theweekintheweekin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/issue-504.pdf · sparked controversy back in...

The comment in Parliamentby Roads Minister JesseNorman that building aJunction 18a on the M4would “be vital to unlocking

the potential for housingdevelopments in that area”sparked controversy back inOctober.But now in a letter to

Pucklechurch’s MP LukeHall the minister has stressedthat the transport project isnot intended to be used toopen up Green Belt land for

development, and that he hadactually been referring to thehuge housing estate alreadybeing built at Lyde Green.Kingswood MP Skidmore

secured the £500,000 ofGovernment money neededfor the feasibility study andhas always built the casearound an M4 link at the ringroad at Emersons Green,serving the Bristol & BathScience Park and thegrowing community of LydeGreen. But the study has thrown upan alternative eastern optionat Pucklechurch with ajunction near the WesterleighRoad overbridge and twopossible options for a linkroad to the A4174 ring road.

Continued on page 3

Issue 504FREE 13th December 2017

THE WEEK INEast Bristol & North East Somerset

Read by over 40,000 people each weekJunction 18a won’t open up Green Belt for housing, assures minister

2 The Week in • Wednesday 13th December 2017

Continued from page 1People in Pucklechurchwere told many timesduring the eight-weekpublic consultation, whichbegan in August, that thenew junction was aboutreducing congestion andunlocking economicpotential - not abouthousing. But the minister’swords sparked alarm as theyseemed to imply thathousing would be a majorpart of the decision process. Both Mr Hall and MrSkidmore have backedresidents’ opposition to theeastern proposals andreiterated that if they arechosen by the HighwaysAgency, they will withdrawsupport for the necessaryfunding from theGovernment. After Mr Norman’s

ambiguous comment, MrHall wrote to him urgingclarification, and theminister has now replied,confirming that he hasrelayed the MP’s concernsraised on behalf of localresidents to HighwaysEngland, saying that SouthGloucestershire Council’sfuture development plansfor the next 20 years do notinclude the Pucklechurch oreast of Bristol area, as wellclarifying that he had beenreferring to the Junction 18abeing vital to unlockingplanned housing in the LydeGreen area. Mr Hall told The Week In:"This very clear reassuranceis obviously welcome, and Iam delighted that theminister has delivered onhis promise to point out ourvery strong views that the

Pucklechurch option. I willcontinue to fight thePucklechurch option, and toprotect our precious GreenBelt.” The outcome of theconsultation will bepublished with the studyreport in March.

The Week in • Wednesday 13th December 2017 3

Also inthis week’sissueWhat’s the real cost ofKeynsham one-waysystem? . . . pages 4 & 5

MP calls for clarityover Hanham cricketground . . . pages 6 & 7

Decision time for oldMangotsfield schoolsite . . . page 14

Keynsham care homein special measures . . . page 22

Longwell Green

Foodbank collectionChopfather barbers are once again organising aChristmas collection for the Trussell Trust foodbank atthe Juice Project in Cadbury Heath. Non-perishable fooditems can be dropped into the salon on Ellacombe Roadup to Thursday 21st December.

An audience of more than 200 enjoyed the Winter ChoirConcert held at St John’s Church on 2nd December.Organised jointly by the Rotary clubs of Keynsham andChelwood Bridge, three choirs presented a seasonal mixof music, including a number of well-known carols,some with audience participation. Mendip Male Voice Choir, who have sung previously atSt John’s, were joined by the Silver Ring Choir of Bathand Cantilena Young Singers. Proceeds from the concert amounted to £1,800, whichwill be split equally between the Keynsham DementiaAction Alliance and the Children’s Hospice South West. The Rotary clubs thank everyone who helped stage theevent, including St John’s Parish Office and CoventryBuilding Society.

Keynsham

Three choirs in concert

Junction 18a won’t openup Green Belt forhousing, assures minister

Luke Hall

How much is the Keynshamone-way trial actuallycosting? Figures recentlyobtained from B&NESCouncil would suggest thatmodifying the traffic flow inHigh Street and AshtonWay may well have costmuch more than theoriginal £200,000 which hadbeen set aside.Figures obtained by TheWeek In as part of a Freedomof Information request

regarding a differenthighways issue haveconfirmed that £158,000alone was spent “specificallyfor a new permanent buslayby in Ashton Way andupgrade of the zebra crossingon Charlton Road to puffin”.Much of the funding for thisand other highways schemescomes from what wereknown as Section 106contributions. An S106 was alegal agreement between

developers and local councilsas part of planning consentfor new housingdevelopments which wouldset out the financialcontributions due forinfrastructure improvements,such as primary schoolenlargement, road crossingsor local bus service provision.Unlike the CommunityInfrastructure Levey (CIL)which is now paid bydevelopers, S106

contributions had to be forspecific purposes and thesewere attached to both K2housing developments – TheMeadows and Bilbie Green.One of the contributionsdetailed in the Bilbie GreenSection 106 agreement was a£250,000 payment fromBarrett Homes for“Keynsham Town CentreHighways Contribution”. Anumber of highwayscontributions were also madeby Taylor Wimpey in respectof The Meadows planningagreement, including one of£150,000 (index linked) for“highways network improve-ments in and aroundKeynsham”. It was whiletrying to ascertain whether

any of the S106 funding forThe Meadows could be usedon traffic calming measuresin and around Park Road thatwe received confirmation ofthe spending on the AshtonWay layby and Charlton Roadpuffin crossing.The decision to convert a£200,000 provision inB&NES Council’s budgetinto an actual spend wastaken on 1st August 2016 byAnthony Clarke, who wasthen the Cabinet councillorresponsible for transport,claiming he would be“engaging with the localcommunity in the design andimplementation” of theproject.However, just a month later,


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Keynsham

Have costs of one-way trial

concerns were being raisedover the cost of delivering thescheme, particularly if, as thecouncil was repeatedlymaintaining, it could bereversed easily should driverbehaviour not follow themodelling projections. Ofparticular concern was theflow of buses through thetown centre which needed tobe reversed. It was for thisreason that the regenerationprojects manager at B&NESproposed allowing buses totravel in both directions alongthe High Street, thus“removing the need for costlyconstruction works on AshtonWay to create bus bays andavoiding a reduction in carpark capacity”. The idea was dropped almostas quickly as it was raised and

in October last year, AnthonyClarke issued his final publicstatement on the issue,confirming there would be nobus contraflow and thatKeynsham’s own councillorswould agree the final design.This week, B&NES Councilconfirmed to us that the work

on Ashton Way, “whichincluded a number ofunderground servicediversions were not fundedfrom the £200,000 one-waytrial budget.“As these are permanentimprovements the works havebeen funded by developer

contributions.”As to the original reason formaking our request, toascertain where S106contributions from TheMeadows have been spent, itseems there is some goodnews. With £31,000 (indexlinked) set aside for “traffic

management within ParkEstate”, a feasibility studyinto traffic managementrequirements for Park Road isplanned for the next financialyear and funds programmedfor drawdown towardsimplementation of anyrecommendations in 2019/20.


Keynsham High Street

risen?


MP Chris Skidmore hascalled on the trustees ofHanham CommunityCentre to give a definitiveanswer on whether theywould release their cricketground in Abbots Road todevelopers.This week, in a publicstatement, the trustees denyclaims that they objected tothe site being included in aregister of local greenspaces, as the MP and localcouncillors claimed in Issue502 of The Week In.However, the trustees saythey have held threeexploratory meetings withdevelopers and are “keepingas many options open aspossible”.Earlier this year it emergedthat a “vision” had beendrawn up by planningconsultants ColliersInternational as part of‘calls for sites’ in the JointSpatial Plan process. Itwould see sports facilitiesmoving from the site inAbbots Road to land about600m away in the GreenBelt, on part of the HanhamHills. The proposal suggestsbuilding homes on thesports ground, as well as onthe Green Belt site.South GloucestershireCouncil policy states thatwhere there is a clearindication that someone isinterested in developing asite, it cannot be designatedas a local green space.However, Mr Skidmore this

week criticised the council,saying that he has been toldby a Government ministerthat the council had“flexibility” in making thatdecision. He said the fact that he hadcollected 1,200 signaturesafter the vision came to lightearlier this year reflectedpublic concern, and thatsuch a degree of localopposition should have beentaken into consideration bythe council.And he said that whetherthere had been directopposition from the trusteesor not to their sports groundbeing included on the greenspaces list, the fact was thatthe cricket pitch had notbeen listed because of thequestion mark hanging overit. Regarding the trustees’position, he said theirstatement (which ispublished on our Letterspage this week) did notprovide a clear answerabout whether they wouldrelease their sports groundto developers but was“ambiguous”: “Localpeople deserve not to be

misled on this. We needclarity. It is important thatpublic concern is notdismissed,” he said. He added that he wouldfight any plans that wouldresult in the loss of thehistoric cricket pitch site butwould welcome anyinitiative by the trustees toimprove sports facilities onthe site. Although Collier’s propo-sals for the JSP processwere “represen-tations onbehalf of a privatelandowner” for land northof Abbots Road and land atHanham Sports Ground, theaccompanying submissionform from their consultantTom Stanley says he isacting on behalf of “landowners”. Current land useson the form are given as“recreation and agriculture”,it says up to 250 homes areproposed across the twosites, and the form refers tothe need for current sportingfacilities to be relocated.Development is envisagedwithin five years and whenasked if the site is owned bya developer or if the owneris willing to sell, the answergiven is ‘Yes’.The Week In has asked theColliers’ consultant to clearup the confusion we but hadnot received a response aswe went to print this week.Back in January the trustees

Hanham

‘Ambiguity’ over future

Hanham Hills

Hanham cricket ground

told us: “In regard to theHanham Community CentreSports Ground on AbbotsRoad, the trustees wereapproached around 18months ago with an outlineenquiry and proposition forthe provision of alternatepremises. Since then thetrustees have had noengagement from thecompany, but it was left thatthe trustees may beinterested in propositionswhich would enhance andimprove the facilities weoffer to our members.Therefore, any publicationsor applications have beenproposed withoutconsultation with thetrustees. Needless to say, thetrustees would be happy toengage to consider any

proposal when they aresufficiently developed, andto consider the impact on

the charity, its members andthe wider community.”See Letters, page 10


On the point about whether an owner’s view could veto agreen space designation, Housing Minister Alok Sharmatold MP Chris Skidmore: “Whether to designate land is amatter for local discretion. It will be for the localplanning authority to consider representations frominterested parties, including the owner of any site whichis proposed to be designated, before making a finaldecision on the matter.” He added: “Local planning policies should be based onrobust and up-to-date assessments of the needs for openspace, sports and recreation facilities, which wouldinclude playing fields, and opportunities for newprovision. In deciding whether to designate a particularsite as a recreational facility, local planning authoritiesshould take into account the views of all interestedparties. This could include the views of the owner of asite which is proposed for designation, where they areappropriate.”

of cricket ground

What the minister said Hanham Community Centre is advertising for two newvolunteers to become trustees to join the board.The centre, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation(CIO), says it aims to provide facilities and services tothe residents of Hanham to advance education andenable social welfare through recreation and leisure-time occupation; and to maintain and manage thecommunity centre premises.Trustees should have strengths in at least one of theseareas - fundraising/income generation;marketing/advertising skills; charity governance andbuildings management. To find out more [email protected] close on Friday 25th January and there willbe interviews in February/March. New trustees will joinon probation in April.

Hanham

Appeal formore trustees tojoin the board


The congregation at St Aidan’s Church in Fir Tree Lane invites thecommunity to join them for Carols in the Precinct outside the Kingswayshops at 7pm next Monday (18th December).

St George

Carols on the Kingsway

A former care home that adeveloper wanted to turn into 19bedsits is now the subject of aproposed conversion into sevenflats.Earlier this year Scott Essex appliedto South Gloucestershire Council toturn Rockleaze, which fronts LowerHanham Road, into a House inMultiple Occupation (HMO) but theidea was not well-received by localresidents and councillors who raisedconcerns about parking, waste, noise,disturbance and the potential for anti-social behaviour.Access and parking to the property isat the rear, via narrow TabernacleRoad. A South Glos Councilhighways officer said that the spacefor parking was “woefullyinadequate”, and the application forthe house, which has a current layoutof 14 bedrooms, was subsequentlywithdrawn. The latest scheme for seven self-contained one and two-bed flats hasbeen submitted by Delroy Brown,whose address in Gloucester Road,Bristol, is that of a company calledProperty Options. Mr Essex works forProperty Options Estate Agents.Rockleaze has been unoccupied for

about a year following the closure ofthe home which provided care for upto 10 adults with learning disabilities.The latest proposal involves formingvehicle access alongside the existingpedestrian access at the front of theproperty to create additional vehicleparking. The planning applicationstates that the proposed new vehicleaccess would not create safetyconcerns with regards toaccess/egress given the site is set backfrom the road, with clear lines ofvisibility. It says the building size, shape, scaleand appearance would remainunaltered as the conversion worksinvolve altering the internal layoutonly. At their meeting last week,Hanham parish councillors voicedtheir objections, saying the access isunsuitable for dedicated parking onthe site. They said the positioning ofthe parking spaces on the plans, whilstnot to scale, do not appear to provideadequate space for safe manoeuvring. They were also critical of the“inadequate” provision ofprivate/communal amenity space. The deadline for comments by 18thDecember. The reference number isPK17/5275/F.

Hanham

New flats scheme forformer care home


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Just two days after saying it wouldbe keeping the controversial ban onleft turns at the Hambrook junctionfor vehicles coming fromWinterbourne during the BromleyHeath Viaduct works, SouthGloucestershire Council did a U-turn.At the start of last week, councilchiefs said that the left turn ban, whichthey had been trialling for three weeksto improve traffic flow during theroadworks, would remain in place. They said they had based theirdecision on traffic managementinformation, camera data and regularon-site assessment of routes duringpeak hours, as well as “constructivecomments”. Their decision was greeted with awave of criticism on Facebook asthere had been hundreds of negativecomments posted during the trialabout the impact on roads in Frenchayand Downend.Then, unexpectedly the councilannounced last Wednesday that theleft turn would be reinstated fromMonday 11th December “followingfeedback received from local residentsand councillors, and a review of trafficmanagement in the vicinity of theBromley Heath Viaduct”.It added: “Although the trial recordeddata showing improvements to thetraffic flow on the wider network,

there has been significant congestionthrough the Frenchay area. Inresponse to residents’ concerns, wehave decided to revert to the trafficmanagement in place before the trial.”However, in another twist, the banwas still in place on Monday, with thecouncil saying that it was due tocircumstances outside of its control:“In order to revert the traffic lightsback to the set up before the trial, theyneed to be reconfigured by a specialistengineer. Unfortunately, due to thesnow elsewhere in the country, ourappointed engineer cannot safelytravel to the site today as planned. “We are working to resolve this asquickly as possible and are aiming forthe left turn to be reinstated bytomorrow afternoon (Tuesday). Wewill keep people informed andapologise for the inconvenience thismay cause road users and residents.”During the trial, motorists comingfrom the B4058 who would normallyturn left at the Hambrook lights had toturn right, travel around the M32roundabout and continue eastboundon the ring road.After the council announced lastWednesday that the ban would liftedDownend councillor Jon Hunt said: “Itravel the ring road every day, so Iknow the effect on the local roads as Iwitness it every day. It is also an issueraised by many residents and stopping

the trial is the best way forward forlocal residents who have to live withthe effects of the increased traffic onsuitable roads.”Writing on the council’s dedicatedBromley Heath Viaduct Facebookpage, one motorist said: “Thankgoodness for that! It will make my lifeso much easier. Trying to come backfrom Winterbourne to go to Cleeve

Wood was a nightmare…It’s been anightmare few weeks for me!”Another said: “Common senseprevails at last!! Shout out toCouncillor Jon Hunt for keeping thepressure up.”And another commented: “Goodmove but it will only work properly ifyou allow the left turn to stay on greensignificantly longer.”

Council does U-turn on controversial road system

The St George Singers will give their annual Christmas Concert at HolyTrinity Church in Kingswood High Street on Tuesday 19th December at7.30pm. There will be favourite carols sung by the choir with audience participation.There will be free mince pies and mulled wine during the interval. A cheque for £4,000 will be presented to the RNLI, representing the largedonations given to the choir at concerts during 2017. And a retiring collection will be taken in aid of the St George Singers’ 2018appeal.

Kingswood

Carols and mince pies

Statement fromHanham CommunityCentre trustees Dear Sir Following the coverage in The WeekIn (Issue 502) regarding the HanhamCommunity Centre Sports Ground onAbbots Road, the trustees wish toclarify their position as well ashighlight some inaccuracies in thesomewhat confusing statementspresented.Since the public Hanham AbbotsParish Council meeting (held atHanham Hall in March 2017), thetrustees have held three exploratorymeeting with the developers to seekclarification over options; but havenot made any firm commitments; norhave we had any further meetingssince August 2017. As trustees, we seek to maximise theassets and opportunities for the charity– and hence, if there is an opportunityto provide improved sporting facilitiesfor the community of Hanham, it isour duty to consider it. Indeed,keeping the sports ground out of thegreen space may increase potentialopportunities for the charity, either inthe short or longer terms; and as such,we should do so to ensure wemaximum future opportunities. In regard to the article in Issue 502,which on reading more closely israther confusing in its wording.Firstly, Mr and Mrs Goddard stated:““We were disappointed that Hanhamcricket field (aka HCC SportsGround) was not put forward for

green space designation as it is a well-used and much-loved place inHanham. However, the landownerobjected and so it is not appropriate tobe designated in the PSP.”Even if we had objected (which wehaven’t), how does this makes itinappropriate to be designated in thePSP – nevertheless this is an incorrectstatement, and the council haveconfirmed we have made no suchobjection, and were, in fact, notconsulted to make such an objection.The source of their unreliableinformation would of course beinteresting – and it’s unfortunate thiswas not checked before the article waspublished. Staff at the centre have hadto deal with some very angry residentssince this article was published. The second confusion is a fewparagraphs later, where Mr Skidmore(MP) seems to contradict theGoddards by stating “. . . the processseemed “remarkably undemocraticand unfair”. I collected 1,200signatures versus the owner whorequested that it come out as a greenspace. The minister has agreed to lookinto the process and will be writingback to me.” The trustees are not quite sure whathe's trying to say here (could betypos), or what he thought wasundemocratic (one hopes not thecollection of a few signatories), but hegoes on to suggest the trustees askedfor the land to be included in the greenspace (i.e. come out as a green space).Both these quotes are somewhatambiguous and out of context.

In summary - just to be clear, thetrustees will aim to keep as manyoptions open as possible, and thatwould appear to be out of the greenspace. That doesn’t mean you will seecricket or tennis moving anywhereelse in the next 20 years, but it doesmean the trustees could look atopportunities to improve the sportingand/or community facilities inHanham in the future - either on thecurrent sites or on alternative localsites – and I would have thought thiswould be something our MP andcouncillors would want to support! Hanham Community Centretrustees

Praise for editor’sbook Dear Stephen I have very much enjoyed readingyour editor’s book about yournewspaper (Week In Week out - 10years at a local newspaper). It not onlycharts the interesting events and themany changes which have occurred inour area over the last decade, but alsoprovides an insight into what wasreally going on behind the scenes atthe local newspaper during that time. It’s a fascinating read and, a bonusthis, it brings a much welcome senseof humour as it outlines the reallyamusing as well as the captivatinglocal events of the past 10 years. I hadforgotten many of the thought-provoking things that have happenedlocally, but I won’t forget to make thisexcellent read one of my stocking

fillers for friends and family.I am sure many local residents havejust become accustomed to picking uptheir copy of the paper each week withlittle knowledge of what actually goesinto the making of it. I think this bookalso reveals a personal side of theeditor that many may not have beenaware of and the reason that proceedsare going towards Meningitis Now isjust one example.Congratulations on passing your500th milestone recently and I wishyou continued success with sales ofWeek In Week out.Dan Norris

Your own party is toblame, Cllr Hale Dear Sir It was with great mirth that I read ofCllr Hale’s ‘Anarchy fears’ in Issue502.One wonders, as with the local foodbank and now the lack of visiblepolicing, whilst acknowledging thatwe are in a time of austerity, that CllrHale fails to see that the root cause ishis own Conservative Government!Was it not his very own party leaderwho, as Home Secretary, ensured thatthe number of police officers inEngland and Wales fell from a peak of144,353 in 2009 to 122,859 in 2016?To my mind, the ex-chairman of Bath& NE Somerset Council seemsbewildered, yet unwilling to point afinger at his own party.William Loke


LETTERS

Write to usPlease e-mail letters

[email protected]

or post to:The Week In

8 Temple CourtKeynsham

BristolBS31 1HA


Roundabout is theonly sensible solution Dear Stephen Mike Clapp is right when he statesthat we should spend a bit of timelooking at traffic flow around thetown before traffic lights are erectedat the junction of Avon Mill Lane andKeynsham Road (Issue 503). This road is now experiencing a muchhigher volume of traffic since the one-way system was introduced. We alsolearned at the recent consultationmeeting on the Local Plan that anestimated 1,200 houses is likely to bebuilt on land between the railway andthe river. The road serving thesedwellings will be routed past theBrassmill pub, off Avon Mill Lane,eventually leading to the A4. This will lead to even greater trafficflow on Avon Mill Lane and willmean the road is gridlocked at busytimes. A roundabout is the onlysensible option and also to find a wayto overcome the problem of the‘Brunel’ bridge giving a two-laneaccess throughout the length of AvonMill Lane.The Lib Dems are currently surveyingKeynsham East and the figures so farsuggest that 44% of those replyingwant the High Street back as it was,whilst only 34% want it to remain as itis. I await with interest to learn howB&NES is going to survey the peopleof Keynsham on this controversialissue.Andy WaitKeynsham

Go with the flow Dear Sir In response to the letter in Issue 503about the Chocolate Quarter accesssuggesting a roundabout instead oftraffic lights, a roundabout wouldsurely be better for traffic flow, andmore cost effective.W Goodchild

Thank you for helpingme when I fell Dear Sir I would like to pass on my thanks tothose who came to my aid after I fellin Keynsham High Street on Thursday30th November.I fell and suffered a broken hand butthe staff at both Greggs and Polkadotcame to my aid and offered much-needed assistance for which I am verygrateful.I was also helped by other people whowere out walking in the High Streetwho waited until I was safely in theambulance.As I don’t know the names of myhelpers, I am hoping they will see thisletter and know that I appreciated theirkind assistance on the day. Thank you.Dilys Smith

Coping with M.E. Dear Editor Many people with the chronic,neurological condition M.E. tell usthey feel very lonely and isolated atthis time of year, particularly thosewho live alone with no family orfriends to share the festivities with.

A visit, phone call or simply athoughtful card from a friend couldmake a positive difference – so if youknow someone with M.E., let themknow you are thinking of them thisfestive season.If you have M.E. and you needinformation and support, call us on0117 927 9551 (we’re here until 4pmon 22nd December, and reopen on 3rdJanuary), or join one of our friendlyonline forums, open 24/7. You can also read advice from Rose,who has M.E., in her article on copingwith Christmas alone atwww.actionforme.org.uk/alone-at-xmasSonya ChowdhuryChief Executive, Action for M.E.42 Temple Street, Keynsham

Cyclists face prejudiceand hostility Dear Becky I read your article about pedestrians vscyclists in last week’s edition of TheWeek In. I completely understand theproblem and have witnessed incidentsboth as a pedestrian and cyclist. It does upset me that cyclists are oftenseen as easy targets for pedestrians ormotorists. This perceived dividegenerates hostility that isn’t healthyand doesn’t reflect cyclists whogenerally follow the Highway Code. At the end of the day, cyclists justwant to get from A to B in the safestway. To do this, cyclists have to sharethe same Tarmac as motorists andpedestrians. This means no matter

where you ride as a cyclist, you haveto constantly deal with a lot ofprejudice and hostility from motoristsas well as pedestrians. I completely agree all users of theBath to Bristol Railway Path have tobe respectful, but think theunderlining problem won't disappearuntil other things are considered. Thepopularity of the pathway meansdemand for space needs to be properlyinvestigated. One option is wideningthe pathway, which would increasethe space and improve distance thatoften creates conflicts between users. Bike technology has improvedmassively and means commutingusing traditional/electric bikes is a loteasier. Also, many businesses haveadopted bike schemes and provideshower and changing facilities. Lastyear there were over one million tripsby bike on the Bristol to Bathpathway. This alternative surely has tobe encouraged as it enables people toditch the car and also promotes ahealthier lifestyle choice. I totally get there is a small minorityof cyclists that don't follow theHighway Code and are inconsiderate.This needs to be worked on andstamped out. Unfortunately you willalways have a small minority ofpeople that spoil things for others.Whether that's bad motorists, Sundayfootballers or the person who jumpsthe queue at the checkout. I thereforeurge your readers and users of theBristol to Bath pathway not to paintall cyclists with the same brush. Ian Adams

LETTERS

The Government is askingfor your views on the futureof the Great Western Railwayfranchise and whether itcould be split into twoseparate operations.In view of the recent andongoing infrastructure changes,such as electrification of theLondon mainline and arrival ofnew rolling stock, it alsointends to offer currentfranchisee First Great Westernan extension to the currentfranchise.Due for renewal in 2019, theGovernment feels that to allowfor those changes to bed-in andto prepare for any ultimatedecision to split the network,the next franchise should beawarded from 2022.These proposals, along with thepublic consultation over thefuture shape of the railways inour area, are included in adocument published at the endof November. The public haveuntil 21st February next year to

respond.The most radical questionbeing asked is whether theGreat Western Railwayfranchise should continue tooperate largely as it has for thelast 10 years, or be split intotwo (or more) franchises. Onewould cover the main inter-cityroutes and commuter servicesinto Paddington. The other ‘western’ operationwould encompass mid-rangelines, like the Cardiff toPortsmouth and Worcester toWeymouth as well as thecommuter and branch lineservices around Bristol, as wellas Devon and Cornwall.On the same day as the GreatWestern Railway franchiseconsultation was launched, theGovernment also publishedanother report, ‘ConnectingPeople – a strategic vision forrail’, which, among otherrecommendations, proposes acloser working relationshipbetween ‘track and train’ – i.e.

more decisions oninfrastructure being devolvedlocally by Network Rail. Theidea of a separate ‘western’railway operation is seen verymuch in this context.The current Great WesternRailway network came intobeing in 2006 when GreatWestern absorbed two smallerfranchises, Thames Trains andWessex Rail. This reportrecognises that this move hasachieved greater cost

efficiencies as a result andmakes clear that any move tosplit the operation up againwould only proceed if therewere “clear and demonstrablebenefits”. Last week, public transportcampaigner David Redgewellreminded members of B&NESCabinet that at the time of themerger in 2006, Wessex Trainswas understood to be losing£80m a year.Consultation is open until 21st

February 2018. To obtain acopy of the report you have todownload it fromwww.gov.uk/dft To respond to the questions,you can either do this directlyor return the form by email [email protected], or by post to Great WesternFranchise Consultation,Department for Transport,Zone 4/19, Great MinsterHouse, 33 Horseferry Road,London, SW1P 4DR.

Rail revamp could see franchise split up


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27. Fasten securely (4)

Siston

AppealdismissedPlans to build threehomes on Green Beltland have been rejectedon appeal to thePlanning Inspectorate.Cumberland Develo-pments Ltd had appealedafter South Glouces-tershire Council turneddown their plans for thegrounds of the propertyknown as Greystones inSiston Lane.Planning inspector RoryCridland dismissed theappeal, saying thereweren’t the very specialcircumstances needed tojustify development inthe Green Belt.


Plans to build nine houseson a former smallholdingat Magpie Bottom Lanehave been lodged withSouth GloucestershireCouncil.A previous planningapplication (in 2014) todemolish the 1960sbungalow at No 72 and

build 22 dwellings on thesite was withdrawn, partlydue to concern over theproposed accessarrangements.This latest application is forsix four-bed houses andthree five-bed houses. Eachwould have a garage. The application also

includes adding a two-storey extension andalterations to the existingbungalow to form anotherhome with a garage.The only road access to thesite is via Magpie BottomLane. The design and accessstatement submitted onbehalf of the applicants, Mr& Mrs Hall, says there havebeen preliminarydiscussions with thehighways authorityindicating that the wideningof Magpie Bottom Lanemight be acceptable. A consultation exercise hasbeen carried out with about60 residents who liveimmediately surroundingthe site. There was a range

of responses, with negativecomments generallyregarding concerns about anincrease in traffic and theamount of parkingavailable. Others acceptedthat the site will inevitablybe developed at some stage,and there will also positivecomments praising the

design and the reduction inthe number of homes sincethe previous application. All significant trees andtrees with preservationorders would be retained.The deadline for commentsis 22nd December. Thereference number isPK17/5253/F.

Kingswood

Nine homes planned on formersmallholding

Gill Flower, who set up theBristol CommunityFriendship Club to combatloneliness, has beenhonoured with an award.Gill, from St George, waspresented with theCommunity Activist 2017award, decided by publicvote, at the Voscur awards. Voscur is the support anddevelopment agency forBristol's voluntary,community and socialenterprise sector.Gill started with a small

group but was sooncoordinating a group ofmore than 870 women. She said: “I amoverwhelmed and trulyhonoured to have an awardfor something that makesme so happy.”Gill received a LordMayor’s Medal earlier thisyear for her work.We featured Gill and theclub in Issue 464. It is freeto join Bristol CommunityFriendship Club – search forthem on Facebook.

Award for St Georgewoman who set upfriendship club

Proposed site of 9 houses

Gill Flower


The Staple Hill & RodwayCommunity EngagementForum last week agreed towrite to local MPs tohighlight concerns aboutcrime increasing due toreduced numbers of policeofficers.During the meeting lastTuesday, Rodway councillorMichael Bell spoke about theimpacts of austerity on localresidents and the need to lobbylocal MPs in support of Avon &Somerset Police & CrimeCommissioner (PCC) SueMountstevens and ChiefConstable Andy Marsh whowrote to the Home Office andPolice & Fire Minister,warning that policing and the

safety of communities was at acrucial “tipping point”.However, to their dismay therewas no additional financial aidfor the police in theChancellor’s Autumn Budget.Cllr Bell said that he hadrecently organised a publicmeeting at the Red Lion pub inMangotsfield to discussconcerns over crime, includingburglary and anti-socialbehaviour. Some 50 residentshad attended, along with twopolice officers and theNeighbourhood Watchadministrator for SouthGloucestershire and B&NESTrevor Wilmot. He said themeeting had heard that one ofthe causes of the recent rise in

burglaries is that doors are notbeing locked properly from theinside by key - just operatingthe paddle handle is not enoughto secure a door.Staple Hill councillor IanBoulton told last Tuesday’smeeting that he sits on SouthGloucestershire’s Safer &Stronger CommunitiesStrategic Partnership whichhad voiced cross-party supportfor the PCC and ChiefConstable’s efforts to securemore funding.He said there had been a recent15.3% crime increase in SouthGloucestershire and for theprevious 15 years crime hadbeen going down. He alsocalled for the Staple Hill &

Rodway CommunityEngagement Forum to getbehind the PCC and ChiefConstable.The meeting agreed that CllrBell and communityengagement officer NessaJarman will write a letter ofconcern to Conservative MPsChris Skidmore (Kingswood)and Jack Lopresti who

represents the Filton & BradleyStoke constituency, whichincludes Staple Hill.Meanwhile local beat managerWayne Hick reassured themeeting that the police werelooking at burglary hotspots inthe area and targeting suspectsto deter them.

Staple Hill/Rodway

Forum to write to MPsover police funding cuts

Michael Bell

Police surgeriesFour police beat surgeries have been arranged for early in thenew year in the Mangotsfield area.They will be held in St James’ Church Hall from 5pm – 6pm onMonday 15th and 22nd January and Monday 5th and 12thFebruary.This is an opportunity to meet the local police teat team face toface to discuss any crime and related issues you may have.


Merlin Housing Societyclosed its Kingswood officeon Friday.Merlin owns the building,which is next to KingswoodCivic Centre, and plans toconvert the office into threeflats. This week Paul Coates,director of housing andcommunities, said: “Ourincome is our customers’ rent.And over £1,000 a week ofthat was spent keeping openan area office that very fewpeople actually visited inperson – on average just fivepeople a day call into theoffice. And more than half oftheir visits are for things thatcan be dealt with online. “We discussed our plans withcustomers in Kingswood andthey were fully behind theidea of having three surgeriesspread across the area. Theyalso recognise how everyaffordable home is vital – thefact that this move will alsocreate three much-neededproperties in Kingswood by

converting the office is greatnews. “We’re also just kicking offan enormous project to helppeople get online and feelconfident in their internetusage. We’re partnering withO2 to deliver this to ourcustomers. We’d love peopleto get involved – they canlook on our website orFacebook page for details, orcall us on 0300 123 2222.” Merlin will initially berunning drop-in surgeries forcustomers from 3rd January.They will be held everyTuesday from 9am to 1pm atThe Batch Community

Centre, Cadbury Heath, everyWednesday from 1pm to 5pmat Kingswood Civic Centreand every Thursday from9am to 1pm at the JuiceCommunity Hub, CadburyHeath. Merlin Housing Society hasalready started work toconvert three of its formeroffices into six flats. It isconverting the former officesat its independent livingschemes at Shrubbery Courtin Staple Hill, KennedyHouse in Yate and GiffardHouse in Little Stoke. Theyare due to be completed bythe end of March.

South Glos-based MerlinHousing Society hasannounced it is in talks withMidlands-based Bromford tocreate a new partnershipwhich aims to invest £1.5bnbuilding 14,000 new homesover the next 10 years.The partnership will see theorganisations – with nearly40,000 homes between them,a combined turnover of£250m and strong operatingmargin - join together.In a statement, chiefexecutive officers PhilippaJones from Bromford and

Robert Nettleton from Merlinsaid: “This is a partnershipwhere each organisationbrings expertise thatcomplements the other andservice aspirations that fitreally well. It brings togethertwo forward-thinking housingassociations with a sharedvision of enabling customersto use great affordable homesas a springboard to achievemore of what they hope forthemselves, their families andtheir communities. “Both our organisations haveambitious development

programmes. Workingtogether these can becombined and expanded todeliver 14,000 new homes inthe next decade. Thiscapability and a commonpassion to offer anexceptional customerexperience, will help ourcombined business grow anddeliver more of a difference.”Over the coming months theorganisations will seekfeedback and consultcustomers and stakeholderson the vision for theirpartnership.

Merlin closesKingswood office

Merlin in partnership talks withMidlands housing association

Community huband MP holdjoint surgeryKingswood MP Chris Skidmore is to hold a joint surgerywith the team from Southern Brooks CommunityPartnerships at Kingswood Park Centre on Friday (15thDecember).Mr Skidmore and Southern Brooks staff will be on handfrom 11am to 1pm at the Brooks Café to meet localresidents who will be able to talk through any issues orconcerns. The MP said: “The joint surgery will be a valuable wayto cooperate on the important issues affecting people inKingswood and the surrounding area.” “Just as many people drop into my constituency office,the community hub at the Park Centre provides avaluable service to the local community – ensuring thatlocal residents have a place to go where they can findsupport, information and assistance on a range of mattersthat affect them. This is an excellent asset for the localarea.”The community hub opened earlier this year.To book a place at the surgery, call Mr Skidmore’sconstituency office on 0117 9081524 or you can drop intothe Park Centre to speak to Southern Brooks directlyabout how to reserve a slot.

Merlin’s Kingswood office has closed Flower


A decision is due to be takenon Friday on whether togrant planning permissionfor the former Victorianschool site in RichmondRoad to be demolished and15 houses and six flats builton the campus.The site is owned by SouthGloucestershire Council.Measuring just under an acre,it was the old MangotsfieldChurch of England Infant andJunior Primary School, andwas last occupied by theEducation Other Than AtSchool service, whichrelocated following theconversion of Downend DayCentre. The planning application byCotswold Homes has sparkedobjections from some

members of the public aboutthe loss of local heritage,concerns aboutoverdevelopment, traffic andparking issues. The council’s own listedbuildings and conservationofficer is concerned about theloss of the historical buildingfaçade: “The proposedscheme is not consideredacceptable, as it involves thedemolition of an importantlocal heritage asset when amore considered approachthat retains the originalbuilding should be proposed.This would be considered aproportionate response to theredevelopment of this site inthat it would help retain andpotential enhance part of theheritage of Mangotsfield.”

Butt the planning officerhandling the case says thatany historic significance ofthe building lies not so muchin its architectural merits butmore in its historicconnections to the village andits social sentimental valuefor former pupils of theschool still living locally. The officer says that as theproposal would involvedemolishing the entirebuilding, the scheme would

result in the loss of anundesignated heritage assetwhich has, at best, only amoderate degree ofsignificance. And the council’stransportation officer issatisfied that the level oftraffic generated by theproposed residentialdevelopment would not besignificantly more than theauthorised use of the site, andits impact would not be so

significant as to justifyrefusal of this application ontraffic ground.On balance officers considerthat in their judgement, theproposal is sustainabledevelopment that should begranted planning permission.Four of the homes would bedeemed “affordable”.Members of the developmentcontrol committee willconsider the scheme at theirmeeting on Friday.

Mangotsfield

Go-ahead recommended for 21 homes onold school site

Pupils from Beacon RisePrimary School inKingswood have madespecial railway themed

decorations which arehanging on the Christmastree at Avon ValleyRailway at Bitton.

Children in the foundationyear were asked to createrailway themed decorationsand more than 80 weremade in the style oflocomotives, carriages andgiant wheels. They coverthe tree, which is in thebooking hall for the heritagerailway’s Christmas season.Last Monday pupils andparents were invited to therailway to see the completedtree and a prize for the bestdecoration was awarded topupil Emilia by RogerEynon, chairman of theAvon Valley RailwayHeritage Trust. TrishCoomber, from the railway,who organised the activitywith the school, said: “Wewere looking for a new wayof decorating our Christmastree in the booking hall.Beacon Rise took on thechallenge and the childrenenjoyed creating all sorts ofdifferent decorations.They’re now adorning thetree which will be on show

until the end of our Sherry& Mince Pie trains in theNew Year. “Thanks to all the childrenwho took part in creatingsuch a lovely tree.”The railway is currentlyrunning Santa Special train

rides with an on-board visitand present from FatherChristmas Booking isessential. Visit http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events/santa-special/ or call theticket office on 01179325538.


More waiting restrictionsare planned to deal withongoing parking problemson the Siston Hill estate.Problems have beenreported with refusecollection vehicles beingunable to access certainroads due to inconsiderateparking. These issues wouldalso apply to emergencyvehicle access. There are problems with thecurrent positioning of someyellow lines and in some

instances residents cannotget out of their driveways ifcars are parked opposite.A review of the existingparking places and waitingrestrictions identified anumber of amendmentswhich will make better useof the available kerbside,and improve access andsight-lines for motorists andpedestrians. The roads affected by SouthGloucestershire Council’sproposals include The

Pines, Junction Way, RidleyAvenue, Whistle Road, TheSidings, Stanier Road, LoopRoad, Merritt Way, ArnoldRoad, Jinty Lane, StationRoad Link, Bridge FarmWalk and Carsons Road.There are details about allthe amendments on thecouncil’s website – searchfor ‘Siston Hill’ under theConsultations section, orcall 01454 862609.The consultation closes on8th January.

New waiting restrictionsfor Siston Hill estate

Pupils decorate heritagerailway’s Christmas tree

Tiddlers Day Nursery on Bath Road has retained its‘Good’ Ofsted rating following an inspection lastmonth.The inspector Linda Harvey praised the “enthusiastic,committee and creative staff” who provide a range ofwell-resourced activities linked to children’s interests. She said the staff are good role models for all childrenand give praise and encouragement. Children behavewell and form good relationships with each other. Theyare keen and motivated to learn and make good progressin their learning and development.Parents are said to be extremely complimentary aboutthe nursery, which has 42 children on the roll.

Saltford

Nursery retainsGood Ofsted rating


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Christmas trees decoratedby groups throughout thecommunity filled St John’sChurch at the weekend.Hundreds of people turnedout to enjoy the festival,which began on Fridaynight.There were almost 60 treesdecorated by localorganisations in ways thatreflect the work they do.Visitors were able to enjoyrefreshments while sitting inthe pews listening to avariety of live music,including carols, thebagpipes, recorders, folkand jazz, hand bells, andorgan and piano recitals.They also had the chance to

climb the church tower.St John’s carol service willbe at 6pm on Sunday (17thDecember) and there will bea crib service on ChristmasEve at 5pm, then Midnight

Communion starting at11.30pm. On Christmas Day therewill be Communionservices at 8am and10.30am.

Keynsham

Christmas tree festivalbrings sparkle to churchKeynsham’s Winter Festival Window Competition

winners have been announced.The Best Business Window category was won by Co-opFuneralcare Services, with Polkadot and Cocoa HairSalon the runners-up.Best Charity Shop Window went to Mind, and therunners-up were St Peter’s Hospice and Dorothy HouseThe Best New Entry was Kell’s Kitchen and the overallwinner of the competition was Co-op FuneralcareServices.The winners of this year’s Town Council’s WinterFestival colouring competition have also beenconfirmed.Ava Alder-Ashwin won the age seven 7 and undercategory, with Lauren Haigh and Sofia Vince-Greenwellthe runners-up.In the 8-11 years category, the winner was Sky Swiftand the runners-up Lucy Bryant and India Wilson. Theoverall winner was Ava Alder-Ashwin.

Keynsham

Festival winners

Nine-year-old Jonny admires the Christmas treedecorated by fellow pupils at Chandag Junior School

BAFTA-winning filmdirector Ken Loach visitedStaple Hill for discussionfollowing a screening ofhis film - I, Daniel Blake -which portrays the

hardships of the welfaresystem and treatment ofclaimants.Some emotive discussionstook place which echoedKen’s descriptions of his

experiences while makingthe film.The event last month wasorganised by DebbiePorteous, women’s officerfor Filton and Bradley Stokeconstituency’s Labour Party.The film was free to ensureeveryone could access theevent and a collection at theend raised a profit of £357for local foodbank Resoundin Emersons Green. The event was supported bythe You Foundation, whichallowed the use of their newyouth and communitybuilding. Page CommunityAssociation lent their chairsand Dr Steve Presence, ofthe University of the West

of England, providedprojection equipment. Debbie Porteous said: “Thecommunities living in SouthGlos, on the outskirts ofBristol, often miss out onevents such as this and sowe organised this to takeplace here in Staple Hill.“Filton and Bradley Stoke

constituency stretches fromStaple Hill, throughDownend, Winterbourne,Frenchay, Bradley Stoke,Patchway, Filton and all theway to Severn Beach. Thereare a lot of people in SouthGlos affected by the issuesthat are raised in thismoving film.”


Film director attends screening in Staple Hill

SITUATIONS VACANT PUBLIC NOTICE

Ken Loach

The congregation ofChrist Church inDownend, which iscurrently closed while itundergoes major buildingwork, are spreadingChristmas cheer aroundthe community.Tonight (Wednesday) at6pm they will be carolsinging at Nelson House atthe Pendennis Flats inStaple Hill. They will bejoined by the congregationsof Pendennis Good NewsChurch and SanctuaryChurch, and hot chocolateand mince pies will beavailable.On Saturday (16thDecember) at 11am therewill be more carol singing at

the Co-op in Downend andon Sunday (17th) there willbe traditional carols at theChurch Centre in QuakersRoad at 4pm.On Thursday 21stDecember at 3pm there willbe carol singing and familycraft fun in the afternoonwith residents at WilliamCourt, Overnhill Road. Andon Christmas Eve at 4pmthe Crib Service will be heldat Christ Church JuniorSchool. The Christmas Dayservice will be at the ChurchCentre in Quakers Road at10am.For full details of all thechurch’s Christmas servicesvisit christchurchdownend.com

Christ Church’s Building 4Life project will see thechurch open to thecommunity throughout theweek. The pews are being replacedby stackable chairs and amuch wider range ofcommunity events andconferences will be able totake place in what is one ofthe largest buildings in thearea. The work includes doublingthe size of the kitchen,improving toilet facilitiesand providing babychanging facilities. Newoffices and meeting spaceswill be created, along with aspecial prayer chapel inwhat was a storeroom.


Downend/Staple Hill

Spread-out Christmascelebrations as church isclosed for renovations

Christ Church

Hundreds of South Gloucestershire schoolchildren,teachers, and a four-month-old baby playing the part ofJesus came together at Clifton Cathedral on Friday torecreate a special Nativity scene at the district’s annualcarol service. The main characters of the Nativity were played bypupils from Parkwall Primary School in Cadbury Heath.There were also performances from pupils at St Mary’sPrimary in Yate and Marshfield Primary School,,supplemented by readings by pupils at Hanham AbbotsJunior School, Blackhorse Primary at Emersons Green,and the Manor C of E Primary School at Coalpit Heath.Music was provided by a brass quintet and organ andthere was a varied programme of traditional carols andmodern songs.Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council Ian Blairsaid: “The annual carol service is a highlight of the yearfor me as it brings together so many children from SouthGloucestershire’s primary schools. It is a special eventfor everyone involved and it’s wonderful to see thechildren bring the Nativity scene to life with suchenthusiasm.”

Starring role forParkwall pupils inannual carol service

Oldland Common

New homefor cafeEsther’s Café, whichwas previously at TheBatch CommunityCentre in CadburyHeath, has reopened thismonth at the SBL SportsCentre in North Road,Oldland Common.


A £500,000 congestion-busting scheme to improvetraffic at the Two HeadedMan junction has beencompleted. Bath & North East SomersetCouncil, together with theWest of England CombinedAuthority and LocalEnterprise Partnership, hasinvested in the schemeaimed at significantlyreducing peak-time queuesat the junction on the A39. Around 5,000 vehicles eachday use the light-controlledjunction which previouslyhad one lane in eachdirection and caused turningvehicles to hold up traffic asthey waited to turn. Improvement work hasincluded widening thecarriageway on eachapproach to two lanes toprovide dedicated turninglanes at the A39/B3116junction. The A39 is a keycommuting route, with twotraffic-light controlledjunctions at the B3116 andA368. Congestion at both

junctions impacts not onlyon through traffic but alsocause delays for localtraffic. Further improve-ments to motorists’ journeytimes are planned to theA39/A368 junction atMarksbury in 2018, subjectto grant funding. Cllr Tim Warren, the leaderof the council, said:“Improving the area’stransport network andreducing congestion is oneof our top priorities. Thisincludes schemes atnotorious junctions andbottlenecks such as the TwoHeaded Man. “The need to improve trafficon the A39, and at the TwoHeaded Man junction inparticular, has been talkedabout locally for manyyears. These improvementsform a key part of our widerplan to improve transportand tackle congestion acrossthe B&NES area, and Iwould like to thankresidents for their patiencewhile work was beingundertaken.

“Alongside furtherimprovements planned tothe A39 at the Marksburyjunction with the A368, thismajor traffic improvementscheme will reduce queuesand improve journey timesfor thousands of driverseach day. And by reducingthe amount of time peopleare sat in traffic, not only arewe making journeys quickerand easier, but we are alsohelping to support our localeconomy and improve ourregion’s productivity aswell.” West of England Mayor TimBowles said: “Tacklingcongestion is a key part ofensuring future economicgrowth across the West ofEngland region. “This work, funded by theLocal Growth Fund throughthe West of England JointCommittee, will signi-ficantly improve both roadcapacity, speed upcommuter times and reduceemissions from idling carswhich impact on airquality.”

Easing the peak-timetailbacks at busy junction

From left, Kelvin Packer, group manager for highwaysand traffic at B&NES, council leader Tim Warren andKeynsham councillor Charles Gerrish, the CabinetMember for finance & efficiency at the junction

MOTORING


The Kingswood Playersare rehearsing forTreasure Island whichwill be staged atKingswood CommunityCentre next month.The show will be onFriday 19th and Saturday20th January and onFriday 26th and Saturday27th January. Eveningperformances are at7.30pm and Saturdaymatinees at 2.30pm.Adapted from the novel,the script is by Kevin Ryeand the show is beingdirected by Richard Bond.Order tickets by visitingwww.kingswoodplayers.org/ or call the box officeon 0777 205 6562.

Kingswood Ahoy thereme hearties!

Treetops care home in St ClementsRoad has been put into specialmeasures after the most recent visitfrom the Care Quality Commission.Treetops, run by Shaw healthcare,provides support for older people whoare living with dementia. Earlier this year CQC inspectors foundthe home to be good for caring but notadequately managed, and that in termsof being safe, effective and responsive,improvement was required. And at theprevious inspection in April 2016,inspectors said that improvementswere needed in all five key areas –being safe, effective, caring,responsive and well-led.The latest inspection found the serviceneeds improvement in terms of beingsafe and effective, is good in for beingcaring and responsive, but inadequatein terms of being well-led.

The CQC said that the management ofthe service had seen several changesand the instability had impacted onchanges being implemented andsustained. Even though the overall rating is'Requires improvement', the CQC saidit was placing the service into specialmeasures and will keep it underreview.At the time of the inspection therewere 19 people living at Treetops.This week Liam Scanlon, Shaw’s

director of compliance andgovernance, said: “We are currentlyimplementing an improvement planthat we’ve shared with the CQC andwe’re pleased to see that theirinspection report recognises thoseefforts. “We acknowledge that there is stillsome way to go but we’re confidentthat the trend of improvement willcontinue as we strive to deliver the bestlevels of care for those who use ourservices.”

Keynsham

Care home put into specialmeasures

Town

Bristol Airport has begunpreparing a new MasterPlan which will set outpotential development torespond to increasingpassenger demandforecast over the nextthree decades and beyond. With over 120 destinations,Bristol Airport currentlyserves eight millionpassengers a year, and saysforecasts mean it needs toextend its horizon to 2050and consider the potentialfor demand reaching 20million passengers annually.Bristol Airport is one of theUK’s 10 busiest airports, butwith a site area of just 196hectares, it is dwarfed bymost of its peers. When itreaches 10 millionpassengers a year, it says itssite will be operating at full

capacity in terms of thespace available for aviationoperations and supportinginfrastructure. It says continued success islikely to require a larger siteto serve the public need forgreater connectivity andexpanded airport capacity.However, an extendedrunway is not currently in itsplans, with the existing A38expected to remain a well-defined eastern boundary.Airport chiefs say anyproposal to expand theextent of the site would needto be fully justified, and anyland acquisition must be“necessary, feasible andviable”. As part of the consultationexercise, it will be engagingwith landowners whoseinterests are potentially

affected by any proposedrevision to the airport’sboundary. The vision for anairport, which has this yearbeen celebrating its 60thanniversary, is that is also apublic transport andemployment hub.A series of consultationevents are taking place forpeople to learn more aboutthe airport and its plans,with the chance to talk tomembers of the seniorleadership team.There is a drop-in eventtomorrow (Thursday) at theBristol & Bath Science Parkin Emersons Green from11am to 2pm; on Thursday11th January at theGuildhall in Bath from11am to 2pm; and onThursday 18th January atthe Fear Hall in Keynshamfrom 11am to 2pm.There is also a feedback

form online – visithttps://www.bristolairportfuture.com/have-your-say/This consultation runs untilmidnight on 26th January.After the consultation theairport will publish a reportsummarising the feedback

and explaining how theywill take it into account.Views, together with furtheranalysis and study, willresult in a new Draft MasterPlan, which will be subjectto further publicconsultation in 2018.


RedfieldFree concert at St Patrick’sThere will be a Christmas concert at St Patrick’s Church inNetham Road this Sunday (17th December) from 4pm to 5pm.There will be a variety of Christmas songs, carols, poems andreadings. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Wineand mince pies will be served afterwards.

Local councillors, environ-mental groups and theowners of Hanham Courtand Bickley Farm all gottogether recently in anattempt to unearth what theybelieve to be the ancientHanham Abbots animalpound. They managed touncover the entrance to theancient hamlet’s site whichhad been hidden underbrush and woodland forhundreds of years and wasassociated with HanhamCourt and Hanham Abbotsfor around 1,000 years.The previous Sunday 60people turned up for a walk

around Hanham AbbotsConservation Area, passingthrough Bickley Wood, StGeorge’s Church, HanhamCourt and Sally on the Barn

before being treated to teaand cake at Hanham Court.The picture shows the workdone by volunteers toexpose the ancient pound.

Hanham Abbots

Discovering the past

Airport seeks public views asit plans major expansion


Concern overneglected houseOngoing concerns about at neglected property in BridgeRoad, pictured, were raised at last Tuesday’s meeting ofthe Staple Hill & Rodway Community EngagementForum.A local resident told the meeting that the problem hadbeen going on for about eight years and that the househad been empty for the last four.The meeting heard from community engagement officerNessa Jarman that formal notices have been served bySouth Gloucestershire Council requiring works to beundertaken to improve the property, but the personalcircumstances of the owners mean the works have notyet been undertaken.She said the next step may involve the council imposinga Land Charge.

Lonely this ChristmasOur article in last week’s issue aboutChristmas Day lunch at the Temple StreetCanteen in Keynsham has certainlygenerated a response. Local businesses and residents have madegenerous donations which is allowingLyndsey and Matthew to make bigger and

better plans for the day. If you don’t fancy cooking for just one ortwo of you and would like some differentcompany, simply call in to the Canteen at21 Temple Street and book your place.Alternatively, email: [email protected]

South Gloucestershire’slibraries have a fun-filledprogramme of free festiveactivities for children andfamilies this December. They include stories aroundthe tree at KingswoodLibrary from 5.45pm to6.45pm today (Wednesday)and Christmas Rhymetimetomorrow (Thursday) from10.30am to 11am at bothStaple Hill and EmersonsGreen libraries.On Friday (15th) there willbe Christmas stories andrhymes at Cadbury HeathLibrary from 10.30am to11am and on Saturday thereis a Christmas Lego™ clubat Downend Library from11am to midday.Next Monday (18thDecember) there will be

stories around the tree atHanham Library from5.45pm to 6.45pm (limitedplaces are available socontact Hanham Library tobook your place).On Tuesday 19th DecemberHanham Library will alsohost Christmas rhymes andstories from 10.30am to11am and a writingworkshop with a winterwonderland theme from2.30pm to 3.30pm. Theworkshop will also run atEmersons Green Libraryfrom 10.30am to 11.30amand Staple Hill Library from12.30pm to 1.30pm.Christmas capers will alsobe on offer on the 19th atStaple Hill Library from2.15pm to 3.45pm and atEmersons Green Library

from 2pm to 4pm.There will be moreChristmas capers onWednesday 20th Decemberat Downend Library from2.30pm to 3.30pm, andfestive fun at KingswoodLibrary from 2.30pm to3.30pm.Thursday 21st Decembersees Christmas Rhymetimeat Staple Hill Library from10.30am to 11am andfestive fun at HanhamLibrary from 2pm to 3pm.There will be more festivefun on Friday 22ndDecember at Cadbury HeathLibrary from 11am tomidday. For more informa-tion about age suitabilityand events at all libraries inSouth Glos visit www.southglos.gov.uk /libraries

South Glos

Libraries hostholiday activities

Here are the locations in our area that policemobile speed cameras are targeting this week(starting 11th December).

Bath & North East Somerset: In Saltford on Bath Road and Norman Road;on the A431 Kelston Road; in Keynsham onthe B3116 Wellsway, Chandag Road, AlbertRoad, Queens Road, Charlton Road andCharlton Park; on the A37 Pensford Hill andthe A39 at Marksbury and Farmborough.

Bristol:In St George on Nags Head Hill and Air

Balloon Road; in Brislington on Wick Road,Talbot Road and the A4174 Callington Road;in Stockwood on Stockwood Lane; inFishponds on Snowdon Road, Thicket Avenueand Thingwall Park.

South Gloucestershire:On the A431 Bath Road at Bitton andSwineford; in Oldland Common on Mill Lane;in Kingswood on Tenniscourt Road and CourtRoad; in Hanham on Abbots Road; inLongwell Green on Court Farm Road; on theA420 London Road at Warmley and Wick.

Mobile speed camera locations

Tenants, residents, employ-ees and friends from carehomes and housing schemesof charity Brunelcareattended a special carolservice at Christ the ServantChurch in Stockwood.Pupils from WaycroftAcademy were invitedalong to sing at the serviceand donated gift boxes forBrunelcare’s RobinsonHouse care home residentswho live nearby. Everyone at the service lastTuesday was treated to a

buffet tea, and wereespecially delighted to meetand chat with the LordMayor of Bristol Lesley

Alexander. Kevin Fairman, Brunel-care’s chief executiveofficer, said: “This service isan annual highlight - havinga good sing-a-long toChristmas carols is veryspecial for our residents andtenants. It has been good tosee as many as 170 peoplejoin us. “Our residents were clearlydelighted by the service andenjoyed hearing the childrenfrom Waycroft Academysing.”


Stockwood

Carol service delightscare home residents

Saltford

Online jamboree

Bristol’s Lord Mayor LesleyAlexander with Brunelcare tenants

Brunelcare CEO Kevin Fairman with Waycroft Academypupils and headteacher Lisa Craig with and care homemanager Joy White

The 1st Saltford Scout Troop has been busy in recent weeks linking up with Scouts acrossthe globe. They spent a night connecting with Scouts across the world by participating in‘Jamboree on the Internet’, where they managed to make contact with Scouts in 39 countries.

Saltford’s Rainbows,Brownies and Guides weredelighted to be invited toWaitrose in Keynsham tocollect a cheque from theretailer’s CommunityMatters scheme. Throughout OctoberWaitrose customers usedtheir green tokens to votefor Saltford District Guidesto receive a portion of the£1,000 sum available. Theunit thanks Waitrose andcustomers and say themoney will be used for vitalrepairs to their premises inSaltford.The 2nd Saltford Guidesenjoyed helping out with themarshalling at the Saltford

Santa Dash on 3rdDecember. And the 1stSaltford Guides enjoyed aChristmas themed sleepoverat the Guide hut in Saltfordwhile the 2nd SaltfordGuides attended aThanksgiving themedweekend at Bitton.Meanwhile the 1st SaltfordBrownies enjoyed the SantaSpecial at Avon ValleyRailway while the 2ndSaltford Rainbows had a

wonderful Christmas party.Rainbows and Brownies arecurrently looking for newvolunteers to help with therunning of weekly meetings,and continue the fun andadventures the girls are allhaving. If you or someoneyou know can spare an houror so each week [email protected] or apply atwww.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved


Campaign topreserveMangotsfield’sidentity

Saltford

Busy time forGirlguiding unit

There are concerns in Mangotsfield that the village’sidentity is being eroded.Whilst there are some who are working hard to maintainthat identity, such as the Mangotsfield Matters Facebookpage, it is felt that greater awareness across the widercommunity is needed.The organisers of the annual Mangotsfield Festival areconsidering running an exhibition about the village as agood way to raise awareness, highlightingMangotsfield’s past, present and likely future, runninglocal history talks and a local history walk.There are also hopes of getting local people to take amore active interest in Mangotsfield, identifying specificprojects such as grass cutting, Mangotsfield Commonand improving Alec Large Park and the old DamesSchool in front of the Red Lion pub. Volunteers are needed to organise, create and run theexhibition. If you are interested, [email protected] get-together will be held in early 2018 to get thingsmoving.

Hanham

Remembering at ChristmasA Remembering Service will be held onSaturday 16th December at HanhamBaptist Church. The Rev Peter Cook says: “Christmas is awonderful time of year, but for many thecelebrations are tinged with sadness asthey remember those who will not bepresent with them. Bereavement and losscan be tough. Just before the celebrations

begin, we have a short service where youcan remember those people. “There will be a couple of carols, somereadings and a chance for you to light acandle or write a message to say youwon't forget.”The service is at 3pm. If you want moreinformation, contact the Rev Cook on0117 9041703.

Mangotsfield village


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