12
www.stokegiffordjournal.co.uk
June 2019
News
Councillor Column New term of office and many issues to address
F
irstly, may I express my gratitude to the combined Stoke Gifford and Little Stoke communities for allowing me to continue to serve as your local councillor for one more term of office. I am immensely proud to represent the ward on both the district and parish councils, and will continue to fight to maintain and improve our quality of life here. I have now been appointed to the position of chairman of South Gloucestershire Council for the coming year, but I will not allow that honour to detract from my primary duty of being your ward councillor. I recognise that the next twelve months will be a very difficult period for residents and businesses in the area of Patchway railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane, Little Stoke. We recognise that the bridge itself is too narrow for modern traffic levels, and that the plans to widen it are long overdue, but we must all strive to minimise the disruption that the work will cause. I am especially concerned regarding the effect on local business and would ask everyone to support them as much as possible during this time. I will also continue to press for effective action to minimise the rapidly spreading parking blight that is now affecting almost the whole of Stoke Gifford. The problem was originally one affecting the roads closest to Parkway Railway Station but has now spread to affect roads further away. In addition, a new problem has built up in the Bakers Ground and Parkway North developments as commuters park their cars there and catch the MetroBus from stops along the Stoke Gifford By-Pass. The problem has been reported to South
t: 01454 300 400
Gloucestershire Council and will now be included in a widened review into the parking issues. I remain committed to the urgent need to provide a dedicated pedestrian and cycle tunnel through the railway embankment adjacent to the Parkway railway bridge. The existing footways are too narrow and there is a great danger to pedestrians using them. I am deeply concerned at the increase in graffiti which is affecting the whole of the area and will continue to press both parish and district councils to remove the offending marks much quicker than they do. All too often I hear the excuse, we need the permission of whoever owns the wall or cabinet. That is usually an excuse to do nothing! Finally, I continue to receive complaints regarding the speed of vehicles using North Road, Stoke Gifford. Sadly, the offenders are very often local residents! I am pressing for speed tables to be put under both of the zebra crossings on North Road and will consult on the suggestion to have the speed limit on North Road reduced to 20mph. Cllr Brian Allinson Stoke Gifford parish councillor and South Gloucestershire councillor for Stoke Gifford ward Write to your politicians, national or local, for free. Visit writetothem.com
Former hair salon owner celebrates 100th birthday
A
Stoke Gifford resident who ran a hair salon in Bristol for 40 years has celebrated her 100th birthday. Rosa Hunter, who now lives at Osbourne Court residential home in North Road (next to the St Michael’s Centre), was thrilled to receive a card and personalised congratulatory message from the Queen to mark reaching her centenary year. Born on 18th May 1919. Rosa opened her first hair salon, with her husband Alex, in Downend. She worked at the salon, which catered for both ladies and gentlemen, until retiring at the age of 72. Reminiscing about her long and varied life, Rosa says she loved to help her father at their allotment on Ashley Hill and
she always enjoyed any kind of outdoor activity. Rosa and her husband were very good at ballroom dancing, and they won many competitions together. Nowadays, Rosa still likes to listen to music from the 30s and the 40s, which brings back many happy memories. Asked how she feels about reaching the age of 100, Rosa said: “If you eat well and have plenty of fresh air, you will be healthy. Mother had many children, but I am the only one left now. I thank my mother and father for reaching this age.”
Send us your news!
July/August magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 24th June
To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400