Bristol Weekly Magazine 9th 16th February 2023

B r i s t o l ' s L a r g e s t I n d e p e n d e n t C o n s t r u c t i o n

H e a l t h & S a f e t y Tr a i n i n g C e n t r e

.

9th February

C ontents

4. Stunning new artwork to light up Weston

6. Lego rental scheme

8. What’s on

14. Valentines Day

23. National

24. Making

30. £900 cost of living payment

32. Out and about with Jos and Andrew

34. Changes to Trinity Rd Police Station

36. Ordered to pay costs of £1,559

40. National apprentice week

44. Dr. Zara Nanu as their newest ambassador.

46. Another national award

48. South Bristol Enterprise Support

Published by

Editor

Michael Davies

Journalist

Lisa Davies

Contributing Writers

Andrea Sexton

Martin Powell

Daren Bane

Kayleigh Penny

Andrew Varney

Jos Clark

Corinna Ingram

Kathryn Chatfield

Angie Nicholls

Daisy Bickley

Bristol Weekly Magazine is delivered to people across Bristol and South West via email and social media every week to over 20,0000 people.

BRISTOL WEEKLY MAGAZINE

www.bristolweeklymagazine.co.uk

Disclaimer

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12 The Whale

18 New Veteinary Hospital

A STUNNING NEW ARTWORK THAT LIGHTS UP THE NIGHT SKY IS COMING SOON TO WESTON-SUPER-MARE

Get ready for the GLOW light festival this February! With a variety of illuminated artworks that go beyond Grove Park, experience breathtaking light shows at the Grand Pier and Dolphin Square. This festival is brought to you by Culture Weston in partnership with Westonsuper-Mare Town Council and the Grand Pier, funded by Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund, and more. Let's give thanks to Producer Paula Birtwistle for making this amazing event possible—featuring a stellar lineup of national artists—and now we can all enjoy!

Internationally renowned artist Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE is creating a special piece of art to be featured on the grand pier! Her next work, ‘Pigeon’, will be a vibrant and bright neon homage to what some people might consider as an underrated creature: the humble pigeon. As described by Chila herself,

“The pigeon - oft maligned despite its well-known loyalty, homing instinct that lasts up to 800 miles a day, and cultural significance - deserves its moment to shine.” Another amazing example of her punjabi- Liverpudlian style of art that lit up TATE BRITAIN during 2020’s pandemic can also be seen in ‘Remembering a Brave New World’. We’re so excited for Chila’s upcoming installation.

Before coming home to nest in Weston’s town centre, ‘Pigeon’ will be on display at The Grand Pier, alongside two additional works by Chila Kumari Singh Burman‘Laxmi’ and ‘Without us there is no Britain’, both of which were part of the iconic Tate Britain facade.

Walliscote Primary School’s talented students are putting their creativity and inspiration to good use too under the guidance of artist Megan Clark-Bagnall. It’s all part of an amazing project titled ‘Nest’ to create illuminated nests, inspired by local public art piece ‘Pigeon’. Once finished, these gorgeous pieces of art will be displayed in Weston Artspace on the High Street during GLOW! How exciting!

NEW LEGO RENTAL SCHEME LAUNCHES IN SOMERSET LIBRARIES

Calling all LEGO fanatics – young and old! North Somerset Council Library Service now offers a fantastic range of themed LEGO boxes – from 'under the sea' to 'houses', not to mention Duplo and Stickle Bricks for those younger fans.

Keep your little ones entertained with fun, age-appropriate activities (and learning sheets!) at no extra cost. All you need to do is sign up as a library member and reserve a box through the online catalogue at w ww.librarieswest. org.uk.

People can check when these are happening at their local library, as well as a range of other free events, online at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/libraryevents.

The LEGO boxes were purchased thanks to £1,000 from Tesco’s Community Grants scheme. Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities.

The scheme – previously Tesco Bags of Help – has already provided over £90 million to more than 40,000 projects across Britain. Thousands of other LEGO branded items are available for free hire, including books and DVDs.

Who doesn’t love LEGO? Those colorful, interlocking building-blocks have captivated children and adults alike since the mid 20th century.

Did you know that the company was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christensen at his workshop in Billund, Denmark? He aptly named it after the Danish phrase ‘leg godt’, which translates to ‘play well’.

WHATS ON

FEBRUARY 10

Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook

Description: Someone Like You - The Adele Songbook is an outstanding live concert performance featuring stunning vocals, a super-talented band and an incredible repertoire of all your favourite Adele hits – including songs from the brand-new album ’30.’

Venue: The Playhouse

126-130 High St, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1HP

Thank Drag it’s FriGay

Description: “Thank Drag it’s FriGay”, our weekly Drag hosted by some amazing talent featuring even more amazing talent followed by one of our resident DJ’s. This is proper old-skool drag, not a death drop in site - the stage isn’t big enough for that kind of behaviour! Why not join us for a night of laughter and singing.

Venue: Seamus

O’Donnell’s

13 St Nicholas St, Bristol BS1 1UE

FEBRUARY 11

The Smartest Giant in Town

Description:Based on the bestselling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler George wishes he wasn’t the scruffiest giant in town. So when he sees a new shop selling giant-sized clothes, he decides it’s time for a new look: smart trousers, smart shirt, stripy tie, shiny shoes. Now he’s the smartest giant in town . . . until he bumps into some animals who desperately need his help – and his clothes!

Venue: The Redgrave Theatre, Percival Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3LE

Aftershock

Description: The fasting selling Pro Wrestling Show in the south west returns to Kings Oak Academy for a night of Body Slams, Brawls and Bombs. Featuring stars from the WWE Network!

Venue: Kings Oak Academy Brook Rd, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 4JT

FEBRUARY 12

Puxton Park Classic Cars

Description: Open to any classic car. Triumph TR preferred though. Meet at The Puxton Park Farm Shop and restaurant on the A370 just north of the M5 Weston junction, the post code is BS24 6AH. Come and go as you please, no booking, no entry fee, we usually arrive around 9.30 to 10.00 and depart about 11.00 to 12.00. If we aren’t outside admiring cars, we’ll be inside having a coffee/roll/breakfast

Venue: Puxton Park

Cowslip Lane, Westonsuper-Mare

Six Nations: England vs Italy

Description: Our massive screen is back again for the 6 Nations. If you came to any of the World Cup games you will know that the Crane Room is the best place for atmosphere to watch the games live. Tickets are limited and come with a FREE DRINK*.

Venue: Propyard

39-46 Feeder Rd, Bristol BS2 0SE

Warcry

Description: Sunday Warcry Meet & Play is £7 per person, payable at the BIG till, unless you are a BIG subscriber in which case your game is covered as part of that deal. All welcome to join in, club membership not required

Venue: Bristol Independent Gaming

16 Cater Rd, Bishopsworth, Bristol BS13 7TW

Half term circus school

7-16yrs

Description: 3 evenings of mixed ability intensive aerial training for ages 8-16yrs running from Monday 13thWednesday 15th February 5:00-7:00PM!

Venue: The Stable

3-6 Wadham St, Westonsuper-Mare BS23 1JY

Trainmaster Clevedon

Description: Ride on trains, giant track layouts, build your own tracks, Thomas Minis, superstations, sibling discounts and lots more!

Games

Venue: Ashcombe park Weston Super Mare

Fia Live

Description: The Swedish singer-songwriter brings her unique vocals and beautiful spirit-inspired melodies to Bristol

Based in the countryside north of Stockholm, Fia Forsström (known mononymously as Fia) is a spiritual singer-songwriter who with her inspirational lyrics and catchy melodies has a unique way of weaving music that empowers the listener to drop deeper into themselves and find their own medicine.

Venue: The Mount Without Upper Church Ln, Bristol BS2 8FN

Wonderland Description: Aged 6-11 and fancy making your own play in two days? Then join us for a spot of flamingo croquet with the Queen of Hearts at a mad hatters tea party to remember. The children will devise their own play inspired by the beloved Lewis Carroll classic to perform to family at the end of the second day. Come and work with theatre professionals for only £55 for the two days

Venue: Pill community Center Church Pl, Pill, Bristol BS20 0AE

FEBRUARY 15

Senior lunch club

Description: Come along to our weekly senior lunch club and make new friendships. Enjoy conversations with other members of the community over a complimentary lunch of warm soup and sandwiches with home baked cakes. To book a free place call 0117 374 1370 or email nicola.wolff-donitz@ careuk.com

Venue: Trymview Hall

Southmead Rd, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS10 5DW

Screening Room: Sleepless In Seattle

Description: Hot on the heels of Valentine’s Day, we’re presenting a 30th anniversary screening of Nora Ephron’s touching romantic comedy-drama Sleepless In Seattle for our February Screening Room event. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan both shine in their critically acclaimed lead roles, and their chemistry is palpable - even though they famously spend most of the film apart…!

Venue: Averys Wine Cellars

9 Culver St, Bristol BS1 5LD

FEBRUARY 16

Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen

Description: One of the UK’s most exciting comedians, Fern Brady is adding extra tour dates of her fifth solo show Autistic Bikini Queen. This comes hot off the heels of her previous sell out show ‘Power & Chaos’ which was filmed as a special and broadcast on BBC One. She also co-hosts the hit BBC Podcast ‘Wheel of Misfortune’ where she discovers and shares embarrassing moments from the general public and celebrity guests

Venue: Redgrave Theatre, Percival Rd, Clifton, Bristol

BS8 3LE

Art Exhibition

Description: City Shapes is an Art Exhibition of a series of abstract paintings depicting the different forms, colours and light throughout the days and seasons in the city. Dominika has always been fascinated by the urban landscape and that provides the inspiration for this series of paintings. Each painting here is the product of process driven by Dominika’s heart and soul

Venue: Tobacco Factory Raleigh Rd, Bristol, BS3

1TF

UPCOMING EVENTS

ALSO SHOWING IN CINEMAS

PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH EMPIRE OF LIGHT

THE WHALE

A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption. A must see movie starring Brendan Fraser

SAID

BABYLON SHE

VALENTINE’S DAY

Valentine’s Day began as St. Valentine’s Day, a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. February 14th first became associated with romantic love during the High Middle Ages as the tradition of courtly love was then flourishing. During 18th century England, this day evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending Valentine cards.

ANCIENT HISTORY

Mixed opinions prevail regarding who or what was celebrated in mid-February. Some point to martyred saints by the name of Valentine or Valentinus. The most popular story tells of the saint who defied a decree by Emperor Claudius II who outlawed marriage for young men because he believed single men made better soldiers. St. Valentine, preferring young lovers to be wed than have them sneaking around (or believing in the power of love), would marry them in secret. However, it may have been another Valentine who performed the marriages. Either way, at least two of them were beheaded for their actions.

Another possible origin for Valentine’s Day takes us back to a pagan festival called Lupercalia. As a way to discourage participation in the fertility festival, the Christian church placed St. Valentine’s Day in the middle of February.

Valentine’s FAQ

Q. Do you have to be in a relationship to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

A. No. Anyone can celebrate Valentine’s Day. Shower yourself with love and attention by pampering yourself if you are single. You can also spend the day with friends and celebrate your friendship.

Q. Is Valentine’s Day banned in some countries?

A. Yes. In some countries, Valentine’s Day is deemed to be pagan or not a part of the country’s cultural identity.

Q. Do I need to spend a lot of money on Valentine’s Day?

A. No. For many, it’s the thought that goes into the celebration that says, “I love you.” Some inexpensive, but thoughtful gifts, include:

A happyplace to live

We pride ourselves on having happy homes, where residents and their families can enjoy spending quality time with each other and develop new friendships along the way.

Our homes in Bristol are located close to local shops and amenities, and benefit from strong connections with community groups. We offer a busy and varied activities programme that includes something for everyone and ensures residents get the most out of every day.

We care for individuals with a variety of care needs including Residential, Nursing and Dementia Care.

Our homes in Bristol: Osborne Court Care Home, 0117 321 9289 Bishopsmead Lodge Care Home, 0117 321 9269

Call our friendly team today, or visit: www.fshc.co.uk

ARMADILLO TWINS ARNOLD AND ERNIE FIND A NEW HOME

It's an exciting time at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall, where brothers Arnold and Ernie have just arrived! These two armadillos are the first of their species to be welcomed into the Viva South America exhibit, and they're quickly becoming the talk of the town. Curator Chris Wilkinson was thrilled to report that visitors are delighted by these new additions. We can only imagine how exciting it must be for guests to watch these fiesty six-banded armadillos as they dig around and explore their new surroundings!

Although they are not seemingly at risk in the wild, their habitat north of the Amazon river is under threat from human and industrial expansion.

The creatures are also hunted for their medicinal qualities but not for food.

Arnold and Ernie are proving such a hit in North Somerset that the zoo is considering adding them to their animals available for adoption.

Find out about its ‘Adopt-an-animal’ scheme here.

Be who you’ve always been... a keen gardener

NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART VETERINARY HOSPITAL STARTS RECRUITMENT IN BRISTOL

Recruitment has started to staff an innovative new Veterinary Referral Hospital in Bristol, which will act as a centre of excellence for small animal care in the South West.

Bristol Vet Specialists is opening applications from specialist vets, referral nurses and veterinary surgeons looking to complete a rotating internship. Positions in BVS’ front of house client concierge and admin teams are also available to help deliver a best in class customer experience for patients, their owners and the vets who refer them to the hospital.

The site will employ over 100 highly skilled professionals and will be led by a large team of nationally and internationally-renowned specialist veterinary surgeons, supported by residents, interns and registered veterinary nurses. Together, they will create a centre for veterinary excellence and training in Bristol and the South West.

Bristol Vet Specialists will facilitate the development of new and emerging treatments. The veterinary hospital will offer pioneering treatment to animals who are in need of specialist care. It will operate as a flagship regional hub for CVS Group across the South West, Midlands and Wales.

Based at Central Park in Avonmouth, the site will offer the latest technology and treatments in all disciplines including; general surgery, orthopaedics, neurology and neurosurgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, cardiology, dermatology, oncology and dentistry, as well as dedicated anaesthesia, analgesia, diagnostic imaging and intensive care departments.

The centre is currently being custom-built with uniquely designed facilities. This includes the installation of cutting edge diagnostic tools, such as MRI and CT scanners, alongside a state-of-the-art linear accelerator which offers advanced, image-guided radiation treatments - for example intensity-modulated or stereotactic radiation therapy.

Specialist CVS site will employ over 100 veterinary professionals

“We are excited to open up positions for veterinary professionals to come and work with us. We hope to employ some of the most qualified and experienced veterinary professionals in Europe at our innovative new site.

“With a leading team, we hope that Bristol Vet Specialists will become a centre of excellence in the veterinary world - providing the best animal care to pet owners across the South West and becoming a leader in Europe for the treatment of cancer in small animals.”

Bristol Vet Specialists will open in the Spring of 2023. It is an upgraded specialist referral facility for CVS in Bristol, building on the success of the current site on Wells Road which had reached capacity and had limited scope for expanding specialist services.

CVS Group operates across small animal, farm animal, equine, laboratories and crematoria, with 473 veterinary practices and referral centres in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands. In the last five years the company has invested nearly £80 million in its sites, facilities and equipment, in addition to industry leading training and support, to give the best possible care to animals.

Delphine Holopherne-Doran, Clinical Director at Bristol Vet Specialists, said:

PRAWN, PROSECCO & LEMON RISOTTO

INGREDIENTS

200g pack frozen king prawns

30g unsalted butter

½ onion, finely chopped

175g risotto rice

250ml Prosecco

650ml hot chicken stock, made with 1 reduced-salt stock cube

1 garlic clove, crushed

Zest and juice of ½ lemon

Handful flat leaf parsley, chopped

100g Rocket

30g parmesan, shaved or grated

METHOD

Defrost the prawns according to the pack instructions

Melt half the butter in a frying pan, then cook the onion for 10 mins, until softened

Add the rice and stir for 1 minute, then add 100ml of the prosecco and stir until most of the liquid is absorbed

Add a ladle of hot chicken stock and stir until absorbed

Repeat until you have used up all of the stock (about 20 mins)

Keep the risotto warm on a very low heat

Melt the rest of the butter in another pan and cook the garlic for 1 minute, until golden, then add the remaining prosecco and the lemon juice

Cook for 1-2 mins, until reduced by a third, then add the parsley and season to taste

Add the prawns and cook for a further 1-2 mins, or until heated through

Stir the rocket through the risotto until just wilted, then serve topped with the prawns, lemon zest and parmesan

HOTELIERS URGE GOVERNMENT TO RELAX RULES TO AID UK RECRUITMENT

Hoteliers urge Government to relax rules to aid UK recruitment

Bristol hoteliers are urging the Government to relax some of the post-Brexit rules which have hindered their ability to recruit in recent years.

A combination of the impact of Brexit, coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns, caused huge problems for the hospitality sector, which has traditionally drawn heavily upon European workers to help staff hotels, pubs and restaurants.

Before Brexit, it’s estimated that the UK hospitality sector employed more than 400,000 EU work ers.

Today, EU employees make up 28 percent of the UK’s hospitality workforce, compared to 42 percent pre-pandemic.

Many workers went home to be with their families when the Covid-19 crisis came, forcing businesses into lockdown.

Then, because of changes in employment law brought in by Brexit, most were unable to return, leaving huge workforce gaps, in hospitality and other sectors.

Many hospitality businesses which had managed to keep doing despite being forced to close because of the pandemic found they were struggling to find the staff they needed when they were able to re-open.

And little has dramatically changed since to significantly ease the staffing shortage.

With Chancellor Jeremy Hunt due to

Raphael Herzog, Chair of Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA), said: “The past few years have been extremely challenging for the hospitality sector and there are still some huge difficulties to overcome.

“Brexit, the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis, particularly in terms of energy prices, have created the perfect storm.

“One of the biggest issue for us remains recruitment in some key areas of our businesses, such as chefs, food and beverage staff, room attendants and so on, which is why we think it is time for the Government to look at relaxing some of the Brexit rules.

“This will help not only hotels and other hospitality providers, but many other sectors which have also been struggling with staff shortages, to help get Britain’s businesses back on their feet.

“News reports are full of stories of staff shortages, from bus and coach drivers to care providers, which is leading to hospital beds being blocked because people are not able to go home because there is not the community care services available to them, largely because of staff shortages.

“The country is on its knees because of a shortage of staff in so many sectors, which is why we are urging the Government to open up the EU borders more and give many British businesses the helping hand many of them so badly need.”

To find out more about the BHA and everything it does to support the hospitality sector in Bristol, visit www.bristol-hoteliers.co.uk

PASTA AMATRICIANA

INGREDIENTS

150g Spaghetti

1 tbsp Olive oil

1/2 x 230g Dry cured smoked bacon, chopped

1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped

1/2 x 500g jar tomato & chilli pasta sauce

2 tsp Parmesan, grated

METHOD

Cook the spaghetti according to the pack instructions

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan and fry the bacon and pepper for 5 mins

Stir in the sauce and heat through Drain the pasta and stir into the sauce

Serve with a sprinkling of Parmesan on top

FINDING AND FUNDING AN HMO

One of the biggest challenges most investors face is a lack of quality deals, so it is important to know what you are looking for when it comes to investing in HMOs and where you should be looking for it. Once you know this, you can then decide if it is going to be a good investment… or not!

LET’S START WITH WHERE TO LOOK:

It’s important to note that there are always exceptions to the rule – we have some very profitable HMOs in areas that we were advised wouldn’t work. Remember that each area is different, and we highly suggest spending time meeting & learning from HMO investors in your area as to what works and what doesn’t.

When looking for HMOs, it is important to focus on what type of HMO you are looking to create, as different areas suit different Tenant Types. Some obvious examples include putting a student HMO a long way away from a university or a working professional HMO in a tiny village with little employment.

With this in mind, we then go back to property fundamentals and appropriately balance the seesaw of:

• Tenant Demand

• Local amenities

• Local employers

• Transport Links

• HMO Feasibility

• Property Prices

• Property Layouts/Characteristics

• HMO Saturation in the area

In our experience, while none of the above should be neglected, tenant demand is the most important factor. If you are going to have large voids with your HMO, it is not going to be a good investment.

There are different ways to test this: speak with local agents and talk through similar properties that they manage; look on Spareroom at rooms wanted vs rooms available in the desired area; speak with other investors and ask how they are finding the market; join & track the local Rooms/Houses for rent Facebook Groups in your area and track properties on Rightmove/Zoopla to see when they are posted and when they become let agreed over several months. There are lots of creative ways to test demand and the list above is not exhaustive!

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Once you know where you are going to look, the next step is what type of properties in that area will make good HMOs.

The key factors here are going to be:

• The number of rooms you can create

• The layout of the building as it is

• Can you extend into the loft

• Can you extend out the back or on the side

• Waste pipes & soil stacks that are already in place

A new HMO investor may wish to stay below the Sui Generis Planning threshold and go for a 4-6 person HMO, as planning permission provides another layer of risk. Generally, 6 person HMOs are more profitable than 4 person ones.

When looking at number of rooms remember that although the minimum size of a room is 6.51sqm, this is very small. So, we would suggest making sure all rooms are doubles and ideally over 8sqm as a minimum. Whether to go for all en-suite rooms is another topic all together – often with divided opinion. Our thoughts are that this is market and area dependent. Communal spaces are also very important, do not neglect them, as tenants who feel part of a community will be happier and increasing your tenant retention.

When you know where you are looking and what you are looking for, you can create your “cookie-cutter” – aiming to find a property type, in a certain area, that you know works, so you can rinse and repeat.

FINANCE & FUNDING:

After you’ve bought and refurbed your HMO, you are going to want to re-finance it.

Traditional financing of an HMO is very similar to a standard buy to let, you are valuing the property based upon its bricks & mortar value and are able to re-mortgage after you have added value through renovation, to release some/all of your invested capital. This is the classic BRR model.

What makes HMOs different to standard BTLs is that with the larger properties (7+ person HMOs) you can value them commercially via a yield multiplier on the income they create. A select group of lenders will also allow you to do this with smaller HMOs but you have to jump through many hoops to achieve this.

This is what makes HMO investments very appealing because you can value them beyond their bricks valuation, leveraging them higher and releasing more capital after re-finance.

It’s important to add here, that anytime you increase leverage, you increase risk, especially when going above the bricks’ value, so this is not something to jump into without careful consideration and detailed analysis.

To learn your area’s yield multiplier, you need to speak with a commercial surveyor and to understand what lending is available to you, you need a good mortgage broker – both are vital parts of the jigsaw if this is the route you would like to take.

Now you know where you are looking, what type of property to look for and your options upon re-finance you should be able to start looking for HMOs. When it comes to sourcing methods, more is always better than less: agents, networking, HMO database, auctions, flyers, direct to vendor campaigns etc. etc. the more shots you take at goal the higher your chance of scoring!

BUDGET PROPOSALS

The Conservative administration of South Gloucestershire Council has unveiled its Budget plans for 2023/24. At a Cabinet meeting on Friday 10 February, the proposals will be voted on by members; these proposals focus on key priorities that serve the Council's local population, such as investments in children's futures and vulnerable people’s health, as well as efforts to bolster economic growth and provide taxpayers with industry-leading services.

Unfavourable global circumstances have presented significant financial pressures, however sound money management practices implemented by South Glos' Conservatives have kept the impacts to a minimum. Careful budgeting decisions—from reserving underspends to fixing energy contracts during favourable market prices—have helped set the Council apart from other local authorities in terms of fiscal robustness.

And thanks to the Conservatives’ continued efforts, residents in South Glos will this year benefit from free parking being retained in all Council-owned car parks, more money spent fixing potholes and from cash set aside to keep bus services going temporarily following the WECA Mayor’s cuts.

Subject to Cabinet approval, the £30 charge for collecting garden waste will be frozen, Street Care teams will be protected, support for veterans’ services will continue and significant levels of investment in schools and community facilities will be available

Credits South Gloucestershire Conservative Councillors

Cabinet will be asked to approve a below-inflation council tax rise of 4.99%, which is in keeping with the national trend.

Cllr Toby Savage, Conservative Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This year we have faced enormous financial challenges beyond our immediate control. The global rise in energy prices has pushed inflation up and the Council, like businesses and organisations all over the country, has had to adapt quickly.

“Despite these challenges, our Budget proposals show that we are well-placed to deliver on our priorities for residents and ensure that South Glos continues to thrive.

“We aim to strike a fair balance with a below-inflation council tax increase, alongside keeping car parking free, further help with the cost of living and investing to protect essential frontline services, like StreetCare.

“Whether it’s investing tens of millions of pounds in local schools to achieve record attainment levels, hitting our highest ever recycling rates and taking decisive action to tackle the climate crisis, or building vital public transport infrastructure and investing in local high streets, these Budget proposals will ensure that our significant achievements over the past few years will continue into the next.”

The Budget proposals will be voted on by councillors at a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday 15 February.

HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS UK THAT WILL GET £900 COST OF LIVING PAYMENT

Feeling the strain of increasing living costs? You're not alone. Most households qualify for government support this winter, with £400 yet to come in February and March. But what else can you expect? Even more help is coming over the next 2 yrs. That's right - up to £1350 in total!

The Chancellor emerged from his Autumn Statement with a promise: £900 more for 8 million low-income folks in 2023. And that’s got nothing on increases to working-age benefits plus an Energy Price Guarantee which caps your average bill at £2.5K. If you’re claiming means-tested benefits, lucky you - you also qualify for 3 payments of that £900 as we roll into the next financial year!

Not sure if you’re eligible for the bonus £900? Don’t worry - millions of households are! Whether it’s benefits or pensions, up to three lump sum payments of £900 each can be received. You’ll need to have been receiving an applicable benefit by a certain date that hasn’t yet been said, but no worries - we’ll keep you posted.

Plus don’t forget: tax-free, won’t count towards caps and won’t affect existing awards either! And there’s even more available to those who qualify - disabled people can get an extra £150 and pensioners shall receive an additional £300 plus Winter Fuel Payments.

Exact qualifying dates will be announced closer to the time, so there are no exact dates published by the Government yet. The general payment periods will be as follows:

£301 – First Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2023 (for those on means-tested benefits)

£150 – Disability Payment – during Summer 2023 (for those on disability benefits)

£300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023 (for those on means-tested benefits)

£300 – Pensioner Payment – during Winter 2023/4 (for pensioners who get the Winter Fuel Payment)

£299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024 (for those on means-tested benefits)

So spring will be when the first payment arrives. This indicates it will be sometime between April 5, when the new financial year starts, and June 21, which is the astronomical start of summer.

What exactly are means-tested benefits?

‘Means’ is a word for money or capital. So these are income-based benefits, where the amount paid is dependent on a person’s financial situation. A person may find their benefits reduced or their claim refused because of the amount of money they earn from wages or investments or have stashed away in savingsfor instance, Universal Credit is reduced when savings exceed £6,000 and stops altogether if savings reach £16,000.

If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, JSA, ESA, Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit then you could get £900 from the gov. But if you’re getting New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory ESA or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance plus do NOT qualify for the sum.

And don’t worry if on any of these other benefits: Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and State Pension. If it’s one of those then you still get some cash coming your way - like £150 due in 2023 - whilst those claiming a State Pension can look forward to an extra £300 on their Winter Fuel Payment.

ANOTHER ROUND-UP OF LOCAL NEWS FROM YOUR LIB DEM TEAM

BRISLINGTON BROOK RAILINGS:

We are delighted with the new railings alongside the Brislington Brook near Water Lane. We would like to thank the local residents who joined us in campaigning for improvements and a big thank you to the team at Tesco Brislington for listening to our concerns and coming up with a great solution that will hopefully stand the test of time.

LANGTON COURT ROAD CONSULTATION STARTS:

Local residents may be aware of our long-running campaign for pedestrian safety improvements by St Anne’s Infants School in Brislington West, including pavement widening and safer crossing points. In 2019, funding was allocated for a scheme, but this failed to materialise, largely due to the pandemic and a new consultation on closing the adjacent Langton Road Bridge to motorised vehicles, which was not supported by a majority of local people.

We have tried to keep this issue in the spotlight with regular communications with council officers and questions to the Mayor at City Hall. We are pleased to say our persistence has paid off and the city Traffic Engineer has been in touch with details of a new consultation, which is much closer to what we asked for back in 2019. The aims of the proposals are to make it easier for pedestrians to cross the roads in the local area by St Anne’s School, keep as much on-street parking as possible, make sure buses, emergency vehicles, refuse vehicles and delivery vans can still get through and keep vehicles at an appropriate speed around the school. The proposals include:

At the north end either side of the bridge, provide footway build outs with dropped kerbs to improve visibility for pedestrians

• Widen the footways to provide more space for pedestrians and reduce the width of the road they need to cross. This will extend along Langton Court Road towards the school entrance.

• Outside the school entrance the road would narrow and there would be a speed table, which would help slow vehicles by the school and provide a level surface for people to cross the road.

• Provide a new zebra crossing on Langton Court Road, near the junction. The zig-zags on the approach to the zebra crossing prohibit parking, so some on-street parking will be lost (equivalent to about four cars). This is important to make sure that people using the crossing can be seen by drivers.

• The footways would also be widened and dropped kerbs with tactile paving installed at the junction of Salisbury Road and Bloomfield Road to help pedestrians cross these roads.

If you would like to make comments on the proposal, please contact the city transport team by Sunday 5 March 2023.

• Email: transport.engagement@bristol. gov.uk

• Phone: 0117 9036449 and leave a message on the answerphone

• Write to: Langton Court Road, Transport Engagement Team, PO BOX 3399, 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS1 9NE

HELPING OUR POOL:

Last week, Jos took part in the Jubilee-athon, helping to raise vital funds for the survival of our community pool. This week, she organised a local company, MAD, to help with unblocking the drains, who did the work completely free-of-charge! The drains in the men's changing rooms have now been cleared and are much better. Unfortunately, MAD were unable to unblock the ladies’ as the drain cover had been cemented over, but they have promised to come back and help again. A big thank you to MAD https://www.maintainadrain.co.uk/

WHITE HART CONSULTATION DEADLINE:

The White Hart consultation deadline is this Saturday 11 February. The consultation is on behalf of Meadow Care Homes regarding proposals to redevelop the former White Hart in Brislington Village. The proposed redevelopment of the existing Grade II listed building/ site would provide an 80-bed care-home and some key-worker flats, along with some public facing uses. Meadow Care Homes and their project team are currently working up proposals and would like to share the plans and invite feedback from neighbours and stakeholders in advance of submitting a planning application at the end of February. The consultation material is available to view online at https://bit.ly/WhiteHartLodge

Feedback from the consultation and other key stakeholders will then be considered by the project team as they finalise the proposals and prepare the planning submission. Once the application has been submitted, there will be a further consultation period, led by the Council, when there will be another opportuni -

By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor

(Brislington West) Email: cllr. jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk

Mobile: 07584 370429

& Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor

(Brislington West) Email: cllr.andrew.varney@bristol. gov.uk

Mobile: 07584 183381

CHANGES TO TRINITY ROAD POLICE STATION

“

The East Bristol team will be visiting the Trinity Centre in St Phillips each month to give community members an opportunity to connect with local police before the temporary closure of Trinity Road Police Station. These meetings offer residents a chance to ask any questions about policing matters. We look forward to hearing the voices of the local community.

Trinity Road police station will close on 4 March, ahead of the redevelopment of the site by The Guinness Partnership which is intended to begin in summer 2023. The proposed redevelopment will provide 104 affordable (rented) and shared ownership apartments, ranging from 1 bedroom to 3-bedroom units. Part of the ground floor of the development will be used as a new police station, serving the local community and ensuring the Neighbourhood Policing team continue to be based at the heart of the local community.

Chief Inspector Deepak Kenth said: “We‘re committed to making sure that our Neighbourhood Policing team continue to deliver policing services within the local community. Although there will be a change to the police station and Enquiry Office, there will be no change in the number of police officers and PCSOs patrolling in the local area.

We’re excited about having a new, modern, police station that will meet our needs better than the existing station which is much too large and in need of significant investment. But we are keen to reassure the community that we are still very much around while the new building is being constructed.

“Over the next six months we will be holding monthly meetings at the Trinity Centre where members of the community can come and speak to a member of the Neighbourhood Policing team and ask any questions they have about local policing and the changes being made to Trinity Road Police Station.”

The monthly community events are open to residents, traders and anyone that has an interest local policing and will be held at The Trinity Centre on:

Tuesday 31 January – 5pm to 7pm (Main Hall)

Saturday 25 February – 11am to 1pm (Main Hall)

Friday 31 March – 5pm to 7pm (Graffiti Room)

Wednesday 26 April- 1pm to 3pm (Main Hall)

Thursday 25 May – 10am to 12pm (Graffiti Room)

Monday 19 June – 5pm to 7pm (Graffiti Room)

From 5 March, the nearest police Enquiry Offices will be at The Bridewell Police Station and Fishponds Police Station. The Neighbourhood Policing team can be contacted by completing a form at https://www.avonandsomerset.police. uk/your-area/trinity/ or by calling 101.

A RESIDENT FROM STOKE GIFFORD HAS BEEN ORDERED TO PAY COSTS OF £1,559

David Spiring, 38, of Cow Barton in Stoke Gifford was taken to court for fly-tipping waste in Hambrook, South Gloucestershire. He failed to appear twice before eventually pleading guilty and being sentenced by Bristol Magistrates Court on 2 February.

The magistrate ordered him to pay a £480 fine, £813 in costs, £56 for cleanup costs, as well as a £192 victim surcharge; the total amount due was £1,541. Fly-tipping is an offence that carries serious penalties and South Gloucestershire Council will continue to pursue those responsible for any such activity.

The court heard that on 8 August 2022 the proprietor of The White Horse Public House on Hambrook Lane became aware of a number of black household rubbish bags that had been discarded in the car park of the pub.

The pub’s CCTV revealed a car had driven into the car park that morning and the driver could be seen to get out of the vehicle and remove approximately six black bags of household waste which he placed and left in the car park, before driving off.

The footage also showed that the vehicle had three single mattresses attached to its roof, but they were not discarded, and the driver left with them still on the vehicle.

The proprietor contacted South Gloucestershire Council and Environmental Enforcement officers attended. They confirmed that it was general household waste and found a letter addressed to Spiring at his home address within one of the bags. Subsequent checks completed on the vehicle captured on CCTV revealed Spiring as its registered keeper and ANPR enquiries additionally put the vehicle in the vicinity of the offence at the time and date observed.

On Monday 22 August Environmental Enforcement officers attended Spiring’s address and observed the same vehicle on the driveway of the property. Spiring answered the door and was made aware of the nature of the visit by the officers, who cautioned him and proceeded to ask questions about the offence, to most of which he responded with “no comment”.

When questioned about the mattresses and if those had also been fly-tipped, Spiring responded by saying he always fly-tips his rubbish as well as claiming he doesn’t pay any taxes, rates, insurance, or fines.

Spiring declined the opportunity to view the CCTV footage and at the conclusion of the conversation he was advised that he would be reported to attend court for the fly-tip and would receive the summons in the post.

Councillor Rachael Hunt, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This case is further proof of our unrelenting commitment to prosecute fly-tippers and I hope it serves as a deterrent to anyone who considers dumping their waste illegally in South Gloucestershire.

“This waste could have been disposed of lawfully at one of our Sort It recycling centres, but instead it was discarded in the car park of a public house and expected that others would clear it away.

There is no excuse for fly-tipping, it has a negative impact on our communities and local environment, and we all have a responsibility to make sure that our waste is disposed of in the appropriate manner.

“We will pursue anyone who dumps their rubbish illegally through the courts and our award-winning environmental enforcement team has a 100 per cent record of securing successful prosecutions for this type of offence. Our zero-tolerance approach means that anyone who fly-tips in South Gloucestershire is five times more likely to be prosecuted than anywhere else in the country.”

Unwanted goods and household or garden waste can all be disposed of at no cost via the council’s Sort It recycling centres www.southglos.gov.uk/sortitcentres

Residents who see illegal fly-tipping are encouraged to report it by contacting the council’s StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, emailing streetcare@southglos. gov.uk or visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/ flytipping

Hengrove Community Centre

Fortfield Road

BS14 9NX

Tuesday 9.30am

Sarah: 07879 443888

Bridgefarm Primary School

East Dundry Road

BS14 0LL

Wednesday 5.30pm and 7pm

Sarah: 07879 443888

slimmingworld.co.uk

Christ Church Hall

Petherton Road

Hengrove

BS14 9BP

Saturday 9:30am

Keesa: 07399 597267

Take a break and try to solve theses puzzles

Here are this months puzzles designed to test your mental skills during your lunch break or after tea.

Good luck!

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7 differences between these two pictures. Are your eyes good enough to see them all?

in partnership with North Somerset Council

THE 20-YEAR-OLD APPRENTICE ACCOUNTANT WITH THE PROPERTY PORTFOLIO PLAN

For most 20-year-olds, the immediate future is clouded by uncertainty of exams, hangovers and, through the mists of time, perhaps even potential careers.

Surely very few have enough of a handle of where their young lives are headed that they’ve already got ambitions to start a property portfolio.

However, Amaya Reid, an apprentice accountant at Bristol firm Haines Watts, isn’t like most of her age group. She’s already got her next few years mapped out, being free of debt after choosing to go straight into professional life rather than taking the conventional and popular route through university.

Originally studying A-Levels in sciences and languages, it was once Covid hit in 2019 that Amaya had a rethink, choosing to attend St Brendan’s Sixth Form College instead, and start studying Law, Accounting and Politics.

Now she’s one of the early beneficiaries of a new partnership between the college and Haines Watts, which is expected to see three or four new apprentices joining the firm annually.

Having joined the company almost a year ago, does Amaya regret not indulging in the social experience that three years at university has to offer? Not really, she says: “I certainly don’t regret burdening myself with three years of student debt! And I’ve grown quite close to the other apprentices who joined Haines Watts at the same time as me.

“We go out together, there’s plenty to do in Bristol and the social life at the office is quite good, too.”

So, to those life plans. “Not having a massive student debt hanging over me is leaving me free to get on with what I want to do,” she says. “I’m hoping to have bought somewhere to live within the next two years – probably a flat, which I’ll live in for a couple of years then save up another deposit, buy another house and rent out the flat for some extra income.

“That’s the plan anyway – we’ll see how it goes. But I think if you want anything in life and are prepared to work for it, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”

Currently Amaya is living in Hanham with her parents. Indeed it was partly due to her father owning a building company that led her down the route of apprentice accountancy.

“My dad can’t stand doing the admin or the books,” she says. “So I helped him out a bit, which was when I realised it might be a career for me. And I’ve also experienced first-hand the need that small business owners have in terms of outsourcing business functions.

“That’s something I’m really interested in, getting out to meet clients and talking about the challenges they have, the plans they have for business growth and discussing how expert advice can help. I’ve been out to visit a timber business client already, alongside one of my senior colleagues, and it was a really good experience.”

With almost a year’s experience of bookkeeping and admin under her belt, Amaya is set to start a new role in the accounts department of the company in mid-February.

“I feel like I’m appreciated here,” she says, “and I realise that if I work hard then I can work my way up the ladder. To other people who are at school or college, I’d say that I know apprentice ships have a stigma and that there’s a narrative which suggests that everyone should go to uni.

“But I think people should see what a great opportunity an apprenticeship is, to get on in professional life quickly and get rewarded with good pay and responsibility from an early age. If you know what you want to do with your career, you should seriously consider it.”

Matthew Bracher, managing director at Haines Watts Bristol, said there were many benefits to taking on young accountants who have decided to pursue careers rather than going to university.

“Firstly, anyone who takes on a career at the age of 18 and recognises the long-term advantages of avoiding significant debt is demonstrating a maturity and shrewdness which reflects well on their personality,” he said. “Those are the type of people we are looking to offer opportunities to, as they see the world in a pragmatic way.

“In addition, we are interested in being able to train young talent in the values and practices we expect at Haines Watts – it is rewarding to see them develop into people who can really advise and help other people. Having a degree doesn’t always give those personal skills that we look for.

“We have an established trainee programme here, as well as manager and partner level development programmes, which works well for us as a business and is a key part of facilitating growth in the SME market, as well as supporting our longer-term ambitions.

“We’re delighted to see our apprentices like Amaya progressing and developing. It’s great for our business and for our clients alike.”

BRISTOL CAR PARKS TO BEGIN CHARGING IN AUTUMN

There's major backlash over the planned charges at 10 Bristol car parks. The authorities announced them back in February, which basically means they're coming this autumn. People are not happy – especially GP patients near Westbury Hill Car Park.

Folks have called it a "tax on people for being ill" since the car park is so close to the doctor's surgery. Even some cross-party councillors have spoken up against it and said it should either be dropped completely or at least cut back.

Conservative group leader and Henbury and Brentry ward, councillor Mark Weston, said he does not understand the "intellectual gymnastics the council goes through".

"We can afford to throw tens of millions of pounds at the Colston Hall [now Bristol Beacon] because we recognise the value it provides to the city but we are going to start charging a tiny amount in small car parks because we don't recognise the importance they have to secondary high streets.

"Small car parks are vital for those areas," he added.

Stoke Bishop ward councillor, Conservative John Goulandris, said medical patients needed to park at Waverley Road in Shirehampton where fees are also being introduced so “we will be hitting people who are sick”.

“These charges could... kill our suburban shopping centres which are suffering already,” he added

Mr Goulandris said the council's tiny earnings of £150,000 were a drop in the bucket compared to their total budget. The Labour cabinet member for transport backed up the plan with all its price increases, cuts and cost-saving adventures. Not that it made much of a difference anyway.

Councillor Don Alexander,said people have been subsidised for a long time with free car parks but “we would prefer to use that money to support bus services and active travel”.

The other eight car parks are Beechwood Road in Frome Vale; Callington Road in Brislington; Chalks Road in St George; Derby Street in St George; Ducie Road in Lawrence Hill; Machin Road in Henbury; Repton Road in Brislington and Stoke View Road in Eastville.

Blue badge parking spaces will remain free in every car park.

Has your property gone up in price?

1976 OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE INTERIOR EXTERIOR QUALITY WORKMANSHIP COMPETITIVE RATES

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DR. ZARA NANU JOINS JESSIE MAY AS AMBASSADOR

Bristol based children's hospice at home charity, Jessie May, is thrilled to announce Dr. Zara Nanu MBE as their newest ambassador.

Zara is CEO of Gapsquare from XpertHR, as well as a passionate advocate for workplace gender equality and fair pay, and is looking forward to lending her skills and support to Jessie May.

“I am so pleased to work with Jessie May and support the incredible work they do with families throughout the south west. Their vision that all children and young people with life-limiting and life threatening conditions have the very best quality of life possible at home with their families is vital work. I am looking forward to getting to know the team over the coming months.”

Clare Pearce, Director of Funding Development at Jessie May comments,

“We are delighted Zara is becoming an ambassador for us. Her different skills will bring fresh talent to the group of ambassadors, and we are excited to start working together. Zara joins us at an exciting time for the charity where we recently set out our 5 year plan to expand our services.”

You can read more about Jessie May and their 5 year strategy ‘No place like home’ here: https://jessiemay.org.uk/ news/our-publications/

ANOTHER NATIONAL AWARD FOR BRISTOL BUSINESS MAN

The best in the business – local Bristol coach receives national award

Bristol-based business coach, Gary Keating, was named a winner of the Great British Franchisee Awards this week in recognition of his ongoing success at his ActionCOACH Bristol firm. The accolade considers areas such as business growth, staff retainment, business experience, customer satisfaction, community involvement, and inspired leadership to determine worthy franchisees across the UK.

ActionCOACH franchise partners support businesses across the UK in their exclusive territories, offering coaching services to help clients unlock their business potential.

“Despite winning the award, it’s not about me – my team and our clients are what make our business coaching firm what it is. We measure our success by our client’s success - since our launch in 2015, we have seen our clients franchise their businesses, win awards for their work and massively increase their profits.

Our mission is to change the fate of business owners throughout Bristol and the surrounding area, and this award is validation that we’re succeeding.”

The judges of the Great British Franchisee Awards explained that Gary Keating had innovatively structured ActionCOACH Bristol for sustained growth. They stated that not only is Gary a great ambassador to the business coaching community, but he is just as invested in his clients and the wider Bristol community as he is in his own team.

The judges concluded that finding someone like Gary, who is constantly exceeding targets and demonstrating excellent leadership qualities, is exactly what they were looking for when granting a Great British Franchisee Award.

Gary is not stopping there with his exciting win as he continues to help local businesspeople to flourish. In 2022 alone, Gary and his team helped to create 1,200 jobs in the Bristol area through business coaching, predicting a turnover in excess of £1.8 million for this financial year. In addition to his recent win, Gary regularly places in the top 3 coaches globally. One local business owner who has particularly benefitted from Gary’s coaching is Mike Pugh, CEO of Maplebrook Wills.

” says Mike. “Gary has helped eliminate the chaos in our business and we now work from a commercial space, have full time employees, and have franchisees throughout England and Wales. Our future sees us stronger and more engaged for growth than we ever thought possible – we have now taken our business overseas and have experienced sustained growth despite this significant shakeup in our business.

Gary has profoundly changed our lives and we are excited to see what opportunities our business relationship will hold.”

To learn more about ActionCOACH Bristol or to register for a free business growth seminar, please visit bristol. actioncoach.co.uk

“Since starting our coaching with Gary in August 2016 we have increased turnover by over 100%,

SOUTH BRISTOL ENTERPRISE SUPPORT CELEBRATES SUCCESS

The South Bristol Enterprise Support scheme has celebrated recruiting the 250th business to the free support programme, with three months to go until the end of the project.

South Bristol Enterprise Support (SBES) is a partnership led by Bristol City Council and a delivery group consisting of Knowle West Media Centre, The Princes Trust, School for Social Entrepreneurs and YTKO Ltd.

Businesses from a range of industries have benefited from SBES’s suite of business support - including the private sector, youth and social enterprise organisations as well as creative and digital manufacturing companies. The scheme is open to existing businesses and entrepreneurs based in South Bristol until 30 March 2023.

The entire project is funded with £1.7 million from the European Regional Development Fund and West of England Combined Authority. Offering a range of support to entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises, it includes training packages, bursaries and grants, access to workshops and business coaching as well as much more.

Entrepreneurs from engineers, bakers and wine retailers are already benefiting from their involvement in the scheme and the team are looking for applicants ahead of it coming to a close at the end of March.

www.sbes. org.uk.

Councillor Craig Cheney, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance, Performance, and Culture, said: “The scheme has been an overwhelming success, with hundreds of businesses having benefited from the support on offer. For any South Bristol-based businesses who feel that the support would benefit them, please visit the South Bristol Enterprise Support scheme’s website or get in touch to find out how they can help assist their business journey. With just a few short months to go, don’t miss the chance to find out more and submit an application.”

Duncan Silvey, Co-director of HumanKiND Festival, a sustainably-led business based in South Bristol who has benefitted from the support, said: “South Bristol Enterprise Support and the School for Social Entrepreneurs have helped us by validating our project. Having an outsider looking in to help us to look objectively at ourselves, that’s the real value…it really helped align our strategy for how to do things both physically and digitally and think about those audience groups we want to attract.”

For further information and to apply, visit www.sbes.org.uk

Any organisations or companies that may be interested should apply for the business support on offer at