Get set for Spring Fun for everyone - North Somerset Council

The monthly magazine for the people of North Somerset Read by 145,000 people every month ISSUE 90 

NORTH SOMERSET 

Get set for Spring 

Fun for everyone 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk

Dear reader, 

It seems to be a good time for travel 

at the moment with two major 

schemes nearing completion and 

providing a much-needed boost for 

travellers in the area. 

On 15 March the Greater Bristol 

Bus Network showcase route was 

launched, which runs between 

Weston-super-Mare and Bristol. £2m 

of improvements have been carried 

out along the route, which now 

provides a new key service for 

commuters and other travellers. This 

is the first of a series of improvements 

to the bus network. 

The re-opening of Portishead rail line 

is a step closer as North Somerset 

Council has secured agreement of its 

rail priorities from colleagues in the 

West of England. The Joint Transport 

Executive Committee agreed for 

the Portishead rail line to be taken 

forward as part of the Greater Bristol 

Metro. 

Phase 1 will now include the reopening 

of Portishead Rail line 

operating half-hourly during peak 

times of the day, running between 

Severn Beach line and Temple 

Meads. Phase 1 also includes the 

new hourly train service from Bath to 

Temple Meads and extending 

through to the Severn Beach line. 

We are currently in discussions with 

the Department for Transport on the 

2 North Somerset Life April 2012 

Welcome 

funding for the scheme but it is 

hoped that trains could be operating 

on the Portishead line as early as 

2017. 

Funding 

In other news, last month saw the 

fantastic award of £1m funding for 

communities in the Worle area from 

the Big Local scheme by the Big 

Lottery Fund. 

This funding will enable residents 

in the area to make a positive 

difference to their communities 

by identifying local needs and 

responding to them, making their 

area an even better place to live. 

We are one of only three areas 

in the South West to have been 

awarded this grant. This is great 

news for residents in Worle as this 

will make a significant difference 

to the area. 

I also want to thank residents for their 

continued support in making us one 

of the best unitary authorities in the 

country for recycling. Rates have 

soared since the new service started 

two years ago so thank you for all 

your efforts. 

Happy Easter. 

Councillor Nigel Ashton 

Leader of North Somerset 

Council 

Coming in next 

month’s issue 

■ Flooding – 

How to be more resilient 

■ Area officers – 

Out and about 

■ Olympics 2012 – 

Countdown is on 

Your next issue of Life will be 

delivered from 30 April 

recycle me when 

you’ve read me 

This publication is 

available in large print, 

Braille or audio formats 

on request. Help is also 

available for people who 

require council 

information in languages 

other than English. 

Contact 01275 884 139

Contacts 

Life Editor 

Phone 

01275 884 139 

Post 

Life Editor, North Somerset Council 

Room165, Town Hall 

Weston-super-Mare BS231UJ 

Email 

editor@n-somerset.gov.uk 

North Somerset Council 

Online 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk 

Phone 

Main switchboard: 

01934 888 888 

8am–6pm Mon–Fri 

Council Connect for all streets 

and open spaces enquiries: 

01934 888 802 


Report it. Request it. Pay for it. 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/connect 

carec nnect 

Care Connect for all 

adult social services enquiries: 

01275 888 801 


care.connect@n-somerset.gov.uk 

Emergency (out of hours): 

01934 622 669 

Fax 

01934 418 194 

Post 

North Somerset Council 

Town Hall 

Weston-super-Mare BS231UJ 

DX8411 Weston-super-Mare 

Tourist Information Centre 

Phone 01934 417 117 

Online www.n-somerset.gov.uk/tic 

www.visitsomerset.co.uk 

21512 0212 

Contents Creating youth 

8 

networks 

Regulars 

4 News update 

12 Walk – Hike around 

Burrington Ham 

15 What’s on – 

16 Local events 

17 Playhouse Theatre 

26 

Community 

wards care 

at home 

10 

Apprentices 

boost business 

22 

New Town 

Hall disabled 

facility 

North Somerset Life www.n-somerset.gov.uk 3

News 

For latest updates on North Somerset’s news visit: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news 

Remember 

your recycling 

Residents are being reminded that 

recycling and waste containers 

need to be out by 7am on the day 

of collection to avoid them being 

missed. 

May Gurney, the council’s 

contractor, now sends collection 

crews and vehicles out earlier when 

the roads are quieter – which means 

the first bins and containers are 

picked up at 7am. 

The council has always asked 

people to put out their containers 

at this time but now the earlier 

start means some houses might 

be missed if they don’t follow the 

guidance. 

If you put containers out the night 

before, make sure materials are 

firmly in place to avoid spillages 

or being blown away. 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/ 

recycling 


i 

Send a jubilee 

message to The Queen 

Send The Queen a goodwill 

message for her Diamond Jubilee 

by popping into council offices and 

signing a book from the people of 

North Somerset. 

During April, May and June local 

residents can write a message to Her 

Majesty in two books, which will be 

available to sign at Somerset House 

reception, in Oxford Street, 

Weston-super-Mare, and Castlewood 

reception, in Clevedon. 

At the end of June the messages 

from both books will be collated 

into one edition which will be sent 

to the palace. 

Residents can also send messages 

direct to Her Majesty on the official 

Diamond Jubilee website, at 

www.thediamondjubilee.org 

Community minibuses 

Clapton-in-Gordano, Kingston 

Seymour and some rural villages 

around Weston-super-Mare are set to 

be the first in North Somerset to get 

their own community minibus services. 

Starting this month, community mini - 

buses will provide regular journeys to 

the nearest town centre. 

A flat fare of £2 per single journey 

means the services will be a valuable 

community resource, providing links 

for shopping, visiting friends and 

essential services. 

For more information about community bus timetables visit: 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/communitytransport or call 01934 426 711 

i

NorthSomersetCouncil /NorthSomersetC Curzon’s 

centenary 

p19 

Women urged to join Race for Life 

Women in North Somerset are 

being urged to sign up to this 

year’s Race for Life and help raise 

funds for Cancer Research UK. 

Women and girls of all ages, shapes 

and sizes can join in the fun during the 

5km route along Weston’s beach on 

Sunday 13 May. 

Commuters are being urged to 

travel to work in a more 

sustainable way during a jam-busting 

challenge this month. 

Individuals and companies across the 

South West are taking part in the 

friendly competition to see who has 

the greenest credentials when it 

comes to getting to work. 

The jam busting web-based initiative 

is designed to reduce the number of 

cars on the road and promote car- 

Last year, 1,864 women took part in 

Race for Life in Weston and raised 

£96,477. 

This year organisers hope to see 

2,100 women and girls put their best 

foot forward and help raise £108,000 

for vital research. 

To enter the event visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0871 641 1111 i 

Take the commuter challenge 

sharing, walking, cycling, taking 

public transport, or a combination of 

these. 

If motorists left their cars at home for 

one day a week then congestion 

would be reduced by 20 per cent. 

The challenge started on 26 March 

but runs until Friday 27 April. Just 

keep a daily diary of your journey to 

work and register online to earn 

points. Prizes are on offer for those 

who make the switch. 

To join the challenge visit www.travelwest.info i 

Pick up a secondhand 

book at 

giant sale 

Book lovers are in for a treat 

when a giant second-hand book 

sale takes place at the Tyntesfield 

estate in Wraxall this month. 

Volunteers who run the secondhand 

book shop at the National 

Trust property are holding the sale 

on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 

April, from 10am to 5pm. 

Thousands of books will be 

available and every one sold will 

help pay for the ongoing 

conservation work at Tyntesfield. 

Donations 

The sale takes place in the 

courtyard of the Home Farm Visitor 

Centre. Donations of books are 

also welcome so just drop them 

off at the shop on any day. A 

collection may be possible if 

you cannot get there in person. 

Call 01934 843 728 or 01275 

372 940. 

For more information visit 

tyntesfield@nationaltrust.org.uk 

or call 01275 461 900 

North Somerset Life www.n-somerset.gov.uk 5 

i

News 

For latest updates on North Somerset’s news visit: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news 

Search to identify Puxton war hero 

AFirst World War history-enthusiast 

is on a mission to identity the body 

of a young war hero from Puxton who 

was killed in action in France. 

Lance Corporal William Palmer grew 

up in the village but moved to Australia 

and was fighting for the Australian 

Army when he was killed at the age of 

22 on 19 July 1916. 

This attack near Fromelles saw more 

than 5,500 Australians losing their 

lives in 24 hours of fighting, and their 

bodies were put in mass graves by the 

Germans. 

Now, the remains of 250 British and 

Australian soliders have been 

Basic Computer/ 

Internet Courses 

North Somerset Training, a local not-for-profit organisation, 

is offering five-week courses at affordable prices. 

● Venue: Campus Library 

starting Wed18 April 

from 9.30am to 11.30am 

● Venue: Campus Library 


from 11.30am to 1.30pm 

● Venue: Clevedon School 


from 7pm to 9pm 

● Venue: Weston Central 

starting Fri 5 May 

from noon to 2pm 

● Venue starting soon: Nailsea 

Numbers are limited, 

call early to reserve your place. 

For more information call us on 01934 44 00 21 

or email info@northsomerset-training.org 

www.northsomerset-training.org 


A D V E R T I S E M E N T 

excavated and are currently being 

identified through DNA so they can 

have a full reburial with military 

honours at a new cemetery near 

Fromelles. 

Dundry resident John Battersby took up 

the challenge of trying to find any 

living relatives of William Palmer after 

spotting a plaque dedicated to him in 

Puxton church. 

John said: “William Palmer may not be 

one of these 250 bodies, but it would 

be wonderful if any relatives 

could be found. The DNA can 

only be identified through 

the female line, though.” 

Lane Corporal Palmer was the eldest 

son of Edward Colston and Mary 

Palmer. His sister, Effentine Kate, 

married a haulier of West Town, 

Backwell, in 1926. 

If anyone can help with the 

mystery, call John on 

0117 964 0951 

Check your blood pressure 

Shoppers in Nailsea can get their blood pressure 

checked during a testing session in the town this month. 

Nailsea and Backwell Rotary Club, working with the Stroke 

Association, is hosting a free blood pressure check at 

Tower House Medical Centre from 9am to 1pm on 

Saturday 14 April. 

Tests take a few minutes and are carried out by qualified 

health professionals. 

Every year some 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke 

and it is the third most common cause of death. 

i

NorthSomersetCouncil /NorthSomersetC Recycling 

in schools 

p28 

Energy show in Portishead 

Energy-saving ideas for homeowners, 

tenants and businesses will be on 

offer at a special show in Portishead 

this month. 

Community co-operative Low Carbon 

Gordano is hosting the Gordano 

Community Energy Show, which runs 

Try croquet for free 

Try your hand with a mallet and 

have a go at croquet during a free 

day in Nailsea this month. 

Nailsea and District Croquet Club is 

holding its annual open day from 

10am to 5pm on Saturday 21 April. 

All ages are welcome and all 

equipment is provided, just wear flatsoled 

shoes. The club is behind 

Avening Close, off Trendlewood 

Way, in Nailsea. 

www.nailsea-croquet.org.uk 

from 10am to 1pm on Saturday 21 

April at Somerset Hall. 

Visit the stalls and trade stands to find 

out a host of information about ways to 

save energy and money, such as solar 

power, wind energy and biomass. 

The Energy Advice Service for You will 

also be launched on the day, showing 

how a thermal imaging camera can 

detect heat loss from buildings. 

Jon Gething, of Low Carbon Gordano, 

said: “The show will give everyone a 

chance to find out how we, as a 

community, can take control of our 

energy use and safeguard ourselves 

against future energy shocks.” 

For more information call 

01275 848 025 

i 

Charity 

golf day 

Play a round of golf and raise 

funds for charity during a special 

event next month. 

The Royal British Legion is hosting a 

charity golf day at Worlebury Golf 

Club, in Weston-super-Mare, on 

Friday 4 May. 

Entry fee is £150 per team of four, 

including 18 holes and a two-course 

buffet. 

For an entry form call Worlebury 

Golf Club on 01934 623 932 or 

Sue Potepa, from the Royal British 

Legion, on 01278 446 711 

Community 

bookshop extends 

opening hours 

C levedon’s 

new community 

bookshop is proving a huge 

success so opening hours will be 

extended during the spring and 

summer. 

The not-for-profit shop, in Copse 

Road, houses up to 11,000 books 

and it will be open from 10am to 

5pm from 6 April to give more 

people the chance to browse. 

The bookshop is registered as a 

community co-operative so it is 

owned and run by volunteers from 

the community. 

At the end of last year the shares 

scheme raised £20,000 to provide 

working capital for the first year of 

trading and beyond. 


i

Young people have their say 

on positive activities 

Activities for young 

people in North Somerset 

are set to become more 

targeted thanks to a 

series of networks being 

established across the 

district. 

Meeting twice weekly in: 

● Clevedon 

● Nailsea 

● Portishead 

● Weston-super-Mare 

● Worle 

● Yatton 

Providing structured activities for 

young people aged 12 to 18. 


North Somerset Council has set 

aside £250,000 to fund 11 

commissioning networks in local 

communities which will deliver tailored 

activities for children and young 

people in their area – whether arts, 

sports, creativity, play, leisure or 

community-based projects. 

Town and parish councils, schools, 

children’s centres, the police, voluntary 

organisations and individuals are all 

being urged to get involved and join a 

network. 

By working together, the networks 

can identify what local children and 

young people need, develop a plan, 

and then commission activities. 

Young people themselves are also 

having their say on what they want 

and last month North Somerset Youth 

Parliament ran an online survey. 

Youth Parliament deputy member 

Benedikta Fones, from Clevedon 

School, said: “We aim to provide the 

young people of North Somerset with 

We are looking for ADULT volunteers, 

minimum 20 years of age – training provided. 

Enhanced level CRB check will be carried out on all volunteers.

Benedikta Fones, deputy member of 

North Somerset Youth Parliament 

a voice and enable them to have a say 

in the way their area is run. 

“We’ve been working with local young 

people in the hope that more will feel 

confident in putting forward their views 

and take an interest in politics and 

current issues which affect them. 

“At the moment our focus is promoting 

positive activities for young people and 

the survey aimed to find out which 

facilities and activities they would like 

most and when, where and how they 

could be delivered.” 

The survey asked young people what 

they have done in their spare time 

during the last six months and what 

activities they’d be interested in doing 

in the future. 

The survey closed on 1 April but later 

this month a Question Time event will 

be held so young people can debate 

with decision-makers directly. 

At the time of Life going to press the 

panel was still being decided but it is 

hoped to include representatives from 

the police, council and a local MP. 

The event runs from 6 to 8pm on 

Monday 23 April, in the main hall at 

Gordano School, in Portishead. 

Youth Parliament member Peter Davies 

said: “The event is free, but people will 

need a ticket. We will be handing out 

tickets at local schools and everyone of 

all ages is welcome to come along.” 

North Somerset Youth Parliament 

is also looking to recruit new 

members. Any young person aged 

11–18 at a secondary school or 

college in North Somerset can get 

involved. 

To have your say about positive 

activities for young people, to 

find out more about the Youth 

Parliament or if you’re interested 

in attending the Question Time 

event, email: 

positive.activities@n-somerset.gov.uk 


Apprentices 

boost business 

Deciding which way to 

turn after school or 

college has never been 

easy but in this economic 

slowdown, the choices 

seem even harder. 

Unemployment in the UK is at the 

highest level for 16 years and, 

worryingly, the number of young 

people aged 16 to 24 without a job 

stands at more than a million. 

University tuition fees are also on the 

rise and from this September a new 


finance scheme comes into force which 

means students will be paying up to 

£9,000 a year. 

Apprenticeships could prove to be the 

perfect alternative though – giving 

young people on-the-job training as 

well as the opportunity to study for 

nationally recognised qualifications. 

North Somerset Council, with its 

partners Agilisys, Liberata and Weston 

College, held an event earlier this year 

to show local businesses the benefits 

that apprentices could bring to their 

organisation. 

Skills 

Dr John Chudley, director of the 

National Apprenticeship Service in 

the south, said: “Our vision is that 

all employers will choose the 

apprenticeship programme as the way 

of getting the skills needed for their 

businesses. 

“They provide businesses with a 

significant return on investment 

by increasing productivity 

and introducing fresh new 

talent and innovation. 

“Apprenticeships are a 

gold standard route, 

alongside the more 

traditional academic 

route, and are a fantastic 

stepping stone for 

individuals to build 

successful careers.” 

North Somerset Council now 

employs 20 apprentices a 

year. 

Employment isn’t guaranteed at the 

end but a sucession planning scheme 

for finding jobs has proved extremely 

successful in the last year. 

Opportunity 

Graham Turner, chief executive officer 

at the council, said: “We are proud 

to offer apprentices the opportunity 

to work in our organisation and 

appreciate the energy and profession - 

alism that they show – they are a credit 

to the council. The scheme is good for 

young people, good for the council 

and good for the community.” 

North Somerset Council, Agilisys and 

Liberata work closely with Weston 

College’s Business Enterprise Centre. 

This centre offers free support and 

information on training and funding 

for businesses who are thinking of 

recruiting apprentices. 

Apprenticeships are cost-effective for 

businesses because most training takes 

place in the workplace. Flexible start 

dates also mean they can begin at 

any time. 


Weston College Business 

Enterprise Centre: 01934 411 594 

Business.enterprise.centre 

@weston.ac.uk 

For more information about the 

council’s apprenticeship scheme 

call: Jill Cowles: 01275 884 270 

jill.cowles@n-somerset.gov.uk 

To search the latest apprenticeship 

vacancies visit: 

www.apprenticeships.org.uk 

i

Jo Kidner 

Post-GCSE uncertainty is turning into an awardwinning 

career in finance for one former apprentice. 

Jo Kidner, now aged 20, wasn’t sure which way to turn when 

she left school at 16 but a two-year apprenticeship in business 

administration at Weston College set her on the right path. 

In 2009 she received Weston College’s Principal’s Award for 

Outstanding Achievement While Training in Employment, and 

was also named Weston College Work-Based Apprentice of 

the Year 2008/09. 

She then joined North Somerset Council on an 

advanced apprenticeship in accountancy and 

when she finishes this year will be accredited 

with a level four Association of Accounting 

Technicians qualification. 

Jo, who is now a finance monitoring officer 

at the council, said: “The apprenticeship 

gave me fantastic opportunities to 

challenge myself and gain valuable 

experience which can be used across a 

range of jobs.” 

Bobby Turner 

Former Worle Community School pupil Bobby Turner is 

quickly climbing the career ladder – and it all started with 

an apprenticeship at North Somerset Council. 

The 21-year-old planned to study law at university but, despite 

receiving numerous unconditional offers, was put off by the high cost. 

Instead he joined the council as an apprentice in the audit, risk and 

information team and was praised by managers for being 

extremely capable and enthusiastic. 

Bobby said: “Although my life is heading in a different 

direction from the one I always believed it would take, 

I have definitely made the right choice.” 

He is now working for the council’s partner Agilisys in their 

procurement team and has set his sights on a career in 

corporate law. He is in the second year of an Open 

University degree and is also studying for the Chartered 

Institute of Purchasing and Supply professional 

qualifications. 

He said: “I’m working towards a nationally recognised 

work-based qualification, gaining invaluable experience 

and at the same time studying for a degree while 

avoiding large debts. What could be better?” 


Hike around 

Burrington Ham 

Pack a picnic and enjoy wide-ranging views across the 

Mendips during this circular walk on Burrington Ham. 

The gravel car park is signposted 

Burrington Ham, which is part of 

the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding 

Beauty, a Site of Special Scientific 

Interest and open access for walkers. 

Take the rocky bridleway to the left of 

the car park and follow it up to the 

How to get there 

Start at map ref: ST 489582 

(OS 141) 

Car: Take the A368 from Churchill, 

heading towards Blagdon. Just after 

Langford Green, turn right onto the 

B3134. Go past the first car park 

(where there are public toilets), 

through the quarry, and follow the 

road up and round. The car park 

will be on your left-hand side. 


open area, veering 

left over the brow 

of the hill. 

At the top you 

will come to a 

crossroads in the 

grassy paths. Take 

the left-hand route, 

signposted as the 

footpath (the other 

routes are signposted as bridleways). 

Continue ahead on this wide grassy 

path, with views of the Mendips all 

around. It can get muddy, so wear 

suitable footwear. 

Continue on this main path and it will 

narrow and start veering downhill 

slightly, and winding towards a rocky 

outcrop. 

Climb up onto the rock for wonderful 

360º views, with Blagdon 

Lake in the distance. 

It’s the perfect spot 

for a picnic on a 

sunny day. 

From the rock, 

continue on the 

main path in the 

direction you were 

heading (veering 

right), but then take the first left-hand 

path – a narrow path through some 

trees. 

This leads to another open area, with 

another fork in the road. Take the righthand 

route, heading towards the silver 

birch trees. 

This path leads into 

another, so take the righthand 

route and follow this 

down through the avenue 

of trees.

At the bottom you will come to another 

t-junction. Take the left-hand route, 

which becomes a rocky track veering 

downhill. 

At the end of this path is a wooden 

gate. Go through here and turn right 

onto Ham Lane. 

At the end of the lane you’ll come to a 

t-junction with Rickford 

Rise. Turn right, past 

the barn, and 

then follow the 

lane around to 

the left, past 

the farm shed 

and then 

veering uphill. 

Keep on this main track, following the 

yellow way-markers, heading uphill 

steeply. Beautiful views can be seen on 

your left after the cattle grid. 

The track leads to a house. Here, you 

can extend the walk and continue onto 

Blagdon but if you go straight ahead 

past the barn 

and farm 

buildings you 

will start to head 

back towards the 

car park. 

Go over the stile 

into the field and 

head towards 

the top-left hand 

corner, going 

through a row of trees. There will be a 

stile in the fence ahead of you. Go 

over this and keep going straight 

ahead, keeping to the left-hand edge 

of the field. 

At the top of this field, turn right and 

head to the next corner, towards 

a kissing gate. 

Turn left after the kissing 

gate, following the sign for 

the Limestone 

Link, and follow 

this track back 

down through the trees to the car park. 

Walk information 

Distance: approx 3 miles 

Difficulty: medium, depending on 

fitness levels. Two stiles. Some hilly 

paths. Wellies recommended 

Duration: approx 1hr 

Map: OS Explorer 141 

Start and 

finish 

© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100023397 

You are not permitted to copy, sub-license, distribute or sell this data to third parties in any form. 


Get your free NHS health check 

Help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes or kidney disease by taking 

advantage of a free NHS health check at your local GP surgery. 

People aged 40 to 74 can receive 

the free check to get a picture of 

their current state of health and any 

recommendations for the future. 

Detecting risk factors as early as 

possible could help save lives and 

by making small changes now, 

problems are less likely to develop 

later on. 

Results are available immediately 

and patients will have time to ask 

any related questions or raise 

concerns in a relaxed and friendly 

atmosphere. 

Health checks can give people 

reassurance and ensure they are 

as well as they can be – and how 

to keep it that way. 

Chris, from Worle, took advantage 

of the free NHS health check. 

He said: “I’m so glad I went. It was 

just a few days after my 50th 

birthday so I thought it was a good 

time – a bit like having an MOT. 

“It wasn’t embarrassing and the 

blood sample was taken using a tiny 

pinprick in my finger. The nurse was 

great and really put me at ease. I 

knew I was a bit overweight and my 

blood pressure and cholesterol were 

both slightly high, too. 

“Since then I’ve changed my eating 

habits and am a bit more active. It 

has made a huge difference – 

The Public 

Health Team 

For more information visit: www.nhs.uk/nhshealthcheck 


my blood pressure has come down, 

cholesterol levels are lower and 

I’ve lost weight. It was just 

the wake up call 

I needed.” 

Am I eligible? 

Anyone aged 40 to 74 

who doesn’t already 

have heart disease, 

diabetes or 

advanced kidney 

disease is probably 

eligible. 

People will usually be 

invited for a health 

check every five 

years between 

those years. 

What happens at the 

NHS health check? 

The health check assesses your risk of developing heart 

disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and stroke. 

✔ it takes about 20 – 30 minutes 

✔ simple questions will be asked, such as family history 

and any medication you are currently taking 

✔ your height, weight, age, sex and ethnicity will be 

recorded 

✔ blood pressure will be tested and a simple blood test 

to check cholesterol levels

What’s on 

Getting in gear for April 

Car fanatics are in for a treat this month with a host of motoring 

events taking place in Weston-super-Mare. 

Whether you have a need for speed or admire vintage vehicles, 

there is something to tantalise every tastebud… 

Weston Sandocross 

Motor racing enthusiasts can see 

Sandocross competitors racing across 

the unforgiving wet sand of Weston’s 

beach. 

Competitors will be testing their skills 

during the first round of the Southern 

Counties Autocross Championships, 

which runs from 9am to 3pm on 

Sunday 15 April. 

Sandocross is a variation of standard 

autocross and the event, organised by 

Weston-super-Mare Motor Club, is the 

only race of its kind currently running 

in the UK. 

April – 

May 2012 

Four cars race at a time on the 1,200 

yard oval course at the southern end 

of the beach. Spectators can watch for 

free, as long as they abide by safety 

instructions. 

For more information call Tim Walton: 

07717 510 350 

Vintage vehicles 

Admire vintage vehicles while raising 

money for charity during a classic car 

run. 

More than 150 vehicles can be seen 

during the Brimar Fundraising Classic 

and Vintage Car Run and Display, in 

Inside 

Events across the area 16 

The Playhouse Theatre 17 

aid of Children’s Hospice South West, 

on Sunday 22 April. 

Classic cars, which date from the 

1920s, will assemble at Sanders 

Garden World on the A38 at 10am 

before setting off on the scenic run at 

11.45am. 

The cars will then be displayed on 

Beach Lawns, in Weston-super-Mare, 

from12.30pm to 4pm. 

Entry is free but people are invited to 

make a donation to the charity. 

For more information call Brian 

and Mary Curtis: 01458 443 855 

www.brimarfundraising.co.uk 

Rally for 

Heroes 

Meet drivers who will be rallying 

across Europe this summer and hoping 

to raise £100,000 for the Royal British 

Legion and Help for Heroes charities. 

A classic car run will be held on 

Sunday 6 May to raise awareness of 

the Rally for Heroes event which takes 

place in August and covers five 

countries. 

Support the fundraiser, meet drivers 

who are taking part and see the cars 

during the promotional rally, which 

runs from the Royal British Legion in 

Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton, to the 

charity’s base in Weston-super-Mare. 

The cars can be seen on the Beach 

Lawns from10am on Sunday 6 May. 


Sue Potepa: 01278 442 068 

www.rallyforheroes.com 

For more information call the events team: 01934 427 249 • EventsTeam@n-somerset.gov.uk i 


EVENTS 

APRIL 

Local events 

Saturday 14 

South West Ship Show 10am-4pm, Parish 

Wharf Leisure Centre, Portishead. £3 adults, £2 

concs, under-12s free. 01275 846 178 

Thursday 19 

Mendip Society – The Stories Behind Inn Signs 

7.30pm, St James Church Hall, Winscombe. 

01934 641 461 

Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 

Backwell Playhouse presents Pity about Kitty 

7.30pm, Mariners Drive, Backwell. 

Play and buffet £12. 01275 462 621 

Friday 20 – Sunday 22 

(Salthouse Fields, Clevedon) 

Monday 23 – Wednesday 25 

(Millenium Park, Nailsea) 

Jay Miller Circus – 25th anniversary show 

07976 655 180 www.jaymillerscircus.co.uk 

Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 

Portishead Players present Dad’s Army 

Somerset Hall, Portishead. Favourite war-time 

songs will be sung at the end. £8 adults, 

£7 children. 01275 848 364 

Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 

Worle Operatic and Dramatics Society – 

Spend, Spend, Spend 7.30pm, 

Blakehay Theatre, Weston-super-Mare. 

£9.50 (£8.50 conc). 01934 645 493 

Saturday 28 

Trinity Singers perform The Glories of Venice 

7.30pm, St Mary the Virgin Church, Yatton. 

Tickets £12 and under. 01934 844 106 

MUSIC 

Every Monday 

Clevedon Choral Society 7.30-9.30pm, 

Kenn Road Methodist Church, Kenn Road, 

Clevedon. 01275 341 235 

Mixed Company Community Choir 

7.30-9.30pm, Golden Valley Primary School, 

Nailsea. £6 per session with free taster. 

01275 888 357 

Every Tuesday 

Waves of Harmony 7.30pm, 

Victoria Methodist Church Hall, Station Road, 

Weston-super-Mare. Women’s 4-part acapella 

group. 07975 727 996 

Nailsea Choral Society 7.30-9.15pm, 

Christ Church, Nailsea. 01275 875 533 

Weston Choral Society 7.30-9.30pm, 

Milton Methodist Church Hall. 01934 813 255 

Congresbury Singers 7.50pm, Old School 

Rooms, Congresbury. 01934 876 104. 

Weston Brass Band 8pm, Church Road 

Methodist Church, Upper Church Road, 

Weston-super-Mare (also rehearse every 

Thursday). 01934 514 960 


Tuesdays (during term time) 

Cadbury Wind Band 7.15-9.15pm, 

Clevedon School. 01275 792 300 

Third Wednesday of month 

Jazz at the Orange Memphis Six (April) and 

Martin Bennett’s Old Green River (May) 

7-10pm, Prince of Orange Inn, Yatton. 

£9 advance, £10 on door. 01934 527 197 

First Thursday of month 

Weston organ and keyboard club 7.30pm, 

Somerset Suite, Weston Football Club. £5 

members, £6 non-members. 01934 812 759 

Muskrats Jazz Band 8.30pm, Clarence House, 

High Street, Portishead. £3. Bar and dancing, 

all welcome. 01275 814 434 

Every Thursday 

Portishead Choral Society 7.30-9.15pm, 

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, West Hill, 

Portishead. 01275 849 278 

Every Friday 

Singing for Pleasure 1.30-3pm, Tickenham 

Village Hall. £3 a session. 01934 512 669 

Lions Brass 4 Youth. County brass band 

6.15-7.45pm. 1st Clevedon Scout Hall. 

07815 733 886 

North Somerset Community Brass Band 

7.30-9.30pm, Puxton and Hewish Village Hall. 

01275 397 582 

Congresbury Brass Band 7.30-9.30pm, 

Memorial Hall, Congresbury. 

01275 849 611 / 07986 007 829 

Nailsea Concert Orchestra 7.30-9.45pm 

(term time), Christ Church, Nailsea. 

www.nailseaconcertorchestra.org.uk 

Clevedon Gilbert and Sullivan Society 

7.30-10pm, Crypt Hall, under St Peter’s Church, 

Alexandra Road. 01934 516 502 

Nailsea Theatre Club 8pm, Nailsea Little 

Theatre, Union Street. 01275 852 275 

DANCE 

Every Sunday 

Social dancing 7.30-10.30pm, 

Hutton Moor Leisure Centre, 

Weston-super-Mare. £4.50. 01934 518 529 

Ballroom and Sequence Dance Club 7.30pm, 

Kewstoke Village Hall. 01934 644 691 

Every Monday 

DB’s Dance Club – line dancing 10-11am, 

Clevedon Community Centre. 01275 854 375 

Easy Strollers line dancing 7-9pm, 

Clevedon Triangle Club, Old Church Road. 

01275 875 235 

Every Tuesday 

Nailsea Sequence Dance Club 1.30-4pm, 

Scotch Horn Leisure Centre. 01275 873 033 

DB’s Dance Club social tea dance 2.30-5pm, 


Avon Dance Club (ballroom and Latin practise 

night) 7.30-10.30pm, Somerset Hall, 

Portishead. 01934 823 128 

Weston Folk Dance Club 8-10pm, 

Corpus Christi Church Hall, Weston-super-Mare. 

01934 514 226 

Backwell Sequence Dance Club 8-10.15pm, 

WI Hall, Station Road, Backwell. 

01275 462 366 

Portishead LeRoc (modern jive) 8-10.30pm, 

Portishead Primary School, Station Road. 

01275 846 247 

Ballroom and sequence 8-11pm, 

Town and Country Lodge, Bridgwater Road. 

0117 9778 200 

Ceroc 8-11pm, Winter Gardens, 

Weston-super-Mare. £7. 07821 071 251 

Second Tuesday of month 

Shake-a-leg Old Folks Social and Tea Dance 

2-4pm, Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, Milton, 

Weston-super-Mare. £1.50. 

01934 625 324 / 620 391 

Every Wednesday 

East Strollers line dancing 9.15-10.45am and 

7.30-9pm, 1st Clevedon Scout Hall, Great 

Western Road. 01275 875 235 

DB’s Dance Club line dancing 10.45-11.45am, 


Sequence Tea Dance 2-4pm, Somerset Hall, 

Portishead. 01275 848 059 

Latin and jive for absolute beginners 

7.45-9.30pm, St Peter’s Church Hall, Clevedon. 

£4. 01275 876 314 

Banwell Sequence Dance Club 8-10.30pm, 

Banwell Village Hall. 01275 873 033 

LeRoc Modern Jive for beginners/improvers 

7.45-10.30pm, Old School Rooms, Station 

Road, Congresbury. £5. 07971 966 982 

T&A Burlesque 7-8pm, Clevedon Community 

Centre, Princes Road, Clevedon. 

01934 627 122 or 07732 799 918 

50s and 60s rock ‘n’ roll 8pm-late, 

Now at the Tavern Inn the Town, Regent Street, 

Weston-super-Mare. £2.50 for lesson (8-9pm). 

01934 412 826 

Every Thursday 

East Strollers line dancing 9.15-11.20am, 

1st Clevedon Scout Hall. 01275 875 235 

DB’s Dance Club - line dancing 11am-1pm, 

Folk Hall, Portishead. 01275 854 375 

Yatton Sequence Dance Club 2-4.30pm, 

Claverham Village Hall 01934 832 002 

Long Ashton Sequence Dance Club 

7.45-10.15pm, Village Hall, Keedwell Hill, 

Long Ashton. 01179 851 500 

First Friday 

Social dance 8-11.30pm, Somerset Hall, 

Portishead. £4 inc refreshments. 

01275 847 547 

Second and fourth Fridays 

Streetdance 7-8.30pm, Claverham Village Hall. 

For 8-15-year-olds. 01934 838 017 

Every Friday 

T&A Burlesque, 6-7pm, Victory Hall, Uphill, 

Weston-super-Mare. 01934 627 122 or 

07732 799 918 

Nailsea InterCultural Dancing Association 

8-9.30pm, Nailsea United Reformed Church. 

Free admission. 01934 414 455 

Clevedon Sequence Dance Club 8-10.45pm, 

Walton St Mary’s Church Hall. 

01275 873 314 

Last Friday of month 

Social dance 8-10.30pm, St. James Hall, 

Winscombe. £4. Free raffle. 01934 516 852

The Playhouse, High Street 

Weston-super-Mare BS23 1HP 

April 

Fri 20 April 7.30pm 

SINATRA 

THROUGH 

THE YEARS 

Stephen Triffitt’s story reads like a 

Hollywood film script. It’s about a 

photocopier salesman from Westonsuper-Mare 

who became Sinatra. Having 

performed in the Sands Casino, Atlantic City, 

sold out shows at London’s Palladium and 

toured the USA in the Broadway Across 

America show, Stephen Triffitt and his full 

size big band return to his hometown with 

the definitive tribute to Sinatra – his voice, 

his moves, his style, even his looks. 

Wed 18 April 7.30pm 

HAVE YOU HAD IT 

LONG MADAM? 

A hilarious, and at times irreverent, 

behind-the-scenes look at BBC TV’s 

top-rating Antiques Roadshow 

through the eyes of two of its longestserving 

presenters, internationally 

renowned antiques experts Paul 

Atterbury and Hilary Kay. Featuring 

film clips, outtakes, anecdotes and 

a selection of some of the more 

outrageous gaffs and 

bloopers drawn from a 

thirty year history of 

this hugely popular hit 

series, you can be sure of 

an entertaining evening. 

www.haveyouhaditlongmadam.com 

Box Office: 01934 64 55 44 

www.theplayhouse.co.uk 

Tue 3 April, 8pm 

PAUL MERTON’S 

OUT OF MY HEAD 

A night of hilarious stand-up 

comedy featuring Paul Merton, 

Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch 

and Suki Webster 

Fri 6 April, 11am and 1.30pm 

THE WHEELS ON THE BUS 

Climb aboard the big red bus 

and meet friends in the classic 

sing-a-long show for the whole 

family 

Sat 7 April, 8pm 

ALL THE SINGLE LADIES 

The course of true love never 

did run smooth. Three women, 

three stories, three lives and 

one problem 

Thur 12 – Sat 14 April, 7.30pm 

(Saturday matinee 2.30pm) 

RAGTIME 

Weston Operatic Society 

present the Weston premiere 

of the multi-award-winning 

musical which presents a 

powerful portrait of early 20th 

century American life 

Sat 21 April, 2pm 

CHRIS AND PUI 

ROADSHOW 2012 

The hottest duo from children’s 

TV are back on the road with 

their new stage show 

Sun 22 April, 3pm and 7.45pm 

SOLID SILVER 

60S SHOW 

The hugely popular 60s show 

is back with an all-star line-up, 

including Peter Noone, Chris 

Montez, Brian Hyland, Brian 

Poole and Vanity Fare 

Wed 25 – Sat 28 April, 7.30pm 

(Saturday matinee 2.30pm) 

MURDER MISTAKEN 

Bruce James Productions 

present the tense 

psychological thriller by Janet 

Green, set in 1950s England 


Historic cinema 

celebrates 

centenary 

Step back in time and enjoy some ‘reel’ history this 

month with a trip to Clevedon’s popular Curzon cinema. 

The building first opened in April 

1912 as the Picture House and this 

month, special events and screen ings 

will take place to mark the venue’s 

historic centenary. 

Visitors can go behind-the-scenes, 

watch a classic film, see performers 

in vintage costume and witness the 

unveiling of the new pipe organ during 

the open weekend on Saturday 21 

and Sunday 22 April. 

The Curzon, now a Grade II-listed 

building, became a registered charity 

in 1996 and cinema director Gareth 

Negus, said: “Although we are proud 

of our status as a heritage cinema, the 

Curzon has never rested on its laurels. 

It has always developed and moved 

on. The original Picture House was 

enlarged within a year of its 

construction.” 

The mini-cinema exhibition 

The Curzon has provided live music 

before some screenings for many years 

with its Compton electric organ but 

now a full theatre pipe organ is being 

installed. 

The four tonne Christie organ was 

originally installed in the Regent 

Cinema in Poole in 1931 and was 

donated to the Curzon on condition 

that it was restored and cared for. 

The keyboards will be placed at the 

front of the auditorium and the 723 

pipes will go behind the screen. 

It also has real percussion instruments 

operated by air pressure, including 

xylophone, glockenspiel, chimes, 

vibraphone, drums, cymbals, 

tambourine, and castanets. 

Special effects can also be made to 

accompany silent films, such as bird 

song, a train whistle, 

telephone ring, fire 

alarm, car horn and 

aeroplane. 

Organ concerts will 

now be added to the 

Curzon programme 

and these kick off 

with a concert by 

Byron Jones on 

Sunday 22 April. 

Tickets cost £10. 

The cinema’s very 

first screening was a 

Christie pipes 

The cinema in the 1920s 

benefit film to raise money for survivors 

and relatives of those killed on the 

Titantic, so the open weekend will 

finish with the digital re-release of the 

1959 drama about the disaster, A 

Night to Remember. 

For more information call the 

box office: 01275 871 000 

(open from 6pm until the evening film 

starts, and noon-2pm on weekends 

and school holidays) 

www.curzon.org.uk 


i

Homeless dogs need new lease of life 

Abandoned dogs which have been picked up from North 

Somerset’s streets now need loving new homes. 

Every day a lost or abandoned dog 

is picked up by the council and 

taken to White House Kennels. 

An appeal has now been launched 

to help get these dogs rehomed – 

and the wide variety of breeds 

available could suit everyone. 

In recent years Staffordshire Bull 

Terriers and Staffie-crosses have 

The popular pool opens on Saturday 

21 April with special attractions for 

swimmers and spectators – and the 

celebrations will continue throughout 

2012. 

These include a mini-Olympics for local 

schools in July and a ‘60s-themed party 

later in the year. 

The pool is run by volunteers from 

Portishead Pool Community Trust and 

since taking charge three years ago 

they have repaired the toddlers’ pool 

and installed a biomass system to keep 

the water at a consistent 27°C. 

The 33m pool has a cheerful and 

cheap tuckshop, as well as a poolside 

café for an after-swim meal. 


become very fashionable pets but overbreeding 

has meant that many are 

abandoned. 

Staffies have gained a bad reputation 

and are seen as ‘status dogs’ but they 

can make loving and loyal family pets 

with the right care and handling. 

Environmental protection officer Dee 

Mawn said: “These power-house dogs 

Stepped terraces boast a fantastic view 

and are ideal for sunbathing and 

picnicking on sunny days. 

Opening times 

Normal weekday: 1–7pm 

Weekend: 8.30am–7pm 

School holidays: 8.30am–7pm daily. 

01275 843 454 

www.portisheadopenairpool.org.uk 

www.facebook.com/PortisheadOpen 

AirPool 

are intelligent, fun-loving and full of 

energy, so they are ideal to encourage 

exercise for any of you looking for a 

health boost! 

“But owners do need to be strong 

enough to control them on a lead, as 

some can become enthusiastic when in 

the company of other dogs.” 

For more information about dogs 

currently available call White House 

Kennels: 01934 750 352 


giveadogahome 

Portishead Open Air Pool hits 50! 

Portishead open air pool will be celebrating its 50th birthday when 

it opens for the summer season this month. 

Swimming, sports, activities and clubs 

are available at leisure centres 

throughout North Somerset. 

Visit 

● Backwell Leisure Centre 

● The Campus,Weston-super-Mare 

● Churchill Sports Centre 

● Clevedon School Sports Centre 

● Gordano School Community Sports 

Trust, Portishead 

● Hans Price Sports Centre 

● Hutton Moor Leisure Centre 

● Parish Wharf Leisure Centre, 

Portishead 

● Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, Nailsea 

● Strode Leisure Centre, Clevedon. 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/leisure i 

i

Supporting service personnel 

A pledge to build stronger relationships 

between the military and civilian communities 

in North Somerset has been made. 

North Somerset Council is putting its 

weight behind a national £30m 

campaign to support armed forces 

personnel, veterans and their families. 

In February councillors agreed to 

develop a local Community Covenant 

and invite support from North 

Somerset Partnership, the voluntary 

sector, NHS, private organisations and 

others. 

The covenant will set out the local 

commitment to those who serve or 

have served in the armed forces and 

their families. 

This includes a pledge to continually 

scrutinise all aspects of the council’s 

operations to ensure that members of 

the armed forces, veterans and their 

families are treated correctly and do 

not suffer hardship as a consequence 

of having served. 

The Ministry of Defence has set up 

the £30m fund for projects which 

help members of the armed 

forces and their families with 

issues such as housing and 

jobs. 

In 2010 Weston-super-Mare 

was the first town in the 

South West to adopt the 

Heroes Welcome scheme. 

This enables local businesses 

to display a logo and show 

their support for British armed 

forces personnel by giving them 

an upgrade or discount. 

Businesses which have signed 

up so far include Papas fish 

restaurant, the Royal 

Hotel and Puxton 

Park. 

The scheme is now being extended 

across North Somerset and more 

businesses are being urged to sign up. 

A series of fun events is also being 

planned to mark Armed Forces Day 

in June. 

A weekend of activities takes place in 

Weston-super-Mare on Saturday 23 

and Sunday 24 June and will include 

military vehicles, bands, a flight 

simulator, traders, arena events, cadets 

and much more. A charity dinner will 

also be held on Wednesday 27 June 

at the Royal Hotel. 

Anyone who wants to take part or 

sponsor the event is invited to get in 

touch. 

“Those who serve in the armed 

forces, whether regular or reserve, 

those who have served in the past, 

and their families, should face no 

disadvantage compared to other 

citizens. 

“Special consideration is appropriate 

in some cases, especially for those 

who have given most, such as the 

injured and bereaved.” 

Armed Forces Covenant 

Today and Tomorrow 

For more information or to find 

out how to get involved, call 

Philip Judd on 01934 516 192 or 

07748118 131 

phil@armedforcesdayweston.org.uk 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/armedforces 

www.heroeswelcome.co.uk 


i

New facility to help disabled visitors 

Improved facilities for 

disabled people are being 

installed on the ground floor 

of Weston’s refurbished Town 

Hall ready for the building 

reopening this autumn. 

AChanging Places cubicle is being 

built to give disabled people a 

clean environment with enough space 

and the right equipment for their needs. 

Changing Places is a national 

campaign by the charity Mencap to 

improve public toilets for disabled 

people and the Town Hall facility will 

be the first of its kind in North Somerset. 

It will be a large room with an 

overhead hoist, changing bed and 


shower facility to help disabled people 

enjoy day-to-day activities which ablebodied 

people take for granted. 

Without adequate facilities, carers of 

disabled people have to used cramped 

spaces, limit their outings to a few short 

hours, or not go out at all. 

Making the Town Hall more accessible 

has been key in the refurbishment 

design. 

New ramp 

In addition to the Changing Places 

room, a new ramp and entrance on 

Walliscote Grove Road will make it 

easy for disabled visitors to access 

council services on the ground floor. 

Once inside, all facilities, including the 

relocated Weston Library, will be on a 

single level with plenty of space for 

mobility scooters and wheelchair users 

to move around. 

A Changing Places cubicle 

Mencap is campaigning for Changing 

Places toilets to be installed in all big 

public places, such as shopping 

centres, arts venues, train stations 

and airports, in addition to standard 

disabled toilets. 

It also wants planning guidance and 

regulations to be updated to ensure all 

new buildings include a Changing 

Places toilet. 

In North Somerset, a second Changing 

Places facility is planned for the 

proposed Worle Community Centre 

and the aim is to eventually have a 

network of them across the district. 

For more information about i 

disability access in North Somerset 

call Anthony Rylands, from the 

council’s equality and diversity team: 

01934 634 989 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/equalities 

www.changing-places.org

Car-loving commuters take 

Park and Ride challenge 

Car-loving commuters are being urged to look at alternative ways they 

could make their journeys to help save money and the environment. 

North Somerset Council has received 

government funding to boost 

smarter travel options for commuters 

along the Portishead to Bristol and 

Weston-super-Mare to Bristol corridors. 

SUNDAY 

19:00 

I’ve got to work in central Bristol for two 

weeks but I don’t usually do that route from 

Nailsea so need to research where I can park. 

20:00 

The website says it will cost £11.50 to park 

all day in Bristol – if I get a space. I hate 

driving in rush hour. 

20:30 

The Park and Ride from Long Ashton might 

be a good alternative. I’ve never used it 

before but it’s only six miles from my house 

and costs £16 for a ten-journey ticket. 

This means reducing congestion and 

pollution while saving money and 

getting people healthier, whether 

it is cycling, taking the train or 

using the Park and Ride. And it 

all starts with just one journey… 

08:20 

A bus arrives just five minutes later – they go 

every 10 minutes during rush hour. I wasn’t sure 

where to get a ticket but you pay the driver. 

He said I need to get off at the @Bristol 

stop. It’s great whizzing past all the cars 

in the bus lane! 

08:40 

Print off a Park and Ride map at www.travelwest.info 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/smartertravel • Sustainable travel team: 01934 426 962 

The bus stop in Bristol is just five minutes walk from 

where I need to be. It was a hassle-free journey and 

lovely to let someone else do the driving. The stop for 

the return bus is on the other side of the road, and a 

real time information display means I can’t go wrong. 

17:00 

MONDAY 

08:00 

Getting to Long Ashton Park and Ride is very 

straightforward and plenty of spaces mean 

I can park easily. 

The Park and Ride buses are easy to spot and 

the right one arrives almost immediately. I’ll 

definitely use Park and Ride every time I go 

into Bristol – it’s a stress-free, cheaper and 

easy option! 


i

This is the second of a four-year costcutting 

phase which will see the 

council save more than it has ever had 

to in the past. 

During the last financial year – 

2011/12 – the council made savings 

of £17.5m and this year it will make 

an additional £14.4m, with more to 

come in following years. 

This budget is the result of significant 

reductions in funding from central 

government coupled with an increased 

demand on services, particularly those 

for vulnerable adults and children. 

The scale means that by 2015 the 

council will have £1 less for every £3 

it was spending in 2010/11. 

Delivering quality services at an 

affordable cost is still a priority but it is 

inevitable there will be some impact on 

residents, communities, organisations 

and council staff. 

To help keep council tax at an 

affordable level for residents the 

council has frozen its share of the 

charge for the second year running. 

This means that an average band D 

property will still pay £1,146.40 for 

the council’s share. 

However, the final bill you see will 

have a slightly different total due to 


other precepts added on, including 

town and parish councils, Avon Fire 

and Rescue Service, and Avon and 

Somerset Police. 

In the same way that the coouncil has 

accepted central government’s grant 

freeze offer, Avon and Somerset Police 

has also accepted this one-year offer 

and frozen their bill. Avon Fire Service 

decided to decline the freeze grant 

and increase their council tax for the 

year ahead by 3.96 per cent. 

Value for money 

£14.4m funding gap 

met for year ahead 

Savings of £14.4m have been agreed for the year 

ahead by North Somerset Council members. 

How is council tax spent? 

An average Band D property in North 

Somerset will pay about £22 per week 

in council tax (not including the police, 

fire service and parish council share). 

The chart on the next page shows 

what North Somerset Council spends 

on its services, and how much 

residents in an average Band D 

property pay for it, from their £1,146 

council tax charge. 

Finance team: 01934 634 619 • www.n-somerset.gov.uk/savings 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/budget 

i

Value for money 

1. Housing and Adult 

Social Services – 

including residential care, 

community meals, services 

for people with learning 

difficulties, tackling 

homelessness and adult 

education. 

= £60.8m service spend 

= £465 of council tax bill 

2. Development and 

Environment – 

including maintaining 683 

miles of roads, collecting 

household waste, 

recycling, parks, libraries, 

economic development, 

public transport and 

environmental health. 



3. Children and Young 

People – 

including educating 

28,000 pupils, 74 schools 

(including academies), 

pre-school provision, 

children at risk, adoption 

and fostering. 



8. Non-service items – 

included in your council 

tax and provided by 

others, such as flood 

defence, magistrates 

7. Contribution to capital 

and reserves – 

6. Special Expenses, transition 

and contingency – 

courts and drainage = £2.9m service spend = £3.1m service spend 

boards. 


= £22 of council tax bill = £24 of council tax bill 

= £1 of council tax bill Total net spend = £149.7m 

4. Capital financing – 

new buildings and 

refurbishment, such as 

schools and play areas. 



5. Corporate services – 

including registration of 

births, deaths and 

marriages, legal, 

democratic and electoral 

services, council tax 

collection and benefits 

administration. 




Seven community teams have been 

set up in locations across the district 

by North Somerset Community Partner - 

ship working closely with social care 

colleagues to improve the quality of 

care for local residents. 

Each team is linked to a small number 

of GP practices and is staffed by 

community nurses, occupational 

therapists, physiotherapists and 

support workers, with the aim of 

avoiding unnecessary admissions 

to hospital. 


If patients become very unwell they 

may be able to receive specialist care 

by the community team at home and 

become part of a virtual ‘ward’. 

Thelma Howell, associate director 

of operations at North Somerset 

Community Partnership, said: 

“Evidence shows that most patients 

recover from a period of acute illness 

more quickly at home than in hospital 

and are at less risk of infection or falls. 

“It also reduces the pressure of 

travelling to hospital for carers, family 

and friends. 

Members of the Clevedon community team 

Virtual hospital wards 

provide careathome 

Virtual community ‘wards’ are being established across 

North Somerset to provide care for people at home rather than in a hospital bed. 

“The combination of skilled health care 

professionals in each team means that 

patients are visited by the most appro - 

priate health professional, ensuring the 

number of different people coming into 

the home is kept to a minimum.” 

Figures show that since the first three 

community teams and wards were set 

up in Clevedon, Weston-super-Mare, 

and Backwell and Nailsea, there has 

been a 13 per cent drop in emergency 

admissions to hospital. 

Patients with a variety of long-term 

conditions such as respiratory

problems or heart disease, or patients 

who have infections which need 

intravenous antibiotics, can be cared 

for on a community ward. 

Care is available 24-hours-a-day, 365days-a-year, 

just like in a real hospital. 

Each patient has a care plan agreed 

between themselves and their carers 

and, while day-to-day care is managed 

by nurses and therapists from the 

community team, patients remain under 

their own GP. 

Close working relationships with social 

care colleagues are also important. 

Thelma added: “We recognised from 

the start that while we could visit 

patients several times a day, many 

frail or elderly patients would not be 

able to remain safely at home without 

additional services. 

“Therefore, our staff can set up shortterm 

packages of home care for 

people who are admitted to the 

community ‘ward’ and need an 

enhanced level of home support.” 

It is hoped that after two weeks on 

the virtual ward, patients will be well 

enough to return to their general care 

programme but they may still be 

monitored closely to prevent a relapse. 

Patients are also taught to recognise 

symptoms which may indicate their 

condition is worsening, so there should 

be no delays in getting treatment and 

the risk of becoming seriously unwell 

is reduced. 

Where are community 

teams based? 

Seven community teams 

are based across North Somerset. 

To find out which GP practices are 

working with each team, and for 

more information, visit: 


communitywards 

North Somerset Community 

Partnership: 01275 546 800 

www.nscp-communityhealth.co.uk 

i 

Getting help at home 

Mr Jones, from Congresbury, was 

referred to the community team 

when he became extremely unwell, 

was breathless and showed signs of 

infection. 

He suffers from chronic obstructive 

pulmonary disease, a long-term 

condition which means he has periods 

of severe infection and frequent 

admissions to hospital. 

In January he was admitted to the 

community ‘ward’ instead of hospital 

and a thorough assessment was made 

to see what his medical and social 

needs were and how to treat them. 

During the acute phase of his illness he 

received daily visits from a member of 

the team and was also prescribed a 

new type of inhaler. 

For his personal care, an emergency 

home support package was arranged 

and then his long-term support was 

assessed by a social worker. 

Mr Jones said: “The support now in 

place is proving very helpful and I’m 

relieved to say that I feel less anxious 

about managing my condition knowing 

there is help available in my own 

home should I need it.” 

Once the period of severe illness was 

over, Mr Jones was discharged from 

the community ‘ward.’ It was agreed 

he could benefit from a specialist 

pulmonary rehabilitation programme 

so he was referred to start one a few 

weeks after his discharge. 


Pupils 

go green! 

Thousands of pupils across North Somerset are going green 

and learning how to protect the planet for future generations. 

Environmental organisation Waste 

Watch has worked in the 

district’s 

schools 

since 2009 

to deliver 

the ‘reduce, 

reuse, 

recycle’ 

message on 

behalf of the 

council. 

Pupils at Northleaze Primary School in Long Ashton 

meet recycling crews. 


More than 15,000 students have taken 

part in free and fun curriculum-linked 

workshops and assemblies during 

that time. 

Recycling education officer Sophie 

Clarke said: “I run projects such 

as themed Green Britain Days, 

Eco Schools events, 

competitions, recycled papermaking 

sessions, waste audits 

and recycled crafts.” 

More than 400 staff have also under - 

taken training workshops to learn how 

to continue the work in future. 

Sophie said: “The project is in its final 

year now so I’m supporting schools to 

independently run their own ecoeducation 

projects in future.” 

Ground-breaking evaluation 

Children and young people are 

proving to be the driving force for 

recycling at school and in the home.

A monitoring and evaluation 

programme is running alongside the 

project to assess the impact of the 

schools’ recycling education project 

and the results so far show: 

✔ Significant increases in Key Stage 1 

and 2 pupils’ knowledge of the 

different recycling containers and 

services 

✔ Increased knowledge about local 

recycling systems in households 

where pupils had taken part in 

workshops 

✔ Pupils, teachers and staff are more 

aware of the benifits of recycling. 

Partnership work 

During the past two years Sophie has 

led a programme of outreach activities 

with young people, including a 

partnership with the council’s recycling 

and waste contractor, May Gurney. 

In August children visited the For All 

Healthy Living Centre, in Weston-super- 

Mare, to make their own recycled 

paper and reused origami. 

Andy Paterson and Gary Page, from 

May Gurney, met youngsters and 

showed them how the recycling 

vehicles work. 

The plastic bottle greenhouse at Sandford Primary School 

Flagship school at Sandford 

Pupils at a rural primary school in 

North Somerset are enjoying a range 

of hands-on activities as part of its 

flagship status in the recycling 

programme. 

Recycling education officer Sophie 

Clarke has worked closely with pupils 

and staff at Sandford Primary School 

to identify eco topics for improvement 

in the school. This included an 

assembly about litter and a community 

litter pick of the school grounds. 

Sophie also helped create a 

greenhouse made from 1,200 reused 

plastic bottles, with George Aykroyd 

from Living from the Land and support 

from May Gurney and Thatchers Cider. 

Sophie said: “Parents and pupils from 

the school all got involved to put old 

plastic bottles to good use. The 

greenhouse will be used to grow 

lettuce and other food items as part of 

the Food for Life growing programme.” 

Schools now recycling more 

Schools across North Somerset have 

signed up to a new cost-effective 

service which enables them to recycle 

more than ever before. 

Sandford Primary School pupils 

get involved in the Big Tidy Up 

litter campaign 

Since it launched in September, 44 

schools and children’s centres in the 

district have joined the scheme to 

receive collections of paper, 

cardboard, plastic bottles, food and 

drink cartons, glass bottles, jars, and 

drinks cans. 

Previously, schools had to arrange and 

pay for their recycling and waste 

collection directly with commercial 

businesses but now the council, 

through its contractors 

May Gurney, is providing 

this new recycling service 

to all schools. 

The service is now being 

extended to other council 

facilities, such as 

libraries and children’s 

centres, and town 

councils. 

Collections are 

flexible 

and tailored to each 

establishment. Prices 

start from £3.50 per collection. 

For more information about 

recycling in schools call 

Council Connect: 01934 888 802 

streetsandopenspaces@ 

n-somerset.gov.uk 

For more information about the 

school education project, call 

Sophie Clarke: 07581 625 747 

sophie.clarke@n-somerset.gov.uk 


i

Name calling, bullying, harassment and physical abuse 

can have devastating consequences on the victim. 

If the harassment is because you are 

disabled, have a different colour skin 

or sexual orientation, then this is hate 

crime which must be stamped out. 

Hate crime is defined when someone 

feels picked on, harassed and intimi - 

dated by another person because of 

something which is different about them. 

It can take a variety of forms – from 

physical or verbal abuse to vandalism 

or cyber-bullying – and it is motivated 

by prejudices against your race, dis - 

ability, sexual orientation or religion. 

North Somerset’s dedicated hate crime 

officer, PC Marvin Medley said: “We 

work hard to prevent hate crime and 

bring offenders to justice. 

Abuse 

“For example, in January a member 

of staff at a take-away in Weston-super- 

Mare was the victim of racially 

motivated verbal abuse. 

“Police arrested the offender and took 

him through the courts. He received a 

community order, must attend regular 

appointments with the probation 

service, and pay £85 in court costs. 

“Many hate crimes go unreported but 

I would like to urge anyone who has 

been, or knows, a victim to come 

forward. 

“Even if an incident occurs but no 

criminal offence was committed, we 

still want to know about it because 

these incidents can quickly escalate. 


“It is not something you have 

to put up with and we take 

these types of incidents 

very seriously.” 

Last year the Community 

Team for People with 

Learning Disabilities 

also led a joint venture 

with North Somerset 

Council, NHS North 

Somerset, Avon and 

Somerset Police, 

and a variety of 

local organisations 

to help stamp 

out hate crime. 

Anyone with concerns about 

hate crime can call the police nonemergency 

telephone number: 101 

www.avonandsomerset.police.uk 

Hate incident reports can also be 

made by calling the equality and 

diversity team on 01275 888 561 

For a copy of the accessible report 

form, contact the Community Team 

for People with Learning Disabilities: 

01934 427 600 

www.LD4U.org.uk 

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/equalities 

Putting a stop to hate crime 

i

Letters to 

the Editor 

Send your letters to 

Editor, North Somerset Life, 

North Somerset Council, 

Room 165, Town Hall, 

Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1UJ or 

email editor@n-somerset.gov.uk 

Letters submitted without a valid 

name and address will not be 

considered for publication. Please 

tell us if you do not want your 

details published. Due to space 

restrictions letters may be edited. 

Tide Facts 

Approximate high 

water times at: 

Clevedon: 10 min 

Portishead: 18 min 

later than 

Weston-super-Mare. 

Weather conditions 

which differ from the 

average will have an 

effect on the differences 

between predicted and 

actual tide times. 

Strong winds can hold 

the tide in or push the 

tide out. Air pressure 

can also cause 

fluctuations in predicted 

levels. 

Tidal predictions for 

Weston-super-Mare 

have been computed 

by the Proudman 

Oceanographic 

Laboratory. 

Copyright reserved. 

Dear Editor, 

It was interesting to read about ways 

to keep warm [in Feb’s issue]. 

However, I suggest some alternative 

ways of keeping warm and saving 

money: 

• Buy two pairs of warm socks and 

two warm vests – look for ‘wool’ 

not cotton. 

• Never let body heat escape at your 

extremities – top of head, fingers, 

neck, feet, so consider wearing a 

scarf or woolly hat indoors. 

• Put an extra blanket on your bed. 

Hugh Gregor, Winford 

Date High water Low water High water Low water 

Time Height (M) Time Height (M) Time Height (M) Time Height (M) 

am April 2012 pm 

1 Sun 01:20 8.61 07:23 3.09 14:22 8.41 20:21 3.19 

2 Mon 03:06 8.86 09:27 2.93 15:59 9.13 22:06 2.63 

3 Tue 04:28 9.80 10:38 2.19 17:06 10.22 23:05 1.89 

4 Wed 05:29 10.86 11:33 1.57 18:01 11.22 – 

5 Thur 06:21 11.72 00:01 1.32 18:49 11.98 12:29 1.09 

6 Fri 07:08 12.33 00:51 0.84 19:34 12.49 13:16 0.70 

7 Sat 07:52 12.72 01:36 0.48 20:16 12.80 13:59 0.43 

8 Sun 08:35 12.92 02:18 0.26 20:58 12.89 14:40 0.35 

9 Mon 09:17 12.83 02:58 0.25 21:40 12.66 15:19 0.49 

10 Tue 10:01 12.40 03:38 0.46 22:23 12.09 15:56 0.83 

11 Wed 10:46 11.64 04:17 0.87 23:09 11.26 16:32 1.30 

12 Thur 11:36 10.72 04:58 1.38 – 17:17 1.81 

13 Fri 00:01 10.38 05:51 1.93 12:31 9.85 18:14 2.34 

14 Sat 01:03 9.66 07:00 2.43 13:39 9.26 19:33 2.78 

15 Sun 02:20 9.36 08:36 2.63 15:00 9.18 21:14 2.76 

16 Mon 03:42 9.62 09:55 2.28 16:21 9.67 22:26 2.25 

17 Tue 04:55 10.28 10:55 1.78 17:25 10.39 23:22 1.72 

18 Wed 05:48 10.91 11:43 1.40 18:13 10.95 – 

19 Thur 06:34 11.29 00:06 1.37 18:53 11.27 12:23 1.20 

20 Fri 07:11 11.44 00:41 1.22 19:28 11.42 12:57 1.14 

21 Sat 07:45 11.50 01:14 1.18 19:59 11.52 13:29 1.11 

22 Sun 08:16 11.51 01:43 1.14 20:28 11.57 13:58 1.08 

23 Mon 08:46 11.45 02:10 1.11 20:56 11.52 14:25 1.07 

24 Tue 09:15 11.27 02:37 1.13 21:25 11.31 14:52 1.16 

25 Wed 09:45 10.92 03:05 1.26 21:54 10.93 15:19 1.36 

26 Thur 10:17 10.44 03:33 1.50 22:27 10.45 15:47 1.64 

27 Fri 10:51 9.92 04:05 1.79 23:04 9.95 16:21 1.95 

28 Sat 11:33 9.43 04:44 2.10 23:52 9.51 17:07 2.26 

29 Sun – 05:40 2.40 12:29 9.06 18:13 2.58 

30 Mon 00:58 9.23 07:00 2.65 13:46 8.96 19:44 2.77 

am May 2012 pm 

1 Tue 02:23 9.33 08:38 2.61 15:14 9.38 21:21 2.52 

2 Wed 03:45 9.95 09:57 2.17 16:27 10.21 22:28 1.98 

3 Thur 04:52 10.78 10:57 1.70 17:26 11.08 23:26 1.51 

Dear Editor, 

North Somerset Council is not publishing 

2012 tide time tables, so why are you 

still advertising they are for sale from the 

Tourist Information Centre? 

The one being sold is produced 

commercially, has very small print, and 

contains no safety advice. 

This is a great pity as they (the councilprinted 

ones) were popular with sailors 

and tourists alike. 

Don Sutherland, Worle 

Darren Fairchild, seafront and 

events co-ordinator: 

We do not produce the tide timetables 

anymore because they were no longer 

cost-effective. Instead they are available 

in this magazine and are free to down - 

load from the council’s website – 


tidetimes 

This page also links to the beach safety 

page on RNLI’s website, and we will add 

beach and water safety information to 

the tide times PDF. 

Dear Editor, 

During the summertime there is no 

cinematic or theatrical entertainment in 

Portishead. 

Portishead Players and Portishead Film 

Society finish for the season and in the 

forthcoming months there is no 

alternative. I’m sure many people miss 

them and have to wait six months until 

the next season. 

Schoolchildren on holiday and visitors 

to Portishead would benefit from this 

kind of entertainment in the summer, 

plus the community. 

Winston Davies, Portishead 

Editor’s reply: 

Thank-you for your letter. If any events 

are happening in Portishead over the 

summer I will be happy to publicise the 

details, especially in the big ‘what’s on 

summer special’ in the July issue. 

So if any groups, organisations or 

societies have any events or shows they 

would like to be included, please let me 

know by calling 01275 884 139 or 

email editor@n-somerset.gov.uk 


Keep us in 

the picture 

Patrick Norris 

Rob Thomson 

Send us your 

pictures and we’ll 

try to get them in 

an edition soon. 

Keep them coming to 

editor@n-somerset.gov.uk 

Andrea Coombes 

Mel Jeffery

Get set for Spring Fun for everyone - North Somerset Council

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