THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 544 26th September 2018 Read by over 40,000 people each week Curo housing estate a scene of “deprivation” Keynsham town councillor Dave Biddleston says pre-war poverty”. vandalism and ant-social behaviour. residents are living in “deprivation” at Curo homes in Last week, a deputation from the 40-plus homes A Facebook page set up by residents shows images of Tintagel Close, claiming “basic sanitary living has been attended the town council meeting to describe some of bare electrical wiring exposed to the elements and other so compromised it's as if Keynsham has moved back to the problems they face as a result of poor maintenance, scenes of neglect. Recently The Week In reported on an arson attack when waste bins were deliberately set alight and although nobody was hurt, considerable damage was caused to neighbouring properties, with the heat even melting drainpipes and guttering. At the time residents reported that the lock on the bin store door had been vandalised and not repaired. Responding to a report by BBC Bristol, Curo claimed that the CCTV system at Tintagel Close had been vandalised beyond repair. This brought an angry reaction from residents who claimed the security cameras have never worked. Continued on page 3 Tintagel Close Concerns at Warmley Funding boost for Problems persist at MP changes position Also in this Community Centre . Keynsham one-way Mangotsfield tip on Brexit week’s issue . page 5 . page 6 . page 12 . page 7 2 The Week in • Wednesday 26th September 2018 Curo housing estate a Public meeting to scene of “deprivation” discuss traffic concerns Continued from page 1 homes at Tintagel Close. In ownership to Curo. While A public meeting has been called to Two years ago Curo denied March 2016, the open land principally a charity discuss ongoing concerns with the rumours it was planning to adjacent to the site was providing social housing, the volume and speed of traffic using the demolish and redevelop the transferred from B&NES Curo Group also has a lanes around the Golden Valley. commercial property The meeting, which has been called by development arm – Curo villagers in Upton Cheyney and Beach, Enterprise Ltd - which will be at the chapel in Wick Lane, Upton operates in the commercial Cheyney at 7pm on Wednesday 10th sector as a revenue October. Local councillor Erica Williams generator. is due to attend. Reacting to concerns in Many local people campaigned for years 2016 that Tintagel Close and for a reduced speed limit in the largely another Curo social housing derestricted lanes between the A420, Bath project in Midsomer Norton Road at Wick, the A4175 though Oldland had been transferred into Common and the A431 through Bitton, There is a sign in there somewhere Curo Enterprise and funds and earlier this year a 30mph limit was set aside for the introduced. still further to 20mph in the residential redevelopment and re- However, residents say the reduced limit areas. housing of tenants, Curo told has only helped a bit and that further Not helping the situation is that some of The Week In at the time: traffic calming measures, with some the 30mph signs are virtually obscured by “We’re always reviewing calling for the speed limit to be lowered foliage. our estates and properties to ensure they’ll be sustainable in the long term. “We’ll be considering improvements to a number of our estates over the next few years, of which Tintagel Close will be one. When this process starts, the first step Saltford will be to talk to local residents about what they’d like to see in their Jewellery stolen neighbourhood in years to A 30mph has been introduced in the lanes this year A property in Claverton Road, Saltford, was burgled last come.” Thursday evening. Patio doors to the rear were forced open and a search was made. Items of jewellery were stolen. The Week in • Wednesday 26th September 2018 3 Some of the team, from left, Hannah, Arial, Anne, Alison, Rachel, Jill, Jean, Elaine & Paula, celebrate the PDSA shop’s 5th birthday Kingswood THE WEEK IN Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, 5th birthday Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell celebrations Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, Warmley, at PDSA Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge. 16,000 copies are distributed through retail outlets, libraries, pubs, community centres each week. charity shop Verified pick-up rate of 97%. The PDSA charity shop in Kingswood is friendly atmosphere that’s valued by Publisher celebrating five years of trading this customers. Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA Friday (28th). The store’s atmosphere is enhanced by the 0117 986 0381 Branch manager Rachel Gould credits the inventive window displays designed www.theweekin.co.uk shop’s success to the willingness and seasonally by lead volunteer Anne Willmott. ISSN: 2052-9767 positivity of their volunteers, and the The display items are then sold on to generosity of donors. customers, with all profits going to the Managing Editor Stephen Rodgers [email protected] Staff greet every customer with a smile, and PDSA. News Editor Becky Feather 07973 839936 truly value the donations made by people in The shop constantly needs new volunteers Contributors Christine Rogers the area. Overcoming a drop in trade last and donations. The store takes a variety of Advertising Jodie Deason and Tracy Broderick year, when the Halls Road car park was shut donations, with books, clothing and 0117 986 0381 because of building work on the new Lidl accessories amongst the most sought-after [email protected] store, the PDSA’s Regent Street branch is items. now stronger than ever and performing If you feel you can help by either offering @theweekineditor seventh best in the region. your time as a store volunteer and joining the No material in this publication, nor its associated website (www.theweekin.co.uk) may The stock in store is rotated regularly by the vibrant team, or by donating goods (no be reproduced without the written permission of Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. All team, so the shop always has something new electricals), see their Facebook page or call rights reserved. to offer. The branch also sells some new 0117 9675110. products and Christmas items are already The store also supports volunteers studying Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. t/a The Week In is regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent selling well. for a Duke of Edinburgh Award, and for Monitor for the Press CIC. As such, we adhere to the IMPRESS complaints Some volunteers have been offering their NVQ qualifications in retail management procedure. A copy of this procedure can be found on our website or can be sent upon written request to the address above. time in the branch for up to five years and and customer service. describe the job as a way to make friends while working, and creating a warm and Abi Dudbridge 4 The Week in • Wednesday 26th September 2018 Future of Warmley Community Centre at stake An emergency meeting exceeding income. Share Lounge, which was attended by around 150 value at 1st April of this year damaged by a flood last people has been held at was £20,155 but on 31st December, by offering the Warmley Community August it was down to social club the Main Hall Centre which is facing a £6,898.91. for Jazz and Saturday serious financial situation. The NHS which had rented evenings. Work on the All community centre and car parking spaces at the Jubilee Lounge has been social club members were community centre for completed but it is invited to last Wednesday’s workers has moved from understood there has been an extraordinary general Warmley and this has issue with the floor and the meeting by the management resulted in loss of income of social club have refused to committee to enlighten them £650 per month. use the room. about the centre being in The meeting heard that the There are hopes that people “financial jeopardy”. main debtor of non-payment can work together to get the Erected as a memorial to the of rent is the social club and centre back on a stable Staple Hill Second World War, the even though the area of the financial footing. The centre opened in 1947 and is building they rent and centre’s management an important focal point for services they pay for were committee were holding a Community litter pick the area, hosting numerous being used, the total debt to meeting this week, as were There will be a community litter pick in Staple Hill on Saturday 13th October from groups and activities. date is £11,750. the social club committee, 11am to noon. Organiser Ian Boulton, who is one of the local councillors, asks people The management committee The management committee and we hope to bring to get in touch if there is a public area that they feel needs tackling. has sold shares as said they had compensated updates from both meetings He said: “The more volunteers we have the more areas we can visit.” You can sign up expenditure has been for the loss of the Jubilee in next week’s issue. for the event on the Staple Hill and Mangotsfield Residents Facebook page. The Week in • Wednesday 26th September 2018 5 Funding boost for one-way system Plans to make Keynsham’s one-way The West of England Joint Committee system a permanent feature are expected comprises of representatives from the four to take a major step forward this week local authorities of B&NES, Bristol, North with the West of England Joint Somerset and South Gloucestershire, Committee set to approve a £1.5m capital together with the Local Enterprise grant for B&NES Council to carry out the Partnership, and has a fund of more than work.