Stoke Gifford Journal, March/April 2021

Delivered FREE to 5,000 homes in Stoke Gifford & Little Stoke March/April 2021 • Issue 21

POLICE P20 | SCHOOLS P21 | DIRECTORY P30

WILD WEST SCOOT OUT

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Roll-out of e-scooter trial in the Stokes sparks confusion & controversy

PLUS , IN YOUR 32-PAGE STOKE GIFFORD MAGAZINE

Pages 4 & 5

Gipsy Patch Lane Bridge

Drainage issue causing concern

Stoke Gifford District Centre

P12-P13

Revised plans submitted

l How lockdowns 2 & 3 played out in the Stokes l Permission refused for new access into Parkway Tavern site l Work starts on 327-home development on land east of Stoke Gifford l Scouts’ End-to-End walk raises funds for homeless charity l Latest news from Stoke Gifford Parish Council l Updates from South Gloucestershire Council l Vehicle crime on the rise in Stoke Gifford l School’s breakfast club crowned ‘best in the South West’ l Little Stoke fly-tip costs culprit almost £3,000 l Little Stoke Scouts ready for a post-Covid restart

P28-29

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March/April 2021

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How lockdowns 2 & 3 played out in the Stokes Contact Us Editor: Stephen Horton info@stokegiffordjournal.co.uk 01454 300 400 83 Snowberry Close Bradley Stoke Bristol BS32 8GB

Find us on Facebook: StokeGiffordJournal Follow us on Twitter: @TheSGJournal

About the Stoke Gifford Journal The Stoke Gifford Journal magazine is published by North Bristol Press, a trading name of Snowberry Media Ltd; company number 8451178 (registered in England and Wales); registered office: 33 The Courtyard, Woodlands, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 4NQ. Our other publications include the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine and website, the Patchway Journal website and the Filton Journal website.

North Bristol Press is independent of any other media company or network operating in the Bristol area.

We accept no responsibility for anything stated by advertisers, who are themselves responsible for complying with all relevant legislation.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or article author. © North Bristol Press 2021. Content published in our magazines or on our websites may not be reproduced in any form without our express written permission.

Have your say: Reader letters Do you have strong views about something that’s happening in or around Stoke Gifford?

Want to pass comment on something you’ve read in the Journal or another local publication?

Send your letter to letters@stokegiffordjournal.co.uk or post it to: Reader Letters, Stoke Gifford Journal, 83 Snowberry Close, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 8GB Please include a phone number, in case we need to contact you.

Our next issue: May 2021

• Advertising copy deadline: Friday 16th April • Article copy deadline: Monday 19th April • The magazine will be distributed from Saturday 1st May Subject to change due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Please check www.stokegiffordjournal.co.uk/magazine for latest information.

T

he ongoing coronavirus crisis means it’s been a while since we’ve been able to distribute a magazine, so we thought we’d run through a brief timeline of what’s happened in the meantime!

The second national lockdown began on 5th November, just days before our November/ December magazines were delivered. On coming out of lockdown on 2nd December, South Gloucestershire and neighbouring Bristol were placed in Tier 3 (Very High alert).

The first weeks of December saw worrying developments in Bradley Stoke with the 7-day infection rate in the town peaking at around 600 per 100,000 – the highest in the West of England at the time and well above the national average.

Bradley Stoke’s Wheatfield Primary School experienced what is thought to be one of the worst outbreaks seen anywhere is South Gloucestershire with 61 cases among pupils and staff on Friday 14th December. With the situation deteriorating further over the following weekend, the school decided to close for the remainder of the term.

There was disappointment on 19th December when the government decreed that South Gloucestershire must remain in Tier 3, despite neighbouring Bristol being dropped down

Pandemic timeline 5th November 2020 Start of 2nd national lockdown 2nd December 2020 Three-tier system introduced 8th December 2020 First vaccination in the UK 14th December 2020 61 virus cases recorded at one Bradley Stoke primary school 18th December 2020 Bradley Stoke’s virus rate is the highest in the West of England at almost 600 cases per 1,000 19th December 2020 Government decrees that South Glos must remain in Tier 3 5th January 2021 Start of 3rd national lockdown 7th January 2021 First vaccinations given at a GP hub in the Stokes 18th January 2021 South Glos Council opens a community rapid testing unit at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre 22nd February 2021 Prime minister announces roadmap for relaxing restrictions 1st March 2021 Community surge testing begins for residents of five postcode sectors in the Stokes 8th March 2021 Primary school pupils resume school-based learning 15th March 2021 All secondary school students expected to be back at school

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News

L-r: Vaccination centre at Concord Medical Centre; Rapid testing centre at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre; Surge testing drive/walk-in site at Parkway North P&R.

to Tier 2. However, this soon locally (out of just six in the UK), became academic as the country leading to the introduction of was forced into a third lockdown community surge testing. from 5th January.

News of the first vaccine doses Schooling in lockdown being given at Concord Medical The Olympus Academy Trust Centre in Little Stoke on 8th has kindly provided a few words January provided some welcome about how it has supported cheer as did the announcement learners and their families of a roadmap out of lockdown on during these difficult times…

22nd February.

Since the first lockdown However, our area found in March 2020, the Trust itself unexpectedly thrust into and school staff have worked the national spotlight on 28th tirelessly across all nine primary February when it was announced and secondary schools to provide that two cases of the Brazilian education in school in a safe WB Essentials 15:56 Page 1 (P.1) mutant hadAW.qxp_Layout been identified 1 09/02/2021 environment for vulnerable

children, those with a care plan and children of key workers.

On average across all schools, attendance for the current (third) lockdown has been recorded at around 700 learners (just over 10 percent of total roll), but significantly more in primary than secondary, each day.

To support children’s learning at home, the Trust bought 160 Kindles for primary schools to issue for home use and provided at least 300 laptops for home use by secondary school students.

The Department for Education provided a further 400 laptops

(with another 160+ on the way) for schools to issue for home use as well.

The Trust also provided 50 families with internet access or additional data allowances.

Trust CEO Dave Baker said: “It has been a remarkable effort to support every family in need of devices or internet access that we knew about. Participation levels have been high and where lack of access and/or engagement at home was too difficult to overcome, learners were provided with places in school to be able to be supported with their learning.”

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March/April 2021

News

Roll-out of e-scooter trial in the Stokes sparks confusion and controversy

R

esidents of the Stokes are now able to hire ‘hop-on, hop-off’ e-scooters after a trial scheme established in Bristol city centre in October 2020 was expanded to cover Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Filton.

Clusters of coral-coloured e-scooters began appearing at MetroBus stops and other key locations in the area on Friday 12th February 2021.

The first few weeks of the scheme have seen significant numbers of people hiring the scooters but also a steady flow of (mostly) negative comments on social media. There have also been critical comments from local councillors peeved at not being consulted prior to the start of the trial.

Concerns raised have related to under-age riding, anti-social and dangerous riding, inconsiderate parking, confusion over where the e-scooters are permitted to be ridden and the clarity of hire charges and penalties.

As previously reported, the scheme forms part of a government initiative to support

a ‘green’ restart of local travel and help mitigate reduced public transport capacity during the coronavirus emergency. It is being led locally by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) which has signed a deal with e-scooter provider Voi Technology Ltd, Europe’s fastest growing micro-mobility operator.

The trial’s expansion has seen the number of scooters available increased to 400 in Bristol and 200 in South Gloucestershire.

The trial e-scooters can be rented by anyone over 18 with a full or provisional driving licence. Within the designated geographical area the vehicles may be used on roads, cycle lanes and designated cycle paths (including shared-use paths) but not on regular pavements.

In line with the Department for Transport’s guidance, Weca recommends wearing a cycle helmet when using an e-scooter, but their use is not mandatory.

Hiring a scooter on a casual basis costs 99p to unlock the vehicle and thereafter 14p per minute. There are also a variety of

subscriptions available, including a day pass for £4.99 and a monthly pass for £34.99.

With these passes, the first 45 minutes of every ride are free (anything beyond this is charged).

Third-party insurance cover is included within the hire charge.

To hire an e-scooter, users need to first download the ‘VOI Scooters: Get Magic Wheels’ app onto their smartphone, register with the service and add a payment method (credit/debit card or Paypal). They can then locate an available e-scooter using the map function within the app.

Once at the e-scooter’s location, the hirer uses the smartphone app to scan the QR code on the vehicle’s handlebars or footpad to ‘unlock’ it and commence the hire period.

The Voi e-scooters use geofencing technology to limit access to some places, such as parks, nature reserves and play areas. Geofencing uses GPS technology to restrict use or limit the speed of e-scooters within geographically defined zones.

The maximum speed achieved

by the scooters is between 10 and 15.5mph (the legal maximum).

At the end of a ride, the e-scooter must be ‘parked’ in one of the approved ‘parking spots’ shown on the map within the smartphone app. Although these spots are described in the app as a “good” place to park (suggesting that other places might also be acceptable), within the Weca trial area parking at these spots is mandatory and users are unable to end their hire at other locations.

Riders are required to take a photo of their scooter as part of the hire-termination process and are warned that “improper” parking may result in a £25 fine.

Notwithstanding these rules and procedures, social media is awash with complaints about “abandoned”, “dumped” and inconsiderately parked e-scooters. Investigation by the Journal suggests that e-scooters abandoned far away from the mandatory parking spots are likely to be a consequence of the vehicle running out of power (i.e. low battery level).

Safety measures to protect riders against Covid-19 include equipping all handlebars with anti-bacterial tape and ensuring the vehicles are regularly disinfected.

Personal e-scooters, outside of the trial, remain illegal except when used on private land with the permission of the landowner.

How to report issues Voi’s support channels for the general public to report incorrectly parked scooters or for any other questions or concerns are: e: support@voiapp.io t: 0800 376 8179 w: voiscooters.com/report/uk General feedback about the Weca trial should be directed to: escootertrial@ westofengland-ca.gov.uk

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News Readers’ comments on the Journal’s Facebook page RB: I’ve only seen children using them on the pavement, too young to have a licence, seen dads passing them over to their kids to use and leave them to it. Like the idea, but assuming all people are responsible is a mistake.

AD: Dreadful idea. These are being trialled in the wrong area, they won’t stop anyone driving, and the only people I’ve seen using them are young people who are enjoying the ‘gadget’ syndrome. They are an eyesore, inappropriately left anywhere, and are not needed.

CO: They are located by bus stops, the leisure centre and Willow Brook etc. If you get off a bus and use one to get home, who returns it?

MS: Used these a few times now here and abroad, they’re great for short journeys where using the car doesn’t seem worth it (like for driving less than a mile etc.), definitely worth it.

Comments made by councillors on Bradley Stoke Town Council’s Planning Committee (from draft minutes of February meeting) • There was no consultation with the town council before the scooters were installed. The first that was known, was when social media posts were seen once the scooters had arrived. If councillors had been consulted before the scooters were introduced, suitable locations for the scooters could have been identified.

• Scooters are being left/abandoned by people in unsuitable/dangerous locations which are obstructing public footpaths/pavements causing hazards to footpath users.

• Proper parking bays/cycle racks need to be installed for the scooters • All scooters need to be collected at night and relocated to the correct places. This is not necessarily happening at the moment.

• Scooters should only be used on shared-use paths (not pavements) and on the roads – this is not happening. There is clear evidence of them being used on pavements and people observed scooting down the middle of roads, sometimes with more than one individual on a scooter.

Photo tweeted by Neil Curry (@NeilSKN) on the second day of the trial: “@voitechnology your scooters have been left in a dangerous spot by your employees in Bradley Stoke on Baileys Court Road. On Fri 12th there was one scooter today (13th) there are all these blocking the pathway preventing mobility scooter and pram users.”

Voi’s reply: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention and I deeply apologize on the behalf of our hunters. I’ve just reported these scooters to the responsible team and they’ll be taken care of as soon as possible.”

• No enforcement of usage is being carried out – if this scheme is to continue, Weca/SGC need to fund the local police to be able to address this issue. Apparently, police do have concerns about the usage, but are apparently not in a position to be able to act on these concerns.

• The introduction of the scooters is ill-timed given the current Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions in place for everyone.

Enforcement, incident reporting and agreed actions All Voi e-scooters have number plates displaying a four-character registration mark. As part of its operating licence, Voi has committed to deploying ‘ambassadors’ on the streets to enforce safe behaviour. The ambassadors are required to work with the police to restrict or ban non-compliant users.

When reporting incidents (see contact details on facing page), members of the public are requested to include the registration mark and ideally provide photographic evidence.

Following a videoconference called by South Gloucestershire Council on 25th February to address concerns raised during the first days of the trial, the following actions were agreed: • The travelwest.info and Voi websites should be improved

to make organisational contact details more prominent and facilitate better triaging of comments and feedback to the relevant organisation.

• A mechanism to upload photos and videos should be provided • Better communication within the community regarding future expansion/changes • Discussions with Voi to improve parking compliance through enhanced incentives (in-app and on-street) • Discussions between Voi and South Gloucestershire Council to trial on-street markings to improve parking compliance • Increased ambassador presence in Cheswick Village, Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford.

• Ongoing liaison with Avon and Somerset Police about possible increased activity in the area

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March/April 2021

News

C

ouncillors sitting on South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) Development Management Committee have refused planning permission for the creation of a new vehicular access point directly off Hatchet Road into the site of the former Co-operative food store near Parkway Station.

The decision was made despite the council’s professional planning officers recommending that the application be approved.

Detail from a drawing showing the proposed new site access point The applicant, Danolly Limited, had withdrawn a the results of a formal desktop access from Hatchet Road is previous application for a similar road safety audit and makes “imperative to facilitate the scheme in July 2020 after SGC’s use of data from a traffic survey ongoing occupation of the site for transportation development conducted in February 2017 in retail uses”. control department raised an connection with the planning Fears that queuing traffic on objection grounded on five key application for the Gipsy Patch Hatchet Road might restrict concerns.

Lane bridge replacement project. drivers from being able to make A revised planning application The report repeats a claim right turn manoeuvres into and was submitted in October 2020, made in the first application out of the site were countered accompanied by a new technical that a “lack of direct vehicular by reference to traffic modelling report in which the applicant access from Hatchet Road” was data showing that the impact responds to the concerns the primary reason for the Co-op on journey times along Hatchet previously raised by the council’s choosing not to extend its lease Road would be negligible. transport officers. in January 2020. It also claims The positioning of ‘no Winter BSJ ad.qxp_Layout 1 26/10/2020 16:24 of Page 1 vehicular The technical report includes that delivery direct deliveries’ signage at the new site

A HAPPY RETIREMENT IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER

access would avoid large vehicles having to make sharp turns in a constrained space immediately after entering the site.

Concerns that two vehicles might struggle to pass / manoeuvre through the new junction, potentially impacting traffic flow on Hatchet Road, were countered by the submission of tracking plans, The placement of a speed bump across the width of the new access would reduce vehicle speeds entering the site, thereby addressing concerns about the safety of pedestrians walking within the site car park.

Fears that the proposed new junction might create a short-cut for vehicles travelling between Hatchet Lane and Hatchet Road would be addressed by positioning ‘deliveries only’ signage at the Hatchet Lane access.

Responding to the revised application, the council’s transport officers noted that the access layout had been “subject to a modest rearrangement” but

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info@stokegiffordjournal.co.uk Advertisement

Permission refused for new access into Parkway Tavern site

The former Co-operative food store on Hatchet Road, Stoke Gifford Continued from facing page

added that they considered it to be “broadly the same”. However, they conceded that the results of the applicant’s Road Safety Audit suggests that their original concerns were unfounded, meaning they could no longer object on road safety grounds.

Following publication of the recommended decision, Stoke Gifford councillor Ernie Brown invoked the ‘call in’ mechanism to force determination of the application by a committee of councillors.

Several speakers at the ensuing committee meeting contested the claim that poor vehicular access was the reason why the Co-op closed. Rather, it was due to the store’s inferior product range and high prices. Other speakers stated that the two existing vehicular access points are sufficient and that improving pedestrian access was more likely to have a positive effect.

With many students walking to and from school and college along Hatchet Road, and other pedestrians heading to and from bus stops, concerns were expressed about the increased risk of accidents.

Local councillors pointed out that with a new MetroBus service due to be introduced along Hatchet Road, it is imperative that additional impediments to

traffic flow are avoided.

Cllr Ernie Brown drew attention to the fact that within the space of 100m on Hatchet Road there are two sets of traffic light crossings, two roundabouts and two bus stops (of which one is a MetroBus stop), with a further mini roundabout 30m away and restrictions under Parkway Bridge.

His comments found support from Cllr Brian Hopkinson, who asked: “How much more can you pack into a few hundred yards?”

Following a lengthy discussion, councillors on the committee voted 7:0 to refuse permission.

There were two abstentions.

The formal reasons for refusal were agreed as: “Notwithstanding the submitted road safety audit, the proposed development would result in a severe highway safety impact due to the creation of a new access and box junction on a busy classified road, in close proximity to a bus stop and pedestrian crossing to the detriment of visibility, traffic flows, pedestrian safety and would encourage the use of the car park as an informal route between Hatchet Lane and Hatchet Road.”

The applicant has the option of appealing the decision within 12 weeks. An invitation to provide a comment for inclusion in this article was declined.

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Stop furlough cliff edge says Labour's Dan Norris New analysis estimates that 6,058 people in the Filton and Bradley Stoke are still furloughed by their employer.

Labour Metro Mayor candidate Dan Norris is calling for a plan to ensure these jobs don’t fall off an economic cliff-edge when furlough ends in April.

The former local MP said: We need urgent reform to make furlough smarter, plus training to help workers improve their skills."

If elected as Metro Mayor, Mr Norris will implement his plan for jobs including bringing 15,000 new green jobs to the area.

Dan Norris's plan to vote safely by post in May's elections

No one knows what the pandemic will look like by the time of the elections for Metro Mayor in May. Will people be asked to take their own pens to vote? What you can do right now is apply to vote by post by visiting www.labour.postalvote.org.uk and we will send you an application form.

Then you can make your local postbox into the ballot box.

Promoted by Paul Tucker on behalf of Dan Norris both at 136a Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BG

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www.stokegiffordjournal.co.uk Outline of the Wainhomes land, to the north-west of the site

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March/April 2021

News

Work starts on 327-home development on land just east of Stoke Gifford

S

treams of soil-laden tipper trucks passing through Bradley Stoke and construction activity at Parkway North Roundabout at the northern end of the Stoke Gifford By-Pass are signs that work has now begun in earnest on a 327-home development site on the borders of Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford.

The site, which is being marketed under the name ‘Mulgrove Farm Village’, lies south of the Winterbourne Road (i.e. on the opposite side to the Winter Stream Farm pub restaurant) and north of the main railway line.

It forms part of the planned East of Harry Stoke New Neighbourhood where a total of 2,000 homes are to be built over the next seven or more years.

The current work is being carried out by Churngold on behalf of Wainhomes Severn Valley, who last year acquired part of the site from Crest Nicholson in a £38 million deal.

The remainder of the site, around the now demolished Mulgrove Farm buildings, is in the ownership of South Gloucestershire Council.

In November 2018, Crest Nicholson secured full permission for a site-wide earthworks strategy and the construction of 150 homes on its part of the site. Outline permission was also granted for 177 homes on the council-owned

Work at Parkway North Roundabout

land, along with a primary school and nursery.

The council recently revealed that it is to explore the possibility of delivering the other 177 homes on the site via a joint venture with another developer.

As the land on the site consists of a domed-shaped hill, extensive earthworks are required to create a level plateau to enable development. These earthworks comprise levelling the site at its highest point and infilling areas on the lower slopes, a process which requires the excavation of 200,000 cubic metres of material.

Councillors who approved the 2018 planning application were told that all excavated material would be relocated on site, with “no requirement to import or export material“. However, new site owner Wainhomes later submitted revised plans as part of the ‘discharge of conditions’ process, indicating a need to transport 20,000 cubic metres of earth off site. Council officers deemed the new plans acceptable after “assessing them against the original reasons for imposing conditions, as well as planning policy and guidance”.

The work that has started in recent weeks at Parkway North is to create a new arm off the roundabout to form one of two permanent access roads into the development. The other access point will be on Old Gloucester Road.

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East of Harry Stoke New Neighbourhood Wainhomes / South Glos Council land north of the railway line Approved planning application PT16/4928/O

News

Winterbourne Road

Great Stoke (Rabbit) Roundabout

North

O ld

Blue Bridge

G lo d oa

R ter es uc

Hybrid planning application for the demolition of farmhouse and agricultural buildings and erection of 327 dwellings with a primary school and nursery; along with site access/spine road, car parking, public open space, landscaping, drainage infrastructure and associated infrastructure; of which full permission is sought (with no matters reserved) for a site wide earthworks strategy and drainage infrastructure together with 150 no. dwellings (of the 327 total) and associated landscaping, layout, infrastructure and access; and outline permission is sought for the erection of 177 dwellings, primary school and nursery (Use Class D1) with access to be determined and all other matters reserved.

Parkway North Roundabout

Vehicular access to the site will be from a new arm off Parkway North Roundabout in the west, and via a new junction on Old Gloucester Road, 90m south of its junction with Winterbourne Road in the east.

SGTL

The proposed new primary school and associated playing fields lie in the centre of the site, due east of Parkway North Roundabout.

Railway Line

Pending planning application P20/03681/F Erection of 150 no. dwellings, associated landscaping, infrastructure and vehicular access

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Railway Line

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March/April 2021

News OSR Scouts’ virtual End-to-End walk raises funds for homeless charity

By Andrew Phelps, Scout troop leader n the weekend of 13th/14th February, the Scouts of the Old School Rooms troop in Stoke Gifford slept rough – in their own gardens due to lockdown – in minus 3 degrees centigrade temperatures, with just their cardboard shelters for protection.

Why on earth would they do that? I hear you all ask!

Earlier in the week, the Scouts had been joined by a trustee from the Julian Trust who talked about homelessness, the Trust and what it’s like to be a volunteer for the charity. Gary did a great talk and the Scouts, wanting to experience what it’s like sleeping rough, organised the following weekend’s activity.

It really was a challenge due to the temperatures, emphasised by the fact that several homeless charities were encouraging rough sleepers to get inside over the weekend for safety. The Scouts however wanted to persevere, and with parents keeping a close eye on them (and the weather), the event continued full steam ahead.

It’s amazing how warm and well insulated it was in the cardboard bivouacs!

We all made it through the night and when morning came everyone went indoors for a warm meal and hot drinks.

Having experienced what it’s like to sleep outside, even if for only one night of the year, the Scouts wanted to go further and raise some money to supply the Julian Trust and maybe other charities with much-needed clothing for their clients (boxer shorts and socks are always needed). So we organised a virtual walk from Lands End to John O’Groats (874 miles), by combining all our daily exercise sessions, and set up a crowdfunding page.

I’m pleased to report that we completed our challenge on 7th

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One brave Scout beds down for the night in a cardboard bivouac

March, having collectively walked 891 miles in 16 days (OK, we may have walked into the sea a bit!).

If you would like to make a donation, please visit our crowdfunding page at www. crowdfunder.co.uk/osr-scouts To read more about how we got on, search for ‘OSR Scouts Virtual Challenge’ on Facebook.

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Advertising

In Brief

Abacus: “Expanding our horizons through the use of technology”

Resuming outdoor bowls in Bradley Stoke

ABACUS PRE-SCHOOL continues to provide quality childcare regardless of the national pandemic.

The team are delighted to share some photos to highlight how both our staff and children are adapting to changes and are enhancing our development through the use of new technology. Both our sites at Baileys Court and Meadowbrook have been fitted with giant interactive boards.

The children have loved investigating all the different ways this technology can be utilised! Firstly, our families have kindly uploaded photos of special occasions via an app called Tapestry. (Such as recent snow adventures). We were then able to share these pictures using the large screens. This helped to promote the children’s communication skills and selfconfidence as they showed them to their friends.

Lots of fun has been had accessing physical activities such as yoga and moving to music. We have also been able to participate through Lockdown 3 in live lessons provided by Baby Ballet and live workout sessions with Joe Wicks. Watching Chinese New Year dragon dances was a very insightful start to our own celebrations before we proceeded to make masks and have our own procession!

Our children have eagerly taken part in maths games, drawing on the screens and have been keen to find answers to their own questions. Thoughts such as “What does a unicorn look like?” and “How is a rainbow made?” have started lots of investigations to find answers on the internet, with adult support.

We are now filling up our September places and would love to hear from you if you are interested in joining us. Please call 01454 867285. We also have sites at Stoke Gifford and Mangotsfield which also offer amazing opportunities. We hope to see you soon.

Please see our advert below!

The Abacus Team

From Arthur Allan, Bradley Stoke Bowls Club Working on the assumption that the government’s roadmap out of the coronavirus lockdown will be achieved, Bowls England is consulting with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport on the guidelines for resuming bowls.

If everything goes to plan, we already know that, from 21st June, all restrictions will end in the UK, so hopefully bowls would be able to resume as normal after that date.

The question is what restrictions will be in place for outdoor bowling from 29th March up to 21st June? The club has already arranged a full season of fixtures in the hope that bowling could resume as normal or in a Covid-safe way from around mid-April.

For further updates and membership details, visit www. bradleystokebowls.com or search for ‘Bradley Stoke Bowls Club’ on Facebook.

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March/April 2021

News

Bridge reopening could be further delayed as drainage pumps deemed inadequate

T

he projected date for reopening the road under the new railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane looks likely to be further delayed after engineers decided a larger pumping station will be required to prevent flooding.

The road under the bridge has been fully closed since March 2020, when it was anticipated that it would reopen within eight months. However, the coronavirus crisis forced the installation of the new preconstructed concrete bridge to be postponed until October 2020, leading to the projected road reopening date being pushed back to July 2021.

Network Rail and its contractor Alun Griffiths Ltd are currently carrying out works to lower the road below the new railway bridge, as well as installing an improved drainage system, including a new pumping station.

The pumping station is needed to ensure that the lowered highway under the bridge does not flood.

The highway lowering is necessary to meet national design standards that must be complied with whenever a new bridge is built and will permit double decker buses to pass under the bridge.

Explaining the issues surrounding the pumping station capacity, council spokesperson said: “Resolving the historic

Pedestrian & cyclist route under the new bridge in early March 2021

issues with flooding on Gipsy Patch Lane is one of the benefits of the CPME. The improved drainage system will make the road more flood resilient in the future and make the site more able to cope with extreme weather causing less disruption to all users.”

“Following ongoing survey and investigations, a larger pumping station and drainage system than previously envisaged is now required to help future-proof this key stretch of road from flooding.”

“We are working closely with Network Rail and its contractor to understand the implications of these changes to the new drainage system and pumping station and how they may impact on the project’s programme and the partial reopening of Gipsy

Patch Lane in the summer.”

“We will update the community when we have more information. These changes are not expected to cause any delay to the overall completion of the CPME project.”

Readers will recall that last October’s bridge move didn’t exactly run to plan, with the new bridge getting stuck tens of metres short of its intended position. It was eventually freed by a fleet of heavy haulage units.

The railway had to remain closed for two weeks longer than originally planned, incurring penalty charges thought to run into millions of pounds.

In response to an enquiry from the Journal, council spokesperson said: “A ‘lessons learnt’ review has been completed by Network Rail

with recommendations still being worked through. The primary cause of the incident was identified as the failure of the temporary roadway [over which the new bridge was transported].”

The spokesperson added: “The full and final cost is still being finalised. The extra cost will fall to Network Rail to manage and resolve as the manager of these works. It is the council’s view that the authority will not be liable for the additional costs and penalties arising from the delay experienced during the bridge installation.”

A route under the new bridge for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists was reopened on 10th December 2020. This initially ran close to the north wall of the bridge but was realigned into the centre in late January (see photo).

Elsewhere on Gipsy Patch Lane, the controversial felling of 20 mature trees on the south side of the road, necessary to create space for a new bus lane, was carried out in the week commencing 25th January. In mitigation, the CPME project has already provided funding for 53 trees of various species to be planted along Winterbourne Road and Orpheus Avenue and there are proposals to eventually plant 24 new trees along Gipsy Patch Lane.

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News A further restriction on traffic flow along Gipsy Patch Lane came into force on Monday 8th March with the closure of a section of the westbound carriageway just west of the Little Stoke Lane junction.

A signed diversion route for westbound traffic is available via Little Stoke Lane, Kingsway, and Gifford Crescent (see map, right).

Additionally, the eastbound carriageway on Gipsy Patch Lane at the same location has been reduced to a single lane.

The carriageway and lane closures, which are expected to last for approximately eight weeks, are needed as part of work to upgrade two existing bus stops to MetroBus specification.

Two further bus stops which serve Pegasus Park and RollsRoyce will be upgraded later in the CPME construction programme as part of works to the west of the railway bridge.

● SGC project webpage:

southglos.gov.uk/CPmetrobus

One of 20 trees felled

Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension Construction programme (Showing Gipsy Patch Lane only)

Traffic management during bus stop works

2021 AprJun

JulSep

2022 OctDec

JanMar

AprJun

Gipsy Patch Lane bridge & associated road works Road works at bridge, including road lowering Gipsy Patch Lane east of bridge (Little Stoke side) MetroBus stops Road widening Gipsy Patch Lane west of bridge (Rolls-Royce side) MetroBus stops Road widening

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JulSep

OctDec

WE HAVE a new street food stall trading with us in Little Stoke Park every Wednesday.

Nicky’s Street Food Hub offers Caribbean, Thai & Indian cuisine between 10.30am and 4.30pm.

The food hub joins Bristol Meat Machine (12pm-7pm) and the fruit & veg stall (11am-6pm).

The new price list for Parish Council facilities from April 1st 2021 has been agreed by Council recently. The panel on the right shows the prices to hire indoor and outdoor facilities.

We have noticed an excessive increase in general waste and dog waste around the Parish throughout the period of the pandemic and have been looking into locations of all general waste and dog bins. The Parish have added a few additional bins to areas identified as ‘hot spots’ and also replaced some very old (smaller) bins due to wear and tear. We hope this will help keep the Parish looking as litter free as possible as we come towards the end of the current lockdown and begin ‘normality’ where we hope to see more residents out and about enjoying our parks and recreational spaces.

We now have many local volunteers who are spending time litter picking along the highways, hedges and our parks and recreational spaces in the Parish. We find this invaluable as we all strive to improve on the upkeep and outlook of the Parish, and we thank all volunteers for contributing their precious time on this.

All play areas, parks and recreational spaces managed and maintained by the Parish Council remain open through lockdown, following government guidelines.

NEW HIRE CHARGES 3G pitch £35 for one session (55 mins) £30 per session for ten or more sessions Football £75 Adult regular £80 County pitch £40 Junior £30 9x9 £20 Mini Community hall Large hall £64 for 3 hours + £20 every hour after £22.50 per hour Half hall £35 for 3 hours £11.25 per hour Meeting room £15 per hour £90 full day (8 hours) Nicky’s Street Food Hub (top) has joined existing traders Bristol Meat Machine and the fruit & veg stall in Little Stoke Park every Wednesday

Green Dog Walker Scheme The Parish Council has joined the Green Dog Walker Scheme, a friendly way to tackle dog fouling issues.

The idea is that responsible dog owners sign a pledge to say that they will clear up after their dogs and will carry spare bags with them which they will offer to anyone they see not clearing up. They will wear a very distinct arm band to identify them as a Green Dog Walker. This is a non-confrontational friendly way to approach those who haven’t cleared up after their dog.

If you see someone wearing the Green Dog Walkers armband, it means that they have “Taken the Pledge” to: • Always clean up after their dog • Carry extra dog waste bags

FORTHCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS All meetings to take place at 7pm unless stated but may be subject to change. Please refer to noticeboards and Parish Council website.

Café £22.50 per hour

Report an incident Roger Poole, the South Gloucestershire Council, Education and Enforcement Officer, is keen to receive reports of incidents of dog fouling. These can be reported anonymously.

All reports will be treated confidentially.

Roger can be contacted by the following methods: • roger.poole@southglos.gov.uk • Phone: 01454 868000 • Text: 07900 703402 • Gladly give you a bag for your dog – just ask Local residents can contact the Parish Council office or pop in to see staff for more information and to pick up an armband and/ or dog waste bags.

Information needed: • Location, time, day, date • Identity or address of dog walker (if known) • Description of walker • Description of dog • Any other intelligence

PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Tuesday 23rd March FULL COUNCIL: Tuesday 13th April RECREATION & LEISURE COMMITTEE: Tuesday 20th April PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Tuesday 27th April

Stoke Gifford Parish Council, Little Stoke Community Hall Little Stoke Lane, Little Stoke BS34 6HR t: 01454 865202 e: clerk@stokegifford.org.uk w: www.stokegifford.org.uk

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Council unveils recovery budget S

outh Gloucestershire Council has agreed a budget of more than £400million to deliver public services in the next financial year, focusing on helping people to recover from the pandemic and rise to meet the challenges of the future.

 Vital support The budget allows for vital support for residents hit hardest by Covid-19. It includes a £1million resilience funding package to widen the support net for those who had previously been ineligible; £102,000 “surge funding” for expanding welfare debt advice; more support for domestic violence victims, and a pay boost targeted at the lowest paid council staff.

VIEW FROM THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL, Cllr Toby Savage

 Adult social care The council tax rate will rise by 4.99 per cent, which includes three per cent to be focused on boosting adult social care services. As normal life returns, the pressure on adult social care services will continue. The remaining 1.99 per cent increase will go towards protecting wider services. This means the South Gloucestershire Council element of Council Tax for a Band D property for 2021/22 will be £1,620.39 – an extra £1.48 per week.

Welcome – We’re proud to partner with the Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford Journals, great local newspapers, for this special edition which brings you our latest news. Spring is on its way and hope is on the horizon. Last month, the Government announced its roadmap for how the country is to emerge from lockdown. This month our children and young people are back in school.

Our new ‘Recover and Rise’ budget is designed to help you get back on your feet too, while prudently managing our finances on your behalf. We know the pandemic is particularly tough on children and young people.

To help them, we’re launching the next phase of our trail-blazing Recovery Curriculum, a new Youth Employment Hub and significantly increasing record investments in school buildings, including rebuilding Frenchay Primary School. The budget also triggers infrastructure projects to further improve local communities, including regeneration of Kingswood Town Centre, purchasing the Thornbury Hospital site to secure its future, and the completion of the Yate Park and Ride. We will also continue record investment in highways and improve how we get around the area.

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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Improving school standards remains the council’s top priority. Following last year’s launch of its trailblazing Recovery Curriculum, the budget includes a £1.2million investment to launch phase two. This phase will continue to help schoolchildren to catch up and support their general wellbeing.

The council’s capital investment into school buildings hits a new record with funding committed to upgrade and improve many schools and new primary school buildings in Winterbourne, Frenchay and Lyde Green which will be low carbon, reflecting the council’s climate emergency commitments.

 Boosting communities The budget includes investment in major projects such as purchasing the Thornbury Hospital site for plans for a brand-new healthcare facility for the town plus £25million regeneration plans for Kingswood Town Centre.

 Getting around The council will continue its record investment in the local highway network, with millions more to be invested in resurfacing roads and filling potholes. It is also supporting sustainable travel options and improving cycle and pedestrian routes.

 Platinum Jubilee To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the council has allocated £50,000 to prepare an activities programme across South Gloucestershire.

Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Employment Cllr Erica Williams at Courtney Primary School in Kingswood.

Successful local vaccination rollout Last month (February), saw the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area reach a major milestone, as all care homes had been offered the Covid-19 vaccination. As of 21 February, in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) area, nearly 250,000 people had received their first dose. That success continues. To keep up to date on the rollout, please visit the BNSSG Healthier Together’s website  bnssghealthiertogether.org.uk To find out if you are eligible and to book your vaccine appointment visit  www.nhs.uk/ coronavirus or call  119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.

PROTECTING WELLBEING Social distancing and self-isolating can be daunting for all of us so it’s really important that we look after our mental and physical health. The South Glos One You service for adults, offers advice and support to help keep well, covering a range of topics, from how to stay active at home, to maintaining mental health, tips on sleeping well, quitting smoking, healthy eating and getting enough to eat. The website is  oneyou.southglos.gov.uk or people can call  01454 865337.

The South Glos Mind You website  www.mindyou.org.uk has advice and information on mental health for young people and children and their parents and carers, including videos and webinars, and contact details of where to get more help.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adults and Housing, Cllr Ben Stokes visiting the Vaccination Clinic at West Walk Surgery in Yate.

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Getting around: Major project updates GETTING around in South Gloucestershire is set to be safer, quicker and greener, thanks to major projects which are currently underway. These include: Patchway Metrobus Extension: The bridge  Cribbs move, the heaviest ever bridge lift of its kind in the

UK, has now been completed as part of this project. Once the remaining works are finalised, the metrobus route will travel through the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood, on the former airfield site, and link with Highwood Road at the San Andreas roundabout, next to the Mall at Cribbs Causeway

Road roundabout: Work is underway on  Wraxall South Gloucestershire’s first through-about (a

roundabout with lanes of traffic through the middle). The improvements will reduce traffic congestion and increase capacity at the busy junction on the A4174 Avon Ring Road

Park and Ride site: Opening later this year, the  Yate £3.5million park and ride on Badminton Road will

help reduce traffic by encouraging people to use other travel options such as public transport, cycling or car sharing. It will include 192 parking spaces, 38 electric vehicle (EV) charge points, and secure cycle storage for 46 bicycles. Existing bus routes and services, ahead of the expansion of metrobus services to the area, will take passengers into Bristol and Yate

vehicle charging hub at the Bristol and Bath  Electric Science Park in Emersons Green: the council has

installed a 12-charging bay hub complete with a solar canopy, with six EV charge points, as part of the Revive vehicle charging network

between Lyde Green and Emersons Green:  Links A £6.5million project to improve pedestrian and cycling

routes between Emersons Green and Lyde Green

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure, Cllr Steve Reade next to the new electric vehicle charging hub at Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green

resilience: The Government has awarded  Flood £3.2million to help improve the drainage of roads

in South Gloucestershire. The council is also contributing a further £500,000 to the scheme from existing maintenance budgets

E-scooters: Following the successful launch of the West of England e-scooter trial, the trial area for the ‘hop-on hop-off’ rental e-scooters is expanding to include areas such as Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Filton in South Gloucestershire.

FREE SUPPORT FOR SOUTH GLOS BUSINESSES Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Gloucestershire, and residents considering setting up their own business, can get up to 12 hours of free business support from the South Gloucestershire Business Support Service.

It is offering group webinars, and one-to-one business coaching (subject to assessment and availability). The publicly funded programme forms part of Universal Business Support – a West of England Combined Authority initiative, delivered in partnership with the council.

Webinars cover topics such as starting and planning a business, business strategy, digital marketing, social media, finance and more. All the webinars can be viewed on this webpage:  www.coolventures.co.uk/training

FINANCIAL SUPPORT Many people are struggling financially at the moment. We have a range of financial support and welfare grants for those in immediate need of help. For support on looking at which options are available, please book an appointment to speak to one of the South Glos One Stop Shop customer advisors  www.southglos.gov.uk/contactus or call  01454 868009.

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 Think NHS 111 first TAKE PART Households across South Gloucestershire will be asked to take part in Census 2021 this month. Census day is Sunday 21 March, it is a once-in-adecade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales.

Understanding the needs of the nation helps everyone from central Government to organisations, such as councils and health authorities, plan and fund public services across England and Wales. Census outputs inform where billions of pounds of public funding are spent on services such as transport, education and health.

Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

 Land purchased for new Thornbury healthcare facility South Gloucestershire Council is to purchase the Thornbury Hospital site to support the development of new healthcare facilities.

In a landmark agreement with North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), South Gloucestershire Council will secure the land to advance long term proposals to deliver improved GP primary care,

outpatient and social care services for Thornbury. This follows a £13.3 million bid to Government for the redevelopment of the site. It will also provide a new home for the town’s local GP practices, enhanced mental health support, social care and NHS beds and a proactive ‘frailty hub’ which would focus on the elderly community receiving care in their own homes.

Keep in touch with the latest South Glos news Sign up now for our weekly update on the latest Covid-19 news for the local area and council service updates:  www.southglos.gov.uk/covid19newsletter If you are not online and would like a printed copy, please call us on  01454 868009

Businesses can also sign up for weekly updates on Covid-19, support grants, and other local resources and updates:  www.southglos.gov.uk/covid19businessupdates www.southglos.gov.uk/coronavirus

IF you have an urgent but non-lifethreatening medical need, make sure you use NHS 111 first rather than going straight to A&E. NHS 111 will help you right away. If you need urgent care, the NHS can book you in to be seen quickly and safely at an appropriate local service such as a minor injury unit or the out-ofhours GP. If you need an emergency ambulance, one can be dispatched immediately.

Clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists and paramedics, play an increasingly important role in NHS 111. In many cases clinicians in the service can assess patients and provide the advice you need over the phone without having to visit a physical service.

You should still dial  999 if you have a life-threatening illness or injury. Just think 111 first. When you think you need A&E, contact NHS  111 by phone or online.

 EU Settlement Scheme: REMINDER If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family members need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK. To be eligible, you need to have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020. The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021.

You can apply and find organisations that can help with your application on this website  www.gov.uk/settled-status-eucitizens-families

March/April 2021

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News

Covid won’t wilt Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal Charity urges supporters in the Stokes to spring into action

E

nd of life charity Marie Curie is calling on residents of the Stokes to support its flagship fundraising campaign, the Great Daffodil Appeal – which has reached its 35th anniversary this month – but has, for the first time, had to cancel all of its iconic public collections.

After an extremely difficult 12 months, the charity is facing a potential loss of over £3 million due to the cancelled collections, but it has a variety of creative ways that people in the Stokes can support the campaign this year, including donning their trainers and ‘stepping up for Marie Curie’ by walking or running in March.

All donations from the Great Daffodil Appeal will ensure that Marie Curie nurses can continue working on the frontline, providing end of life care in people’s homes throughout the South West.

Jane Marshall, Marie Curie volunteer group chairperson of The Five Stokes Fundraising Group, said: “The Great Daffodil Appeal is so important to the Marie Curie charity. Our fundraising group normally organises collections in the local area and each volunteer raises an average £80 from collecting. This amount would pay for four hours of vital nursing care.”

“This year we are unable to hold any of our collections so we have organised a JustGiving page where people can get involved,

donate and find out how we are raising money in other ways: www.justgiving.com/campaign/ MCFiveStokes” “Volunteers from our group are stepping up for Marie Curie in March by walking 10,000 steps every day in the month. You may even see one of us out in our yellow hat!”

“We will also be holding an online Facebook auction, so we’d love to hear from local businesses that are able to donate an item that can be included.”

“The 2nd Stoke Gifford Rainbows have kindly decorated the Stoke Gifford Toy Library for the Great Daffodil Appeal and volunteers have displays outside their homes. See if you can spot any! This year more than ever we need people’s support, so please spread the word.”

Alison Steadman, actor and Marie Curie ambassador, said: “I have seen first-hand the incredible difference Marie Curie makes and just how important their work is in caring for people with a terminal illness and their families. The loving care they gave my mum when she was dying is something that I’ll never forget. I don’t know how we would have managed as a family without the Marie Curie nurses and doctors and dread to think about what it would mean if they weren’t there for all the families that need them.”

“The work Marie Curie does is needed now more than ever

Far left: Volunteers from the Five Stokes Fundraising Group Left: Alison Steadman, actor and Marie Curie ambassador

as the Covid pandemic has had a big impact on their ability to fundraise. That is why I’m encouraging people across the whole of the UK to show their support in any way they can in March for this year’s Great Daffodil Appeal. Every donation means that when the time comes, Marie Curie can be there for people and their loved ones when they need it most.”

During the Great Daffodil Appeal, the first annual National

Day of Reflection will take place.

Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions of people have been bereaved. Join Marie Curie on 23rd March, the first anniversary of the start of the first UK lockdown, for a day to reflect on and commemorate this tragic loss of life.

For more information, please contact Jane on 07909 966367 or thefivestokesfundraisinggroup@ gmail.com, or visit www. mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil

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March/April 2021

Police

Vehicle crime on the rise in Stoke Gifford

P

olice are warning Stoke Gifford residents to make sure their cars and vans are locked when unattended following a spate of vehicle crime in the area.

The latest available crime statistics show that there were eight reported vehicle crime incidents within the Stoke Gifford beat area in December 2020, with a further 12 cases recorded in January 2021.

The December incidents took place on or near Hatchet Lane, on or near Kent Close (2), on or near Osborne Close, at or near the Mile Straight Sports & Social Club (2), at or near Sainsbury’s supermarket and on or near Swallows Court.

The January incidents were on (or near) Beaufort Crescent, Charles Avenue, Dighton Gate, Gatesby Mead (2), Kent Close, North Road, Westfield Lane and Whitley Mead (4).

Several CCTV clips posted on social media show two or three individuals walking along roads, usually around midnight, “trying the doors” of parked vehicles.

The new year has also seen the local police beat team delivering leaflets to hundreds of homes in the Ratcliffe Drive area and around the ‘royal estate’ (Sandringham Road etc.), warning of recent vehicle crime incidents and offering crime

prevention advice.

A neighbourhood watch circular issued on 5th January advised vehicle owners to ensure they “remove all valuables” and “consider taking additional security precautions”.

A police leaflet delivered on 31st January, refers to an incident in Ratcliffe Drive on the night of 29th January in which a vehicle was “broken into” via a side door and tools stolen.

Whilst many reports in the public domain speak of vehicles being “broken into”, all cases that the Journal has followed up have turned out to relate to vehicles that were almost certainly left unlocked – as there have been no signs of forced entry.

Rumours of key hacking being used in some of the incidents, a technique which allows thieves to emulate the signals emitted by an electronic key fob, have been played down by a police source.

The source added that victims may be reluctant to admit having left their vehicle unlocked as this potentially prevents them from making an insurance claim.

A police spokesperson said: “If you see someone behaving suspiciously around vehicles report it straight away. If you find you have such behaviour caught on dashcam, CCTV or smart doorbell footage, we want to hear from you.”

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March/April 2021

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Schools

School’s breakfast club crowned ‘best in the South West’ by Kellogg’s

A

school in Stoke Gifford has been judged to have the best club in the South West in the annual Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Awards.

Abbeywood Community School has received a cash prize of £1,000 to spend on its breakfast club as well as a special party pack for the students to celebrate in the coming months.

The Kellogg’s panel of judges selected winners based on the inspiring individuals and activities that transform the mornings of children across the UK and with so many amazing stories submitted, the competition was tough. Abbeywood Community School’s commitment to ensure every child has breakfast to start their day and their ability to adapt to regulations during the pandemic impressed the panel.

During the first national lockdown, on top of free school meal vouchers, the breakfast club team collected donations and created food packages which provided support for any family who needed it. In addition to this, the club stayed open throughout lockdown and school holidays to support vulnerable and key worker children.

The breakfast club highlighted the work of Lisa Bamford who worked tirelessly to ensure food parcels reached the most

vulnerable families during lockdown and continued this throughout the summer holidays.

Since the schools reopened in September, Lisa and the pastoral team created an appeal for food bank style donations which helped to create Christmas food parcels for students.

Sharon Beesley, assistant head at Abbeywood Community School said: “We are thrilled to have our breakfast club and the commitment of Mrs Bamford recognised by the Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Awards. We strive to ensure all our students have everything they need to prepare them to learn, including a healthy breakfast. We are so proud to share this award with our students, staff and wider community and can’t wait to be back together in school to celebrate.’’

Abbeywood Community School will put the winnings towards setting up a long-lasting outdoor breakfast provision that would be immediately Covid-safe.

Chris Silcock, VP and chief of Kellogg’s UK & Ireland, said: “I have had the opportunity to see the amazing work breakfast clubs do first hand. The pandemic has proven that now, more than ever, breakfast clubs are vital for so many families. They support working parents, offer a sense of

normality when it is needed most and provide the essential fuel children need to learn.”

“The Kellogg’s Breakfast Club awards provide a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the incredible and vital difference these clubs make across the UK.” This year, Kellogg’s is donating more money to support breakfast clubs than ever before. Along with their grants programmes which will provide funding for a minimum of 500 schools, Kellogg’s is pledging more investment – in cereal and money – to help the Magic Breakfast charity support 167,000 children every morning.

Abbeywood School’s Lisa Bamford holding products for a food parcel

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March/April 2021

Councillor Column

I

have always thought the running of the parish council should be treated the same as any business and it should not be a ‘given’ that council can rely on increasing the precept to offset any financial impact. We serve to ensure residents ‘get good value for money’.

Parish precept With the impact of the second lockdown we have seen zero revenue coming into council, however due to good fiscal control over the past ten months we have managed to overcome the financial loss and yet still keep the 2021/22 precept to a minimum increase of 2.6 percent, whilst some neighbouring councils will be considerably increasing theirs.

At the end of this financial year, even with the income shortage, we should still end up in the black.

Housing issues The increased number of houses in the area is causing a real concern with the lack of infrastructure. Developers should not be allowed to build new homes without providing more facilities such as schools, GP surgeries, transport and improved road structure, etc.. Stoke Gifford is overcrowded and yes, more houses are required, but not at any cost. This has been raised at the highest level within South Glos Council and with our MP. We may be a lone voice, but it is one which will certainly be heard.

Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are playing a major part in Cheswick and Stoke Park, being detrimental to the character

and amenity which would no longer function as a sustainable residential location and not respect the requirements for mixed and balanced communities. Off-street parking being a major concern.

The parish has approximately 179 large HMOs out of a total of approximately 400 in South Glos, Filton having approximately 146.

South Glos Council are currently in the process of reviewing their policies to understand the distribution, where and how communities may be experiencing harm and factors influencing HMOs. Consultation will conclude by the end of September.

Planning matters Your parish council recently played a significant part in overturning the South Glos planning officers’ recommendation for a new access directly off Hatchet Road into the Parkway Tavern site. This was achieved by challenging the applicant’s road safety report and providing technical recommendations contrary to the report. Your councillors will always support residents’ views.

Gipsy Patch Lane Stakeholder Liaison Group meetings continue on a regular basis. At the February meeting members pointed out the steepness of gradients leading to and from the new bridge.

The issue of flooding remains a concern and is being addressed by the project team which has decided to increase the number of pumps from two to three.

Parkway Bridge traffic restrictions will stay in place for the time being, but will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis. With

the schools closed and businesses not back to work, there are very few pedestrians/cyclists using the route and it is therefore difficult to judge what effect the restriction is having on social distancing and traffic. Once the pupils return to school and businesses slowly get back to work we should have a better understanding of the way forward. On a positive note, discussions between South Glos, Network Rail and the metro mayor for funding a parallel tunnel under the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists are progressing.

Youth provision Discussions are ongoing for the future of a youth provision in Little Stoke. Since taking over the Stokes Building from South Glos ten years ago, we have managed to keep cost to a break even level.

However, for the past three years this has not been the case due to the lack of hirers wanting to use the facilities and with escalating repair cost we have had to cut our losses and hand the building back to South Glos Property Services.

Talks are now in place with the Little Stoke Scout Group for the use of their facilities on two nights per week to provide a continuation of youth service in the area.

Facilities and maintenance The newly refurbished BMX track in Little Stoke Park, funding through the community infrastructure levy, is proving a great success and is used by a high number on a daily basis – a great asset for the community.

The parish council proposes to hold an event at the BMX track to

include music/refreshments and professional riders from the UK, which will be linked with an official opening for the facility once the Covid restrictions are lifted.

Tree felling has been taking place as a result of ash dieback. The parish has a legal responsibility to ensure the risk posed is kept within appropriate limits, particularly if they are next to a busy road or community grounds.

Council meetings During this time of lockdown and until further notice, all parish council meetings will be held on Zoom, on the second Tuesday of the month for full council and the fourth Tuesday of the month for planning applications, starting at 7pm. We always welcome more residents to have their say at parish council meetings – it is your precept we are spending and therefore only right we have your input.

Cllr Ernest Brown Chair of Stoke Gifford Parish Council and South Gloucestershire councillor for Stoke Gifford ward

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News

Long-service awards for Stoke Gifford leaders

By Marcus Booth wo Stoke Gifford Scout leaders have received awards for good and long service to Scouting Sue Baker, a Beaver Scout leader, and Michele Grattidge, a Scout and Explorer Scout leader, were presented with awards in December for their dedication and support to Scouting in Stoke Gifford.

Michele started as a parent helper at 1st Stoke Gifford Beavers in 1997, when her son Chris joined the colony. She soon went into uniform as an assistant Beaver leader and from there has been a Cub leader and then went on to be a Scout leader with the 1st Stoke Gifford School Scouts, based at St Michael’s Primary School.

In addition, she was a founding member of the Solar Explorer unit in 2007 and was an assistant Explorer leader until 2020.

She is a trained Duke of Edinburgh’s Award assessor and played a leading role in many Solar DofE expeditions and camps as well as supporting other groups with their assessments.

She has been on more camps than she can remember and played a part in the growth and development of so many young people over the years. She is the first person to be a leader in all the group’s units, i.e. Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.

Michele’s son Chris has gone on to be a Scout and Explorer Scout leader himself, keeping up the family tradition.

T

Michele was given an ‘Award for Merit’. This award is given for outstanding service of not less than 12 years. It rewards keen, conscientious, imaginative and dedicated service over a sustained period.

Sue was a founder member of the 1st Stoke Gifford Beavers in 1993 and is the longest continuing serving member, having done all of her 27 years’ service with the group. She still loves the interaction with the children and cannot remember how many sleepovers and camps she has done, though she does say not much sleep was had on any of them! Her husband Lee has been a Cub and Scout leader and, as a result, her children Lauren and Daniel have spent far more nights under canvas than most kids! In fact she jokes that Daniel probably had his ‘Nights Away 50’ badge before he even joined Beavers, aged 6! Sue says that she sometimes thinks of retirement from Scouting, but would miss the friendship and the camping too much.

Sue was awarded the ‘Award for Merit’ in 2015 and this year was presented with the ‘Bar to the Award for Merit’. This was awarded in recognition of her further years of outstanding service.

We are very proud of and grateful to both Sue and Michele for their many years of service to the 1st Stoke Gifford Scout Group and delighted that this has been recognised accordingly.

Sue Baker

Michele Grattidge

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Get well · Stay well

W

March/April 2021

by Craig de Groot, chiropractor at Willow Brook Clinic

Walk yourself to fitness

alking has proven to be a ‘lockdown’ lifesaver for so many of us. It has been encouraging to see so many people out and about, throughout the day and night, pounding the pavements and footpaths. How many steps we have done easily slips into conversation.

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise available to us. It gets our heart rate up, it is gentle on the knees and hips and you don’t need any fancy equipment to walk. In Bradley Stoke and the surrounding areas we have lots of footpaths and parks to walk in – we should take advantage of them.

Walking daily is a good habit to get into. You don’t have to go far, a little and often is easier for most people, fitting in a longer walk when you can. Walking is not only good for your physical health, it does wonders for your mental health too. Hopefully, we will soon have some glorious sunshine – a daily walk in the sun will boost your vitamin D levels – it’s a win-win situation.

Here are a few tips to help you walk better, and if you are starting to walk regularly these tips will help you to stay injury free and enable you to get maximum benefit from your walking: • Hold your head high • Look forward and not at the ground • Move your shoulders naturally

Craig de Groot

• Keep your chin parallel to the ground • Keep your back straight, not arched forward or backward • Gently tighten your stomach muscles • Swing your arms freely with a slight bend in your elbows • Walk smoothly, rolling your foot from heel to toe • Walk in comfortable shoes • Enjoy walking and learning about your environment as your walk If you find any of these points difficult to achieve, and you are suffering neck, shoulder or back discomfort, consider seeing a chiropractor or physiotherapist to help with your posture and alignment and to set you on the path to pain-free walking.

Remember that walking is good for everyone, whatever your ability or talent.

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25

News

Little Stoke fly-tip costs perpetrator almost £3,000

A

man has been ordered to pay a total of £2,950 in fines and costs after being prosecuted for waste related offences following the discovery of a fly-tip close to the Little Stoke Sort It centre.

Abishek RavindranVaidyaingham, 36, of Wood Street, Patchway was prosecuted

by South Gloucestershire Council’s environmental enforcement team after a flytip consisting of baby clothes, garden items (including a trampoline), plastics and black bin bags of household waste was discovered in Station Road, Little Stoke on 2nd February 2020.

The fly-tip was reported to South Gloucestershire Council and environmental enforcement officers attended the location, took photographs and seized evidence in the form of documentation with the defendant’s address on, which was found amongst the waste.

Officers attended the home address of the defendant on 4th February. He was not at home at the time, but they spoke to him by telephone to make arrangements to formally interview him at a later date.

He admitted his responsibility for the fly-tip and after returning home that same evening, he went to Station Road and cleared the waste himself.

Ravindran-Vaidyaingham was interviewed under caution on Thursday 6th February, where he admitted the offence. He explained that on Sunday 2nd February he was moving address and had completely filled his car with household waste. He said that he went to the local recycling centre in Little Stoke but it was closed when he got there, and as he required his car for work the following day, he emptied the waste into a nearby entranceway. He also explained that he had intended to return and dispose of the waste properly but was unable to do so on Monday 3rd or Tuesday 4th

February, which is when he was contacted by the council.

Appearing at Bristol Magistrates Court on 22nd February 2021, RavindranVaidyaingham pleaded guilty to the illegal disposal of waste and was fined £1,996, along with £773 in costs and a victim surcharge of £181.

Cabinet member for communities and local place, Cllr Rachael Hunt, said: “Each one of us has a responsibility to correctly dispose of our household waste and there really is no excuse for this type of behaviour. This gentleman should have made sure that he was able to legally dispose of his waste before loading his vehicle. Fly-tipping blights our countryside and has a negative impact on our communities and local environment.”

“Our zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in South Gloucestershire means that anyone who fly-tips here is up to five times more likely to be prosecuted than anywhere else in the country. Our award-winning environmental enforcement team has a 100 percent record of securing successful prosecutions for this type of offence, so if you fail in your duty of care and allow rubbish to be fly-tipped in South Gloucestershire, you can expect to be caught and brought before the courts.”

You can carry out these simple steps to make sure your waste is disposed of legally: • Ask for a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate and ask where the waste is being taken. Legitimate firms will be happy to provide this information.

• Do not be tempted to use people offering cheap waste clearance on sites such as Facebook and Gumtree unless you have confirmed that they are registered with the Environment Agency.

• Check whether the waste carrier is registered by calling the Environment Agency on 08708

Fly-tipped waste in the entrance to a business property on Station Road

506506 or using the search facility on their ‘Register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers‘ webpage.

• Ask for a registered trading address and telephone number for the trader, and get a receipt.

Unwanted goods and household or garden waste can all be

disposed of at no cost via the council’s Sort It centres.

Residents who see illegal fly-tipping are encouraged to report it using the online form available at www.southglos.gov. uk/flytipping or by contacting the StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000.

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March/April 2021

News

F

ollowing the good news that schools and shops are opening again following the fall in Covid-19 case numbers and the roll-out of the vaccine, 1st Little Stoke Scout Group are getting ready to welcome children and leaders to meetings at their headquarters off Rossall Avenue, next to the children’s play area in Little Stoke Park.

The group is open to children who wish to join from 5.9 years to 14 years. There are three sections: Beavers 5.9 years to 8 years, Cubs 8 years to 10 years and Scouts 10 to 14 years. Any child who has a parent willing to help the leadership team will not have to join the waiting list and can start immediately.

Our leaders are busy people with full diaries, but they find the time to enrich and develop the local boys and girls who are looking for an outlet for their enthusiasm and wish to do something constructive and fun with their leisure time.

One such leader at Little Stoke is Irishman Simon Guy. Simon hails from Belfast and came to

Simon Guy, Scout leader

Little Stoke via Greece with his wife and three children, two girls and a boy. Simon as a boy was a Cub in Belfast at 1st Ballymacash and then a Scout and Explorer at 74th Belfast. Many years ago now – but Simon has really good memories of camps and friendships to this day.

Simon joined the 1st Little Stoke Scout Group because he wanted to put something back.

He fondly remembers his days of being a Cub, Scout and Explorer.

He said that had been possible only due to others giving their

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Simon Guy surfing with 1st Little Stoke Scouts on Gower

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News

Little Stoke Scouts prepare for a post-Covid restart Simon Guy catching fish on a day’s fishing trip from Swansea harbour with the Scouts

time. He didn’t think it was fair that he expected others to do that for his kids whilst he sat at home, so decided to get involved at Little Stoke and support his children.

Scouting has provided Simon with new experiences. From kayaking in Bristol’s floating harbour and cooking a skate and cockles at camp, there have been many. Simon really enjoys seeing the confidence and resourcefulness of the young people grow during their time with Little Stoke Scouts. He also says he has seen his and other children make many friends and learn to work as a team. Simon remarked that seeing a teenager exist for a week without a phone is a real collector’s item!

Simon is looking for others to bring along their children and get involved, He says: “Come along and see what we get up to.

Before I got involved in 1st Little Stoke it had been a very long time since I had last camped. I was nervous at the start, the Scouts and other leaders made it easy though – and I am really glad that I got over my nerves. We all bring something different to the team – no need to be the next Bear Grylls! There is a role for everybody and no special skills are required – only a desire to have fun.”

If you think that you and your children (you can of course be involved if you have no children!) would like to be involved, contact Group Scout Leader Tony Edmonds at tonyedmonds108@ yahoo.com or call 07957880503.

Tony says: “We are a friendly team and will give you a warm welcome, Scouting will cost you nothing – uniform and training are provided.”

“Good fun and new friendships

guaranteed everybody is welcome, male or female 18 to 108 years old.”

Bear Grylls, the Chief Scout, said: “Scouting plays a fundamental role in the lives of thousands of young people, giving them skills and hope for the future. That is now more vital

than ever.”

“We have a long waiting list of many young people wanting to join but we can only let them join with the help of people like Simon and yourself. Do something positive today and pick up the phone or send that email to get involved.”

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March/April 2021

News

Revised plans submitted

T

Above: Aerial view of the proposed mix-used development site, clearly visible as the large grassed area surrounded by trees (centre of image)

Stoke Gifford Journal

he company behind proposals for a new mixeduse development on vacant land to the rear of Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford has submitted a suite of revised plans in an effort to address concerns raised by planning officials at South Gloucestershire Council (SGC).

The development site lies between Great Stoke Way (the dual carriageway leading to Abbey Wood Roundabout) and Fox Den Road (the road providing access to Sainsbury’s, The Range, Lidl, Bargain Buys and Everlast Fitness Club).

The proposals include an Aldi supermarket, a Costa drivethrough, a Premier Inn hotel and

a Beefeater restaurant, Vehicles would enter and leave the site via a single access point off Fox Den Road, close to the Sainsbury’s delivery yard.

After assessing the original plans, SGC’s planning policy department raised “significant concerns” over the type of retail space being proposed and questioned whether the scheme would make efficient use of the land.

Concerns were also raised over the number of mature trees that would be felled around the perimeter of the site and the “particularly bleak” appearance of the proposed 265-space car park.

In the revised plans, the hotel

Site plan (phase 1)

Hotel

Park

Aldi Costa

Sainsbury’s

Vehicle access Car park of The Range

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for Premier Inn, Aldi and Costa in Stoke Gifford has been moved further away from the eastern boundary, allowing an increased landscape buffer to Fox Den Road.

Additional tree planting is proposed along Great Stoke Way and some of the better-quality existing trees will be retained.

The number of parking spaces has been reduced to 240 and there will be a minimum of one tree for every six parking bays with additional planting along the main pedestrian route through the car park.

The original 16 disabled and nine parent/child spaces are retained and the number of electric vehicle charging points is increased from three to ten.

The external elevations of the hotel building have been given more interest through the use of copper and bronze coloured panel in focussed areas.

Additionally, glazing has been introduced into a stair core that

Left: Approach from the Aviva roundabout. Right: Aerial view of phase 1, showing ‘pocket park’ between hotel and Aldi.

faces the Aviva roundabout, to reduce its prominence and “present activity to the street”.

At the request of highways officers, the applicant has also agreed to fund improvements to an existing informal pedestrian crossing on Great Stoke Way, close to the Aviva roundabout.

In relation to a council policy which calls for a significant element of ‘comparison

shopping’ (for more expensive goods bought less frequently) to be provided within the district centre, the applicant repeats a previous claim that this requirement is “out of date, does not reflect the changing retail market, and is not achievable in this location”.

A suggestion that a residential element might be included to improve “efficiency of land use”

is dismissed by the applicant on the grounds of “lack of market demand … or viability constraints”.

The plans include an additional two-story ‘multi-use building’ but this would not be built until justified by market demand.

In the interim, it would be substituted with a ‘pocket park’. ● Planning application reference: P20/05916/F

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