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THE WEEK IN East & North East Somerset

FREE Issue 584 10th July 2019 Read by more than 40,000 people each week Savage reaction to traffic proposals Reaction to South Council’s concern that the ETO was actioned without any prior experimental traffic order (ETO) for the A4174 consultation. Hambrook junction has been predictably severe. The plan to bring levels of nitrogen dioxide below the 40 Public, politicians and transport leaders have not only micrograms per cubic metre limit were first revealed in Issue questioned the viability of the plan but also expressed 582 – 26th June of The Week In.

From 11th August this will mean that westbound traffic on the A4174 will no longer be able to turn right onto the B4058. Northbound traffic on the B4058 coming from will not be able to cross the junction of turn right towards . Both of these restrictions mean that traffic will have to travel around the roundabout at the M32 junction and return in the opposite direction. As well as this, the westbound bus lane at the Hambrook junction will be suspended, making it left turn only on the B4058 towards Frenchay. Despite a statement from the council about liaising with bus operators to limit the impact on services using the junction, First Bus Managing Director James Freeman told us the first he knew of the plan was when he read The Week In. Continued on page 3

Also in this B&NES Council monitoring Bristol launches clean Row erupts over Petition amid fears for financial situation at air scheme consultation S. Glos Council Keynsham ambulance week’s issue construction giant . . . page 3 . . . page 5 newsletter . . . page 7 station . . . page 12 2 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 Hambrook traffic proposals B&NES watching Kier situation Continued from page 1 the 19/19A and Y4. Mr Evans added: “If Bath & North East Somerset Council says authorities, the largest of which, with He claimed that the management team the supposed benefits are not realised, it is closely monitoring the situation with Shropshire County Council, is worth from metrobus were similarly unaware. then we will have driven more people construction company Kier after its most £210m. A contract with Wiltshire County The traffic plan is away from the very public transport we recent profits warning. Council is worth £63.9m and the next Council’s response to the threat of legal need to be getting them on.” The company has a number of biggest is with Durham County Council action by the government by exceeding David Redgewell, a director of Bus Users construction and infrastructure projects (£50m). the 40 μg/m3 limit and that the UK, is also perplexed at the removal of with local councils across the country Dine Romero, B&NES Council leader, experience from the recent Bromley the bus lane. He told The Week In: “The including the redevelopment of the said: “There are two separate contracts Heath viaduct repairs makes it confident emerging Bristol Transport Plan is all Riverside office building in Keynsham. with Kier, one is with the council for the that the experiment will be a success. about improving bus lanes, not taking At the end of last month Kier announced leisure centre refurbishment and the other However, the Green Party have accused them away. that its full-year profits would be well one is with Aequus Construction Ltd for the council of applying a sticking plaster “I have major concerns about the below earlier forecasts causing its share the Riverside View housing development. price to fall by more than 40%. The “Both the council and ACL are closely to a much larger problem. Their timetable for the 19 and 19a (from Cribbs company is listed on the FTSE 250 and monitoring the situation with Kier. Each spokesperson Joe Evans said, “It’s Causeway to Bath) as well as for employs 20,000 people. Last year it has a contractual provision and protection shocking - the Conservative council seem passengers trying to get to Parkway launched a £264m emergency fundraising in place to minimise any risk, which is to have been really caught unawares here, Station.” bid to stave off another Carillion-style standard practice with contracts of this rushing out a quick fix to avoid a legal Mr Redgewell also told us that as a situation. nature. Both contracts are well under way challenge without thinking of letting the member of the Mayor’s transport board, According to Local Government News, and in the case of Riverside View nearing public or even bus service providers he has attended meetings on air quality Kier has contracts with 80 local completion.” know it was on the cards. with representatives from South “We fully support action on air pollution, Gloucestershire present. The Hambrook but everyone knows if you’re serious junction had never been brought up for about tackling the issue, you need to get discussion. people out of their cars and onto public Once the 18-month trial arrangements transport or active travel. start on 11th August, members of the “The council desperately needs a joined- public will have six months to submit up, comprehensive and long-term formal comments via a dedicated strategy that significantly improves our webpage. The following six months will green infrastructure and public transport. be used to evaluate reaction and the final Tinkering around with road plans without six months of the trial will be to consulting with the public or the bus implement a decision and complete the services is short-termism at best.” legal process if the outcome is to make There are also concerns around the the scheme permanent. removal of the bus lane and impacts on

The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 3 Consultation opens on controversial Consultation has opened cities including Bath to would be charged £9, M32, an inbound bus lane on Bristol City Council’s reduce NO2 levels below the HGVs, coaches and buses on Cumberland Road, and proposals for a Clean Air legal limits. Despite £100. using existing traffic signals Zone. engaging consultants in Option 1 would also include: to control the amount of While people now have until 2018 to come up with four • a 24-hour-a day, seven traffic entering congested 12th August to give their alternative schemes, the days a week HGV weight areas with poor air quality; views, the proposals council missed its deadline restriction (for HGVs over • A scrappage scheme (up to continue to come under fire. to provide an outline 3.5 tonnes) on the worst £2,000) for private diesel The Freight Transport business case for action to polluted routes; cars. This would provide a Association is the latest the government by the end • All diesel car ban on Upper grant towards a new vehicle organisation to criticise the of that year. With the threat Maudlin Street and Park or an alternative mode of council plan, claiming the of legal action, a second Row running from St James transport (e.g. bus travel or burden for cleaning up deadline missed this spring. Barton roundabout to Park purchasing a bike). Bristol’s air would fall The options are as follows: Street between 7am and Option 2: Diesel car ban entirely on the shoulders of Option 1 Clean Air Zone 3pm, seven days a week (the Banning all diesel cars from businesses in the city. (private cars not charged) ban would not apply to taxis, driving in a specific central At its June meeting, the • A zone in which older, private hire and emergency area (small zone) from 7am council’s executive cabinet more polluting buses, vehicles); to 3pm, seven days a week agreed to adopt two options coaches, taxis, heavy goods • Bus and local traffic (this would not apply to for further consultation. The vehicles (HGVs, i.e. goods changes in the most taxis/private hire or announcement came almost vehicles over 3.5 tonnes) polluting areas including an emergency services). two years after the and light goods vehicles inbound bus lane on the Other measures, including a government first ordered (LGVs, i.e. goods vehicles Bristol, and around 20 other not exceeding 3.5 tonnes) would be charged. The THE WEEK IN following proposed charges would apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week and Barrs Court, , , would be charged once in , Compton Dando, each 24-hour period: Non- Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, complaint taxis and LGVs , , Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, , , Marksbury, North Common, Common, , Saltford, Staple Hill, , St George, , Whitchurch, Wick, . 16,000 copies are distributed through retail outlets, libraries, pubs, community centres each week. Verified pick-up rate of 97%. Publisher Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA 0117 986 0381 www.theweekin.co.uk ISSN: 2052-9767

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4 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 Bristol Clean Air Zone Free first aid training First Aid Training (Bath) will be running another free course on 27th July. This time the location will be at its base at St Philip & St James Church in Odd Down, Bath. The two-and-a-half-hour course includes Automated External Defibrillator training and emergency first aid for babies and children. One person who attended the company’s last free event in Keynsham commented: “As a new mother and a teaching assistant I thought it was a great update and retraining opportunity, as well as getting the husband in the know. “It was a free event and a relaxed session for people to be aware of how to use AEDs and give CPR from babies to adults, very informative, helpful and friendly trainers.” There will be no charge for the course and refreshments, which is open to anyone in The Week In catchment area. Details of the course can be found at www.facebook.com/firstaidtrainingbathltd.

scrappage scheme, could also tomorrow (11th July) at the to the consultation is via its alternative formats by be included. Barton Hill Settlement on website www.bristol.gov. emailing transport.projects@ Keep in touch, let us know what A number of drop-in sessions Dulcie Road (2.30pm- uk/traffic cleanairzone bristol.gov.uk or by calling you think, send us your news have been arranged over the 7.30pm) but the council’s If you cannot complete the 0117 3521397. www.facebook.com/theweekin next five weeks, starting preferred form of responding survey online, you can request

The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 5 6 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 Suspended jail sentence for A million steps for Ian A man from Saltford is taking on the One couple who evaded council tax Million Step Challenge for Diabetes UK. The event takes place between 1st July and A couple from Treorchy in Wales have adjourn the case until August. However, 30th September, and invites people to push been ordered to pay £4,331.66 and handed they would not need to attend if the themselves out of their comfort zone by a 12-week suspended sentence for wilful property had been sold and the money was taking one million steps over three months refusal to pay council tax on a house they paid to South Gloucestershire Council. In and getting sponsored for every stride. owned in Kingswood between 2014 and August 2018 the debt was still due and the Saltford man Ian Etheridge is aiming to walk 2018. couple failed to attend court. This led to a one million steps before the end of Rachel and Paul Wells were arrested at further adjournment until September and September and raise £150 for Diabetes UK. their home and taken to Bristol attempts were made to contact the couple The 42-year-old has already been on a new Magistrates’ Court on 22nd May, 10 to discuss their non-attendance, without regime since January in an effort to lose months after their first hearing at the same success. weight and control his blood glucose levels court in July 2018. At the hearing last year, When it came to the September hearing, by walking his dogs three miles a day. But Mrs Wells explained that paying council Mr and Mrs Wells again failed to attend. now he will have to ensure he averages tax had not been a priority due to their South Gloucestershire Council requested 10,000 steps a day to achieve the target by financial circumstances. She told the court an application for a warrant without bail 30th September. that the property in Kingswood was which was granted by the magistrates. He says: “The nurse weighed me at New undergoing completion and should be sold Further investigations found that the Year and I couldn’t believe it when she told within four to five weeks. couple had sold their Kingswood property me I was 18 stone. I’ve lost a stone since On this evidence, magistrates agreed to in August and had moved to Wales. then thanks to the walking but I’m hoping to lose more during the Million Step Challenge.”

Diabetes is a condition where there is too Ian Etheridge Record fair much glucose in the blood because the body There is a record fair this Sunday (14th cannot use it properly. There are an estimated people living with diabetes can lead a long, July) at The Space at Market Walk in 4.7 million people living with diabetes in the full and healthy life. Keynsham from 10am to 4pm. Entrance UK. Around 90 per cent have Type 2. With To sponsor Ian Etheridge, go to is free. the right treatment, knowledge and support, https://step.diabetes.org.uk/pages/ian

The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 7 Advertising feature Marble Supreme - trusted provider of granite, marble and quartz worktops in Bristol

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8 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 Council slammed after spending £30k on newsletter South Gloucestershire Council has come in for criticism our roads or to deliver their long-broken promise to cut green for spending £30,000 on a newsletter which opposition bin charges, but apparently, they can find money for this. councillors claim was simply propaganda for the ruling “Conservative councillors can now look forward to Conservative party and its leader. answering some very difficult questions from their residents, The council used to produce a quarterly publication called thanks to their leader’s thirst for self-promotion at public South Gloucestershire News which was distributed to every expense.” household in the authority. Publication was ceased in 2015 But Conservative councillor Ben Burton who is the Cabinet as one of the cost savings made by the council as it tried to member for corporate resources, hit back saying: “Following address reduced funding from central government. the recent elections, the administration felt it was appropriate After the local elections this May, which saw the to let residents know about the new council and councillors, Conservatives once more win control of the council, South and the work we are doing across the district to deliver on Gloucestershire News was reborn and a 16-page magazine our priorities to ensure South Gloucestershire is a great place has been delivered to 119,000 homes in the district. But to live and work. We chose to reintroduce South Glos News according to the Liberal Democrat group leader Claire Young, as we recognise that many residents are not ‘digital citizens’, the magazine was more about the self-promotion of council and so took this opportunity to update residents on our work leader Toby Savage. and to direct them to lower-cost ways of keeping in touch and “I couldn’t believe it when the magazine came through my up to date with us. letterbox.” she said. “Local residents have told me that they “South Gloucestershire Council continues to be thought it was a Conservative Party leaflet, because it Conservative-run and so inevitably these members who head featured so many photographs of Toby Savage. They were up the respective Cabinet portfolios are going to be angry to realise that they were paying for it out of their mentioned more so than others. Cllr Savage, as leader of the council tax! council, and as the former Cabinet Member for Schools, is “How on earth can Cllr Savage possibly justify spending no exception. But for Lib Dems to suggest this is a show that the total cost or printing and distributing the new thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money to feed his own ego ‘Conservative’ publication couldn’t be further from the truth, edition of South Gloucestershire News (SGN) was £38,000. at a time when he is cutting funding for things like social and they have chosen to ignore the fact that the magazine Council “partners” which were featured in SGN, including services? The Conservatives can’t find enough money to fix contains a double-page spread featuring all members making the West of Combined Authority, Travelwest and the up the new council, complete with the wards they represent police, contributed £7,400, leaving a cost to the council of and their contact details, and work from a number of our £30,600. Despite an ongoing squeeze on council spending, Duck race public sector partners, including the police. the budget for SGN appears to have come from a contingency “In a recent budget consultation, only 41 per cent of fund. St Anne’s Church in is holding its participants said they felt well informed on the council’s work According to Lib Dem resources spokesperson Mike Drew: annual year’s charity duck race on Saturday (13th July). and how taxpayer money is spent, and so we felt we could “Our inquiries show that they raided the council’s Financial There will be three races, starting at 3.30pm from the and should be doing better. This magazine has proven popular Risk Reserve to pay for it – money that is supposed to be ‘clapper bridge’ at the bottom of Court Road. There is a with the public in the past and we look forward to feedback there to help the council through rainy days – not to act as a barbecue following the prize-giving and everyone is from residents.” piggy bank for Conservative Party publicity material! We will welcome to join in this fun community event. For more Figures released by the council, which is currently looking be calling on the council’s audit committee to look into this details contact Ernie Parry on 0117 9325456. to make a further £6m of savings in the current financial year, blatant waste of public funds.” Sudoku SUNDAY CHEMISTS Sunday 14th July Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green 1-Easy 2 -Hard (10.30am-4pm) Asda, Longwell Green (10am-4pm) Boots, Emersons Green Retail Park (10.30am-4.30pm) Sainsbury’s, Emersons Green Retail Park (9.30am-4.30pm) Stockwood Pharmacy, 78 Hollway Road, BS14 8PG (9am-7pm) Keynsham Pharmacy, 15 Station Road, BS31 2BH (10am-5pm) Tesco, Callington Road, Brislington (10am to 4pm) Morrisons, 688-718 Fishponds Road, Fishponds (10am-4pm) Boots, Avonmeads Retail Park, St Philips Causeway (11am-5pm)

The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 9 LETTERS

Welcome to Keynsham – nowadays is by definition passing more tin-pot ideas, how about they carry letter to you (3rd July) that something now get out! through the town and not actually out a full and proper survey to ask 'very like' it would be top of his list of visiting. That would definitely keep EVERY household and business in improvements. All power to his elbow, Dear Stephen pollution down. I find it incredible that Keynsham what they really think of the and I hope he gains the support needed In reply to Andy Wait (Issue 583), he has the High Street is the through route. Are one-way system instead of the to promote it. more or less taken the words out of the we not trying to direct through traffic underhand way they went about it But what a shame the authorities cannot mouth of Mr Warren (the former council around Keynsham and visitors into previously? bite the bullet and make the High Street leader) by saying “there will be no Keynsham? The B&NES department In my opinion, this is something they plus Ashton Way into a combined one- access from the High Street to Temple behind this one-way system have done should have done in the first place, way circuit (east bound High Street, west Street as this would increase congestion the job they were asked to do. Box considering that it potentially affects bound Ashton Way). This would then and worsen air pollution”. ticked! The trouble is that the everyone who resides and/or works in make it easy to allow traffic to go across Well NO actually. That is simply 'towing implementation does not work and has the area, let alone the people that visit or from the High Street and either on into the council line' and, as I said to Mr damaged Keynsham. commute through the town. This could Temple Street or turn right into a now Warren, you have no proof of this Apparently we don't need to worry be in the form of a questionnaire one-way Rock Road. At the other end of whatsoever as a trial was never carried though because a £1.5m grant will bring perhaps? Ashton Way, the road from the Charlton out. What agenda is it that B&NES the people back. That is a large amount But this time have it overseen by an Road junction down to the High Street Council have that makes them want to just to claw it back. I'm sorry Andy, but independent body rather than leaving it would also now be one-way, with traffic disrupt the main artery into Keynsham you have scored an own goal. As I have up to B&NES to make up the result. I turning either left or right onto the High and on to the leisure centre and car park? said before, the council will turn round challenge B&NES to do this! Street. Worth considering? As Mr Wait says, this was strongly to everyone and tell them how they have Mike Heavens J Eley supported in the consultation so why is invigorated Keynsham but not how the this improvement being ignored? one-way system cut visitors in the first Perhaps it is time for the residents and Make one-way system Outrage at Hambrook plan place. businesses of Keynsham to stop paying gyratory? Dear Editor Will someone at B&NES Council use their rates and force this council to act Dear Stephen I can only express my outrage about this some common sense and think logically democratically by carrying out their It was interesting on my doorstep back South Gloucestershire Council proposed about this. wishes. Whoever heard of a high street in May to talk with the then prospective experimental traffic re-management C Oliver that leads people out of the town? Most Liberal councillor Andy Wait. In the scheme on the A4174 at Hambrook - P.S. And another reason visitors are not towns having a sign saying 'Town course of our short conversation I did say Bromley Heath. Similar criticisms are coming to Keynsham is because their Centre' this way and 'All Other Routes' that although Keynsham's traffic stacking up on the Next Door web site first port of call is a toilet and the public that way - but ours might as well say problems can never be completely and probably on Facebook, I guess. I am toilets in the Ashton Way car park are 'Welcome to Keynsham...now get out'! solved, I felt that the present traffic hot- copying this letter to relevant South shut. Whoever heard of a town with no I'm appalled. This has nothing to do with spot caused by the two unconnected Gloucestershire councillors. town centre car park toilets! Open the pollution and congestion as better traffic pedestrian crossings and roundabout This ‘experiment’ was carried out only damn things please! flow would reduce both. We have more from the top of Bath Hill to Rock Road recently - two years ago? - when the pollution and congestion on Ashton Way could be much improved if we had viaduct was being repaired. So all the and Bath Hill since the one-way system Proper survey on one-way instead one set of traffic lights at the repercussions from that ought to have was introduced and that is by B&NES’ system challenge Temple Street/Rock Road junction been monitored and diagnosed. Surely own figures. I thought the Lib Dems Dear Stephen combined and coordinated with traffic cannot have increased that much were going to monitor this. I have an idea on how B&NES can pedestrian crossing lights (across Rock since then? If anything, the traffic should be allowed spend a very small amount of the £1.5m Road and across Temple Street). To reduce pollution in the area, when across into Temple Street but not down they have secured to ‘future proof’ Mr Wait said that this was an interesting held up either because of red lights or Bath Hill because apart from the buses, Keynsham town centre. suggestion he had not come across just a long queue, drivers ought to switch anyone driving along the High Street Before they start to fritter it away on any before, so I am pleased to read in his off their engines. I have got into that

10 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 LETTERS habit for quite a while now, when anniversary song. will say at this point that I have waiting can often be for 1 1/2 or 2 And last but by no means least, received some rental compensation minutes. (no I am not trying to thank you Nana for the super spread from EE but as I have stressed to sound smug, just logical). and providing doggy bags so that them, what I really want is a reliable This is outrageous over-expenditure nothing went to waste. mobile service. by South Gloucestershire Council. Ann & Brian Iles Another strange thing is that I am But if they really have all this spare Hanham certain that mobile networks share cash of OURS, they should be masts because it cannot be making usable road signs in the Frustration over phone coincidence that I have three family county - and not just in the area mast problems members on iD mobile and their under discussion. This means service has also been affected since Dear Sir hacking down the Amazon jungle around the same time as my issues I have had problems with my obscuring so many, cleaning them, started. mobile phone signal especially and removing unnecessary or As far as I am concerned, because indoors in a multitude of locations outdated ones like ‘NEW LAYOUT EE knew well in advance that this within the BS31 area since the end AHEAD’ or ‘HIDDEN DIPS’ - all was going happen and would have of April up to and including the date of which make driving more been fully aware of the of this email. difficult particularly if a driver is consequences regarding service, I am with the EE mobile network ‘not from round ‘ere'! they should have notified all and this problem started after work Alan Elkan customers in advance within the on the mast in Temple Street (as BS31 area. The service appears fine reported in your Issue 574 dated outside of this area. Diamond wedding 14th April 2019). As of 4th July 2019, they could not anniversary thanks With a constant ‘no service – even give me a date when the Dear Stephen emergency calls only’, I got so service will be back to normal. I A big thank you to Becky for the frustrated with EE after several would urge anyone who has also super pics and article of our Live Chats and phone calls to find had problems with EE/Orange/T- diamond anniversary party at the out just what was going on. Several Mobile to seek compensation if you Queen’s Head in Hanham on 22nd promises later that it would be fixed reside in the BS31 area at least. June (Issue 582). and in fact notifications that it was They have offered to release me Can we also take the opportunity fixed when it clearly wasn’t, they from my contract but then, under for a few other thank yous? Thank actually revealed that all this work these circumstances, they could not you to everybody for coming. To was planned! This means of course bind me to it anyway. our daughter Nicola for arranging that they were still taking monthly Mike Heavens things, and for her speech – in payments from myself and all other particular, her ‘poem’ which lots customers within the BS31 area, have commented on. whilst knowing full well that they Thanks also to Helen James, well- could not provide the service that known local musician, on her guitar they are contracted to do. A serious Scout leader appeal and her vocalist Paul Barclay for breach? I think so! Keep in touch, let us The 34th Bitton Scout Group has recently found new giving us professional I have since requested and received know what you think, leaders for the Beaver section but still urgently needs a entertainment - including the a lockdown letter which I am in the send us your news new leader for the Scouts to start in September. chance for us both to dance the process of putting to use (because I Email [email protected] if you can help. www.facebook.com/theweekin anniversary waltz and listen to our am still under a contract term). I

The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 11 Petition over feared closure of More than 1,000 respond to No 2 bus consultation Keynsham ambulance station Changes to Bristol’s Service 2 that will mean buses are A petition launched on the change.org website more frequent in the evening and avoid a congestion to prevent the closure of Keynsham ambulance hotspot to improve its punctuality and reliability, are on station has so far received almost 2,000 their way in September, operator signatures. has announced. The station closure has not been officially The changes to the service, which runs from Cribbs announced but it is understood to be included in a Causeway to Stockwood, follow widespread raft of changes proposed in the South West consultation with users and stakeholders – including a Ambulance Service Trust’s (SWASFT) ‘Our survey that received more than 1,000 responses – and will People Plan’. see the bus route altered in the and area Designed to provide more money for frontline to avoid traffic approaching the Old Crow roundabout. services and increased staff levels through There will also be more frequent buses on weekday efficiencies elsewhere in the ambulance service, evenings between 19.00 and 21.00 hours. the plan is understood to include the closure of Rob Pymm, commercial director for First West of Keynsham, and subsequently , with England, said: “We are bringing a number of extra buses Keynsham ambulance station ambulances being dispatched from two central into the service to make it more reliable and to provide hubs – one at Lawrence Hill and the other at . Unison’s South West branch has also expressed cynicism more frequent buses during the evening, and this shows Ambulance staff fear the Keynsham station could close as about SWASFT’s claims that its reorganisation will result in our strong commitment to getting this service right, early as September. more staff and better working conditions for ambulance despite the huge challenges it faces. Although rumours of station closures have circulated since crews. “We will be watching the performance of the service last autumn, no details have been made public. The Our The change.org petition centres on three issues: the large- closely after the changes go live, and we will continue to People Plan has come in for criticism for its lack of scale house building in the Keynsham area will increase the work with Bristol City Council so that we can make other consultation with staff already on the front line. SWASFT’s population and hence demand; response times for an improvements, particularly around congestion hotspots chief executive Ken Wenman has also come in for criticism ambulance coming from Bristol will be compromised, in future.” for employing outside consultant to provide the financial especially for Category 1 patients; implementation of the new justification for the plan without discussing proposals with plan could potentially take years and Keynsham should be the staff. kept open until that time. Strachan & Henshaw Gary Palmer, regional organiser for the GMB union, said late The Week In has made repeated attempts to obtain a clarification last year: "It is unbelievable just how arrogant Ken can be comment from the South West Ambulance Service Trust, all Following our article on the Strachan & Henshaw when it comes to what he feels he can just change without of which have so far been unsuccessful. building last week a reader has asked to clarify that it speaking to those it affects the most. Once again it is the The petition started by Georgia Moore can be found at produced machinery for the print industry prior to its trust’s most valuable resource, its staff, that come last on www.keynsham.org and then search for Keynsham closure. Engineering for the defence and nuclear Chief Exec Ken Wenman’s to do list.” ambulance station. industries took place at another site owned by the company in St Philips. Crossword

ACROSS DOWN 1. Stronghold (8) 1. Unwoven fabric (4) 5. Circuit (4) 2. Dull thump (4) 7. Capitulate (9) 3. Soil (5) 9. Stepped (4) 4. Scorch (5) 10. Small hollow (4) 5. Told untruths (4) 11. Tiny scrap (5) 6. Australian mammal (8) 14. Play guitar (5) 7. Dairy product (4,5) 15. Fit out (5) 8. Intense aversion (9) 16. Loft (5) 11. Hit hard (5) 17. ----- Becker, 12. Revolving arm (5) tennis star (5) 13. Lure, bait (5) 18. Expels (5) 14. Deliberate 19. Mythical destruction (8) monster (5) 20. Plant louse (5) 22. Pronoun (4) 21. Crustacean (5) 24. Liquid food (4) 23. Levy (4) 26. Shabby (4-5) 24. Join in material (4) 27. Peer (4) 25. Pontiff (4) 28. Explosive (8)

12 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 13 Sun shines on Keynsham’s festival On Sunday evening the curtain came down on what many considered to be the biggest and best Keynsham Music Festival yet. Following a week of diverse musical events from the Beatles to opera, Saturday and Sunday saw visitors and residents alike descend on the Memorial Park in their thousands. The organisers are keen to know your views so that next year’s event can be even more popular. They are asking that you post any comments (positive or negative) on the Facebook page or by email to [email protected] All pictures featured here are courtesy of John Aldridge.

14 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 15 Drums and barbecue for Curo residents Residents of Tintagel Close in Keynsham enjoyed a community barbecue and drumming session for the children on Friday 27th June. Residents took the lead in planning the social get-together and the food was provided by Curo. The children’s drumming event was organised by music therapy group TwinWave. Curo Support Service manager Helen Crew said: "The drumming was very loud but this didn’t wake up the youngest guest who was just seven days old. The drums were all made of recycled products and kept all the children engaged, active and focused for well over two hours." Kingswood Foodbank’s plea for holiday help

Following our article in last week’s issue 645 people of whom 233 were children, an regarding Keynsham Foodbank, another increase on 2018. Although donations over organisation is asking for help as the school the period have also shown an increase, more holidays approach. donations are now needed to through the In the first six months of this year, the summer. Kingswood Foodbank, based in the Bourne For more information visit the Kingswood Christian Centre, welcomed 328 clients at an Foodbank Facebook page or contact Peter average of 15 per week. They represented Shears on 0117 3731849.

Jungle theme to holiday club Kingswood Methodist Church is running a The church is on the junction of Grantham Bible holiday club for children aged five to Road and Two Mile Hill Road, just before 11 from Monday 29th July to Friday 2nd you enter the main Kingswood shopping area August. (travelling from Bristol). The theme is ‘Jungle Jamboree’ and each day Contact Peter on 0117 3731849 or there will be games, stories, songs, crafts, [email protected] for more details or refreshments with one day, live animals from visit Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm. kingswoodmethodistbristol.org.uk

Charity football competition The 39th Hanham Charity Shield football There will be a barbecue and refreshments in tournament takes place on 27th and 28th July the club house and proceeds from the day all at the Vicarage Road playing fields. go to local charities. If you have a team and This annual event involves local and visiting would like to take part then contact the male adult teams who will play group games organiser Rob Higgins on 07769 288802 or and knockout finals in the course of the day. email [email protected]

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16 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 Kingswood offices to Fear of funding crisis be turned into flats A notification for prior approval for change of use has for local councils been lodged with South Gloucestershire Council in respect to International House in Kingswood. Local councils should be given the freedom to increase given special dispensation to apply a higher tax increase and Pryzm Developments are proposing to convert the office council tax in the light of their ongoing funding crisis, over the last three years, councils have also been allowed to building into 19 flats under permitted development rights. according to the new Chair of the Local Government raise a separate social care levy. Since 2015, redundant office space can be converted into Association (LGA). Meanwhile increasing demand for council provided services residential accommodation under certain conditions James Jamieson, who took over from Lord Porter at the LGA is being felt particularly in adult and children’s social care. without the need to go through the full planning process. conference in Bournemouth last week, said that the An ageing population and increase in homelessness are just The office building, which was once home to the decreasing central government settlements and a 2.99% part of the problem. According the LGA, councils across the administration offices of travel firm Bakers Dolphin, has increase cap were having a devastating effect of council country are currently instigating 500 child protection cases a not been fully occupied for a number of years. In creating budgets. Research carried out by the LGA amongst its day compared to just 200 a decade ago. For the last few 19 residential units across the two floors the seven members revealed that councils in England would face a years, B&NES Council has calculated that as much as 80% parking spaces currently on the site will be retained. combined shortfall of £8bn by 2025 under the current of its annual expenditure goes on social services. A lack of Agents acting for the developers have highlighted the fact restrictions. More concerning, 27% of councils fear they will clarity from central government is resulting in a lack of that International House is in a highly sustainable location no longer have sufficient funding to fulfil their statutory ability for councils to make and long-term budget planning within walking distance of shops, services and public duties by the (scheduled) end of this Parliament in 2022. decisions. transport links to several parts of the city. Mr Jamieson said that since 2010, councils had lost 60p out Meanwhile, back in B&NES, a temporary recruitment freeze of every £1 of central government funding. The Coalition and increased revenues from its heritage attractions has Government also imposed the requirement to hold a resulted in a reduction of its forecast budget overspend. At referendum if councils wanted to increase the rate of council today’s Cabinet meeting (Wednesday 10th July) members are tax by more than 2.99%. When Northamptonshire County expected to be told the predicted figure of £3.2m has been Council was effectively declared insolvent last year, it was reduced to just under £1m.

Keep in touch, let us know what you think, send us your news www.facebook.com/theweekin International House

The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 17 The many faces of Tyntesfield

When the National Trust took over Tyntesfield in 2002, teenager to work in his father’s business and this is a story they not only became responsible for a Gothic-style of love affairs, debt and trading deals across the Spanish jewel of Victorian architecture, but a treasure trove of colonial world. The most successful of these, the export of goods and artefacts which has taken years to catalogue. guano from Peru, happened almost by accident but turned With an estimated 60,000 items in store, it is quite out to be the foundation of the Gibbs’ family wealth. understandably impossible to display them all. However, The exhibition very cleverly introduces around 50%-60% each year Tyntesfield takes on a different theme which of new items, either from storage or on loan, yet refocuses allows the public a rare glimpse at one part or another of other items of furniture or art which have been there all the Gibbs family history from the 19th century through to along. Whether Spanish playing cards in the drawing room the death of Richard Gibbs, second Lord Wraxall, in 2001. or the miniature ivory models of arches and doorways from This summer, the theme is ‘From Madrid to Tyntesfield: a the Alhambra Palace in Granada (luxury souvenirs from the story of love, loss and legacy’. This is the story of time), each room at Tyntesfield has something new to offer. Tyntesfield’s founder William Gibbs who was born in Even if you are or have been a regular visitor, ‘Madrid to seasons in the grounds, Tyntesfield always seems to have Madrid in 1790, the son of a Spanish cloth merchant. Tyntesfield’ will make this seem like the first time. something to offer. Educated in England, William returned to Spain as a Outside the house, nothing has changed, of course. Thanks Tyntesfield is located just off the B3128 Bristol to to the unseasonal June weather, the woodlands to the north, Clevedon road. The house and gardens are open all year the formal gardens reaching down into the valley and the (except Christmas/New Year) but times vary according to enclosed rose garden are all looking resplendent at this time the season. For full details as well as special events at of year. Whether themed visits of the house, open-air Tyntesfield during the year visit theatre, food and craft fairs or just the natural change of www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield

Situations Vacant

Models of the Alhambra Palace Vacancy Kingswood owl hunt to Children can join a treasure hunt around Kingswood during the school holidays, thanks to a tie-up between fill? South Gloucestershire’s community learning team and Advertising in The local businesses. Week In is an Participants in adult learning courses have been busy knitting owls which will be hidden in the windows of effective and low shops and businesses around Kingswood in time for the cost option. school break. Call Tracy or Jodie Each has been given a name by its host business and the on 0117 986 0381. treasure hunt will involve locating all the owls and recording their names. Prizes will be awarded at a special Deadline for event in September. Situations Vacant To take part in the treasure hunt you will need an advert bookings is information pack and site map which can be obtained from Kingsmeadow@ Made Forever Centre, Kingswood 4.00pm on the primary schools, Kingswood Library; Kings Chase FRIDAY preceding Shopping Centre, Warmley Signal Box Café; Grimsbury publication. Farm and Kingswood Museum.

18 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 19 News from Downend Horticultural Society In June the gardening club had an outing to Rosemoor in North Devon. The colour and variety of plants was stunning. It was nice to take photographs to remember what we would like to grow at home. We must Nigel & his family have walked a few miles as there was so much to see. The roses were spectacular and the smell was New recruit for awesome. There were vegetables including asparagus and fruit trees Keynsham mission with little pears. The perfection of Nigel Williams was again because training is a the lawns made me envious, so neat ordained at Wells Cathedral weird time when you are and green. A few of us spent some last month and joins the sort of part of a church but time in the reading room before we Keynsham team mission this you’re not. We really just left. It was nice to get some ideas on month. want to see what God’s how to design our own gardens. It is Rosemoor In addition to a degree in going to be doing in one place I will definitely visit again. theology, Nigel’s training Keynsham and how He’s At the club we had an interesting talk on `A year-long walk Thursday of the month all year round. Come and share your also included a spell in going to use us as a family.” at Woodchester Park.` gardening ideas and learn from each other. Our flower show America with a charity And I recently went to the Gardener’s World live show in is being held on Saturday 10th August (2pm-4pm) at the which works to try to Birmingham. It was lovely to see the celebrities in person. A Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend. Everyone is prevent children joining Asda help for couple of us from the club also went to a talk at the Tobacco welcome. For further details please call Roger Davis on 0117 gangs. Christmas Factory on `No dig gardening’ by Charles Dowding. 9571703 or Hilary Walton on 0117 9792832. He says: “I can’t wait to get party Downend Horticultural Society meets on the second Charlotte Hill stuck into the church family The Asda Foundation has made another local donation to help people Home Library who may be lonely at Christmas. volunteers are Community champion Susan Grant from the thanked Longwell Green store met up with the Hanham The volunteers of the Bristol Home Library Service Methodist Lunch Group enjoyed a cake and coffee, courtesy of the Royal last month to present Voluntary Service as a thank you for their commitment them with a cheque for and dedication. £500 towards their work They provide a valuable service to so many people across in the community. The Bristol, visiting readers who find it difficult to get to their funding will go towards local library, whether due to a physical or mental organising this year’s disability or sensory impairment. Volunteers were invited Christmas party. to Illustration to meet the new team, service manager Janice Walsh and administrator Steve Bush. Janice said: “It was great to meet so many of our amazing Family volunteers face to face and get to know them a little. I Announcements think what they do deserves a huge thank you. It’s not just about delivering books, it’s about regular contact and Bereavements a friendly face for people who may not get out or see many people for days or weeks at a time. “We are always looking for more volunteers to enable us to support more readers, so if anyone can spare just a couple of hours each month we’d love to hear from them. The role is very flexible and we provide all the training and support you need.” If you’d like to find out more about volunteering for the Home Library Service, or you know someone who would benefit from the service, contact Janice on 0117 929 7444 or 07714 898558.

20 The Week in • Wednesday 10th July 2019 Sudoku Solutions Crossword Solution 1-Easy 2-Hard

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