thornburyvoice www.thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2021 Issue 46
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Council unveils recovery budget SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has agreed a budget of more than £400 million to deliver public services next financial year, focusing on helping people to recover from the pandemic and rise to meet the challenges of the future. The Recover and Rise budget will further the council’s key priorities of improving school standards and outcomes for young people, improving infrastructure within local communities, and delivering value for money. The budget is balanced, despite the tough financial climate.
Vital support
The budget allows for vital support for residents hit hardest by Covid-19. It includes a £1 million resilience funding package to widen the support net for those who had previously been ineligible; £102,000 “surge funding” for expanding welfare debt advice; more support for domestic violence victims, and a pay boost targeted at the lowest paid council staff.
Children and young people
Improving school standards remains the council’s top priority. Following last year’s launch of its trailblazing Recovery Curriculum, the budget includes a £1.2 million investment to launch phase two. This phase will continue the essen-
tial work to help schoolchildren to catch up on lost learning and support their general wellbeing. The council’s capital investment into school buildings hits a new record with funding committed to ensuring new primary school buildings in Winterbourne, Frenchay and Lyde Green are low carbon, reflecting the council’s climate emergency commitments. Elsewhere, upgrades and improvements to buildings are planned across the district.
Adult social care
The council tax rate will rise by 4.99 per cent, which includes three per cent to be focused on boosting adult social care services. As normal life returns, the pressure on adult social care services will continue. The remaining 1.99 per cent increase will go towards protecting wider services. This means the South Gloucestershire Council element of Council Tax for a Band D property for 2021/22 will be £1,620.39 –an extra £1.48 per week.
Boosting communities
The budget includes investment in major projects such as purchasing the Thornbury Hospital site for plans for a brand-new healthcare facility for the town; £25 million regeneration plans for Kingswood Town Centre and completing the new Yate Park and Ride, due later this year.
Getting around
Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Employment Cllr Erica Williams at Courtney School in Kingswood
The council will continue its record investment in the local highway network, with millions more to be invested in resurfacing roads and filling potholes across South Gloucestershire. It is also supporting sustainable travel options and improving cycle and pedestrian routes.
Platinum Jubilee
To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the council has
View from the Leader of the Council, Cllr Toby Savage
WELCOME - We’re proud to partner with The Voice, a great local business, for this special edition that brings you our latest news. It focuses on our new ‘Recover and Rise’ budget, designed to help you overcome the challenges of the past year. At the same time, we’re prudently managing our finances on your behalf. The pandemic is particularly tough on children and young people. For this reason, we’re launching the next phase of our trail-blazing Recovery Curriculum, a new Youth Employment Hub, and we’re significantly increasing record investments in school buildings including rebuilding Frenchay Primary School. The budget also triggers infrastructure projects to further improve local communities, including regeneration of Kingswood Town Centre, purchasing the Thornbury Hospital site to secure its future, and the completion of the Yate Park and Ride. We will also continue record investment in highways and improve how we get around the area. allocated £50,000 to prepare an activities programme across South Gloucestershire.
More to help Cllr Toby Savage, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This last year has changed our day-to-day lives and the council and our services have had to adapt
to meet the needs of residents, businesses and communities in the wake of Covid-19. I am proud that through this budget we are doing even more to help residents and their families recover and to rise above the challenges over the past year, widening the safety net to offer much-needed help to more people. “
2
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Financial support
Protecting wellbeing SOCIAL distancing and self-isolating can be daunting for all of us so it’s really important that we look after our mental and physical health. The South Glos One You service for adults, offers advice and support to help keep well, covering a range of topics, from how to stay active at home, to maintaining mental health, tips on sleeping well, quitting smoking, healthy eating and getting enough to eat. The website
is oneyou.southglos.gov.uk or people can call 01454 865337. The South Glos Mind You website www. mindyou.org.uk has advice and information on mental health for young people and children and their parents and carers, including videos and webinars, and contact details of where to get more help.
MANY people are struggling financially at the moment. It’s important to know that there are benefits and grants available. For support on looking at which options are available, please book an appointment to speak to one of the South Glos One Stop Shop customer advisors www.southglos.gov.uk/ contactus or call 01454 868009.
Successful local vaccination rollout LAST month (February), saw the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area reach a major milestone, as all care homes had been offered the Covid-19 vaccination. As of 18 February, in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) area, 200,000 people had received their first dose. That success continues. To keep up to date on the rollout, please visit the BNSSG Healthier Together’s website bnssghealthiertogether.org.uk. When you qualify for a vaccine, you can book online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week. At the time of going to print, those aged over 65; clinically vulnerable adults with underlying health conditions and those who work in social care, providing hands-on support to those vulnerable to Covid-19, are eligible for a vaccine. Remember that no one will be asked to provide personal details as part of this process and no payment is required.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adults and Housing, Cllr Ben Stokes visiting the Vaccination Clinic at West Walk Surgery in Yate
Free support for South Glos businesses SMALL Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Gloucestershire, and residents considering setting up their own business, can get up to 12 hours of free business support from the South Gloucestershire Business Support Service. It is offering group webinars, and
one-to-one business coaching (subject to assessment and availability). The publicly funded programme forms part of Universal Business Support – a West of England Combined Authority initiative, delivered in partnership with the council.
Webinars cover topics such as starting and planning a business, business strategy, digital marketing, social media, finance and more. All the webinars can be viewed on this webpage: www.coolventures.co.uk/ training/
thornburyvoice www.thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2021 Issue 46
FREE EVERY MONTH IN THORNBURY AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES Jail for cocaine plot AN Olveston man has been jailed for his role in trying to smuggle cocaine worth more than £500,000 to the West Country. PAGE 6
High Street focus
Romans in Thornbury Children at Manorbrook Primary School transformed themselves into Roman legionaries after an inspiring virtual visit to a museum. Full story: Page 9
World-first nuclear plant bid A BID is being launched to build a cutting-edge nuclear reactor using land at the former Oldbury and Berkeley power stations. The UK Atomic Energy Authority is seeking a location for the first ever nuclear fusion plant, which replicates how the sun works in a chamber on earth to provide limitless, clean energy.
Making such a plant work is seen as an answer to the world’s energy problems - but no fusion reactor has ever been produced that creates more energy than it consumes. Now the Oldbury site near Thornbury is being touted as a possible home for a world-first prototype. Turn to page 7
THORNBURY residents face a wait for a final decision on the future of the town's High Street, as focus groups are launched to discuss it. PAGE 5
Hospital breakthrough PLANS for a revamped Thornbury Health Centre have moved a big step closer after South Gloucestershire Council announced it was buying the town’s hospital site. PAGE 8
Bills top £2,000 COUNCIL tax bills for Band D Thornbury residents will top £2,000 for the first time this year. PAGE 13
Property experts working in the Thornbury property market since the early 1980’s, coping with fast markets, slow markets, boom or recession but always working our hardest to achieve the absolute best for our clients. Please contact
Penny Skinner or Rowena Moncrieffe for further details…
14 The Plain, Thornbury, 01454 858007 www.bondsofthornbury.co.uk
thornburyvoice
4
thornburyvoice April deadline
Our April edition deadline is March 17.
Thornbury Voice contacts Editorial
Advertising
Fiona Picton, Journalist Ken McCormick, Editor
Richard Drew, Publisher
contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
01454 800 120 contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
Your views Letters for publication can be sent to us via email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk We reserve the right to edit your letter. Follow us on Twitter @thornburyvoice
Find us on Facebook Thornbury Voice
Local information South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk
Environment/trading standards 01454 868001 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 NHS Health Call 111 Well Aware health & social care information www.wellaware.org.uk Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Thornbury Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Thornbury Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Richard On 01454 800 120 or contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
Complaints Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Thornbury Voice, contact the publisher using the details above. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.
March, 2021
n NEWS
Cash machine blown up A CASH machine was blown up by burglars at a Thornbury town centre supermarket. The thieves exploded the ATM at the Aldi store in Horseshoe Lane, at the St Mary Shopping Centre, at about 2am on February 8. Police are calling on anyone who saw the attack or thinks they may have information relevant to their enquiry to contact them. They are also asking for anyone in the area with CCTV who has not yet come forward to contact them. Thieves have been known to pump gas into cash machines and ignite it to blow them open to get to the money inside. The amount taken in the raid has not been disclosed, with Avon and Somerset police saying only that "a quantity of cash" had been stolen. A police spokesperson said entry had been forced to the shop before the machine was attacked. The enquiry into the raid was still ongoing as the Voice went to press. Anyone with information should call the police on 101 and quote the crime reference number 5221 027 464. Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
A WORLD OF
Quality
COVID ith secure w the 5 ent m Govern es Guidelin
A WORLD OF
Choice
A WORLD OF
Value
Discover a range of
Carpets • Vinyls Laminates • Karndean Commercial solutions We are one of the first businesses in the UK to offer Google Interactive Virtual Reality Tours
A member of the
Open: Mon-Fri 9 - 5.30pm | Sat 9 - 5pm | Sun 10 - 4pm The Old Coachworks, Bath Road, Longwell Green, Bristol BS30 6DL Tel: 0117 947 7721 | www.thecarpetbarn.co.uk
Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2021
thornburyvoice
n NEWS
Thornbury High Street
Wait for High Street decision PEOPLE in Thornbury face a wait of some months before they know whether the High Street will be permanently pedestrianised. In March focus groups will be held to ask different interest groups, including businesses, residents, and the area's disability equality network, what they want from the high street in the future. A public consultation on the pedestrianisation took more than six months, with 2,888 people submitting their views. More than nine out of ten completed the survey online (2,674 responses), with 7% (214 responses) sent by post. Details of how many were for or against the scheme have yet to be revealed. At a meeting of the Thornbury and Severn Vale Engagement Forum in February, Kristy Spindler, who has been managing the scheme for South Gloucestershire Council, acknowledged that any permanent decision needed to consider the impact on the whole town. The council used emergency COVID-19 measures to close the High Street in June last year, then put an experimental traffic order in place to enable a consultation to run at the same time. South Gloucestershire councillor and town mayor Jayne Stansfield said: “Since the first rocky start for this scheme, the town council has been communicating to South Glos that it wants to make sure that whatever happens next takes into account the whole of the town centre – and there is no one clear view of what is right." Fellow Thornbury and South Glos councillor Shirley Holloway said: “I quite like the High Street closed but I am worried about the amount of traffic Rock Street has - it isn’t safe and it's very, very busy at times. "I don’t want us to rush into this decision - people have been cross and very quick about being cross but I think there’s a lot to bear in mind to ensure we make the right decision for Thornbury.” The consultation outlined options for changes on Rock Street, where traffic has almost doubled since the experimental closure of the High Street. Ms Spindler said the next steps would be to support businesses on the High Street emerging from lockdown, to bring the community back together, and to analyse all the responses to the consultation. A street market, brought in with the aim of boosting numbers of shoppers, is due to return a soon as COVID-19 restrictions allow. A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said a decision would be made "in the coming months", adding: “It is important that we analyse the feedback carefully and consider all views before making any future decision on the scheme."
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
5
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Local Apprentice Opportunities Plummet “MUST DO BETTER”: is the message from Labour’s Metro Mayor candidate Dan Norris who has condemned the Conservative West of England Metro Mayor for failing on apprenticeships. Latest figures show that during the current Metro Mayor’s term of office the number of new apprenticeships in the West of England has plummeted. There are 1630 fewer in South Gloucestershire, North East Somerset, Bristol and Bath than when the Tory Mayor came to power. The Metro Mayor is responsible for apprenticeship cash and policy but around 65% of small businesses across the West of England have never used apprentices. Dan Norris said “Apprenticeship opportunities in the West of England are at their lowest level in 5 years. That’s not good enough. The Metro Mayor is failing to create the opportunities local young people need. Investing in training will be central to rebuilding our economy after the pandemic. If elected I will be a ‘jobs first’ Metro Mayor.”
Want to vote safely in May? Visit: www.postalvote. labour.org.uk
Promoted by Paul Tucker on behalf of Dan Norris both at 136a Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BG
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
6
n NEWS AN Olveston man has been jailed for his part in a conspiracy to smuggle cocaine worth £500,000 to the West Country, having it delivered to a house rented on Airbnb. Bertram Fallon and Arron Collins used encrypted messaging services to arrange shipments from Amsterdam to the UK, hiding the cocaine in whey protein powder packages. The National Crime Agency uncovered communications on the EncroChat and Wickr platforms involving arrangements for importing five kilos of cocaine – with an estimated street value of £500,000 – which Border Force officers seized at London Gateway Parcel Hub last year. Fallon, aged 31, was jailed for six years and six months on February 2 after pleading guilty to charges of conspiring to import cocaine and failing to disclose the PINs for his mobile phones. Collins, 35, described as the "main organiser" of the plot by the NCA, was jailed for nine years and five months, after admitting conspiracy to import cocaine at the same Bristol Crown Court hearing. The NCA said Collins rented a property through Airbnb on Chessel Street in Bedminster, Bristol, between January 14 and 18 2020, to wait for the delivery of cocaine. When it did not arrive, he repeatedly chased the letting company for updates after he had left. NCA officers spotted Fallon driving past the Airbnb rental on the day the shipment was due to be delivered. He was arrested a few days
Man jailed for role in £500,000 cocaine plot
Jerome Thomas for
west of england
March, 2021
metro mayor
Olveston man Bertram Fallon
Ringleader Aaron Collins
later at his home in Bramley Close, Olveston. Collins was arrested at his home on Newland Walk, Withywood, Bristol, the following month. Officers found scales with traces of cocaine and ketamine. Messages analysed in June last year as part of Operation Venetic – the UK investigation into the encrypted messaging platform EncroChat – provided further evidence of the drugdealing operation. Collins wrote that booking the property in his name and emailing the agent was a “stupid mistake” to make because it linked him to the drugs. In one message, he said: “It only takes one mistake to get caught.” Fallon and Collins talked to
each other via another encrypted messaging service, Wickr. NCA operations manager Anthony Hubbard said: "These men thought they could use encrypted messaging platforms to act with impunity, but
criminals who use this method to arrange drug shipments are not untouchable. "Our priority will always be to protect the public, and we will continue to pursue criminals involved in the drugs trade, which fuels violence and exploitation throughout the UK." The agency is now seeking a confiscation order against Collins, who owns several houses worth more than £1 million. Immigration compliance minister Chris Philp said: "This was tremendous work by Border Force officers, who prevented dangerous Class A drugs from reaching our streets. "Working with our partners such as the NCA, we will throw the full force of the law at organised criminals who use encrypted chat platforms to peddle their dangerous cargo."
Boxes packed with cocaine seized by Border Force officers
The most important election you may never have heard of The Metro Mayor makes important policy and budget decisions on transport, homes, jobs and skills for our region. I have been a Green councillor in Bristol since 2015 and I am an experienced business leader. I know how to get things done and am committed to building a better tomorrow for our region.
I want to hear from you ! What are the improvements you would like to see in your community that the Metro Mayor might be able to help with? Contact me today on: jerome.thomas@greenparty.org.uk Promoted by D. Wilcox, on behalf of Jerome Thomas and Bristol Green Party, 2 Narroways Rd. BS2 9XB
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2021
n NEWS From page 1 Councils, MPs and key industry and business partners on the boundary of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire have teamed up in the hope of attracting a cutting-edge reactor called a Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (Step) to either Oldbury or nearby Berkeley, both of which have decommissioned nuclear power stations. Plans to build a new commercial nuclear power station at Oldbury were abandoned last year by potential operator Hitachi, leaving the future of the site planned for the new station in doubt. Supporters of the new scheme say it would create thousands of highly-skilled local jobs and bring billions of pounds of investment, with “transformational benefits” to the wider region by supporting a vast network of suppliers. The Step Tokamak works by heating atoms to ten times the temperature of the centre of the Sun, forming a plasma in which they smash together in a process called nuclear fusion to produce heavier atoms. This releases a huge amount of energy which is converted to power a turbine and generate electricity, just like any power station. Giant magnets keep the super-heated plasma away from the chamber's sides, preventing the reactor from melting down despite the inside reaching 100 million C. Fusion is different from fission, which is used in traditional nuclear power stations where atoms, instead of being fused together, are split apart to release energy. Unlike the old method, it does not produce any radioactive waste. The Government has so far committed £222 million to the project. UKAEA chief executive Professor Ian Chapman said fusion "has enormous potential as a carbon free, clean, effectively inexhaustible source of energy", adding: "We're looking for a community that wants to host Step, to be a home for Step, to help change the world." A working group of multiple partners including South Gloucestershire Council has answered the UKAEA’s call to
thornburyvoice
7
Nuclear fusion plant could 'help change the world'
How the new fusion reactor could look nominate sites for the plant, which could begin operating by 2040. A spokesperson for the partnership said the councils are working with the landowners to investigate the potential for nominating the Oldbury and Berkeley sites. South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage said: "It is obviously very early in the process and a nomination has not yet been submitted, however we believe this presents a superb opportunity for the region to build on its heritage in the energy sector and be positioned once again at the forefront of clean, low-carbon energy technology." Metro mayor Tim Bowles, whose role includes strategic economic development, said: “The West of England is already a centre of excellence for nuclear expertise, and by working as part of the Nuclear South West partnership, I want to make our region the international hub for safe, clean fusion technology. “Securing the Step project here will bring more jobs of the future to our region, create new business opportunities and secure our existing advanced manufacturing supply chains for the long term. It really is an exciting prospect.” Conservative Mr Bowles' role is up for election in May. Liberal Democrat metro mayor candidate Stephen Williams said: "We need various sources of renewable and clean energy. "This could be a major boost
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
to the economy of Thornbury and the surrounding villages. I want to see full community engagement if the bid succeeds." Labour's candidate, Dan Norris, urged caution, saying
nuclear fusion was one of the options for replacing fossil fuels like gas and coal but that "by 2040 it is highly likely that future technological progress will not only make renewable sources even more friendly to the planet, but also make nuclear fusion a much more expensive option". He added: "Renewables will also create many more jobs than fusion can and, importantly, future improvements in renewable energy technology will still see cheaper energy consumer and business prices, and more environmentally-friendly power generation compared to the current proposals for nuclear fusion." By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
8
n NEWS
March, 2021
New health centre for Thornbury Hospital site moves closer
PLANS for a revamped Thornbury Health Centre have moved a big step closer after South Gloucestershire Council announced it was buying the town’s hospital site. The “landmark agreement” with owners North Bristol NHS Trust will end what was described as a “30-year legacy of failure” and secure the land for better GP, outpatient and social care services. It follows a £13.3 million bid to the Government, backed by Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall, in December to redevelop the site. The new centre would provide a base for the town’s GP surgeries, enhanced mental health support, NHS beds and a “frailty hub”, focusing on older people receiving care at home. Hopes of upgrading the facilities have suffered years of setbacks, with the main problem being that NBT owns the hospital but the adjacent health centre is owned by another body, NHS Property Services. Now, though, the council has struck a deal to purchase the hospital site and concentrate services there. The hospital closed to patients for the final time in December 2019, as new facilities were set up at the St Mary's Centre, known as Thornbury Outpatients. AN AVON and Somerset Police officer whose “disgraceful” behaviour started four days he after he joined the force has been sacked. The individual, identified only as PC A, had an inappropriate relationship with a woman he met while he was on duty, tried to buy drugs, wrongly disclosed police information and lied about being ill. In mitigation, the officer said
The 1920s hospital building had been declared "not fit for purpose"by NBT and as services wound down there, it had been blighted by anti-social behaviour. Severn Vale ward councillor Matthew Riddle said he had first proposed that the council bought the land and was "truly delighted on behalf of the residents I represent" that the council had sealed the deal. Council leader Toby Savage said: “My mum used Thornbury Health Centre when pregnant with me and the facilities have
he was not “mentally capable of undertaking the demanding role of policing”, according to a ruling from his misconduct hearing on February 10. Chief constable Andy Marsh found PC A culpable for his conduct in all of the findings and reached a finding of gross misconduct.
£
£
DJ GEAR
ANY ITEMS CONSIDERED CASH | PAYPAL | BANK TRANSFER 07817 450005 or 07976 827967
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Sack for 'disgraceful' police officer
WE BUY COLLECTABLES
HIFI
The old Thornbury Hospital buildings have been unused since the end of 2019
barely changed since then. “I am pleased we have been able to take this significant step towards our goal and towards ending the 30-year legacy of failure on this vital issue.” The breakthrough follows a meeting in January, arranged by the MP, to bring the council, NBT and other key healthcare partners together to raise the profile of the bid for the money to build the centre with Health Minister Ed Agar. Mr Hall said he had secured the support of Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock for the project, said: “It will mean our community can access the care they need closer to home, including more outpatient and GP services, mental health support and extra care housing. “The whole community will be pleased that this sale has now been agreed.” Separately, £100,000 has been secured from NHS England for a feasibility study to assess the need for rebuilding the GP-led health centre. The cost of the hospital land sale is not being disclosed because of commercial sensitivity.
collectorcaveltd@gmail.com
Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120
He said there were multiple proven allegations, beginning with an inappropriate text message just four days after the officer joined the force. PC A entered into a relationship with the young woman and failed to tell his superiors. The chief constable said: “In
continuing with an inappropriate relationship, PC A has abused his position and had many ongoing opportunities to report concerns which he knew to be real, to his supervisor in the weeks and months that followed." By Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporting Service
L & J Gulwell
Family Funeral Directors 1 Quaker Lane, Thornbury Bristol BS35 2AD Tel: 01454 418779 Fax: 01454 419764 Email: info@funerals.uk.net Web: www.funerals.uk.net
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
9
n NEWS
Children inspired by look at Roman life SCHOOL trips may be off at the moment but children at a Thornbury primary school showed that even a virtual visit to the past can be inspiring. The Year 3 pupils at Manorbrook Primary School took part in a virtual Roman workshop in February. Both key worker children who are still attending the school in Park Road and pupils studying from home were able to access an online session run by Caerleon National Roman Museum in Newport. Before the workshop they were set challenges such as exploring the museum virtually though its website as well as learning Latin commands that a legionary soldier would have had to follow. During the session they were tested on whether they could follow the commands and then received a presentation from a museum staff member playing ‘Claudia’, the wife of a Roman Centurion. She showed the children all the different elements to a soldier’s clothing as well as the different weapons and their uses. Pupils also had the opportunity to see Roman artefacts such as coins and brooches under a camera, including a tiny spoon used by soldiers to clean out and collect their
earwax for use in medicines, which was a particular favourite. The workshop ended with a question and answer session where the children were able to ask about a variety of aspects of Roman life, from food and pets to buildings and toilets, before continuing their learning through projects at home or at school. These included creating mosaics, models of Roman houses and boats as well as video presentations. Most were inspired by a Roman Children from Manorbrook Primary School with their Roman soldier to create swords, swords and shields shields and even helmets. Caerleon Museum was extraordinary – there About a third of the Year 3 wasn’t a question the pupils asked that she class are key worker children who have been couldn’t answer in great historical detail. attending school during the lockdown. "The session was also so inspiring, the Year 3 teacher Elaine Drayton said: “It children couldn’t wait to go off and make was a great session which all the children their projects, both in school and at home, enjoyed. and we have all enjoyed sharing and seeing "They were so engaged and interested in what the other children in the class have finding out about life in Roman times. created.” "The knowledge of the staff member from
LOOKING FOR LEGAL ADVICE?
� Solicitors Your LOCAL offer you friendly professional expert advice Divorce & Separation Family Law Employment Law Litigation & Dispute Resolution
FREE 30 MINUTE INITIAL MEETING
NEW!
You can now support our High Street shop and also shop online at
www.thornburygardenshop.co.uk
CONTACT US TODAY
0333 320 8600 www.bevanevemy.co.uk standard rate call charges
Bevan & Evemy Solicitors is authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under ID Number 607770.
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
11
n NEWS
More than 90 deaths from COVID-19 this year
MORE than 90 people have died with COVID-19 in South Gloucestershire since the start of the year. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show a total of 93 deaths of people who had recently been diagnosed with the virus - 55 of them in hospital, 36 in care homes and two at home – positive tests in the five weeks to February 5. in the week Deaths peaked during the to February week to January 29, when 43 17, down people died – 22 in hospital and from 20 in 21 in care homes. the week to The number for the year so January 13. far represents more than a third In of the 276 deaths with COVID-19 Alveston, Olveston & Oldbury registered in the area during the there were just three, down from whole of 2020. 15, Rates of coronavirus infection In Almondsbury, Pilning & have been falling through Severn Beach there were 12 cases February, as the government in the week to February 17, down sets out the route away from the from 36 five weeks earlier, while latest lockdown. in Charfield, Wickwar & Iron During the week to February Acton there were six (down from 17 there were 327 cases recorded 32). in South Gloucestershire, a case But care professionals have rate of 132.9 per 100,000 people. warned that care homes will have That was down from 1,153 five to continue to be cautious. weeks previously, when the case A meeting of the council's rate stood at 404.4 per 100,000. health scrutiny committee WBInGeneric AW.qxp_Layout 21:57 Page Thornbury there were 101 23/09/2020 in January heard that2care
homes inevitably see COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths two to three weeks after spikes of infection in the community. Care Provider Oversight Group co-chair Rebecca Harrold said that, although the vast majority of care home residents and staff in South Gloucestershire had their first dose of vaccine by late January, it was “not completely effective” immediately, so restrictions on visits had remained in place. Outbreaks had peaked in January, after sharp rises in November and early December, she said. Some of the outbreaks involve home care settings, but the most significant affect care homes, with eight involving three or more staff and residents over a two-week period in January.
Details of where the outbreaks happened were not revealed. Coronavirus “would usually be brought in by staff”, so staff and residents are regularly tested using rapid, lateral flow tests and laboratory-checked PCR tests to try and prevent outbreaks, she said. “The residents are tested at least monthly if there’s no active outbreak,” she said. “Staff are tested with lateral flow testing twice weekly and full PCR testing once weekly so that infections are detected early, … they’re able to be isolated and helpfully prevent the spread coming into the home.” Meeting report by Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service
willowbrookshopping.co.uk
t r a t s h Fr BRADLEY STOKE SHOPPING
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
12
n LETTERS
thornburyvoice
Armstrong Hall main entrance
Join us to help save the Armstrong Hall LAST year, the Armstrong Arts Group let you know that we would be doing all we could to ensure that the complex should remain open, in response to a press release from the Armstrong Hall Trust announcing they were unable to reopen the Armstrong Hall Complex in the near future. We have been actively involved in lobbying Thornbury Town Council and Armstrong Hall Trust ever since and are bitterly disappointed by the announcement (Voice, February) that they (and South Gloucestershire Council) are again considering Turnberrie’s as an alternative location, in spite of a very clear mandate from Thornbury residents that they do not want this. We firmly believe that now is, without doubt, not the appropriate time to be making such important decisions about our town, by people who may not even live here. COVID-19 has already severely curtailed so much for us all but it has also, sadly, given the town council the opportunity to push through this proposal to replace the historic Armstrong Hall Complex with the rather characterless Turnberrie’s. Please contact us as soon as possible by email at ArmstrongArtsGroupThornbury@ gmail.com and let us know what you, or the group(s) you are involved in, think. You are more than welcome to join us and help add more power to our argument that the Armstrong Hall Complex is a vital facility for Thornbury, and that every effort should be made to keep it going. If the councils won’t spend the
money, perhaps we should try crowd funding? Thank you in anticipation of your interest and involvement! Armstrong Arts Group
Halls add value to town HOW sad that someone seems to be campaigning to write off the Armstrong Hall complex. In this day and age it is unthinkable that Thornbury should consider spending millions of pounds on a replacement. The present halls may not be up-to-the-minute but nonetheless they are there, and (one assumes) already paid for. It is easy to criticise their shortfalls but equally easy to forget the value that they add to the town. Surely we should all be making an effort to correctly maintain and adjust the complex so that it can continue to play a useful role? There are ways to overcome some of the immediate criticisms without wasting huge sums of money on additional re-build feasibility fees which would necessitate re-building costs that cannot be justified or afforded. I understand that a fund already exists that, if wisely spent, could start to answer some of the shortfalls of the present buildings. Can interested parties in Thornbury pull together to save this community benefit? John Page Thornbury
Hall could be used in vaccine drive I FEEL that I must make comment on actions being taken over
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
March, 2021
the coronavirus precautions in Thornbury and district. I am now one of the older residents, who has been inoculated with the first draft. I acknowledge that great efforts are being made to inoculate the population. My session was at Thornbury Health Centre and I was impressed with the organisation and staff carrying it out. I understand that these sessions are restricted to two days per week. Then we hear from the Voice and other publications that the Armstrong Hall complex is another part of Thornbury bound for the history books. Why can't the local authorities cooperate and bring these public buildings into use as an inoculation centre? It has sufficient entrances/exits to provide a circular route. Thornbury Town Council, please do something constructive to help the people of the area. Clive Washbourne Thornbury
Thanks for your support WE at Thornbury Christmas Lights Association would like the extend our gratitude to the residents of Thornbury and the surrounding towns for their support through our JustGiving page. Because of the community's generosity we have raised £950, which will ensure that Thornbury is shining during the next festive period. This means that we will be able to restore our current displays, after their extended time on the street as a result of the pandemic, as well as create new displays to give our town an extra sparkle! We also want to thank Liz at Finishing Touches and Tracey at Rosie & Rex, who have gone out of their way, at such a tough time, to raise extra funds for us. They are local heroes and we are so thankful to them both. There is still time to donate if you haven’t yet, by simply typing
Thornbury Christmas Lights Association JustGiving in your search bar. Thank you for you support, this year and every year. Emma Jane Higgins Thornbury Christmas Lights Association
Join us online at Lent LAST year’s Thornbury Churches Together Lent discussion groups were a casualty of the first Covid lockdown. This year we are trying a different format, using Zoom, with just one session per week. We will be using the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) materials on A Poet's Gospel. It will run on Tuesdays for about an hour from 7.30-8.30pm, from now until March 23. Each session contains a video reflection, watched together, and questions for discussion, to be discussed in smaller break out groups. Anybody is welcome to join us but you need to register by emailing thornbury.ct@gmail.com. Please include your name and the church you attend, so that we can allocate you to groups. Thornbury Churches Together
Support walking DURING the pandemic, people have rediscovered the simple act of walking – the oldest, cheapest and greenest transport there is. It has allowed us to stay healthy, happy and connected to those around us. But lots of us still struggle with narrow, cluttered, uneven pavements; crossings that prioritise cars rather than people; and growing numbers of speeding vehicles. That’s why I support Living Streets’ Manifesto for Walking, which calls for candidates in our upcoming election to pledge to end pedestrian deaths and injuries on roads, tackle air pollution, make school streets safe and make walking easier by cutting the clutter on our pavements. It is time we redesigned our streets around people not cars. That way we can all continue to enjoy the benefits of walking and healthier, happier communities. Robert Nichols, Castle Court
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2021
thornburyvoice
13
n NEWS
Average Thornbury council tax bill tops £2,000 for first time AVERAGE council tax bills in Thornbury will top £2,000 for the first time this year. Increases in charges from bodies including South Gloucestershire Council, Thornbury Town Council, the police and fire service mean that a median Band D council tax payer in the town will be charged a total of £2,102.38 from April – more than £120 up from last year's total of £1,978.23. South Gloucestershire Council's share of the bill is going up by 4.99%, the maximum allowed, to £1,620.39, from £1,543.37 last year. Of that rise, 1.99% will go to general services, such as street lighting, libraries and repairing potholes, and 3% will cover some of the growing costs of adult social care. Overall bills vary according to the size of a property – in Thornbury they vary from around £1,400 in Band A to more than £4,100 in the highest Band H. The amount residents pay also varies according to the area where they live. Town and parish councils charge a precept for their services which is added on to bills, while there are also "special expenses" charges for neighbourhood services specific to each area. The more services provided in each area, paid for by the parish or town council, or via special expenses, the higher the bill. This means that while the Band D bill in Thornbury is more than £2,100, a band D taxpayer in Hill, which has a small parish council and no special expenses, will pay almost £150 less and people in Rockhampton, Falfield, Aust and Alveston also have bills just below the £2,000 mark. Thornbury Town Council's precept budget has risen from £715,300 in 2020-21 to £783,980 this year, a rise of 9.6%, with Band D precept charges rising from £136.13 to £147.45 and special expenses up from £16.58 to £16.91. Other elements of the council tax bill are also rising.
Band D taxpayers will pay the police £241.20 in 2021/22, up £13.39 or 5.88 % on the previous charge. Avon Fire Authority's charge of £76.43 is £1.49, or 1.99%, up on last year. The South Gloucestershire budget was described as the "most important in its 25-year history" by council leader Toby Savage when it was agreed in February. The Conservative administration says the more than £400 million spending agreed for the coming financial year puts the district on a firm footing to “recover and rise” from the pandemic, with a wide range of support for communities, families and young people. The proposals were formally accepted at a meeting of the full council on February 10, with a late amendment by the majority Tory group voted through to divert £120,000 from reserves – including an unspent £100,000 from its Brexit Preparedness Grant – to high streets, focusing on Downend, Filton and Chipping Sodbury. Labour joined the Conservatives in voting to approve the budget while the Liberal Democrats abstained. The Lib Dems proposed giving the climate emergency greater priority. In an amendment supported by Labour but voted down by the Tories, the group proposed to use the additional £120,000 to help the three high streets “build back greener”. It said the priority should be on reducing businesses’ energy costs and CO2 emissions, and providing more electric vehicle charging points. Lib Dem Dodington ward councillor Louise Harris told the meeting: “The point of the climate emergency is that it is an emergency and that requires action now – we can’t afford to wait a year or two." The amendment was criticised by Conservatives as “too prescriptive” for the three
Band D council tax bills 2021/22 Parish/ area Almondsbury
Parish Parish Special budget precept expenses £148,773 £65.41 £1.95
Total council tax* £2,005.38
Alveston
£57,425 £43.12 £4.56
£1,985.70
Aust
£5,369
£23.56 £0.19
£1,961.77
Falfield
£7,580
£24.75 £2.04
£1,964.81
Hill
£850
£16.43 n/a
£1,954.45
Oldbury
£16,757 £45.16 £0.24
£1,983.42
Olveston
£66,506 £74.39 £5.18
£2,017.59
Rockhampton Thornbury
£3,180 £37.61 £3.84 £783,980 £147.45 £16.91
£1,979.47 £2,102.38
Tytherington
£30,000 £82.16 £8.66
£2,028.84
*Total bill is parish and special expenses charge, plus South Gloucestershire, police and fire charges. Figures from South Gloucestershire Council and Local Democracy Reporting Service different high streets. Labour tabled its own amendment, allocating £50,000 to start a pay modelling review to ensure the council’s lowest paid staff receive the Real Living Wage. Deputy group leader and Staple Hill councillor Ian Boulton said the Tories, who have controlled the council since 2015, had broken a pledge made when it was under no overall control to pay the living wage and that 500 employees had fallen back into poverty pay. Mr Savage said: “The Real Living Wage is a laudable aim but it is difficult to see where the funding is going to come from unless you’re looking to cut front-line services." The amendment was voted down, with the Lib Dems abstaining. Cllr Savage said the coronavirus pandemic had “ravaged” the country’s finances and the council's budget was “shaped by a single overriding aim to put South Gloucestershire
in the best possible position to recover and rise”. The authority will be hiring consultants to come up with ways to plug a £16.3m financial black hole by 2024/25. The budget includes a £1m council tax support package for those who have missed out on previous help, £102,000 of “surge” funding to expand welfare debt advice, more support for domestic violence victims and £1.3m to increase wages of the lowest-paid council staff. It also devotes £1.2m to launch phase two of the council’s Recovery Curriculum preparing schools for the return of classes after lockdown. A further £468,000 will be used to create a youth employment hub to address the increased number of young people not in education or employment. Budget meeting reporting by Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
WE'RE ONLINE TOO! WWW.THORNBURYVOICE.CO.UK To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
14
n NEWS
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
Police face fresh challenges in lockdown CRIMES such as burglaries and anti-social behaviour may have fallen during lockdown, but new problems have emerged which are keeping the police team covering Thornbury as busy as ever. At an online meeting of the Thornbury and Severn Vale Community Engagement Forum, local beat manager PC Natalie Jones explained how domestic incidents, concern for people’s welfare, and incidents relating to breaches of the government’s lockdown rules are "our bread and butter at the moment". Over the last six months there have been 68 reports of breaches of the COVID-19 regulations in the Thornbury area, but on investigation by officers only a tiny minority were upheld, with just four fines issued. PC Jones said that the
majority of people reported for breaches were found, on investigation, to be delivering medication to vulnerable family members. PC Natalie Jones said: “There is a lot going on in lockdown and it is affecting a lot of people in a lot of different ways. "Our aim is to engage, explain and encourage before our last resort of enforcement. "A lot of people are still very confused about what they can and can’t do - social bubbles, how can they go out, things like that.” The police team has also become aware of a new phone scam after a couple of victims reported money being taken from their bank accounts. Both of them had a call from someone saying they were from their bank’s fraud department.
The caller sounded official and said they needed to access their account immediately, and then referred the victim to different departments before giving them another number to call, taking their bank details and withdrawing their money. Natalie reminded the meeting that a bank will never ask for
personal details and called on anyone who received such a call to report it. The Thornbury team is about to change sergeant, with Sgt Claire Leakey now joining them. She will also be covering the Severnside, Bradley Stoke and Winterbourne areas.
FUNDING for 70 new Avon and Somerset police officers has been approved only after a row between police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens and councillors. The commissioner had wanted to raise bills for Band D taxpayers by £15 from April. But members of the police and crime panel vetoed the 6.6% rise, saying it was too much for families struggling with the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the end the panel accepted a £13.39 increase, with the gap plugged using £1 million of reserves which had been earmarked for the PCC's fund.
WE'RE ONLINE TOO! WWW.THORNBURYVOICE.CO.UK
STROUD AUCTION ROOMS Contact our specialist valuers for a free home visit or email valuations@stroudauctions.co.uk
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2021
thornburyvoice
n NEWS
15
n ADVERTISING FEATURE
'I didnot realiseI wasEuropean'
Have you seen Sonny? POLICE are trying to trace a Shetland sheepdog which was one of two stolen during a break-in. Thieves broke down a 6ft fence to take two of the dogs, known as Shelties, from a property in the Almondsbury area between 5pm and 6pm on January 31. One of the dogs, which were both male, was found running loose near the A4 Portway in Bristol on February 2, and has been returned. But the three-year-old dog in the picture, named Sonny, had still not been found as the Voice went to press. Police are appealing for anyone who knows where the dog is or has any other information which could help their investigation to call 101, quoting crime reference number 5221 021 985. Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111.
Landcare Tree Nursery Old Sodbury
Independent traditional nursery open to the public and serving the trade Over 1,000 potted trees in stock Specimen trees and shrubs for screening Shrubs, Herbaceous perennials and Wild flowers Fruit trees and soft fruit Quality plants for your projects
HELP is on hand for EU nationals and their families who live in South Gloucestershire. They now have less than 100 days to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to be able to continue living and working in the UK. Home Office figures show that not everyone knows they need to apply: 11,360 EU citizens living in South Gloucestershire have made the application, out of an estimated 17,000. After applying, 98% of successfully achieved either pre-settled or settled status. The multilingual team at Southern Brooks Community Partnership is raising awareness and giving individuals across South Gloucestershire support with all aspects of the EU settlement scheme. EU Brexit Development Coordinator Tamara Smith said: "Time is running out. So far we've helped many successful applicants, but we see a lot of cases where people didn't realise they need to apply. "Today we ask friends, colleagues, employers and neighbours of EU nationals to highlight the urgent need to apply and their right to remain in the UK. "We can support individuals through their application, but after June 30, people who have lived here for decades are at risk of becoming irregular migrants overnight." One mother of two, who had moved to the UK from Germany as a child in the 1940s and is technically a German national, said: "I did not realise I was European; I would never have thought Brexit applied to me." Groups likely to be excluded include older people, young people in care, children born here to EU parents, domestic violence victims (including those with an EU ex-partner) and temporary workers. Free multilingual support with applications is available from Southern Brooks Community Partnerships for South Gloucestershire residents by calling 07929 787 473 or emailing euss@southernbrooks.org.uk.
WORRIED ABOUT
BREXIT?
WE ARE HERE
TO HELP! Contact us if you are worried about how Brexit will affect you, or your family’s rights in the UK Deadline: 30th June 2021
Contact us via: euss@southernbrooks.org.uk www.southernbrooks.org.uk/brexit/
Landcare Nursery Chapel Lane, Old Sodbury, BS37 6SJ Tel 01454 310664
www.landcaretrees.co.uk
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Tel. 079 717 977 70 or 079 297 874 73
With the support of:
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
ST. ALDAMS FARM NURSERY EST. 1973
BUY DIRECT FROM THE GROWER
THE BEST PLANTS AT THE BEST PRICES
PANSIES 25 PLANTS £6.00
PERENNIALS From £6.00
PRIMROSES 15 PLANTS £6.00
PANSY BASKETS £7.00
LARGE SELECTION OF CERAMIC POTS
HEATHERS £2.00
ERIN MULTIPURPOSE COMPOST Top Quality
£6.00 each or 3 for £15
SEE OUR SITE FOR SPECIAL OFFERS staldamsnursery.co.uk
OPEN 7 DAYS - 9am - 5pm
Look forward to your visit. Come and find us on The Westerleigh Road between Pucklechurch village and the Westerleigh Crematorium
WESTERLEIGH ROAD, PUCKLECHURCH, BRISTOL BS16 9PY
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
17
n NEWS
Horsebox pizza parlour bounces back from blaze A NEW Thornbury venture selling takeaway food from a horsebox has bounced back from a fire that derailed its opening, thanks to support from the community. The House Box, owned by James Murray, who also owns Hawkes House Café and Bar in St Mary Street, had to be partly rebuilt after a fire started in the pizza oven in the early hours of January 14. Although firefighters from the town's fire station quickly put out the blaze, it destroyed the oven and wrecked some of the structure, which had to be partly rebuilt. The new venture was set up to bring in an income while the café and bar is closed during lockdown. After having to delay launching his venture by two weeks, James decided to hold a ‘flash opening’, giving just two hours’ notice to customers on his email list. They sold out of food in just 90 minutes. James said: "Since then we have had three bumper weekends. We've tripled the size of our sour dough 'mother' so we can now prep enough pizza to last us right through to 8pm on a Friday and Saturday night. "The daytimes have been great too." A total of 45 people are employed at
James Murray and Simon Extance at the House Box
The damage caused by the fire in January
Hawkes House, and the horsebox business was set up in the hope of protecting their jobs. It will eventually complement Hawkes House by providing food at functions. James said: “It's certainly been the most
challenging year of our business lives, the pandemic has hit so many people in different ways.” “Thornbury is such a great little town, the community really pulls together through adversity and this has been no exception.”
Relieve pain & live an active life with MBST MBST is an award-winning German innovation. It uses MRI-based technology to stimulate internal tissue healing and provide relief for a range of injuries & conditions. At the CURA Clinical practice in Westbury-onTrym near Bristol, we’ve used MBST to treat over 250 patients. We’ve seen a 90% improvement in our patients’ levels of pain and joint mobility.
Our most commonly treated conditions are: Osteoarthritis
Cartilage damage
Back & disc problems
Ligament, tendon & muscle damage
Bone conditions & fractures
Sports injuries
“I’ve been hugely impressed by the significant improvement in symptoms by my patients I have referred to CURA Clinical. This is a group of patients who, up until now, have few other effective options. I recommend it highly.” Jonathan Webb MB ChB FRCS (Orth), Consultant Knee Surgeon
Hear what our patients say about MBST:
www.curaclinical.com
Speak to our Clinical Director, James Scrimshaw
0117 959 6531
Chiropractic | MBST Cell Regeneration Therapy | Laser Therapy
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
18
n THORNBURY CLINIC
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
The importance of a proper warm-up
Nick Robilliard is a senior physiotherapist at the Thornbury Clinic, alongside his work in the NHS. Nick has advised GB athletes on maintaining performance and preventing injury, and can regularly be seen on pitch side at Twickenham.
WITH the new year and our third lockdown inspiring new running and fitness goals across the nation, the importance of proactive running habits is one of the most common conversations I have with my patients. But what does this mean? Some of you may already be aware of the importance of a warm-up and a cool-down, but what other proactive measures should you be taking to ensure you remain injury-free and on track to reach your goals? For years, it was thought that a warm-up entailed standing in the cold, working through a series of static stretches, with the hope this would somewhat benefit you. Research shows that static stretching does not achieve the purpose of a warm-up. Due to the static nature, it does not raise your heart rate, lubricate joints, metabolically prime muscles for work, increase elasticity in connective tissues, open capillaries, or raise your core body
4 Castle Street, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 1HB
Facilitating Recovery, Preventing Injury
temperature. A static warm-up also aims to elongate muscles, which can have a counterproductive effect, due to our muscles needing to hold degree of tension to assist performance and reduce injury when running. So, what should you do to warm up? A dynamic warm-up is designed to deliver heat and prepare your muscles to function through their full range of movement, helping to reduce the resistance felt by opposing muscle pairs during running. This is especially important in the cold weather we are currently experiencing. Our muscles are like chewing gum: when cold, they stay stiff rather than supple, and running on cold muscles is a recipe for injury. The cold increases the amount of time it takes for our muscles and joints to warm up, so layering up and taking the extra time needed to ensure your body is fully prepared is vitally important. A dynamic warm-up typically consists of a 10-minute jog, followed by a series of mobility movements. These movements mimic our running motion through exaggerated range, and help to reduce the tension from our non-active running muscles that limit the function of our active and important ones. Movements such as side lunges, side-to-side leg swings, front-back leg swings, walking lunges, high knees and heel flicks are all proven to be running-specific and minimise risk of muscle strains. But what else can you do outside of a warm up to safeguard yourself from an injury? Ensure you are wearing
well-fitted and well-maintained footwear, with tread appropriate for the terrain that you are tackling. Some footwear has built-in arch support that can help to reduce the pressure on your feet and calves. Be sure to see a fitter within a running shop to have your gait analysed- for a pair of trainers that suit your biomechanics. Research states that strength training helps to minimise the risk of overloading muscles that are having to compensate for the weakness, or lack of activation within other cruciallyimportant muscles. Core and hip strengthening can help to prevent runner’s knee, whilst strengthening hamstrings and calves can prevent plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of part of your foot. In addition, strength training can improve your performance and your technique, through supporting your running posture and maximising your efficiency. Flexibility can help to tackle the increase in stiffness caused by tight and overused muscles around a joint. However, as discussed, this work should not be completed prior to a run. You can try using a tennis ball or foam roller to further help this. It’s a form of self soft tissue massage that takes some determination. For further information about how a specific strength, flexibility or warm-up programme can help you, do not hesitate to book an appointment with one of our clinicians. You can book by calling 01454 838366, email info@ thethornburyclinic.co.uk or book online at www.thethornburyclinic. co.uk.
Update from Thornbury Library Treatments we offer include: Sports injury treatment Injury assessment & treatment Sports massage • Relaxation massage Pregancy massage • Clinical Psychology
Tel: 01454 838 366
info@thethornburyclinic.co.uk www.thethornburyclinic.co.uk
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
LIBRARIES continue to work within current government regulations, with safety measures in place. Services we are able to offer during this time include borrowing items using click and collect, and limited computer access – we strongly recommend checking our website www.southglos.gov.uk/ librarychanges or calling 01454 865022 for current information before leaving home, as services may change at short notice. Our free online library is always open for library members to download eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, digital magazines and newspapers www.southglos.gov.uk/eresources has all the details. If you are not already a library member you can join online at bit.ly/joinLW - membership is free. You will receive an Online Membership number which will work for our digital services right away. Please enter an email address when you register for greater control of your account.
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
19
n COMMUNITY NEWS
50th birthday celebration for Thornbury Rotary THORNBURY Rotary Club celebrates a big anniversary this year. The club held its inaugural meeting on April 30, 1971 and was presented with its charter on August 31 the same year. With 50 years of service to the local community, the club is delighted to report that it has raised over half a million pounds for local charities, good causes, projects overseas and worldwide disaster relief. President Barry Williams wishes to thank all sponsors and supporters for their outstanding help and involvement. Founder President Peter Birkett later served as Thornbury Town Mayor from 1974-75. Peter was a partner in the dental practice of Messrs Birkett, Carlyle and Cole-Morgan, which later became Bank Cottage Dental. In the name of Rotary, he carried out vital dental work in the Philippines, Manaus (Brazil), Guatemala and Nairobi (Kenya). Two founder members of the Rotary Club are still active members today. Nigel Dawes, of Olveston, and Maurice Stagg, of Alveston have, between them, racked up 100 years of dedicated work for the
Thornbury Rotary Club founder members nigel Dawes and Maurice Stagg are still active today community. Rotary’s COVID-19 Appeal has now run its course and 12 local charitable organisations have benefited. Some residual funds from the Appeal, and additional funds, have been given to the Castle School Education Trust for student home education. Angus Smith, CSET ITC Lead, expressed his sincere thanks, on behalf of the trust, teachers and students’ families for the donation. With the money CSET has provided five Chromebooks for families who could not afford the purchase of computers for their children’s home schooling.
Also, some members of the Rotary Club have donated their old laptops to support the cause. Disappointingly, Rotary has had to cancel this year's popular Swimarathon event, which is usually held in early March, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Whilst there are encouraging signs with the roll-out of the vaccination programme moving at a good pace, it is unlikely that such a big event like the Swimarathon could be run in the coming months. Instead a sponsored group walk event is being planned for May or June. This will be managed in a safe
and secure way, complying with covid restrictions at the time. Anyone wishing to take part can contact Mark Wilkinson via email at markwilkinson777@ hotmail.com. Rotary Worldwide celebrated its 108th anniversary on February 23, marking a year of great achievements to eradicate polio. The annual incidence has decreased by over 99% since the global initiative was launched in 1988. Rotary has been a leading light in this work. The Thornbury club owns a mobile iron lung exhibit, which is available for hire and has been deployed over the South to help raise funds and awareness. As a level of normality resumes during the year, the club will be re-activating its ever-important youth initiatives, which include a wide range of activities such as Young Musician, Young Chef, Youth Speaks and Kids Out. Thornbury Rotary is the main sponsor for the Thornbury Junior Golf Open, which has been delayed until Tuesday July 27. For more details see our website, thornburyrotary. org, or our Facebook page @ ThornburyRotary Adrian Dennis
Round Table's 28 days of kindness THORNBURY Round Table kicked off a national campaign, leading Round Tables across the UK pledging random acts of kindness to their communities during February. The group has pledged a total of £400 to the Trussell Trust food back in Thornbury in recognition of the work that coordinators Ruth Williams, Sarah Dunn and their team have done for the community. Thornbury Round Tabler Rocco Cerullo said: "Over the past 11 months, COVID-19 has had a huge impact on our community. "Many have been hit harder than others and often finding themselves isolated and their
circumstances difficult. "Last spring, a few locals decided to set up a support group to provide a means for the local community to reach out and just ask for help. "Over the past 10 months, this group has provided a huge range of support from, collecting shopping, prescriptions and other necessities due to self-isolating, providing support for those feeling vulnerable and struggling with mental health, identifying suitable support for those living alone, helping resolve difficulties encountered during lockdowns and much more; it can be said that this group have gone above and beyond to ensure the community
had support and a platform to reach. "Two individuals, in particular, have worked tirelessly to coordinate the group, be the point of contact, and themselves go out of their way to provide that much needed support. "We at Thornbury Round table would like to recognise Ruth Williams, Sarah Dunn and their team for their vision to support the local community." Round Table Great Britain and Ireland National President Matt Eaton said: "Thornbury Round Table, as with hundreds of others across the UK, have supported our neighbours when they have needed us the most.
"When vast parts of our country have been shut, our doors and our hearts have remained open. "Our 28 days of kindness campaign is built upon the random acts of kindness movement and is a way of thanking the local community, as well as showing the incredible culture of Round Tabling that at our core we are built by kindness. "I thank Thornbury Round Table for their kindness and compassion at such a difficult time. There is no better time to join Round Table to help make a difference to the lives of others, while making lifelong friends."
WE'REONLINETOO! WWW.THORNBURYVOICE.CO.UK To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
Tockington Manor School and Nursery for boys & girls aged 2 - 13 Limited spaces for Reception 2021 and 2022. Join us for Year 7 and 8 and benefit from our enviable success in delivering entry into first choice senior schools
We are offering personalised tours of the school and nursery from the comfort of your own home. Discover how Tockington could be the perfect fit for your family with our small friendly classes, excellent distance learning programme, family approach to education and wrap-around care. Contact us to book your 1-2-1 video call and tour with our Headmaster at a time convenient for you. 01454 613229
asymonds@tockingtonmanorschool.com
www.tockingtonmanorschool.com
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
n NEWS MARLWOOD School pupils have taken part in what is thought to be the first collaboration of its kind to produce a list of frequently asked questions and answers about COVID-19 aimed at young people. The idea came out of a conversation between Marlwood’s executive head teacher, Del Planter, and Andrew Best, the school’s strategic lead for education. Mr Planter set up the session with South Gloucestershire Council’s public health team, and it took place before the latest lockdown. Students watched a live video presentation and worked on compiling the questions and answers in their tutor groups. Mr Planter said: “I was pleased that we were able to arrange direct communication between Public Health South Gloucestershire and our students on so important a matter. "Our students did a fantastic job of framing thoughtful questions. The whole process is a great example of various organisations working effectively
21
Marlwood produces COVID-19 Q&A for the young Some of the Year 10 pupils at Marlwood School who helped produce the COVID-19 questions and answers together for the benefit of the students and the wider community.” The list of questions include: why do we have to wear a mask if there is a hole around it; is it safe to go to school if my parents are critical workers; why do we have to wear masks when going to classes if we have to go outside, and will I be tested at school
YATE: 01454 837677
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
when they reopen? The questions and answers have been shared with schools and young people across South Gloucestershire. In schools, numbers attending during this lockdown have increased relative to the first lockdown last year. In some of Thornbury’s schools more than 4 out of 10
pupils are present, an increase believed to be down to the government’s decision to classify more children as ‘vulnerable’ and therefore entitled to be in school. The next challenge on the horizon for school leaders is running COVID-19 testing on site for staff and pupils. This is already underway at some schools. Will Roberts, the chief executive of the Castle School Education Trust, which oversees seven schools, including Castle and Marlwood, said that staff testing was starting first before pupil testing. He said: "We’d like a bit more evidence of efficacy of the tests first. I want to be in a position where we are ready to do it if there is a national green light on it. It is a useful additional control measure but it needs to be on top of everything else that we do."
MOBILE: 07922 069253
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
22
March, 2021
n LOCAL MP
The best schools for our children are a priority
A
S we look to build back better and recover from the coronavirus pandemic, and with our children returning to their vital studies back at school, investing in South Gloucestershire’s education is more important than ever. It is an absolute priority to deliver the very best schools for our children. I am thrilled that our campaign to deliver a new secondary school in Lyde Green has succeeded, having now secured the necessary funding through the Government’s Free Schools Programme. We took this campaign directly to the Secretary of State for Education, and secured a debate in the House of Commons. South Gloucestershire Council’s bid
for funding was ultimately successful, which has made this vision for a brand new school a firm reality. Having identified and secured a suitable site, plans for the new 900-place secondary school can now move onto the next important stage, with planning permission set to be determined next month. The school will focus on engineering and digital technology across all age groups, developing employability skills for older students, and will also provide an inclusive environment for children with autism. This follows the exciting announcement of a £10 million refurbishment for Castle School and Marlwood School in Thornbury. This includes a new build at the Castle School, as
well as refurbishment of existing classroom space. The new building will accommodate new teaching areas for Art, English and Maths and remodelling will accommodate the school’s sixth form. However the investment for Thornbury and Alveston does not stop there, and I am excited that we are making further progress with our bid for a brand new SEND school for the community. The new SEN school is on track to be delivered for 2023, and the community will be consulted on proposals in due course. I will keep everyone updated over the coming weeks. It is not just investment for new schools either, as maintenance work has been announced for many of our
Luke Hall MP writes for Thornbury Voice
rural schools including in Frampton Cotterell, Old Sodbury, Iron Acton, Wickwar and Rangeworthy. As a local father educated in state schools in South Gloucestershire, I am determined to deliver my positive plan for our schools: building new schools, delivering the very best resources, technology and buildings for our children to learn and thrive in.
Will Writing & Estate Planning A Will lets you protect your family’s inheritance and decide how your assets are shared out – if you don’t make a Will, the law says who gets what.
Please feel free to call us during office hours on: 0117 952 0698
or email
info@elm-online.co.uk www.elm-online.co.uk We have a Bristol-based team of trained Will writing consultants who provide a home visiting service and can take your instructions in the comfort of your own home.
Mirror Wills Single Or Couples FROM £99.00
Making Secure Plans for Uncertain Futures
Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
23
n COMMUNITY NEWS
Meet the chairman – Royal British Legion THE Thornbury and District Branch of the Royal British Legion has a new Chairman, Larry Cauchi. I caught up with Larry for a socially distanced chat, to find out more about him. “It was almost pre-ordained that I would join the RAF following time in the Air Training Corps and a love of aircraft," said Larry. "My grandfather and two uncles were all military men, and their stories influenced me as I was growing up. "I was in the RAF for 26 years and served in Germany, the Middle East and USA as well as in UK." Larry trained as an aircraft engineer and says he enjoyed all the many extra ‘perks’ of service life – sport, travel and adventure. "I was also fortunate to be invited to Buckingham Palace to attend a Royal Garden Party, which was something of a highlight," he said. "An important feature of my time in the service was the comradeship, which is an intrinsic part of being in the military family. "In fact, my reasons for originally joining the Royal British Legion were to maintain that sense of belonging to the military family, for comradeship and in order to help those in need, both locally and in the wider RBL community." After leaving the RAF, Larry moved to RollsRoyce Defence in Bristol and managed the operations desk, providing technical support to air forces around the world. "As the new chairman of our branch, I would
like to increase and build our membership," he said. "Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be serving or a veteran of the Armed Forces. In fact, anyone who shares our aims and values can join the RBL and will be very welcome." Larry wants to build on the successful welfare support provided for members.
"Since the first lockdown our members have rallied to support each other," he said. "We have a team of volunteers ready to help with shopping, prescriptions and the like, and we have been making weekly calls to our members to make sure they are OK, and to provide those on their own some social exchange." Raising funds for the annual Poppy Appeal takes up much of the RBL's time, with last year's appeal raising over £17,000 thanks to the incredible generosity of Thornbury people. When he has time off, Larry makes the most of family time and also enjoys gardening, walking, cycling and motorcycling. "I love foreign travel and have been lucky enough to visit many places all around the world with my military career," he said. "The one place I would still love to visit is Svalbard island, to study the polar bears. I never made it there with the RAF. "If I had my time over again I would say be true to yourself, follow the subjects you enjoy and listen to those older and wiser." Covid restrictions mean the normal monthly branch meetings in the Black Horse on Gillingstool are suspended. Larry said: "We look forward to resuming these meetings as soon as we can, and anybody who would like to join the branch will be very welcome." John Black
Join the Oddfellows for friendship FRIENDSHIP group Bristol Oddfellows is inviting anyone struggling with the impact of spending increasing time alone to join them at one of their regular free online social events. Bristol Oddfellows social organiser Demi Trotman said: “It’s been a hard start to 2021 for many. "Even though we can’t meet up, we still want to bring a bit of friendly conversation, company and comfort into people’s homes. "Having something to look forward to in your day can be a real mood-lifter." Bristol Oddfellows has members from across the Bristol area and meets regularly to socialise, fundraise and to support each other. With face-to-face meetings currently restricted by covid rules, the group has a diary of upcoming Zoom events, which they can send out to anyone should they get in touch. Some of its public local and
national events include: Every Wednesday at 11am national cuppa and chat. Meeting ID: 988 3920 7187 Every Thursday at 2pm - justfor-fun Thursdays. Meeting ID: 988 3920 7187 Demi said: "If you don’t know where to start with using Zoom, drop the event host a line and they’ll happily talk you through it. "You just need a good internet connection and a device such as a smartphone, tablet or computer." The Oddfellows, a national friendly society with branches across the UK, was set up in 1810 to offer workers and their families insurance should they fall on hard times. It has 309,000 members across 121 branches nationwide. As well as offering opportunities to socialise locally and to volunteer, the society continues to provide help to its members through difficult periods, with care, welfare and financial
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
support. A non-profit mutual run by members for members, the society aims to improve the quality of people’s lives through friendship, care and charity. It costs from £25 a year to join as a member.
To receive a copy of the society's events diary, contact Demi on 07722 010120 or email demi.trotman@oddfellows.co.uk. Future events are also listed online at www.oddfellows.co.uk/ events.
18 High Street, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 2AH
www.foxhillsjewellers.com
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
24
n LOCAL HISTORY
thornburyvoice
Handel Cossham: Preacher, educationalist andpolitician LAST month historian David Blackmore looked at the early life and industrial success of Handel Cossham, a Thornbury boy who went on to become an MP and philanthropist. This month, David looks at his religious and educational work, his public life and legacy. AS Handel Cossham grew up in Thornbury, he listened to some of the most celebrated nonconformist speakers and ministers. At 16 Cossham himself became a teacher in the Thornbury Congregationalist Chapel's Sunday school. By 18, he was addressing temperance meetings, and became a school teacher and a lay preacher. It was only the start of a lifetime of service, which would see him continue to preach, found schools and eventually lead to him becoming an MP – and a benefactor for the public good after his death. The 1858 Primitive Methodist magazine gives an account of the opening of Mangotsfield Primitive Methodist chapel, which had operated from a single room since 1836. Cossham became very interested in the church, and his drive and enthusiasm bought new life into its activities. A revival in January 1857, with 60-70 new members, made more room essential and the foundation stone of a new chapel was laid by Cossham, then living at Shortwood Lodge. It was built by local preacher Mr Lambert and opened that November. A Sunday school was added and it eventually became Cossham Street Methodist Church. Education was of huge importance to Cossham, and he helped set up the British School (to provide Christian but non-sectarian education) near the colliery in Thornbury in 1850, before establishing an infants school at Pucklechurch, and British Schools at Mangotsfield, Staple Hill and Gillingstool, Thornbury, which was built in 1862. He also started schools for
A bust of Handel Cossham stands in the hospital funded by his legacy and named in his honour. his colliers' children in Yate and Parkfield, between Pucklechurch and Lyde Green. Cossham was involved in the temperance movement to curtail alcohol consumption from the age of 13 and it was a fundamental part of his lifelong beliefs. In his later life it was reported that Cossham said of his 1,500 employees that "if total abstinence prevailed, wages would be raised 25 per cent without strikes or agitation, and with injury to no one". When he bought the old Wesleyan Chapel in Thornbury for £150 in 1888 and donated it to a group of trustees for use as a public hall – later to be named Cossham Hall – he stated that “liquors and tobacco shall not be sold or supplied”. The hall was to be used for “philanthropic, religious, moral,
March, 2021
political, educational, musical and general purposes”. In the 1860’s Cossham entered politics, becoming a Bristol city councillor for the St Paul’s ward, where he defeated the Conservative candidate by a large majority, and he then turned his ambition towards Parliament, standing unsuccessfully at Nottingham in 1866, Dewsbury in 1868 and Chippenham in 1874. From 1882 to 1885 he was mayor of Bath and, in November 1885, became the first Liberal MP for the newly-created East Bristol constituency. The November 28 edition of the Western Daily Press recorded the celebrations on a dark and wet night on Troopers Hill, saying: "A large crowd of three or four thousand persons assembled, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. Numerous tar barrels were placed together and ignited, and the bonfire might have been seen from the greater part of Bristol." During his time in Parliament Cossham contributed to 272 debates and it was in London that he died of a heart attack on April 23 1890, either at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall or in the House of Commons, according to conflicting reports. At the time of his death his home was Holly Lodge, in Holly Lodge Road, St George, where he had served on the local and school boards. On the day of Cossham's funeral an estimated 50,000 people were present at the St George Cemetery – now Avonview – or lined the route. Cossham was a staunch advocate for a local park, with St George Park eventually being laid out after his death, on 38 acres of land at Fire Engine Farm in 1894. Having no children, in his will he directed his trustees to build and endow a hospital near
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Cossham's memorial in Avonview Cemetery, St George Kingswood Hill for the treatment and relief of the sick and injured. The hospital cost £30,000 to build and furnish, with a further £90,000 invested in an endowment to maintain 50 beds. Cossham Hospital eventually opened in 1907 at the top of Lodge Hill, on the border of Fishponds and Kingswood. Cossham dedicated it to the working people of East Bristol and South Gloucestershire, "that I may hereafter be remembered by the sick and suffering as a friend who, in death, as well as in life, felt it his duty to try to lessen human suffering and increase human happiness". *Elements of this article were produced with the help of Thornbury Roots website, www. thornburyroots.co.uk
Cossham Hospital was paid for by a bequest in Handel Cossham's will.
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2021
thornburyvoice
25
n MOTORING
A guide to pre-owned cars with Richard Cooke
Second-hand Style No cars, no lamp posts – go off road in spring
WITH apologies to Tom Lehrer (he’s still alive!), spring is not yet here. And life, of late, has been neither skittles nor beer. However spring does, without fail, get me dreaming about motorbikes. Riding in temperatures of less than 10 degrees is painful, but in spring…each year I try and justify buying a bike, an objectively insane notion given that my demographic is right in the sweet spot of over-confidence and intensive care. Or worse. But what about off-road bikes? No cars in the way, no buses or lamp-posts to hit. No concrete, kerbs or pedestrians. Off-roading is heaven, and off road bikes become my favourite thing in the world by April. Funny thing is, no-one seems to buy them any more. Peak sales for off-roaders in the UK was the late 80s and throughout the 90s,
which coincided with the main manufacturers getting these bikes just about ‘right’. They looked ace, were lightweight, powerful and well built for trail riding. Such machines are now attracting high prices as nascent classics, which makes me feel old. It also makes me pleased, now that others are starting to recognise how good these bikes are. So this month I’m sharing my top 4 springtime ‘classic’ off road bike recommendations with you. First a word of warning: twenty years ago I bought a ‘D’ reg (1987) Honda XR600R for £850 from an architect in Putney. It is this month’s picture, and it is wonderful. I do not recommend this bike to you. It was never officially imported here, and for good reason. The ‘600’ figure, like all numbers I mention below, represents the engine size,
so 600cc. This is too big and powerful for the sort of riding you will do off road in the UK. Bikes this size are built for the outback of Australia, fire roads of California and, in my case, the under-construction mud of the new A120. It was kick-start only – never again. If you dropped it, both carburettors flooded and it had to be left to stand for five minutes before it would start again. I loved that bike, but I wouldn’t buy it again and nor should you. Better to go smaller and lighter, for the narrow trails and steep muddy banks that you will be riding on. First up the Yamaha DT125. Two stroke, powerful when derestricted, very attractive to thieves back in the 90s. Kurt Benson rode one in Hollyoaks. An incredibly cool bike for a 17 year old. However, two strokes are pretty anti-social, and they need a load of maintenance if thrashed. So my remaining choices are thumpers rather than screamers. Next up is the Suzuki DR350. Probably the best compromise here, as it works nicely on-road as well as off. Softly sprung, enough power (c.30hp) without being too much and an electric start on some models. Much better looking than the DR400 that replaced it. I don’t think there is a better bike to learn to wheelie on. Recommended. However, for the same power
and a bit less weight try and track down the mean green Kawasaki KLX250. Stick to the original 1990s version, with the rectangular headlamp. I rode the current model a few years ago, and it just didn’t have the manic power delivery of the earlier nut-job 90s effort. If you want serious power and all your neighbours to hate you, look to the Kawasaki KDX range. Two-stroke insanity, with 40hp and properly feather-weight. The winner, and the bike I should have bought instead of the XR600, is Honda’s XR400. Same bike but less weight, an electric start (hooray!), officially imported so plenty of supply, and enough power to ride on A-roads if required. They aren’t cheap though – prices reflect how good they are. Remember, motorcycles don’t depreciate like cars do. This bike is simple enough to service at home, with all the mechanical parts accessible. Honda just build their bikes better than the competition, with superb design, fit and finish. The flip side is a reputation for being a bit boring, but trust me, Honda XRs are anything but. Get out there! What to pay: Honda XR400 1996-2003 - £3,000.
www.filton-central.co.uk To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
26
n ADVERTISING FEATURE
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
Clevedon Salerooms – A trusted name in art and antiques for over 160 years
FOUNDED in 1860 Clevedon Salerooms is one of the longest established fine art auction houses in the South West. We hold regular Interiors sales and specialist Fine Art auctions. Our popular Interiors sales offer a diverse range of antiques and later furnishings and collectables, whilst our quarterly specialist Fine Art auctions attract buyers from around the world. Our friendly and knowledgeable team can assist with all aspects of buying and selling as well as certified valuations for Probate, Insurance and family division. Our experienced valuers are always happy to provide free sale estimates, either by email or where appropriate, by home visit. The start of 2021 saw us welcoming Chris Yeo to our Valuations team. Chris is a familiar face to many from his appearances on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow
Managing Director Marc Burridge which he joined in 2015. As well as playing an important part in cataloguing our specialist Fine Art auctions and our regular Interiors sales, Chris will be using his skills to develop our reputation for 20th Century Design – due in no small part to his Curatorship of the renowned Ken Stradling Collection in Bristol, a post which he will continue to hold. Chris looks forward to meeting the public to deal with a broad
Chris Yeo on Antiques Roadshow with presenter Fiona Bruce spectrum of valuation enquiries. This appointment enhances our team of valuers covering Bristol, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds,
complementing our existing coverage of Clevedon, Somerset, and the wider South West and Wales.
Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers
A Trusted Presence Since 1860 Our friendly and experienced team continue working throughout Lockdown, offering a full range of services, including: •
• •
Online Auctions with telephone and commission bidding
Free valuations by email and telephone Valuations for probate and insurance
Please contact us for more information
Covid secure home visits available www.csrauctions.com 01934 830 111 info@csrauctions.com Clevedon Salerooms, The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Clevedon, Bristol, BS21 6TT
Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120
Large pair of Chinese Canton Famille Rose porcelain vases Valued over email ~ Sold for £1,300 Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
27
n NEWS
Ben runs all day for Thornbury charity A FUNDRAISER undertook a 12-hour running challenge to help a Thornbury charity. Ben Burch ran a 6km circuit continuously between 7am and 7pm on February 20, totalling more than 100km, and encouraged others to join him in supporting the Samaritans and Phase, a local charity which provides support, counselling, mentoring and more to young people and their families in Thornbury and surrounding areas. The charities were chosen as Ben was keen to support organisations dealing with the many mental health and loneliness consequences of society having been forced to distance during the pandemic. Supporters of Phase joined in with the challenge by walking, running, cycling or scooting their own 6km route in yellow attire, to ensure that they were easily spotted from a social distance. The total raised was not known as the Voice went to press. A spokesperson for Phase said: "It was a fantastic day, which allowed supporters to connect virtually with one another in a fun way during this socially-isolated time. "The team at Phase are extremely grateful to Ben and all those who participated and donated, as the funds raised help to keep the charity’s vital services running." To find out more about the work of Phase visit the charity's Facebook page or website, phasethornbury.org.
Solving all your legal problems…. locally….
For You:
Our new Thornbury branch is open
Accident and Injury | Cohabitation | Conveyancing | Court of Protection | Crime Disputes | Employee Relocation | Employment Family Law and Divorce | Medical Negligence | New Homes | Notary Public | Probate | Probate Disputes | Wills and Mental Capacity
For Your Business:
Business Disputes | Business Employment | Business Relocation | Commercial Property | Commercial Services | Crime Debt Recovery | New Homes Developers | Notary Public
Get in touch: 01454 204899
Wards Solicitors, 41 High Street, Thornbury BS35 2AR Email: contactthornbury@wards.uk.com Offices in: Bradley Stoke | Central Bristol | Clevedon | Henleaze | Keynsham Nailsea | Portishead | Staple Hill | Thornbury | Weston-super-Mare | Worle | Yate
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
wards.uk.com Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
28
March, 2021
n NEWS
Support for people with sight loss TWO local support groups have joined forces to help people affected by sight loss living in the Thornbury and Chipping Sodbury areas. The combined group, now called the Macular Society South Gloucestershire telephone support group, is one of more than 400 groups across the UK organised by leading sight loss charity the Macular Society. The groups are part of a broader range of telephone and online support services the society has introduced, following the suspension of its face to face
activities when the pandemic first hit last year. Support group sessions are run by the charity’s regional managers or volunteers and are open to anyone with macular disease, their families or friends. Calls for the South Gloucestershire Group will be held at 2pm on the fourth Monday of each month, until face-to-face group meetings can be safely resumed. Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK. Nearly 1.5 million people are currently affected and many
more are at risk. It can leave them unable to drive, read or see faces. There is still no cure and most types of the disease are not treatable. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common form of macular disease, affecting more than 600,000 people, usually over the age of 50. Macular Society regional manager Judy Pride said: “It’s absolutely vital that everyone who needs our support continues to receive it. Although our faceto-face services have had to be
suspended for the time being, we are still on the end of the phone and would strongly urge anyone to call us if they do need our assistance." Anyone who would like to call in to the group or needs more information about additional support services available locally should call Tyler Phillips, peer support coordinator for the Macular Society, on 07920 643 710 or email tyler.phillips@ macularsociety.org. For information on other services currently available from the Macular Society, call the charity’s Advice and Information Service on 0300 3030 111 or email help@macularsociety.org.
Time to help? TH
OR
NB
UR
Y
open daily WalK-in oRdeRS & deliVeRy Monday - SatuRday 11:30aM - 2pM & 4:30pM - 9pM Sunday 4:30pM - 9pM Gluten FRee aVailaBle Sunday & Monday lunch: until 2pM & eVeninG: until 8pM ORDER ON-LINE TO PRE-ORDER & PREPAY FOR COLLECTION OR DELIVERY www.deepbluerestaurants.com SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES IN PLACE 26A High Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AH
Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120
THORNBURY Volunteer Centre is helping to link up organisations who need help with people who have an hour or two to spare. This month help is needed from people who can be a "digital connector volunteers" to help others navigate around the internet and digital communications. The home-based role is to support and advise patients with respiratory diseases such as asthma to digitally access services and resources. A trust which operates residential and supported housing in South Gloucestershire is looking for enthusiastic people with a skill or a hobby that they would be happy to do as a joint activity with someone they would befriend, from arts and crafts or music to crosswords or video games. A Zoom social activity leader is also needed to lead video socials based on a skill or a hobby they have. Sessions are held on a Thursday at 11ammidday. A Thornbury tearoom is looking for volunteers when it is allowed to reopen, serving teas and coffees and chatting to customers once a week or fortnight in the morning or afternoon. For more information about any role email Thornbury Volunteer Centre on mail@ volunteer-thornbury.co.uk.
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2021
n SPORT THERE have been man changes at Thornbury Cricket Club over the past month, as we await the green light from the government to re-open the club. For the first time since it was opened in 1985, the Thornbury Cricket Club bar has been refurbished, bringing a fresh and modern look to our historic club. Additionally, reconstruction of the Ladies toilets has been taking place over the winter months, with completion expected in early March. Both projects have benefited from the fantastic support of numerous club members, ensuring the club is in a position to be ‘open all hours’ for our members to enjoy, once restrictions are lifted. On the field, the club is preparing for the biggest season in its history. A record high 300 members, aged five to 65, are set to represent Thornbury across 25 teams in men’s, women’s, boys' and girls' leagues. Pre-season starts on April 3 with a club event at the Ship Field, which kicks off an actionpacked month of cricket. Fixture details will be published on social media throughout March, so follow @ ThornburyCC on Twitter and search for ‘Thornbury Cricket Club’ on Facebook for more information. The West of England Premier
29
Cricket club wait for the green light for season
Work in progress to improve Thornbury Cricket Club's bar League have released their fixtures for the 2021 season, which starts on May 1st. The 1st XI, who are aiming for promotion from the Premier 2 Glos/Wilts division, will travel to Goatacre CC. The 2nd XI, who are making their debut in WEPL Gloucestershire Prem 3, host Painswick CC 1st XI at the Ship Field.
The 3rd & 4th XI will campaign in the Bristol & District leagues (fixtures TBA), whilst our newly formed 5th XI will provide social cricket for our members. The club formed both girls' and women's teams in 2020 and, with 90 members already registered, they have proved immensely popular: everyone is hopeful of a full season of
fixtures. The club boasts three professional coaches, headed up by director of cricket and Gloucestershire CCC 2nd XI Coach Owen Dawkins. The club is delighted to have Stuart Houghton and Simon Hinks assisting in delivering many hours of quality coaching, to aid player development across adult and junior teams. Thornbury Cricket Club aims to put the fun back into people’s lives by providing an engaging and social outlet for families to enjoy. The 2021 season marks the 150th anniversary of Thornbury Cricket Club, so the club is hopeful that restrictions will allow our bar to open and players to return to training, in time for a packed summer schedule. For more details about social/ club hire and youth, girls' and women's cricket, call Harry Hawkins on 07512 555 513 or email rhawkins8097@gmail. com. For men’s cricket, call Simon Weeks on 0753 076 1648 or email sweeksgolf@hotmail.com.
Tributes paid to rugby great John Pullin, from Aust THE Bristol, England and British Lions rugby player John Pullin, who came from Aust, has died at the age of 79. Tributes from around the world have been paid to the hooker, who started his career with Bristol Saracens’ third team before embarking on a career that saw him play for the British Lions before he retired in 1978. John was educated at Thornbury Grammar School.
According to an obituary in the Daily Telegraph, he never made the school’s first XV but was captain of the seconds until he was dropped for smoking on the school bus. He captained England, and took them to play Ireland in Dublin at the height of the Troubles in 1972. Scotland and Wales had refused to go. England lost heavily, but
Advertise your business in Thornbury Voice Contact Richard on 01454 800 120 To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
Pullin was lauded for an afterdinner speech when he said: “We were not much good but at least we turned up."
He was a farmer in Aust all his life, following several generations of his family.
Passenger AssistantAssistant required by local Passenger
required by local community transport provider. Escorting children on community transport provider. Escorting a mini-bus to and am andto pm. 20 hrsfrom per week Monday to children onfrom a school, mini-bus and school, Friday term time only. Full training provided, successful candidate must am and pm. 20 hrs per week Monday to be prepared to have full DBS (security checking), immediate start. Full Friday termCovid time only. competitive Full training PPE will be supplied, compliant, rates of pay.
provided, successful candidate must be prepared to have fullyour DBS details (securityto For more info email checking), immediate start. Full PPE will be info@4tvl.org.uk or phone 01454 250500 supplied, Covid compliant, competitive rates of pay.
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk For more info email your details to
thornburyvoice
30
thornburyvoice LOCAL SERVICES DO YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS?
email us at: contact@ thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2021
BUILDING
PLUMBING
MK Building Services Alterations • Foundations/Drainage Works Extensions • Repairs/Insurance work Decking/Patios • Driveways - Block Paving Friendly Service & Competitive Rates
Tel: 01454 822580 or Mobile: 07980 567726 mark.kembrey@hotmail.co.uk www.mkbuildingservicesbristol.co.uk
AERIAL MAN
• Digital Aerials • Fully Guaranteed • Repairs • Satellites • Free Quotes • OAP Discount • Additional TV Points • Humax Recorders Affordable Prices - Reliable Service
01454 660046
Lalu’s Gardening Service Call 07490 514641/ 01454 616034
22, Orchard Rise, Olveston, Bristol, BS35 4DY 11 years experience ✻ hedge trimming ✻ tree felling ✻ tree trunk excavating ✻ creating lawns & patios ✻ artificial grass laying ✻ patio cleaning (by hand not jet wash which loosens slabs) ✻ Fully insured ✻ Own power & hand tools ✻ Own transport ✻ Qualifications in tree surgery and heavy lifting & manhandling
GROUNDWORKS
CARPET CLEANING
• Patios • Tarmac • Fencing • Turfing • Decking • Drainage • Driveways • Blockpaving • Foundations • Site Clearance • Concrete Bases • Stump Removal
0117
956 4475
TREE SERVICES
GARDENING Horticulture, Landscaping & Garden Clearance
www.theaerialman.co.uk
Taps, Washers Toilets, Cisterns Leaks, Blockages Tanks, Overflows Lead Pipes, Stopcocks….etc… OAP DISCOUNTS and NO VAT
D. ATTWELL LANDSCAPING & TREE SERVICES All Garden Works Undertaken All Foliage Removed – Roots Destroyed Patios Laid – Slabbing – Decking Block Paving – Gravelling – Fencing Wood Chippings – Clearance – Garden Walls Drives & Patios Jetwashed & Resealed • FULLY INSURED • LICENSED WASTE CARRIER
For a FREE quote call 07960 681 921 d.attwellgardenservices@hotmail.co.uk
RUBBISH CLEARANCE Garden, Clearance House, Garden, Office Clearance House,House, Garden, OfficeOffice Clearance
House, Garden, Office Clearance - all Plus all other Plus All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too! House, Garden, Office Clearance -- Plus other House, Garden, Office Clearance Plus all other Plus Plus All All Your Your Other Other Waste Waste Removal Removal Needs Needs too! too! On-average Average cheaper than a skip. On OnAverage cheaper cheaper than than aa skip. skip. removal On average cheaper waste removal On cheaper than aa skip wastewaste removal -Average On average cheaper than than skipa skip
07592 003 Tel: 07592 506 003003 Tel: 07592 506 Tel:Tel: 07592 506506 003 1/4 Load 1/4 £89 1/4 Load Load £89 £89 Half Half £139 Half Load Load Load £139£139 3/4 Load 3/4 £179 3/4 Load Load £179£179 Full Load Full £199 Full Load Load £199£199
www.junkmonsters.co.uk www.junkmonsters.co.uk
OVEN CLEANING
WIGS
Wigs Bristol
LOCATED IN DOWNEND
We have been supplying all types of wigs and hairpieces for fashion and medical purposes for 45 years. Wigs can be purchased off the peg or made to measure in hair or synthetic fibre. We stock many styles and makes.
Please book an appointment on:
0117 956 6556 www.wigsbristol.com
Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
3
Getting around: Major project updates GETTING around in South Gloucestershire is set to be safer, quicker and greener, thanks to major projects which are currently underway. These include: • Cribbs Patchway Metrobus Extension: The bridge move, the heaviest ever bridge lift of its kind in the U.K, has now been completed as part of this project. Once the remaining works are finalised, the metrobus route will travel through the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood, on the former airfield site, and link with Highwood Road at the San Andreas roundabout, next to the Mall at Cribbs Causeway • Wraxall Road roundabout: Work is underway on South Gloucestershire’s first through-about (a roundabout with lanes of traffic through the middle). The improvements will reduce traffic congestion and increase capacity at the busy junction on the A4174 Avon Ring Road • Yate Park and Ride site: Opening later this year, the £3.5 million park and ride on Badminton Road will help reduce traffic by encouraging people to use other travel options such as public transport, cycling or car sharing. It will include 192 parking spaces, 38 electric vehicle (EV) charge points, and secure cycle storage for 46 bicycles. Existing bus routes and
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure, Cllr Steve Reade next to the new electric vehicle charging hub at Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green services, ahead of the expansion of metrobus services to the area, will take passengers into Bristol and Yate • Electric vehicle charging hub at the Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green: the council has installed a 12-charging bay hub complete with a solar canopy, with six EV charge points, as part of the Revive vehicle charging
Land purchased for new Thornbury healthcare facility SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is to purchase the Thornbury Hospital site to support the development of new healthcare facilities. In a landmark agreement with North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), South Gloucestershire Council will secure the land to advance longterm proposals to deliver improved GP primary care, outpatient and social care services for Thornbury. This follows a £13.3 million bid to Government for the redevelopment of the site. It will also provide a new home for the town’s local GP practices, enhanced mental health support, social care and NHS beds and a proactive ‘frailty hub’ which would focus on the elderly community receiving care in their own homes.
network • Links between Lyde Green and Emersons Green: A £6.5 million project to improve pedestrian and cycling routes between Emersons Green and Lyde Green • Flood resilience: The Government has awarded £3.2 million to help improve the drainage of roads in South Gloucestershire. The council is also contributing a further
£500,000 to the scheme from existing maintenance budgets • E-scooters: Following the successful launch of the West of England e-scooter trial, the trial area for the ‘hop-on hop-off’ rental e-scooters is expanding to include areas such as Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Filton in South Gloucestershire.
Extra funds for Kingswood town centre project KINGSWOOD’S town centre regeneration project has received significant additional funding. The West of England Combined Authority has announced a £7.56 million investment, supported by a further £5 million from South Gloucestershire Council. Together, this matches the £12.5 million secured by the council through the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, announced in December. The funding will pay for: the pedestrianisation of Regent Street; the creation of a new public open space providing opportunities for markets, performance arts and cultural events; traffic re-routing; and promoting cycling, walking and access to nearby green spaces and Kingswood’s local heritage sites. It will also fund the full restoration of the historic Whitfield Tabernacle, which has lain derelict for three decades, to become a cultural and community venue. Finally, the funding will allow the council to invest in property and commercial premises that will directly contribute to the town centre regeneration at a time when the market faces considerable challenges. Local feedback has played a major part in developing a masterplan for Kingswood and the council aims to publicly consult on this more widely in the coming year.
4
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Think NHS 111 first
Census 2021: Take part
IF you have an urgent but non-life-threatening medical need, make sure you use NHS 111 first rather than going straight to A&E. NHS 111 will help you right away. If you need urgent care, the NHS can book you in to be seen quickly and safely at an appropriate local service such as a minor injury unit or the out-of-hours GP. If you need an emergency ambulance, one can be dispatched immediately. Clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists and paramedics, play an increasingly important role in NHS 111. In many cases clinicians in the service can assess patients and provide the advice you need over the phone without having to visit a physical service You should still dial 999 if you have a life-threatening illness or injury. Just think 111 first. When you think you need A&E, contact NHS 111 by phone or online.
HOUSEHOLDS across South Gloucestershire will be asked to take part in Census 2021 this spring. Census day is Sunday 21 March, it is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. Understanding the needs of the nation helps everyone from central Government to organisations, such as councils and health authorities, plan and fund public services across England and Wales. Census outputs inform where billions of pounds of public funding are spent on services such as transport, education and health. Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.
EU Settlement Scheme: reminder
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family members need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK. To be eligible, you need to have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020. The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021. You can apply and find organisations that can help with your application on this website www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
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