Bristol Magazine (Weekly) 27th April - 4th May 2023

C ontents

4. Weston Wallz returns for 2023

6. Bedminster beer festival

11. May the 4th be with you

16. Your garden in May

18. ISO

24. Reflect, empower, grow

26. 1 million pound boost

28. Eight beautiful places to live in 2023

30. Impressive results

36. The changing face

44. Why you need to wake up early every morning

50. New rules ban subscription traps

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

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

www.bristolweeklymagazine.co.uk

Disclaimer

12

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY

UPFEST IS BRINGING EVEN MORE COLOUR TO THE COAST AS WESTON WALLZ RETURNS FOR 2023

Returning to the seafront after another successful year, Upfest, will once again bring unique murals to the coast from 24 May to 4 June, with the return of Weston Wallz in partnership with Weston-super-Mare Town Council, Culture Weston and supported by Arts Council England.

A diverse selection of local, national and international artists will create large scale artworks on Weston’s walls. One of a kind designs will be created by each artist bringing their own style and flare to a variety of buildings in the town.

The Upfest team are currently looking for owners of prominent buildings in and around the town centre that could be considered for the new collection of murals to get in touch. As a funded project there would be no costs to building owners who are selected - contact Emma@ upfest.co.uk to register your interest.

Building on the success of the mural trails created in 2021 and 2022, visitors and residents can already check out incredible pieces from world class street artists including Insane51, Curtis Hylton, Sian Storey, TeaOne, Vee, Damien Jefferies, David Puck, Aspire, Caryn Koh, Emily Joy Rich, Sophie Long, Acerone, Bev G Star, Bex Glover, and Paul Monsters, who each made their mark with their signature styles on the iconic North Somerset coastal town.

Upfest co-founder, Stephen Hayles, said: “It’s great to be coming back to Weston-super-Mare. The amount of support we get here is amazing and big thanks to the town council and Culture Weston for inviting us back again and investing into this initiative and our artists. We are excited to continue on the street art trail so if anyone has a building or property that would be good to add to the project then get in touch.”

Malcolm Nicholson Town Clerk - ‘The Town Council is extremely proud to have initiated this project now in its 3rd Year to enhance Weston super Mare.

The works to date have been greatly received by both residents and visitors to the town. Heritage, Arts an Culture is an important part of the Town Councils Strategy and we look forward to once again working with Steve and the team at Upfest in 2023 alongside our other community partners at Culture Weston who help support this fantastic project’.

Tom Newman, Culture Weston Programmer said: “Weston Wallz has continued to build on the growing popularity and reputation for incredible street art in the town and we’re beyond thrilled to see its return to the seafront for 2023. It’s rewarding for the entire community, and bringing even more murals and adding to our cultural landscape is another great reason to draw in new and returning visitors.”

Artists and locations will be announced in the coming months leading up to the project and street art fans are invited to come down and follow the process. An interactive Google Map is available to easily identify the murals and witness the transformation of ordinary walls to town landmarks.

BEDMINSTER BEER TRAIL BACK FOR MAY 2023

After a hugely successful launch last year, the Bedminster Beer Trail is back once again to celebrate all things beer in South Bristol from the 26th - 28th of May

Taking place across the third Bank Holiday Weekend in May, the Bedminster Beer Trail will offer up an enormous selection of beers which will be sure to satisfy even the most discerning beer drinker. Quickly becoming the newest hub of Bristol’s craft beer scene, Bedminster has seen two new breweries open up in the last year, making South Bristol a beer lovers paradise.

13 venues across North and East Street will make up the trail, consisting of four brewery tap rooms and nine pubs and bars. Participants will be able to collect a trail map from any venue and use it to collect stamps across the three days of celebration. A completed stamp card will get you 10% off on draught beer at any participating venue across the month of June.

As well as pouring the brand new brew, each venue will be offering up something different for the Trail. Expect one-off pours, tap takeovers, outside bars and some very exciting beers to be up for grabs. The 13 venues taking part this year are Bristol Beer Factory Tap Room, The Tobacco Factory, The Hen & Chicken, The Spotted Cow, The Old Bookshop, KASK, North Street Standard, The Steam Crane, The Coronation, On Point Brewing, Alpha Bottle Shop & Tap, The Grain Alchemist and Bruhaha.

Bedminster BID is supporting the trail once again and designs for the posters, maps and collaboration beer cans have been created by local artists, Ed Cheverton and Jayde Perkin.

Mike Fenlon, co-owner of Alpha Bottle Shop & Tap and co-founder of the Beer Trail said:

"We are so excited to be bringing the Bedminster Beer Trail back to South Bristol for 2023. Last year’s trail was a massive success, with thousands of people coming to the area to enjoy great beer and support the amazing independent venues which we are so lucky to have here in Bedminster."

An exclusive trail beer will once again be pouring at every venue across the weekend and this year, a portion of sales will be going directly to ‘Caring in Bristol’ to help tackle homelessness across the city. This year the collaboration beer has been designed and brewed by On Point, Bruhaha and the Grain Alchemist - Bedminster’s three newest breweries who all reside within a stone's throw of East Street.

"This year the trail will be even bigger and we will be raising money for a fantastic cause at the same time! A portion of sales from each keg sold at participating venues will be given directly to Caring in Bristol. The trail is all about celebrating the amazing community which we have in Bedminster and if we can do that whilst helping out a fantastic charity, then it makes it all the more special."

To keep up to date with all trail info, follow @bedminsterbeertrail on Instagram

WHATS ON

APRIL 29

APRIL 30

IT’S NOT UNUSUAL

Description: Just help yourself to the night out you deserve and let’s really start to live, as we bring you the candy on the shelf you have been waiting for and celebrate the one and only, National Treasure that is Sir Tom Jones.

Venue: The Playhouse

126-130 High St

Weston-super-Mare

BS23 1HP

Seeds of Memories

Description: Fresh from a 5-star run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Seeds of Memories is touring the South West! Join ’A’ as he explores his grandfather’s garden as both grow older together.

Venue: The Alma Tavern

8-20 Alma Vale Rd

Clifton, Bristol

BS8 2HY

Astral festival

Description: Stolen Body Records presents Astral Festival. Heavy psychedelic/Hard Rock festival for Bristol. Taking place over 2 days on April 29th and 30th in Bristol’s favourite venue - Strange Brew. 2 stages over the 2 days.

Venue: Strange Brew

10-12 Fairfax St, Bristol BS1 3DB

North Somerset Arts Week

Description: Colourful Exhibition including painting, jewellery, ceramics, mixed media, sculpture and textile art.10am to 5pm dailySaturday 29th April to Monday 1st May 2023 Everyone welcome Tea & freshly made cakes available

Venue: Malmsey House, Church Rd

Leigh Woods

Bristol BS8 3PG

Nick Malcolm Plays Jazz

Description: Join us this Sunday as we welcome acclaimed trumpeter, educator and composer Nick Malcolm. Nick is an original and sincere improviser, equally at home playing standards or free.

Venue: Clifton Observatory

Litfield Rd

Clifton

Bristol BS8 3LT

Zimmer vs Williams

Description: The London Concert Orchestra perform epic scores celebrating the two of the greatest film music composers of all time. Gladiator/Superman/Man of Steel/Harry Potter/Inception/Jurassic Park/The Dark Knight Rises/Pirates of the Caribbean/Star Wars/ The Da Vinci Code/ Indiana Jones/E.T

Venue Bristol Hippodrome St Augustine’s Parade

Bristol BS1 4UZ

Backstreet Comedy Club

Description: Backstreet Comedy Club brings you the best stand up comedians of Bristol and South West and the most hilarious new acts on the scene.

Venue: The Golden Guinea 19 Guinea St

Redcliffe

Bristol BS1 6SX

FREE cream tea

Description: Monday 1st May, 3pm Either book online at https://resoundbristol.churchsuite.com/ events/9upn3vo8 or call the office on 0117 305 0969 book a place.

Venue: Resound Blackhorse Road, Bristol BS16 9BP.

JazzFunkSoul

Description: Our fortnightly jam sessions are open to everyone of all abilities.

Venue: Mr Wolf’s 32, St Nicholas St

Bristol BS1 1TG

Art in the Garden

Description: Tuesdays 9.30-11.30am, Redcatch Community Garden

Explore a variety of art-making techniques in the relaxing environment of the Redcatch Community Garden. We work under the Canopy (safari tent) and go ahead in all weathers. The group provides a sociable, supportive and creative experience for local people.

Venue: Redcatch farm

Bristol Broadwalk Redcatch Park, Knowle, Bristol BS4

Minikid Reworks

Description: Minikid form for one night only “ Beloved, Australian, Neo Soul, three-time-Grammy-nominated band Hiatus Kaiyote is a fusion of future beats, hip-hop and soul with subtler influences of Latin, dubstep and opera”

Venue: The Gallimaufry 26/28 The Promenade, Gloucester Rd

Bristol BS7 8AL

Junior Bill

Description: Free entry! Musically eclectic, the band reference reggae, laced with snips of soul, hi life and hip hop as well as punk and indie.

Venue The Canteen

Hamilton House

80 Stokes Croft St Paul’s

Bristol BS1 3QY

Improv Jam & Social

Description: Join us for an evening of improv games, socialising and fun at our monthly jam. You can sign up to play improv games – think ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ – or scenes, all facilitated by our experienced compere. There will be lots of silly nonsense, laughs and plenty of chances to join in! Everyone is welcome, whether you’re aching to stretch your improv muscles, curious to try improvising for the very first time, or simply want to come along and watch.

Venue: The Bristol Improv Theatre

50 St Paul’s Rd

Clifton Bristol

BS8 1LP

BRISTOL TRINITY

Description: Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet return to their home away from home, Bristol, after far too long! Join them for a night in celebration of their newest album, “It’s Been A While Buddy. They will be joined by the enchanting folk of Sally in the Woods, and the beguiling rhythms of local favourite DJ Dad!

Venue:Trinity Centre

Trinity Rd

St Jude’s Bristol

BS2 0NW

As you might have guessed, Star Wars Day is a commercial celebration of the Star Wars media franchise. It is held on the 4th of May every year, because it sounds similar to the well-known Star Wars catchphrase “May the Force be with you.” (May the 4th be with you).

Let’s look at the history of Star Wars Day

The first documented use of the phrase “May the 4th be with you” was in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher was elected the Prime Minister of the UK. This was 2 years after the first film in the saga, A New Hope, was released.

Her political party, the Conservatives, posted a message in the London Evening News saying “May the 4th be with you, Maggie. Congratulations.” It has subsequently also been used in TV shows and books referencing the film franchise.

In the years since this first use, “May the 4th be with you” has grown rapidly in popularity and use. In 2008, the first Facebook groups appeared to celebrate ‘Luke Skywalker Day’ (Luke Skywalker being the main protagonist in the original trilogy of Star Wars films.)

In 2011, the first official celebration of Star Wars Day took place in Ontario, Canada. Sean Ward and Alice Quinn produced the event with festivities including an original trilogy quiz, costume competitions, screenings of the films, mash-ups, and parodies. The next official celebration took place a year later on the 4th of May 2012.

WHY SHOULD YOU CELEBRATE STAR WARS DAY?

It’s a fair question, after all it can often seem like there are a lot of causes and celebrations that are a lot more worthy and laudable than celebrating people waving their hands and swinging florescent swords about.

But that’s missing the point of what the films, and in fact the celebration itself, are all about. The message behind Star Wars is to stand up for what’s right, that people who come from humble back- grounds can do incredible things, and a belief in the power of friendship and loyalty. It also teaches us to stand up against corruption, persecution and bul- lies, in whatever form they take.

ALSO SHOWING IN CINEMAS

A THOUSAND AND ONE

AIR Struggling but unapologetically living on her own terms, Inez is moving from shelter to shelter in mid-1990s New York City. With her 6-year-old son Terry in foster care and unable to leave him again, she kidnaps him so they can build their life together. As the years go by, their family grows and Terry becomes a smart yet quiet teenager, but the secret that has defined their lives threatens to destroy the home they have so improbably built.

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY

IN CINEMAS NOW

THE THREE MUSKETEERS: D’ARTAGNAN

D’Artagnan, a spirited young Gascon, is left for dead after trying to save a noblewoman from being kidnapped. Once in Paris, he tries by all means to find his attackers, unaware that his quest will lead him to the very heart of a war where the future of France is at stake.

HOROSCOPES

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18

With things going on at present, you may be feeling quite down. Remember you are not the only one feeling this way. This could be a good time to reflect and try new hobbies, maybe read a book you have never picked up. When communicating with others, they may be feeling similar so bring your sensitive side with you. Use some of this time for yourself, and remember not to be too hard on yourself or others.

Keywords new things and sensitivity

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20

Someone new may need your help and support, but you may have a few things of your own to deal with right now, if so try and just be flexible and sensitive in regard to speaking to this person. This could be a good time to have a reflect on those practical things as well as some of those inner turmoils we sometimes have, and see what things would help to sort them out, to ring back your balance.

Keywords for stop sensitivity and balance

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

Through the challenges we have at the moment, you may be finding it hard to keep calm and in balance. Maybe take time to give yourself a breather, and try and see things in another light. It may be an idea to start thinking of new ideas and projects to begin at this time, that you could continue when things begin to ease.

Keywords. Re-view and re-new

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

We are all facing obstacles at the moment, and staying in touch with your loved ones and friends is important, but remember there are many ways now through ordinary phones and modern technologies. Remember to use your intuition at this time, as it seems to be very important to follow your inner guidance.

Keywords intuition and communication

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Although it may seem a struggle at times, there will be some new changes for you, and a sudden realisation will dawn on you. This realisation maybe something you need to explain to someone and this should clear the air if there were some difficulties. Remember also to be kind to yourself, and stay calm, Maybe read that book you’ve been putting off, I try a new recipe, find something new.

Keywords. Realisation and communication

Cancer June 21 - July 22

There could be some new ideas for projects, and this could be a new interest a project or something totally new. Communication is something very valuable in general, but even more so now. Stay in touch with people who are important to you, and also give yourself that time, to read the book you have been putting off, or something you have not finished. Do you line keywords communication, and projects

Leo July 23 - Aug 22

We are in trying times at present, and things can sometimes seem bigger than they actually are. Keep lines of communication open with your friends and family, there are many ways And technologies as well as good old fashioned phones. Maybe take some time to sort a few things out in your home environment, or at least have a think of new ideas and things you can change, refresh, or find new interests.

Keywords. Communication and changes

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22

We are well into spring, if you haven’t already done some clearing it could be a good time now to do so. If you have a tendency to overdo things, or take too much on, remember to slow down at times and give yourself a breather and try and bring some calming balance back into your life.

Keywords clearing, balance, and new things.

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21

If you have things you need to change, it may be a good idea to do so round now. Although actually socialising together with people is not viable at the moment, through different technology it is possible to still have some sort of social life. If all else fails the good old telephone is as good as anything. Relationships mean very much to you more so at the moment but stay in touch with people in the safest ways possible.

Keywords. Relationships and communication.

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

There may be things you really don’t want to deal with but it is best if you do it especially at this time. If you can do some clearing, in which ever areas you feel needed most, it would then be an idea to step back metaphorically speaking, and review situations, and things you are thinking of changing.

Keywords deal with things and overview

Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22

Trying to keep balance in your life at the moment isn’t easy, with all these strange challenges.Relationships are important to you even more now,It is just important to find other ways to stay in touch with people. Try and find new interests, and try to keep calmness and balance in your life.

Keywords communication and balance

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

It seems as though balance in fairness are important to you at this time. There does seem to be quite a few things in the way and as well it’s all the challenges we are all facing there may be some personal ones for you. Keep the lines of communication open and try to find ways to change things in your life to make things easier.

Keywords balance and changes

YOUR GARDEN IN MAY

Spring is well under way now. The spring bulbs are fading and the herbaceous border is growing in leaps and bounds. The May days are longer and warmer and the risk of frost should have gone by now. The idea of getting out in the garden during the fine weather and ‘ticking things off the list’ becomes much more appealing. Spring flowering bulbs and plants will need clearing in preparation for summer bedding, and its promise of colour to come. But don’t get overwhelmed by those seemingly endless list of gardening jobs – here are our three most important…

PLANT SUMMER BEDDING

May is the month to get your summer bedding started in borders and containers. If planting borders lift out old plants run a fork through the soil and add a good fertilizer beforereplanting summer plants.

Try to fill pots and containers in the position they are going to stay – they can become heavy when filled! Water retaining crystals will help to reduce the amount of watering and keep the compost moist during warmer periods. Don’t forget to feed with fertiliser during flowering period.

PRUNE HEDGES AND SPRING FLOWERING SHRUBS

There’s no better time to give evergreen hedges a trim to get them looking neat and tidy. Smaller hedges can be tackled with a pair of shears, but you may need a hedge trimmer for larger bushes. Prune any shrubs that flowered in spring as soon as they have finished flowering. Broom, forsythia and ribes all need pruning now.

Remove around a third of the oldest flowering stems – this will make the plant look better and encourage new growth to create a good display next year. Be sure to check large shrubs and hedges for nesting birds before you start chopping!

PLANT OUT YOUNG VEG

Marrow, courgette and sweetcorn are all ready to be sown in the greenhouse. The likes of brussel sprouts, kale, peas and swede should be okay covered outside.

If you have already grown tomatoes, move them outside to harden them off. Keep them outside during the day and bring them back inside at night for two weeks to acclimatize them.

If you have potatoes that are starting to emerge, pull a few inches of earth around the plant with a rake to give the plant more soil to grow.

LOOKING GOOD THIS MONTH...GERANIUM

WHY SHOULD YOU PLANT THEM?

Geraniums make popular bedding plants – either in the garden or in pots and hanging baskets. They thrive outdoors in the summer but are also great for using a houseplant. They look good planted in a group in a flowerbed all by themselves or mixed in with other annuals – the perfect plant for any spot that calls for a splash of colour throughout the season.

HOW SHOULD YOU PLANT THEM?

Geraniums need to be grown in well draining soil or if planting in pots a good quality free draining compost. They should be located in a bright spot in the garden that gets plenty of sunshine. Soil should be allowed to dry between watering to avoid root rot.

ISO – A MUST IN ANY BEGINNER’S PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNEY

The last of the exposure photography basics is the ISO.

In short, the ISO works by increasing the light information captured by the camera sensor.

This has a drastic effect on the exposure; the higher the ISO, the brighter the image will be, and the lower the ISO, the darker the photograph will be.

Apart from exposure, ISO has a major side effect called “digital noise”. As you increase the ISO, your image will be brighter but will also have more digital noise, which is an important element related to the quality of the image.

The ISO number is usually measured using “ISO levels”, which follows this sequence:

• ISO 100

• ISO 200

• ISO 400

• ISO 800

• ISO 1600

• ISO 3200

• SO 6400

The main ISO camera settings will depend on the available light. If you’re shooting in low-light or night environments, you’ll have to use a higher ISO if you want to capture the right exposure. The same applies if you want to use a narrow aperture or fast shutter speed and there’s not enough light. You’ll have to strike a balance with the other photography basics. This might seem complex but it’s rather easy as you’ll see in the next photography concept.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE ISO EFFECTS IN THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS CHART.

CORONATION CHICKEN SKEWERS

INGREDIENTS

200g 0% fat Greek style natural yogurt

Juice of 1/2 lemon

2 tbsp mild curry powder

1 tbsp chopped coriander, plus extra to garnish

600g pack chicken breast fillets, cut into

1cm strips

3 tbsp lighter than light mayonnaise

2 tbsp mango chutney

100g mixed leaf salad

1/4 cucumber, chopped

1/2 red pepper, diced

2 spring onions, thinly sliced

You will also need 8 wooden skewers, soaked in cold water

METHOD

In a large bowl, mix 100g of the yogurt, the lemon juice, 1 1/2 tbsp of the curry powder and the chopped coriander

Season, then add the chicken and toss to coat

Leave to marinate for at least 20 mins

Preheat the grill to high

Stir together the remaining yogurt and curry powder, the mayo and mango chutney to make a dip, then spoon into a jar and chill until needed

Thread the chicken onto the skewers and spread out on a grill pan

Cook for 6-8 mins, turning halfway, or until cooked through

Toss together the mixed leaves, cucumber and red pepper

Serve the skewers scattered with the spring onion and extra coriander, with the salad and dip on the side

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

CARAMELISED ONION AND GOAT’S CHEESE SWIRLS

INGREDIENTS

375g ready rolled puff pastry

100g caramelised red onion chutney

65g goat’s cheese

50g pitted black olives

50g sundried tomatoes

1 tbsp thyme leaves

25g parmesan wedge, grated

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/ gas 6

Unroll the puff pastry and cut it in half lengthways

Spread the chutney from your leftovers over both sheets (50g on each), leaving a 1cm gap along each of the long edges

Crumble over the goat’s cheese, then chop the black olives and sundried tomatoes in oil (drained weight, but reserve 1 tbsp oil) and scatter on top

Sprinkle with the thyme leaves and parmesan

Roll up each piece of pastry from the long edge into a tight swirl, then slice into 12

Put on lined baking trays

Brush with the reserved oil, then bake for 12-15 mins, until puffed and golden

Allow to cool slightly before serving with extra chutney on the side for dipping

How well do we know ourselves and are we being authentic?

I’m sure that many of us reflect on a regular basis. We often use societies view to ask ourselves questions and compare: What do I need to change about myself? How much weight did I put on over the last 6 months? How much cash did I spend? What are my goals for this year?

Normally we take this time to reflect in Jan uary when we are probably feeling overwhelmed, miserable, tired and skint. Why wait until January to ask ourselves these questions, wouldn’t it be easier to regularly check-in with ourselves?

We are very quick to book in holidays, trips, social events and much more but how many of us book a check-in day? Most people have a phone with a calendar function on it, why not set yourself a regular check-in appointment (once a month for example) - a chance to be honest, self-critical, and vulnerable.

The allocated time then provides an opportunity to be authentic and look both physically and metaphorically in the mirror.

For those that like to be philosophical or look deeper - A chance to explore our own soul.

REFLECT, EMPOWER, GROW James

There are many resources available that we can use to take a holistic view of ourselves. We have created a very simple one for you to be able to use in the middle of this article.

This simple example can be used to take a snapshot view of yourself at any given time.

Here is a list of instructions of how to complete this:

Number (1 to 10 with 1 being most important and 10 least) the areas in order of importance to you (there is right and wrong here)

To complete the pie, simply trust your gut feeling and shade in each slice of the pie. The more shaded, the more content or fulfilled you are within that area. The less shaded, the less content or fulfilled you are within that area.

The chart allows a visual awareness guide to be able to put things in place to increase those other areas of our lives that aren’t so complete.

I’d love to see some of these. Keep an eye out for the next one to see how we can self-invest!

Take care and look after number 1!

Warm regards

Do you want to find out more about how counselling can be an integral part of a new world for you? visit https://www.rippleswellbeing.co.uk/affordablecounselling to see if Ripples Wellbeing can help.

BRISTOL GETS £1M BOOST TO FIX POTHOLE

Bristol's roads received a much needed £1million boost from the Government to fix potholes. It couldn't come at a better time - just weeks after an insurance survey found Bristol to be the Pothole Capital of England! This additional money is part of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's £200million national Potholes Fund, and its focus on essential repairs to junctions and roundabouts will go a long way in improving Bristol's road network. City council opposition Conservative group leader Cllr Mark Weston added: “This extra funding is greatly appreciated given the poor state our roads are in." We're hopeful this money will provide much needed relief for our decaying road network!

The Government has invested £1million to help restore Bristol’s roads! We’ve been working hard to make sure our infrastructure is in peak condition, and this generous addition from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Potholes Fund will be a great help. Insurance findings have recently deemed Bristol as the ‘Pothole Capital of England’, and we’re hopeful that this money will boost our efforts in restoring nearby junctions and roundabouts. Cllr Mark Weston, Conservative group leader of the city council said: “This extra funding is greatly appreciated given the poor state our roads are in.”

A report to the Labour cabinet, which meets on Tuesday, May 2, seeking approval for the work said Bristol’s share of £990,000 was from a regional award of £2.8million made to the West of England Combined Authority, which also includes South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset councils. It said potential roads in the city had been identified and would be prioritised based on their condition, volume of traffic and the number of defect repairs and complaints.

The report said Bristol City Council fixed more than 2,500 potholes a year. “The work will be targeted at sites where there is significant potholing and where we are frequently having to carry out response repairs,” it said.

“That should significantly improve the condition of those sites, impacting the local environment and reducing the number of response repairs, so that resource can be better allocated in the future.” The report said preventative maintenance was already funded for this financial year.

8 BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO LIVE IN 2023

To discover the best places to live in Bristol we asked the city’s residents! This provides verified insights on some of the city’s best new developments. Whether you’re looking to rent or buy new builds, Bristol has some outstanding options. This list will provide you with some great ideas based on the thoughts of the people who live there.

IS BRISTOL A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE?

There’s a reason why our great city regularly tops the charts in happiness and satisfaction over majority of the UK. It manages to combine the bustle of city life with more tranquil, low-key lifestyle elements.

Culturally Bristol is a gold mine. The beauty of our Georgian streets and imposing architecture of major public institutions separate Bristol from the UK’s more bland cities. Bristol’s rich history comes to life too, in our outstanding universities, which are among the best in the United kingdom.

Also theres no shortage of beauty in our parks and green spaces, and the gorgeous Cotswolds are right on your doorstep.

Bristol is also the second safest major city in the UK, even despite our rapid growth that’s fuelled by its excellent transport links and booming job prospects in everything from entrepreneurial startups to big tech firms.

IS BRISTOL THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN THE UK?

Bristol was voted the UK’s happiest city according to a study conducted in 2019. In addition, the west country city regularly tops polls of the UK’s best places to live.

Bristol is the eighth-largest city in the UK, plus it’s a creative and multicultural metropolis. From the gorgeous Georgian terraces of Clifton and Redland to the edgier streets of Bedminster and Stokes Croft, Bristol has something for everyone.

Bristol’s historic docks are now home to a thriving collection of restaurants, galleries, bars and museums. The Matthew and S.S. Great Britain are also major visitor attractions, to many people along with Brunel’s spectacular suspension bridge that crosses the Avon Gorge.

IS BRISTOL EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN?

Bristol is one of the most expensive cities in the United Kingdom. It regularly outpaces the nation’s average property prices of on £290,230, and our restaurants, nightlife and other key expense metrics follow suit.

While Bristol is expensive overall, there are more affordable areas in our diverse city. Similarly, it’s not hard to find lowcost, but high-quality, alternatives for entertainment, dining and leisure activities. Plus, Bristol offers a wide r ange of cultural attractions that are free to visit too.

NEW HOMES IN BRISTOL

Bristol University and the University of the West of England (UWE) ensure that demand for new homes in Bristol is always high. The aerospace industry provides a major economical stand piont to the area, with BAE, Rolls Royce and Airbus all located in Filton.

1. BOX MAKERS YARD, BS2

2. REDCLIFFE QUARTER, BS1

3. HAWKINS & GEORGE, BS1

4. PARK FARM, BS35

5. FRENCHAY GARDENS, BS16

6. WAPPING WHARF, BS1

7. CANONS GATE RENTAL ONLY, BS1

8. PAINTWORKS APARTMENTS, BS4

IMPRESSIVE RECYCLING RATE CONTINUES TO RISE

“We know there’s still more we can do to increase recycling as there are still a lot of materials that could be recycled ending up in black bins. Recycling as much as possible keeps valuable materials like metal, plastic, glass, paper and card in use for longer, reducing the need for raw materials to make products and packaging. It also helps to keep waste costs down for South Gloucestershire and supports our journey towards our net zero carbon target set out in our Climate and Nature Emergency Declaration.”

The amount of waste recycled by South Gloucestershire residents continues its upward trend, reaching almost 60 per cent for the latest data period 2021/22.

This figure puts South Gloucestershire Council in second place for unitary councils in England and tenth position for all England councils for recycling.

Service Director for Place operations

Mark King said: “This is a tremendous achievement, a testament to the waste and recycling services provided by the council, and to the efforts of residents to recycle their waste at home and the Sort It recycling centres. Since the introduction of recycling collections and fortnightly bin collections in 2003, our recycling figures have gone from just 14 per cent to our current rate of 59.9 per cent.

“Consistent data collection, forward planning through our Waste Strategy and keeping pace with legislation changes has helped us to identify the best course of action to keep the service fit for purpose.

The council continues to look for opportunities to improve the service, manage costs and cut carbon. It is currently taking part in a trial to collect and recycle plastic bags and wrapping. The trial is taking place with 2,000 households currently and, if successful, the council hopes to expand into a second phase which will include 25 per cent of South Gloucestershire households.

Other plans include building a new site in Filton to include a recycling centre, collections depot and reuse shop.

There are also national changes from the government Waste and Resource Strategy that the council will need to respond to such as Extended Producer Responsibility, consistent recycling collections, Deposit Return Schemes and new recycling targets.

Find out more about recycling from home at www.southglos.gov.uk/recycleweekly

OUT AND ABOUT IN BRISLINGTON WEST WITH JOS AND ANDREW

SAVE THE BRISLINGTON GREENBELT:

Like everyone else in Brislington, we were very disappointed with the decision to allow development to take place on the Brislington Meadows. Unfortunately, with the current administration having encouraged Homes England to buy up the site and get on with developing it, it was always going to be a challenge to reverse that decision. We attended a meeting with city planning officers this week to find out if the council had any further options going forward.

Unfortunately, they told us that the legal advice they had been given was that they were out of options and development will now proceed. Unsurprisingly, the Mayor has placed the blame for this fiasco elsewhere; namely on his predecessor for including the Meadows in Bristol’s Local Plan in the first place. However, the council is currently working on a new Local Plan and our calls to remove the Brislington Greenbelt from the plan to protect it against development have fallen on deaf ears. We are calling on the Mayor to avoid another disaster for Brislington by supporting the removal of the Brislington Greenbelt from the Local Plan. If you live in Bristol and support this call, please sign our petition.

We may have been unable to save the Meadows but we can still save the Greenbelt:

https://chng.it/tkKWScPptD

COMMUNITY LITTER PICKS:

Thank you to everyone who came along to our community litter picks last weekend. We managed to collect several bags of rubbish in the Sand Hill and Whitby Road area of the ward and the Friends of Callington Road Nature Reserve had a good session as well. Please let us know if you would like us to run a litter pick in your area.

BS4 GOOD GARDENS:

Judging for the annual BS4 Good Gardens awards will be taking place throughout the month of June. If you would like your street to be included, you can nominate it by the end of April by using the link below. Thank you to everyone involved in organising the event.

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAa__Qw6cutUOE9OUTRBT0YwUk1STlFEVkY0TjdJOFNUTC4u&fbclid=IwAR06TokhClZ-cmfM-JDxiUQc3zHUrjbUVok18lNlhFkEecALVQW8JRrSWUw

ST MARY REDCLIFFE BIODIVERSITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN:

We recently met with council officers to discuss the management of St Mary Redcliffe Cemetery, which is located on Bath Road opposite Arnos Vale Cemetery. We want to ensure that we maximise wildlife biodiversity while at the same time maintaining access to the graves for people to pay their respects to their loved ones. The plans, which include low mow zones and zones with more regular cuts (no cuts will occur until after the spring flowers have finished) will be sent to the St Mary Redcliffe diocese for approval.

HELP FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES:

Bristol City Council has extended the deadline for its vacant commercial property grant scheme. Grants of £2,500 to £10,000 to help open new premises are available. All applications must be received by 11.59pm, Monday 22 May 2023. The council has so far awarded 71 vacant commercial property grants across the city. More details here:

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/business/business-support-and-advice/high-streets/ city-centre-and-high-streets-recovery/vacant-commercial-property-grant-scheme

The council also has two Business Development Officers available to speak to businesses onsite and provide them with information on support: https://www. bristol.gov.uk/files/documents/689-business-information-booklet/file.

The officers have so far visited around 760 businesses across the city including Brislington. We would also encourage local businesses to sign-up to the council’s weekly business newsletter, which includes lots of information on grants and support: www.bristol.gov.uk/businessnewsletter,

NEW TREE FOR WEST TOWN LANE:

We are delighted that a new tree has been planted in an empty tree pit on West Town Lane near the junction with Hungerford Road. A big thank you to the local resident who raised this concern with us and to the tree officers who responded so quickly to our request for a replacement tree.

LORD MAYOR’S MEDALS FOR LOCAL HEROES:

We were delighted to attend the Lord Mayor’s Medal awards event at the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House last week. 20 awards were given out to people who have made a huge difference to their communities across Bristol. It was great to see two local heroes receiving awards: Jules Laming, Chair of the Friends of Jubilee Pool, for her tireless campaigning to save Jubilee Pool, and Pat Morgan, for running several keep fit classes for many years, and is still going strong at the age of 90! We were also pleased to see Mohindra Chowdhry receive an award for a lifetime spent bringing different Bristol communities together in the spirit of friendship, tolerance and understanding and it was our great honour to have nominated him for this award.

NEW BRISLINGTON NEWSLETTER:

There's a new, free, weekly 'Brislington Community & Church Newsletter’ which has been put together by four of our local churches. St Luke’s, St Anne’s, St Christopher’s, and St Cuthbert’s. Please feel free to view and subscribe here: https:// tinyurl.com/4kdp6enp.

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

COUNTDOWN TO LOCAL ELECTIONS

With the local elections just over a week away, North Somerset Council is sharing important advice and information for voters ahead of polling day on Thursday 4 May.

All 50 seats on North Somerset Council are up for election as well as seats on seven local parish councils. Anyone eligible to vote in-person at the local elections will receive a poll card by post to let them know the address of their polling station and reminding them about the new requirement for Voter ID.

VOTER ID NEEDED

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on the day. For the first time, anyone voting in-person at a polling station will need to produce an acceptable form of photo ID before being issued with a ballot paper.

There will be 128 polling stations across North Somerset in venues including churches, community venues and more unique spaces, such as the children’s room at the Black Horse pub in Clapton-in-Gordano and the vestry in St Mary’s Church, Leigh Woods.

All polling stations are accessible. For anyone needing extra help, there are staff at all polling stations who are ready to assist. Alternatively, voters can choose a companion to go with them to the polling station to help them cast their vote. The presiding officers at each station will be able to help with

CANDIDATES STANDING FOR ELECTION

Details of all the candidates standing for election are available on the North Somerset Council website - see 'statement of persons nominated'. Many candidates are also delivering election campaign materials door to door and updating information online so voters can read manifestos before casting their votes.

VOTING BY POST

29,000 people have registered to vote by post in North Somerset and will have already received their ballot papers. Although no Royal Mail industrial action has been announced before the elections, the council is still encouraging voters to return their postal votes as soon as they can to ensure their votes are counted in the results. Nick Brain, Returning Officer for the elections said:

"If you've received a postal vote for the elections please do make sure you get it back to us in time for your vote to be counted as we cannot include any ballot papers that we receive after polling stations close on Thursday 4 May. The special envelopes mean postal votes are given priority by the Royal Mail."

COUNTING AND RESULTS

As soon as polls close at 10pm, all the ballot boxes will be sent to the count venue and the votes will be verified immediately. This is a legal process where the number of used, unused and spoilt papers is verified.

The count will then get under way at 9.30am on Friday 5 May with the results being declared in all 35 wards for North Somerset Council ahead of the results for the contested town and parish councils.

THE CHANGING FACE OF HMO DESIGN

As a specialist HMO Management Agency, we see lots and lots of HMOs and, when we come across one where the design and “value add” are both spot on AND it makes the team go “wow” with excitement as we go to market – it makes us sit up and take note!

Well, this week, we have experienced exactly this phenomenon, as we prepare to market the brand new and gorgeous, Co-Living space, from the Taupo Property Group, for whom we manage in Bristol. These guys do not do things by halves and their latest, 18 bed HMO, is an absolute cracker! Ben was on site this week, as pictures and marketing materials were being finalised and, when we gave the team a sneak peek, at our weekly meeting, they were suitably impressed – this instruction has got the whole team animated and exhilarated! It has also got us thinking about HMOs and how things have changed, for the better, in this sector of the market.

Boutique-style HMOs are a relatively new concept that has emerged in the property market and we have some fabulous players in this sector, right here in the city of Bristol. These properties are designed to cater to the growing demand for high-quality, shared living accommodation. Bristol is unusual and, unlike many other parts of the country, tenants moving to the city often live in HMOs out of choice and not out of necessity. Unlike traditional HMOs, which are often associated with substandard living conditions and overcrowding, boutique-style HMOs are designed to provide a unique and high-quality shared living experience.

The design of boutique-style HMOs is one of the key features that sets them apart from traditional HMOs. These properties are typically renovated to a high standard, with modern, stylish interiors and high-quality furnishings, with great attention given to shared, communal spaces and luxurious furnishings. The aim is to create a comfortable, welcoming space that residents will be proud to call home and want to spend time, together, in.

In addition to the design of the property itself, boutique-style HMOs often offer a range of value-added services to tenants. For example, some properties may offer a cleaning service or access to a gym, cinema or designer workspaces. These services are designed to enhance the living experience for tenants, making it a more convenient and enjoyable space to live in, which engenders a sense of community, fostering social interaction; especially important for working professionals who may be new to an area.

As well as providing benefits for tenants, boutique-style HMOs can also offer advantages for property investors. These properties are often located in prime urban areas, where demand for high-q uality accommodation is high. They can provide a stable and profitable investment, particularly for those who are looking for a long-term rental income, which differentiates itself in the market, by nature of its design and impact. Tenant selection is crucial and nuanced here, in order to get the tenant mix right, as the aim is to promote a harmonious community. Spend the time setting them up and then managing them correctly, and you will reap the long-term benefits of a high yielding asset, with large appeal.

However, it is important to note that boutique-style HMOs are not without their challenges. Premium design often requires a higher spend at the outset and knowing what is and what is not a value add here, is nuanced. We have seen many an HMO with overspend, that we know

the landlord is never going to see a return on – value added spend is different and, experience and research will play a large part here, so look, listen, ask advice and take note; take the time to find out what works and what doesn’t and always remember not to polarise –as a landlord, you are not going to be living here, the design must always have your future tenants at its heart!

Despite these challenges, boutique-style HMOs offer an exciting opportunity for property investors and tenants alike. By focusing on high-quality design, value-added services, and community, these properties are setting a new standard for HMO living, which is fabulous and a benefit to all concerned. As demand for affordable, high-quality accommodation continues to grow, we can expect to see more and more boutique-style HMOs emerging in cities throughout the UK.

And, last but not least, here are some pics of the Taupo Property Group’s latest offering to the Bristol market – we cannot wait to watch this one fly out of the door and are very proud to be their lettings partner in Bristol – they are progressive landlords and property investors and we really enjoy working shoulder to shoulder with them!

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL LOCAL ELECTIONS 2023

South Gloucestershire Council voters are facing a unique situation ahead of the upcoming local elections. Of the three main parties, only one leader remains - Lib Dem’s Cllr Claire Young. Conservative leader, Cllr Toby Savage, announced his resignation in March due to the birth of his second child while Labor leader Cllr Pat Rooney has declared her retirement after 30 years as a councilor and nine years leading her party.

Voters will cast their ballots on May 4th and await results that may bring unexpected changes to their local councils.

South Gloucestershire Council has been a tripartite body for many years – there are currently no councilors representing others, although some seats are contested by Greens, Independent, Reform UK and National Housing Party No More Refugees candidates.

Cllr Young would likely lead authority in the event of a major reversal to a win for the Lib Dems and if they successfully defend their Frampton Cotterell seat, but who would take the lead if the Tories remain in power or Labor stir up excitement can and improve its standing as the third largest party?

Neither announced their successor before Election Day, which is understandable as it would depend solely on who is elected. But the Conservatives say Cllr Savage’s replacement will be chosen from the new pool of councilors a week or two after Election Day.

If re-elected, the Authority’s current Deputy Chairman, Cllr Ben Stokes, would be among the candidates. Labor says its process will be quicker and that the group will announce its new leader by the end of Tuesday 9 May. Cllr Ian Boulton is the group’s vice-chairman.

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!

Subscribe to Bristol Weekly Magazine via this QR code

Did you spot the differences last week?

Here is the answers.

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

WALK LAKE GROUNDS PORTISHEAD

The Walk

Start on Portishead’s Esplanade and head south, going up Beach Road West. When the road bends left, turn right towards the picnic benches. Follow the gravel path in to the field and continue straight ahead, keeping to the right side. Mariners’ Pathbegins at the end of the field. Go over the wooden bridge and continue past the golf course.

You will pass Sugar Loaf beach, named after a sugar loaf-shaped rock which stood on the eastern end but collapsed during a severe storm in 1990. Go past the slipway for Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club and just past the club house, bear right to continue on the coastal path. Pass Nore Park Cottage and Black Nore Lighthouse, which was built in 1894. At the crossroads in the path continue along the coastal route. At the top of the hill you will see the former National Nautical School. It opened in 1906 as a school to train boys going into the navy, carpentry or engineering but it now houses luxury apartments. Continuing on the coastal path,you enter the Redcliff Bay area owned by the National Trust.

At a fork in the path take the left-hand route Leading up to Hillside Road. Head right, past the unusual turreted house, and follow the road as it wind suphill. Keep right where it meets Pembroke Road, go past The Ship pub, and turn left onto Down Road.Turn right into Valley Road and continue onto Blackberry Lane. A sign states this is a private road but it is also a public footpath. Pass Brockley Cottage and a sign for Middle Hill Common, an area of limes to negrass land. Continue on the foot path and when it forks, take the right-hand path.

This opens into a grassy area with wide-ranging views across Seven Acre Wood and beyond, with a bench to rest your feet. Veer down the hill, towards the houses. You will come out onto a gravel track, so turn left onto Hill Lane, then left onto the B3124, opposite the White Hart pub.The pavement runs out just after the car garage and the speed limit increases to 50mph, so take care walking on the grass verges. You will eventually come to a short row of houses on the right-hand side. The public footpath starts on the left, opposite the lay-by. Go through the wooden kissing gate and up the narrow path.Turn right at the t-junction in the path.This is the start of Old Black Rock Quarry, part of Weston Big Wood nature reserve. Take the right-hand footpath, part of the Gordano Round. The path comes to a junction but continue ahead, on the level, which leads into a field. Continue ahead and veer towards the top far corner, where trees have been cleared and a new metal kissing gate installed. Go through here and continue across the next field, towards another kissing gate.

You will come out at a playing field sogo around the equipment, through the gate and left onto Underwood Road. At the end, cross the road into Wetlands Lane, right onto St. Mary’s Road, and up a narrow alley on the left next to a stone house called The Cot

Continue to the end, veer right out of The Garstons, and left onto St Peter’s Road. Go past the church and continue a head, going across to Slade Road,over the Cabstand into Battery Road,and then into Rodmoor Road. This leads back to the Lake Ground.

Est.

1976

OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE INTERIOR EXTERIOR QUALITY WORKMANSHIP COMPETITIVE RATES

WHY YOU NEED TO WAKE UP EARLY EVERY MORNING!

Early to bed and early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy and wise. This saying taught in primary school is one of the most important learnings, relevant throughout our life. According to research, enough sleep and waking up early helps the body and mind get enough relaxation and rest. It is also very important for maintaining overall health of the body. We bring a few benefits of waking up early.

PEACE AND SOLACE: According to the research, when you wake up early, before the rest of the world wakes up you have peaceful moments for yourself. There is no heavy honking from the traffic or neighbours speaking loudly. Early mornings are a great relaxation time. You can step out of the house to get some fresh air, prepare yourself. According to science the silent moments are actually highly beneficial for the brain and body; they help in increasing the oxygen levels in the brain, reduce blood pressure, lessen migraines, and boost mental health.

Furthermore, they over indulge in sweet eating to ease their moods. This is not good for health. By gathering good night’s sleep and waking up early one can benefit out of it since the body provides more energy. It also helps in the proper functioning of the body that include increased supply in blood muscles, tissue repairs, bone repair, lowered blood pressure and relaxation of the body.

WAKING

EARLY MAKES YOU LOOK ATTRACTIVE

BETTER

BRAIN FUNCTION

: According to the research, people who wake up early have better brain function, superior critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Such people also tend to be more humorous with a lot of positive energy and likely to deeply engage themselves with. Sleeping early and waking up early improves the concentration and memory power too. This means people will tend to perform better at work and the children in their studies.

: Waking up early can help you improve appearance. Sleeping and waking late can make you feel and look more tired. Also, less sleep brings puffiness and dark circles around the eyes. According to the research, people who sleep and wake up early look fresh and beautiful. People, who are planning to lose weight, also should wake up early and have their breakfast at the right time.

KEEPS LIFESTYLE

DISEASES AT BAY:

WAKING

UP EARLY PROVIDES MORE ENERGY

: People who have less hours of sleep experience low levels of energy and negativity. They also experience mood swings and temper tantrums.

According to the medical experts lifestyle related diseases such as obesity, thyroid and polycystic ovarian syndrome are caused due to stress, lack of exercise and poor diet. Getting proper sleep can actually relax the body and also help in the normal production of hormones. Proper sleep cycles are required in the overall smooth functioning of all the organs of the body.

OVER 30’s DANCE PARTY at the superb BAWA Club, Filton on the FIRST Friday of EVERY MONTH (except No Dance in JAN or AUG and the APRIL DANCE is on FRI 14th) It’s The Ideal Night Out For The 30 * 40 * 50 * 60 Age Range.

Come and Dance Amongst A Friendly Lively Crowd. Enjoy A Good Mix of Music, Dancing Thru’ the Decades including some Motown and Soul Favourites. Club times are 9 ‘til 1 (last entry 11pm) –Very Smart Casual NO Tee Shirts or Trainers & Gents are Required To Wear Collared Shirts. Dance adm £8 For more Info call 07860578708 or go to www.mingles.co.uk Facebook: Luv2mingle

UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL TRIAL’ IN MAY OF FOUR-DAY WEEK

The future of the working week could be changing as more British workers desire flexibility and a better work-life balance. According to new research from Reed. co.uk, 19% of those looking for a change in 2023 would stay with their current employer if they offered them a shorter working week.

This is compared to those who prioritise location (15%) or benefits (13%). Additionally, over half of Brits said they'd prioritize a company with good work-life balance when deciding between job offers. Come May, the UK will have its first unofficial trial of the four-day working week due to an extended bank holiday period. It will be interesting to observe how these changes may affect Britain's work culture going forward.

Simon Wingate, Managing Director at Reed.co.uk, said online: “At Reed.co.uk, we’ve seen the number of job advertisements offering a four-day working week rise since the start of 2023. However, we know that this is not something that will work for all roles or companies.”

He also added: “With the research revealing flexible hours to be the top priority for job applicants, we’re glad to see that the job offerings on our site reflect this, which we hope will lead to more people finding jobs that they’ll love.”

What are your thoughts on a four-day working week? Is this a viable option for you and your organisation?

24 hour care Nurse call system Chaplain

Hartcliffe care home provides nursing care in a warm supportive and safe environment.

We believe that you deserve to enjoy quality time with your loved ones, without feeling the added pressures of care giving. At Hartcliffe you can rest easy knowing that help is on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get back to being a family, not just a carer.

To book a visit call our team on 01174 562 263

MHA Hartcliffe Care Home

15 Murford Avenue, Hartcliffe, Bristol, BS13 9JS

mha.org.uk/Hartcliffe

We’ll focus on the care. You focus on the catch-ups.

NEW RULES BAN SUBSCRIPTION TRAPS AND FAKE REVIEWS

Buying, selling or hosting fake reviews will become illegal as part of changes planned in new laws.

The UK government's Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill is due to be unveiled on Tuesday. The proposed legislation seeks to protect consumers by banning payment or free goods in exchange for glowing reviews, reminding customers when free subscription trials end, and combatting the current market dominance of major tech companies. This is the result of a lengthy investigation conducted since 2021 into the impact of large technology firms. Geolocation does not factor into inclusion on this list; any applicable companies registered abroad may still come under the scope of this bill. If so, action may be taken through the newly formed Digital Markets Unit which operates as part of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). These measures include but are not limited to allowing users on Apple devices to choose from alternative app stores or requiring search engines to share their data.

The UK bill is very wide-ranging, and the CMA will have to:

• Deal with the huge, global issue of big tech's market dominance

• Help people manage subscriptions, and potentially extend the "cooling off" period so they can be cancelled after one payment is made

• Ensure platforms take "reasonable steps" to verify that product and service reviews are genuine

The CMA has proved a UK regulator can be effective when tackling what are likely to be predominantly US-based giants, after it successfully forced Meta, Facebook's parent company, to sell the graphics animation firm Giphy after ruling that it would harm competition. Meta expressed disappointment, but it did comply.

Lawyer Nick Breen, from Reed Smith, said on social media the additional powers given to the CMA under the new bill mean that "no-one has the luxury of taking this lightly.

Neil Ross, from trade association techUK, also on social media said he hoped it would include "robust checks and balances" as well as an efficient appeals process.

The new laws we're delivering today will empower the CMA to directly enforce consumer law, strengthen competition in digital markets, and ensure that people across the country keep hold of their hard-earned cash," said Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is authorised to enforce consumer law without a court order and can impose fines of up to 10% of worldwide revenues for infractions. The EU Digital Markets Act was created in response to similar situations regarding dominant tech firms.

The new rules will be enforced as soon as possible following parliamentary approval, said the Department of Business and Trade.

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

Christ Church Hall Petherton Road

Hengrove

BS14 9BP

Saturday 9:30am

Keesa: 07399 597267

slimmingworld.co.uk

in partnership with North Somerset Council