THEEast BristolWEEK & North East Somerset IN FREE Issue 464 8th March 2017 Read by over 40,000 people each week Big rise in anti-social behaviour Rampaging youths continue The ongoing problem of Emersons Green Community steep rise in anti-social to wreak fear and havoc in teenage tearaways was raised at Engagement Forum. behaviour (ASB) in the the town centre of Emersons last Thursday's meeting of the Latest police statistics show a Downend & Siston policing Green. Downend, Bromley Heath & neighbourhood, which includes Emersons Green. In December, there were 35 reported incidents, then 54 in January and 85 in February. Thursday's meeting heard a catalogue of anti-social behaviour, including a terrified driver being blocked in by a Continued on page 3 in 2 The Week • Wednesday 8th March 2017 Big rise in anti-social behaviour Continued from page 1 spokesperson said reports of large group of youths, ASB around the Emersons teenagers whacking scooters Green retail park had focused against the side of a bus and on around a dozen teenagers supermarket trolleys being behaving in a “rowdy and thrown about. A resident said intimidating way”, including that staff working at the hall shouting, swearing, and in Emersons Green have had throwing things. meetings about safety and “Local police are taking the been issued with personal issues very seriously. Officers alarms. Youths who are from neighbouring beats and moved on by the police from Special Constables have been Emersons Green reportedly drafted in to increase patrols loiter around the Huntsman and have been using a Emersons Way pub on Westerleigh Road and dispersal power to require Tesco at Mangotsfield. anyone committing or likely Behaviour Contracts (ABCs). library and village hall. In those involved. Emersons Green councillor to commit ASB to leave the Conditions could include not response to those complaints, “In addition, we have Colin Hunt told the meeting: area. If they return within a visiting an area unless officers have met with the enlisted the assistance of a “These stupid little vandals specific time period, they're accompanied by an adult. police and a number of project called StreetGames are destroying our committing an offence. Refusal to sign or breaching a residents and have taken a which offers young people an neighbourhood. It's about “The neighbourhood team is contract can be used as series of actions aimed at opportunity to become time we have stronger laws to also working with local evidence for further reducing the level of involved in positive make the parents pay. Fine secondary schools to raise sanctions.” incidents and dealing with activities.” the parents.” awareness of the issues, and A council spokesperson said This week a police the potential consequences, its ASB team had recently among pupils. The team is been made aware of also working closely with increasing incidents in the In this South Gloucestershire Emersons Green area through Council's ASB team reports from residents and week’s Resound's youth outreach through partnership working worker. with the police. Issue “Four young people have “These incidents were More reaction to been identified and have or mainly, but not solely, located Keynsham one-way are due to sign Anti-Social around the retail centre, trial . page 5 Huge response to Kingswood development plan . page 9 Commons committee slams rail delays . page 16 Bromley Heath viaduct - information days announced . page 23 in The Week • Wednesday 8th March 2017 3 Keynsham Warmley New state-of-the-art brew One-way trial can reversed easily if it doesn't work The forthcoming one-way There has been a lot of system trial could still be reaction to the proposal with Sthouse Austell Brewery, forwhich bought Bath Bath Once completeAles the state-of-the-art, four- reversed at short notice if concerns expressed over a Ales last summer, this week announced a vessel brew house will have a total any unintended lack of consultation, possible multi-million-pound investment in a new capacity of up to 50,000 brewers' barrels - consequences emerge with congestion around pedestrian traffic flow once it has crossings and even calls to go brewery at the Warmley headquarters more than 14.5 million pints. New started. the whole way and close the which will double capacity. bottling and canning facilities form part of Work began last week to High Street completely. Work on the newly titled 'Hare Brewery' future expansion plans. create new bus bays on Last week, we reported on will get under way in September. Musk Engineering Ltd has been selected Ashton Way ahead of the fears from Bath Bus The plans include a lauter tun, which will to build the new brewery. scheme which will see Bath- Company over the future give Bath Ales the capability to brew A new general manager, Tim McCord, has bound traffic only travelling operation of its airport shuttle traditional Continental style lagers also been appointed. along the High Street with through the town. Now First's alongside its range of premium ales. Ashton Way remaining open managing director James in both directions. Freeman has added his own All vehicles will have to turn concerns, telling us: “From a THE WEEK IN left and down Bath Hill bus operator's point of view, except buses, taxis and the new one-way system in Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, bicycles which can carry Keynsham does not offer an Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, straight across into Temple improvement for people who Corston, Downend, Emersons Street. All traffic heading use buses. Green, Fishponds, Hanham, towards Bristol will have to “In particular, the bus stops Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, do so via Ashton Way, hence for services towards Bristol Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, the need for a bus bay on the and Kingswood will no Marksbury, North Common, Oldland car park side of the road. longer be in the centre of Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Bicycles will continue to be things, in the High Street, but Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, able to use the High Street. out in the wilds - literally 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. in 4 The Week • Wednesday 8th March 2017 n reversed easily if it doesn't work exposed to the elements. This contribute to either free flow contingency arrangements in is unlikely to drive people on the one hand or road safety place in the event that traffic towards using buses. on the other.” flow does not follow the “In terms of traffic While the one-way trial is forecast pattern. circulation, the vehicle intended to last 12 months to A source told us: “There is no conflicts at the southern end allow for proper evaluation specified time limit placed on of the High Street and the top and feedback, it has been the trial, though an of Bath Hill, I cannot see that confirmed that B&NES experimental Traffic what is planned will Council does have Regulation Order, which this trial is covered by, can run for any period up to 18 months. Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrat candidate for A permanent TRO can be Regional Mayor visiting Ashton Way introduced though prior to the 18 months concluding. taking a decision on a allow this to happen. It would “The view of the council is permanent basis. also require a change to the that the trial should last at “However, if there are any signage and burn off the road least a few weeks to allow it unexpected consequences markings, but this would be to 'bed down' and to observe that emerge from the trial easy to arrange. any change of driver then it would be possible to “The trial will be monitored behaviour. The council's view halt the trial and revert to a with spot checks and at least is that ideally it should be two-way system quite rapidly. two formal traffic counts, in allowed to run through both The council very addition to general feedback school holidays and non- intentionally specified bolt- from councillors and the holiday periods prior to down traffic islands etc. to public.” in The Week • Wednesday 8th March 2017 5 in 6 The Week • Wednesday 8th March 2017 First meeting of new West of EnglandThe West of England Combined Combined Authority Authority, which will manage new powers for transport, housing, adult education and skills, met for the first time last Wednesday at the Watershed in Bristol. It agreed the constitution and appointed interim statutory officers. The constitution sets out the governance arrangements and establishes three advisory boards, for skills, infrastructure and business. These will be chaired by the new West of England Mayor when he or she is appointed on 4th May for a four-year From left, Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees, the leader of B&NES term.