THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 503 6th December 2017 Read by over 40,000 people each week NatWest branches in Keynsham and Hanham to close NatWest branches in shutdown announced last do their banking online or they used to be. Keynsham and Hanham are week. over the phone, which The branch in Keynsham among those that are to The bank says more and means some branches are High Street will close on 4th close as part of a big more people are choosing to being used a lot less than June next year. Customers are advised that the nearest branch is on the Wells Road in Knowle (3.3 miles away). The Hanham High Street branch will close on 28th June. The nearest branch is in Regent Street in Kingswood,1.4 miles away. Other branches in the wider area that are closing next summer include Winterbourne, Chipping Sodbury, the branch at the University of the West of England, Chew Magna and Blackboy Hill in Bristol. 2 The Week in • Wednesday 6th December 2017 Spotlight on crime concerns at packed public meeting in Keynsham Avon & Somerset Police now under review and that businesses like Subway and has lost 22% of its front- she was lobbying for the the town council’s TimeOut line officers in the last 10 return of locally based centre were having to years due to funding cuts. neighbourhood teams. employ independent Inspector Susan Treeweek Beat manager James Evans security companies, but also told residents at last week’s reported on the latest crime acknowledged that James Keynsham Area Forum that figures for the area which Evans’ beat covered an the police had finite were consistent or lower extensive area all around resources and that than 12-months ago, with Keynsham and there was expectations placed on her the notable exception of only him and a part-time officers were huge. criminal damage. Regarding PCSO to cover it. Between 70 and 80 people the recent damage at the He urged everyone present attended the event at the Memorial Park bandstand to write to their MP. Cuts Space, more than twice the and incidents in Market had and are affecting local regular attendance at such Walk, groups from councils as well as the events, and the police Longwell Green and police, and he said: The bandstand inspector attended the Knowle had been identified “Parliament is the only meeting to answer local as the main protagonists. place which can make a between street pastors and Around 20 of those present concerns about the recent He also said that recently difference and your MP street marshals. She also at The Space last week spike in anti-social they had been deploying needs to know how explained that for the police expressed a willingness to behaviour in the area. plain clothes patrols in constituents feel.” to respond more effectively, be involved and Dr Scott is The inspector also said that addition to the police As we reported in Issue 501, they need more evidence asking other residents who four response officers and a presence, not just to catch Keynsham Town Council is from the public and she want to be involved to email car had been reallocated to culprits but to engage with also looking respond to the invited residents and her at: Bath to cover the wider some of the youths. current situation locally and community groups to join in townclerk@keynsham- area, but that this, and Forum Chair of the forum town clerk Dr Cheryl Scott a coordinated response. tc.gov.uk similar relocations in other Alan Hale said it was a explained they were looking parts of the district, were slippery slope where local at a system somewhere Also in this week’s issue Go ahead for Kings Chase redevelopment . page 6 Hanham Fair success . page 12 Emersons Green fly tipper prosecuted . page 17 Police launch drink- drive campaign . page 12 The Week in • Wednesday 6th December 2017 3 Cyclists v pedestrians Conflict between walkers officer Nessa Jarman said And the police who were at and cyclists using the the problem of cyclists and the meeting said education Bristol to Bath Railway pedestrians had been raised was needed on both sides as Path was highlighted at at meetings in other parts of people sometimes walk up the community engage- South Gloucestershire. She to six abreast on the path ment forum in Oldland said she would talk to the and dogs are sometimes off Common last week. council’s cycling depart- the lead. A local elderly resident who ment about raising They urged people to report walks the path said he was awareness of the need for any problems so they can fed up with cyclists respect on the Railway Path. see if there are any hotspots. whizzing past without ringing a bell, and that when Staple Hill he says anything he gets abuse from them. Carols in Page Park Community engagement There will be carols around the clock tower in Page Park on Saturday 16th December from 2pm to 3pm. This will be the official opening of the clock tower after THE WEEK IN a major restoration project, and it is hoped the bells will be up and running. Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, The Salvation Army band will be providing the music Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, with a performance by the children of The Tynings Corston, Downend, Emersons School. Green, Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Keep in touch, let us know what Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, you think, send us your news Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, www.facebook.com/theweekin 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 and Greg Taylor 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 6th December 2017 Willsbridge Neighbours win permission to build a total of six homes Controversial plans for six No 96, a period property, the mini-roundabout in new houses to be built at already had outline planning Willsbridge which they say neighbouring properties permission for two houses is extremely busy at all on Bath Road with a new but with a separate access. times, but especially during shared driveway have The shared access involves morning and evening rush been approved by South removing a section of the hour. Gloucestershire coun- high boundary wall. They say a four-car incident cillors. Residents living nearby on 20th November outside The council’s Development raised concerns that the the application site Control Committee last historical layout and reinforces their point that Thursday gave permission importance of the area this part of Bath Road is for the two houses at No 96 would be impacted by a dangerous. and four at No 98. The mini-estate of six houses Bitton Parish Council highways officers’ opinion Kenilworth Drive. house currently at No 98 totalling 26 bedrooms, and strongly opposed both about the access. She added that existing will be demolished. had grave concerns about applications. Cllr Erica She said it was a “dangerous traffic will soon be The applicant for No 96 was the effect on road safety and Williams said the proposals position” close to the exacerbated by the new Mr & Mrs J Langdon and parking. for No 98 were “backland junction of the A431 and the development at Somerdale for No 98 the trustees acting The access road will bring development at its worst” A4175 and the road in Keynsham and the new on behalf of Madeleine residents out onto the Bath and that parish councillors opposite, not to mention the housing estate being built at Michallat-Cox. Road into the feeder lane to disagreed with South Glos petrol station and Bitton. The Week in • Wednesday 6th December 2017 5 Kingswood Kings Chase Shopping Centre redevelopment gets green light Kingswood town centre will get a vital boost with the granting of planning permission for a comprehensive redevelop- ment of the Kings Chase Shopping Centre. The outdated car park will be demolished and a replacement car park over four levels for more than 300 cars built. The approved plans include more retail space for shops, restaurants and cafés, as well as the possibility of management of the centre last given the green light. installing a gym on the site. year. Kings Chase councillor Throughout my years as MP I The development will be Kim Scudamore said the have met with many predominantly on the existing scheme would significantly constituents who have raised development footprint. The improve the appearance of their concerns about the new car park will be built the area and would provide a appearance of the existing car over the existing ground level car park more suitable for the park. car parking off Kimberley size of modern cars.