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The Week in East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue no 341 9th October 2014 Read by over 30,000 people every week In this week’s issue ...... page 3 Kingswood road traffic accident . Unmarked armed response car in collision page 12 Taylor Wimpey accused over Somerdale . Wildlife scheme pulled due to cost page 18 McDonald's in Fishponds . 80 locals attend protest meeting in 2 The Week • Thursday 9th October 2014 Kingswood Three hurt after crash with unmarked police vehicle An investigation has been launched after an unmarked police armed response car on an emergency call crashed into another vehicle in Chiphouse Road, injuring three people. The accident happened at about 11pm on Friday. The unmarked police car had reportedly been travelling along Pool Road towards the junction of Chiphouse Road and Pound Road when it was in collision with the rear of a Vauxhall car in which there were four people on their way home after a night out. A number of police vehicles and paramedics were quickly on the scene but Shauna Sandrone and Stephanie Scutt, bar staff at the nearby Jolly Cobbler pub, were the first there, managing to open car doors and get the occupants out. Zan Sparkes, one of the casualties, said: “All I was aware of was smoke, noise and people telling me to get out of the car.” It is understood that one man was taken to A&E at Southmead Hospital for treatment and was allowed home the following day, while two others suffered cuts and bruising. Landlord Mike Roper said that the crossroads were dangerous and this was the second serious incident at the junction in the 10 months since he took over the pub. On Monday an Avon & Somerset police spokesman said: “A police car on an emergency call collided with another vehicle in Chiphouse Road, Kingswood. Three people in that car were injured. The police driver and his passenger were not hurt. “The driver of the police car has been suspended from driving police vehicles, pending an investigation.” in The Week • Thursday 9th October 2014 3 Willsbridge Crackdown on unauthorised tippers ANew new chapter beganera this week for for historic historic Willsbridge Mill Willsbridge Mill South Gloucestershire’s Sort It! recycling centres at as a community interest company took over the lease from Mangotsfield, Stoke Gifford, Thornbury and Yate are to step Avon Wildlife Trust. up user residency checks to reduce unauthorised use of The group already had an involvement with the mill, having run the sites. the Coffee Mill café there, but the café closed last year after the Every tonne of waste tipped by unauthorised users, such as wildlife trust felt it was too difficult to support. non-residents or commercial traders, costs the council £100 to For the past three decades, the mill, barn and land immediately process. Unauthorised use can also create delays and surrounding it were leased from South Gloucestershire Council inconvenience for residents seeking to use the four sites. by the trust. Residency checks have been in place since 2008 but from 1st The mill buildings fell into disrepair after the Great Flood in July October these have been stepped up and visitors may be asked 1968. The mill and adjoining land were later bought by builders to provide proof of both identification and residency. George Wimpey & Co and in 1979 they donated the mill to Any official documents that can confirm both types of Kingswood District Council, which entered into an agreement information -- such as driver’s licences, utility bills, council tax with the trust. bills or passports – are acceptable. The Week in The barn next to the Mill, where it is hoped the cafe will be up and running by next month Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge. 15,000 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 Managing Editor Stephen Rodgers [email protected] Editorial Becky Feather 07973 839936 Christine Rogers Advertising Jodie Deason and Tracy Broderick 0117 986 0381 [email protected] @theweekineditor No material in this publication, nor its associated website (www.theweekin.co.uk) may be reproduced without the written permission of Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. All rights reserved. in 4 The Week • Thursday 9th October 2014 c WillsbridgeThe mill and adjacent long barn were Mill restored, opening in 1986 as an environmental education centre. AWT advised the council some time ago that it did not want to continue with the lease when it came up for renewal but it would continue to maintain Willsbridge Valley as a wildlife habitat. Now the lease for the buildings has transferred to Willsbridge Mill Community Refresh (WMCR), which is looking to secure funding to transform the buildings into an inspirational Back from left, Mike Gray, Sue Smith, Jan Davis and Frank Ward; community space. seated, Ginny Ottewill and Gill Scott Sue Smith, one of the directors, Repair work will be carried out on the buildings from 13th to said: “This is the start of a long- 31st October but bookings are being taken to hire room in the term regeneration project which barn from 3rd November. will benefit the local residents and visitors to the site. Together Volunteers will be needed to do shifts in the café and to get we can transform this tired and involved in other ways, including working on the large area of neglected space into a great woodland that connects to Willsbridge Hill which is covered by community asset.” the lease. WMCR will be working on a woodland management plan with the Forestry Commission. Getting the café open again is a priority and the group is Part of the land is earmarked for a 25-space car park with a new appealing for donations of access from Willsbridge Hill. money, as well as furniture and WMCR also plans to create space for artisan businesses by kitchen items. Cheques can be converting the ruins of an old house called The Limes that is in made payable to Willsbridge the woodland. Mill Community Refresh and Find out more about the group at the Willsbridge Mill Old mill workings on the sent to WMCR, Willsbridge Mill, Community Refresh Facebook page or email first floor Bristol BS30 6EX. [email protected] in The Week • Thursday 9th October 2014 5 Keynsham Financial sweeteners for new tenants while Temple Street traders continue to suffer Traders in Temple Street have reacted angrily to reports of financial sweeteners being offered by B&NES Council to potential tenants in the new development directly opposite their businesses while they continue to suffer as a consequence of the development. Many businesses interested in moving to the so called 'Market Place' have been put off signing up due to the one-off costs of fitting out the new units. These were being offered as basic shells without even toilets or electricity sockets. One interested tenant was quoted over £50,000 to fit out a unit. While the rental rates are commercially competitive, there is also a £2 per square foot service charge to pay to the council for upkeep of the common areas, which is adding about 20% to the rent. Temple Street Until last week, only Sainsbury's and the Loungers coffee shop/restaurant were confirmed tenants, but it has now The haberdashery shop Millie Moon is the latest Temple Street emerged that incentives are being offered to interested parties business to suffer the consequences of the development. After which include rent-free periods and assistance with shop fitting opening in September last year, it had been hoped the shop costs. While offers like these are not uncommon in new would fill the gap left when the Fabric Shop moved out of the developments, questions are being asked why they have only old civic centre precinct. But it will be closing this weekend emerged now, jus three weeks before the original planned although the unit will be occupied by Your Move estate agents, opening, and Temple Street traders believe it is just another who are relocating from the High Street. kick in the teeth. While Temple Street businesses were compensated by Wales Two weeks ago, we reported on one business owner who was & West Utilities for the disruption caused during the gas main questioning why no provision had been made in the council's replacement earlier this year, they will have their work cut out to budget to mitigate for the consequences of disruption to local achieve the same result with Wessex Water. While the traders during the build period. Last week, another, who combined effect of the water main upgrade and the civic centre estimates takings have been down by an average of £700 a development traffic has brought Keynsham to a standstill on week during the last two years, told us he felt doubly numerous occasions in the past three weeks, local businesses disadvantaged. Not only has he had to suffer the loss of car have received a letter from loss adjustors working for Wessex parking and the traffic disruption in Temple Street over the Water. In it they are asked to provide month-by-month turnover years, he now can't even afford to consider a move across the totals, VAT returns and end-of- year accounts - all going back to road to take advantage of the offers.