biomechanics, how the feet move with your lower limbs and how gait can affect the bones, muscles and tendons causing problems such as plantar fasciitis and flat feet. I want to be able to help the many people I see with these problems access the help they need through specialist services with exercises, insoles or surgery if needed.
Footprints Footcare
Tel: 07503 157 894
www.footprintsfootcare.co.uk
■ CROWDFUNDER
Renovating the stained glass windows at Sundial,1 William Street
1 WILLIAM STREET has long been at the heart of the Totterdown community and firmly on Bristol’s food map since the opening of Glasnost in the late 1980s. It is now home to the Sundial Kitchen, a vegetarian-focused café offering locally sourced and seasonal food which is also available for private hire.
The owners of the muchlauded Glasnost restaurant commissioned Jake Pegg of Opus
Glass Design in 1992 to design the 48 individual Stained Glass windows that adorn the building today. The current owners wouldn't have known this if it wasn't for them spotting a tiny piece of the glass with Jake’s name on that he had placed within the design of the windows.
It is these windows which give the building an ambiance like no other Eatery in Bristol.
The façade of the building was restored to its former glory in 2018 and the owners are now planning to restore and upgrade the windows. All 48 panels will be removed and passed to master craftsman Craig Turner of Bristol Stained Glass to be restored and installed into new frames.
The owners have applied for grants to help with this but as they have already taken steps previously to lower the building’s
carbon footprint, the funders have only come back with £800 towards the refurbishment! If you would like to help towards the cost of restoring this
iconic building and bag yourself a treat then please head over to www.thesundialkitchen.co.uk where a link to the crowdfunder is on the front page.
Jake’s name etched in one of the glass panes
■ ADVERTORIAL
POP TO THE PARK FOR A VEGETARIAN FEAST
After testing the water with their first pop up food event last autumn, The Park have now invited Sophie Gordon – globetrotting vegetarian chef and author of The Whole Vegetable, to host a Vegetarian Feast on Friday 14th March.
This is the first of the monthly pop ups planned for the rest of the year, when guest chefs will present different types of cuisine for up to 70 guests at the centre. So, to kick it off, it’s veg time!
More About Sophie
This happening chef from Brighton serves up her veggie delights all around the world at private events, weddings and retreats. So, whether you're a confirmed vegetarian, vegan or a flexitarian that just likes to mix it up, come and enjoy a (mostly) plant-based table full of earth grown goodies to knock your socks off.
Sophie creates recipes that are dedicated to a veg-centric
table, from the earth, fresh to the table, aiming to provide a spread that's not only environmentally friendly but a joyous experience. Her events are as much about the social, as they are about the culinary experience, so expect
communal dining at long tables, large sharing plates and breaking bread and boundaries with friends you've yet to meet. The Park is all about bringing people together, so this feast seems like a great opportunity to bond over good food and a glass of your favourite tipple. You can even bring BYOB!
The menu will include several vegetarian and vegan dishes including bread and a spiffing dessert. Sophie likes to cook seasonal and shop local, so she’s been scouring the Bristol scene to see what's available. She’ll be serving sourdough bread from The Park Bakery on St John’s Lane (if you haven’t tasted their malted sourdough, then you’re missing out). Her final menu will be posted the day before the feast. You can expect a fabulous communal dining experience to fill your belly and warm your heart.
Join us for a vegetarian night to remember.
Friday 14th March 7pm - 10pm
£35 per head (concession tickets £25 for those on benefits)
BYOB - bring your own wine or beer
Tickets are very limited
Event Booking Link: https://bit.ly/veg-feast
Sophie Gordon: https://www.sophgordon.com/
The Whole Vegetable by Sophie Gordon is available on Amazon
■ WICKED WITCH
In witch there’s no death in Primark
My phone rang. It was my Dad’s mobile, I swiftly answered, stomach clenching with instant worry.
A woman started talking. I frowned. “Hello, this is the manager of Primark”. My eyes narrowed, Primark? Weird. She continued“Your parents have had a fall I’m afraid”. Turns out that they’d tried to ascend the escalator, Dad had gone first, holding Mum’s hand. She’d stumbled and fell dragging him down with her. Dad had a soft landing (on Mum) and Mum had knocked herself out.“It’s not looking good”admitted the manager.
I jumped into my car and raced to them with my brain a mosh pit of questions. What were they doing in Primark? Please don’t die in Primark. They were banned from escalators. Please
don’t die in Primark. Why didn’t they use the lift? Please don’t die in Primark.
I found my family in A&E. Miraculously Mum was alive and had no other injuries apart from bruising on her diminishing brainbox and nasty cuts on her legs from the vicious escalator teeth. She eventually woke up but was not there, just a shell with dark, empty eyes. It was distressing.
We spent the next few weeks ferrying Dad from their flat to the hospital where he would sit by her bed holding her hand. One day I looked at my Mum and thought she’s not long for this world and mentioned this to my brother. He visited later that day and messaged me;“I gave her a kiss and told her I loved her, I don’t think I’ve ever done that before”. I whizzed down the next day
fearing her days were numbered only to find her sitting in a chair, the twinkle back in her eyes and asking to go home. She wanted to live.
Mum was moved to a women’s hospital which was slightly nicer. On one visit, to break the monotony, I asked to take her out in a wheelchair. This caused a bit of a kerfuffle with the nurses who refused to let us walk into town and escorted us to the canteen before making me promise to bring her straight back. We did take a detour to find some fresh air and I parked her up in a tiny square of sunshine, in a bin storage area, bursting with bright yellow bins (which were probably for toxic waste) but Mum loves the colour yellow and I think she appreciated it.
Now the plan is to send her home. Gulp. A hospital bed has
THE WICKED WITCH OF KNOWLE
been delivered and a contraption to help her stand. Their flat had to be cleared and furniture shifted to make room. Someone from the hospital signed the flat off as satisfactory and plans have been made for me to collect her and settle them back to some normality. My brother just messaged me. Dad has moved everything back to how it was, it took him most of the night and he’s hurt a few important muscles. One step forward and a huge shuffle back.
■ LOCAL HISTORY
Rediscovering cinema’s eclectic history
Josh Chestersand Emily Jordan take a look at South Bristol’s deep cinematic roots…
DID YOU KNOW that South Bristol has a rich history of arts and culture that runs from North Street to Filwood Broadway?
From commemorative plaques in Knowle to bomb damage in Bedminster. South Bristol cinemas, both past and present, tell a unique story that is rich with fascinating memories.
The Old Picture House –Totterdown
This self-described‘charming cinematic time capsule’in Totterdown is still operational and is a regular name on film and arts trails in the city. Offering a mix of special art-house films, a community café and jazz performances, this venue is the last remaining star of South Bristol’s prolific arts scene.
In its heyday, this cinema was known as the Knowle Picture
Playhouse. Its first film showing was ‘The Kid’ (1921), starring Charlie Chaplain and Jackie Coogan. Of note, this picture house was also one of the first cinemas in the country to show ‘talkies’ (films with sound).
In the 1930s, tickets in the first three-rows of benches cost three pence (3d). The Knowle Picture Playhouse was often where young men would take ladies to court them and where children also tried to sneak into screenings for free!
Much of its deeper history
remains unknown, but people have found memories of the venue. It’s no surprise that the people of Totterdown were thrilled when Dave Merrick reopened the screen in 2018, after a 60-year hiatus. Now dubbed ‘The Old Picture House,’ this screen continues to show experimental films that you can’t find anywhere else in Bristol.
Gaiety Cinema – Knowle
This independent family cinema was located between Crossways Road and Wells Road. It could seat up to 2,000 people when it first opened on Boxing Day 1933.
When it first opened, the Gaiety was a hugely popular cinema in South Bristol and it had a dance floor upstairs.
This cinema was Bristol’s last family-owned cinema when it closed its door for the last time in 1995. The Chamberlain family ran the cinema for its tumultuous 57-year history, and Beverley Chapman, who worked
at the venue during its prime, and she praised the Gaiety for its unique approach throughout a time when multi-screen cinemas became popular: “It was familyrun [and] only had one big screen, which people liked.
“Audiences were happy to wait for films to come because of the cost, friendliness and relatively easy parking.”
“However, some may say that the cinema did not adapt to the changing film scene, which is why it suffered so greatly when the Showcase Cinema opened in Brislington. Unable to compete with the chain’s ultra-low pricing
Gaiety Cinema was demolished in 2000 and replaced by sheltered housing in 2003.[Image Credit:TOM CLEEVES]
Knowle Picture Playhouse (now known asThe Old Picture House) in its infancy.[Image Credit: Knowle Local History Society/Mike Blakemore]
and fourteen screens, this venue closed its doors for the last time in 1995, after showing films to an estimated eight million locals over its 60-year lifespan.”
Rex Cinema – Bedminster
On 9 December 1940, the doors of the Rex Cinema opened for the first time, treating the audience to Hitchcock’s ‘Rebecca’ on screen.The Rex opened to very little fanfare, as its balcony was not yet complete. However, once the venue fully opened, there were 1200 seats on the ground floor.
This venue was later rebranded as the ‘ABC’, and some 14 years later, capacity was increased to 1,634. During the venue’s early days, World War II had reached its peak and on Good Friday 1941, severe bomb damage caused the cinema to close for four months.
The seats of the cinema ended up on the roofs of nearby houses in the carnage and later, when the sister ABC cinema in Clifton was also struck by bomb damage, all their staff were temporarily employed at the Bedminster location.
For the Rex’s 21st
anniversary, the cinema presented a special showing of WhataWhopper, a 1961 comedy film. One of the silver screen’s starlets, Marie-France, attended the showing. Not bad for a little screen in Bedminster!
The original name of the Rex was restored in 1978. The final
The last film shown at Rex Cinema was on August 16th 1980.[Image Credit: Stephen Dowle]
film showing was Superman in August 1980, after this the cinema was converted into a Bingo club before permanently closing in 2008 and finally, demolition in 2014.
Odeon Bedminster
Now you may be familiar with the Odeon on Union Street, which is still going strong, but are you aware of the other Odeon? As you walk down
Winterstoke Road, you might notice a building which looks like a historic castle – it is not quite that regal, but it does contain history.
This venue was able to seat 1,250 people, which was an average number for screens at the time. In the late 1930s, there were even fears that radio may become obsolete with the rise of cinema; however, this changed drastically as television had overtaken them both.
In 1936, it was known as‘The Ambassador’, but by 1941 it was renamed the‘Odeon’. Known for its large tower on the roof, this cinema was another victim of the bombings of World War II. The interior was originally designed to be that of a stadium, with no overhanging balcony and no actual staging facilities.
The property was closed on 22 July 1961, after battling with ever-decreasing audiences,and it was transformed into a Top Rank Bingo Club. That is how it remained until closing in 1995. Afterwards, the front of the auditorium was converted into an exhaust centre and the rear section made into a children’s play centre named Alphabet Zoo.
In such a broad area infused with a rich and unique film history, the lack of cinemas currently open to the people of South Bristol is deeply disappointing,
and we hope to hear rumours of a new screen circulating soon! Many thanks to the archives of Cinema Treasures, Bristol’s Lost Cinemas and Bristol Now and Then Photographs Facebook Group as this article would not have been possible without them. Additional thanks go to Richard Walker for his excellent photos of a bygone era.
Article by Emily Jordan and Joshua Chesters
The Ambassador Cinema with its unique tower looming over the entrance.[Image Credit: Jill Moore]
THIS MONTH the South Bristol Voice wanted to launch a new section for our readers - the Younger Voice, and we’d love your contributions. So not only do we have a younger puzzle page for you to enjoy this month we’ve got a fabulous drawing by ‘E’and a beautiful description of being young in South Bristol by ‘M’.
Sponsored by Splasherist
BS3 4AZ, Bristol, 07828225087
splasherist@splasherist.com https://splasherist.com/bristol-1
VIP
These girls have won themselves a VIP session at Splasherist - the fantastic rage painting studio at Willway Yard. Well done girls and thanks for launching our new feature.
Why Bristol is great by ‘M’
Do you want to do some fun stuff in Bristol? We have done loads. You can buy a ticket to go to we are Curious and they’ve got a planetarium. My sister drove on the moon.
Wake the tiger was great but i thought there was no end and would be trapped forever. You can go on a ferry or on the SS great Britain and get lost in the bottom like we did.
The harbourside festival is fun , my sister threw up after she had an ice cream and went on a bouncy castle. You can go to a hot air balloon festival once a year.
The aerospace museum has a Concorde we went on. The aquarium has a smiling fish and you can see sharks.
We have a great children's hospital who do heart operations and you can go to the hospice, they have a spa pool and a soft play and you can stay there two times a year.
There are some good parks and if it snows you can sledge down them. I hope everyone has as much fun living in Bristol as I do.
Planning applications in South Bristol
35 Sturdon Road Bristol BS3 2BB, Ref. No: 25/10594/H
Demolition of existing lean-to and erection of single storey extension.
Validated: Mon 10 Feb 2025
Status: Pending consideration
67 Stackpool Road Bristol BS3 1NL, Ref. No: 25/10496/H
Single storey rear extension.
Validated: Mon 10 Feb 2025
Status: Pending consideration
195 Luckwell Road Bristol BS3 3HD, Ref. No: 25/10558/PIP
Residential (C3) development on land to the rear of 195 Luckwell Road.
Validated: Fri 07 Feb 2025
Status: Pending consideration
50 Upton Road Bristol BS3 1LX, Ref. No: 25/10418/H
Single storey rear and side extension.
Validated: Wed 05 Feb 2025
Status: Pending consideration
90 Cotswold Road Bristol BS3 4NS, Ref. No: 25/10394/H
Rear single storey extension with roof terrace and timber garden
stairs and railing.
Validated: Wed 29 Jan 2025
Status: Pending consideration
40 Gores Marsh Road Bristol BS3 2PF, Ref. No: 25/10408/H
Double and single storey extension to rear.
Validated: Wed 29 Jan 2025
Status: Pending consideration
229 Coronation Road Bristol BS3
1RL, Ref. No: 25/10426/Z
Enforcement notice appeal for use of property as a HMO without planning permission.
Validated: Tue 28 Jan 2025
Status: Pending consideration
233 Coronation Road Bristol BS3
1RL, Ref. No: 25/10402/Z
Enforcement notice appeal for change of use to a HMO (Use Class C4).
Validated: Tue 28 Jan 2025
Status: Pending consideration
57 Islington Road Bristol BS3 1PZ, Ref. No: 25/10385/Z
Enforcement notice appeal for use of property as C4 HMO without planning permission
Validated: Tue 28 Jan 2025
Status: Pending consideration
13 Algiers Street Bristol BS3 4LP, Ref. No: 25/10343/H
Proposed single storey rear extension, recladding existing dormer and insertion of new window to front elevationShow more description
Validated: Mon 27 Jan 2025
Status: Pending consideration
59 Beckington Road Bristol BS3 5DZ, Ref. No: 25/10305/H
Two Storey Side and Single Storey Rear Extension.
Validated: Wed 22 Jan 2025
Status: Pending consideration
46 St Lukes Road Bristol BS3 4RX, Ref. No: 24/05118/F
Conversion and extension of existing house to form 1 two bed maisonette and 1 one bed flat.
Validated: Tue 07 Jan 2025
Status: Pending consideration
4 Mendip Road Bristol BS3 4NY Ref. No: 24/05091/H
Outbuilding to front of house. Removal of front wall.
Validated: Thu 16 Jan 2025
Status: Pending decision
268A Wick Road Bristol BS4 4HT, Ref. No: 25/10540/CP
Single storey rear extension.
Validated: Wed 05 Feb 2025
Status: Pending consideration
10 And 12 Greenleaze Bristol BS4 2TJ, Ref. No: 25/10252/F
1no Detached dwelling from the rear
Validated: Thu 30 Jan 2025
Status: Pending consideration
75 Stoneleigh Crescent Bristol BS4 2RG, Ref. No: 25/10123/CP
Demolition of an existing pitch roof extension and erection of a new extension at the same depth, approx 1500mm wider and with a pitch roof.Show more description
Validated: Mon 13 Jan 2025
Status: Pending decision
All planning information is available on the Bristol City Council website: tinyurl.com/BSplanning
■ MESSAGE FROM THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER
Why I had to raise the cost of policing
AS your police and crime commissioner, my role is not only to represent the people of Avon and Somerset locally but also to ensure your voices are heard at a national level.
I am the bridge between residents and decision-makers, championing the issues that matter most to you. I use what I hear from people daily to shape what I do, and the actions I take.
I’m guided by the determination to bring about changes that benefit the people I’ve been elected to represent. It is part of my job to share the key concerns that people bring to my attention, issues affecting so many lives including serious youth violence, police visibility, crime reporting, community safety, and the underlying causes of crime.
During January, I took part in a Home Office roundtable on techenabled violence against women and girls.
This is something that people across all our areas are affected by. Technology has introduced new challenges in tackling abuse, and harassment, but it also offers opportunities for prevention and support.
With key stakeholders, including ministers Jess Phillips and Alex Davies-Jones, we explored the complexities of the issues and the solutions that government can deliver.
To be able to deliver against the priorities you’ve told me are most important, I’m responsible for setting the amount of money you contribute to local police services through your council tax bill each year.
This is known as the ‘Police Precept’. It accounts for 43% of the funding that Avon and Somerset police rely on, with the rest coming from central government.
I confirmed an increase of £14 more per year for the average
Band D household at a meeting on February 4.
I know the cost of living is a concern for many, and I did not take this decision lightly.
I must make sure our police service has the resources to continue tackling crime, keeping communities safe, and improving trust and confidence in policing.
The extra funding will support Avon and Somerset Police to keep delivering neighbourhood policing and other services, while progressing work on priority areas like tackling serious violence and violence against women and girls, and investing in ways to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour.
Through everything I do, my focus remains clear: I will make sure the voices and experiences of the people who live in Avon and Somerset will influence and shape national conversations around policing and crime.
With Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody
Together, we can drive meaningful changes that create safer communities for everyone. You can read the five priorities the public told me are most important in my Police and Crime Plan on my website at tinyurl.com/2zxte625.
New murals transform Bedminster train station
If you have caught a train at Bedminster station recently, your mood may have been lifted by the bright and bold colours that now appear on the wall of the station’s underpass.
THIS PROJECT was launched by Severnside Community Rail partnership in collaboration with Bristol-based art collective Upfest in order to improve the look of the station for the growing number of commuters.
■ PUZZLE PAGE
Funding was facilitated by local councillors Ed Plowden and Lisa Stone who successfully secured funds from the Bristol City Council Community Infrastructure Levy and Great Western Railway.
Local artist Paul Monsters was chosen to create the piece, alongside duo Lucas Antics, who describe themselves as “space transformers”.
Alex Lucas, of Lucas Antics, said that their intention was to “brighten” up the tunnel as “the underpass is a space that people use every day”.
The brief called for an
artwork to create a welcoming and vibrant gateway to Bedminster. The nature-inspired psychedelic murals display a host of wacky animal characters with Mr Lucas explaining that “we’ve included local wildlife, familiar landmarks in the spirit of togetherness”. He also said that he hopes the work “adds a little bit of joy and inspiration to everyone who comes through here.”
Faye Keane from Severnside Community Rail Partnership said that "the new artworks reflect the creative community that surrounds the station, which has
been dubbed Bristol's Arts Quarter”.
Bedminster’s station manager Alex Hills said that as well as giving the underpass a much needed “uplift” he hopes that it will “encourage people to take a trip down to the station to take a look for themselves.”
The murals are part of a wider effort to brighten up the local environment in Bedminster following a public consultation.
The previous artwork at the station, created by students at local Victoria Park Primary School, will now be showcased on the school’s grounds.
Article by Genevieve Brown
■ CHARITY NEWS
HELP NEEDED!
ST PETER’S HOSPICE on East Street in Bedminster are looking for donations of good quality books to help raise funds for the charity.
If you have any books you no longer need - fiction, non-fiction, children’s books or anything in between, we’d love to give them a new home.
You can drop them off at 156 East Street during our open hours, Mon-Sat 9-5. Every donation makes a difference and we truly appreciate your support.
Thank you!!
And the winners are…
Thanks to everyone that entered last month’s Slapstick Comedy Festival Competition. The correct answer was….. 20th Birthday And the winner was: MichaelaSimspon
From Left to right: Paul Monsters, Alexandra Lucas, Alex Lucas [Photo viaVisitWest]
Finished mural on the station underpass wall at Bedminster station [Photo via BBC]
Completing the mural on the ramp [Photo via BBC]
■ NEWS FROM BRISTOL SOUTH MP KARIN SMYTH
Improving our children's chances
The Labour government I am part of has a plan to change Britain and at its heart is our mission to break down barriers to opportunity at every stage of life. We want to make sure that children and young people can thrive no matter the challenges they have faced in life. I believe children growing up in Bristol South deserve an excellent education system and to feel safe and looked after.
Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is currently going through Parliament and represents the most significant piece of child welfare legislation in a generation. Families with young children in Bristol South will be better off as a result of the bill with free breakfast clubs in
primary schools saving families £450 per year per child. We have also ended the tax break on private schools to recruit 6,500 new teachers and the bill will ensure children are taught a cutting-edge national curriculum.
The bill also makes important progress in protecting children by strengthening safeguarding, improving data-sharing between agencies responsible for children’s welfare and creating a unique number for each child. Too often, children fall through the cracks when agencies that are meant to support them don’t communicate and miss signs of abuse or neglect. These reforms will keep children safe.
I am proud that the Government’s plans will ensure
that children are supported from the first days of their life into their adulthood. Labour has committed £1.7 million for Bristol to fund Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes. New parents need support, and I am glad that the Government is reinvesting in these crucial services after 14 years of Tory austerity. Schools in Bristol South have faced severe challenges over the years and I am glad that this Government recognises that abandoning struggling schools is not an option. I am pleased therefore that the government is committing up to £100,000 for schools with consecutive poor OFSTED reports. No child should be stuck in school that is failing them and it is right that the
Karin Smyth shares her views with the Voice
Government are addressing this issue.
Children growing up in our country deserve the best start in life, nothing less. Our progress since the General Election shows what child-centred government looks like in action.
ADVICE FROM A PHARMACIST with Ade Williams
NHS-funded WalkInSame-Day Treatments Proving Very Popular at Bedminster Pharmacy
The Pharmacy First scheme offered at Bedminster Pharmacy enables everyone in Bristol to come in and receive NHS care for a variety of conditions. A year after the Bedminster Pharmacy Team supported the national BBC TV Launch, it continues to deliver popular, accessible, and timely care.
The Common conditions coveredinclude:
1 Sinusitis – for children and adults 12 years and over;
2 Sore throat (examination) - for children and adults 5 years and over;
3 Earache (otoscopy examination)for children and adults 1 year and over;
4 Infected insect bite – for children and adults 1 year and over;
5 Impetigo – for children and adults 1 year and over;
6 Shingles – for adults 18 years and over; and
Ade Williams of Bedminster Pharmacy discusses the NHS funded “Pharmacy First” treatments and services that you can access instead of going to your doctor’s surgery.
7 Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women 16 to 64 years.
8 Infected eye treatment for children aged over 30 days to 2 years
This service is NHS-funded , so any medicines supply will be like receiving NHS prescription items and you do not pay for a consultation.Consultations with the pharmacist, include examination of your inner ear (otoscopy) and your throat as appropriate when assessing your symptoms and medical history,
to agree clinically appropriate next steps including supplying antibiotics or any other prescription only medicine that is required.
A referral may also be actioned to the appropriate healthcare access point, such as a GP surgery or A&E.
The pharmacist assessment offers evidence-based care using the same clinical guidelines and tools used across the NHS.. GP surgeries and NHS 111 now also refer people directly into the service.The scheme is creating better integrated working between local GP Surgeries and Bedminster Pharmacy with the pharmacy consultation details shared with the GP, further supporting better care continuity.
This service is a most welcome development for thehealth of our community and a step in the right direction; bringing NHS care closer to everyone.
Lungworm – the facts!
Lungworm is a parasite that can be deadly to dogs if ingested. Lungworm uses multiple animals to help complete its lifecycle, with dogs and foxes as the primary hosts, and slugs, snails and even frogs as their intermediate hosts.
LUNGWORM are short worms, only reaching 2.5cm in length as adults, which live within the chambers of the heart of our pets, and in the artery that connects the heart to the lungs. Despite their main home being in the heart, these worms are called lungworms as they cause mainly lung-related signs such as coughing.
Lungworm are passed through snails and slugs; therefore if your dog plays or consumes them in the garden or when out for a walk, they can become infected. Dogs can also come into contact with lungworm through eating grass, drinking from puddles, outdoor water bowls, or toys that have been left outside in grass.
Also known as Angiostrongylus vasorum, lungworm are reproduced by producing eggs which hatch into larvae. These larvae are coughed up from the dog’s lungs, swallowed, and passed out in your dog’s faeces. Once in the faeces, larvae are picked up by
slugs and snails, and mature until they are old enough to affect dogs and foxes, and the cycle starts again.
Sadly, dogs with severe lungworm infections can become very ill in fact, 9 % of infected dogs will die.
Cat lungworm is not the same parasite as the dog one and is usually less severe.
The most common symptoms of a lungworm infection are:
Coughing
Changes in breathing or struggling to breathe
Going off food
Upset tummy with vomiting and/or diarrhoea
Loss of weight
Tiredness and depression
Unexplained or excessive bruising
Pale gums
Bleeding
Speak to us today on how you can protect your dog and also save money with our preventative health plans!
Words by Lisa Walters RVN of Bristol Imperial Vets4Pets
Butterflies at Windmill
Hill City Farm
WINDMILL HILL CITY FARM
(WHCF) is an important piece in the jigsaw that is the Greater Bedminster Urban Nature Reserve. As with other green sites, we are trying to discover what lives there and started with butterflies.
There are around 60 butterflies on the UK list and our WHCF total is 17 species from five families. Some of these can often be seen on sunny days, but others have been spotted only once or twice in the last eight years.
‘Cabbage whites’ are frequently seen, but only two: the caterpillars of the Large and Small White actually eat cabbages. Green-veined White, Orange Tip and Brimstone caterpillars prefer other plants.
The Comma and Red Admiral are also quite common followed by their relatives the Peacock and very rarely the Small Tortoiseshell and, once only, a Painted Lady.
‘Browns’ including Ringlets
and Speckled Woods are moderately common and were joined by Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns in 2020. Lockdown meant that the grass in WHCF grew long and splendid which suited these species.
Apart from a single Common Blue in 2019, the only Lycaenidae butterfly is the Holly Blue. Its caterpillar feeds on holly and ivy. There’s lots at the farm and in local gardens.
Small Skippers have attempted to breed at WHCF. This butterfly prefers long grass and lives in colonies. This has the advantage that it does not need to move long distances for food and mates. The disadvantage is that humans keep digging up their habitat and planting carrots.
Article by Ben Barker, Secretary, BS3 Wildlife Group
mywildbedminster@virginmedia .com
South Bristol Voice is also now digital
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We can now deliver your local paper electronically. Why not subscribe now? For the first 100 people to sign up, it costs just £5 for 12 issues, and £8 after.
To sign up, just scan the QR code on the right.
The Habit I Cannot Break, Susan Tennyson
£13.99 | Available from Storysmith, North street
THE HABIT I CANNOT BREAKby South Bristol author
Susan Tennyson is a captivating novel, combining love, resilience and the transformative power of
connection.
In this poignant LGBT love story, Tennyson invites readers to journey with Jacob and Leo as they navigate the complexities of love, acceptance, and the trials that threaten to tear them apart.
Tennyson’s narrative is inspired by a story of a couple who couldn’t be together; she felt compelled to explore the theme of love in the face of adversity. “It’s not fair that not everyone can have the person they want to be with,” she said.
Tennyson’s story unfolds through Jacob’s eyes, revealing the struggles and triumphs of their relationship in a way that is both relatable and engaging. The narrative promises a rollercoaster of emotions, ultimately leading to a satisfying and warm conclusion.
Tennyson’s passion for
writing shines through in her characters and their experiences, reflecting her own personal journey with love and
relationships. With over 26 years of marriage to her husband, she draws from her own life to craft a story that resonates deeply with readers, especially those who may have faced similar challenges in their romantic lives. The emotional connection in her writing is palpable, and it’s clear that she aims to provide a voice for those seeking love and acceptance.
So, if you are looking for a love story that celebrates resilience, hope, and the beauty of true love, this might be just for you.
Interview by Luke Palmer
■ WHAT’S ON
15th March
■ CROWES PASTURE, ON TOUR FROM USA Americana / bluegrass, plus support. £10 cash only, BYO. Tea and coffee available - for info call 0117-9665514Redcatch Club,Redcatch Community Centre 7.45.
“The silky blend of Andy and Monique’s voices suggest Simon & Garfunkel " —The Rock Doctor
Friday 4th April,7:30pm
■ QUIZ NIGHT AT ST PAUL’S Teams of 4, £5pp, including supper (St Paul’s, Coronation Road, Southville)
Every Tuesday &Wednesday 10am - 1pm
■ BOTANICAL PAINTERS AT BRACKENWOOD Come along and enjoy painting in the company of friends, from beginners to award winning artists. Feel free to drop in on one of our sessions to find out more or email via: info.bpab@gmail.com
First Wednesday of the month
■ SOUTH BRISTOL GARDENING CLUB, St Paul’s Church, Coronation Road, Southville. Annual membership £25. A friendly club and new members are very welcome. Club members enjoy free regular talks from expert speakers and subsidised visits to gardens throughout the year. To join, go to https://bit.ly/3w6xjKB
Thursdays
■ FOREST SCHOOL, Dame Emily Park. 2-4.45pm, Developing a sense of awe and wonder about nature, so together we can save it. Contact info@forestchild.co.uk
Last Thursday in the Month
■ JAZZ@THEPARK The last Thursday of the month, 2.304.30pm. Everyone is welcome and the cost is just £3.50. No need to book. Find out more about the Grateful Society here: www.gratefulsociety.org
Saturday 22nd March
■ CLOTHES SWAP Quakers Meeting House, Wedmore Vale. Bring up to six clean items of clothing and swap them for something different! Get advice on basic mending techniques and stay for a chat over a cuppa.
This will be a FREE event, open and accessible to all.
For more information, call us on 0117 923 1039 or email info@bs3community.org.uk
Wednesday 26th March (for 6 weeks)
■ CHAIR PILATES WITH MUSIC, Southville Centre!
Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, with a focus on flexibility, posture improvement, strength, balance and pain improvement. Classes take place in the Milford Hall - cost £5. Fully accessible venue. Just drop in - no need to book.
Call on 0117 923 1039 bs3community.org.uk/class/ chair-pilates-with-music/
Every second Wednesday of the month, 11.30am-12.30pm, starting 12th March
■ GOLDIES SING & SMILE, Jasper Room, Chessel Centre! Everyone is welcome at this good old singalong! £3 donation. www.golden-oldies.org.uk/ bristol.html
■ CHURCH NEWS
ST ALDHELM’S, Chessel Street, Bedminster
SUNDAY
■ 10am every week, followed by refreshments.
■ 1st Sunday of the Month - All Age Service.
WEDNESDAY
■ 1st Wednesday of the month – 10am BCP Communion, followed by refreshments. ALL WELCOME
ST PAUL’S, Coronation Road, Southville
SUNDAY
■ 10:30am every week, followed by refreshments.
■ 1st Sunday of the Month - 9am Traditional Communion, 10am Breakfast, 10:45am All Age Service. ALL WELCOME
■
GIG REVIEW
THE VEILS@THEKLA
PROMPTED by the release of their newest album Asphodels, English/New Zealand-based The Veils embarked on tour, stopping at Bristol’s Thekla on the evening of Monday 17th February.
The show, opened by the brilliant singer-songwriter Roxanne de Bastion, was a celebration of authentic, raw, and emotionally intelligent performance.
Starting mellow with droning instrumentation and introspective lyricism, The Veils have captured a beautiful, poetic storytelling in their latest album. Asphodels, the name itself taken from Greek mythology, seems to be a celebration of captivating narrative structures, journeys, and self discovery.
‘The Ladder’, for instance, felt like a beautiful encapsulation of life, looking at it with a sense of nostalgia and retrospect. Paired with simple
guitar and a haunting violin accompaniment, although unfortunately also paired by a group having a rather loud conversation behind me, this track is something special.
The show then crescendoed, introducing a stomp-and-holler quality to the evening. With heavier drums and essences of Americana and modern Indie Rock appearing in the mix, it was nice to see some variety from the band. Feeling almost motivational in their optimism, whilst retaining their vulnerability and nostalgic air, this set really demonstrated the best of The Veils’ abilities.
Everything about The Veils’ Thekla performance was wonderful and felt almost restorative to witness. For fans of artists like The Lumineers, Mumford and Sons or Tyler Childers, The Veils are definitely one to listen to.
Review by Sophie Long
The Theatre and Entertainment Luvver
Taking Centre Stage: The Women of Bristol Theatre
With International Women’s Day on March 8th, this is the perfect month to celebrate the incredible women working in Bristol’s theatre scene.
Two of Bristol’s major theatres are led by women.Nancy Medinais an award winning director and since 2022 Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic and in the same yearHeidi Vaughanalso became Artistic Director at the Tobacco Factory Theatre.
This month they are both directing shows in their theatres, providing ample opportunity to celebrate women in theatre.
AttheTobacco Factory,A Winter’s Tale, directed by Heidi Vaughan and designed byEdwina Bridgeman,is a visual feastexploring human emotion and resilience. Or a trip to the old
Vic to catch the closing night ofA Good House, Nancy
tells the true story of the investigation into
led by the brilliant compere Meryl O’Rourke.
Meanwhile, over atActa Theatre, history and storytelling come together inThe Workhouse. Running just ten days after International Women’s Day, this gripping production
evening of live performances, including dance, acrobatics, juggling and aerial
AtCity Halla day of events includingTheWomen in Mediapanel (14:00–15:40) which will discuss the challenges women face in the media
industry, the panel features journalistSianNorrisand station manager of Ujima Radio Miranda Rae along with a host of other inspiring women
Bristol’s theatre and arts scene has long been enriched by the talents and leadership of women. This March, there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate their creativity, passion, and dedication.
Happy International Women’s Day!
