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THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 643 2nd September 2020 Read by more than 40,000 people each week Parts of Bristol without EE coverage for 10 days People in the Mangotsfield area had been without they had said it was working when it wasn’t. EE phone coverage for 10 days on Sunday, with On Friday he said: “Another day, another broken concerns being voiced that vulnerable customers promise by EE; I am not sure what to do about it now. could be at risk. People are contracted to EE for a serviceable network; Local councillors Michael Bell and Ian Boulton, and these days many people only have mobile phones and the chairman of Mangotsfield Residents’ Association so have no real lifeline or contact to the outside world. Clive Heath, spent last week trying to get answers from “Because of COVID, many hospital consultations are EE about why it has been taking so long to sort out the now being carried via phone. The vulnerable cannot problem, which it is understood has also affected contact doctors, friends, family, etc. and nobody can customers in parts of Staple Hill and Emersons Green. check on them. This is in fact putting the welfare and The phone mast, which is alongside Mangotsfield possibly lives of people in danger. We have many in our United FC’s ground, has reportedly been undergoing a community that may suffer because of no major upgrade. Mr Heath said he was disgusted at the communication.” many excuses that EE had given and the many times Continued on page 2 Also in this Concerns over Keynsham All ready for the new Complaints about new New benches in Warmley pharmacy closure school term concrete plant honour local people week’s issue . page 3 . page 4 . page 9 . page 12 Parts of Bristol £30k improvement scheme without EE due to start at play area coverage for Work began last week on a major facelift of a tired play 10 days area in Longwell Green. £30,000 was allocated last Continued from page 1 November by South Glou- He added that EE were telling some customers that they cestershire Council to replace would reduce their bill or offer refunds, but all people the ageing equipment at the actually want is their network service back as it was. Williams Close play area. On Friday Cllr Bell was told by EE that the fault was The old spiral slide council is showing as having been fixed, but that full and complete being removing on health and service could take up 72 hours to be resumed, although safety grounds. it is usually a lot sooner than this. The old design is no longer On Sunday afternoon Mr Heath told us: “At the moment compliant with current play nothing has changed, still no service in most of area safety standards so an Mangotsfield from EE; it also is affecting some Virgin alternative style has been users now. It is 10 days now with no definitive answer, selected. Chris Skidmore, Christine Price and Toby Savage but many people have been told all is working.” This new slide tower will be He said he had emailed the chief executive officer of EE suitable for children aged from four upwards and will child. He said: “It has changed a lot in the 30 or so years about the problem and was waiting for a reply. have some accessible features for children with since then and it’s great to hear that it is to receive another On Friday The Week In asked EE’s press office why it mobility issues. The council will also improve the rubber round of improvements so it can continue to serve local has been taking so long to sort out the signal problems surfacing. families.” and we highlighted the concerns about vulnerable Local MP Chris Skidmore paid a visit to the park with local Nearby Shellards Road play area has also received customers. We were still waiting for a response as we councillors Toby Savage and Christine Price and said it significant new funding in the last couple of years as part of went to print. brought back memories as he had played there a lot as a major investment in open spaces by the council. 2 The Week in • Wednesday 2nd September 2020 Rallying support for replacement pharmacy at health centre The LloydsPharmacy branch at Keynsham Health chain would be closing this autumn, Centre will be closing at the end of next month, as will in addition to the dozens of unviable the Brislington store. stores that have already been closed Concerns have been raised, including on social media, that across the country. closing the pharmacy next to the largest health facility in At the time (Issue 638) a Keynsham, which also has parking access, is a backwards spokesperson for LloydsPharmacy step. confirmed that there would be some Keynsham councillor Alan Hale says that a replacement more closures across the UK, but they pharmacy is being sought for the health centre in St Clements would not reveal which branches in Road and encourages people to show their support by our area would be affected. contacting him by email at [email protected] They told us they were consulting In July it was being reported locally that the branch in Sandy with staff that would be impacted and Park Road in Brislington was among the pharmacies that the said: “Good business practice requires us to regularly review our estate and make appropriate Deliberate fire commercial decisions including buying and selling pharmacies. These Fire crews from Kingswood were called out to reports decisions need to be made because of of a rubbish fire at Cowhorn Hill in Oldland Common changing market dynamics and last Monday (24th August). increasing financial pressures They extinguished the fire which it is believed was including the impact of COVID-19, started deliberately in a bin and had spread to a nearby business rates and changes to fence. pharmacy funding.” Lloyds at Keynsham Health Centre The Week in • Wednesday 2nd September 2020 3 Schools plan safe return of all pupils Schools and academies across B&NES, district changes to practices include: South Gloucestershire and Bristol were • Staggered start and end times for the school this week opening their doors after day; making a range of changes to make sure • Staggered lunch times and break times; pupils can return safely. • Making best use of all available entrances B&NES Council said schools in the district and exits where possible to keep year had made their own arrangements for groups apart; managing the school day, but across the • Defining ‘bubbles’ by year group; • Enhanced cleaning regimes; • Risk assessments for each school or academy. Kevin Guy, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Local schools and academies have worked incredibly hard to prepare for the new term and adapt their sites to change how pupils move around them, to ensure that any risk of COVID-19 spreading between pupils is minimised when they return to school. This has not been a simple task. The council has supported schools with their importantly, socialise and mix safely and Every school site is unique and brings its risk assessments by providing information happily once again with their friends. Sara Blackmore own particular challenges.” on how to reduce the risk of infection, Schools will be using a range of resources to ensuring schools are aware of how to explore children’s social and emotional manage any cases of COVID-19 and putting needs, helping them to reconnect with THE WEEK IN them in touch with services that support the learning and each other. mental health of staff and pupils. The council is also sharing the Government’s Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, With the number of people that can be key messages about how pupils should travel Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, accommodated on public services reduced to school and how to travel safely on school Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, because of social distancing, the council has transport and public transport. They are Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, been working with transport providers such encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot to school Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell as First Bus and Faresaver, as well as where they can. Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, transport authority the West of England There is more information at https://beta. Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Combined Authority (WECA) and individual southglos.gov.uk/returning-to-school-in- Stockwood, St George, Warmley, schools, to ensure adequate provision for the september/ Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge. start of term. Meanwhile Bristol City Council has 16,000 copies are distributed through South Gloucestershire Council said more launched a new hub of resources to support retail outlets, libraries, pubs, than 100 experts including from health and parents, carers and children as schools community centres each week. education have been working together, with reopen to all students. Verified pick-up rate of 97%. the involvement of parents and carers, to Schools have been provided with guidance Publisher plan for a safe return. from the Government on the safety measures Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA A video has been produced, featuring they should implement to reduce the risk of 0117 986 0381 Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills & transmission of the virus, which includes www.theweekin.co.uk Employment Erica Williams and Director of increased handwashing, staggered break ISSN: 2052-9767 Public Health Sara Blackmore, outlining the times, and children being separated into Managing Editor Stephen Rodgers [email protected] plans that have been put in place to help ‘bubbles’.