THEEast BristolWEEK & North East Somerset IN FREE Issue 458 25th January 2017 Read by over 40,000 people each week Mangotsfield tip to close for four months Mangotsfield recycling centre station and recycling yard next Council says it needs to close across South Glos in June and residents. will close for four months to the Sort It centre and to the centre until 31st May. will also help to improve traffic The site will still be used by from Sunday 1st February. ensure site safety and that the This work will prepare the site flow in and around the council collection vehicles to Significant improvements are improvements are completed for the weekly recycling Mangotsfield site, which has unload household waste after taking place to the transfer on time, South Gloucestershire collections that will begin been an issue for local collections. The council is giving residents advance warning so that they can dispose of any appropriate waste they already have prior to the temporary closure. Continues on page 3

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In this week’s Mangotsfield tip to Issue Minister lobbied for Continued from page 1 50 per cent of its waste by extra money to speed close for four months The three other Sort It 2020. up viaduct works recycling centres in South Concerns about fly-tipping . . . page 7 Gloucestershire - at Collett during the closure of the Way in Yate, Station Road centre were raised at last Wellsway is top of the in Little Stoke and Short Tuesday's meeting of the class in the South Way in Thornbury - will be Staple Hill, Rodway and West open as usual, 8.30am to Mangotsfield Community . . . page 8 4.30pm, seven days a week. Engagement Forum. Check what can be accepted People who see fly-tipping Reported crime is at each site before you visit are advised to report it via down in Kingswood and make sure your vehicle the South Glos Council . . . page 12 is registered at website. www.southglos.gov.uk/sorti When reporting incidents, Could tourists in Bath treg try to include as much help meet the council The changes to the waste information as possible, budget? and recycling collection such as a description of any service, which include vehicles involved in the . . . page 14 weekly recycling from June tipping, the location and and smaller black bins later date/time, a description of Rail electrification in the year, will help South the material tipped and of complete by 2024? Gloucestershire reach its any people seen tipping, . . . page 20 target to reduce overall along with photographic waste volumes and recycle evidence if safe to obtain.

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Keynsham Radio licence hopes Keynsham Community Radio has taken the first step in becoming a community radio station. The basis for its recent application is the highly successful Keynsham Hour weekly programme, which has been going MarinaThe planning inquiry has opened into the to refuseinquiry the application on several grounds, gets under way for two years and is currently broadcast by SomerValleyFM. controversial proposal for a large leisure including harm to the Green Belt, harm to the Most Keynsham residents are unable to receive the live marina off Broadmead Lane. rural character and potential harm to trees, transmission and listen to the podcast on the SomerValleyFM The appeal was lodged by Duchy farmer hedgerows and ecology. website. Simon Bendall after Bath & North East Planning inspector Mark Dakeyne opened Keynsham's own FM licence would move the operation up the Somerset Council turned down plans for the proceedings at the Guildhall in Bath last scale significantly but the process takes some time. Success 326-berth marina, parking for 144 cars, a Wednesday. Mr Bendall was not present but will also require a considerably larger radio team than the one building with a tearoom, office, toilets, that currently produces the weekly show from the satellite was represented by Chris Whitehead. studio at Community at 67 in Queens Road. showers and laundry, plus a reception and There was a six-strong team from the council Anyone interested in future broadcasting operations should in chandlery. and among the other objectors attending the the first instance, contact [email protected] Last year they council voted by a majority to inquiry was Dave Laming, who is chairman of accept the planning officer's recommendation the River Regeneration Trust and part of THE WEEK IN Imperial Windows Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, Imperial Windows and its customers are unaffected by the Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, collapse of Enterprise Insurance in 2016. This company Corston, Downend, Emersons used to underwrite the insurance backed guarantee which Green, Fishponds, Hanham, we provide for each of our clients. Guarantees are still Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, valid with cover provided by an alternative underwriter. Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Customers who may have received correspondence from Marksbury, North Common, Oldland the liquidators of Enterprise Insurance are not required to Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, take any action. Imperial Windows has been trading for Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, the last 25 years and will continue to do so for much longer. Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge. 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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Keynsham The Space to host annual charity appeal y getsB&NES' Strategic Riverunder Group, and way Keynsham councillor Alan Hale, currently the Chair of representatives from Saltford Marina. B&NES Council, has chosen The inspector, who visited the site last week as The Space in Keynsham as part of the hearing, said the main issues were the venue for a major part of whether the proposal would be inappropriate his annual charity appeal. development in the Green Belt; the effect on A full concert featuring thee Green Belt openness and purposes; the effect on local acts, the Phoenix River the character and appearance of the area, Band, the Honeyfire and including existing trees and hedges; the effect on Rebecca Shelley, will take the ecology of the River Avon and surroundings; place on Saturday 4th February. whether the development would be accessible by All proceeds will go to local different modes of travel; the effect on highway charities and organisations, safety; the effect on agricultural land; and, if the including Keynsham's development is inappropriate, whether it is clearly Butterflies Haven, the outweighed by other considerations to justify it. support group for families The result of the inquiry will not be known for with autistic children, and some weeks. research into dementia at the Meanwhile Mr Bendall's retrospective application Royal United Hospital in to build an access track and bridge on land to the Bath. north of Stidham Lane and east of Broadmead Tickets on sale now at keynshamtickets.cloudvenue Lane is currently pending consideration by B&NES Council, as replace existing Broadmead mooring pontoons, walkway and .co.uk is another controversial application which he has lodged to access staircases with ancillary replacement of services.

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Soundwell 'Welcoming and inclusive school' praised by Ofsted A “welcoming, inclusive school” where pupils make good progress and behave well. That's Ofsted's verdict of St Stephen's Infant School following a recent inspection. The 266-pupil school is rated as Good in all key areas by inspectors. They said the achievement of pupils since the last inspection, and prior to the introduction of the new curriculum and assessment arrangements, was consistently strong. Minister lobbied for extra cash Attendance is said to be improving, provision in the early years is good, and staff have strong, supportive to speed up viaduct works relationships with parents and the local community. A section of the A474 ring road said to be the provide the shared footway and cycleway. Wear and Other areas highlighted in the report, which was busiest in the south of England outside London tear has weakened it and the path does not meet published last week, include the effective use of additional will close for up to a year this summer for £5.9m current design standards for safety. funding to provide strong pastoral support for of vital repairs and improvements, South Glos Funding for the £5.9m project, which includes councillors unanimously agreed last week. widening the foot and cycle path, is coming from disadvantaged pupils. But council representatives have met with Transport Department for Transport grants. The inspectors did however flag up that some of the most Secretary Chris Grayling to try to secure another Cllr Hunt told the meeting that this section of the able pupils are not being pushed to achieve the progress of £3.7m which would speed up the works on the A474 was the busiest in the south of England which they are capable. They also said that not all staff are westbound carriageway of the viaduct on the A4174 outside London and the cost of people sitting in fully familiar with the system of assessment used to between the Bromley Heath roundabout and the traffic jams amounted to “a fortune”. monitor pupils' progress and that leaders do not have a Hambrook lights. Labour councillor Ian Boulton said it was vital that sharp enough grasp of the impact of additional funding on All traffic will have to be diverted on to the northern the extra funding should be provided to get the the academic progress of disadvantaged pupils. viaduct during the work, with huge tailbacks works done in half the time, calling South expected, and the proposed autumn opening of the Gloucestershire “the powerhouse of the West of MetroBus will be delayed until the viaduct work is England and the ring road the spine”. finished. The council's head of Streetcare and transport, Mark Planning and transport lead member Cllr Colin Hunt King said: “We understand that this will cause told last Wednesday's meeting of the council's significant delays and inconvenience and we Environment & Communities Committee that it apologise in advance. We will be doing everything “looks hopeful” that extra cash will be found to we can to keep the public regularly informed about accelerate the works, easing the impact on the viaduct work and how to plan their journeys motorists, communities and businesses. accordingly. He said the coming years would see significant “We are also looking at the scheduling of current development across the area, so it was vital that the and future transport schemes, utility work and other major road network was able to cope with this roadworks to ensure disruption to road users and increase in growth. The A4174 carries more than communities is kept to a minimum, wherever 50,000 vehicles per day (forecast to increase to possible.” around 60,000 by 2020). More than 500 cyclists use Cllr Jon Hunt, who represents Downend, has the southern viaduct each day each way, organised a public meeting for Wednesday 8th The southern viaduct was built in the 1960s and has February at 6.30pm at Bromley Heath Infant School received little major maintenance since it was to keep people updated. He said any ideas people improved in the late 1980s, when it was modified to have to ease the congestion would be welcomed.

Hanham A little TLC The TLC (Talk, Listen, Care) service in Hanham is holding its next session at Hanham Library on 31st January between 1pm and 3pm. The confidential listening service is run by trained volunteers who can signpost you to help.

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Wellsway's best in

Wellsway School in Keynsham is test results at the end of primary families. Our results have gone up South Glos for Progress 8 and English thecelebrating after officialSouthschool. A secondary school is every Westyear for five years and we and maths is The Ridings' Federation's Government GCSE figures considered to be underperforming if continue to provide the best education Winterbourne International Academy published last Friday confirm it is its Progress 8 score falls below -0.5. we can for the young people in our (despite Ofsted saying at a recent the best-performing secondary in Meanwhile the English Baccalaureate care.” monitoring visit that the school is still the South West for English and (EBacc for short) is a performance The average figures across B&NES in need of improvement). Topping the maths. measure for schools, awarded when are also impressive with 69.7% EBacc list in the district is Out of a year group of more than 200 students secure a grade C or above at achieving a C or above in the core Thornbury's Castle School with 43%. who took the exams last summer, 91 GCSE level across a core of five subjects of English and maths and Across Bristol, the number of pupils per cent achieved at least a C grade in academic subjects - English, maths, 33.4% getting the English getting C or above in English and both core subjects. The national history or geography, the sciences and Baccalaureate. The Progress 8 score is maths is slightly above the national average for all schools is 59.3 per a language. -0.02 and for Attainment 8 it's 52. average at 59.5%. The Progress 8 cent. At top-achieving Wellsway 47% The Wellsway Multi-Academy Trust score is below the national average at The school also tops the national achieved the English Baccalaureate also runs The Sir Bernard Lovell -0.19, as is the Attainment 8 score at average in the English Baccalaureate (compared with 23.1% nationally). In Academy in Oldland Common but 47.7 and the 18% achieving the tables and in the new Attainment 8 the Attainment 8 category the school results and scores there fall below EBacc. and Progress 8 measures. scores 57.9 points (48.5 nationally) both national and local levels. Across Topping the table for Progress 8 is the These new performance tables can be while the Progress 8 result is 0.3 (0 South Gloucestershire as a whole, the Bristol Metropolitan Academy in confusing so here is a quick guide nationally). number of pupils getting C or above in Fishponds, run by the Cabot Learning before you read on. Attainment 8 Wellsway's headteacher Matthew English and maths is just above the Federation, while Redland Green measures a student's average grade Woodville said: “These amazing national average at 60.1% but the comes top for both English and maths, across eight subjects - the same results - even higher than the Progress 8 score falls below average Attainment 8 and EBacc results. subjects that count for Progress 8. A provisional figures - are thanks to the at -0.23. The Attainment 8 score is Find the full list of how schools - Progress 8 score above zero means tireless work of our staff, the also below average at 47.9 as is the including private schools - performed that pupils made more progress than commitment of the students and the number achieving the EBacc (17.8%). see https://www.compare-school- those across England who got similar support they receive from their The highest performing school in performance.service.gov.uk/

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Ministers back closure of Bath Community Academy The Department for Education has now backed would like for the site to continue to be used for the Cabot Learning Federation's decision to educational purposes, as well as the continuation close Bath Community Academy at the end of of the sport and leisure facilities on the site.” the summer term in 2018. Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) has agreed to There are currently 241 pupils attending Bath make a contribution towards new school uniform Community Academy, out of a capacity of 720. costs for those affected and the council will fund The number has not risen over 300 since the home to school transport for those eligible, Kingswood-based Cabot Learning Federation depending on the distance needed to travel. began supporting the school in 2012. Labour councillor Joe Rayment said: “It has been As a result, the school's budget is reducing to the clear for some time that the Regional Schools point where the school is no longer able to cover Commissioner had made up her mind and that her the costs of teaching and other resources required so-called consultation was merely a tick box to provide a high quality education for its pupils. exercise. This decision, while not unexpected, will Speedwell Last week Conservative councillor Michael Evans, cause considerable distress to pupils, parents and Cabinet Member for Children's Services at the wider community. It is really regrettable that Permission granted B&NES Council, said: “We understand this will be such a significant decision has been taken behind difficult news for many of the current pupils, closed doors by Government ministers with a parents and staff at Bath Community Academy, as complete absence of democratic accountability. for overhaul of well as members of the local community who have “However, at a time of huge upheaval I do think links with the school. it's important to put politics to one side for the community centre Meadow Vale Community Association's plans for a major “Our first priority now is to provide full support to moment. renovation and extension of the community centre have the children and families at BCA to ensure a “My immediate concern is to ensure that parents smooth transition of pupils to other local schools. and young people are properly supported as they been approved by the city council. We will provide further information to parents as seek to find alternative school places. I want to see The current building hosts a range of community activities soon as possible about how the process of B&NES Council working in partnership with local but its size limits what can be held there. transferring pupils will work. secondary schools to ensure a smooth transition The work will be carried out in two phases. Phase I is for these young people so that their education does “The school will remain open for another 17 refurbishing the existing building with a simple extension months so there is time to ensure the transition is not suffer. which will roughly double the area of the building. well planned and of course the current Year 10 and “I hope that all secondary schools in Bath 11 pupils will have the chance to complete their understand that they have a responsibility not only Phase II is a further extension to form a hall with an GCSE courses at BCA before looking at sixth form to their current pupils but also to the wider attached store and two showers. Toilets and changing or other options. community and I anticipate that they will work rooms will also be built in the space next to the main hall. “Going forward, the council will be seeking to together and engage positively with B&NES to The community association will be applying for funding engage with all stakeholders and the community ensure that places at alternative schools can be from sources including the lottery. on the most appropriate future for the BCA site. made available for children currently at BCA.” The council has already made it clear that we

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in The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 9

LETTERS

Do you remember the Government or the European by much of the national media, even Parliament, has no money of its own. though it was not true. In England Price family? They all survive on cash they take there are 54,000 junior doctors of Dear Sir from us by way of taxes they impose whom 17,000 do not belong to the I am doing some research for a lady in on us. BMA, i.e. they do not want the BMA Australia whose family emigrated The problems of the NHS are not to represent them. Ballot papers were there in the early 1970s. She is hoping exclusively down to funding. When sent to 37,000, of whom 9,000 did not to visit Bristol later this year. NHS England provided its five-year vote. Of the 28,000 who voted, 98% She is particularly interested in tracing financial plan, the Government gave it were in favour of industrial action. any living relatives of her mother's the funding it requested but the NHS The accurate figure therefore was that family whose surname was Price. Her is now treating more patients than it 52% of the total number of junior mother Yvonne was married to Terry budgeted for, and in many cases doctors were in favour and not 98% as there has been a significant increase in Salisbury and the various family treating them increasingly we were told. the amount of traffic. This is simply members lived in the Mangotsfield successfully. The NHS belongs to us and I guess the and Kingswood areas. not the case. There remains It can be argued that the NHS is a vast majority of us want it sorted. All congestion at peak times but overall Her mother had a brother Ken who we victim of its own success! But there is, areas of operation need looking at, not figures are DOWN. believe was married to a Margaret; of course, much wrong that needs exclusively finance. But more Mr Ashton talks about the they had two children thought to have action. During the period 24th importantly we need to be told the concentration of nitrogen dioxide been Steve and Marie. December 2016 to 1st January 2017, truth! We want information that is being above the Government's If anyone knows of this family or the the A&E department at the RUH in unbiased and not slanted in favour of maximum limit. There is no such whereabouts of any descendants Bath dealt with 75 alcohol-related the Government, organisations who thing. One measure of one pollutant perhaps they would be kind enough to incidents, a situation that occurs represent the workforce e.g. the BMA, exceeds an EU TARGET level on one get in touch with me so that I can pass regularly particularly at weekends. or individuals whose involvement is stretch of Bath Road. B&NES on any relevant details to Australia. This is a terrible waste of resources not driven by creating a successful Council's own action plan states that, Geoff Gardiner and is one of many areas of concern NHS but only their personal political according to DEFRA methodology, [email protected] that needs addressing. bigotry. that target is expected to be met by Theresa May has recently asked GPs Mike Barrow 2019 without additional intervention. to provide a 12-hour day, seven-day a We need unbiased Finally, decisions about transport week service in line with the funding An orbital road is not infrastructure, whether it be the information they have apparently been given. This location of a bus stop or a third Dear Stephen has incurred the wrath of GPs and the the answer runway at Heathrow, are not made by Firstly, congratulations on the new British Medical Association. If what Dear Stephen local parish polls as Mr Ashton called format of The Week In - it makes a the PM is saying is true, it is The 2015 traffic counts by B&NES for. These decisions are made good read. scandalous, as it means that some GP Council for the A4 Bath Road Saltford according to the policies of In edition 456 the South West Young practices are not doing what they are shows a '5-day' average of 27,747 government, local and national. Greens drew our attention to the paid to be doing from OUR money. vehicles a day (both directions There are more effective, greener and problems that we all know exists in Either these practices need to be combined) in 2015. This is a 12% cheaper ways to reduce congestion on the NHS, and concluded it is named or the PM has to admit she was DROP on the peak of 31,075 in 2002. the A4 at peak times than an orbital underfunded and is the exclusive fault wrong. The lack of truth comes from The latest figures for 2016 await the road at Saltford. of the current Government. We do all sides. During the junior doctors' inclusion of the December counts but need to understand that every tier of dispute last year the BMA advised us they are expected to be as Duncan Hounsell government, whether it be Keynsham that 98% of junior doctors supported encouraging. Mr Ashton in his letter (In a personal capacity) Town Council, B&NES, the national industrial action and this was repeated (Issue 457) was wrong to state that Saltford

in 10 The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017

Post Office closure tidying up the area most affected by balcony could allow spectators to January) I was travelling along litter in Rodway ward - this in the watch the games in comfort and in the Temple Street towards the High concerns main will be the green spaces. All sun. Licensing for the many social Street, following a car. We were Dear Editor equipment will be provided. events already exists, unlike at any approaching the traffic lights which As B&NES councillors for Paulton If you would like to help please new Green Belt site. Sewerage were at green when the car in front we have been made very aware over contact me. facilities already exist, unlike at any stopped. Strange! It waited for the last few weeks of the importance Cllr Michael Bell new site oncoming traffic to pass then of the local Post Office to Paulton and Re-establishing a new pitch adjacent proceeded to turn right and park on the hardship that its closure in March Mobile:.0787 563 1817 to the ring road would be extremely the loading area. It's hard to believe will cause, particularly to elderly and [email protected] costly. Draining the site would require anyone could be so thoughtless and I less mobile residents. We have met colossal machinery to break through wonder what danger she put herself with regional representatives of the Preserve our cricket the solid rock that is all too obviously and other road users in when she Post Office and have explored with pitch just below the surface. Any trip along decided to reverse back out onto the them a number of options for housing Dear Editor the ring road reveals cliffs rising to a main road. Something really needs to the service elsewhere in the village. So the spectre of the loss yet another few centimetres below soil level. be done to stop all this casual parking. Unfortunately, we have had no Hanham green space looms again. There is the additional problem of Just another thing - Carpenters Lane. success so far because none of the The beautiful amenity that is the danger to traffic from balls. What was the grass verge is now existing shops in Paulton feel able to cricket ground is an asset to all who How many years would it also need being churned up by lorries parking take on this service. live in the parish. Too much green for the ground to become playable to on it then driving off across the Another meeting with the Post Office space is being eaten up as it is. anything like that of the enviable footpath leaving the pavements is planned soon, together with If, as they will argue, the trustees need standard of the existing pitch? covered in lumps of mud. Has the representatives of the parish council, money, would it not be a more Restrictions as to what can be built on council not noticed this, or does it and we will be pursuing at least one sensible (and a cheaper and morally Green Belt land exist. I don't think save them having to cut the grass? further possibility. acceptable) solution to sell the licensed premises are allowed? There Clive Haynes We are also concerned that if there is existing High Street site rather than are limits too on car parking spaces. no immediate replacement for the concrete over green fields? This is Unless I'm mistaken, something existing building that at least there is Cadet vacancies brownfield land, surrounded already similar to the changing rooms with an interim arrangement - maybe for a Dear Stephen by housing development. Double showers as exist on the Common is all limited number of hours - to bridge Are you interested in the Navy and/or access to the site already exists. that's allowed. Access to this site is the gap after March. the Army? We have places for young The Folk Centre could then relocate to dodgy, if not virtually impossible for people aged 11 to 18 to become We will continue to work as hard as a new state-of the-art building on the anyone wishing to walk. There are no Maritime Cadets. we can to find a solution for this existing cricket ground. pavements from Castle Farm Road matter, which is so vital to the well- We cover aspects of maritime life in Money from the sale could build a onwards. I doubt whether many would being of local people. the Navy and Army and are a uniform new architect-designed-pavilion, bother to walk past the excellent Elm organisation, meeting on Thursday John Bull & Liz Hardman possibly two-storey similar to the Tree pub either for a social evening! evenings (7pm-9pm) at Broad Plain & (Labour, Paulton) excellent structure that exists at Think again trustees, before you Riverside Youth Project, Clement Knowle Golf Club. This could be used destroy something beautiful. You Street, Easton, Bristol, BS2 9ES. Join the litter pick as the Folk Centre is now, i.e. all the know it makes sense. Cdr Edna Stinchcombe MBE Dear Editor time, not just on match days. Name & address supplied South Glos Council are holding their Siting it in front of the existing tennis Officer in Charge annual Spring Litter Pick in the next court would free up the existing Parking madness TS Boxer Maritime Cadets few months. As in previous years I am pavilion site to expand the car park. It Dear Sir Tel: 07837 871544 asking for volunteers to join me in would also face south. A lovely At 7.45 on Friday evening (20th

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'Significant' drop in night-time crime in Kingswood Since troubled Kingswood night- club Bar Celona was shut down last year, there has been a “significant” fall in violent crime in the town centre, as well as a drop in associated crimes such as sex offences, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour, says a top cop. Temporary Supt Mark Evans was speaking about crime across South Gloucestershire at last week's meeting of the Staple Hill, Rodway & Mangotsfield Community Engagement Forum. He said the fall in violent crime associated with Regent Street nuisance both inside and outside the nightclub Chasers. was not an immediate concern for his nightspot Bar Celona had freed up premises, causing a considerable The owner of Bar Celona did not officers. He assured people that the resources as the police van which had amount of stress to nearby residents. appeal against South Glos licensing police would deal with obstructions sat in the town centre with six During the hearing, Insp Clive panel's decision and the club closed a and inconsiderate parking but asked officers inside every Friday and Summerill said the cost of policing few weeks later. The building is for for patience as officers needed to get Saturday night could now be the town centre on Friday and sale. to grips with more pressing issues deployed elsewhere. Saturday nights was £60,000 a year During his talk to the forum last such as assaults and burglaries. Last February the police were and a large proportion was linked to Tuesday, T/S Evans also said a He also said officers were successful in getting the Regent Bar Celona. crackdown on crime in Staple Hill encouraged to spend an hour on foot Street venue stripped of its licence From 2012-2015 there were 26 was an upcoming priority. patrol every day and it was “very because routine drunkenness was assaults at or associated with Bar He said parking was a continual reassuring” for residents to see that. leading to crime, disorder and public Celona compared to four at nearby complaint across the district but it

ACROSS Keynsham Crossword 7 To make possible (6) Teenagers 8 Metallic element, symbol In (6) raise money 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 Course or vehicle route (4) 10 System to evacuate water from a surface (8) for children's 7 8 11 Sleep (7) ward 13 No money (5) Teenage cousins Molly 15 Fleshy mass of tissue (5) Hale and Leah Gould are 17 Ambiguous (7) aiming to raise money for 9 10 20 Subatomic particle with a negative charge (8) the children's ward at Bath's 21 Injured or offended (4) Royal United Hospital with 23 Arbitrates in cricket or tennis (6) a 'new to you' table-top and 11 12 13 24 Sufficient (6) jumble sale on Saturday 4th February at St Francis' DOWN 14 Church Hall in Warwick 1Preposition used with verbs of movement (4) Road, Keynsham. 2 In the same place. Used in footnotes. (6) 15 16 17 18 Over the last month, the 3 Mammal with antlers (3,4) Keynsham cousins have 19 4 Light purple colour (5) 5 Port in Poland (6) accumulated an enormous stock of toys and clothes 20 21 22 6 19th century Russian writer (8) 12 Iconic home decoration from 1960s (4,4) and are hoping the event 14 Agressive retaliator (7) will surpass their efforts last 16 Relating to milk (6) year when, along with 23 24 18 Place of education (6) Molly's brother Harry, they 19 Short (5) raised £250 through a 22 Extreme anger (4) sponsored run in aid of a house extension for a disabled child locally.

Across Down in 12 The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 7 To make possible (6) 1 Preposition used with verbs of movement (4) 8 Metallic element, symbol In (6) 2 In the same place. Used in footnotes. (6) 9 Course or vehicle route (4) 3 Mammal with antlers (3,4) 10 System to evacuate water from a surface (8) 4 Light purple colour (5) 11 Sleep (7) 5 Port in Poland (6) 13 No money (5) 6 19th century Russian writer (8) 15 Fleshy mass of tissue (5) 12 Iconic home decoration from 1960s (4,4) 17 Ambiguous (7) 14 Agressive retaliator (7) 20 Subatomic particle with a negative charge 16 Relating to milk (6) (8) 18 Place of education (6) 21 Injured or offended (4) 19 Short (5) 23 Arbitrates in cricket or tennis (6) 22 Extreme anger (4) 24 Sufficient (6)

in The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 13

Tourists to Bath could pay a tax towards council costs Could B&NES Council balance the general but despite some of the mainland Europe. The Mayor of taxes like this and B&NES Council books by charging a bed tax on apocalyptic headlines, what Charles Rome was one of the first to introduce did in fact consider tourist tax revenue visitors to Bath? That's a question Gerrish has made clear is that a tourist a tourist tax because of the sheer cost in its budget planning that year. Now which has generated a lot of interest tax is just one idea which is under of 'managing tourism' in the city. according to Cllr Gerrish the council in the national media in the last consideration as the council comes to Compared to the number of residents, is talking to Government once again couple of weeks. terms with the financial challenges tourist numbers often place a about the legislation which would It all began with an interview that which lie in store for the future. disproportionate strain on local need to be changed but even if that Charles Gerrish, Keynsham councillor So what is a tourist tax - or bed tax as authority resources such as cleaning, happened, he told The Week In that and B&NES Cabinet Member for it is often known? Quite simply, waste disposal or traffic management. nothing would be imposed before Finance and Efficiencies, gave to anybody staying in a hotel or guest It is now commonplace throughout thorough consultation had been BBC Radio Bristol on 6th January. It house in Bath would see an additional Italy, France and Spain and usually completed. was subsequently picked up by many charge on their bill calculated by the between 1€ and 2€ a night. He also told us that even if the law was of the national newspapers and number of people and number of Currently, no towns or resorts in the changed to allow councils to raise the articles featured in the Guardian, the nights they stay. This is normally a UK levy tourist taxes, quite simply tax, other issues such as how much and Telegraph, Times, Express and even small amount compared to the actual because local councils do not have the whether it would apply to all hotels or as far away as the New Zealand cost of staying at the hotel, especially right to raise taxation in this way. In exclude small guest houses would all Herald. The coverage varied in places like Bath, probably around 2007 the Lyons Inquiry into local have to be confronted. However, given depending on the particular £1 per person per night. government suggested that councils that as we reported in Issue 456 (11th newspaper's view on taxation in The system is common across should be able to raise funds through January), B&NES is currently looking

in 14 The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017

s council costs to trim £49m from expenditure by 2020 and France. But as Cllr Gerrish points and that the Government wants local out, all of the VAT that tourists pay on authorities to be self-supporting beyond their hotel goes directly to the that, a tourist tax certainly has its Chancellor and none is spent locally. attractions. First and foremost, it would Not surprisingly, many hoteliers don't provide a source of income for the council which, unlike the council tax, does not come from residents. Even taking the unknowns in the previous paragraph into account, when the council did look seriously at it in 2007 it was estimating income of around £700,000 a year. In 2014, there were 969,000 overnight tourist visits to Bath and discounting some of the fanciful figures quoted in the national press Charles Gerrish recently, it is probably fair to assume that a tourist tax would generate the like the idea because it is they who will same as a council tax rise of between have to collect it on behalf of the 1% and 2%. council while the argument that tourists With 85,000 residents and over one already bring income into the area million tourists, Bath nevertheless does without taxing them further also has its have to manage its tourism and this is merits. not without cost to the ratepayer at the Hotels in Bath are not cheap though and moment. There is no reason either that despite this, the attraction of Bath does tourist tax receipts could not be used in not seem to have diminished over the future to improve facilities for tourists years. The key question is whether a and enhance the city's reputation as a tourist tax on top would deter visitors place to visit. Let's not forget either that and there is absolutely no evidence from it is a UNESCO World Heritage City across Europe to suggest that it does. and that listing comes with its own Charles Gerrish is keen to stress that the obligations. council is and will consider the proposal Of course, not everyone is or will be in thoroughly before coming to any favour of the idea. There are those who decision over a tourist tax. No doubt, will just see it as another form of stakeholders will have their input into taxation or taxation by stealth. Others the debate. It would be interesting to point out that VAT on hotel bills is 20% know what people living in B&NES which is much higher than in countries itself think. We'll stand by for your where tourist tax is charged, like Italy comments. in The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 15

Speed camera locations Avon & Somerset police will be taking mobile speed cameras to locations including these in our area this week. In B&NES they will monitoring speeds in Park Road, Charlton Road and Coronation Avenue in Keynsham, on the A39 at Corston, the A4 Bath Road and Manor Road in Saltford and on the A431 Kelston Road. In Bristol roads being targeted include the A4174 Callington Road, Broomhill Road and West Town Lane in Brislington, as well as Sturminster Road in Stockwood, Feeder Road and Whitchurch Lane. There will also be speed checks in St George at Bell Hill Road, Two Mile Hill Road and Nags Head Hill. In South Gloucestershire the cameras will be out and about including on the A4174 ring road at Bromley Heath, the A432 Badminton Road south of the ring road, on the A420 through Wick and the A431 through Bitton. Oldland Common's High Street and Mill Lane, Abbots Road in Hanham, Bitton Westerleigh Road in Pucklechurch and Blackhorse Road in Mangotsfield are also on the hitlist along with Court Farm Road, Long Beach Road and Family fun with Paddington Bear California Road in Longwell Green, Parkwall Road in Cadbury Heath and Tickets are now on sale for Avon Valley Railway's annual family fun weekend with Victoria Road, North Common. Paddington Bear on 13th and 14th May - and if you book before the end of February, you will receive a 20% discount. As well as steam train rides, there will be appearances from the bear himself, Keep in touch, let us know what you children's fairground rides, craft activities, story-telling, face painting, Punch & think, send us your news Judy, balloon modelling plus a 'sticky paws' adventure hunt. www.facebook.com/theweekin

SITUATIONS VACANT

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Charity ahead of Government thinking on mental health With the Government announcing plans to Home-Start Bristol's approach is simple and transform attitudes to mental health this effective - families are visited weekly by month, Home-Start Bristol has already trained volunteers, who are parents been preparing a new project aiming to themselves, and understand the challenges of improve the emotional health of parents family life. and children. Of 182 Bristol families supported recently Home-Start Bristol (HSB) supports struggling over 94% felt better able to cope as a result of families, with at least one child under five, this support. living in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The new project will be further enhanced by Volunteers visit homes for a few hours every employing a family support worker and week, providing practical help and emotional providing additional training to staff and support which is 'tailor-made' to the fulfil the volunteers on mental health. needs of each family. If you would like to find out more about the Last year, 83% of the isolated parents helped charity, make a donation or become a Home- by the charity said they were experiencing Start Bristol volunteer, visit mental health problems. www.homestartbristol.org.uk or phone 0117 With over 30 years' experience of supporting 9501170. families, the charity understands the impact of The charity needs around 85 to 90 volunteers depression and anxiety, especially if coupled at any one time. In the last 12 months it has Beverley Symonds of Home-Start with isolation. supported over 130 struggling families.

SITUATIONS VACANT Swineford Nursery wins praise Leaping Lambs Nursery on Bath Road has retained its Good rating following an inspection by Ofsted. There are 70 children on the roll at the nursery which is based in a converted church. The inspection found that leaders and staff monitor children's achievements carefully to identify any weaknesses in learning. They complete regular assessments and plan for children's future learning, and the youngsters are said to make good progress. The report, published this month following the inspection in December, says that staff are positive role models and overall behaviour is good. Children settle quickly, are happy and confident, and feel safe and secure in a caring environment.

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in 18 The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017

End of the

blackoutSouth Glos councillors have voted to end the authority's policy of part-night street lighting which began in 2008 Cllr Heather Goddard, Chair of the Environment & Community Services Committee, which took the decision last week, said: “As part of an efficiency drive, the previous cross-party administration took the decision to switch off street lights for part of the night. “This was controversial in some areas, particularly where there were concerns over road safety and crime, and I know most councillors have been contacted with concerns about Protect Our NHS campaigners applaud the motion street lighting. “As such I am pleased to say that advancing technology allows us to reinstate whole-night lighting by dimming lights after a period of time, rather than switching them off. NHS spending This will still save us money.”

Bristolcuts City Council hascondemned adopted a motion health care, while here we spend 7.3%”. The opposing Government cuts to NHS spending sustainability and transformation plans, she said, THE WEEK IN in the area. has been drawn up without any public The motion, stating: “That the cuts demanded by consultation and were unrealistic, with over adverts central government of £305m are unfeasible and £100m savings still unidentified. that there is no safe way of implementing such Cllr Hance, Bristol's Cabinet member for health call 0117 986 0381 reductions in spending,” was brought by Labour and wellbeing, described the underlying premise councillor Gill Kirk and Fi Hance, from the of further cuts across the Bristol, North Somerset Greens. and South Gloucestershire region as The Lib Dems also gave their support and the “unsupported, unrealistic and frankly absurd”. vote was greeted with cheers in the public Members of the local campaign group Protect gallery. Our NHS, who have been campaigning long and Cllr Kirk, who has spent all her working life hard about the plans, were delighted at the working as a nurse, said the Government outcome. sustainability and transformation plans “would Mavis Zutshi, spokesperson for the group, said: involve a reduction in staff, reduction in hospital “The NHS is already being starved to death by beds, closure of some services, and disposal of the Government and cannot survive the spending NHS assets”. cuts of £305m locally and £23bn which are the She also asked the question: “Why is it that other basis for these so-called sustainability and European countries spend 10.1% of GDP on transformation plans.”

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in The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 19

The2024 earliest date for completion for of the Temple railMeads will switch electrification? from Great Western Railway electrification overhead electric power to diesel shortly is 2024, some seven years after the after leaving Chippenham. The line first trains commence operating on from London to Bristol Parkway will be the line. fully electric but the track between the When the West of England Joint two Bristol stations was also included in Transport Board met in Keynsham the list of projects deferred. The four earlier this month, the transport chiefs of council transport leaders were, however, the four local councils (B&NES, Bristol, reassured that the four tracking of that South Gloucestershire and North section will be completed under existing Somerset) considered a report in which budgets and this will allow for the Network Rail had indicated the work development of the MetroWest would be completed towards the end of suburban network without interfering the Government's next spending round with the operation of through express (Control Period 6) between 2019-24. trains. In Issue 456 (11th January) we covered The meeting was also told that one of reports in the railway industry media the projects which will benefit from the which suggested the scheme might estimated £165m saving from the never even be completed. However, electrification deferral is the Temple when we contacted Network Rail, they Meads East junction - another vital cog 'cascaded' train onto the Severn Beach In Issue 456 (11th January) we also confirmed that the work was definitely in the region's delivery of MetroWest. line this summer with a further eight or touched on industry reports that the new included in the next Government £15m has now been allocated in the nine due at the end of the year. First does bi-mode trains cannot perform as well as spending round. A spokesperson told us: current spending round towards the not actually own the trains but operates either a full electric unit or a diesel 125 “The electric wires will be delivered overall cost of the junction upgrade them as the franchisee on behalf of the train. While there will be timetable gains between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath which is £60m. Government. in acceleration from stations and the use Spa between 2019-2024. However, the First Great Western also provided more Final confirmation of both these moves of automatic rather than slam doors, we benefits of electrification will come into information to the Joint Transport Board is subject to confirmation from the understand that the maximum speed service for passengers in Bath and regarding the planned upgrade to rolling Department of Transport. However, achievable under diesel power is no Bristol from later this year. The stock which was also potentially sources have told The Week In that more than 95mph. While services introduction of brand new Intercity affected by the electrification delay. It some rolling stock is already in Bristol, between Bristol Parkway and London Express Trains will provide passengers had been assumed that diesel turbo albeit carriages which are already 30 will see faster journey times and more with more seats, extra comfort and on trains from the Thames Valley would be years old. There was no mention in the frequency, services from Temple Meads board wi-fi with station upgrades, such 'cascaded' down once electrification was report of plans to retain some of the 125 and Bath are unlikely to notice any as the one at Bath Spa in Easter, complete there. With vital sectors express trains which will be redundant difference. This concurs with comments providing the capacity for the larger around Didcot, Henley and Windsor also when the new bi-mode Intercity trains we reported earlier this month about trains.” deferred, there was concern that this part arrive. Industry reports have claimed passengers receiving 'almost' all the Last November Rail Minister Paul of the operation would no longer be these will be used in shorter forms on benefits of full electrification but like Maynard announced the deferral of possible. regional routes and that the cost of almost any other major capital project certain parts of the electrification project Despite a National Audit Office report converting and operating them will be as you can think of locally or nationally, in order to save money which could be (Issue 451 - 1st December) claiming much as the Government is saving the outcome is the same - delays used on other parts of the network. there will be a two-year delay, the rail through the deferral of the electrification (including 'deferrals') always ending up Trains between London and Bristol company expects to introduce the first work. costing more.

in 20 The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017

Show your support for Ross and Clare On 27th January 2013, Ross And earlier this month Mr and Clare Simons from Skidmore, Ross's parents Dawn Hillfields were out for an and Edwin Simons, and his afternoon ride on their sister Kelly Woodruff met tandem bike in Hanham Justice Secretary Liz Truss in when they were struck and Parliament to discuss the killed by a driver fleeing from current consultation which is the police. seeking the public's views on Nicholas Lovell, 38, from whether to increase the Oldland Common, had a maximum sentence for shocking list of previous dangerous driving to life From left, Kelly Woodruff, Chris Skidmore, Liz Truss, Dawn & Edwin Simons motoring offences - 11 imprisonment. The current convictions for disqualified maximum is 14 years. everyone to look at the add their comments to the determined to make sure the driving and four for dangerous The group, who had already consultation and decide what consultation so that we can punishment fits the crime. driving. met with the previous Justice they want to see in any future deliver life sentences to those “My message is clear - if you He received the maximum Secretary Chris Grayling and legislation and to be listened that carelessly wreck the lives drive dangerously and kill on possible sentence for killing the former Prime Minister David to.” of innocent people." our roads, you could face a life young couple but this Cameron, are urging local Mr Skidmore said: "The thing Liz Truss said: “Killer drivers sentence.” amounted to just 10 years and residents to contribute to the we principally have ruin lives. Their actions cause To have your say go online to six months. At the time, the consultation before the campaigned on is for the immeasurable pain to families, http://tinyurl.com/h9nr6j2 or judge said he wanted to give a deadline on 1st February. maximum sentence to go from who must endure tragic, contact the team handling the longer sentence, but his hands Kelly said the Justice Secretary 14 years to life. The Justice unnecessary losses. While submissions on 0758 070 1239 were tied. was “quite horrified” by the Secretary said she realised that impossible to compensate for or email drivingconsultation Since then, the grieving family case of Ross and Clare. She and that they would look into it. the death of a loved one, we are @justice.gsi.gov.uk of 34-year-old Ross and his 30- said: “We asked her if There is a consultation going year-old wife - supported by something would be done by on but it was interesting to hear Kingswood MP Chris the close of this year and she that there will be some Skidmore - have worked hard said she thought it would be movement. to secure changes in the law to sooner than that. She was very “She was shocked by the case get tougher sentences. They committed and we have the and Kelly was able to show her have already campaigned outcome we wanted. the physical copy of the judge's successfully for an increased “A lot of people in a comments in court. In it the punishment for drivers who kill community are affected by judge said he wanted to give a while disqualified, with death by dangerous driving, longer sentence but that his sentences rising from a such as the people whose house hands were tied. minimum of two years to 10 Ross and Clare were killed “I would urge all of those that years. outside. This is the time for have followed our campaign to

South Glos Public Transport The next meeting of the South Gloucestershire Public Transport Forum is next Monday (30th January) at 7.30pm at Kingswood Civic Centre. It is a chance for people to raise any issues about bus or rail services.

in The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 21

Longwell Green Spaces at Rainbows There are currently spaces for girls aged five who would like to become a Rainbow Guide with the group that meets between 5pm and 6pm in the United Church on Mondays during term time. Girls move on to Brownies when they are seven. If you have a daughter who would like to New employer coming to Kingswood become a Rainbow, phone Edna Stinchcombe on 0117 9616352. If your daughter is younger and A asvon & Wiltshirecouncil Mental Health Partnershipshifts will be moving220spaces. staff to Yate you would like her to join as soon as she is old enough, go to the into Kingswood Civic Centre later this year, it was revealed last The move is part of the council's plans to save around £400,000 in Girlguiding website where you Friday. running costs and keep ownership of the Civic Centre, using it for can put her name on the Rainbow The health trust's HQ is in Chippenham and the organisation serves civic and training facilities, including the council chamber. waiting list. people across B&NES, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North The One Stop Shop will remain in the building and ultimately the Somerset and Wiltshire. library will relocate to the Civic Centre to create a community hub The Partnership - AWP for short - has not yet confirmed how many for Kingswood. The police facilities will be unaffected. Christian Dior's staff will be coming to Kingswood but has agreed a 20-year lease. Councillors endorsed the approach to keep the building and lease archivist at The majority of staff currently working at the South out office space after public consultation confirmed support for the Gloucestershire Council-owned Civic Centre - around 220 - will council to prioritise reducing unnecessary office costs over cutting Fashion relocate to the council's building in Badminton Road, Yate, while services last year. The council will now engage further with all Museum Bath around 100 others, including those who need to be based in staff on the details of the plans, but expect the affected Kingswood The Fashion Museum Bath is set Kingswood to deliver locality-based services, will remain at the staff to move to Yate from late April to July, ahead of AWP moving to welcome the chief archivist Civic Centre. in some time during September. Cllr Matthew Riddle, leader of from Christian Dior for its next The council is working on plans to extend the car park at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I am pleased we have been Twilight Talk. Badminton Road which, if possible, would add a further 100+ able to deliver our preferred option, to keep important services in Soizic Pfaff has worked at House Kingswood and at the same time save money that we would of Dior since 1974 and she is in otherwise be spending on underused office space. charge of all the archives, from “The centre of Kingswood will benefit from having a new group of the original haute couture workers coming to the area who will use local businesses and as a samples to Dior's personal travel council we will be making better use of our building in Yate. albums. “We have been able to make the savings we needed to, while Dior by Dior will take place in the Panorama Room at the remaining fully committed to the Kingswood community and museum on Thursday 16th without reducing services.” February from 6.15pm to Among those staying in the building are the registrars, contact 7.15pm. centre and staff who work directly with people in Kingswood and Prior to the talk, the museum's the surrounding areas. Some works will be undertaken to prepare visitor services assistants will the building for AWP. Separately, the council is in discussions with offer mini Dior feature tours of other organisations about potentially leasing out space in other three ensembles from the areas of the Civic Centre. Should these discussions be successful Fashion Museum collection by then this could generate additional income that would reduce the House of Dior, which are on pressure on other budgets. display in the headline exhibition A History of Fashion in 100 Fishponds Objects. Tickets cost £10 adults / £8 Good news for surgery's students, including wine reception, and are available to 12,600+ patients buy at the Fashion Museum Bath The Fishponds Family Practice in Beechwood Road has earned or www.bathboxoffice.org.uk a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission. Arrive at 5.30pm with a ticket to The industry watchdog said the surgery, which has more than the Twilight Talk if you would 12,600 registered patients, was good in all key areas it inspected like to join one of the tours. - safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led. The inspection Tickets are available on the Bath was carried out in October and published earlier this month. Box Office website.

in 22 The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017

Saltford Downend Factory to forecourt - a new service for Murder Vauxhall owners at the Vauxhall dealer Saltford Motors is offering library customers a behind-the-scenes look at how their new There will be a murder car order is progressing. mystery evening entitled Customers ordering a new car can now be kept informed Death in a Silver Mask at of progress on their new Vauxhall and even get a sneak- Downend Library on peek of it being made, thanks to the all-new Track My Saturday 4th February. New Vauxhall facility. The entertainment will be The new tool is available for customers to access via the provided by the Red Vauxhall owners' website my.vauxhall.co.uk and enables Herrings Murder Mystery them to get live updates on their vehicle from when the Players. A silver wedding order is accepted, when the car is due to be built and party goes horribly wrong when it is on the way to Saltford Motors. when Virginia dies after Mark Thomas, sales manager at Saltford Motor Services, drinking the punch. People said: “We are really excited to be launching Track My are invited along to guess New Vauxhall - it's a thoughtful way to give customers their factory-ordered Vauxhall car via email as well as updates who poisoned her and how. valuable insights into the process that their car goes through, within the My Vauxhall website. Updates include written Tickets are £3 to include making the journey from order to collection much more notifications as well as a video showing a customer's exact car refreshments available exciting. in the factory. My Vauxhall is not just for new Vauxhall from any South Glouces- “To get updates at key stages is a great way to build even further customers; existing customers who have yet to sign up to the tershire library or upon the excitement and anticipation that comes with waiting website can benefit from exclusive features, discounts, prize www.eventbrite.co.uk for your new car to arrive.” draws and rewards, as well as accessing servicing reminders The event starts at 7.30pm. The brand new service will advise customers on the progress of and online service history.

in The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 23

St Monica Trust is 'best in healthcare sector'

St Monica Trust, which is developing the old Cadbury's factory in Keynsham into a £60m retirement village, has become the highest scorer in the UK's healthcare sector in its annual Hospitality Assured assessment. The Trust retained its Hospitality Assured Premier status for the ninth consecutive year with its highest- ever score of 83.7%. In their report, the Hospitality Assured assessors said: “There exists within the St Monica Trust a strong desire to achieve high levels of excellence in all that the organisation attempts to do, but in particular in customer service and resident care. Get fit for the Chew Valley 10k “Everyone helps others to achieve the goals of the organisation and a number of staff described the St Registration is open for this year's Chew fun. It starts at 9.30am and follows a scenic, Monica Trust as 'the best place I've ever worked'.” Valley 10k race which takes place on rural route around the Chew Valley, with the The trust improved on its previous year's score by 2%, Sunday 11th June. Race HQ at Bishop Sutton Village Hall. which was acknowledged by the assessors: “The Now in its fifth year, the event raises money For details of the course and to register for the increase over the 2015 score is a reflection of the many for Blood Bikes NICU Support as well as the race, visit www.chewvalley10k.co.uk changes, improvements and enhancements that have Chew Valley School Society and Bishop Couch to 10k training support and details of been achieved in that period.” Sutton Village Hall. the on-route running club by Ross Elliott They continued: “A highlight this year was the work The race, which starts and ends in Bishop Fitness can be found on the website along with done on developing a new strategic plan and the major Sutton, is open to all, from club runners to details of a new six-week coaching session project to develop the new facility at Keynsham, The Chocolate Quarter.” families and beginners. It is aimed at bringing called Run Start which begins in February in the community together to get fit whilst having Keynsham. St Monica Trust's director of facilities Ian Joyner said: “To be recognised as a leader in customer service within the UK healthcare sector is an achievement that Volunteers everyone involved with the trust can be proud of. “Our commitment to excellence at all levels of the needed organisation has been a long-term investment. We Volunteers are needed to expect to see even greater improvements in our help run St George customer offering with the opening of our newest Community Centre. retirement community, The Chocolate Quarter in New people are needed to summer 2017.” join the management committee. If you live or Hospitality Assured is the quality standard created by work in St George and the Institute of Hospitality specifically for customer think you have the skills facing businesses. The process enables organisations to contact the centre on reach and exceed their full potential by following Church Road by email at world-class processes, customer service standards and [email protected] employee engagement. or call 0117 9411882.

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in 24 The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017

B&NES Council tax to rise 1.5% B&NES Cabinet will meet next week to agree its budget for the next financial year with an increase in council tax set at 1.5% compared to 1.9% last year. A further 2% will be levied towards adult social care provision as per the Government's allowance for local councils to raise a total of 6% over a 3-year period. In Issue 456 we detailed the council's proposals to achieve overall savings of £49m by 2020. Following the Cabinet meeting on 1st February the budget will go the full council meeting on 14th February for approval. See also page 14.

St George/Fishponds Repair Cafés There are hopes that a monthly Repair Café can be launched in St George. Repair Cafés are places where people get together to fix their broken stuff such as clothes, furniture, electronics and Staple Hill electrical. There is already one running in Fishponds where the next one Future of Royal is taking place on 4th February from 10.30am to 1pm at All Saints Church. To get a Repair Café going in St George will mean building up British Legion Club a team of volunteer fixers. Found out more by looking on the St George Community Centre's Facebook page or call the centre on 0117 9411882. remains unclear A question mark remains over the future of Mr Bills said that after a discussion with a Fishponds the Royal British Legion Club after the member of the club who is a solicitor, the Children 'content and popular venue was unceremoniously shut Legion representative left without the keys and down shortly before Christmas. that there had been no communication since confident' at pre-school As we reported in Issue 455, the Royal British then. Sticky Fish Pre-School, based at Fishponds Baptist Church, is Legion HQ reportedly removed liability He said that members had got together and celebrating a Good rating from Ofsted. insurance cover for the building which was emptied the building, with the contents well used by local groups as well as by currently spread around in people's spare The recently published report found the manager and staff members. rooms and garages. know all the children well and provide a broad range of stimulating and challenging activities. Allen Bills, from the Staple Hill branch of the Staple Hill councillor Ian Boulton told the Legion, attended last week's meeting of the meeting that he had written to Legion chiefs to They are also said to have extremely good partnerships with Staple Hill. Rodway & Mangotsfield tell them about the impact the closure would parents and children are “content” and “confident”. Community Engagement Forum where he have on local members who had a real stake in There are 24 youngsters on the roll at the pre-school which revealed that less than a day's notice had been the club as they had built it in the first place. operates from the lower hall of the church on Downend Road. given by the Gloucestershire county office that Mr Bills encouraged others to write too, saying someone would be coming along to collect the the club had been used three of four times keys to the Kendall Road building. every day. Having agreed to come the following He felt the HQ had their eyes on the club for afternoon instead of the morning so that a some time and that other clubs up and down funeral wake could go ahead as planned, the the country were also being closed. representative who turned up said they were The Week In has contacted the Royal British surprised to see that the building wasn't Legion's press office to see if it wishes to make already boarded up. a statement.

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in The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 25

On location with TV's Flog It!

When it’s mid-January and cold however was jolly and bargain hunters and grey, there are limited options around me showed off their treasures as to what one can do on a Saturday with guarded enthusiasm. After yet afternoon. However, when I heard another hour the queue was still long that the popular TV programme but now feeling entrenched in our Flog It! was at Bristol Cathedral, it seats and getting to know other like- seemed a good idea to take a few minded people, it felt impossible to knick-knacks and have them leave. valued. Paul Martin, the main presenter on the I gathered together an old Wade jug, a show, passed amongst us wearing an bowl from my grandmother's kitchen olive green corduroy suit. We saw and a small hardback book which had how much effort goes into the been in my family for 150 years. presentation of the programme when When I took my seat in the cathedral, Mr Martin at one point needed four re- Paul Martin in front of me were at least 200 people takes to do a very casual short piece to with various size bags. I sat next to a camera. By now the whole re-takes were done. If you watch the be valued and so it was with great couple from Portishead who had two atmosphere was becoming very programme regularly, you will see our anticipation I met John Kelly. I foreign gold coins they wanted entertaining and was made even more little group behind Natasha and the thought the book might be the most valued. The other side of me was a so when another member of the Flog owner of the pistols. We tried to look valuable so produced that first. couple with a very unusual item which It! team asked if our little group would extremely attentive with smiles However, to my chagrin it was of low had been handed down from a relative be part of a background scene. pinned to our faces. All I can value, as were the jug and the bowl. who fought in the Boer War. The Natasha Raskin, a regular expert, was remember is that the pistols could well My new friends from Portishead also couple estimated the item was more to examine a pair of flintlock pistols have been used by a postman or his found their gold foreign coins not as than 120 years old. It was a wooden thought to be at least 200 years old. wife and they could sell for around valuable as they had expected and cross in a bottle filled with water. The We all readily agreed to be involved £300 at the Bristol Auction Rooms at neither was the relic from the Boer cross had various smaller wooden and were told the filming would be Ashton, Bristol, on 2nd February. War. carpentry implements surrounding it. shot near the choir stalls. It would This flutter of excitement over, we The afternoon had been long and the Apparently the whole thing had take about half an hour to set up but retreated to our seats and waited yet financial outcome hardly profitable. originally been put together in smaller we could sit and wait in the choir another hour to see the experts. Some However, sitting in Bristol Cathedral pieces and the water had made the seats. Cameramen, experts and people obviously had very collectable surrounded by history, humour and a wood expand to the rather odd-shaped technicians surrounded us. We were items and were filming for up to an large section of humanity was nothing article it was today. told to look enthusiastic, appreciative hour. Eventually at 5.45pm our time less than priceless. And by the way I After waiting for about an hour, the and smile. The scene took about came. We were the last row of believe that episode is to be broadcast queue to see the Flog It! experts had another half hour to film. Natasha hopefuls and were introduced to the in March. fluffed her lines a few times so more hardly moved. The atmosphere specialists. Only three items were to Christine Rogers Sudoku Solutions Crossword Solution

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in 26 The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017

in The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 27

Directory & What’s On

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in The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017 29

Directory & What’s On

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in 30 The Week • Wednesday 25th January 2017

Directory & What’s On

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