The Week

The Week in
East Bristol & North East Somerset
FREE
Issue no 444
13th October 2016
Read by over 30,000 people every week
In this week’s issue ......
Warmley nursery saved . . page 3
Demolition delayed to allow time for relocation
Bromley Heath Park in 'terrible' state . . page 7
Frustration over vandalism and run-down play area
Now library cuts in B&NES? . page 19
Spotlight on Saltford Library's uncertain future

2 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Warmley nursery saved after council delays eviction
South Gloucestershire Council has agreed to give the Rocking
Horse Nursery the chance to relocate from the Grange School
by delaying its demolition.
In the summer the 70-space Rocking Horse Nursery was given
closed. He said they were given six
months' notice to leave in June 2016
but did not tell parents until last
month.
notice to quit by Christmas but last Wednesday the council's Policy Labour councillor Pat Rooney
& Resources Committee agreed to a request for it to stay until the acknowledged that there had been a
end of the school year in July.
“problem with communication”
Last month the council agreed that the Grange will officially close
at the end of October, almost a year earlier than initially planned, as
all the pupils and teaching staff have already left. A report to the
committee last week revealed that the intention is to knock down
the redundant school as soon after the nursery has left the space it
has rented for 25 years, although the longer term intention for the
site has not been revealed.
A campaign has been under way to save the nursery with more
than 1,000 signatures gathered on a petition.
As a result of campaign coverage in The Week In, the manager of
the sports centre at the Sir Bernard Lovell Academy in Oldland
Common came forward to offer the nursery plot of land that is
currently overgrown. Nursery owners are now planning a move but
estimate this will take at least six months as planning permission is
between the council and nursery
between last summer and this summer and urged the council to
support the nursery in its move to the SBL campus.
Parents who attended the committee meeting shed tears of relief
after hearing councillors agree to their request for an extension of
the lease.
Lead campaigner Laura Williams thanked The Week In on behalf of
parents, children and staff for highlighting the campaign since it
began last month. She said: “We were contacted by the manager
of Sir Bernard Lovell Sports Centre who had read the article about
the campaign in The Week In and wanted to see if we were
interested in moving the nursery there. As a result, we have a very
real prospect of a new home, and it's all thanks to you.”
See also Letters, page 10
needed, the land needs clearing and portable buildings erected.
Pleading at last week's meeting for an extension to the lease at the
Grange until the nursery's new home is ready, campaign
spokeswoman Helen Waddington urged the council to “do what you
can to help us move”.
And she pointed out that although the report to the committee
states that the cost of managing the buildings is £12,000 a month,
the council would have budgeted for that as the original closure
date was not until the end of next August.
Tory councillor Jon Hunt proposed that the council extend the
notice period to summer 2017 to give the nursery time to relocate.
He added that the council had been in conversation with the
nursery as early as January 2015 when the owners had been
informed that they would have to vacate if and when the Grange
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 3

The Week in
Britain in Bloom awards for
St George & Keynsham
Keynsham and St George scooped prizes at the Royal
Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom South West awards
ceremony last Thursday.
Keynsham won gold in the Portman Cup category, Keynsham
Scouts scooped the South West in Bloom Youth Award for
outstanding contribution, and Market Walk picked up a gold in
the commercial, leisure & tourism category.
St George in Bloom won gold in the Pennant town/city category
for the third consecutive year and there was success for
community groups in the area. In the It's Your Neighbourhood
category, there were Outstanding awards for Bristol East
Allotments Group, St Aidan's Allotments, the Friends of
Troopers Hill and Kensington Road Residents' Association,
while the Friends of Kingsway Youth 'Hope for the future'
received a Thriving award.
Air Balloon Hill Primary School received the Clem Preece
Memorial Cup for an outstanding effort by a school in promoting
South West in Bloom, and the Friends of Troopers Hill received
the Sutton Seeds Cup for an outstanding area of nature.
Grenville Johnson, chair of St George in Bloom, said it had been
a wonderful team effort. Tomorrow (Friday) representatives will
attend the RHS Britain in Bloom awards ceremony in
Birmingham to receive the result of St George in Bloom's
selection as a 2016 national RHS Britain in Bloom finalist.
Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando,
Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields,
Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North
Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill,
Stockwood, St George, Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge.
15,000 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 admin@theweekin.co.uk
Editorial Becky Feather 07973 839936
Christine Rogers
Advertising Jodie Deason and Tracy Broderick
0117 986 0381
sales.theweekin@gmail.com
@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.
4 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Fishponds
Pioneering Bletchley Park codebreaker honoured
A special event has been held in Fishponds to commemorate
the life and work of Bletchley Park codebreaker Gordon
Welchman.
Welchman, who was born in the old St Mary's Vicarage in Radley
Road in 1906, was a contemporary of Alan Turing and other early
recruits who worked in Bletchley's famous Hut 6, decrypting
German military signals. The work of this operation saved
countless Allied lives during the Second World War.
Welchman was baptised at St Mary's Parish Church where his
father was Canon and to mark his connection to Fishponds,
Bristol Civic Society has dedicated a Blue Plaque at the church in
his memory.
Welchman's daughter, Susanna Griffith, carried out the unveiling
at an event attended by the director of GCHQ Robert Hannigan,
Susanna with Robert Hannigan ©GCHQ 2016
the Deputy Lord Mayor
of Bristol Chris Davis,
Welchman's biographer
Joel Greenberg, as well
as local people.
Mr Hannigan spoke at
the unveiling, saying
Welchman was “a giant
of his era and part of an
extraordinary group of
people who helped to
shorten the Second
World War”.
“I'm honoured to share
today with his family,
The Blue Plaque dedicated to Gordon
Welchman's memory
©GCHQ 2016
and to represent the organisation his work and his values helped
build. Gordon Welchman and his colleagues set the standard for
today's GCHQ, and staff aim to work with the same ingenuity and
passion that he did, to keep Britain safe.”
Welchman died in 1985. His daughter Susanna said: “I'm very
proud of my father and everything that he achieved. He was a
man of huge intellect and integrity, and this plaque is a great
honour for our family, and something I'm sure he'd say he didn't
deserve.”
In addition to the unveiling, GCHQ also hosted a code-breaking
workshop for children from nearby Fishponds Church of England
Academy, as part of its schools' outreach programme.
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 5

6 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Bromley Heath
Public meeting hears of
problems at run-down park
A public meeting has been held to talk about the
dilapidated state of Bromley Heath Park and the ongoing
problem with anti-social behaviour.
The meeting last Wednesday was the AGM of the Friends of the
park and among those attending were Neighbourhood Police
Team Sergeant Paul Fortune and Jim Mattison, from the
community spaces team at South Gloucestershire Council.
Staffing problems at the council have meant that promised
maintenance work has not taken place in the last couple of
years and cutbacks mean there is no money available for
replacement equipment.
The Friends say they appreciate it is not the council's fault but
they are nonetheless frustrated, as is Downend & Bromley
Heath Parish Council which last month installed a table tennis
table, only to have it vandalised on the same day. It was
vandalised again just a few days ago.
Sharon Herniman, who was elected as the new chair of the
Friends, believes the lack of respect is down to the current
“terrible” state of the park.
Stockwood
Fair in aid of charity
Stockwood Ladies Evening Group will be holding a craft fair on
Wednesday 19th October at 8pm in the hall at Christ the
Servant Church.
The various stalls will include beautiful handmade silver
jewellery, sugar craft, unique greetings cards, jigsaws and a
raffle.
There will also be demonstrations of lace making and origami,
an exhibition of paintings and drawings by the local art group
and refreshments, together with home-made cakes.
Many of the products will be available for sale and the
proceeds will go to the group's nominated charity, Jessie May,
the Kingswood charity giving home support to the families of
children and young people who have a terminal illness.
Vandals have repeatedly targeted the play train in the park,
pictured, trying to push the roof off and tip the carriage over.
Three pieces of equipment have been removed recently and
Sharon believes the next to go will be the roundabout as the
bolts are coming through the plastic and the chippings
surrounding it are virtually gone and showing no sign of being
replaced even though two years ago the Friends were told there
were chippings spare for use.
The blue rocker is also said to be on its last legs while flooring
in the play area is also in a bad state.
Mr Mattison said he had visited the park and had been
“surprised and disappointed” at its condition. He said he was
prepared to be a point of contact at the council for the Friends
and hoped there could be a fresh start.
Meanwhile Sgt Fortune said the police had intelligence about
vandalism and also about the drug dealing problem in the park.
He urged people to keep reporting problems.
The Friends are keen to recruit people who can help them apply
for grants as well as help with park clean-up days. They hope
to hold more fun days and family events but need volunteers.
Contact the Friends at the We Love Bromley Heath Park
Facebook page or email welovebromleyheathpark@yahoo.com
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 7

8 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Police thank
Bromley Heath
Neighbourhood
Watch group
The chairman of Bromley Heath Neighbourhood Watch, Bill
Crocker, has been presented with a letter of thanks from
Chief Superintendent Ian Smith, the area commander for
South Gloucestershire.
Neighbourhood Police Team Sgt Paul Fortune presented
the letter to Mr Crocker on behalf of Supt Smith last week.
The letter thanks Bill and all the members of the NHW past
and present for the hard work, time and dedication they
have put into making the area of Downend a safer place to
live and work.
Alert over car
key burglaries
Police have been investigating several burglaries that
happened overnight while householders slept.
Officers were called to a report of a crashed car in Crews Hole
Road, St George, at about 5.15am last Thursday. The BMW was
found to have been stolen from an address in Downend. Thieves
had broken in and stolen the car keys, taking the car, a laptop and
a pushbike without rousing the household.
Soon after 6.30am a household reported that their front door in St
George had been forced. A watch and a wallet were stolen along
with the keys to a BMW and a Vauxhall Corsa, which were also
taken. At 6.50am officers were called to an address in Hanham,
where another BMW had been stolen. Again thieves broke into the
house and took the car keys and a handbag. House-to-house
inquiries led officers to discover there had been an attempt to break
into a second home nearby. Just before 8am there was a call
reporting a fourth BMW had been stolen from Keynsham. It is
unclear how this vehicle was stolen as the owner still has the keys.
And at 9am officers were called by a household who woke to find
the front door of their home in Kingswood had been damaged. It is
not believed anything was stolen in this incident.
• Shortly before we went to print this week, police said they had
made a number of arrests following a burglary at a house in Yate in
the early hours of last Friday.
Intruders stole the keys to a BMW and a handbag containing cash,
bank cards and other items, before stealing the car.
The car was recovered by officers at about 5.30pm the same day
after a witness reported seeing it being left in Highway, Yate, in
suspicious circumstances.
Five men aged 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22 and an 18-year-old woman
were arrested that evening on suspicion of burglary. Five people
were later released on police bail pending further inquiries and a 22-
year-old has been charged with burglary, taking a vehicle without
consent and fraud by false representation.
Sudoku
1-Easy
8 4 5 6
4 8 5 1
3 9
7 1
4 8 1 7 3
9 6 5 4 7
2 4 5
5 9 2
7 4 6
2 -Hard
2 9 8 1
6 3 8 4
4 6
5 2
9 7
1 6 5 4
5 4 2
1 6 3 7
CHEMISTS
WEEKEND
OPENING
Sunday 16th October
Boots, Gallagher Retail Park,
Longwell Green (10.30am-4pm)
Asda Store Longwell Green
(10am-4pm)
Boots, Emersons Green Retail Park
(10.30am-4pm)
Sainsburys, Emersons Green
(9.30am-4.30pm)
Stockwood Pharmacy
78 Hollway Road, BS14 8PG
(9am-7pm)
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 9

Letters
Our eternal thanks to your
newspaper
Dear Editor,
I'm writing to thank you on behalf of all
the parents, children and staff at Rocking
Horse Day Nursery in Warmley.
Just under a month ago when we
launched the campaign to save the
nursery, which the council had asked to
vacate its home of 25 years at
Christmas, the future was looking very
grim for the nursery and families who
rely on it.
Within days, you supported us - not only
with an article sharing the story about
the campaign but by letting us know
about a council meeting which was
discussing the future of the Grange
School site. As a direct result of your tipoff,
we started lobbying councillors and
attended the meeting to speak. The
issue was referred to a second meeting
as an urgent matter and 1,000
signatures on a petition later, lots of
lobbying of councillors and numerous
column inches in the local press, we
succeeded in persuading the council to
extend the notice period until the end of
the academic year (July 2017).
We were also contacted by the manager
of Sir Bernard Lovell sports centre who
had read the article about the campaign
in The Week In and wanted to see if we
were interested in moving the nursery
there. As a result, we have a very real
prospect of a new home...and it's all
thanks to you.
We cannot thank you enough for the
support you and your publication has
given us over the past few weeks and
will be eternally grateful. Without you,
this could be a very different story
indeed.
Laura Williams
Save our nursery campaigner
Planning shock for
Keynsham East
Dear Editor,
Proposals signed off by the
Conservative B&NES Cabinet including
1000 additional houses for Keynsham
East (and North) are rightly described in
your article edition 443 as
“controversial”.
These proposals also include a local
“Saltford bypass” which appears from
the indicative map to go right through the
Manor Road Community Forest. These
proposals are part of the emerging Joint
Spatial Plan (JSP) produced by the four
local authorities of the West of England
Partnership and are coming out for
public consultation on 7th November
until 19th December. They make a
mockery of local Conservative claims to
be the protectors of the Green Belt.
I am appalled that Keynsham is being
used on this scale to “solve” the region's
housing needs. A local “Saltford bypass”
was dismissed in the Greater Bristol
Strategic Transport Study 2006 as “not
providing strategic benefits”. Infilling of
housing around any such new road
would inevitably lead to the merging of
Keynsham and Saltford.
An early opportunity for residents to
make their voice heard is in the
Keynsham East Town Council byelection
on 27th October in which I am a
candidate.
Andy Halliday
Keynsham & Saltford Liberal
Democrats
Office redevelopment
concerns
Dear Editor,
Will brilliant architectural design mask
the absence of a little forethought by
B&NES? Good architecture is a matter
of opinion, but the design concept for
adapting the redundant office blocks in
the centre of Keynsham was generally
well received by the residents who
attended B&NES' presentation of the
leisure centre redevelopment on 3rd of
October.
Again, there is a proposal to have more
apartments than there are parking
spaces available, and concerns were
expressed by many in the audience. The
council's argument is that this
arrangement is quite common in central
Bristol and Bath. Keynsham's situation is
totally different from major city centres
where major shopping centres, multiple
transport links and other amenities are
nearby.
Perhaps thought could be given to
reserving a number of the apartments for
sheltered elderly accommodation, where
a condition of occupancy includes either
no car ownership or use of a limited
number of invalidity vehicle places.
Please note that Keynsham does have
an increasing elderly population, for
whom a community in the middle of town
solves a lot of problems.
10 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Letters
Are we going to have another sell-off of
public assets to cover today's spending?
Is it possible to have a fixed-term leasing
arrangement similar to that originally put
in place for the offices? After expiry of
the lease in (say) 99 years, the beneficial
ownership would return to the council. In
this way, a private developer or housing
association would pay the up-front costs
of conversion in return for a regulated
income from rents. This way, the 'family
silver' will only be on loan and will not
finish up in the hands of the Chinese,
multinationals that pay no corporation
tax, or individuals living in tax havens
whilst allegedly plundering pension
funds.
Keynsham resident
Name & address supplied
Other problems are more
pressing than Brexit
Dear Editor,
Whilst most of the news is taken up with
the negative effects of Brexit, we should
be more concerned with the fiscal
ineptitude of our politicians in our
domestic situation. You couldn't make it
up.
Our country has £159bn of debt, and has
to borrow £1 in every £4 they spend, yet
they continue with all their grand
schemes of Trident (no contribution from
Europe) 2% GDP on 'Defence', when
many European countries fail to meet
their commitments to NATO, £12bn on
Foreign Aid, the High Speed Train that
will save about 15 minutes (if it is ever on
time).
At the same time, they have given
themselves a 13%+ rise plus expenses
whilst saying we have a "living wage" of
just over £7 an hour. What a joke, people
on welfare get more than this.
On top of that, public and private
pensions are running a £1.8 trillion
deficit, two-thirds of which are in the
public sector.
Locally, our politicians have increased
council tax by 3.25%, overspent on their
budget by many millions and are still
carrying out grandiose schemes when
they cannot even keep a World Heritage
City in shape. You could say they are
trying to keep it looking like in Roman
times, but I do not think the Romans put
up with weeds, lack of sweeping,
slapdash maintenance of pavements,
roads, public spaces, etc., and traffic
gridlock.
So let us have a bit more publicity about
our REAL problems. The problems of
Brexit are miniscule compared to this.
William Houghton
Bath
Taking the shine off
Keynsham
Dear Editor,
Looking back to Issue 440 (15th
September) and Rick & Jennie Crowley,
no, you are not the only ones who have
noticed the fascias on the new (which
doesn't look new) civic centre in
Keynsham.
The library is much more pleasing to
look at (good job done) but the civic
centre looks dull and totally not nice to
look at.
The front of the civic centre looks like it
has been there 30 years. The front looks
like it is held up with girders and wooden
supports. The brass is dull and
weathered. Friends visiting Keynsham
say it has spoilt our lovely town.
It would have been good to have had the
girders covered and the wood supports
covered all around with mosaics to tie in
with the Roman connection. I wonder if
anyone else would like that?
The clock is lovely but how I wish it was
taller.
Grumbles over, I live in hope. But sadly
no one listens. At the meetings before
the build, we were told that the brass
would stay shiny. The library has so can
someone tell me why the civic centre
has not?
A sad resident
Coffee morning success
Dear Editor,
A big thank you to all those who
contributed cakes, coffee, tea etc. and
attended the Macmillan Coffee Morning
at the offices of Keynsham & District
Dial-a-Ride on Friday 30th September
when a total of £260 was raised.
Terry
Keynsham & District Dial-a-Ride
Keep in touch, let us know
what you think, send us
your news
www.facebook.com/theweekin
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 11

1
Sudden (6)
1
A way to cure meat (3-3)
Letters
Somme exhibition at library
Dear Sir,
May I please tell local people about my
little exhibition at Hanham Library? It's
based on photos I took on the Somme in
April, plus other information. I put it up in
my front room to tell all the family about
our dad in the Battle of the Somme in
1916.
They liked it and thought what a pity it
had to come down. So I got permission
to display it in the library. South
Gloucestershire's much more wideranging
World War One exhibition
comes to the library in January; it was
agreed that my little effort would be a
local and personal fore-taste of that. The
staff were very helpful with the
arrangements.
I'm sure that all who support the Save
Hanham Library campaign will agree
that commemorating the 100th
anniversary of the Battle of the Somme,
from a local standpoint, is yet another
example of what a local library is all
about.
'Dad's War - a local man at the Battle of
the Somme, 1916' is at Hanham Library
from 17th October to 26th November.
Brian Iles
Hanham
Stamp appeal
Dear Sir,
We would like readers to please send us
used postage stamps for the charity RP
Fighting Blindness. We are also grateful
for any unwanted stamp collections and
old and foreign coins. £3,304 and 95p
has been raised to date.
Money used by RP Fighting Blindness
goes to the helpline service and
research into a cure for the disease
retinitis pigmentosa, a disease of the eye
that leads to loss of vision and blindness
and which affects 25,000 people in the
UK.
Thank you to everyone who has helped
us to date. You have made a difference.
(Please note that stamps cut outside the
perforations will earn the charity more).
For anyone wishing to know more, we do
a 35-minute talk to groups and clubs
which is light-hearted and informative to
promote awareness of the condition.
Call 01454 772927 or email
bristolsglosfightingblindness@gmail.com
Ron & Gina Pritchard
22, Huckford Road
Winterbourne
Bristol
BS36 1EA
Lost watch appeal
Dear Sir,
Can you please put this letter in your
publication about a lost watch? It has
huge sentimental value.
It was lost on Thursday 6th October
between St Francis Road and the High
Street, Keynsham. It has a red leather
strap and is a Citizen make. Please
contact 0751 067 5486 if found.
Many thanks.
Mrs B Fiedor
Crossword
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8
9 10
11 12
13 14 15
16 17
18 19 20 21
22 23
24 25
ACROSS
1 Sudden (6)
4 Exertion (6)
9 Italian rice dish (7)
10 Unprincipled person (5)
11 The period before an event (3-2)
12 Insignificant (7)
13 Ardent religious crusading (11)
18 Focus on the target (4,3)
20 Blabber (5)
22 Poisonous anger? (5)
23 Fine mesh (7)
24 To live (6)
25 Judicial writ (6)
DOWN
1 A way to cure meat (3-3)
2 Resin from the sap of trees (5)
3 Exploited (3-4)
5 Public meeting derived from Latin (5)
6 Fabric used for evening wear (7)
7 Three times (6)
8 Overule and instruction (11)
14 Early British settlers (7)
15 Driving force (7)
16 Animal fodder (6)
17 Breed of dog (6)
19 Carrying weapons (5)
21 Means of defence in law (5)
Across
Down
12 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Staple Hill
Crowdfunding appeal
for Christmas on the Hill
A crowdfunding appeal has been started to raise the £2,000 still
needed to stage the annual Christmas on the Hill festival on
Saturday 3rd December.
This will be the 18th Christmas on the Hill. The day includes a
parade, entertainment and activities around the town centre, before
the switching-on of the Christmas tree lights in Fountain Square.
Staple Hill councillor Shirley Potts has organised every festival with
the support of traders and community groups.
She said grant funding is no longer available and even with the
support of local traders which has covered most of the £1,800 costs
associated with the tree, there is still a £2,000 shortfall.
Fellow Staple Hill councillor Ian Boulton said: “Previously we have
managed to secure small grants from the local South
Gloucestershire Council Area Forum. As part of the council's cuts
programme, the Area Forum has been wound up and funding for
community grants has been greatly reduced.
“Christmas on the Hill is easily the biggest annual event in Staple
Hill and, while it is enjoyed by thousands as a free event, there are
many costs involved including fees for licensed performances, fees
for closing the road and liability insurance premiums.
“Local resident Jolene Scott-Martin attended a recent Christmas on
the Hill meeting and responded to our plight by setting up the
crowdfunding site.”
To make a pledge visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/christmas-on-the-hill
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 13

Public's views matter, say planners
People have been assured that the proposals outlined in a
blueprint for more homes and infrastructure for the West of
England in the next 20 years are not set in stone and that
their views will be taken into consideration.
Last year the four councils - Bristol, Bath and North East
Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset - ran a
consultation process to gain people's thoughts and ideas to
help set the approach and priorities.
Having taken on board the consultation feedback, the next
phase is to consult again, this time on outline proposals that
include the need to tackle the 39,000-home shortfall that has
emerged. A total of 105,000 new homes are now said to be
needed by 2036, compared to the 66,800 the four councils had
planned. The report on the West of England Joint Spatial Plan
and Joint Transport Strategy mentions a possible 2,000-home
'garden village' in South Gloucestershire - at Buckover, near
Thornbury - but omits the idea of 2,500 homes at Warmley
Compton Dando
AGM and talk
Compton Dando Community Association's Annual General
Meeting is on Wednesday 19th October at 7.30pm at the village
hall. Following a short meeting to appoint officers and
committee members there will be an illustrated talk by Brian
Vowles on the history of Bath Hill, Keynsham. CDCA organises
social events and raises funds to support village projects.
105,000 new homes are needed by 2036 in the region
which had been suggested in a report prepared by planning
consultants Barton Willmore.
Brian Glasson, head of strategic planning and housing at South
Gloucestershire Council, told last week's meeting of its Policy &
Resources Committee that the garden village proposal at
Buckover had come forward from the Tortworth Estate after the
council invited expressions of interest during the first round of
the consultation. He said officers saw advantages at Buckover
that don't exist elsewhere and the council was not endorsing
the plans but testing public opinion to see if there was support
for a self-sufficient garden village at that location.
Cllr Brian Allinson, deputy leader of the council, said it had to be
recognised that there was a gulf between the public and local
government: “We have to convince the public that their views in
consultation are going to get listened to, although not
necessarily agreed with.”
The next round of consultation is due to start on 7th November
and run until 19th December.
14 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

One-way traffic trial won't apply to buses
When the much-heralded trial of one-way traffic along
Keynsham High Street begins next April, pedestrians will
have to take care of buses coming the other way.
When the £200,000 scheme was announced, the plan was for
Bristol-bound traffic to be diverted into Rock Road and then
Ashton Way as far as Charlton Road.
Ashton Way would remain two-way and Bath-bound buses are
already diverted away from the High Street along this route. As
we reported briefly last week, B&NES Council has now decided
that buses should continue to travel along the High Street as
they do now, the reason being the need to create bus bays
along Ashton Way. The cost of this is now being questioned,
given that the trial is designed to be halted at a moment's notice
Keynsham
Hand-made crafts for sale
Community @ 67 in Queens Road is holding a craft fair this
Saturday (15th October) from 11am to 2.30pm.
The event is being organised by the Coffee & Craft Group and
there will be handcrafted gifts to purchase, framed photographs
depicting local scenes, Christmas decorations and cards.
Refreshments will be available. The Coffee & Craft Group
meets every Wednesday from 10am to 12.30pm and new
members are always welcome. For more details, contact Clare
on 0773 774 2300 or email community67@gmail.com
if it is seen to be created
more harm than good.
The move would also
reduce the number
spaces available in
Ashton Way car park.
Having approved the
budget for the trial,
estimated to cost £2m if implemented on a permanent basis, it
is unsure why the issue has only just surfaced. Already, some
are beginning to question the benefit of trialling a one-way
scheme which is not that, and there are concerns for pedestrian
safety. Last month we reported that Keynsham & Saltford
Liberal Democrats were complaining that the Conservative-run
B&NES Council had appeared to drop plans for an alternative
trial of full pedestrianisation - even though they themselves had
called for both schemes when in opposition.
Reacting to the latest development, Andy Wait told us: "This is
a shambles. The Tories are spending £200 000, disrupting the
town centre and ignoring pedestrianisation. For what? To have
all traffic travelling south down the High Street and buses, bikes
and taxis travelling north. It won't prove or change anything - a
total waste of money."
B&NES' Transport Strategy includes a reconfiguration of the
High Street both to reduce the current high levels of vehicle
pollution and make it a more pleasant visitor experience.
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 15

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Degree and Higher Apprenticeships event
An apprenticeships event is taking place at the
Guildhall in Bath on Tuesday 18th October.
The event is open to all Bath & North East
Somerset students and their parents who are
considering options after sixth form.
The event starts at 7pm with networking,
followed by presentations from employers and
training providers with a question-and-answer
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university degrees.
16 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Young interns recognised at
celebratory event
More than 20 young people from secondary schools
across South Gloucestershire have successfully
completed a Post-16 Internship Programme, designed to
develop their employability skills and experience.
Internships are related to student career interests and run
during the summer for two to six weeks. Initially students go
through an interview to assess their suitability before going on
to the next round where employers and students are matched
with each other.
Working for a variety of employers, students learn about the
range of job roles, career progression routes and work skills
that relate to the employment sector which they are interested
in.
After the placement, the students and their parents are invited
to attend an Internship Celebration event, along with employers
and school teachers. This year's celebration took place last
Wednesday at the Resound Centre in Mangotsfield.
Cllr Erica Williams, the Chair of South Gloucestershire Council,
attended and presented each of the students and employers
with a Certificate of Achievement.
Asda gives £500
towards school's
play project
Susan Grant, the community champion at Asda in Longwell
Green, visited Christ Church Primary School in Hanham
last week to present a cheque for £500 to the Friends of the
school.
The charity won the recent Chosen by you, Given by us
Green Token Scheme. Lucy Champion, chair of the charity,
nominated it in the hope of securing extra funding towards
a play area which the charity is currently raising money for.
Headteacher Ian Hutton and the Friends of Christ Church
school said they were delighted and thankful to Asda for the
donation.
She said: “We have been very fortunate this year to have the
support from a wide range of employers from the public and
private sector as well as the University of the West of England.
“Internships offer such a fantastic opportunity for young people
to gain first-hand experience in a working environment. It's a
chance to follow their career aspirations and is a step in the
right direction to getting a job in their chosen field.”
Employers and organisations taking part in this year's
programme included the Royal Bank of Scotland, Mitie, KTS
Training, N-Gaged, Marshfield Bakery, Destination Bristol,
Severnside Transport, South Gloucestershire Council, Aztec
Hotel & Spa, Bradley Stoke Radio Station, Barratt Homes and
North Bristol NHS Trust.
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 17

Kingswood
Post Office set to
move into WHSmith
Plans have been unveiled to move Kingswood's Crown Post
Office from its Hanham Road location to WHSmith in Kings
Chase Shopping Centre.
The move is part of the ongoing modernisation of the Post Office
network and residents are being asked for their views.
A newly-built dedicated open-plan Post Office area would be
located to the rear of the WHSmith store. The Post Office says it will
be working with WHSmith to ensure there are sufficiently wide, clear
aisles and adequate space for Post Office customers, including
wheelchair users, so they can easily access the area.
Four counter serving positions are proposed, three open-plan
positions and one traditional screened position to also provide travel
money services. People are being asked for their views on issues
such as how easy it is to get to the proposed new location and if
there are any community issues that might be affected by, or affect,
the proposed move.
You can have your say by completing the online survey at
postofficeviews.co.uk by entering the code 01151199. Post Office
chiefs have asked Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore to draw his
constituents' attention to the plans and people can also contact him
at chris@chrisskidmore.com or call him on 0117 908 1524.
The consultation closes on 16th November with the move to the
WHSmith store scheduled for February 2017.
18 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Now library services under threat
in B&NES too?
After Bristol and South Gloucestershire, it is now B&NES
Council's turn to consider the future of its library service in
the face of ongoing budget cuts.
Although last week it reaffirmed it was “committed to retaining a
library service” a report entitled 'Library service, finding the way
forward', states that “driving down costs is a priority” and
highlights the need for volunteers - not to supplement library staff
but to replace them. Staff costs account for almost two-thirds of
the council's £1.9m library budget.
At this month's Keynsham Area Forum meeting, responding to a
question about Saltford Library, Ian Savigar, the divisional director
of B&NES' Customer Services, said it could close if no other way
forward could be found. Currently it only opens three days a week
with Saturdays being covered by volunteers.
Last week, when announcing a revision to library opening times
from the end of the month to better match demand, Cllr Martin
Veal, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “This is
about ensuring services at all our libraries are maintained,
sustainable and can be delivered within our current staff resource.
The council has to achieve significant financial savings over the
next three years. However, unlike some councils across the
country, we are committed to retaining a library service.”
From 31st October Keynsham Library will open 30 minutes later
on a Saturday morning (9.30am) and close one hour earlier on a
Saltford Library
Tuesday (5pm). By contrast, it will stay open 30 minutes later on
a Friday (5pm). In Saltford, although staffed by volunteers, the
Saturday opening time has been put back to 10am.
Duncan Hounsell, speaking for Keynsham & Saltford Liberal
Democrats, said: “It is outrageous that this valued village asset is
under threat. It is a community hub as well as a library. Volunteers
have already restored the Saturday morning library session which
had been cut. They should not be asked to do more. There is no
other suitable location in Saltford. B&NES Council has floated the
idea of setting up Saltford Library as an 'Open plus' unmanned
out-station. Users of Saltford Library value human contact with an
experienced member of staff. The Liberal Democrats will fight this
Tory threat to Saltford Library.”
Saltford Parish Council agreed unanimously at its October
meeting that it would not support any reduction in service that
Saltford Library offers at this present time.
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 19

MOTORING
Night-time driving advice
With the long dark nights ahead, here's some advice from
breakdown company Green Flag about driving safely at
night.
Check your lights before driving
It's a good idea to walk around your vehicle to make sure all the
lights are working before you set off at night. And lights aren't
just for using at night; they should be used at dusk, dawn, in
bad weather and on a gloomy day.
Use dipped beam
In urban areas make sure
you use dipped beam. Use
full beam on other roads at
night but 'dip, don't dazzle'
when there is someone in
front or coming towards
you. If you are being
dazzled, slow down and be prepared to stop if necessary.
Slow down when moving from a lit to an unlit road
It takes time for your eyes to adjust to the conditions. At night it
is harder to spot hazards and it is harder for others to see you.
Go more carefully
Drive at a speed that enables you to stop within the distance
you can see.
Look out
Keep your eyes open for pedestrians, cyclists and motorbike
riders, particularly those not wearing bright clothing or who do
not have lights. In town, take extra care when driving past pubs,
cinemas, theatres and clubs at closing time.
20 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

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The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 21

Derelict hut is demolished
The derelict and graffiti-covered golf hut next to Cadbury Heath
Skatepark has been demolished.
The hut was part of the old Warmley pitch and putt course but has
been boarded up for some years now.
Last year it is understood there were some expressions of interest
from individuals keen to open it, possibly as a café, but that did not
come to fruition. The site will be grassed over.
The hut had become an eyesore
After demolition
22 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Fishponds
Plans lodged for 305 homes on old hospital site
Plans to create more than 300 homes on the derelict
Blackberry Hill Hospital site have been submitted to Bristol
City Council.
The former psychiatric hospital site covers around 21 acres. It
has been vacant since it was sold in 2009 by North Bristol NHS
Trust (NBT) to the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), the
Government's housing and regeneration agency.
Oldland Common
Church refurbishment
starts this month
Work is finally expected to start this month on the major
renovation of Unity Oldland Methodist Church in West Street.
The congregation, which has been worshipping at North
Common Village Hall since the spring, had initially hoped work
would be completed before Christmas but the project was hit by
delays, with the work eventually being put out to tender in
August. KP Wilton & Son won the contract and hope to start on
site on 24th October. The work is expected to take nine months.
The existing hall next to the chapel is being demolished and
replaced by a larger hall with a big foyer which will be a
community meeting place. The worship area will get a total
makeover. The church has secured more than £700,000 for the
works but fundraising is ongoing for the remaining £100,000.
The main hospital building is Grade II listed and was used as a
prisoner of war camp, then a workhouse and then a hospital.
The site is a complex of former 18th and 19th century buildings
as well as an extensive area of open space - Laundry Field -
which is covered in part by a Town & Village Green designation.
The major planning application has been submitted on behalf of
developers Galliford Try, GT Homes and the HCA and involves
converting some listed buildings to create 113 homes, plus 192
new-builds. A mix of one- and two-bed apartments, and two,
three- and four-bed houses is proposed.
Around 500sq m of commercial retail space and 280sq m of
community space are also part of the scheme, along with car
parking, cycle storage and landscaping. There would be three
access points into the site from Manor Road and there is a
proposal to divert an existing public right of way which crosses
the site.
People have until 3rd November to comment on the planning
application. The reference number is 16/05398/LA.
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 23

Kingswood
Good Ofsted report for pre-school
A Kingswood pre-school has been rated as Good by Ofsted
following a recent inspection.
Children at Lees Hill Pre-School are said to make good progress
and are well-prepared for school.
The inspector praised the partnerships between staff and parents
and said children have very good relationships with staff, which
contributes to their confidence and emotional well-being.
She said the children are very well cared for and the staff are good
role models. As we reported in last week's issue, the pre-school,
which has been based in the sports pavilion on the playing fields for
more than half a century, is having to relocate after the football club
which has taken over the running of the site from the council gave
it notice to quit. The pre-school is preparing to move to New
Cheltenham Hall which until recently was home to Southey Pre-
School. However, Southey recently closed following a Ofsted report
which branded it inadequate.
Keynsham
Scouts need donations
The 1st Keynsham Scout Group will be holding one of the biggest
fundraising events in their calendar on Saturday 19th November.
People are being asked to dig out items for the auction and book
sale that will be taking place at the Scout HQ on Ashton Way.
Wanted items include furniture, toys, bric-a-brac, DVDs, CDs,
household goods, musical instruments, garden equipment, tools
and bikes. It may be possible to arrange collection - call 0117
9864242 to find out more or times of when items can be dropped off.
24 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Whitchurch
Open day at HorseWorld
HorseWorld is holding an open day this Saturday (15th
October) from 10.30am to 4pm where people will be able to
meet Minty, who was rescued recently, as well as other
horses being cared for at the charity in Whitchurch.
On 6th September, HorseWorld received a phone call from the
police requesting assistance with a young mare who was stuck
under a trailer in Avonmouth and was in some pain and
difficulty.
HorseWorld's managing director Mark Owen said: “The
environment resembled a waste-ground, littered with rubbish,
gas canisters and even upturned cars. The mare (who we have
now named Minty), had been locked in a pen made of mesh
fencing and the old trailer she was stuck under had been her
shelter.
“Once Minty was standing, it was clear that she also had other,
older injuries which suggested she had been through an awful
lot in her young life. Her mouth had been badly cut inside and
in the corners as though a bit had been left in her mouth and
pulled tightly for some time.
“There were sores over her back where it appears some sort of
training roller or saddle pad had been left on in all winds and
weathers. Whoever owned Minty had been using some very
brutal and painful training techniques.”
Minty was taken to back to HorseWorld but it was not an easy
Minty’s rescue
task as she had no trust in humans, particularly men. However,
she is now fit and well and out in the paddock with other horses
at HorseWorld.
There are around 100 rescued horses at the charity and many
will be brought into the yard for the day on Saturday where
members of the public will be able to read their rescue stories
and talk to the grooms that care for them.
There will also be hot food, drinks and merchandise on sale.
Entry and parking are free and donations towards the charity's
ongoing rescue work are always welcomed.
For more details, visit www.horseworld.org.uk/events or call
01275 832425.
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 25

Directory & What’s On
Accountancy
Services
Appliances
Building Services
Carpet Cleaning
Blinds
Caravans
Computers / IT
Advertising
REPAIRS, NEW AND USED
COMPUTERS OR
ACCESSORIES.
Smart Computers. Keynsham,
Kingswood, Westbury-on-Trym.
T: 0117 986 1000.
Car Repairs
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DEADLINE FOR PLACING
DIRECTORY ADVERTS
IS MONDAY 4.30PM
26 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Directory & What’s On
Compost
Electrical
Electrical
Fireworks
VINTAGE FIREWORK
COLLECTOR
Looking to buy any firework
memorabilia of Crane's of Warmley
or any other British manufacturer.
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Furniture Makers
Dance Classes
Fencing
Driveways
Events
Electrical
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call
0117 986 0381
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 27

Directory & What’s On
Garden Services
Garden Services
Holidays
Home Maintenance
Guttering Services
Home Help
Insurance
Hair & Beauty
Home Maintenance
Locksmiths
LPs & Vinyl
DEADLINE FOR PLACING
DIRECTORY ADVERTS
IS MONDAY 4.30PM
28 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

Directory & What’s On
Musical
Instruments
Pet Services
Plastering
Plumbers
Painting
& Decorating
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DIRECTORY ADVERTS
IS MONDAY 4.30PM
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 29

Directory & What’s On
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30 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016

St George
Third poor report in a row for care home
St George Care Home in Kenn Road has been criticised
again by watchdogs.
During two previous inspections, concerns were highlighted by
the Care Quality Commission about the care and safety of
residents, staffing and the running of the home.
Now a further report has been published following an
unannounced inspection in July, with the inspectors saying that
although some improvements have been made, more are
required in the key areas of being safe, effective, caring and
well-led. In terms of being responsive, the service is rated as
good.
The inspectors found two breaches of regulations - staffing was
“insufficiently deployed” and did not always meet people's care
and treatment needs, while accurate and up-to-date monitoring
records were not always maintained.
The report said people's care was sometimes rushed and staff
were not able to spend quality time with people. However,
residents were treated with dignity and respect by all staff.
Sudoku Solutions
1-Easy
8 4 5 1 2 9 7 6 3
2 7 9 3 6 4 8 5 1
3 6 1 7 8 5 9 2 4
7 1 2 4 9 3 5 8 6
4 5 8 6 1 7 3 9 2
9 3 6 8 5 2 4 1 7
6 2 3 9 7 8 1 4 5
5 9 4 2 3 1 6 7 8
1 8 7 5 4 6 2 3 9
2 -Hard
4 2 3 6 5 9 8 7 1
1 9 6 3 8 7 4 2 5
5 7 8 1 4 2 9 3 6
8 3 5 4 2 1 6 9 7
9 6 4 7 3 5 1 8 2
7 1 2 8 9 6 3 5 4
3 5 7 9 1 4 2 6 8
6 4 9 2 7 8 5 1 3
2 8 1 5 6 3 7 4 9
The home, run by Caring Homes Healthcare Group Ltd, has 68
beds for people who need nursing and personal care.
A spokesperson said: “While the report shows we have made
real improvements since January, we know there is more to do
to ensure we are delivering the quality care we pride ourselves
on and that residents deserve.
“We are continuing to work very hard to address the points
made by the CQC, and we have put in place a robust and
comprehensive action plan. Our new home manager has led on
ensuring we build and sustain high standards of care.
“In particular, we have taken steps to address the actions
required in the report, including changing staff shift patterns to
be tailored to residents' needs and putting in place a food
champion to monitor food and fluid plans.
“We are very grateful for the positive feedback we have
received from residents. Their health, safety and wellbeing is
our absolute top priority and we will continue to strive every day
to deliver high quality care.”
Cadbury Heath
Parents join pupils for forest fun
Parents joined pupils at Parkwall Primary School last
Wednesday for a fun den-building event which included hot
dogs.
The school has large grounds including a woodland which is
used for Forest School sessions and every pupil has at least
one each week.
The children go out in all weathers (except thunderstorms and
high winds), all year round.
New Parkwall headteacher Chris
Larke-Phillips joins parents and
pupils in the Forest School
In this outdoor classroom
they get to explore,
investigate and discover the
natural environment, offering
them opportunities to take
risks, make choices and
initiate learning for
themselves.
Forest School leader Sarah Turner (at the back) with some of the
parents and pupils
Crossword Solution
A B R U P T E F F O R T
I O U C O R R
R I S O T T O R O G U E
D I U U U A B
R U N U P N O M I N A L
Y O T Z E
E V A N G E L I C A L
S I R M B
T A K E A I M P R A T E
O I R A E L A
V E N O M N E T T I N G
E G E D U B L
R E S I D E A S S I Z E
The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016 31

32 The Week in • Thursday 13th October 2016