Emersons Green Voice February 2024 by Emersons Green Voice

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February 2024, Edition — Issue 84

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Fresh look at road changes As Badminton Road remains closed for two more years while the M4 bridge is repaired, council leaders are reviewing the current traffic diversions. PAGES 8 & 9

Later deadline on homes plan

An 'incredible gift' Volunteers from the charity BUST with Maria Kane of North Bristol NHS Trust and Bristol Lord-Lieutenant Peaches Golding at the official opening of a new £1.5 million MRI scanner. The Downend-based charity has bought the equipment for Cossham Hospital to improve breast cancer treatment. Full story: Page 11

By-election battle after MP quits VOTERS in Emersons Green will be among thousands going to the polls in February after Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore resigned, prompting a by-election. Conservative Mr Skidmore said he was standing down over the government’s Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, which would “cause future harm” through promotion of new oil and gas production. The by-election will be held on February 15,

one of two where Labour will attempt to overturn a big Tory majority to put further pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a year when a general election must be called. Whoever wins the by-election will only be the MP for Kingswood for a matter of months, as the constituency is due to be abolished at the next general election. Turn to Page 3

Residents have been given extra time - until February 16 - to comment on council proposals that could mean hundreds of homes being built in Shortwood and Lyde Green. PAGE 7

Long trip to see a dentist New adult NHS patients from Emersons Green face a 32-mile trip for a dental appointment. PAGE 10

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NEWS

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Lorry crash victim Tyler will be ‘hugely missed’

ADVERTISING sales@emersonsgreenvoice. co.uk Tel 07799 461169 EDITORIAL news@emersonsgreenvoice. co.uk Letters to the publication can be sent to the above e-mail address or by post to Letters, Emersons Green Voice, 6 Elkstone Walk, Bitton, Bristol BS30 6JT. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter. DEADLINES Our March edition deadline is February 14. LOCAL INFORMATION South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999 NHS 111 Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582

Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk Environment/trading standards 01454 868001 Well Aware Health and social care information www.wellaware.org.uk Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252 PUBLISHER’S NOTE Emersons Green Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Emersons Green Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Gary Brindle on 0117 907 8585 or news@emersonsgreenvoice. co.uk.

COMPLAINTS Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Emersons Green Voice, contact the publisher using the details below. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

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THE family of a 20-year-old man who died when a lorry overturned on the Avon Ring Road say his death “has left a massive hole in everyone’s heart”. Tyler Carley, who lived in Thornbury, was a passenger in a scaffolding lorry which overturned on the A4174 near Mangotsfield on the evening of December 5. He died at the scene of the crash. Tyler’s family say he will be “hugely missed”. In a tribute released through Avon & Somerset police, they said: “Sadly, our whole world got turned upside down on December 5 when we lost our beautiful boy Tyler. “He was only just 20 and had so Tyler Carley many plans in life still, and loads of festivals booked. “Tyler loved going out with his friends and enjoyed playing and watching football. “He loved his holidays with friends and family, and had a big one planned for his 21st and mum Gemma’s 40th birthday. “He went to work that morning fully intending to come home, and had texted his mum just 45 minutes before the accident. “Tyler will always be hugely missed by his mum Gemma, dad Mark, brother Kylan, sisters Skye and Ronnie-Irene, step-dad Matt, stepmum Tracey and all of his family and friends. “His death has left a massive hole in everyone’s heart.” The 37-year-old driver of the lorry was treated in hospital for minor injuries before being arrested in connection with the incident. He has been released under investigation while further enquiries take place. Police say no other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the incident. Anyone with information is being asked to call the police on 101 and give the incident reference number 5223 297 300. A fundraising campaign in Tyler’s memory to help pay the costs of his funeral raised more than £8,900.

Mugger punches pensioner A PENSIONER suffered a fractured eye socket when she was punched by another woman in an attempted robbery in Mangotsfield. Police say the victim, who is in her 70s, had just visited Mangotsfield Post Office, in Northcote Road, and was walking in Long Road when her attacker approached her from behind. An Avon & Somerset police spokesperson said: “Money was demanded from the victim, but she did not have any. She was subsequently punched and pushed by the unknown woman, who then left the scene empty-handed. “The victim returned home but was later that same day taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary by a family member, where medics confirmed she had a fractured eye socket.” Police want to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, which happened at some time between 8.45am and 9.15am on December 30, or thinks they may have dashcam, doorbell or CCTV video footage. Anyone who can help should call 101 or contact the police online and quote the incident reference number 5223 318 250.

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By-election puts area in national spotlight From Page 1 Mr Skidmore said he was standing down because he could “no longer condone nor continue to support a government that is committed to a course of action that I know is wrong”. He also refused to back the Conservatives in the by-election to replace him, saying he now intended to be “free from any party-political allegiance”. The Tories have selected their group leader on South Gloucestershire Council, Sam Bromiley, to defend the seat. The Parkwall & Warmley councillor, who once worked in Mr Skidmore’s office but now works for support organisation the Helplines Partnership, said: “I am honoured to have been selected to represent the area I grew up in and where I have lived all my life. “I am committed to serving our local area, by growing our local economy, protecting our green spaces, and giving people the tools and the choice to work hard and achieve.” In an indication of the main theme of the Conservative by-election campaign, he said he would “work hard to stop Labour’s disastrous plan to build on the greenbelt” - a reference to proposals for new homes in South Gloucestershire Council’s local plan, which is currently open for public consultation. Sam added: “This area has always been my home and I want

Conservative Sam Bromiley

Labour Damien Egan

to deliver for my community by bringing more investment, supporting our small businesses, and protecting our green spaces.” Labour has picked Damien Egan - selected last year to stand for the new Bristol North East seat, which will replace part of the Kingswood constituency - as its by-election candidate. Damien, 40, grew up in Kingswood, Downend, Fishponds, St George and Staple Hill, going to school in Kingswood and Hanham. A Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Councillor in 20037, he later moved to London and was elected to Lewisham Council in 2010, becoming directlyelected mayor of the borough in 2018. He has resigned as Lewisham’s mayor to stand in the by-election. Damien said: “I’m looking forward to being able to go around the areas I grew up

in, and give residents a hardworking representative who’s on their side. Speaking to residents in Kingswood, it’s clear that, just like the former MP, people are fed up of this government, and ready for change. In just a few weeks, we’ll have the opportunity to send Rishi Sunak a message that it’s time for that change.” The Liberal Democrats had not selected a candidate as the Voice went to print. The party’s deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the by-election

was the result of “an MP who didn’t want to be associated with the Conservative Party anymore.” The Greens were due to select their candidate after the Voice went to print, either: Bristol councillor Lorraine Francis, the party’s candidate for the Bristol North East seat, or South Glos Green Party coordinator Siân Harris, who has lived in the constituency for 25 years. The party said: “Residents of Kingswood have the opportunity to elect an MP who will fight to save our green spaces, for today and for future generations.” Reform UK, the successor to the Brexit Party, is standing in the by-election, despite leader Richard Tice initially refusing and branding it a “grotesque abuse of taxpayers’ cash”. The party’s business spokesman and former Southampton FC chairman Rupert Lowe has been selected and promised that if elected, his “entire net MP salary will be donated to local Kingswood charities”.

The battleground The Kingswood constituency has been held by the Conservatives since 2010, when Chris Skidmore won the seat from Labour’s Roger Berry. Mr Skidmore’s majority at the last general election in 2019 was 11,220 over Labour’s Nicola Bowden-Jones. The Tories received 56% of votes cast in 2019, with Labour getting 33%. The Lib Dems were third with 7%, the Greens fourth with 2% and an animal welfare candidate polled 1%. The Kingswood constituency includes Emersons Green, Siston Hill, Blackhorse and Mangotsfield. It also covers part of Lyde Green, but roads off Honeysuckle Drive, Jenner Boulevard and Elderflower Drive are in the neighbouring Thornbury & Yate constituency. It also includes Kingswood, Hanham and Longwell Green. The seat will be abolished at the next general election, after a boundary review. Mr Skidmore had already said he would retire from Parliament then. Emersons Green and all of Lyde Green will move into the Filton & Bradley Stoke constituency, while Mangotsfield and the Siston Hill estate become part of Bristol North East. As a general election has to be called by December 17, whoever wins the by-election will be the MP for Kingswood for less than a year. Skidmore - why I quit: Page 4 Starmer visit: Page 5 Sales? Call Gary on 07799 461 169

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NEWS

Why I had to quit, by Chris Skidmore KINGSWOOD MP Chris Skidmore announced his resignation in a lengthy statement on social media, giving his reasons. The former energy minister blamed the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill the government has introduced to allow "increased production of new fossil fuels in the North Sea". He said: "As the former Energy Minister who signed the UK's net zero commitment by 2050 into law, I cannot vote for a bill that clearly promotes the production of new oil and gas." Mr Skidmore said that while no one denied there was a role for existing oil and gas, to reach net zero - a balance between new carbon dioxide emissions and the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere - by 2050 there "must be no new additional oil and gas production". He said that with a global transition away from fossil fuels and the "exponential growth" of renewable power, there was "no case to be made for increasing

Chris Skidmore regretted any disappointment caused to constituents who felt let down but said he would not apologise for 'doing the right thing for our country and the planet' fossil fuel production at a time when investment should be made elsewhere, in the industries and businesses of the future, and not of the past". Mr Skidmore said the Mission Zero review he published last year set out how "net zero can be

the economic opportunity of this decade, if not our generation", bringing hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and hundreds of billions of pounds of investment. He said: "To achieve this, however, requires long term commitment to the energy transition, and a clear and consistent message to business and industry that the UK is committed to climate action as a global leader, as it has been for the past two decades." Mr Skidmore said the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill "achieves nothing apart from to send a global signal that the UK is rowing ever further back from its climate commitments". He added: "We cannot expect other countries to phase out their fossil fuels when at the same time we continue to issue new licences or to open new oil fields. "It is a tragedy that the UK has been allowed to lose its climate leadership, at a time when our businesses, industries, universities and civil society organisations are providing first class leadership and expertise to so many across the world, inspiring change for the better." Mr Skidmore warned that "the future will judge harshly" anyone who voted for the government's bill. He said: "I can also no longer condone nor continue to support a government that is committed to a course of action that I know

is wrong and will cause future harm. "To fail to act, rather than merely speak out, is to tolerate a status quo that cannot be sustained." Mr Skidmore said he was "especially grateful" to his constituents for placing their trust in him for 14 years. He said: "First and foremost, my duty has been to serve them, as their elected representative. "It is with that duty to them in mind as their representative that my personal decision today means, as I have long argued, that they deserve the right to elect a new Member of Parliament. "I am sorry my actions disappoint or upset those to whom I will always be personally deeply grateful for their support. To my excellent staff, local councillors and association members, to colleagues and friends I apologise if you feel I have let you down and only hope that in time you can all understand why I have taken the decision I have today. "I will not however apologise for doing what I know to be the right thing, both environmentally and economically, both for our country and the planet." Responding to Mr Skidmore's comments, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he was "wrong" on the issue of new North Sea oil and gas. In an interview with the BBC, Mr Hunt said: "It is very sad to lose a respected colleague like Chris Skidmore. "But I do profoundly disagree with the reasons that he gave for resigning. "The independent panel for climate change that we have in this country are very clear that even when we reach net zero in 2050, we will still get a significant proportion of our energy from fossil fuels, and domestic oil and gas is four times cleaner than imported oil and gas." Mr Hunt said recent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea showed that "it is very important for energy security that we have domestic sources of that kind of energy as we go into transition".

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NEWS LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer kicked off his party's campaigning for the general election year with a speech in Emersons Green. The media event was held at the National Composites Centre at the Bristol & Bath Science Park on January 4 - just a day before Chris Skidmore, whose constituency includes the factory, resigned. The Labour leader told an invited audience of journalists, Labour party activists and business figures he was there to deliver "a New Year message of hope", promising to "lift the weight off our shoulders, unite as a country, and get our future back". He was introduced by Claire Hazelgrove, the party's candidate for the Filton & Bradley Stoke constituency that Emersons Green will become part of at the next general election. Also in the audience were Labour MP Darren Jones, Metro Mayor Dan Norris and Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees. Saying that the country faced "a year of choice", Sir Keir said: "The opportunity to shape our country’s future rests in your hands."

Labour leader launches 2024 campaign in Emersons Green

Sir Keir Starmer at the podium But the Leader of the Opposition said that what kept him up at night was "the shrug of the shoulder", adding: "Trust in politics is now so low, so degraded, that nobody believes you can make a difference anymore." Pledging to "clean up politics", with a "crackdown on cronyism", he also promised to end the "exhausting" politics of division and replace it with "a politics that aspires to national unity". After the event the Voice

asked the Labour leader about two specific issues facing the area. Firstly, we asked what a Labour government would do about stalled infrastructure projects like the delayed schools in Lyde Green, plans for a new junction 18a on the M4 and a mass transit system for Bristol. Pledging to "put power in the hands of local people", he said: "We will push power and decision making out of Westminster so those with skin in the game can have a say on

road, rail and infrastructure plans in their area." Secondly we asked whether an incoming Labour government would address funding for the district's schools, which are given the lowest amount per pupil in the country - an issue on which head teachers and the Labour co-chair of South Gloucestershire Council have launched a campaign. Sir Keir did not give a direct answer to the question but said a Labour government "will ensure that whatever school your child might go to, they have a highquality education". He said removing tax breaks for private schools would help improve state schools. While entrance to the event was subject to strict security, outside a group of demonstrators protested over the Labour leader's stance on the Israeli invasion of Gaza following the Hamas attacks of last October.

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More time to have say on Green Belt housing SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has extended the deadline for people to have their say on its Local Plan, which could see thousands of new homes built on the Green Belt. The latest phase of consultations on the blueprint for development between 2025 and 2040, is now staying open for comment until February 16. It comes as a group opposing plans for thousands of homes on greenfield sites between Pucklechurch and Warmley calls on voters to make the Kingswood by-election a “referendum” on the Local Plan. The council says it needs to find sites for 9,260 new homes, at least 7,813 of which will need to be built on greenfield sites. The council’s ‘emerging preferred strategy’, which it says is a compromise between the Green Belt and the need for new housing near existing urban areas, proposes allowing

1,480 new homes to be built on fields east of the Avon Ring Road around Shortwood - a village which currently has only 90 houses. North of Lyde Green an area of land between the M4, Westerleigh Road and the railway line to Westerleigh oil terminal, next to the cycle path to Yate, has been proposed as a site for 800 homes. The plan also suggests 195 homes could be allowed on a field next to Mangotsfield School, 65 on a site off Pomphrey Hill and 60 on land east of Pucklechurch. A series of drop-in meetings have been held across the district during January to give people more information about what is proposed. A group set up to oppose the plans to build on Green Belt sites between Shortwood and Warmley, Save Our Green Spaces South

Gloucestershire, has set up a petition on the council’s website, which can be found at tinyurl.com/2p8fs6ef. A spokesperson for the group said: “We are not NIMBY’s opposed to any development. We support organic growth, but not mass development of housing and industry across the Green Belt.” The group has built a following of more than 700 people via a Facebook page where information is shared, including details of upcoming council consultation meetings, and is planning to hold its own open meetings in future. It claims members from areas including Siston, Wick, Shortwood, Pucklechurch, Mangotsfield, Emersons Green, Bitton and Warmley. The group is calling on people living in the Kingswood parliamentary constituency to vote for candidates opposing the

Local Plan at the upcoming byelection on February 15. The group has “held discussions” with Tory candidate Sam Bromiley but says it is nonpolitical. The spokesperson said: “In view of this being such a unique by-election, so close to the next general election which will see the Kingswood constituency disappear, it would be great if this election could act more as a Local Plan referendum, leaving the party politics to the general election. “We will encourage people to vote for any candidate opposed to this Local Plan.” Full details of the Local Plan can be found online at www. southglos.gov.uk/newlocalplan, where people can fill in a consultation survey. Anyone who is not online can call the council on 01454 868009 for help.

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NEWS NATIONAL Highways has explained why the Badminton Road bridge over the M4 needs to be replaced, how it will be done and how long it will take. In December the government agency announced that the bridge, which carried 16,000 vehicles a day on the A432 between the Avon Ring Road and Yate, could not be repaired and would have to be replaced, despite being designed to last 120 years from its opening in 1966. It has been closed since engineers found “accelerated deterioration and cracking” in the concrete last July. After months of detailed inspections, the agency’s experts concluded that the bridge is not an immediate risk to the 87,000 vehicles a day passing underneath on the M4 - but would soon become unsafe if heavy traffic was allowed to use it again. Before work can start on demolition, services including electricity cables, water mains, BT fibre optic cables and gas mains all have to be moved and buried in trenches under the M4. National Highways’ timetable

Why the M4 bridge has to go

A picture released by National Highways shows cracks on the bottom of the bridge is: • January 2024: ecology work and habitats • February 2024: ground investigations and boring. • March to May 2024 : moving and re-routing pipes and cables • Summer/Autumn 2024: demolition • Late 2024: New build starts • Early 2026: New bridge opens. Route manager Sean Walsh

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said the demolition will happen in a 60-hour window when the M4 will be closed, so they can remove the central span of the structure. There will be lane closures and overnight closures on the motorway at other times while the work is underway. Mr Walsh said: “The build is a 12 to 18-month project – much shorter than normal, as we realise the importance of accelerating this build.” He said that none of the 164 other similar ‘post-tension’ structures the agency was responsible for in the South West had major issues, adding: “It’s very rare we have to demolish and rebuild a whole bridge.” Mr Walsh said the 120-year design life was predicted when traffic numbers, lorry sizes and other factors were all very different to today. Engineering team manager Terry Robinson said all road bridges undergo ongoing maintenance but the issues found by inspectors in the summer were exceptional.

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He said: “The examination showed structural cracks going right through the bridge. “We’ve been working solidly since July to examine the bridge and find out how bad the problems are, and what the possible solutions are. “The bridge is not unsafe and is not at risk of collapse, but it’s unable to carry heavy traffic. “Traffic will cause the carriageway to move and because of the cracks, that could result in a piece of concrete landing on the M4 below, so that is why it has to be closed now. “We have assessed it as perfectly safe for pedestrians and cyclists. “We’re speeding things as quickly as we can to get the bridge back open as soon as possible. “The whole program has been condensed, as we know it’s important to local people.” National Highways says the replacement bridge will be 20 metres (66ft) wide, and will “allow for more sustainable transport options to be considered”. Mr Walsh said the bridge demolition and rebuild would be a “multi-million-pound” project of great complexity - but due to timescales and costs, it would not be possible to install a temporary bridge during the works. Mr Walsh said: “We are working with partners to expedite the process as quickly as possible. “We fully understand the disruption the closure has caused and will cause, and we thank people for their patience as we move this project forward as soon as possible.”

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Fresh look at diversions SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is reviewing traffic diversions for drivers facing two more years of delays following the closure of the M4 Badminton Road bridge. National Highways, which is responsible for the bridge, says the cracked concrete structure carrying the A432 Badminton Road over the M4 between the Wick Wick roundabout and Yate must be replaced. A new bridge will not be ready until early 2026 - a timescale the agency says is “much shorter than normal”. The council, which is working with the agency to try and minimise disruption, is looking at its current diversion routes and will hold a “public engagement” programme in the spring before deciding whether to bring in any changes. The closure of the bridge next to the Wick Wick roundabout, where the A432 Badminton Road meets the A4174 Avon Ring Road, cut off the main route from the ring road to Yate, Coalpit Heath and Frampton Cotterell, resulting in 16,000 vehicles a day being diverted through narrow country roads. South Gloucestershire Council leader Claire Young said council road engineers will work with National Highways to review all diversion routes, to help smooth traffic movement around the area. People living and working on diversion routes have complained of speeding drivers, road rage and many minor accidents, with four times as many vehicles as usual were using Henfield Road, between Westerleigh Road and Coalpit Heath, since the diversion had been put in place. Westerleigh Parish Council chair Rob McCullough said many measures, including new traffic lights in Henfield Road, had helped but there have been knock-on effects. He called for the council to consider reopening the right turn at the Hambrook lights on the A4174, painting a new white line along the middle of Henfield Road, and stopping non-local lorries from using it.

Police make 324 arrests in drink-drive crackdown POLICE arrested more than 50 drivers in South Gloucestershire for driving under the influence of drink or drugs in a national blitz. In total, Avon and Somerset Police arrested 324 drivers during the annual Operation Tonic in December, 51 of them in South Gloucestershire and 86 in Bristol. Numbers were 10% up on the previous year, with more than two thirds (68%) of arrests for drinkdriving and the other 32% for drug-driving. About 2,000 drivers were stopped during the operation, of which 16% were arrested. Police said four out of five drivers arrested were male. Under-25s made up 17% of drivers arrested, with 25 to 34 year olds accounted for 30% and people aged 35-44 made up 26%. People aged between 45 and 54 made up 17% of those arrested, with over-55s accounting for the other 10%.

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Emersons Green Voice February 2024

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Path closure CYCLISTS and pedestrians are being warned that a busy section of the Bristol & Bath Railway Path will have to close this year. South Gloucestershire Council has published a closure order for the stretch of path between Station Road, near the Staple Hill tunnel, and the old Mangotsfield Station, for up to a month between now and July. A council spokesperson said the closure was necessary to rebuild a section of retaining wall that runs along the edge of the path to the east of the footbridge at Charnhill Crescent. The spokesperson added: "We are in the process of appointing a specialist contractor and although we don’t have a start date for the work at this stage, we hope to begin at some point in the coming months." The council is also due to announce a consultation during the spring on wider improvement works to the path.

32 miles to nearest dentist for new NHS patients PEOPLE in the Emersons Green area currently face a 32-mile trip to reach the nearest dentist accepting new adult NHS patients. As of January 16 the NHS Find a Dentist website said the closest practice to the area currently open to new adult patients is in Marlborough, Wiltshire. For children aged 17 and under, the nearest practice open to new NHS patients is just under nine miles away, in Bath. Seven dentists within five miles of Emersons Green will treat NHS patients only if they have been given a referral for specialist dental care. A spokesperson for NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, which is responsible for NHS services in the area, said: “We are aware that access to NHS dentistry in Bristol,

North Somerset and South Gloucestershire is challenging and we are working hard to try and improve the situation for local people. “We continue to engage extensively with local dental clinicians, their representatives and partners, as part of a wider South West Dental Reform programme, to encourage and support them to continue to provide services for NHS patients.” The ICB said people with an urgent dental need could call 111 to access one of 64 appointments available each week. The profession’s official body, the British Dental Association, says the “access crisis” facing the area is typical of the situation around the country. It blames the “long discredited” NHS dental contract first introduced in 2006, which has led to severe recruitment and

retention problems. Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee recommended in July last year that it should be reformed, after carrying out an inquiry. The government said in December that it accepted the committee’s recommendations and “must do more to ensure that everyone can access an NHS dentist”. But the BDA said it was still waiting for the government to publish its recovery plan and said it had “singularly failed to show it shares the aspirations of the Committee”. BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: “The Government claim they want access for all but appear unwilling to make any commitments that could actually achieve that. “We’ve heard big ambitions but no action, and our patients will continue paying the price.”

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Emersons Green Voice February 2024

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NEWS

Scanner is 'incredible' gift from Downend charity A NEW £1.5 million scanner to help speed up diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients has been bought thanks to an "incredible" gift from a small Downend-based charity. Members and supporters of BUST have put money from more than 10 years of "tireless fundraising" towards buying the scanner, which is housed at Cossham Hospital. It will cut waiting times for women who need MRI scans for breast and gynaecological cancer, and men who need prostate scans. The advanced Siemens MAGNETOM Vida 3T MRI scanner, among the first of its kind in the country, will also be used for monitoring patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment, other outpatient scans and breast cancer imaging research. It adds to the scanning capacity of the Bristol Breast Care Centre, which is based at Southmead Hospital and performs more than 700 scans every year.

are extremely grateful to BUST for this incredible gift, which will benefit everyone who lives within our catchment area, especially people who now or in the future develop breast, prostate, or gynaecological cancers." She said the new scanner will help the trust lead cutting-edge national breast cancer research, which will lead to earlier diagnosis for local women. The scanner was officially opened on January 9 by LordLieutenant of Bristol Peaches Golding, who said: “As someone with personal experience of breast cancer, I’m so pleased to be able to honour BUST’s incredible fundraising efforts in purchasing this scanner and to open it officially. "The NHS has looked after me incredibly well. Having a charity like BUST supporting breast cancer patients by going the extra mile really does help, by ensuring we have the best possible equipment to enable earlier diagnosis and improve health outcomes.”

Radiographers at Cossham Hospital with the new state-of-the-art MRI scanner bought by BUST North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs both hospitals, says the new scanner will "shorten the treatment pathway by reducing the current wait times for a scan". The money to buy and maintain the scanner for ten years was donated by BUST (Breast Cancer Unit Support Trust), a volunteer-run charity which has raised more than £3 million over the past 30 years, to buy hi-tech equipment the unit couldn't otherwise afford. The charity is run from Downend by a small team

of volunteers who claim no expenses. BUST founder and trustee Simon Cawthorn, a retired breast surgeon, said: “This new MRI scanner has taken more than ten years of tireless fundraising of all kinds – from individual and corporate donations to runs, raffles and cake sales. "Breast cancer patients and their families have been especially generous in enabling future patients to benefit from the best possible technology.” North Bristol NHS Trust chief executive Maria Kane said: "We

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AI supercomputer plant plans revealed PLANS for the plant that will house the supercomputer research centre promising to put Emersons Green “at the centre of the AI revolution” have been submitted. The Isambard-AI site will be surrounded by a 4.2m (about 14ft) tall steel high-security fence, topped with razor wire and with turnstiles and vehicle gates, similar to a prison or military base. If plans are approved it will be built on an underused part of the National Composites Centre car park at the Bristol & Bath Science Park. Bristol University, which is leading the project funded by the Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, says the site will directly employ 17 people. In a statement supporting the application the university says: “The proposed specification would rank Isambard-AI as one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, and the fastest in the UK.”

The Isambard-AI computer site will be surrounded by a razor wiretopped security fence (in black). Picture: Kendall Kingscott The university says it will be “used by a wide range of organisations from across the UK to harness the power of AI (Artificial Intelligence)” in areas including big data, robotics, “automated drug discovery” and climate research. Details of the project were reported in October’s Voice, when the university’s pro vicechancellor for research and enterprise, Prof Phil Taylor, said it would put Bristol at the forefront of a revolution “as important as the steam age”.

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It was welcomed by politicians including Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and Metro Mayor Dan Norris. As well as the “secure cage” and vehicle “air lock”, the computer facility will be surrounded by bollards, covered by cameras and an intercom entry system to comply with national security standards, and have its own independent high voltage power supply. Architects Kendall Kingscott say the facility will not need any

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central heating because “the system will generate enough residual heat (when in use) to cover all heat losses of the site”. “Top of the class” chillers and heat exchangers will be used to help cool the supercomputer, with the possibility of solar panels being fitted to the roof. National Composites Centre managers have told the council car park to be built on by the project, losing 88 out of 278 spaces, is seldom more than 59% occupied due to hybrid working and workers moving between the site and another office in Filton. They say there is currently an “over-provision” of car parking at the site. Work is already underway at the car park to build another Bristol University computer site, IKB3. The plans, which were submitted in late December, can be seen on the planning section of South Gloucestershire Council’s website, by searching for application P23/03532/F.

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NEWS

'Selfish' thief leaves fundraisers devastated FUNDRAISERS were left “devastated” after a knitted display raising money in memory of an Emersons Green girl was stolen from the top of a postbox. The celebration of characters from Raymond Briggs’ classic Christmas tale The Snowman, fixed to the box outside Downend Post Office, was created by members of the Knit and Natter group based at nearby shop Fabrics Plus. A QR code and web link attached to the display was being used to raise money and awareness for children’s charity Raeyah’s Hands of Support, set up in honour of a girl who died aged four from a rare form of cancer. But less than two weeks after it was fixed to the postbox in Downend Road with heavy-duty cable ties, the entire display was prised from the top and stolen, in the early hours of December 17. The topper was designed by Suzzie Belcher, who with her fellow knitters spent countless hours creating it. Suzzie said: "We were all very upset that somebody stole our Snowman topper, for various reasons but most importantly because we were fundraising for a local charity, knowing the story about Raeyah. "Also to deprive the children in our area from the joy of seeing the figures when they came to the village shops was very unkind. "One gentleman told me that every day he walked his grandchild to visit the Snowman, Snowdog & James. "This was the first time that one of the Downend letterbox toppers has been stolen, and we found that very sad for our community. "How could anyone do such a thing?" The group created a substitute decoration of a sad snowman, to take the place of the stolen topper - Suzzie said it "reflected our feelings". She said the group would carry on making the toppers for the community. Raeyah's Hands of Support was set up by the family of Emersons Green girl Raeyah Evans-Rice, who was just four years old when she died in March

n Becky Evans and mum Pat with Knit and Natter group members when the topper was installed last year from a rare form of cancer. While she was undergoing treatment, Raeyah's parents Becky Evans and Kevin Rice decided to set up a service to help other parents in a similar position. The charity provides practical and financial support for families with children undergoing cancer treatment at Bristol Children's Hospital, especially those with an autism diagnosis. It offers food vouchers, entertainment bags with things for children to do, bags with seasonal treats, and overnight bags for parents whose children have to make an unexpected stay in hospital. Becky and her mum Pat, who lives in Downend, joined the Knit and Natter group members at the unveiling of the postbox topper in December. Becky said: "We felt sorry for the group that put so much time into making it and supporting Raeyah's charity. "The people that removed it clearly have no idea how difficult it is to bring childhood cancer to the forefront of people's minds, and how difficult it is for any family who have had a child go through treatment. "It's heartbreaking to think that someone gave no thought to any of the children we help, despite our own heartache, and we are disappointed that someone like that lives in the area I grew up in and where our daughter's grandparents live." Robin Honeywill, of Fabrics Plus, said: "We are devastated

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n The 'sad snowman' placed on the postbox after the theft

by the loss, not only for our wonderful Knit and Natter ladies, who crafted for many weeks to create this masterpiece, but also for the family of Raeyah, and for the Downend community, who were so generous in their support. "Christmas is a joyous time for all, especially the children, and to be robbed of this feeling is COMMUNITY NEWS just selfish."

The theft was reported to Avon & Somerset police, who have been studying CCTV to try to identify a suspect. Police have asked anyone with information about the theft to call them on 101 and quote the crime reference number 5223 311 679. To find out more about the charity visit its website, Raeyahshandsofsupport.org.uk.

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NEWS

Children work with wood

Schools trust merger

RECEPTION pupils at Mangotsfield Primary School have been learning some practical skills by making their own woodwork creations. Youngsters at the school in Church Farm Road, Emersons Green, have been using hammers and nails, vices and protective equipment, learning some important safety lessons on the way. They were also given a lesson in detective work when they arrived in class to find a mystery to solve. A Mangotsfield Primary School reception pupil with his woodwork creation Early years foundation stage lead Jo Sihag said: “We found our classrooms were a mess - tables and chairs tipped over, a hole in the ceiling and a huge footprint on the floor. We made predictions about what might have happened - Santa landed on the roof, a giant was in the room, reindeer made the mess, a monster came to visit. “Then we got a voice message from a giant called Ghyston! He said he had visited our classrooms looking for his brother Goram and he was sorry he made a mess. Goram and Ghyston the Bristol giants live under the Suspension Bridge.”

THE organisation that runs Downend School and Mangotsfield School is set to merge with another provider. Castle School Education Trust, which also runs Lyde Green Primary School and five other schools in South Gloucestershire, has told parents it has “jointly explored the potential for a merger” with The Priory Learning Trust. Priory runs three secondary and six primary schools in and around Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea. In a letter to parents, the two trusts said: “Our vision is to create a new organisation based on our shared values and aspirations, combining our strengths and resources to meet the educational challenges ahead.” The trusts are inviting parents and others with an interest in the schools they run to join a consultation, which closes on February 5. Currently each trusts has just under 5,500 pupils at their schools. They say that a merger will enable them to “more easily connect colleagues and direct resources” to address challenges; will lower admin costs by merging central services, so they can “reinvest savings in professional development for staff” and spend more money on school improvement; and “grow sustainably” so more schools can join. The new organisation would be called Pathway Trust, which the trusts said “emphasises the importance of opportunity and collaboration within our family of schools”, adding: “Pathways connect us together and create networks between us, and evolve over time as new pathways are explored and established. “Pathways provide a route map for the educational, professional and personal journeys that we share. “We hope that our new name will help us to establish an identity for our trust that is meaningful for our pupils, staff and wider communities.” Anyone who wants to respond to the consultation or find out more about the proposal is being asked to email consultation@cset.co.uk.

Improvements still needed, Ofsted tells nursery A NURSERY and pre-school run by a national chain has been told it still has work to do to improve. Ofsted visited Little Pioneers in Emersons Green in December, ten months after the first inspection of the nursery, which opened in 2021. Both visits have resulted in the same verdict, that the setting required improvement in all areas - quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development. In the latest report, published in January, inspector Dominique Allotey said: "The quality of education and children's experiences in the nursery are variable. "While children are happy and enter the nursery eager to explore what is on offer, the quality of staff interactions and education varies across the different rooms." The inspector said some staff "do not show a full enough understanding of children's emotions or how to adapt activities to suit children at different ages and stages of development", although she added that proactive steps were being taken to address areas where improvement

was needed. She said: "The nursery has undergone many staffing changes, and these have had an impact on leaders' ability to embed and maintain high-quality provision. "Leaders continue to work hard to establish a secure and consistent staff team. Despite this challenge, leaders have made many improvements since the last inspection." The inspector recognised several areas of good practice at the nursery, which has increased the number of children aged four and under on its roll since the last inspection from 106 to 124. These included staff supporting new children to settle effectively, getting to know them well and working closely with parents to build good relationships; the report found parents are "complimentary about the care and education that their children receive". The inspector said: "Staff embrace diversity in the nursery. They offer a range of resources and experiences to promote children's awareness of cultural differences. "This prepares children well for life in modern Britain. "Children are encouraged to try to do

Emersons Green Voice February 2024

things for themselves before they ask for help from adults. This gives children a helpful range of skills in preparation for the eventual move on to school." The nursery's outdoor play facilities were also highlighted, and as was staff training and a focus on improving practice. Little Pioneers is one of a chain of 45 nurseries across the country run by Co-op Childcare. Ofsted told the nursery, which is on the Harlequin Business Park near the Travelodge hotel, to make two specific improvements by March: to the quality of staff interactions, so all children are offered "good-quality learning experiences", and to staff skills in helping children learn to manage their feelings. A spokesperson for Co-op Childcare said: "Our absolute priority is always to create the best learning environment for the children in our care and we’re pleased to see Ofsted recognising the ongoing improvements at our Emerson Green nursery. "We are already in the process of addressing the areas for further improvement identified in the report and are confident that this will be reflected in Ofsted’s grading in future."

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SCHOOLS

Food and history on menu for German trip DOWNEND School students and staff carried on a 20-year tradition when they visited the German city of Aachen. The trip for 48 Year 9 students who are studying German and French took them to Aachen's renowned Christmas markets. It started with an overnight coach journey via the Channel Tunnel across Northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, bringing the party into Aachen in time for an all-you-can eat buffet breakfast. Pupils then had the chance to explore the market and visit Aachen Cathedral, built by the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, its treasury and the Charlemagne Museum. On the way back, the group stopped off at a Lindt Chocolate factory shop to stock up on Christmas treats. School Community Council chair Emma Jukes said: "All students were a credit to the Downend School community and displayed genuine enthusiasm for all aspects of this opportunity to broaden their language skills and cultural awareness." Pictured top right: Year 9 Downend School pupils at Aachen

Getting to the heart of learning MANGOTSFIELD School dedicated its latest 'challenge day' - where pupils look at learning from new perspectives - to matters of the heart. Year 7 pupils spent a day focusing on the school value of “Love Learning” with a focus on “Love the Heart” in the latest challenge day, held at the end of last term.

Environment focus for science club DOWNEND School's science club is coming up with ideas to help the environment. Members have been researching the sustainable production of food and how to develop agricultural practices, to secure the long-term fertility and health of our land. One student in the group achieved second place in the Civil Service STEM essay challenge, which encouraged students to act as policy makers tackling net zero. As part of their work towards a silver CREST award, which is a nationally recognised UK scheme for student-led projects in science, technology, engineering They explored many aspects of the heart from dissection to heart rates and from famous love stories and poems in literature, to representing the heart in the arts. One student summed up the day by saying: “Everyone learnt something and did something they enjoyed." Head teacher Hetty Blackmore said: "Our Year 7 cohort are extremely impressive, and it was wonderful to see them embracing our school values so wholeheartedly. "Our core curriculum delivery in the classroom is essential but it is really

and maths subjects, the group is designing investigations and recording findings in the same way that real-world scientists or engineers do. The team has already started to look at the effects of acid rain on growth of different plants and study the breakdown of plastics into simpler organic compounds, using a new piece of school equipment called an autoclave. The club has recently expanded to add a gardening group, whose members have turned a derelict pond outside the science building into a flower bed. A team led by two Year 10 pupils has been planting bulbs around the school grounds and is planning to plant more plants to attract wildlife around the school's 'bug hotel', increasing biodiversity in the area.

Some heart artwork produced by a Mangotsfield School pupil important to bring learning to life through our Challenge Day Curriculum. "In March, Year 7 will be off to Bristol to learn about its hidden historic gems."

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Emersons Green Voice February 2024

Future of Green belt to be decided by byelection The result won’t change the Government – but it could change the future of our area. Labour-led South Gloucestershire Council are currently consulting on their plans to tear up the Green belt around Kingswood, targeting Bitton, Hanham, Mangotsfield, North Common, Oldland Common, Shortwood, and Warmley. Nationally, Sir Keir Starmer is backing Labour’s local attack on the Green belt by championing development on the Green belt, and imposing central Government

M4 development targets on local communities. A4174 So, increasingly local people A432 LYDE are saying they will use this byGREEN election to send a powerful proGreen belt message to Labourled South Gloucestershire Blackhorse Council by backing local EMERSONS MANGOTSConservative candidate Sam GREEN FIELD Bromiley over Labour’s former Lewisham Mayor candidate. B4465 Crucially, consultation on the Labour-led council’s attack Shortwood on our Green belt finishes the day after the by-election. So, SOUNDWELL SISTON this is our best chance HILL to back our Green Lower Soundwell belt by electing Sam NEW CHELTENHAM Bromiley and sending

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NEWS A FORMER Downend School pupil who went on to become Britain's Chancellor, Home Secretary and Health Secretary has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours list. Sir Sajid Javid has been knighted "for political and public service" during a 14-year career as MP for Bromsgrove, which has also seen him serve as Culture Secretary, Business Secretary and Communities Secretary, and run three times, unsuccessfully, for the Conservative Party leadership. Sir Sajid told the Voice: "Receiving this knighthood is a tremendous honour. The opportunity to serve the public is an immense privilege. "To do that, and receive this honour, would have felt almost impossible to the boy attending Downend School all those years ago. "It has been made possible because of the dedication and talent of everyone I have worked with - and the support of my family." Sir Sajid, who is set to stand down as an MP at the next general election, attended

'Naughty' Downend School pupil becomes Sir Sajid

Sajid Javid during his days at Downend School. Picture: Sir Sajid Javid Downend School from 1981 when it was still Stockwell Hill Comprehensive School - until 1986.

He once admitted being "naughty," and "more interested in watching Grange Hill than homework" during his school days. He has also spoken of difficult times at the school, saying in 2018 that he had been a victim of racist bullying during his first year. In an interview with Sky News during his 2019 leadership bid Sir Sajid, who was born in Rochdale but moved to Bristol as a child, said he had been advised to become a TV repairman during his time at school, adding: "I was told that I couldn’t study maths at O-level so I had to get my dad to pay for it." He said he left after his O-levels to study at the then Filton Technical College, now part of SGS, because he had been told he could only study two A-levels at Downend but needed

Emersons Green Voice February 2024

three to go to university. After studying economics and politics at Exeter University, Sir Sajid worked as an investment banker for 18 years before he was elected in 2010. Political figures from Bristol and South Gloucestershire were also honoured. Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees has been made an OBE for "services to local government". He said: "This would not have been possible without the support of my family, my team, and many other fellow Bristolians over a number of years. Together, we have delivered a lot." South Gloucestershire Charlton & Cribbs ward councillor Sanjay Shambhu, who is the chair of the BAME Conservatives organisation, has received the British Empire Medal for "political service".

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NEWS

Community centre needs help

Children from Pucklechurch Primary School hand over the food they collected

Children’s gift to others CHILDREN at Pucklechurch Primary School collected food to help families in need had some Christmas treats. The school’s ‘Equities Crew’ held a ‘reverse advent calendar’ food collection, encouraging other pupils to bring in different festive items for North Bristol & South Gloucestershire Foodbank, which runs food banks at nine locations including Resound in Blackhorse Road. They then collected an sorted all of the donations and handed them to a representative of the charity. Deputy head teacher Gemma Jones said: “Equities Crew helped him carry bags and bags of Christmas food out to his van - they had to make several trips, there was so much! “As always, we’re so proud of how generous our families were in supporting our community in giving local families the Christmas they deserve. We’ll definitely be joining in again.”

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A GROUP that runs Pucklechurch Community Centre needs new volunteers to keep it running. The Pucklechurch Community Association committee operates the centre in Abson Road, which has a main hall capable of hosting events for up to 160 people as well as a smaller meeting room. The centre is used for events from weddings and parties to conferences and business meetings, and also has a kitchen for catering. Several members of the committee will be standing down in the spring and the association is now looking for people to fill five key roles: chairman, secretary, treasurer, booking secretary and maintenance manager. To keep the community centre going the association needs the new roles to be filled at its annual meeting in May. Current secretary Peter Nunez said: “Do you have any experience of carrying out these roles in the past? Have you carried out a similar function elsewhere? “Would you like to make a difference to the residents of the village, by having a significant part to play in the running of the community centre? “We are planning to extend the building in the future and you will be directly involved in the project as it begins to take shape. “We would also be happy to hear from residents that would like to join the committee in a non specific role. “If you are interested in joining the Pucklechurch Community Association committee, either as a member, or by filling one of the above roles, and you can commit to attending meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, we would be pleased to hear from you.” Anyone who is interested can come along to the centre and ask questions at the next members’ meeting, at 7.30pm on Wednesday February 8, or email Peter at peter.nunez@btinternet.com.

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LYDE GREEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Working hard behind the scenes WE have been working hard ‘behind the scenes’ this month for the community. One of our projects is for the LGCA to facilitate the Lyde Green Partnership Group, which is a working group of representatives who can influence and improve life in Lyde. The group is made up of local councillors, PCSOs, housing associations, management companies and South Gloucestershire Council. We listen to resident feedback and bring local issues to the group, aiming for resolution. If you have anything that you would like us to raise then please email partnership@lydegreenca. org and we will add it to the next agenda, and update you with any comments or progress made. We have struggled recently in Lyde Green with some antisocial behaviour from young teens and are working with the local police to resolve this. In our continued efforts

to support the community, in December we began a new annual project called ‘Christmas for Kids’. LGCA trustee Francesca Bradley coordinated the appeal, including the volunteers and many gifts that came in. We asked our community, local partners and groups to help spread the joy of Christmas by donating wrapped gifts and toys for children to share with members of the community who might not otherwise receive a gift. We were truly overwhelmed by the amount of donations and gifts provided. Thank you to those who donated, it made a massive difference to those in need. The variety of situations of the families who came in and spoke to our volunteers was so broad: some even brought us to tears. But we were so pleased we were able to run the event and help those who needed it.

In total we helped 171 families over five days. A massive thank-you to Live West, Sovereign Housing, AA Woods, TLT & Huws Gay for supporting the event. Our thanks also to the community volunteers who offered their time to help. Without any of you, the event couldn’t have happened. We are very grateful to our committed team of Trustees, staff and volunteers who work so hard on every event that we hold. We are always on the lookout for volunteers to work with us. If you would like to help with any events or projects that we have coming up then please pop into the centre, give us a call or visit us online to find out what we have going on. Do check our socials and website for details of half-term activities at the community centre. We continue to be on the lookout for a treasurer and

secretary to join our board of trustees. If you would like to join the team then we would love to hear from you. Why not have a chat with one of our trustees to see what’s involved? Email Laura at laura@lydegreenca.org to arrange a time to talk. You can get in touch with us on Facebook @ lydegreencommunityassociation and @LydeGreenCC, by email at info@lydegreenca.org, or by calling us on 0117 957 0410. Party or event bookings can be made at Bookings@lydegreenca.org.

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COMMUNITY NEWS AN organisation set up to help communities achieve environmental change is encouraging people to get outside and get involved. One Planet Matters is holding a series of events at community orchards in south Gloucestershire during February and March, including in Pucklechurch, Blackhorse near Emersons Green, and Bromley Heath. The organisation is a nonprofit community interest company, set up three years ago to help create environmental and social change. It is instrumental in setting up and supporting local community groups who plant and then maintain community orchards, helping to improve local biodiversity. The projects link with parish and town councils’ local nature action plans and South Gloucestershire Council’s target of ensuring that every resident lives within 15 minutes’ walk of a community orchard. One Planet Matters director Kevin Thomas said: “The Community Orchard Programme brings people together, providing

Planting to help the planet Pucklechurch cubs helping plant fruit trees at the Pucklechurch Community Orchard and Nature Area outside healthy activities which benefit not only the individual but also the wider community and of course the environment.” So far schemes supported by One Planet Matters have planted 1,350 fruit trees and 2,000 wildflower plugs. The organisation has also set up the Growing Communities Network, bringing together community growing schemes, allotment holders and orchards via an app to distribute produce to community food clubs, kitchens, and fridges as well as

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food banks. A three-week trial last year distributed 325kg of fresh fruit and 175 portions of fresh produce: this year the network will be supporting charity Family Action’s food clubs, and is inviting growers with surplus fruit and veg to join up. One Planet Matters has also created a schools network to help create school orchards, setting up growing spaces helping develop the biodiversity of grounds at schools including Blackhorse Primary School, as

well as providing support for the curriculum and activities via a biodiversity and growing awards scheme. So far 18 schools and around 920 pupils have got involved. In February One Planet Matters is organising community activity days at several sites in south Gloucestershire, including Bromley Heath Orchard in Scantleberry Close on February 20, Oaktree Avenue, Pucklechurch, on February 26 and Blackhorse Road on February 28. Community activity days will take place at orchards in Frenchay, next to the Village Hall, and in Winterbourne on March 2. The organisation is encouraging anyone who lives in one of the areas mentioned and wants to get involved to email info@oneplanetmatters.com or call 07378 323380. More information is also available online at www.oneplanetmatters.com.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

BRISTOL U3A EAST & NORTH-EAST BRISTOL

SHORTWOOD VILLAGE WI WITH our right feet forward, we headed into 2024 with a visit from Philomena, who put us through a session of seated Zumba. It got the heart pumping, muscles working (and aching), with hot flushes aplenty! Philomena is a regular visitor to us at this time of year, as we feel that a bit of Zumba is needed both physically and as a stress-buster post Christmas and New Year. After a cuppa, we discussed our news and views for 2024 and gave a printed calendar to each member, with thanks to Doreen and Lynne for organising the speakers and Charlotte for collating the calendar. We are looking forward to visits from Hedgehog Rescue and the RNLI, amongst others. In February, we will be welcoming Amy for a demonstration and participation in felting and we are each hoping to go home with a ‘bumble bee’ framed card. Our first skittles match, to be played by the end of January, is against Iron Action WI, who we have not met before. Fingers

BRISTOL u3a believes that learning comes in many forms. It can be as simple as socialising with people with different life experiences or something more formal. Members come together in groups to pursue their interests. We’re proud that u3a is not a “service organisation”, and everything we do is by members for members. Alongside the 130-plus interest groups across Bristol, there are over 20 who meet locally, along with a buzzing local social group. This month we’re showcasing the two local reading groups. Both meet monthly to discuss a book they have [usually] all read recently. Titles are suggested by members of the group and are mostly novels from a range of periods and genres, with the occasional non-fiction work. Meetings are friendly and informal, and always include tea or coffee. The Downend group recently enjoyed an autobiography by PD James, and this led them to choose her novel A Certain Justice for a future meeting. Recent books chosen by the Fishponds group include All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and Death and the Penguin by Andrew Kurkov. Although both groups are currently at capacity, it’s very easy to get a new group started. In fact, anybody can suggest a new interest group on any topic and will be given help to get it up and running. Alongside communications sent to all Bristol u3a members, those living in East and North East Bristol receive a monthly email advertising upcoming social events. There are also local WhatsApp groups enabling members to suggest additional activities such as walks, cinema visits or informal cuppa and cake meetings. Bristol u3a is for anyone with some free time for themselves. There’s no lower age limit, but most of our members are retired or semi-retired. We come from all walks of life and have (at least) one thing in common: a zest for living and for trying/learning new things. Find out more by contacting learnlaughlive@bristolu3a.org.uk. Lindsay Gough

crossed that we can get past the first round this year, when we will play Falfield WI. We are a friendly bunch and will give a warm welcome to new visitors, so just turn up for a complimentary visit to see what the WI has to offer. If you think this may be of interest, we meet on the second Thursday evening of the month in the vestry of the Chapel in Main Road, Shortwood, and our next meeting is on February 8 at 7.30 pm. For more information or a chat email millhousejoinery@aol. com with the heading Shortwood Village WI. Lynne Miller

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Emersons Green Voice February 2024

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COMMUNITY NEWS BEECHMERE BELLES WI WELCOME to 2024: we hope you all had a lovely time over Christmas and New Year, seeing family and friends; eating too much and hopefully having the chance to recharge the batteries and get ready for the year ahead. I wonder what it will bring? Right now the weather isn’t great but the days are lengthening and there are signs of spring in our gardens. Don’t you just love those first snowdrops, then daffodils, tulips and - my favourites - bluebells? Our lovely committee started way back in August to create our programme of meetings for this year – we have talks, activities, crafts and outings planned. We think there is something for us all to enjoy. It was lovely to see so many of our fabulous members come along to our January meeting for our talk on Arnos Vale - past, present and future. If you would like to know more about our WI please contact us via email at beechmerebelles@gmail. com or follow our Facebook page, which is Emersons Green & Lyde Green WI Beechmere Belles.

MANGOTSFIELD DOLLY MIXTURES THE St James Church Christmas Bazaar in the hall was a great success - the Dollies managed to raise £70 providing tea, coffee, squash, mince pies, cake and biscuits. The Bazaar raised £1,700 in total. Our December meeting was our Christmas party. Some of our Dollies went up to the hall earlier to decorate with a tree, swags and a holly and ivy display. We decided to have the tables and chairs ‘bistro style’, and decorated them with festive tablecloths, crackers and gold chargers, with biscuits and chocolates. Outside caterer Marlene provided a super buffet; Frankie Johns, our entertainer, got us all up dancing, finishing up with ‘Pretty Woman’. We also held a Secret Santa where everybody purchased a present and card from their favourite charity shop and our two fundraisers for the evening were for a local girl suffering from bone cancer and collecting postage stamps for breast cancer awareness. Our minibus trip to Stroud Christmas Market on December 20 was wonderful. We had an early start to pick up those last-minute bargains at the market. The town was really interesting, and we had a super festive lunch at the Corner House restaurant. The Dollies have had their first meeting in the hall for 2024. Our speaker Sophie gave a talk on how to prepare for cold water swimming. We plan, with Sophie, for an evening in Clevedon for a sunset swim in May. Carol Coombs

MEN IN SHEDS WE have another exciting year ahead of us, with plenty to do. We are already working on items for sale at various fetes and shows in the summer, as we had completely sold out of stock at events prior to Christmas. We are also working on a couple of community projects that are not necessarily in our area, but which we are happy to do - firstly another large mud kitchen, by way of a recommendation, for a school in Southmead, which by the time you read this will probably have been delivered and installed. Just after Christmas we were approached by St Johns Church on Frenchay Common, as their church notice board was starting to fall apart, so with the help of a donation of mahogany timber we are constructing a new glazed door, installing a lock and will completely sand and repaint the whole thing and reinstall it, just inside the church gate. Please take a stroll that way and see what we have done - the White Lion inn is nearby, too! If you have any community work that you feel we can help with, please do get in touch at downendmensshed@gmail.com. Our snowmen trail, in partnership with the Bean Tree Cafe in Page Park, went well and we are already discussing another event for the summer with them. Our work with the Brain Injury Therapy Unit at the old Frenchay Hospital will continue with a new person taking on the rehabilitation support worker role. Our planned expansion at Bromley Park has been delayed somewhat due to the weather. As you can see, we have lots to do this year. John Lockwood

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WHAT’S ON LOCALLY February 6 & 8 n DOWNEND SCHOOL PRESENTS NOUGHTS AND CROSSES, a drama production of the Marjorie Blackman book, adapted for stage by Dominic Cooke. In the Drama Hall, 6.30pm, tickets £5, available by emailing downendfinance2@cset.co.uk. February 13 n SODBURY AND DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT SOCIETY practice class, theme: circular collar structure. Also presentation on February 27 from Sally Taylor. All meeting take place at 7.30pm at the Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury. Visitors welcome, £5. Contact 0117 937 3836 or email rosemary. cummins2@gmail.com.

REGULAR EVENTS

Monday n PUCKLECHURCH SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Meet every Monday, Wednesday evening 7.30 - 10.00 and Sunday 2.30 - 5.00. Refreshments inc. All levels really Welcome. Ring Kath 07517 1297 Tuesday n RIDGEWAY BADMINTON CLUB

meets every Tuesday Evening from 8-10pm at Downend Sports Centre for informal badminton doubles/ singles matches between adults of all ages. First visit free. More info from Graham on 07968 050320. n PUCKLECHURCH FOLK DANCING CLUB Pucklechurch Community Hall.Abson Road every other Tuesday from 7.30 to 10.15p.m. All welcome either with a partner or solo. Enjoy an evening with us. Call Sue on 07742114566 or Linda on 0784324014. Wednesday n THE WOMEN’S SECTION OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION We meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 2pm at the old school hall now known as the YOU Foundation by the car park in Page Road Staple Hill. Speakers, quiz’s and handy craft afternoon finish’s with tea. If you are interested please telephone Madeleine Bills Secretary. 0117 9560805. n WEDNESDAY CAFE FOR SENIORS, at Badminton Road Methodist Church (BS16 6NU) every Wednesday 10am to 12 noon. All Welcome – just come along – make new friends over a

Brunel’s SS Great Britain: tickets that last a year, memories that last a lifetime Value for money is more important than ever this year, especially for families. At Brunel’s SS Great Britain, buy tickets once and visit as many times as you like for a whole year. With two interactive museums and a Victorian steamship to explore, there’s more to experience than you think. There are hundreds of sights, sounds and smells to discover along with new activities for each school holiday, meaning no two days out are the same. This year’s theme of botany explores the vital role of steamships like the SS Great Britain in the global migration of plants in the Victorian era and the lasting impact on our world today. It kicks off in February half term with Victorian paper flower-making and bookmark-making, with many more family activities to come throughout 2024.

cuppa and cake. Information: 0117 239 5984 n MANGO JAMS PARENT/CARER AND TODDLER GROUP meets every Wednesday at Lyde Green community centre, 9.15am to 11.15am. Warm & friendly group run by volunteers from St James Church. n WARMLEY JAZZ CLUB, every Wednesday £5 on the door. Cadbury Heath Social Club. Doors open 7.30pm. More details at warmleyjazz.co.uk. Thursday n NEXT DOOR BOOKS welcomes new members. Book club meets on the last Thursday of the month at 11am, depending on numbers. Normally meets at Emersons Green library, email jessica.callaway@ hotmail.co.uk. n COFFEE, CAKE AND COMMUNITY MORNING at Emersons Green Village Hall, 11am1pm. Free tea, coffee and cake - all welcome. Supported by Emersons Green Town Council. n WALKING WITH FRIENDS, start and finish at Kingsmeadow@ Madeforever Community Centre, Fisher Road, BS15 4RQ, 1pm to 2pm. Free and open to anyone who feels they will benefit from joining a group who walk at a gentle pace around Siston Commons. Contact James on: 07588622372 Friday n PAGE PARK UKULELE CLUB, Bean Tree café, Fridays at 1pm. All abilities welcomed. Places £4 each. For further details call or text ‘Ukulele’ to Ben on 07910 668258. n RAINBOW TOTS parent and toddler group meets at Emersons Green Village Hall on term-time Friday mornings, 10-11.30am. All welcome. For more details email church.egbc@outlook.com. n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH regular coffee mornings, held on the first Thursday of the month, 10.30am-noon at the church in Cossham Street. Coffee, cake and a chat. n LATER LIVE MUSIC, Resound church, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield. Every second

Friday monthly, except August & December, 8-10pm, £2.50. More details at facebook.com/ lateratresound. Saturday n STAPLE HILL METHODIST CHURCH Coffee mornings in our beautiful building every Saturday 10.00-12.00 in aid of church funds or charities. Enjoy Fairtrade coffee, tea and cake, and stalls. Sunday n BADMINTON ROAD METHODIST CHURCH In-person Sunday worship continues weekly at 10.30am, all are welcome. For information contact: Revd Samuel Uwimana: 0117 239 5984 or www. badmintonroadmethodist.org.uk n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH hold regular weekly Sunday morning worship at Cossham Street. Services start at 10.30 a.m.with different speakers each week. New members very welcome. For more details please contact Peter Redding (Ch.Sec.) on 0117 9657075. n STAPLE HILL METHODIST CHURCH, High Street BS16 5HQ Sunday services 10.30am + Sunday Club for ages 5-17. Holy Communion 2nd Sunday of the month – all invited. Taizé worship 6.00pm 3rd Sunday of the month. Contact Rev Dr Aboseh Ngwana 07482 550888, Philippa Church Liaison at staplehillmethodist@ hotmail.co.uk or www. staplehillmethodist.com n EMERSONS GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH services are held every Sunday morning from 10.3011.30am at Emersons Green Village Hall, Emersons Way. We also hold regular craft services. Contact Simon on 07765 201435, visit www.emersonsgreenchurch.org or Facebook page for more details. n LYDE GREEN LITTER PICKERS meet at 10.30am on the first Sunday of the month outside Lyde Green Community Centre, Thistle Close. Spend an hour litter picking to help make Lyde Green look more tidy and beautiful! See www. cleanupuk.org.uk/groups/lydegreen-litter-pickers for information.

NEWS FROM THE LIBRARIES Lego Club : 10.30am to 11.30am – suitable for primary school children, its fun, its FREE, just come along! Staple Hill Library : Saturday 3rd February Downend Library : Saturday 10th February Crafts from the Riverbank (FREE drop in holiday crafts for primary school aged children). Downend Library : Monday 12th February at 10.30am Staple Hill Library : Tuesday 13th February at 10.30am Emersons Green Library : Tuesday 13th February at 2pm

Winter Reading Mini Challenge The mini-challenge provides loads of FREE activities plus rewards for children for each book they read. It continues until 19th February. To register go to www.summerreadingchallenge. org.uk or ask library staff for details. You can reserve books to collect at your local library free of charge at www.librarieswest.org. uk or via the Libraries West App.

Skills you can learn on these courses include: • v ideo chat with friends and family online •o nline shopping and how to buy groceries •u sing the internet to search for information •h ow to compare prices online •u nderstanding email, messages and attachments • l earn about safety and security when working online

New IT For Beginners Course – Tuesdays SGS College offer a free 17 week course at Downend Library on Tuesdays starting in February

For bookings or further questions please contact Cindy on 0117 9092296 or email cindy.corbett@sgscol.ac.uk

Emersons Green Voice February 2024

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LOCAL HISTORY with CHAP

Archiving our memories of Covid PHOTOGRAPHS taken during Covid lockdowns by the Community History and Arts Project (CHAP) are now available on the interactive local history website, Know Your Place. Community cataloguing archivist Max Parkin is currently adding images of this uniquely unsettling time. Know Your Place is a digital mapping project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which maps local history and heritage in South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath & NE Somerset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset Somerset and Wiltshire. The collection of old maps, historic images and heritage data provides a unique insight into the history of the places where we live, work and visit every day. You can travel back in time and discover how our area has changed over the years. To see lockdown pictures, visit the site at maps.bristol.gov. uk/kyp/?edition=glos, go to the Information layers column, uncheck ‘Community Layer’ and then click on the ‘COVID response’ collection. This will reveal face mask icons, each of which depicts a photograph that was taken at that precise location. When you click on the icon you open up a thumbnail and larger image of the photograph, along with details

n Photos of a boarded-up Horseshoe pub are among those on the map from the 2020 lockdown. Picture: Helen Rana about where and when it was taken. Contact Max Parkin by email at max.parkin@gloucestershire.gov. uk if you have any photographs you would like to be considered to be added to Know Your Place. This is a brilliant initiative. History is about the things we are living through right now, as well as things from the olden days. It’s amazing how quickly the present becomes the past, and how soon we forget things. Sharing maps and photos like this on ‘Know Your Place’ is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in our local history. Downend Community History and Art Project (CHAP) is a not-

for-profit voluntary organisation that aims to produce a community history resource, create a coherent identity for Downend and Emersons Green, and encourage the local community to take part in all its activities. Our goal is to build a sense of belonging and commitment to our area and understanding of its character, residents, businesses

and visitors. CHAP is run by volunteers, without any premises or overheads. To find out more visit the website at www.downendchap. org, email big.gin@talktalk.net or write to CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS. Helen Rana

MANGOTSFIELD RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION IT was lovely to see so many people at our Dame School Carol service in December - we think about 60 people. Thanks to Nick Szerencses for lighting it all up, and the Phoenix Wind Band for providing the musical accompaniment. The first Red Lion Coffee Morning on January 3 was probably the bestattended ever, which is great to see. The next one will be on Wednesday February 7 at 10.30am - all welcome. We are planning our first 2024 get together where we’ll try to put together a more structured programme of activities than we’ve managed of late. We’ll publicise when the arrangements have been made via the usual channels. Can we remind readers to take precautions to secure their properties and vehicles to prevent burglaries, especially in these dark evenings. Most crimes of this type are opportunistic - let's take away the opportunity as best we can. Finally, to repeat some words from last month - we have access to some funding, which we’ll lose if we don’t grab it quite quickly, so please let us have your ideas for how to improve the area, particularly the green spaces. This is your chance to suggest small improvements that can be made to brighten the place up a bit, so please take it. If you want to get in touch then please do so by email at MangotsfieldRA@gmail.com, via the ever-popular Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page or by calling our chair, Clive Heath, on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881. Chris Amos Sales? Call Gary on 07799 461 169

Emersons Green Voice February 2024

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SPORT

Point for Cleve but Norton are too strong CLEVE made a strong start in their home game with Midsomer Norton but the visitors had the better of the second half. Cleve started well from the kick-off, playing all the rugby in Norton’s 22. After a quick break through Norton’s defence, Will Warman got on the end of a pass and went over. From the Norton’s kick-off Cleve went straight back into Norton’s 22 and a drive from a lineout gave Will Warman a chance to release the backs. A kick through by Liam Clode saw Nathan Huntley gather and go over, to put Cleve 12-0 up after 10 minutes. But the flurry of tries pushed Norton out of their lethargy. They gained possession and went up-field to score under the posts.

n Cleve's Will Callaghan contests a lineout Cleve, however, were still in the ascendancy. Their lineouts were functioning really well: their catch and drive continuously gained them ground. Another foray into Norton’s 22 saw a penalty leading to a scrum close to the line. Number 8 Alex Bell picked up the ball at the base of the

scrum and went over to score, the conversion putting Cleve 19-7 ahead. Gusty strong winds made kicking very difficult: at one point a Norton player kicked the ball upwards and the ball ended up behind him. Cleve were nearly able to take advantage - Nathan Huntly gathered, and it almost led to a

try. But Norton started to put moves together and, after some good ball movement, they scored in successive moves to make it 19-17 to Cleve. A penalty against Norton allowed Huntly to step up and slot over, but Norton, as they had all game, responded and went down the pitch and scored, to make it level at 22-all at halftime. Norton started the second half with more attacking play, scoring immediately after the restart to go into the lead for the first time, 29-22. Cleve continued to pressure but lacked the precision to score when they came close to the line. This gave Norton encouragement and they scored again quickly, going 39-22 ahead. Cleve were now playing for a bonus point for scoring four tries. They attacked the Norton line and, after several good passing moves, Bell scored in the corner to make the final score 39-27 to Norton. Cleve deserved a league point after their tremendous effort during the game. Steve Bateman

Flyers soar into New Year Carsons & Mangotsfield prepare for new season DOWNEND Flyers' senior teams are celebrating an upturn in form, either side of the festive season. Our first team have only lost one game in their last five, including back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The first of the two victories, before Christmas, saw the team dispatch fledgling local rivals Mangotsfield United 2-0. The second came in the first week of January, as the Flyers travelled to Lockleaze sports centre to face the well-resourced Bristol Rovers Development side. Ellie Brockton, Brooke Moore and Bethany Pitman all rustled the onion bag once apiece, and a Rovers own goal completed a quartet for the Flyers, in a fine 4-2 victory that ensured all three points left Purdown for BS16. They say winning is contagious and that certainly seems to be the case, as the reserves have also been getting in on the act. They enjoyed an unbeaten December in the league: a pulsating 4-4 draw against Red Falcon was followed by consecutive away victories, without conceding, against Mangotsfield United reserves and Abbeymead Rovers. Meanwhile our development team have been waiting a while to get back into league action and will look to build on their last game in the division, which was a fantastic 6-2 victory away at Ashton Keynes. Like most football clubs across the region, the Flyers have had a frustrating time with the wet weather, for adult and youth teams alike, but fingers crossed our 19 girls' teams and three senior teams can all get some action in the coming month, with the more clement weather we are now experiencing! Behind the scenes the club is already preparing for our annual girls' tournament at the end of June - more information on that very soon - and we are always on the lookout for enthusiastic individuals to join our coaching teams, so if you are interested please contact Info@ downendflyers.com. Duncan Gardner

CARSONS and Mangotsfield Cricket Club members have reelected Andy King as Chair and Sam Brayley as first team captain. During the annual meeting at Pomphrey Hill towards the end of last year there were changes for the other teams: Harry Ravenscroft is taking over the 2nd team, with Jake Lane and Cam Lippiatt now in charge of the 3rd team. John Douglass has moved to run the 4th team. Preparations are underway for the start of the 2024 cricket season as the first team prepares for Division 5 of the Bristol & District league, having won promotion last year. The club's indoor net sessions start at the end of the January, with outdoor nets commencing in early April at Pomphrey Hill. The club will be coached again outdoors by Damian Forder. There will be junior training commencing at the end of February and the club will also be running the All Stars scheme for under-7s and our own programme for under 9s. The club would like to hear from parents of boys and girls who are keen to take their first steps in cricket. We are also interested to hear from any companies who may be interested in sponsoring the club. Any new players interested in joining Carsons and Mangotsfield Cricket Club, either at adult or junior level, or companies interested in sponsoring the club should email either lancoles7@ sky.com or sam.brayley97@gmail.com.

Emersons Green Voice February 2024

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SPORT

Inconsistent form frustrates Mangos MANGOTSFIELD United's inconsistent league form continues to frustrate, with the team in mid-table position - but they have made progress in the GFA Trophy competition. The two league fixtures before Christmas brought four points, the first from a 2-2 draw at home to Hereford Pegasus, with Jaydn Crosbie and Jack Nunn netting for the hosts, and the draw a fair result. A week later, the Mangos were away at another Hereford side, Hereford Lads Club, and came away with a very well-earned 2-1 win. Jaydn Crosbie gave the Mangos a 19th-minute lead, but the Lads Club battled back well & equalised on 63 minutes. However, Mangotsfield kept plugging away into added time, caused through stoppages and numerous yellow cards for the hosts, until up popped Jaydn Crosbie on 90+8 minutes to snatch three valuable points. Boxing Day saw the Mangos make the tough trip to promotionchasing Corsham Town. A valiant performance, in which they matched their hosts all the way, ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat courtesy of a breakaway on 75 minutes by Corsham. The final match of 2023 saw Cinderford Town win 3-1 at Cossham Street in what seemed to be just one game too many for the Mangos: the amount of football they’ve played in recent months seemed to take its toll. The Foresters first goal on 19 minutes came via a penalty from Lewis Powell, a former prolific Mangos striker. Although Kyrese Hasani Morrison levelled after the break, the visitors soon regained their lead and were deserved winners. Just two days later, on New Year’s Day, the Mangos were comfortable 3-0 winners away to Worcester Raiders, who play at the Worcester Rugby Club Sixfields Stadium. Goals from Kyrese Hasani Morrison (41), Jaydn Crosbie (58) & James White (81) sealed the win. The following Saturday saw the eagerly-awaited visit of league leaders Worcester City, who have played at much higher levels of the non-league pyramid for many years and achieved fame back in 1959 when they knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup. Watched by a bumper Cossham Street crowd of 389, they looked like a team on the up as they earned a 3-1 win against a battling Mangos side. Leading 2-0 at the break, Worcester went 3-0 up just four minutes into the second half, with Jaydn Crosbie pulling one back almost immediately on 52 minutes but the visitors seeing out the win. A hectic run of matches ended on a freezing Tuesday night at Cossham Street as the Mangos ran out 2-0 winners against FC Bristol (formerly Lebeq United) in a re-arranged GFA Trophy tie. Jacob Spence headed home a corner at the far post on 28 minutes and Jeffrey Kwasi Kumih Barimah wrapped up the win on 77 minutes, as he evaded the challenges of two defenders and fired a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net. Dave Smale

Ruby's GB trial DOWNEND School pupil Ruby Mathias has been to a trial for the GB national team for the racquet sport padel. Ruby visited the Great Britain training venue at We Are Padel in Derby for a junior camp in December, having been selected by the national team with input from padel clubs where she has competed. The selection included around five hours of drills and meeting members of n Ruby Mathias the GB teams. Ruby's dad Stuart said: "The GB coaches were fantastic and supportive but also explained the massive amount of discipline that needed to be shown. "Ruby played extremely well, even though she twisted her ankle in the warm up. "Her Bandeja 'smash' beat many a player on the day, and strong serving and returns impressed the coaches." The Year 7 pupil and her family are now waiting to hear if she has been selected.

Upcoming fixtures: January 27: Pershore Town (away) January 30: Longlevens (A) February 3: Brimscombe & Thrupp (A) February 6: Cinderford Town (A) February 10: Highworth Town (home) February 17: Thornbury Town (A) February 24: Royal Wotton Bassett Town (H)

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MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC MARK SHELFORD

Make this the year you volunteer ARE you looking for a new opportunity - and a challenge? Why not make this the year you get involved in supporting community safety? There are many opportunities to volunteer through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office, including several roles we are currently recruiting for. All are crucial in helping me to effectively hold the police to account and support improvement of the service they deliver to local people. I am looking for people from a range of backgrounds, professions and experience who are passionate about ensuring the police are efficient and effective to become members of our joint audit committee (JAC). The roles are voluntary but do attract an annual payment of £2,000, plus expenses. The JAC is independent, and

advises on good governance and providing assurance on the effectiveness of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office. It assesses risks to the organisation, undertakes compliance checks and ensures good financial practices are in place and followed. You can apply for the role online here: tinyurl.com/yc2emtyc. I am also currently recruiting for independent custody visitors, who carry out unannounced inspections of police custody centres to ensure people being held in custody are aware of their rights and what they are entitled to for their well-being while detained. Volunteers sign up to do one visit per month to one of three custody centres located in Keynsham, Patchway and Bridgwater.

Being arrested and taken into custody will be a moment of stress, and when people are at their lowest ebb. These roles are part of my legal responsibility to scrutinise the work of the police, and my custody visitor volunteers are members of the public who ensure the police provide the level of care and respect we expect. You can apply directly for this role online here: tinyurl.com/38ky3pex. February 6 is Safer Internet Day, a campaign designed to remind and empower people to use the internet safely. As the national lead for Economic and Cyber Crime at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), I want to echo these sentiments and encourage everyone to practice secure internet usage, taking

back control from cybercriminals. If there's one action anyone can take, it's using strong and unique passwords for each online account, a simple step that can keep you protected. If you've fallen victim to a scam, know that there's no shame in seeking support. Contact your bank immediately, and then report the scam to Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or online through actionfraud.police.uk.

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NEWS

Jake’s lights raise £20,000 A TEENAGER who hosts a charity Christmas lights display in memory of his sister has now raised £20,000 over five years. Jake Skinner, 16, started raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2018, in memory of his sister Stacie, who was 17 when she died from anaphylactic shock on Christmas Day 2015. Throughout last December Jake’s home on Sutherland Avenue, Downend, was lit up with thousands of lights. After taking down the display at the end of the month Jake told supporters the total raised in 2023 was £3,350.

Visitors left cash donations and an online fundraising page raised more than £1,000, including gift aid. Jake said: “This is an amazing amount, and takes our grand total of all years to £20,000. “We will continue to raise money and we hope to see you all next year.” Macmillan relationship fundraising manager Kaeti Morrison said: “I am absolutely thrilled for Jake that all of his 0296 hard work and determination has0117 once960 again paid off to raise an incredible amount for 0797 0122137 Macmillan. BEAUTIFUL, CONTEMPORARY, KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & WETROOMS, ALSO CLOAKROOMS & UNDER STAIRS TOILETS

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kingswoodvoice

February 2024

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