emersonsgreenvoice
January 2024, Edition — Issue 83
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Cricket club eyes up local sites Gloucestershire County Cricket Club wants to move from the County Ground and is looking at sites near Emersons Green. PAGE 5
Helping children with cancer Becky Evans and Pat Evans of Raeyah's Hands of Support with Knit and Natter members Karen Jukes, Pat Stinchcombe, Tanya Phillips, Tina Jefferies and Suzzie Belcher, who have made a Snowman-themed post box topper outside Downend Post Office to raise money for the charity. Full story: Page 7
Green spaces under threat PEOPLE are being urged to have their say over where thousands of new homes in South Gloucestershire should be built in the next 15 years. The ‘preferred’ version of the council’s Local Plan, a blueprint for future development, proposes allowing almost 1,500 new homes to be built on fields around Shortwood - a village that currently
has only about 90 houses - by 2040. A thousand more would be built near Lyde Green and in Mangotsfield. The council is holding a series of meetings this month, to explain why it believes it has to build on greenfield sites and to listen to residents’ ideas. Turn to Page 4
New bridge vow The A432 bridge over the M4, shut since last July, needs demolishing. A replacement is promised by the end of 2025. PAGE 3
Start on schools Building work on Lyde Green’s much-delayed new schools will begin in March, with the target opening date September 2026. PAGE 8
Cat’s adventure A cat found wandering near the M4 had been missing from home in Taunton for 10 years PAGE 17
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Passenger, 20, killed in ring road lorry tragedy
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 February edition deadline is January 11. 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
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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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A YOUNG man died when a scaffolding lorry overturned on the Avon Ring Road. Tyler Carley, who was 20, was killed when the lorry he was a passenger in collided with the central reservation of the A4174 between the Dramway and Siston Hill roundabouts, at around 5.25pm on December 5. An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said: "Sadly, a passenger of the vehicle died at the scene. "Their next of kin has been informed and our thoughts are with them at this time. "A specially trained officer will provide them with support as we investigate what happened." Police confirmed that the 37-year-old driver of the lorry had been treated in hospital for minor injuries before being arrested in connection with the incident and taken into custody. He was then released under investigation while further enquiries take place. Officers said no other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the incident. Police did not confirm the identity of the passenger. A fundraising campaign in Tyler's memory to help pay the costs of his funeral was launched online and had raised more than £8,700 as the Voice went to print. More than 630 friends and well-wishers donated towards the Gofundme campaign, which was organised by family friend Sammie England, who said: "Our thoughts and prayers are
with his parents, siblings and the rest of the family at this very difficult time. "The unexpected loss of a child is hard at any time but with it being right before Christmas, I'm hoping to raise as much as possible to give this beautiful boy the send off he deserves." The Voice is sharing the details of the fundraiser with the agreement of Sammie and Tyler's family. The page can be found at tinyurl.com/2x46p82h. Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to contact them by calling 101 and quoting the incident reference number 5223 297 300. The ring road remained closed between the two roundabouts for more than a day after the incident, for investigations and work to repair the carriageway. One lane of the northbound carriageway opened on the afternoon following the crash but the southbound carriageway stayed closed for a second night. A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said "substantial" repairs were needed to the central reservation and a large diesel spill across both southbound lanes meant the road had to be resurfaced. Drivers diverted away from the ring road were using alternative routes through Mangotsfield, Emersons Green, Shortwood and Siston, with residents reporting queues on roads in each area.
61 drink-drive arrests in one week
POLICE arrested 61 people during the first week of the winter drink and drug-driving enforcement campaign Operation Tonic. Avon and Somerset’s roads policing team promised to be “out in force” until the New Year, carrying out roadside checks and talking to motorists about the dangers of drink and drug driving. Police are calling on anyone who suspects someone they know drives under the influence of drink or drugs to call 101, report it online via the force website or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. People should call 999 if the suspect is on the road at the time. Officers can then use automatic number plate recognition cameras and CCTV to look for potential offenders on the roads network.
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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Bridge over M4 must come down THE bridge carrying the main road between Bristol and Yate over the M4 will be demolished - resulting in at least two more years of delays and diversions for motorists. National Highways says the damaged Badminton Road overbridge, which was closed in July after a routine inspection raised safety concerns, will never reopen. It will be pulled down in the summer or autumn of 2024, and a new bridge built in its place by the end of 2025. The bridge, next to the Wick Wick roundabout where the A432 Badminton Road meets the A4174 Ring Road, was found to have “accelerated deterioration and cracking” in the concrete. The closure effectively cut off the main route between Yate, Coalpit Heath and Frampton Cotterell to the north and Emersons Green, Downend and Bristol to the south, resulting in thousands of vehicles a day being diverted through unsuitable country roads. Since the summer inspectors have been using scanners to identify potential defects, and drilling into the structure to check its condition. Their conclusion was announced at a press conference on December 15: the bridge is not an immediate risk to users of the M4 passing underneath, but would soon become unsafe if traffic was allowed to continue crossing over it. National Highways says the new bridge will be 20 metres (around 66ft) wide, and will “allow for more sustainable transport options to be considered”.
n The A432 Badminton Road has been closed since July A spokesperson said: “The project is expected to take about two years. Due to the condition of the current bridge, it will need to remain closed to limit any further damage during the design phase.” Diversion routes, agreed with South Gloucestershire Council, will continue to be fully signed during the closure. National Highways route manager Sean Walsh said: “Safety is our number one priority, and our extensive and detailed investigations show that we now need to demolish and replace the bridge. “As you will appreciate, this is an expensive complex process and we are working with partners to expedite the process as quickly as possible. “We fully understand the disruption the closure has and will cause, and we thank people for their patience as we move this project forward as soon as possible. “We will continue to work with South Gloucestershire Council to help manage the
impact of the closure and to progress with the bridge replacement.” Mr Walsh said that it is not possible to install a temporary bridge during the works due to timescales and costs of doing so. Council leader Claire Young said: “We understand how frustrating this closure will be for residents, however do recognise that it is essential that National Highways carry out this work
for the safety of all bridge and motorway users. “Our highways team is working closely with National Highways and will continue to work to keep traffic moving as freely as possible around the area.” The closure has caused delays and frustration for motorists driving between Yate and Bristol, and bus services have been diverted, with a free shuttle bus set up to stop people living near the A432 in Coalpit Heath and parts of Frampton Cotterell from being cut off from public transport. Pedestrians and cyclists can still cross the bridge but no motor vehicles, including buses, emergency services and motorbikes, are allowed. People living and working on the diversion routes through Hambrook to the west and Henfield to the east have complained of speeding drivers, road rage and many minor accidents.
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NEWS
Thousands of homes could be built on Green Belt From page 1 The council launched a consultation in December and wants as many people as possible to comment on the proposals before it closes on February 7. Three sites east of the Avon Ring Road, surrounding the village of Shortwood, appear on what the council calls its ‘emerging preferred strategy’, a compromise between the need for new housing near existing urban areas and keeping the Green Belt - an area where new developments are banned to keep cities and towns separate - intact. Between them they would accommodate 1,480 new homes over the life of the Local Plan, from 2025 to 2040, with an extra 200 possible after that. On the other side of the ring road, a field that was the subject of a planning battle in 2009, where residents campaigned against a housing development, appears as a potential site for 195 homes. The field between Mangotsfield United’s Cossham Street stadium and Mangotsfield School on Rodway Hill Road is known locally as the Taylor Wimpey field, after the developers who own it. Another site off Pomphrey Hill has been earmarked as a possible site for 65 homes, with 60 at a site in Pucklechurch opposite Eagle Crescent. North of Lyde Green a huge area of land between the M4, Westerleigh Road and the railway to Westerleigh oil terminal, next to the Lyde green to Yate cycle path, could accommodate 800 homes by 2040, rising to 1,200 after that. The council says it has to find sites for 9,260 homes to help meet a target of 20,490 homes in the district over 15 years. Leaders believe at least 7,813 will need to be built on greenfield land outside urban area and towns, “some of which is currently designated Green Belt”. The council said: “We know this will be very challenging for those communities affected by this.” A further 8,080 homes already have planning permission and 3,150 will be built on small sites not included in the plan. The council has posted a series of maps and web
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n Around Shortwood, 1,480 homes could be built on the blue areas to the right of the ring road. At Mangotsfield, to the left, 260 homes could be built.
n The blue area between the M4, Westerleigh Road and the Lyde Green to Yate cycle path is earmarked for 800 homes in the ‘preferred’ Local Plan.
HOW YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE Tuesday 9 January - Hanham Community Centre (4pm - 7pm) Thursday 11 January - Tesco Extra Yate (9am - 5pm) Friday 12 January - Charfield Hall (4pm - 7pm) Monday 15 January - Warmley Community Centre (4.30pm - 7.30pm) Wednesday 17 January - Mangotsfield Football Club (4pm - 7pm) Friday 19 January - Emersons Green Village Hall (12pm - 3pm) Monday 22 January - Pucklechurch Community Centre (3.30 – 6.30pm) Tuesday 23 January - Almondsbury Old School Hall (4.30pm - 7.30pm) Wednesday 24 January - Easter Compton Village Hall (4pm - 7pm) Thursday 25 January – Shortwood Methodist Church (12pm - 3pm) Monday 29 January - Turnberries Community Centre, Thornbury (4 -7pm) Tuesday 30 January - Chipping Sodbury Town Hall (4pm - 7pm) Wednesday 31 January - Henfield Hall, BS36 2UF (3.45 - 6.45pm) Online events will also take place on January 10 and 16, from 12pm – 2pm and from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. To register your interest in these, please visit the website at: www.southglos.gov.uk/newlocalplan. pages explaining the thinking behind what it calls its ‘emerging preferred strategy’, which can be found online at www.southglos.gov.uk/ newlocalplan. The council cabinet member with responsibility for the Local Plan, Chris Willmore, said it has to “tackle several challenges”, including finding homes for the next generations while preserving the area’s “wonderful environment”, and tackling the lack of facilities on new developments. She said: “The council hasn’t made any decisions yet, but we want to talk with our communities about these ideas and to hear theirs. “When we say it is ‘preferred’, that simply means that we think the approach we’re presenting is a positive way of meeting our collective needs in response to the challenges we are all facing together. But we are still open to hearing more ideas. We want to know where people think this
draft plan is right and where it can be improved.”
‘Shock’ at proposals Shortwood is part of the council’s Boyd Valley ward. Conservative councillor Ben Stokes said he was “shocked” by proposals that are “a clear move away” from the previous Tory administration’s policy and include a total of 3,265 new homes in his ward, which as well as Shortwood includes Pucklechurch, Siston and Bridgeyate. He said: “By building on our protected Green Belt land, there is irreparable destruction to the nature corridors and the distinct green ‘belt’ that marks-out our communities. “Furthermore, I don’t see enough thought being given to the capacity of our local health services and rural road network.
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
“The proposals would create more congestion, raise issues about road safety and impact on local pollution levels.” “Our historic villages do not have the infrastructure to support such widespread development.” Cllr Stokes said the plan had a “damaging approach to the Greenbelt”, adding: “Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.” Liberal Democrat councillor Marilyn Palmer said: “When it became clear that development in the Green Belt was only way that South Gloucestershire Council could find enough sites for the number of houses required by the Government, I made it very clear to the Council that the distinct community of Shortwood had to be protected with a green cordon to prevent it being subsumed by any new development. “The proposed development is not an extension of Shortwood and it should not be seen in that way. Shortwood has a unique character and we have to preserve that. “The developers have drawn their boundaries right up to existing back gardens of houses on Main Road, but that it is simply not acceptable.” Cllr Palmer said it was “really important” that residents take part in the consultation, attend meetings and make their views known. People who are not online can call the council on 01454 868009 for information. Pucklechurch Parish Council advises residents to look at the planning and consultations page on its website to help them understand what is proposed.
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Cricket club looking for new home GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club is looking for a new home - and it could be near Emersons Green. The club has announced that it is "exploring opportunities for a new stadium development in South Gloucestershire" and has told members it is looking for a site close to the M4, somewhere between Almondsbury and Emersons Green. The club has been based at the County Ground in Nevil Road, Bishopston, since 1889, when the site was bought by Downend-born cricketing legend WG Grace. But it announced in December that it was looking at the possibility of relocating to ensure its "competitiveness and long-term sustainability", and was looking to start negotiations over a move to a new stadium development. The club said in a statement: "Following a period of consultation with
South Gloucestershire Council spanning several months, we have identified potential sites that might allow for the required growth of Gloucestershire Cricket, the preferred site being situated in South Gloucestershire, close by to the M4. "Our intention is to develop a stadium that is not only much more accessible to larger parts of the county of Gloucestershire, but is also purpose built to host the highest level of world cricket events." In a series of presentations to club members, club chair David Jones said the board was looking at two or three possible sites in the area between Almondsbury and Emersons Green. Former board member Adie Britton said the club was looking at sites "near the M4 and the ring road" that would be around three times the size of the existing ground, which is in a residential area with no space to expand.
n GCCC could leave the County Ground for a site close to the M4 Members were told the possibility of a new M4 Junction 18A near Emersons Green and the park & ride at Lyde Green were factors being considered. The aim would be to accommodate a 12,000seat stadium that could be temporarily expanded up to 20,000 for international matches, and would also have space for extra facilities, including training areas, other sports and a hotel. Mr Jones said: "We look forward to engaging with our members, neighbouring residents, stakeholders and the
public as we continue a journey that WG Grace started many years ago.” The club has not responded to a request from the Voice for more details on the site locations. The council also declined to give details of potential sites. A spokesperson said: "We welcome the interest from Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in potentially establishing a new home in South Gloucestershire. Any proposals would need to go through the proper planning processes and local people will be keen to hear more details as they emerge."
Pothole emergency A WINTER emergency could be declared in South Gloucestershire as the road network suffers from record high levels of potholes. The council has warned “extreme weather” over the next three months could mean the roads would deteriorate much faster than they can be fixed, with potential restrictions put in place. In a worst case scenario, drivers could be restricted from using certain roads on safety grounds until they can be repaired, according to a report to the council’s December cabinet meeting. Last winter was a “key turning point in the state of the network”, according to council data, and roads in South Gloucestershire have not recovered since. About 100 reports of potholes are normally received in October, however in October 2023 the council received 900.
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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Snowman helps tell Raeyah's story DOWNEND'S latest post box topper is helping to raise funds for a charity inspired by a young girl who lost her life to cancer. The knitted and crocheted celebration of characters from Raymond Briggs' classic Christmas tale The Snowman, outside Downend Post Office, has been created by members of the Knit and Natter group based at nearby shop Fabrics Plus. It is raising money through a QR code and web link for charity Raeyah's Hands of Support, set up by the family of Emersons Green girl Raeyah Evans-Rice. Raeyah was just four years old when she died in March from a rare form of cancer, known as a Wilms tumour. While she was undergoing treatment her parents Becky Evans and Kevin Rice decided to set up a service to help other parents going through a similar experience. Becky and Kevin, who now live in Soundwell, said: "Raeyah was a happy, outgoing little girl who adored her older brothers. "Raeyah managed her intense chemotherapy treatment extremely well and was given the all clear in December 2022, exactly a year after we received the devastating news of her illness. "However, just four weeks later she became unwell and passed away in hospital, surrounded by the love of her family." Now a registered charity, Raeyah's Hands of Support
n Evans-Rice died in March 2023 form a rare form of cancer
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 for Christmas and Easter, and overnight bags for parents whose children have to make an unexpected stay in hospital. Becky said: "Quite often you take your child in for an appointment and you think you're going home afterwards but end up having to stay over, so we provide hospitals with bags they can give out on the spot, with things you're unlikely to be able to get at short notice, like tea, coffee and hairbrushes. "When you've got a child who's having cancer treatment, autism is the least of your worries, but they need more support - for example they can get anxious when they have injections." One of Becky and Kevin's sons, Mason, has autism spectrum disorder and from their experience they believe Raeyah, who had a "unique and unbreakable" bond with him, was also autistic. Raeyah's Hands of Support currently operates only in Bristol but there are plans to link up with charities in other areas, with a view to providing a national service one day. Becky and her mum Pat Evans, of Downend, who is also involved with the charity, were there to see the postbox topper unveiled at the beginning of December. Pat said: "It's absolutely amazing - I take my hat off to them, they've done a wonderful thing, a marvellous job." The Knit and Natter group meets at Fabrics Plus on Badminton Road every week. Members started work on the topper in September, doing some of the work in the shop and some at home. It includes the Snowman and the Snowdog, James - the boy from the original Snowman film robins and snowballs. The topper was designed by Suzzie Belcher, who said making it used 10 balls of white wool from Fabrics Plus as well as
Sales? Call Gary on 07799 461 169
n The knitted and crocheted topper includes characters from Raymond Briggs' The Snowman stories coloured wool from the shop and members' "stashes". Suzzie said: "We hope people like it and it gives the children the charity helps a lift - that's the reason we did it." An information panel with
a QR code for smartphone donations is attached to the topper. Donations can also be made to the charity via its website at Raeyahshandsofsupport.org.uk.
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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NEWS
Building work on new schools to start in spring BUILDING work on Lyde Green’s new secondary and primary schools will start in March, says South Gloucestershire Council. New contracts for the muchdelayed £41 million building project will be announced in February, leaving two-and-a-half years to get the schools ready to open in September 2026. In the meantime the council has also announced improvements to buses taking secondary school pupils from the area to Winterbourne Academy. The new schools, which will share a site at the eastern end of Honeysuckle Road, were originally due to open in September 2022 but have been hit by a series of delays. The new 900-place Lyde Green Secondary School and a 420-place primary school next door, to be run as a twin school to the existing Lyde Green Primary School in Willowherb Road, were approved by the Department for Education in 2021 after a bidding process which saw them compete for funding with other school projects around the country,
n An image released by South Gloucestershire Council of the new school buildings, with the primary school to the left and secondary school to the right losing out on a previous occasion. An update on the project was given to the council’s ruling cabinet on December 11. Co-leader Ian Boulton said: “Lyde Green remains a missing link, which affects not only the immediate vicinity - the ripples affect the whole authority. “After a number of false starts by the previous administration, we had to effectively take a standing start to deliver these schools in Lyde Green.”
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The council has now taken legal ownership of the land for the schools and is putting up new fencing on the site. Calls for a new school to serve the area were first made around the turn of the millennium, and many families have moved into Lyde Green expecting schools to be ready in time for their children to attend, only to have to find both secondary and in some cases primary school places elsewhere, as the estate’s first primary school is heavily oversubscribed. As a result many children have to travel by bus or car to school, particularly secondary school pupils, with recent cuts to bus services leaving some facing early starts and overcrowded services. Conservative Frenchay & Downend ward councillor Liz Brennan said: “There is a lack of school buses in South Gloucestershire and this is impacting parents and carers in their school choices. For example, there is still no guarantee for long-term plans for the Winterbourne Academy
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school buses.” Liberal Democrat cabinet member for education Chris Willmore said: “Long-term, the only solution to some of the issues is getting the Lyde Green schools open as quickly as humanly possible. “The fact is we just don’t have enough secondary places, so people are having to make journeys they would otherwise not want to make. “We’ve inherited a position where parents have voted with their feet historically, in relation to which schools they go to. And therefore we’ve picked up a historic nightmare. We’ve been doing our best to rescue school transport and buses. For example from January we’re changing the timetables for the Winterbourne buses, so that they will be better for parents.” A council spokesperson confirmed that the controversial ‘stacking’ of services, which meant children catching the 459 service from Lyde Green, via Emersons Green had to be at their bus stop as early as 6.50am, is being reversed. The 459 will now revert to last year’s timetable, arriving at school at 8.15am rather than 7.35am, and leaving at 2.50pm. The latest changes are possible because the 459 will no longer have to share a bus and driver with the 460 from Coalpit Heath, which is being withdrawn and replaced with a scheduled bus service, the Y6, which is being diverted to cover its route at school run times. Meeting report by Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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NEWS
Mangos artificial pitch plans approved
n Mangotsfield United chairman Steve Brown and manager Glyn Ashton with some of the artificial turf that would replace the grass at Mangotsfield United's Cossham Street ground. MANGOTSFIELD United's plans to replace the grass pitch at its stadium with an all-weather artificial surface have been approved. South Gloucestershire Council officers approved the club's planning application using delegated powers on December 1, just over two months after they were submitted. It means the club can press on with plans to start work on the project after the end of the current football season. The club believes it can increase accessibility and use of the Cossham Street ground by schools and other organisations, as well as its partner sides, with the 3G all-weather surface. The plans also include new LED floodlighting and widening the margins around the sides of the pitch to meet new safety guidelines aimed at preventing head injuries to players. This will involve expanding the ground on one side, moving the boundary 5m (about 16ft) into the neighbouring Hut Field, which is used by the community as well as for some club training sessions. A total of 95 comments were received from the public on the plans, with 89 of them in support and just three objecting, with the other comments neutral. The planning conditions include provisions for noise monitoring and usage restricted to between 8am and 10pm on most weekdays, and 8am to 9pm on weekends, with late-night usage extended to 11pm for ten days per year to allow for late-finishing cup ties. First team manager and Mangotsfield & Blackhorse Sports and Community Association chair Glyn Ashton said: "We were delighted to receive planning permission for the project, and just as pleasing was the overwhelming support from the local community on the planning application, which makes it clear to us how important this project is. "We now enter the final phase of fundraising and, all being well, we’ll be able to announce the timescales for the installation of the new playing surface early in the New Year. "With the work involved, Mangotsfield United will need to play some games at the start of the 2024/2025 season at a temporary home and we are currently in advanced talks with a venue that will hopefully host us for that period. "In the meantime we would like to thank everyone who has offered their support for this project, both in writing and verbally - it really means a lot, and now we would ask everyone to help us in our final push to get the final funds in place so that we can bring this project to life." The club has an online donation page aimed at raising £20,000 towards the cost of the £1.2 million project, which can be found at justgiving.com/campaign/project24. Sales? Call Gary on 07799 461 169
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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NEWS
Upgrades planned for cycle path UPGRADES are planned to improve the Bristol and Bath Railway Path in Staple Hill and Mangotsfield. South Gloucestershire Council will launch a public consultation early in the coming year to ask people what improvements could be made to persuade them to use the path, particularly during the winter. Council transport policy and project delivery manager Andy Whitehead told a meeting of the Staple Hill, Mangotsfield and New Cheltenham Community Engagement Forum that the project would cover the stretch of path the council is responsible for maintaining, between the Staple Hill tunnel and Bitton. The council will be given money by the West of England Combined Authority to fund the improvement scheme, as part of efforts to make walking and cycling a more attractive way of travelling in the area. A series of anti-social behaviour incidents on the path, dating back for years, have highlighted the need to make people feel safer when using the route. Mr Whitehead told the meeting on November 29 that the council was "right at the start of the project", so the exact area and type of improvements were still to be defined. But one place likely to see improvements is the area around the former Mangotsfield
n Chris Willmore Station, which is the junction of "several strategically important paths" linking Staple Hill, Mangotsfield, Emersons Green and Warmley. A "longlist" of options for improvements includes new lighting, signs and CCTV coverage. There will also be measures to ease "pinch points" where the path narrows, placing cyclists and pedestrians in potential conflict. The council says it needs to make sure any physical improvements don't adversely affect the area's plants and wildlife. Once the council has consulted and drawn up firm plans it then needs to make a planning application and a business case for funding from WECA.
A similar project on the Bristol stretch of the path started in 2019 and finished in 2023, with £1.1 million spent on improvements including widening and creating some segregated lanes on busy, narrow stretches of the path. Council cabinet member for transport Chris Willmore said the "exciting" plans would "encourage year-round active and sustainable travel there, such as walking, cycling and wheeling". She added: "We currently see a big reduction in people using the Railway Path during the darker months, but we want it to be a viable transport option throughout the year, and a place where people feel safe. "Although details of the project are yet to be defined, there are some key junctions which could benefit from improvements such as lighting and CCTV, or potentially widening existing pinch points to enable people to move more freely. "However, no proposals have been agreed at this stage and we'll be asking people for their ideas around how we can make improvements, so I encourage people to get involved." People can register to be notified when the consultation launches online, at consultations.southglos.gov.uk/system/ register.
BRISTOL NORTH - 0117 373 8367 23 Badminton Road, Downend, Bristol BS16 6BB kipmcgrath.co.uk/bristol-north
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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EDUCATION
Song and dance at art fair
n Mangotsfield School pupils and SEND teacher Paul Andrews were helped by council staff to plant the first trees in their orchard n Student performers at the Mangotsfield School Winter Festival and Arts Market. PUPILS from all year groups at Mangotsfield School entertained visitors to the school's Winter Festival and Arts Market. Singers, musicians, actors and dancers form the secondary school took to the stage during the event on December 3, which featured a preview of the upcoming musical production of Roald Dahl classic Matilda. The event also included a primary school art exhibition, Lego displays, activities and a huge range of craft stalls, from prints, card making and resin to woodwork, stained glass and jewellery. A school spokesperson said: "The Winter Fair was a storming success and a fabulous community event. "The day had many creative elements to recognise the wonderful opportunities the creative arts provide for the students, staff and the community." The event was planned and organised by the school's head of art Dawn Beedle and head of music Leah West.
Orchard plan takes root
MANGOTSFIELD School has started work to create an orchard and wild flower meadows. Students and teachers were joined by staff from South Gloucestershire Council's Common Connections Project to plant first a variety of wild flowers then five apple trees and a pear tree to start the school's own orchard. Common Connections is a scheme funded by the West of England Combined Authority to restore and join up green spaces, rivers and ponds in 87 sites across the district. The aim is to create wildlife corridors so animals can travel safely, extend their habitat and food sources. A spokesperson for the school said: "It was wonderful for the school to take part in this creative community project. "The long term vision is to support our food curriculum through fruit growth on site. Many thanks to the students who took part."
Make this the year you volunteer new volunteering opportunities With St Monica Trust in 2024 Explore our new range of volunteering opportunities. Either directly with our amazing residents or behind the scenes supporting other teams such as gardening or IT support. To learn more about how you can help St Monica Trust create communities where older people flourish please call 07817 633 011 / 07875 406 891 or email volunteering@stmonicatrust.org.uk
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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LYDE GREEN OPEN SPACE
New year, new start AS the excitement of Christmas wanes, we look towards spring in anticipation that 2024 will yield some fantastic results for us in Lyde Green. We want everyone to get involved: if you have an idea or want to see something happen, please let us know. So, what have we planned so far for 2024? Lyde Green Common continues to be a place of improvement for our local biodiversity. We are working closely with the council’s Commons Connections project and will be looking at wildflower sowing and planting in the coming months. We also hope we can continue to have the grass cut and collected with the correct permissions from the council and Commoners: this will really benefit the grassland, and we hope the species-rich grass can be more widespread across the site. We will be opening invitations for the local cubs and beavers’ group to use the community garden to sow and harvest fruit and vegetables - it’s such a valuable resource for Lyde Green to have, and something we can all make the most of. Another proposal we will make, to the
National Award winners of the Good Garage Scheme
community association, is new Lyde Green urban village signs. We would love something bespoke that reflects our local love of nature and the history of our area. Any ideas are welcome on this, so please do get in touch; we will hold a consultation if we get the green light and funding. We want to hold some more meetings and plan to host virtual sessions after the quarterly community partner meetings. This will keep you all informed of any issues and updates from our local partners. We also want to help you, the residents: if we can get the funding and volunteers, we could help replace and tidy your gardens to improve our local biodiversity. Search for and join the Emersons Green Community Nature Reserve initiative for regular hints and advice about how to create a haven for our local wildlife. You can find out more on the town council website, emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk, and Facebook page. Or you can come along to the anniversary celebration at Emersons Green Village Hall on January 18 at 7.30pm - see the back page of this edition of the Voice for more details. Regular litter picks will be organised to
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work alongside our monthly litter pickers that head out to keep Lyde clean. There is fantastic scope in Lyde Green and plenty of work to keep us going well into the future - if we can get the help. Come and join us and make Lyde an even better place to live. We have a real chance to make a difference. You can get updates on our Facebook page @lydegreenopenspace, message us there or email lgopenspace@gmail.com to share ideas, get advice or get involved! Merry Christmas to you all! Laurence Binks Chair, Lyde Green OpenSpace Group
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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NEWS
' Serious concerns' over fire service AVON Fire & Rescue Service is “inadequate” at responding to emergencies – the worst possible rating - according to a damning report. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services says it has “serious concerns” about how the service keeps people safe from fire and other risks. A report said its mobilisation system, which records information and dispatches firefighters to n Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton incidents, “isn’t reliable and crashes during 999 calls, which results in the public receiving a slower response to emergencies”. On one occasion it crashed during a request for help from the ambulance service following a serious road traffic collision. Crashes had been reported 20 times in a year but had "happened many more times", with some workers no longer formally reporting them. In her report inspector Wendy Williams said the service does not have an effective system to record up-to-date risk information, including details of tower blocks. She raised concerns about fire prevention work after finding that residents at greater risk were not prioritised for home safety visits, which were decided instead on location and convenience. Ms Williams also raised concerns about service culture and said staff in some teams demonstrated “unacceptable behaviours, such as using sexist or inappropriate language and disguising this as banter”, adding: "Worryingly, some staff don’t have the confidence to report these issues." The report was published days before an employment tribunal found a female firefighter based at Avonmouth fire station had been subjected to sex discrimination, harassment and unfair dismissal. The government watchdog assessed how well AFRS performed in 11 areas and rated it as inadequate in four – understanding fire and risk, preventing fire and risk, responding to fires and emergencies, and promoting values and culture. Five others "require improvement" and two were rated "adequate", with none “good” or "outstanding". The inspectorate has placed the service in an enhanced level of monitoring to help it address “causes of concern”. Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton admitted that the report "makes for uncomfortable reading". He said: "I’m sorry if local people feel let down. "I accept these are the Inspectorate’s findings, and I want to reassure our local communities we have already put plans in place to address some of the concerns raised. “However, I feel strongly that the findings do not represent who we are as a service.” Avon Fire Authority chair Brenda Massey said: “It is regrettable that these are the Inspectorate’s findings, despite how much work staff have put into making continual improvements across the service since the last inspection." The inspection took place in the summer; the service is now due to be reinspected to review progress. In respect to the employment tribunal, Mr Shilton said it was "deeply regrettable" that the female firefighter had experienced "inappropriate and unwanted behaviour". He added: "The individual who displayed much of these inappropriate behaviours...no longer works for the service and hasn’t for a period of time, after robust action was taken to dismiss him following an internal investigation." By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service Sales? Call Gary on 07799 461 169
n Firefighters protest outside the meeting of Avon Fire Authority. Picture: FBU
Crews rally against fire cuts
FIREFIGHTERS protested outside a meeting of Avon Fire Authority against planned job cuts and a “dangerous” reduction to fire engine crew sizes. The authority, which oversees Avon Fire & Rescue Service, approved proposals to cut 40 full-time firefighter posts and reduce crews from five to four for most fire engines in October. The authority insists the changed crews will still be safe but at its December meeting, Fire Brigades Union chair Matt Senior said frontline cuts would increase response times, which was a “public safety concern”. He said cutting the size of crews could mean sending firefighters into burning buildings without safety monitoring from outside, adding: “These cuts are dangerous.” The cuts, which would be achieved through non-replacement of retiring staff rather than redundancies, are part of a package of cuts aimed at meeting a £2 million budget shortfall over the next three years. Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton said the cuts were a “least worst scenario” but insisted: “Response times and service provision COMMUNITY NEWS can still be met.” Flexible • Efficient • Reliable • Dependable
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NEWS A STALWART leader has retired after celebrating 50 years of service to the Girlguiding movement. The meeting of 11th Kingswood Rangers at Badminton Road Methodist Church on November 27 was "gatecrashed" by Jackie Meech's daughter and granddaughter, church members, guide and brownie leaders to mark the milestone. She was presented with a card from the church and gifts including a crystal vase engraved with the Girlguiding emblem. Jackie has been involved with the church since she was just three years old, when she joined the Sunday School. She joined the brownies at the age of seven and the Guides when she was 10.
Jackie marks 50 years' service to Guides
As a leader, she has served in many different roles, including running two Rainbow units, for girls aged between five and seven, when they were first
established in 1987. As a ranger leader Jackie was the county ranger advisor for seven years, then district commander and district advisor
for the Kingswood area for five years. When the guide unit at nearby St Augustine of Canterbury church faced closure, she stepped in and ran it for more than seven years, only leaving when she had recruited new leaders from her ranger group. Badminton Road Methodist Church steward Nicky Budd said: "Always energetic, kind, and helpful, members of Badminton Road Methodist are very grateful to Jackie for all she has done over the years for the benefit of the many youngsters involved. "We know that it has led to many lasting friendships and we wish Jackie every blessing in her well-deserved retirement."
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 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 and 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. n MESSY VINTAGE Come and Share God-centred fun & fellowship for the Older Generation at Badminton Road Methodist Downend 2nd Friday monthly 9.30am to 12 noon. For Information 0117 2395984 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.
n Jackie Meech with relatives, church members and guide leaders at her celebration at Badminton Road Methodist Church
WHAT’S ON LOCALLY January 15 and 19 n ST JAMES CRAFT AND CHAT GROUP meets at St James Church, Mangotsfield, 10.30am. Make new friends while crafting and sharing skills. All welcome to come along for a coffee and a chat. No charge but donations for refreshments welcome. More details from Ruth on 0782 631 2630. January 27 n CELEBRATE UGANDA & NEIGHBOURS at Badminton Road Methodist Church, Downend, 2-6pm. Learn about Methodist Mission Partners work in Eastern Uganda and hear inspiring stories from volunteers with Mission Direct and Bristol/Uganda Friendship Link.
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
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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NEWS
Mayor’s bus advert was ‘unlawful’ COUNCIL leaders say Metro Mayor Dan Norris unlawfully spent £10,000 of taxpayers’ money on a bus advert for political gain. A West of England Combined Authority committee comprising the leaders of South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset councils accepted the findings of a top WECA legal officer that the spending was “clearly” unlawful and that the bus “wrap”, which included photos of Mr Norris and his dog Angel, broke local government rules because it amounted to political selfpromotion. But because Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees did not attend an emergency meeting on the issue on December 14 - branding the meeting “improper” and questioning whether it was itself lawful, the two other council leaders made no formal finding, did not place blame or order any sanction. Mr Norris has denied any wrongdoing, insisting metro mayors are “meant to be visible”, and says he was not given the opportunity to be interviewed by the official carrying out the investigation. A First double-decker was covered with a design featuring three pictures of Mr Norris, one measuring 3m (9ft 10in) high and the
n The advertising bus ‘wrap’ which cost £10,000 other two 2m and 1m, and two images of his dog Angel, with a message on each side. It included promotional messages for the Birthday Bus scheme and a bus driver recruitment campaign. The advert was pulled by WECA chief executive Richard Ennis when he found out. A report to the committee said Mr Norris issued a “direct instruction” to staff in the combined authority’s mayoral office to spend government money on the ad. With Mr Rees absent and fellow Labour mayor Mr Norris required not to be in the room during the debate, the committee comprised only South Glos leader Claire Young and B&NES leader Kevin Guy, both
Lib Dems. Announcing their decision, Cllr Guy said: “The committee is of the view that this expenditure was clearly unlawful, for the reasons set out in the report. “However, we will not pass a formal resolution to that effect because we feel very strongly that a representative from Bristol City Council should have attended this meeting to contribute to the debate and the vote. “Therefore we resolve to conclude the meeting having made no formal finding on unlawfulness.” The two leaders made a series of directions to WECA officials, including inviting external auditors to look into the episode, bringing in a code of practice for all future mayoral marketing and communications activity and making a detailed report on mayoral spending in the current and past financial year. WECA’s mayoral budget is separate from its main budgets and totalled £675,000 this year to cover the mayor’s costs, office expenses and support, as well as funds towards the four-yearly elections. By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
LOCAL HISTORY with CHAP
Memories of Downend shopping centre DOWNEND today has a lively mix of shops and businesses, and readers have been sharing their memories of days gone by with local history group CHAP. Mr Reice remembers Lambs Garage with "number one mechanic Sid Jury" and an old car on display which would probably be worth a fortune nowadays. It had a sign outside, "All Days and Onions", which he never could make sense of! There was a wide range of businesses, including hairdresser Hunters, stationer Hoons, greengrocer Brittons, gents' outfitters Dunn and Hopton, the post office run by Mrs Biggs, in the building on its own at the roundabout, and Hardy's timber yard. There was an ironmonger, a paint and wallpaper store, a drapery, an electrical goods shop, a shoe shop, a butcher's and a fish shop.Mr Harris, who is 87 years old and has lived in Downend all his life, corrects an earlier CHAP article in which we claimed that Don Burland ran the shoe shop. In fact, this famous England rugby player was landlord of the Horseshoe pub (the shoe shop was run by Mr Hinckley).
n Downend shops today. Picture: Helen Rana John Palmer recalls a nursery owned by Albert Parsons, who grew produce for his greengrocer’s shop at 131 Staple Hill Road (on the corner, now a residential property), and probably lived above the shop. The only access to the nursery was by the lane which now leads to 59 Cleeve Park Road, and runs alongside the lane at the back of Oakdale Road towards the Cleeve Hill Farm buildings. Mr Palmer remembers regularly
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being sent to the tobacconist (next to the garage opposite the dentist’s), to buy "A two-ounce tin of Player's Whiskey, Ready Rubbed, and a box of Swan Matches, please". Downend Community History and Art Project (CHAP) is a voluntary organisation that aims to create a coherent identity for Downend and Emersons Green, built around interesting or significant places, people and events from the past.
Our goal is to build a sense of belonging and commitment to our area and understanding of its character, produce a community history resource and encourage the local community to take part in activities. You can contact CHAP by email at big.gin@talktalk.net or by letter at CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS.
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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NEWS
Tories and Greens pick MP candidates TWO political parties have announced their candidates to be MP for the new Bristol North East constituency. The seat is being created at the next general election as part of boundary changes which will see the current Kingswood constituency abolished. New Cheltenham, which includes the Siston Hill estate, is one of four South Gloucestershire Council wards that will now be part of Bristol North East. The others are Staple Hill & Mangotsfield, Kingswood and Woodstock. The rest of the new constituency is made up of Bristol City Council’s Eastville, Frome Vale, Hillfields and Lockleaze wards. Emersons Green and Lyde Green are being moved into the Filton & Bradley Stoke seat, while Shortwood and Pucklechurch stay part of Thornbury & Yate. With current Kingswood Conservative MP Chris Skidmore retiring from Parliament, the
n Rose Hulse
n Lorraine Francis
Tories have selected Rose Hulse, an entrepreneur who founded a TV streaming business called ScreenHits TV, to contest Bristol North East. Born in America, where she started her political career working on presidential campaigns and for a Los Angeles mayor, Rose says she was inspired to get involved in British politics because of her “challenges and experiences” launching a start-up business in the UK. She said: “I truly believe that at times like these, what matters
the most is not always winning, but standing up for what is right and pushing for positive change, especially when it can enrich the lives of so many people and I am honoured to be selected by the members of Bristol North East to represent them in the upcoming election.” Rose has lived in Bath & North East Somerset since 2017. Eastville ward city councillor Lorraine Francis is the Greens’ candidate. A member of the Greens’ shadow council cabinet and committee chair, Lorraine is
a social worker outside her council role Born in Bristol, she attended Baptist Mills Primary School in Easton, then Lockleaze School, has worked in social care since the age of 24 and is also a qualified therapist. Lorraine said: “My love of Bristol has led me to stand, to ensure that people who look like me, as well as people who relate to my politics, continue to have hope for a better and equitable political system. here are so many issues that I care about, that goes without saying: the climate, transport, young people, to name a few.” Labour selected Damien Egan, who grew up in Kingswood and Staple Hill and is now the elected mayor of Lewisham in London, as its candidate in the summer. In the last council elections, Labour won all nine seats in the four South Glos Council wards, and four of the eight wards in Bristol - the Greens won three and the Tories, one.
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NEWS A CAT that went missing for 10 years has been reunited with its owner after being found wandering near the M4, more than 40 miles from home. Archie was found by Emily Williams and a group of friends from Bromley Heath as they went for a walk. He looked dishevelled and hungry and, acting on instinct, Emily decided he needed help. Emily, a professional photographer, had decided to take a half-hour break from work to have a walk with some friends in late November. As they walked along the old Bromley Heath Road at Moorend, near Hambrook, Emily noticed Archie as they passed through an underpass under the M4. She said: "My friends know I love cats - I've got two at home so they stopped while I gave the cat a little tickle, and it started to follow me. "We started knocking on doors but no one knew who it belonged to." Emily enlisted the help of a local horse owner, who put Archie in the back of their car while she ran home to grab her cat carrier. Emily then took the cat to her friend Sophia Gibbs-Foyle, who runs charity Dogs' Friends and has a scanner which confirmed Archie had been microchipped, with an owner's name and phone number that was no longer in service. From there Archie went to Vets for Pets at Emersons Green, where staff were able to contact the chip company and found the vet's practice he was previously registered to - 41 miles away in Taunton. Emily said: "The vet told me he'd been collected, then they said he's been missing for ten years, and he's from Taunton!
After 10 years, missing cat found 40 miles from home
n Archie back home with Suz Gamlin He's somehow travelled 40 miles." The Somerset vet had up-todate contact details for Claire Gamlin, who lives in the town and registered Archie for her daughter, Suz. Claire told the Voice: "When I first got the phone call from the vet it didn't actually sink in, because it's been ten years. I looked at my daughter and said 'a black and white cat'? "We were both shocked and gobsmacked - we're in Taunton, he's got to Bristol and it's been ten years. "We would like to know the adventure he's been on." Claire said Archie was about three years old when he disappeared - they had taken him on aged around 18 months when his previous owner, in Westonsuper-Mare, had been unable to keep him. The day he vanished he had
been fed and let out but didn't come back. The family put up posters and Suz carried on searching for years. Claire said: "It took my daughter ages to give up looking for him but the years went on and we just thought that sadly something must have happened to him. "To find out he's alive and kicking and get him home, right near Christmas as well - it's good to have some good news." Claire said Archie has been making himself at home and is not perturbed by the four other cats that Suz, who is 31 and has autism, has taken on since he went on his decade-long adventure. She said: "It's like he's never been away - he was straight in the kitchen, eating out of the bowls, then he jumped up on my son's lap. "He recognised my daughter
when she collected him - he came straight over. "Her cats are her babies, and since he's been home he's been very spoiled - he'll get back to his normal size and he will be looking like Garfield in no time. "It's lucky he was microchipped - but it's mad that no-one checked the owner until now. You usually just see this in movies." Emily, who runs her own business, Emily Beer Photography, got in touch with Claire via Facebook. She had shared pictures of Archie with members of the Heathboard Facebook group while she was trying to find out who his owner was. Once Claire and Suz had been found, Emily shared the news of Archie's amazing homecoming in a video, which also appeared on her Instagram page the_ disorganisedmum, sparking a "crazy" reaction. Emily said: "It's just lush what's happened. "The bit I can't get my head around is, where has that cat been for the last ten years? "He was dirty and they like to be clean. He was very hungry and had some sores, but after ten years you'd expect a cat to become feral - he was so friendly, it was like he was asking me for help. "It just shows the importance of getting your cat chipped and making sure all your details are kept up-to-date."
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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NEWS
School finances in crisis, head warns A SOUTH Gloucestershire head teacher says the area’s schools are “hanging on by a thread” as their finances hit a crisis point. Pippa Osborne, who is the head of Christ Church Junior School in Downend and chairs the South Gloucestershire Schools Forum, said heads “can’t focus on providing the best possible education for our pupils or provide good working conditions for staff because we are constantly worried about money”. The council says children are having to wear coats in lessons at some schools, which cannot afford to turn the heating up. School leaders have teamed up with the council to launch a campaign demanding more money from Whitehall to give youngsters the best start in life. They say the financial situation is so bad because the district is the worst-funded of all 151 education authorities in the country. Drastic cuts they say are being made, in both councilmaintained and academy
schools, include recruiting apprentices instead of fullyqualified teaching assistants, laying off lunch supervisors, cancelling school trips and clubs, and breaching legal class size limits. Mrs Osborne said: “Schools across South Gloucestershire are having to cut back on things that teachers, and most parents, would think could be taken for granted if our schools were properly funded. “Schools are doing incredibly well to appear on the surface to be okay, but too many of my colleagues tell me that they are hanging on by a thread.” Council co-leader and cabinet member for schools Ian Boulton said: “We are seeing a significant increase in schools at financial risk because despite everything they are doing to balance the books, they are still struggling to keep their heads above water. “If South Gloucestershire was funded at the average for similar council areas, we would get an extra £12.3 million a year, and if
Pippa Osborne
Ian Boulton
we were funded at the England average that would be an extra £16.9m.” Council-maintained schools receive their Government ‘Schools Block Funding’ money via the council, while academies get theirs directly from the Department for Education. But for all South Gloucestershire schools, this funding is the lowest per pupil in the country. For 2023/24, there were 37,748 school pupils in South Gloucestershire. The Schools Block Funding per pupil was just £5,233. A Department for Education
spokesperson said: “School funding is rising by over £3.9 billion this year compared to 2022/23. “Nationally, school funding will reach the highest level in history, in real terms per pupil, by 2024/25. “This includes an extra £4m for mainstream schools in South Gloucestershire for 2024/25, an increase of 2% per pupil compared to 2023/24, and an increase of 13.5% per pupil compared to 2021/22. “This takes the total funding to £206.5m.” By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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Deflated in Legoland - Delighted in Disney
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ON a family day trip to Legoland Claire stood in queues for the rides petrified she would be turned away due to her size & weight or would struggle to fit in the seats and not be able to do up the seat belt. As her family posed for photos, Claire offered to take the photo rather than be in them herself, ashamed of how she looked and not wanting to keep a record of the family day. She lacked confidence, had no energy and had recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Knowing she had a family holiday to Disneyland Paris the following year Claire decided she had to make a change to improve her health and to enjoy the holiday to Disney. Her cousin had recently joined Slimming World and had seen amazing results so 2 weeks before Christmas 2017, Claire walked through the doors and hasn’t looked back since. The Tuesday Longwell Green group run by Lucy and now run by Karen is like a family to Claire. Tuesday mornings in group are one of my favourite days of the week and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. All my fellow slimming world friends have been on my journey with me and always give me so much support, motivation and encouragement. In group she learnt how she can still eat all of her favourite foods like lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, carbonara and chicken tikka masala and still lose weight. Claire learnt the benefits of planning her weekly meals and writing a shopping list before heading out to do her weekly shop. She says ‘Slimming World has completely changed my life. I now love shopping for new clothes, being able to take clothes off the peg and know that they will fit.’ By the time she went to Disney in the Summer of 2018 Claire had lost 4 ½ stone and then went on to lose a further stone getting to her target weight just before Christmas 2018. On holiday in Disney rather than taking the photos and hiding away, Claire posed in all the photos, proud of what she had achieved and confident in the way she looked. As far as her health is concerned her high blood pressure is now a thing of the past and she has found her love of body magic. This year she took part in the race for life running 5K with her daughter which is something she would never have dreamt of doing before Slimming World.
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
News? Call Ken 0n 07715 770 377
MANGOTSFIELD RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Help us improve our area in 2024 THE Christmas lights are on at St James Church and the Nativity scene is at the Dame School, as we end 2023 and move on to 2024. We must thank St James Church for the loan of the tree and power for the lights, especially as we were allowed to leave them up from last year, saving us money not having to pay to have them put up and taken down every year, and lots of time untangling them on a cold day in the scout hall in preparation. We must also say thanks to Panoramic Windows, who have kindly provided us with mains power for the Dame School Nativity saving us having to change over and recharge large, heavy leisure batteries every couple of days. On that, thanks to Martin
Lapham, a local resident, for the loan of a battery over the past few years. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped us over the past year, whether that’s through giving up their time, donating stuff, lending us stuff, offering thanks and encouragement for the work we do - you know who you are, and we are very grateful. Many groups have struggled post-pandemic, but we have a small core of volunteers who have carried on doing their bit to make this part of the world a little bit brighter: a new wall at the Dame School, new planters at the 'Welcome to Mangotsfield' signs, planting bulbs on the common ready for next spring, planting at the Dame School, a talk on the Dramway Path, litter picking, graffiti removal - none of this happens without them. First on the list of jobs for 2024 is to erect a flagpole in the Alec Large Memorial Park by the war memorial, once we’ve obtained planning permission of course. We are also planning a visit to the National Composites Centre in Emersons Green - more on that in the coming days.
n MRA volunteers bulb planting We’ll carry on doing all the things we do now, but it would be great if the community could suggest things to do. 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. 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 phone, either to our chair, Clive Heath, on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881. I’ll sign off by wishing you all a very happy New Year. Chris Amos
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NEWS
Free vape kits for smokers Poppy Appeal raises £60,000 ALMOST half of all smokers in the Bristol area will be offered free vape starter kits on the NHS as part of a “world-first” drive to help people kick the habit. The local health partnership has successfully bid for £2.2 million from the Government to pay for 60,000 devices. The aim is to help smokers switch from cigarettes to vapes, which are considered much safer, the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Partnership board heard. There are an estimated 144,320 tobacco users across the region, 60% of them in Bristol. BNSSG has set itself a target to be “Smokefree” - which it defines as smoking rates of under 5% of the adult population - by the year 2031. But this requires about 24,000 smokers to quit every year until then. The pioneering free e-cigarettes initiative, called Swap to Stop, was announced by the Government in April and the partnership’s bid has just been approved. Public health consultant Samuel Hayward told board members on November 29 that Bristol had the highest smoking rate in the South West, caused partly by the legacy of the tobacco industry. He said: “The evidence is clear that, for smokers, nicotine vaping is a far less risky option and poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking in the short and medium term. “Vaping should be offered as an alternative for smoking but not as an activity which is appealing to the wider non-smoking population. “Vaping is not for children – we need to reduce the uptake of vaping and the number of young people accessing vape products.” Mr Hayward said the vapes would be given out by existing specialist stop-smoking services. Director of public health Matt Lenny said: “This is a significant opportunity for us. We really welcome the change in policy and investment in services.” By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
THE recent Poppy Appeal to help Armed Forces veterans and their families raised more than £60,000 - around £15,000 more than in 2022. Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion, which covers the Emersons Green area, raised £60,835 in the appeal leading up to Remembrance Sunday in November. Poppy Appeal organiser and branch chairman Ian Campbell said the appeal had raised a Ian Campbell at this year’s “fantastic amount”, adding: Remembrance service in “I want to thank all of the Mangotsfield amazing volunteers, businesses, supermarkets and schools that took in a tin and helped raise this amount.” Anyone who would like to volunteer for next year’s appeal should contact Ian on 07950 104450 or email poppyappealbristol@gmail. com. Ian is standing down as branch chairman in January, after a fiveyear tenure which has seen the branch revitalised, with membership growing from 56 to 142, with events including new events, coach trips and socials to bring veterans, their families and the wider community closer together. He said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the Staple Hill & District branch. “The journey has been challenging, but the support and commitment of my committee and members have been truly inspiring. I am proud of what we have achieved together.”
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Lifeline for families in need Celebrating Uganda
n Members of Badminton Road Methodist Church Wednesday morning café with some of their donations BARNABAS Aid is a vital lifeline for desperate families around the world. The organisation provides and delivers food goods to Christian communities suffering from drought, persecution, and terrorism in countries such as Jordan, Sudan, Nigeria, the Ukraine and Palestine. That’s where the people of Badminton Road Methodist Church Wednesday morning café came in, by responding to a challenge to each fill a box with dried goods. People attending the cafe have filled boxes with goods such as rice, salt, sugar, lentils and dried beans. The boxes were then delivered to Barnabas Aid warehouse in Swindon, where they were processed for onward delivery to the Christian communities. Badminton Road Methodist Church is a centre for reception of goods for the charity on Wednesdays from 9am to 12.30pm. Nicky Budd
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BADMINTON Road Methodist Church is inviting people to an event to celebrate Uganda and its neighbours in January. You can discover the groundbreaking eVitabu app, by the African Pastors Fellowship, which offers a comprehensive library of text, audio, and video resources for African pastors on their phones or tablets. You can learn about Methodist Mission Partners Daniel and Grace, based in Jinja Town, Eastern Uganda. They’re translating the Bible and educational materials into the local Lusoga language, serving the Busoga people under challenging conditions. You can also meet members of our community with ties to Uganda and neighbouring regions, hearing inspiring stories from volunteers, representatives of Bristol/Uganda Friendship Link and Francis, Ugandan Director of Hope for Life Katanga, working to improve the lives of slum residents. The event will also explore Resound Church’s partnership with Zambia through the Mutende Project in Lulamba, Chingola. All We Can (Methodist) will showcase their collaborative initiatives with charities in Uganda. Local artists will showcase their work, and there’ll be time for socialising over tea and cake, as well as a session of prayer, praise, and the rhythmic beats of African drums. There are many links between Downend and East Africa. The minister of Badminton Road Baptist Church, Rev Samuel Uwimana, originates from Rwanda. Please consider bringing unwanted tools, sewing machines and materials to donate to Tools with a Mission, a charity empowering individuals in Africa and transforming lives. Julia Lettey
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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COMMUNITY NEWS
SHORTWOOD VILLAGE WI
BRISTOL u3a
I’M not sure where the last year has gone, but we have had a fantastic one, with brilliant speakers at our monthly meetings and visits to places of interest. Going forward into 2024, we have a packed programme to include felting with Amy, Hedgehog Rescue and Christmas decorations with Dotty Herberts. The group events this year were hosted by Wick WI, who held a barn dance on one of the hottest days of the year and a glitzy Las Vegas evening with ‘Elvis’ - aka Dick from Wick. The evening rounded off with songs from musicals and dancing to other popular songs as we raised the roof with a rendition of ‘Sweet Caroline’. We will be joining the skittles league again in 2024 and hope to get past the first round with some intensive pre-match training. Opponents beware! As there was no official meeting in December we had a Christmas party instead, when we showed our very own silent film production from the archives,
IT'S been another year of success stories in East & North East Bristol. Local membership continues to grow and we now have over 280 members and 23 interest groups in our area. To put that into perspective, we’ve got 40% more members than last year and are the fastest-growing region of Bristol u3a. Our social group has been particularly active, with four or five scheduled events each month, supplemented by “pop-up” events advertised by members on our members-only WhatsApp group. Bringing members together for informal social events has helped us forge new friendships and spawn several new interest groups over the year, including the Daytime Disco in Staple Hill, a writing group in Warmley, a genealogy group in Staple Hill and (from January), a new “Ukulele for Fun” group in Fishponds. Social group highlights in 2023 included cultural visits to local faith groups in East Bristol. We were made welcome at the Madani Masjid in Fishponds, the Sikh Temple in Easton, Amitabha Kadampa Meditation (Buddhist) Centre on Gloucester Road, the Hindu Temple in Redfield and the Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation in Easton. We also went on several local walks, enjoyed a taster session at Greenbank Bowls Club, visited the cinema a few times and enjoyed lots of “cuppa and cake” meetings in cafés across the region. We’re fiercely proud that everything we do is by members for members. We have no staff, so everyone chips in with ideas for one-off social activities or brand new interest groups. The latest idea is for a new “Singing for Pleasure” group which will run in the Downend area and hopefully get off the ground early in the New Year. Bristol u3a (You in your Third Age) is for anyone with some free time for themselves. There’s no lower age limit, but most members are retired or semi-retired. In addition to local interest groups, there are a further 130 running across Bristol that members are free to join. To find out more email learnlaughlive@bristolu3a.org.uk. Lindsay Gough
called ‘Shortwood - The Movie’. We had party games, including pass the parcel, with forfeits in each layer, so no one wants the music to stop on them. We finished with an American supper and secret Santa. At our first meeting of 2024 in January, we will partake in armchair Zumba with Philomena to help us lose the ‘little’ bit of weight gain over Xmas. 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 to you, we meet on the second Thursday evening of the month in the vestry of the chapel in Main Road, Shortwood. Our next meeting is on January 11 at 7.30pm. For more information or a chat, email us at millhousejoinery@aol. com with the heading Shortwood Village WI. A happy New Year from us all. Lynne Miller
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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COMMUNITY NEWS
LYDE GREEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WE all know that Lyde Green has been growing rapidly. We have lots of new community members who may not be familiar with who we are and what we do, so we thought we would bring you all up to speed! Lyde Green Community Association is a neighbourhood-based charity with a trustee group made up of local residents. The group formed in 2015 and became a charity in April 2017 (Registered charity number 1172725), with the main purpose to manage a new community centre for the benefit of the wider community and to support community development in Lyde Green. We work with the local community to help make Lyde Green a great place to live and work. We try to do this by taking an assetbased approach, promoting community cohesion, connecting people to each other and local services. We have become a voice for our community by bringing forward questions, issues and feedback to local partners at quarterly partnership meetings. The partnership group includes local housing associations with properties in our area, council team members (transport, education and more), local councillors,
management companies, the builders’ consortium and the local police team. Lyde Green Community Centre is the perfect hub for the work we do, allowing us to regularly engage with residents and visitors to the area. Our community events include affordable school holiday fun days, and family-friendly Christmas, summer and New Year events. Keep an eye on our virtual Box Office, online at buytickets.at/lgca for all our events. 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 on laura@lydegreenca.org to arrange a time to talk. You can keep in touch with us on Facebook, at the @ lydegreencommunityassociation and @ LydeGreenCC pages, by email at info@ lydegreenca.org or by calling 0117 957 0410. We also have a website at lydegreenca. org. For party or event bookings email Bookings@lydegreenca.org. Helen Crew
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MANGOTSFIELD DOLLY MIXTURES THE St James Christmas Bazaar 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. We then had a minibus trip to Stroud Christmas Market on the 20th to pick up those last-minute presents, followed by a festive lunch at the Corner House restaurant. The Dollies will be meeting again in January for our regular monthly pub lunch at the Lamb in Mangotsfield. Planned social events for 2024 include Bristol Jazz Society’s boat trip, and a 50s-themed midweek break in Torquay. Carol Coombs
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NEWS FROM THE LIBRARIES
Meet Lesley, your local Slimming World Consultant at Lyde Green Lesley has been a Slimming World consultant for a little over a year and she says that Slimming World has changed her life in more ways than one. She has lost just shy of 3st and feels so much better for it. She now has the energy to run around looking after her growing nieces as well as setting up rooms now that she is a consultant in readiness for IMAGE Therapy.
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Winter Mini Reading Challenge: Spark a love of reading even in the most reluctant reader with the challenge that tackles the holiday reading ‘dip’. Children will be able to take part on wintermini.org.uk, where they will find fun activities and earn rewards for reading. Encourage children to borrow books from Downend library and read three or more between 1 December 2023 and 19 February 2024. Adding them to their online profile and reaching their reading goal will unlock a limited-edition digital badge and Winter Mini Challenge certificate to print off. Challenge runs 1 December 2023 to 19 February 2024
Slimming World has a unique physical activity programme called BODY MAGIC. With this programme we will help you find a new groove of activity habits that you’ll love so much, you’ll never want to let them go! • YOU can choose when to start • YOU can choose where to start • YOU set your own pace. And Lesley, and your fellow group members will cheer you on every step of the way! IMAGE Therapy stands for:Individual Motivation And Group Experience This is how you’ll keep your
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Former council leader dies
Contact your local Slimming World Consultant and join a friendly and super-supportive group today!
Lesley TEL 07503 524459 Group - Lyde Green Community Centre. Thistle Close, Lyde Green, Bristol. BS16 7GW Group Times- Wednesday 7:30pm. And Thursday 9:30am
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FORMER South Gloucestershire Council leader Ruth Davis has died, following a short illness. Politicians from all parties on the council have paid tribute to the former Yate Central ward councillor, who stepped down at May’s local elections and was made an honorary Alderman in July in recognition of her 32 years of service. She passed away on December 2. First elected to the predecessor Northavon District Council in 1991, Ruth was a founder member of South Gloucestershire Council in 1996 and went on to be the council’s leader between 2005 and 2007. She served as chair - the council’s equivalent of a mayor - from 2021 to 2022.
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
Lego Club (Staple Hill Library) : Saturday 6th January 10.30am – 11.30am – Join us for theme-based creative building fun for primary school aged children Lego Club (Downend Library) : Saturday 13th January 10.30am – 11.30am – Join us for theme-based creative building fun for primary school aged children
Have your say Have your say in the consultation on how to implement spending reductions on Library Services in South Gloucestershire. Fill n this consultation form at https:// librarysavings.commonplace.is/ or ask for a paper copy at Downend Library. Consultation closes 10 January 2024. The main proposed reductions in staffed opening hours for Downend Library are : Closing for one hour over lunchtimes in EIGHT libraries (including Downend & Staple Hill) Closing at 5pm staffed weekdays (currently staffed hours go until 5.30pm at Downend, Emersons Green & Staple Hill) Closing on one additional afternoon a week in FIVE libraries (including Downend & Staple Hill) Reducing Saturday hours to 3 (currently all 3 libraries open for 3.5 hrs). The mitigation for these proposed reductions in staffed hours would be to make Open Access (unstaffed) hours available for longer, but for full details follow the link above or ask library staff for details.
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SPORT
Mangos lose their grip on League Cup MANGOTSFIELD United's reign as Hellenic League Cup holders is over after they were knocked out by local rivals Roman Glass St George. The home defeat was typical of a very inconsistent month for the Mangos since the last edition of the Voice was published. They began with a 3-0 away win at Tuffley Rovers. James White put the visitors ahead after just 5 minutes, but it became a niggly game after that, with various bookings occurring along with a red card for Tuffley’s Yeshaya Lomote. James Nunn and Jaydn Crosbie then added two stoppage time goals to make the win more comfortable for the Mangos. Following the postponement of the midweek trip to Cinderford, the Mangos then slipped up 1-2 at Cossham Street against Pershore Town, the side they beat in the Hellenic League Cup Final last season. The visitors were 2-0 ahead at the break against an out-of-sorts Mangotsfield and, although the hosts did get one back after
the break through Jaydn Crosbie on 52 minutes, the visitors stood firm to clinch their “revenge” win. Next up was the Marsh UHL Challenge Cup tie at home to Stonehouse Town, which ended with a comfortable 5-1 win for the Mangos on a bitterly cold night, with just 55 hardy souls in attendance. Jaydn Crosbie (13), Isaac Flynn (33) and Marcus Kelly (41) put the hosts 3-0 up at the break. Further goals by Luke Smith (67) & Will Ashton (88) completed the rout, although a consolation effort by Lewis Bainbridge spoiled the home side's hopes of keeping a clean sheet. Awful wet weather caused the inevitable cancellation of the next game, at home to Lydney Town, before the Mangos’ inconsistencies returned three days later with the 2-1 home defeat to Roman Glass St George that saw the holders exit the Hellenic League Cup. Charlie Saunders put the visitors ahead on 36 minutes, and although Mangotsfield battled hard and finally levelled the scores with eight minutes to go, Rhys Sarson netted what proved to be the winning goal on 87 minutes. The league match at Longlevens in Gloucester on December 8 will have to replayed, even though it was played beyond 90 minutes. The Mangos were winning 1-0 but in the second minute of added time a serious injury to Longlevens player Bradley Martin saw the referee abandon the game - even at that late stage.
While results have been inconsistent, the main news for the club has come off the pitch, with South Gloucestershire Council granting planning permission for a new 3G all-weather Pitch at Cossham Street. The proposal is a result of Mangotsfield United’s partnership with MUFC Juniors, MUFC Women, AFC Mangotsfield and Mangotsfield & Blackhorse Sports and Community Association, and part of work to improve the facilities and widen the use of the pitch at Cossham Street. With the work expected to be completed during the 2024/25 season, further details as to how and when the changes will be completed, and where home games will take place, will be announced in due course. Dave Smale
Upcoming fixtures: December 26 Corsham Town (away) December 30 Cinderford Town (home) January 1 Worcester Raiders (A) January 6 Worcester City (H) January 9 Worcester City (A, re-arranged fixture) January 13 Westfields (A) January 20 Tuffley Rovers (H) January 24 Roman Glass St George (A) (Marsh Challenge Cup) January 26 Pershore Town (A)
We are Collegiate STARTING SCHOOL
IN 2024?
VISIT OUR RECEPTION INFORMATION MORNING THURSDAY 11TH JANUARY
Visit collegiate.org.uk to register Sales? Call Gary on 07799 461 169
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January 2024 January 2024
WILL & PROBATE ADVICE WILL & PROBATE ADVICE
WILL & PROBATE ADVICE
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New Year – New Power of Attorney New Year – New Power of Attorney This January make a new year’s resolution to make sure you have This January make a new year’s up-to-date Lasting Powers of resolution to make sure you have Attorney (LPAs) in place. up-to-date Lasting Powers of “Lasting Powers of Attorney are Attorney (LPAs) in place. now even more important than “Lasting Powers of Attorney are Wills” according to Martin Lewis on now even more important than his recent ITV show. He also said Wills” according to Martin Lewis on however young you feel ,“The right his recent ITV show. He also said time to put them in place is NOW!” however young you feel ,“The right Our local legal experts – time to put them in place is NOW!” Simpson Solicitors – offer all our Our local legal experts – readers a genuine FREE review Simpson Solicitors – offer all our meeting. There are no long readers a genuine FREE review complicated forms for you to fill in meeting. There are no long as they do all the work for you. You complicated forms for you to fill in will not feel rushed, as they will as they do all the work for you. You take as long as you need. will not feel rushed, as they will Michelle at Simpson Solicitors take as long as you need. says “An LPA is how you appoint Michelle at Simpson Solicitors those you trust to support you says “An LPA is how you appoint if you became ill and need those you trust to support you assistance. They can make sure if you became ill and need assistance. They can make sure
your bills are paid, your finances are looked after and that you your bills are paid, your finances receive the medical treatment you are looked after and that you would want.” receive the medical treatment you Having an old and out of date would want.” Enduring Power of Attorney can Having an old and out of date cause your family huge, as they Enduring Power of Attorney can could have to wait over 3 months cause your family huge, as they registering them before they can could have to wait over 3 months be used. Also it is limited and it registering them before they can may now have the wrong people be used. Also it is limited and it appointed. may now have the wrong people appointed. • Having up-to-date Lasting Powers of Attorney means they • Having up-to-date Lasting can be set up and registered by the Powers of Attorney means they Court now – so they are ready to can be set up and registered by the use if needed. Court now – so they are ready to use if needed. • John at Simpsons says “Our LPA service is different. It comes with • John at Simpsons says “Our LPA free aftercare to your Attorneys to service is different. It comes with help them activate the LPAs and free aftercare to your Attorneys to help them activate the LPAs and
support for them in using them. It is all about us making it easy for support for them in using them. you.“ It is all about us making it easy for you.“ Simpson Solicitors offer a friendly service to guide you Simpson Solicitors offer a through every step. They aim to friendly service to guide you make their clients all feel welcome, through every step. They aim to wanted and cared for. make their clients all feel welcome, wanted and cared for. JANUARY SPECIAL OFFERS: 20% OFF for 2 LPAs. 40% OFF JANUARY SPECIAL OFFERS: EPA upgrade service. Plus a 20% OFF for 2 LPAs. 40% OFF FREE Home Visit Service for EPA upgrade service. Plus a our readers who would find it FREE Home Visit Service for difficult to get to their offices. our readers who would find it difficult to get to their offices. Call their friendly team to arrange your FREE and no Call their friendly team to obligation meeting to discuss Wills arrange your FREE and no and Powers of Attorney on 0117 obligation meeting to discuss Wills 960 8594 and Powers of Attorney on 0117 960 8594
John Baden-Daintree John Baden-Daintree
Michelle Baden-Daintree Michelle Baden-Daintree Kings Chase Shopping
Centre, Kingswood Kings Chase Shopping Centre, Kingswood 0117 960 8594
message@simpsonslawuk.com
0117 960 8594
message@simpsonslawuk.com
Ensure your family and loved ones are protected and Ensure yourpass family loved aretoprotected your assets to and those you ones choose inherit. and your assets pass to those you choose to inherit. Full price o f both PFouwlleprs of A rice ott ey fo brn oth Powers of A ttorney
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Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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ON THE TREATMENT TABLE - WITH TIM BUTTON CLEVE CHIROPRACTIC MANGOTSFIELD
Revitalise Your Health:
A 5-Pillar Approach with Cleve Chiropractic for a Thriving New Year It’s that time of year again! Many of us may have enjoyed the festivities just that little bit too much and now thoughts are turning to the dreaded New Year resolutions – such as getting fit… losing weight… or maybe you just want to feel better. As 2024 starts to unfold, many people are embarking on a journey to enhance general well-being and embrace healthier lifestyles. In the pursuit of optimal health, it's essential to adopt an integrated approach that focuses on what I call the five pillars of well-being. At Cleve Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Clinic, we believe in a holistic methodology that combines the care provided by multiple healthcare professionals care with advice on sleep, nutrition, exercise and mental well-being to produce a comprehensive and sustainable wellness plan.
Pillar 1: Sleep Quality sleep is often overlooked in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. However, evidence-based chiropractic care recognizes the profound impact of sleep on spinal health and overall wellbeing. Research suggests a relationship between sleep and musculoskeletal pain that travels in both directions. Poor sleep can exacerbate existing conditions, while chronic pain often disrupts sleep patterns. Our practitioners work with patients to address sleep hygiene, offering guidance on optimal positions and providing adjustments that alleviate tension and discomfort, promoting restful sleep.
Pillar 2: Nutrition that fuels your body for success A healthy diet is the cornerstone of well-being, influencing everything from energy levels to the way our immune system functions. At Cleve, our integrated healthcare approach includes nutritional guidance to
complement your chiropractic and/or physio care. Our team of experts collaborate to create individualized nutrition plans that align with your health goals. Research consistently demonstrates the significant impact of nutrition on musculoskeletal health, inflammation, and overall vitality. By combining care with a wellbalanced diet, we empower people to fuel their bodies with the nutrients needed for optimal function and recovery.
Pillar 3: Exercise that builds strength and resilience Physical activity is vital for maintaining a healthy body and mind. We can help you by designing exercise programmes that complement our care, addressing specific needs and promoting overall fitness. Whether you're recovering from an injury or merely aiming to enhance your strength and flexibility, our approach integrates exercise as a key component of your wellness programme. Research consistently supports the role of exercise in improving musculoskeletal health, reducing the risk of chronic diseases, as well as promoting mental well-being. By incorporating tailored exercise routines into your plan, we strive to help you achieve lasting results and build resilience for the challenges ahead.
importance of a holistic approach to wellness. By prioritizing your mental health alongside chiropractic care, nutrition, and exercise, we strive to provide a comprehensive solution for achieving a thriving and balanced life.
Pillar 5: Chiropractic and physiotherapy care – a strong foundation Our experienced chiropractors don’t just specialize in spinal adjustments. Evidence-based research consistently supports the efficacy of chiropractic care in alleviating pain, improving mobility and enhancing overall well-being. Through personalised treatment plans, our chiropractors and physiotherapists work closely with patients to address specific concerns and optimize
all aspects of their health and well-being. Whether you're seeking relief from chronic pain or looking to enhance your athletic performance, we can provide a solid foundation for your journey to better health. As you step into the new year, consider embracing this five-pillar approach to health. Our team of chiropractors, physiotherapists, sports therapists, nutritionist, acupuncturist, pain specialists, exercise specialists and mental health support is dedicated to guiding you on a transformative journey towards optimal wellbeing. We can help you lay a strong foundation for a healthier and more vibrant life in the year ahead.
Pillar 4: Mental wellbeing nurtures a healthy mindset A positive mindset is crucial for overall health, influencing everything from stress levels to immune function. At the clinic, we recognize the strong connection between mental and physical well-being. Our team includes professionals who specialize in mental health, offering strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and other psychological factors that impact the way you live your life. Research consistently highlights the link between mental well-being and physical health, emphasizing the
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SPORT
Cleve edged out by Clifton CLEVE'S home game against Clifton was always going to be a tough one. Clifton are a development team and as a consequence can be very good or mediocre. Unfortunately for Cleve, they were playing against a very good team. In the first five minutes Clifton moved the ball well, and undoubtedly the lavender and blacks were on top. However after defending hard for the first 15 minutes, Cleve struck out against the run of play due to some really good lineout work. A great break by Will Warman took Cleve into Clifton’s 22. This led to a penalty which Liam Clode slotted over, to make it 3-0 to Cleve. Cleve continued to press Clifton, and a penalty took them near Clifton’s try line. This,
however, quickly turned to panic as Clifton attacked. Some really good scramble defence kept them out but, in the end, Clifton broke through and scored under the posts, with the try converted to make the score 7-3 to Clifton. In the 10 minutes before half-time, Clifton showed some class and ran the ball well. They went from their 22 to score in the corner, to make the score 12-3 at half-time. Cleve started the second half with some determination. They dominated possession, with good drives and control of the ball. Matt Lynch and Will Callaghan were especially prevalent. They got their hands on the ball and drove tenaciously at Clifton’s defence. But Cleve continually missed out on scoring by making
n Action from Cleve RFC's defeat to Clifton mistakes at critical times. Their pressure put Clifton on the back foot, but the visitors kicked well and this got them out of trouble. In the last ten minutes Cleve continued to pressurise and, after a lineout near the line, they got a penalty. This was again
slotted over to make the score 12 to 6 and bring Cleve within a converted try of victory. The last few minutes were frantic, but Clifton kept Cleve out to hold on for a win. Steve Bateman
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SPORT
Weather frustrates Flyers THE foul weather has continued to frustrate Downend Flyers' three women's teams and 20 youth teams alike. With so many games cancelled due to wet weather in the last few weeks, everyone is hoping that the New Year will bring a bit of sun with it! In the meantime, we are all busily planning for the second half of our season across the club, and celebrating our successes so far this campaign, with a
great FA Cup run from the first team and female-only football club in the South West, three youth teams gaining silverware in the with over 350 players. Autumn Cups, so very well done to our U8 Anyone who joins us will be part of a Falcons, U9 Swifts and U11 Rooks teams! developing and ambitious women’s football In our women’s set up we are also programme, and have access to professional currently looking to expand our coaching development opportunities funded by the team. club. We are seeking an enthusiastic football We're really excited about the potential coach with something to offer to the world of within our amazing football club, and we’d women’s football. love to grow our team with people who are We’re looking for someone with passion passionate about turning this potential into for empowering, inspiring and motivating a reality. female footballers, and expertise in football If you are interested, feel free to get in coaching at various levels, who is prepared touch (in confidence) for an informal chat 0117 960 0296 to embrace diversity and contribute to an we’d love to hear from you. inclusive team culture. Contact info@downendflyers.com. 0797 0122137 Downend Flyers FC are the largest Duncan Gardner BEAUTIFUL, CONTEMPORARY, KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & WETROOMS, ALSO CLOAKROOMS & UNDER STAIRS TOILETS
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CLEANING
Blue Flame
As one of the most used areas in the home, fitted kitchens need to be a flexible space while being able to stand up to daily wear and tear. A new fitted kitchen can be customised to suit any layout and lifestyle.
Services
Beautiful contemporary kitchens, bathrooms & wetrooms, also We take great pride in our work and we respect clients cloakrooms & understair toilets homes and belongings. All works are fully insured.
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Call Nick on 07970 529787 Email: theaerialco@yahoo.com
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We install Wren, Magnet, Howdens and Wickes Kitchens www.bluefl ameservice.co.uk
To discuss your needs or to arrange a free, no-obligation quotation, please do not hesitate to contact us.
As one of the most used areas in the home, fitted kitchens need to be a flexible space while being up to daily wear and tear. A new fitted kitchen can be customised to suit any blueflame_a6leaflet.indd 2 15/03/2022 16:34 layout and lifestyle.
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Give your bathroom or wetroom the look it deserves with a beautiful range of traditional and modern styles. We take great pride in our work and we respect clients homes and belongings. All works are fully insured.
To discuss your needs or to arrange a free, no obligation quotation, please do not hesitate to contact us
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www.theaerialman.co.uk | info@theaerialman.co.uk
BATHROOMS & KITCHENS
Bathroom & Kitchen Specialists All work carried out by us
One call is all you need Book now for your makeover
OSBORNE & SONS All work guaranteed.
Call Tony 0777 6188595 tony1osborne@yahoo.co.uk Find us on Facebook osborneandsons
Sales? Call Gary on 07799 461 169
0117 960 0296
0797 0122137
CARPENTRY
PHILIP PERKINS
Carpentry General Carpenter/Kitchen Fitter (Member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen)
• Kitchens supplied & fitted or supply only • Full kitchen or fronts only • Worktops • Fitted Wardrobes • Door Hanging • Skirting • Stairs & Balustrades • Laminate & Wood Flooring • All aspects of general carpentry work
CALL FOR A QUOTE - NO JOB TOO SMALL
0117 9373941 OR 07788 115945
GARDEN SERVICES & FENCING
FENCING
DAMAGED OR NEED REPLACING For all your Property and Garden Maintenance Give Todd Marsden a call on
0797 6711 290 or 0117 935 2332 FOR A FREE QUOTATION
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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LOCAL SERVICES ELECTRICIANS
HOME SECURITY
MARK EVANS ELECTRICAL
Protect your property We’re here to give you peace of mind With over 20 years experience, our expertise covers all system types including
• FIRE ALARMS • INTRUDER ALARMS • CCTV • ACCESS CONTROL • AUTOMATED GATES & BARRIERS
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GIVE SHAUN A CALL NOW ON 07891 332 582
GARDEN SERVICES
HOUSE RE-WIRING SPECIALISTS
FIND OUR REVIEWS ON
• SMALL ELECTRICAL JOBS • LED LIGHTING THE WHICH TRUSTED TRADERS WEBSITE • GARDEN LIGHTING, OUTBUILDINGS & HOME OFFICES • TESTING & INSPECTION OF WIRING • LANDLORD CERTIFICATES • BURGLAR ALARMS, REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE & INSTALLATION
TEL: 0117 956 0695 MOB 07770 233 475
EMAIL ENQUIRIES@MARKEVANSELECTRICAL.CO.UK WWW.MARKEVANSELECTRICAL.CO.UK
ELECTRICIANS
MAN WITH A VAN
D. ATTWELL LANDSCAPING & TREE SERVICES All Garden Works Undertaken All Foliage Removed – Roots Destroyed Patios Laid – Slabbing – Decking Block Paving – Gravelling – Fencing Wood Chippings – Clearance – Garden Walls Drives & Patios Jetwashed & Resealed • FULLY INSURED • LICENSED WASTE CARRIER
For a FREE quote call 07960 681 921
Works undertaken include, but are not limited to; Full re-wires Kitchen and bathroom refurbishments Electrical Installation Condition Reports EV points • Outbuilding supplies Landlord certificates • Extra sockets PAT testing • New builds & extensions
d.attwellgardenservices@hotmail.co.uk
FENCING
DOWNEND G FENCIN RVICE) (ERECTING SE
e - All types of 45 years experienc arance etc. fencing, repairs, cle L AL SM O NO JOB TO
TEL: 0797 3381663
ELECTRICIANS
OVEN CLEANING
GUTTER CLEANING
Mark’s Gutter Cleaning Gutter Clearing Gutter Cleaning Fascia Cleaning Call or Book online
www.marksguttercleaning.co.uk Tel: 0117 3708528 Mob: 07543056558 Based in Downend, Bristol
HOUSE & RUBBISH CLEARANCE
Garden, Clearance House, Garden, Office Clearance House,House, Garden, OfficeOffice Clearance
House, Garden, Office Clearance - all Plus all other Plus All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too! House, Garden, Office Clearance -- Plus other House, Garden, Office Clearance Plus all other Plus Your Other Waste Removal Needs too! Plus All All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too! On-average Average cheaper than a skip. On cheaper than aa skip. OnAverage cheaper than skip. removal On average cheaper waste removal On cheaper than aa skip wastewaste removal -Average On average cheaper than than skipa skip
07592 003 Tel: 07592 506 003003 Tel: 07592 506 Tel:Tel: 07592 506506 003 1/4 Load 1/4 £119 1/4 Load Load £119£119
Call Nick on 0117 2872371 0117 303 9000
30
Half Half £169 Half Load Load Load £169£169 3/4 Load 3/4 £229 3/4 Load Load £229£229 Full Load Full £299 Full Load Load £299£299
www.junkmonsters.co.uk www.junkmonsters.co.uk
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
Give your oven a new lease of life All ovens Ranges Agas
Rayburns Hobs Extractors
Affordable Professional - Friendly Call 07985696611 Email Info@outrightovenclean.co.uk
PAINTING & DECORATING
K C Decorating
Professional Decorating Services Interior and Exterior NVQ qualified and fully insured Free quotes Reliable and friendly www.kcdecorating.com kevjcolston@hotmail.com
07841707227 0117 3827580 News? Call Ken 0n 07715 770 377
LOCAL SERVICES PLUMBING & HEATING
PLUMBING
PLUMBING & HEATING
Blue Flame
Services Specialists in NEW and replacement boiler installations in and around0117 Bristol 960 and 0296 surrounding areas. 0797 0122137 Boiler Servicing/Repairs Specialists in NEW and replacement boiler installations in and around Bristol and surrounding areas. Landlord Gas & PAT Testing Boiler Servicing / Repairs Gas of & PAT Testing Nobody likesLandlord the thought paying for a major new Nobody thelet thought of expensive paying forone. a major item in thelikes house, alone an Yet a new item in might the house, let alone an expensive one. Yet a boiler save you a considerable amount in gas new boiler might saveyour youenergy a considerable amount consumption, lowering bills and also helps in gas consumption, lowering your energy bills and save on repair bills. also helps save on repair bills.
Save £’s£’sononfuelfuel billsbills withwith a new ‘A’ rated energyenergy saving Save a new ‘A’ rated saving boiler! boiler! And receive up to a 13 year warranty! And receive up to a 13 year warranty!
CREST HEATING & PLUMBING
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OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE HONEST & RELIABLE
TEL: 07765 250816 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
HOME & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE • Bathroom & Kitchen Installation • Plumbing • Wall & Floor Tiling • Interior & Exterior Painting & Decorating • Guttering & Fascias • Plastering • Patios, Paving & Timber Decking • Fencing & Walls • Total Refurbishments NO JOB TOO SMALL - CONTACT US FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION ESTIMATE
APPROVEDINSTALLERS INSTALLERS FOR FOR APPROVED
www.blueflameservice.co.uk www.blueflameservice.co.uk
0117 960 0296
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56746
tel: 07974 222656 email: williamtlc@hotmail.co.uk
0797 0122137
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PLUMBING & HEATING
TREE SERVICES
PLUMBING & HEATING
629179
www.csplumbingheating.co.uk 07936 591540 admin@csplumbingheating.co.uk @csplumbingheating For all your plumbing & heating needs
07878249260 phil@andersonheatingservices.co.uk
PLUMBING
WIGS
PLUMBING & HEATING
Tel: 0117 9676268 info@arheatingservices.co.uk
Boiler installation, servicing and repairs
Wigs B
Wigs Bristol
LOCATED IN DOWNEND
We have been supplying all types of wigs and hairpieces for fashion and medical purposes for 45 years. Wigs can be purchased off the peg or made to measure in hair or synthetic fibre. We stock many styles and makes.
10 Year Warranty’s available Sales? Call Gary on 07799 461 169
Please book an appointment on:
0117 956 0805 518308
www.wigsbristol.com
Emersons Green Voice January 2024
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COMMUNITY NATURE RESERVE Come and join us for
Our Anniversary Celebration THURSDAY 18TH JAN 2023 7.30PM EMERSONS GREEN VILLAGE HALL For everyone who has registered their garden and any others who are interested in the nature reserve. Expect inspiration, a chance to talk to others and a birthday cake!
www.emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk.