Gromit Trail Proves Huge Success for Kingswood
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THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 541 5th September 2018 Read by over 40,000 people each week Gromit trail proves huge success for Kingswood The Gromit which has spent has been a huge boost to locations to host a sculpture Gromit Unleashed and the summer in Kingswood town centre traders. as part of the 2018 Gromit Shaun in the City arts trails, as part of the Bristol area’s Kings Chase Shopping Unleashed 2 trail. which saw two of Bristol- fundraising sculpture trail Centre was among the It follows the success of the based Aardman Animation’s most popular characters raise over £6m for Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal. Continued on page 3 2 The Week in • Wednesday 5th September 2018 Gromit trail proves huge success for Kingswood Continued from page 1 negative ‘like for like’ increased sales over the This summer Gromit was footfall number at the start weeks of Draco’s stay, joined by Wallace and of July through to a positive compared to the same time Feathers McGraw for the like for like at the end of last year. nine-week trail which came August. “All in all it was a great to an end last Sunday. Fans “In July, 242,814 individual benefit to the atmosphere were able to explore more visitors passed Gromit and and the operation at the The Evans & Partners team – Angela Evans is seated than 60 sculptures, each in August that number shopping centre. It was a on the far left next to artist Bev Cavender individually designed and reached 244,763, a 1.2% real joy to hear spellbound decorated. increase for the month. Our children shouting out ‘He’s fishmongers. They didn’t “It has been a wonderful It was the first time average visit time increased a dragon!’ when they saw realise they were there. experience for Evans & Kingswood had hosted a across the period and many Draco and his terrific “Bryn, from PV Turner Partners. sculpture. Called Draco, he more families visited, design.” greengrocers, told me that in “We wanted to do was designed by Bristol generating at least 200 Angela Evans, from Evans 18 years they have never something vibrant and fun artist Bev Cavender and selfies and family snaps & Partners, said that Draco had anything like Draco in to celebrate our 75th sponsored by Evans & each day, with that number had really helped put Kingswood and it was anniversary that would also Partners to celebrate the increasing over the Kingswood on the map. wonderful to have some- support the community in 75th trading year of the weekends. “Many people I spoke to thing fun and beneficial for Kingswood and raise Kingswood accountancy “Our children’s rides saw also added that they will everyone in Kings Chase. sponsorship for Bristol firm. increased usage and mall come back to Kings Chase “Everyone has loved Bev Children’s Hospital. Draco This week Kings Chase seating was visibly more and Kingswood for their Cavender’s pop-up art has helped us achieve all Centre manager Richard occupied across the period. shopping, especially with exhibition in our office too, these aims and build great Ryan said: “Draco’s stay has Traders in the immediate excellent traditional shops showcasing her wonderful awareness for our business.” been a terrific benefit to the area, Holland & Barrett and such as the greengrocers, wildlife and nature centre. He has taken a WHSmith, reported the butchers and the paintings. See page 4 Also in this week’s issue More vandalism in Keynsham . page 5 Jail for Saltford arsonists . page 16 Hope for the No 10 bus service? . page 22 Regional spatial plan delayed . page 27 The Week in • Wednesday 5th September 2018 3 Downend’s Gromit has been proper Champion Downend & Bromley Heath “There has been a steady flow been someone having their Parish Council sponsored a of people throughout picture taken with Champion Gromit which has also drawn Downend enjoying the and we are certainly very the crowds. sunshine, bunting and the sorry to see him disappear.” Champion, designed by beautiful flowers, courtesy of Avon Valley Adventure & Bristol artist Mike Ogden, is a Downend & Bromley Heath Wildlife Park at Keynsham tribute to Downend’s famous in Bloom. Every time I have also sponsored a sculpture cricketer WG Grace and has gone into the village there has called Cubby. shin pads and a cricket bat. This week Angela Hocking, the parish council clerk, said: “Everyone has got into the Gromit spirit. THE WEEK IN 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, Champion 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 Managing Editor Stephen Rodgers [email protected] News Editor Becky Feather 07973 839936 Contributors 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. Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. t/a The Week In is regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor for the Press CIC. As such, we adhere to the IMPRESS complaints procedure. A copy of this procedure can be found on our website or can be sent upon written request to the address above. 4 The Week in • Wednesday 5th September 2018 Vandalism in Keynsham escalates Vandalism and anti-social roof and major damage to to perform this Saturday behaviour in Keynsham the right-hand side of the afternoon (8th) and a has escalated in the past wall. We understand that children’s story-telling week. band-stand concerts event on Sunday afternoon. An arson attack on the scheduled for this month Just last week we reported bandstand in Memorial Park will still go ahead including on a suspected arson attack resulted a huge hole in the Oldland Brass who are due at a swing in the Memorial Park and graffiti on the bandstand, along with windows being smashed on homes including in the Rock Road area. The latest crimewave to hit the town has also seen four pedal go-karts stolen from the children’s play area at Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park over the bank holiday weekend, which prompted an appeal on including one which was the Queens Road area of social media from the park’s retrieved from the river Keynsham. owner Doug Douglas. below the water wheel. The lack of police presence Within 24 hours three of the Meanwhile there were in the town has been widely carts were found abandoned reports last Friday of wing lamented on social media. around the Memorial Park, mirrors being smashed in Letters, page 10 The Week in • Wednesday 5th September 2018 5 6 The Week in • Wednesday 5th September 20188 Keynsham Reader highlights trip hazard A reader got in touch with us last week to highlight a trip hazard in Avon Mill Lane in Keynsham. He said that as he was walking in the dark along the pavement near the Brassmill pub, he tripped over a metal plate that had become partly raised. He fell, bruising his knee. Although not badly injured, he felt it was important to highlight what had happened to prevent anyone else from hurting themselves. We sent a picture of the hazard to B&NES Council and asked if they would be making the pavement safe. We have yet to receive a response but within hours of highlighting the problem the metal plate had been Whitchurch Village/Stockwood removed and cones put up around the hole. Concerns over ‘unsafe’ pavement Residents living near a you into the road and can that those using this path are footpath that runs from only take one person at a on an unstable surface, it Whitchurch Village to time. Mothers with children will only be a matter of time Stockwood have shared cannot have them walking before there is an accident.” their concerns about it beside them. Disabled We contacted both Bristol with The Week In, as well wheelchairs would find it and B&NES councils with as local councillors. hard to stay on the path, residents’ concerns. This Part of the pavement next to which constantly leans week a Bristol City Council Stockwood Lane falls towards the road.” spokesperson told us: “We within B&NES and part is She said the path is used by will inspect the site to assess in Bristol. Locals say the people from Whitchurch what maintenance work is path is uneven, leans Village to get to the required.” towards the road, and that Stockwood shops, and also B&NES Council has yet to overhanging brambles make by Stockwood people to get respond. it even more dangerous to to buses to Wells, Street and use. Resident Jenny Smith the south of Bristol city. said: “The path itself is “Cars are speeding past on uneven, cambered to throw this road and with the fact The Week in • Wednesday 5th September 2018 7 8 The Week in • Wednesday 5th September 2018 Chris Skidmore Tackling food denies leading poverty in Cadbury Heath ‘soft’ Brexit MPs The Fit and Fed programme aimed at tackling holiday The Brexit debate which MPs asking them to support hunger in Cadbury Heath saw 413 meals provided to has so far split the their movement, which was children over the summer.