THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 574 1st May 2019 Read by more than 40,000 people each week Bravery award for man injured while helping the police A Longwell Green man was among those to receive a Portishead, 13 worthy winners were presented with PCC bravery award at a ceremony hosted by Avon & Pride Awards before they and their guests were invited to Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Sue have lunch with the PCC and Deputy Chief Constable Mountstevens last week. Sarah Crew. Taking place at the Police and Fire Headquarters in After lunch, the winners and their guests enjoyed a tour Sue Mountstevens presents Scott Avery with his award for helping police as they tried to catch fleeing offenders of the communications centre where 999 and 101 calls are received. PCC Sue Mountstevens said: “Hosting the Pride Awards and hearing more about how local people go above and beyond is one of the best bits of my role.” Continued on page 3 Also in this Lottery funding for Nine-year-old Roadworks in Wick Out & About - this Keynsham radio station Pucklechurch girl praised extended month’s feature week’s issue . page 3 over 999 call . page 7 . page 13 . pages 14 & 15 2 The Week in • Wednesday 1st May 2019 Bravery award for National Lottery funding man injured while helping the police for Keynsham community Continued from page 1 Scott Avery, from Longwell Green, was nominated for the radio station support he gave police officers as they attempted to catch Keynsham Town Community Radio (KTCRfm) has fleeing offenders. He sustained significant injuries, but his support to the local policing teams was held in high regard. taken a giant step forward towards going live this Scott said: “I’m proud to be nominated for helping the police. autumn, thanks to the National Lottery Community I didn’t hesitate to react and get involved and, despite the fact Fund. I did sustain injuries, I would do it again.” KTCRfm was granted a community FM licence by Ofcom commence broadcasting from studios close to the town Among the others being recognised was four-year-old Somerset in 2017 and is due to start broadcasting in late October. The centre with a mix of its own and locally produced girl Kaydi Parris who called 999 earlier this year when her mum National Lottery grant of £10,000 will help towards the programmes which will be relevant to the residents of Kara fell ill and would not wake up. Also receiving an award purchase of studio, computer and transmission equipment, Keynsham and surrounding areas. was the call handler Evie Toker-Lester who, recognising the and the station is busy sourcing funds for the rest of its start- Keynsham Town Community Radio is the not-for-profit young voice on the line, adapted her style to ensure a positive up requirements. company set up to submit the bid to Ofcom and launch the outcome, with officers on the scene within 10 minutes. KTCRfm was born out of the weekly Keynsham Hour radio station. Its Chair, Mike Corrigan, welcomed the latest programme which has been broadcast since 2014 on Somer funding boost, saying: “KTCRfm will be run by the Valley FM and then available to listen again on the station’s community, for the community. From its board of directors Collecting unwanted website (www.somervalleyfm.co.uk). This autumn, it will to the people who produce the weekly Keynsham Hour programme, it is reliant on volunteers. tools for Africa “In additional to broadcasting relevant and valuable information about what is going on in The Rotary Club of Keynsham Chew Valley is once again and around Keynsham, KTCRfm also aims to collecting unwanted tools and sewing machines which can be refurbished and shipped off to Africa to help communities provide media training facilities which will become more self -reliant. The charity Tools for Self Reliance hopefully lead to future employment has been distributing tools and machinery for a number of years opportunities in the industry. to organisations in Africa which train local people to become “Since being awarded the broadcast licence in mechanics, electricians, builders or seamstresses. 2017 there has been a gathering sense of The tools come almost exclusively from householders here who momentum as we move to closer to going live no longer need them so if you are planning a bit of a clear-out later this year. We are so grateful for the National in the shed, a team from the Rotary Club will be happy to take Lottery Community Fund grant which will allow any unwanted items from you at Waitrose car park in Keynsham Local musician Dan Russell in the current KTCR studio at us to take the next step forwards.” on Saturday 4th May (8.30am-12.30pm). If you have larger Community at 67 making a special edition of the Keynsham Hour You can keep up to date with developments at items that need collecting, then call 0117 9864407. broadcast on Somer Valley FM last week KTCRfm by visiting www.ktcradio.com The Week in • Wednesday 1st May 2019 3 Two arrests after Duck race fun at the Mill disturbance involving knife threat Police arrested two men following an incident in Keynsham on Tuesday afternoon in which another man was threatened with a knife. Two men, aged 33 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of affray following the incident in Coronation Avenue at about 5pm. Officers carried out additional patrols in the area that evening to provide reassurance. In a statement police said: “No one was injured and a knife has been recovered by our officers. “If you have any information about this incident please call investigations on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5219088424.” Willsbridge Mill’s first ever duck race saw The festival atmosphere continued on Easter 200 ducks released upstream of Siston Sunday with the popular Easter bunny hunt. Brook on Easter Saturday. More than 200 children and adults undertook THE WEEK IN They floated down to the finish line at the challenge to discover the hidden bunnies Willsbridge Mill where crowds cheered on around the site to claim a sweet treat. Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, the winners. Cash prizes were awarded to the Willsbridge Mill Community Refresh thank Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, first three across the finish line with Easter all the volunteers who helped make these Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, eggs for the next four. events possible. Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, 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 07403 273967 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 • Wednesday1st May 2019 Controversy continues over development of old garages site in Warmley Concerns about asbestos exposure have been The applicant in both planning applications has been raised after some demolition work at the garages local firm David Cahill Design Consultants. at the centre of a controversial site in Warmley. The council says the work currently being done on Local councillor Ian Adams has been contacted by the site is allowed under permitted development. It worried local people, and environmental health is understood that it will lead to a new planning officers from South Gloucestershire Council and the application to redevelop the site being submitted to Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have visited the the council. site behind Goldney Avenue. The spokesperson said that in light of the concerns As we have previously reported, plans to build eight raised, an environmental health officer had visited houses there were withdrawn last year after a series the site last Wednesday. of concerns - including a public safety warning from “This confirmed that there is no significant public the Coal Authority about old mine workings on the health risk and we also understand that HSE (who site. Council officers felt the number of homes being would have regulatory responsibility for the proposed was overly ambitious and were unhappy disposal of any asbestos had there been any) have with the parking arrangements, as well as saying the visited the site as well. plans failed to take into account the access onto the “We will be making contact with the developer to historic Dramway. A second attempt to get make them aware of the complaints received and permission to build seven homes was lodged earlier seek further reassurance regarding actions on site. this year but withdrawn a few weeks later. Any specific concerns regarding the Then in Issue 571 we reported that the footpath demolition/construction activity should be referred across the site, which local people say has been in to the HSE. use for almost 70 years, had been blocked off by “Finally, to reassure residents, if the garages are excavation work.