Emersons Green Voice November 2022

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SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Council faces tough financial choices

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

COUNCIL is working to address a potential budget gap of £29.3 million next year (2023/24) as the serious financial situation affecting all local authorities intensifies. The council published its draft budget last month.

Global events, rising inflation and continuingly increasing de mand for services mean costs are rising at an unprecedented rate.

The council’s financial position has changed in a very short space of time, similar to many other local authorities across the country.

Rising costs

The council has through contract negotiations saved money, such as a fixed price energy contract which will save £2 million, but this is due to end next spring. Increasing costs have put the council under growing financial pressure. Not only will energy prices rise for the council next spring, but the expect ed national pay offer for staff will increase the council’s spend by an extra £6.4 million each year.

Rapidly growing demand on services, including adult social care, means the cost of delivering existing support is likely to rise by £8.5 million every year. Additional ly, capital costs – for building roads, schools, and other one-off projects – have already risen significantly and may continue to grow if the costs of materials, for example, don’t return to more normal prices

Savings

The council is in a relatively good

starting position, with additional savings of £2.9 million identified this year and £23.6 million of savings already in the pipeline, although the unprecedented costs and other pressures means there is still the potential for a £29.3 million gap in the budget.

The council is now having to look for possible changes to the way it delivers some services and even whether or not it can contin ue to provide some services. Some changes may result in redundan cies for its staff. It is also looking at how it can raise income, including by increasing Council Tax. The council is prevented by law from raising Council Tax by more than 1.99 per cent without a local referendum. A one per cent rise in Council Tax would generate £1.6 million. The council is now working to identify new ways to increase income and reduce spending and the impact those steps might have. Proposals will be presented to its Cabinet in December.

Support for those in need

The council will prioritise support for people who need it most. There are two grant funds, Community Resilience Fund and Household Support Fund, available for those struggling financially. The council also continues to press for reform to special educational needs and disability support, and to fully fund the cost of care.

An urgent challenge

Cabinet member for Corporate Resources, Cllr Ben Burton, said: “By

View from the Leader of the Council, Cllr Toby Savage

WELCOME –We’re glad to team up again with The Voice, a wonderful local business, to bring you this special edition. This time we are focusing on the council’s finances. The global economic situation means that your council faces an unprecedented challenge. Along with other local authorities, we are seeing increasing demand for services, rapidly rising prices and reduced income. Our prudent financial management has put us in a position of relative strength. But, despite significant savings, we have an increased gap in our finances for 2023/24. This means we will need to make further savings and that will involve some tough decisions. No one wants to do this and I’m acutely aware this comes when people are finding it hard to manage. It’s very important to us that you have your say. You’ll find out more in this edition and how you can find support if you’re struggling with the cost of living. Read on too to learn about our schools’ fantastic performance, how to nominate a community hero, progress on a new park and many other stories.

the start of the 2023/24 financial year, we will have already delivered £102 million of annual savings by working tirelessly to focus our resources on delivering our council plan priorities.

“However, the current scale of challenge is too large and too urgent for us to be able to rely solely on this approach. We now need to find ways to cut services or change how they are delivered. We will do these in the least disruptive

and detrimental way possible to continue supporting those who need it most.”

The outcome of the Govern ment funding settlement expected later in the year could improve the financial outlook. After the council has received that updated information, it will publish detailed four-year budget proposals for further public comment.

The council will make final budget decisions in February

2023.  However, it first wants to hear from South Gloucestershire residents.

Have your say

We will be running two phases to this year’s consultation. The first phase starts in October and asks for your views on the council’s draft budget proposals.

The second phase will run from Tuesday 6 December and will ask for your views on

updated budget proposals which will consider up to date information on what funding will be available from central government and the options that we have for balancing the council’s budget.

As a local resident, it is important that you have a say in how we shape services in the future and our budget consultation is a key part of this.

View the budget at www.southglos.gov.uk/

budget and then send your comments:

• By email: consultation@southglos.gov.uk

• By completing an online survey or download from the council website: www.southglos.gov. uk/budget

• By writing to: Freepost RTXL-YJXJ-BXEX, South Gloucestershire Council, Corporate Research & Consultation Team, Council Offices, Badminton Road, Yate, Bristol, BS37 5AF

• By telephoning 01454 868009.

a vaccine if you’re eligible, is now. The UK Health Security Agency is expecting a double threat of low immunity and widely circulating flu and covid-19, creating an unpredictable winter and additional pressure on health services.

Free flu jabs are available to anyone over 50. Over 65s, pregnant wom en, people with certain health conditions or who work in some frontline jobs, can book now. You simply call your GP or book at a pharmacy. For covid jabs, first, second and booster vaccines are available at local clinics. At the time of writing this, autumn boosters are available to over 65s, pregnant women and anyone over 5 with an underlying health condition. Book with your GP or find a local walk-in clinic at bnssghealthiertogether. org.uk/covid

Nominate your community hero!

Struggling with costs? Help is at hand

The current rising cost of living is impacting on us all. Prices are going up and energy bills are climbing fastest of all. But no one should be embar rassed to ask for help if you don’t have enough to afford essentials and pay your bills. There is extra government support and help available from local services.

Your council offers a wide range of support including emergency and long-term support, help with housing benefit, various financial support grants and council tax reduction schemes. It can also help provide food and activities for children in the school holidays. You can visit one of the council’s three One Stop Shops in person where someone will be on hand to answer questions, resolve problems and offer advice. Or you can find de tails of support along with links to trusted national and partner resources on the council’s website at southglos.gov.uk/costofliving

Keep healthy and happy this winter

Winter, and worries over finances, can take a toll on your personal health. Did you know that the council offers plenty of free health and wellbeing support? Provided by the council’s partner Southern Brooks, activities range from tea and chat to help you reach out and connect, through to workshops on building resilience. Find out more about how you can access these free activities and other health and wellbeing support at oneyou. southglos.gov.uk

To help yourself to have a healthy winter, make sure you and your family’s vaccines are up to date. The time to boost your protection with

Do you have a hero in your community? Know someone special who vol unteers? South Gloucestershire Council wants to hear from you about the volunteers who make a difference in your area, from litter picking groups, to the befriending volunteers who brighten people’s days. The Chair of the council, Cllr Sanjay Shambhu, is calling for nominations of people who have made a difference to be put forward for the Chair’s 2022-23 Commu nity Awards. You can nominate a person or a community group and it’s very easy to do. The deadline is Friday 18 November and all the information on the awards, including how to make a nomination, can be found on the council’s website at southglos.gov.uk/communityawards.

IN

Work hard, play hard!

&

Pub and restaurant on the way

A PUB, restaurant and new shops will be built for Lyde Green after winning planning permission.

The development on land in Thistle Close, by the junction with Willowherb Road and opposite the Sainsbury’s Local store, has been approved by South Gloucestershire Council.

But councillors who passed the plans said they were worried that parking for staff and visitors to

the new businesses would be inadequate - echoing concerns raised by 15 residents who wrote to object. Planning officers said the 20 car parking spaces and motorbike parking bay were “considered to be reasonable” - and the overall benefits of the scheme outweighed the harm.

Full story: Page 5

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School’s out for two Julies

Julie Borowski, who taught music at Mangotsfield School for 40 years, and Julie Scull, head’s PA for 27 years, have retired.

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The future is here at science park

Two major developments are planned at the science park in Lyde Green - a medicines factory and a ‘green hydrogen’ plant.

PAGES 6

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Players take an anniversary bow

Pucklechurch Players amateur dramatic group has celebrated 40 years since its first production and is preparing to present its 53rd this month.

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Mangotsfield C of E Primary head of school Kirsty Croasdale officially opens the outdoor gym where pupils can play and keep fit at the same time. Full story: Page 4

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DEADLINES

Our December edition deadline is November 16.

LOCAL INFORMATION

South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999 NHS 111

Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582

Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Environment/trading standards 01454 868001

Well Aware Health and social care information www.wellaware.org.uk Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Emersons Green Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Emersons Green Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Gary Brindle on 0117 907 8585 or news@emersonsgreenvoice. co.uk.

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Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

of the

Outdoor gym brings joy

CHILDREN at Mangotsfield C of E Primary School are keeping fit and having fun at the same time thanks to a new “fresh air gym”.

The school in Church Farm Road, Emersons Green, has bought a selection of outdoor fitness equipment, which was installed by outdoor gym specialists Freshair Fitness in the Key Stage 2 playground in time for the start of term, and has already been a big hit during break and lunchtimes.

Head of school Kirsty Croasdale said: “This is a gym in the fresh air! Similar to indoor gyms found in leisure centres, an outdoor gym in school provides children with equipment that they can use to exercise, improving physical and mental health.”

The equipment includes a ‘double air walker’, which develops leg muscles and hip joints; an ‘air skier’, which strengthens and develops the lower abdomen, hips and thighs, and improves balance and coordination; an elliptical cross trainer to move the whole body in a cardiovascular workout; a self-weighted rower; a hip twister; ‘tai chi spinners’, which improve flexibility and coordination in wrists, arms and shoulders, and an ‘arm & pedal bike’ to improve balance and coordination.

The school recently won a School Games Platinum award for maintaining consistently high standards in sport provision, having won four consecutive gold awards in previous years, and has pledged to ensure all pupils have opportunities to be active.

Mrs Croasdale said: “We are keen to promote active lifestyles alongside our curriculum offer and proud sporting record.

“This investment in new equipment will help more of our learners value the positive impact being active can bring.”

Mangotsfield C of E Primary School pupils try out the new equipment

PLANS for a ‘micropub’, restaurant and three shops on a piece of undeveloped land in Lyde Green have been approved - despite concerns over car parking.

South Gloucestershire councillors granted Lyde Green Retail planning permission for the new buildings at the junction of Willowherb Road and Thistle Close.

But council officers, who recommended approval for the scheme, came under fire from strategic sites delivery committee members for not insisting on a better car park.

The meeting on October 6 was told that most residents supported the scheme, which already had outline consent, because it gave the community much-needed facilities, but that more should have been done to minimise the potential for inconsiderate parking by customers using the new businesses.

The plans include 20 car parking spaces, including two for disabled drivers, and a motorcycle parking bay.

Councillor June Bamford (Con, Hanham) said that even though yellow lines had recently been introduced at Thistle Close, this might only push the problem elsewhere.

She said: “Given there is a primary school and a community centre very close, I am concerned that there should be adequate parking.

“It seems to be a bit overdeveloped on the site.

“A lot of people aren’t going to cycle or walk there, they are going to be going with their families in a car.

“I am getting very angry about this. It’s alright being a sustainable site but you’ve got to take people‘s habits and apply some common sense.”

Cllr Bamford, who ended up voting in favour of the development, said the Sainsbury’s Local store on the opposite side of Thistle Close allowed parking up to 40 minutes, so turnover of spaces was high, but that pub and restaurant customers would stay longer.

A council highways officer told the meeting: “It has to be a balance between getting the parking and the site layout right.

“The level of parking is considered to be reasonable given it’s a local centre.”

Pub, restaurant and shops approved for Lyde Green

Committee chairman Colin Hunt (Con, Emersons Green) said: “I’m between a rock and a hard place because I really want to see the facilities supplied at Lyde Green.

“It desperately needs it and the residents desperately want it.”

Cllr Hunt said he witnessed queues to get into the Sainsbury’s car park at lunchtime the day before the meeting, and that some drivers gave up and parked on the new yellow lines.

He added: “So yes, I want these facilities there and I will probably back the motion [to approve] but I don’t think we’re adequately addressing the problem of parking and deliveries.

“That is worrying me. I don’t want the residents to be inconvenienced to such an extent and I am so worried about Willowherb Road – although we are putting crossings in there, it’s very close to the primary school and a very large nursery, as well as the community centre.”

He told the highways officer to “really re-think what you’re doing” on the site.

The application received 15 letters of objection and nine letters of support from residents.

A report to committee said: “Whilst some issues relating to design and parking have not been fully resolved, officers are mindful that the proposals are consistent with the masterplan.

“On balance it is considered that the public benefits of bringing this site into beneficial use outweigh the harm.”

Members voted to grant

permission by 7-0, with two abstentions.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image of the planned restaurant building Picture: Lyde Green Retail/R&J Consultants

How the new pub will look, according to the plans Picture: Lyde Green Retail/R&J Consultants

£58m medicines factory gets the go-ahead

A COMPANY specialising in inhalers and inhaled medicines is set to build a new £58 million plant on the Bristol & Bath Science Park at Emersons Green.

Vectura says the ‘Inhalation Centre of Excellence’ at Dirac Crescent will be a “worldleading science facility”.

The company, which is based in Chippenham, has been granted planning permission for the 10,000 sq m facility, which will include research and development, manufacturing and laboratory facilities for medicines and medical devices.

It expects to start construction work on the building in the second half of next year and finish it in 2025, with the centre becoming fully operational in 2026.

Vectura describes the planned building as “state-of-the-art” and says it will enable it to expand its operations and provide new career opportunities for scientists and engineers, adding: “It will create an optimal environment for innovation to support the development of important new inhaled treatments and wellness products.”

Vectura was founded 25 years ago as a start-up pharmaceuticals business at Bath University, moving off the campus to Wiltshire five years later.

Following a £441m merger with inhaler

manufacturer Skyepharma in 2016, the business, which has around 400 employees, was bought by American multinational tobacco giant Philip Morris International - best known for Marlboro cigarettes - last year, for £1 billion.

The company is unable to say at present how many people will be based at the new plant, but said the Bristol & Bath Science Park was seen as the “perfect fit”, being close to its HQ.

Chief executive Michael Austwick said: “We are delighted that our plans to build a world-leading science facility have been approved by South Gloucestershire Council.

“The new-build will enable our already successful pharmaceutical company to

continue and expand upon its vital work, providing innovative inhalation and other advanced drug delivery solutions that have the potential to improve the lives of patients around the world.

“For nearly 25 years, Vectura has been providing a combination of formulation science, device technology and pharmaceutical development expertise, helping our partners and licensees develop products which are used by 10 million patients worldwide. This new facility will help us to build on this successful track record, increasing workspace capacity and attracting talent to the area.”

South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member Ben Burton said: “The Bristol & Bath Science Park in South Gloucestershire offers a prime location for a company of this type as it is a world-class centre for science and technology businesses with a focus on research and development, innovation and collaboration.

“This new research and development facility will bring additional high-tech employment opportunities to our area and I’m pleased to see that Vectura’s plans for the new building include a number of environmental and sustainability considerations.”

How the finished Inhalation Centre of Excellence is expected to look

‘Green hydrogen’ plant could bring 250 jobs

innovative plant using solar energy to produce hydrogen to fuel the vehicles of the future is planned for Emersons Green.

The £11.3 million Hydrogen Sustainable Transport Economy Accelerator at the Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems, on the Bristol & Bath Science Park, is seen as vital to efforts to develop clean and renewable energy to replace high-carbon petrol and diesel engines.

It will work by using an array of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to power an electrolyser, which uses electricity to break water down into hydrogen and oxygen.

IAAPS says the hydrogen can either be stored as a compressed gas or liquefied and used to provide hydrogen fuel cell energy for a new generation of cars, trucks, buses, planes, ships or trains.

At its research centre it will be used in researching new vehicle propulsion systems.

The oxygen gas produced during electrolysis will be either released into the atmosphere or could be captured for other industrial processes or use in medical gases.

The system, which could be up and running as soon as next spring, will include pumps, vents, storage tanks, a power supply, separator and other components as well as the electrolyser.

Hydrogen made using electricity from renewable energy sources is known as green hydrogen to contrast it with ‘grey hydrogen’, produced from natural gas - which the IAAPS currently uses - and black or

brown hydrogen, which is used from environmentally-damaging sources such as coal.

The new solar array, to be built on the roof of the IAAPS building in Newlands Lane, ‘offsets’ the energy used in electrolysis and will only produce electricity for use on the site.

A spokesperson said that when the institute is not producing hydrogen the electricity will be used to power other systems in the building.

IAAPS experts say they will have “robust safety protocols for the production, handling and use of hydrogen, as safety is our key priority”, and are working closely with the Health and Safety Executive. The facility has undergone risk assessments and the spokesperson said: “While no fuel is 100% safe, green hydrogen has been shown to be safer than conventional fuels in a multitude of aspects.”

The IAAPS spokesperson added: “There is widespread consensus that hydrogen will be crucial in the UK’s transition to net zero and therefore play a vital role in the fight against climate change. Low carbon hydrogen generation provides a clean, sustainable, renewable

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The project has received £2.5m in funding from the West of England Combined Authority’s Green Recovery Fund, plus another £2.5m from the Government and £5m from industry partners.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “Hydrogen is clean, it’s powerful and there is lots of it.”

energy system and is a viable replacement for the high carbon fuels used today.

“This will not only help reduce emissions across many domestic settings and industry sectors, offering flexible energy for power, heat and transport, but also reduce the UK’s reliance on and exposure to the volatility of international energy supply.”

A planning application for the project was published on the planning section of South Gloucestershire Council’s website in September and can be viewed there by searching for

Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore said the project would create more than 250 new jobs.

He said: “Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, historically high global energy prices and the need to fight climate change all show the importance of developing home-grown energy sources, like hydrogen, and promoting innovation.”

Council leader Toby Savage added: “We have got such a proud record of hosting industries that are at the forefront of the global innovation we need to grow our economy and tackle climate change.”

The IAAPS building at the science park

Calls for change as bus cutbacks bite

CALLS are being made for bus services to be brought under the full control of the region’s Metro Mayor and councils after the latest round of cuts.

Timetables introduced by bus operator First in October axed the Y5, which ran between Bristol and Emersons Green, Shortwood, Pucklechurch and Yate.

The bus operator introduced the new hourly 47 service as a “partial replacement” for the Y5 and several other routes it was

axing, including the 5 and Y4, as it cut services in the face of a driver shortage and reduced passenger numbers.

But the new route does not go through Shortwood, which has been left without any bus services at all.

On its way into Bristol it travels via the Oldbury Court estate in Fishponds, to replace the 5 - but to accommodate the 47 in its timetable, First has given it one of the slots previously used by the 48 service

from Emersons Green to the city centre via Downend, which means that there are now only two 48s an hour instead of three. Campaign group the West of England Shared Transport and Active Travel Network (WESTACT) has written an open letter calling on the West of England Combined Authority Metro Mayor Dan Norris and the leaders of all councils in the area to suspend the deregulated bus market and provide a franchised bus service, under contract through WECA.

Under the present system WECA has responsibility for transport planning but has no powers to force bus operators to operate a given route at a given time.

It is consulted on changes to timetables but the only way of maintaining services First decides are not commercially viable is to subsidise them.

WESTACT is urging as many people as possible to sign its open letter calling for the current system to be replaced with franchising, where WECA would issue contracts for companies to operate services it would specify.

The group said: “The deregulated market is always at odds with the bus services that many in our communities need to get to work, school, shops, and health centres.

“Residents want and demand an overhaul of this broken bus system.”

The letter can be found at actionnetwork.org/forms/ franchise-weca-bus-servicesnow.

A political row over the cuts flared at South Gloucestershire Council’s meeting on October 12, with the Conservatives claiming an “outrageous” £8 million spent on WECA’s new offices could have been used to save bus routes.

Labour blamed the Government, privatisation and driver shortages for the cuts, while the Liberal Democrats accused the Conservatives of “wasting time trying to deflect attention from their own part in the bus cuts debacle”.

Mr Norris has been campaigning to recruit more bus drivers, saying: “Sorting the driver shortage is a vital step to fix the bus network.”

The Y5. Picture: D Bryant

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SUTTON Chiropractic in Downend wants you and your family to get the most out of your health and enjoy life to the full. As we approach these longer days and darker months, we often experience less energy and the inevitable winter cold.

Not to worry though, we’ve put together a guide to beat the winter blues and run into Christmas better than ever before – and we certainly need it after Christmas 2020!

The Nervous system –the game changer

A well-adjusted spine is the key to nervous system that works well.

This helps your resilience in these winter months; helping you shrug off that cold, move better and enjoying a sense of ease in the body.

Get this right and the rest will follow.

Immune system boosters

Sunlight:

Always in short supply at this time of year, so when the sun is out get some on your skin, vitamin D from sun exposure vastly improves your immune system function.

Supplements:

I recommend Vitamin D3 daily as standard going into November.

Diet:

Enjoy what you enjoy but go steady on the sugar and booze.

These are well known Immune system suppressors.

Increase your vegetable intake, aim for a colourful plate of food at each meal.

For those of us with a sweet tooth opt for Strawberries –

Staying well in winter

you feel at the beginning of December, you won’t regret it.

Emotional Wellbeingconnection

Staying connected to people we love and receiving their care in return is an essential part of maintaining your health and wellbeing.

Making time for regular zoom chats or even better in

person coffees or walks in the park could become a part of your healthy weekly habit on the run up to Christmas.

Get yourself checked by our Chiropractors, you won’t regret it; people swear we have magic in our hands!

Come and see how we can help you beat the winter blues, stay well and live a fuller happier life.

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they are a great source of Zinc, an excellent protection from bacterial infections, like that first rumbling of a sore throat when that cold is on its way.

Showers:

If you’re feeling brave, start or finish your daily shower with 1-2 minutes on cold, this stresses the immune system in a way that causes it to function better.

Movement – motion is lotion

The most underused mood booster, guaranteed to beat the winter blues.

This is a great time to take up a new exercise class or renew that membership.

I recommend anything that gets you breathing deeply and gives you a light sweat. Do it 2-3 times a week.

Yoga is a personal favourite, but a winter walk/run is hard to beat.

Whatever you enjoy make a commitment to yourself for the next 4 weeks and see how

No need to be dazzled behind the wheel

IT’S that time of year when we have more patients coming in to see us for help with headlight glare – that disarming sensation when an oncoming car’s headlights dazzle you and leave you briefly unable to see the road ahead.

The irony here is delicious. Headlights, high beams and fog lights are all supposed to help drivers see at night – but in many cases they have entirely the opposite effect.

Glare from an oncoming vehicle’s lights can distract you, physically hurt your eyes and have an adverse effect on your reaction time.

Research from the RAC shows that nine out of ten drivers think most car headlights on the UK’s roads are too bright – and the vast majority of those drivers get dazzled by them while driving.

And the problem is getting worse every year. Nearly two thirds of drivers say they’re getting dazzled more now than they were a year ago. The same number say they can’t tell if the vehicle coming toward them at night has its lights dipped or on full beam.

Official government data shows there are around 300 collisions every year where dazzling headlights are a factor.

Ninety per cent of the information a driver needs and uses is visual so to have your eyesight compromised – even for two or three seconds – while you’re behind the wheel can have disastrous consequences.

If you experience night-time glare, you’re in good company. I, along with a good number of our patients, used to experience it too. But now, thanks to our sophisticated lenses, I’m so much happier on the few occasions that I drive late into the night.

These days my night driving tends to involve ferrying one or more of our three little darlings from here to there and back again, which as they grow older is getting later and later!

How does the lens work?

Our clear comfort lens removes the excess light that would otherwise give you glare and only lets the light though that you need in a more balanced and calming way.

Is this a tint?

No, you cannot legally wear anything other than the very palest of tints for driving at night.

Is this an anti-glare coating?

Our lens is far more sophisticated than the anti-glare coatings of old, we have the lens custom made to include the glare protection on the inside which means you get more comfortable vision.

What glasses options can you choose from?

Most patients choose either varifocals or distance glasses with their clear comfort lens, but we’re happy to look at any prescriptions you may have and see how we can help.

To book an appointment, please call our Henleaze team on 0117 962 2474 or Fishponds team on 0117 965 4434

Peter Turner is a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, with a specialist interest in visual development and visual performance.

Village looks back on 40 years of drama

It was a short entry in Pucklechurch News that started it, perhaps inevitably with the words “To be or not to be?”

Marilyn Palmer floated the idea of creating a village amateur dramatic group and the rest, as they say, is history.

The first Pucklechurch Players’ production in 1982 was Henry Hereafter and in the intervening decades the group has put on 52 productions, including its popular biennial pantomimes. Its first panto was Rumpelstiltskin and the most recent, last year, was Sleeping Beauty.

Marilyn attended the group’s 40th anniversary celebrations along with fellow founder members Pat Harding and Elaine Stone. A bouquet was presented to Elaine, who has sold tickets for all the group’s productions and has presided at an estimated 300 raffles.

Guests enjoyed and evening of reminiscences and refreshments, including a cake baked by the group’s youngest member and Junior Bake Off finalist Robbie.

Pucklechurch Players meets on Thursday evenings at Pucklechurch Community Centre and welcome new members of all ages who would like to take up onstage or offstage roles. If you’re interested, find out more via facebook or by emailing pucklechurchplayers@gmail.com, or just turn up.

The group’s next production is Murdered to Death, by Peter Gordon, on November 18 and 19. Tickets at £9 each are on sale now and can be bought by texting or calling 07940 207959.

Scenes from the first production in 1982, left, the latest pantomime, above, and a one-act play, right

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Police target youths

POLICE have increased patrols around Emersons Green Retail Park after an increase in reports of antisocial behaviour.

Neighbourhood beat manager Mike Brown told the Downend, Emersons Green and Frenchay Community Engagement Forum that the area behind Sainsbury’s was being targeted for extra patrols as large groups of youths were congregating there, as well as the play area in Emersons Green Park, in the evening. Teenagers were also congregating on green spaces near Johnson Road.

The meeting heard hopes that improvements to the skate park by the retail park, which is due to be given floodlighting, would help draw teenagers towards something “more positive” to do.

Arson attack on car

A CAR found in flames in Emersons Green was set on fire by deliberately, firefighters say.

Avon Fire and Rescue service sent two crews to Howsmoor Lane shortly before 12.30am on October 4 after receiving an emergency call. Anyone with information should call the police on 101.

No-show annoys residents

COUNCILLORS were criticised when none of them appeared at a council-run community meeting to inform residents about neighbourhood matters.

South Gloucestershire Council runs 14 online community engagement forums. Each one meets three times a year to give residents the chance to hear from and question ward councillors, parish councillors and representatives from local police and fire service teams.

However when the Downend, Emersons Green and Frenchay Community Engagement Forum met on October 4, none of the six South Gloucestershire councillors from the two wards it covers - Frenchay & Downend and Emersons Green - were present to give an update.

Just one of the councillors, Emersons Green councillor Judy Adams, had sent an apology. Former Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council chair Elizabeth Shepherd, who was among those attending the virtual meeting, said: "It's a bit of a poor show that out of six district councillors, not one of them has been able to turn up."

Community engagement forum chair Simon Kempster described the lack of councillors as "a bit disappointing".

The only elected councillor to make a report was Adrian Collins, who represents Frenchay on Winterbourne Parish Council, and asked for the ward councillors to be given feedback from the meeting about their non-attendance.

The Voice asked for a statement on behalf of the councillors.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: "Whilst the council is consistently represented at this Community Engagement Forum by the local members, members were unavailable in this single instance owing to a number of prior commitments.

"Updates on any local issues raised have been sought and will be addressed in due course."

“Pupils say they are happy here and love learning, because adults ‘make it fun’.”

Ofsted 2021

Celebrity chef Tom spots Aston’s talent

A MANGOTSFIELD School pupil is set to complete an apprenticeship with top chef Tom Kerridge. Aston Prideaux, 15, had never cooked before the first lockdown, when he was stuck indoors and unable to take part in his sport of karate.

Desperate for a distraction, his parents bought him a barbecue to keep him occupied and he started looking at cooking videos for inspiration.

Now Aston, from Pucklechurch, is inspiring other people, demonstrating dishes on Instagram and YouTube.

Invited to cook on the firepit at Michelin-starred Tom’s Pub in the Park festival, he included a steak taco with pineapple salsa and homemade peach and pineapple hot sauce, which has become something of a signature dish.

Tom, known to millions of TV viewers after appearing on many BBC cooking shows including Great British Menu, MasterChef and Saturday Kitchen, invited Aston to do some work experience at his restaurants during the summer.

The teenager impressed so much, he has been invited to complete an apprenticeship at Tom’s Marlow gastropubs, The Hand & Flowers, The Coach and The Butcher’s Tap, next year.

The Coach has one star from the gourmet Michelin guide, while the Hand & Flowers is the only pub in the UK with two Michelin stars.

Aston said: “I couldn’t fry an egg before lockdown but now I have an amazing opportunity to spend time with a top chef.”

Mangotsfield School head teacher Hetty Blackmore said: “Aston has achieved so much in challenging times, and we are delighted to see a student do so well.”

Aston Prideaux and Tom Kerridge at the chef’s Hand and Flowers pub

‘Noise camera’ trial will target ring-road drivers

‘NOISE camera’ to detect drivers with noisy modified exhausts is being brought to monitor the Avon Ring Road as part of a national trial.

The new technology uses a video camera and a number of microphones to accurately identify “excessively noisy vehicles” as they pass by.

It takes a picture of the vehicle and records the noise level to see if it exceeds legal limits, recording evidence which can be used by police to fine drivers.

The camera is being taken around four locations in the country as part of a trial by the Department for Transport.

It was unveiled for the first time in Keighley, Yorkshire, in mid-October and was due to be moved to South Gloucestershire around the beginning of November, for two weeks, before going on to two other locations.

It will be placed overlooking the ring road between the Kingsfield roundabout by the Longwell Green leisure park and the Wraxall Road ‘throughabout’ junction.

The trial, costing £300,000, aims to find whether the technology can be effective in curbing noise from illegal exhausts and excessive engine revving, which the DfT says contributes to health problems, such as heart attacks, strokes and dementia.

A spokesperson said: “The annual social cost of urban road noise, including lost productivity from sleep disturbance and health costs, is estimated to be up to £10 billion.”

If the trial is successful, the cameras could be rolled out nationwide.

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “We’ll be working closely with the local authorities and police to share any findings, and I hope that this technology paves the way for quieter, peaceful streets across the country.”

The government invited MPs to bid for the noise camera to be tried out in their constituencies in April, as it carried out testing at a private test track to hone the technology.

Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore submitted the bid in partnership with South Gloucestershire councillors Sam and Elizabeth Bromiley, who represent the Parkwall and Warmley ward that includes the trial area.

Mr Skidmore said: “I have been pleased to champion this bid in Westminster and it is fantastic to see it succeed.

“This is a result of continued positive work with South Gloucestershire councillors, and I look forward to seeing the trial up and running.

“The more work we can do to deter antisocial behaviour in our communities, the more local people can enjoy our peaceful public and residential spaces unhindered.”

The ‘noise camera’ in place. Picture: Department for Transport

PTFA brings back community feel to school

A SCHOOL'S revived parents, teachers and friends association is already making a difference for pupils.

Downend School science teacher Emma Welch revived the PTFA, which had been dormant for years, with the help of parents last year.

Despite initially being hampered by covid restrictions, the group managed to raise £2,400 in its first year towards equipment, projects and extracurricular activities to make students' experience of school life more enjoyable.

Mrs Welch said: "The last two years for kids really haven't been much fun, and schools don't have a lot of money for extracurricular things.

"I really wanted the children to be able to go to fun events, give the school a more community feel and raise some much-needed funds for the school.

"It has been really heartwarming to see the

community supporting their local secondary school."

In the summer the group supported the school's annual Pride Day, where school values are celebrated and children have a chance to take part in activities, then held a 'pre-loved' uniform sale.

Mrs Welch, who has been a teacher at Downend since 2008 and is also a parent, said: "The idea was to try to make uniform affordable to people, as everyone is feeling the pinch.

"Even though we only sold

Downend School's Year 7 disco in October was staged by the newly reformed PTA

things for very low prices, we made £900 - a queue formed from the door right down the street outside the school."

In October the PTFA staged a disco for Year 7 pupils, attended by 200 children, which raised more than £840.

Mrs Welch said it had been a "brilliant night", adding: "The kids danced and sang the night away having lots of fun with all their new friends.

"Parents, teachers and some sixth formers came in to help out. The kids got to see their

teachers not just in lessons, and had a chance to get together and have fun."

Next up is a Christmas craft fair, on Saturday November 26 from midday until 5pm, which already has more than 30 local crafters signed up.

Entry will be £1 for over16s, which will include a raffle ticket for prizes donated by stall holders and other local businesses.

Mrs Welch said: "We want to support local traders - some of them attended the school or have children here - and we are hoping that the whole community supports this event."

The PTFA will be running a coffee shop with cake and mince pies and people are encouraged to bring cash as some of the traders are not able to accept cards.

The PTFA has already made a donation to set up a snack station for sixth formers, including buying a store cupboard and coffee machine.

emersonsgreenvoice

Day of football and fundraising in Mangotsfield

A FRIENDLY football match between Mangotsfield residents has raised £4,000 for two charities.

The match, organised by Mangotsfield Community Association, was the centrepiece

of a fundraising day at Mangotsfield United’s Cossham Street ground.

It was being staged for the first time since the pandemic, having previously raised more than £7,000 for good causes.

First played as a Reds v Blues match between City and Rovers fans, this year the game, on September 25, was played between the Red Lion Exiles and Inter City Firm, playing in blue and white respectively.

It was followed by music and a series of fundraising events, as the MCA pushed to raise as much as possible towards its £10,000 target this year for St Peters Hospice and Special Friends Club, a charity supporting young people with autism and special needs.

Gerrian Baker, who helped organise the event, said: "A great crowd, with the weather gods looking down on us and smiling, was buoyed by our hosts at MUFC, Shaun and Sharon, and our wonderful resident DJ’s Nick and Chris from Souled Out and Gone Funky Roadshow, who made sure that everyone was

thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

"The match started with a wonderful minute's silence for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, where you could have heard a pin drop.

"It was a keen, competitive affair that was eventually edged in the end with an Inter Village Firm win over the Red Lion Exiles, with the Exiles goalkeeper Rob Weakley taking the welldeserved award as man of the match, for a display that could possibly keep him in Gareth Southgate’s plans for the World Cup!"

The fundraising events included bucket collections, raffle tickets, an auction and head shave, and a performance from local singer Carrianne.

Gerrian added: "Well done to Mike Heath and Karen Fox, and Matt and Sarah Proud for all their hard work in making this happen.

"There are far too many other people to thank who contributed to such a great day, however you know who you are...wonderful, wonderful people.

"We asked for the village to take part, and take part they did - Mangotsfield really showed its true sense of community spirit and generous nature. Well done, everyone."

The MCA will hold another fundraiser - Mangotsfield’s very own Stars in Their Eyes contest, at the Red Lion pub on November 11 from 6pm.

Action from the game

The Red Lion Exiles (in blue) and Inter City Firm (in white) observed a minute's silence for the Queen before the match kicked off.

Organisers Mike Heath and Matt Proud watch the charity match at Cossham Street with Charlie Bennett

Busy time for new pupils

RECEPTION children who have just joined Emersons Green Primary School are already making the most of their school days.

From junk modelling and making rainbow pictures to playing outside with their new friends, the school said they had “settled in brilliantly during their first term”.

A school spokesperson said: “They have enjoyed learning how to use the different areas of the classroom, meeting all the different adults and children in school, and discovering our school rules and values.

“They have also started to learn how to read and write.”

Recycling hits 60%

SOUTH Gloucestershire is now recycling 60 per cent of household waste, according to new figures.

The recycling rate is one of the highest in England - and a new target to reach 70 per cent by the end of the decade is being set.

The council’s current 25-year waste collection contract with Suez comes to an end in July 2025 and it is beginning to look at what bin collections will look like after the contract ends.

Officers have examined the prospect of collecting black bins less often - once every three or four weeks instead of every fortnight - as they look at possible options for the lifetime of the next contract. But the council says the current plan is to stick with fortnightly collections.

Council project manager Keirsten Wilson told a scrutiny commission on October 5: “At the moment the intention is to stay with the current regime and timescale of black bin collections. The rationale for leaving it on the table for consideration in the future, and that could be quite far in the future, is the direction of travel of central government and the targets that are being set. But we’re not suggesting that at this time to change from the current two-weekly residual collections.”

Cabinet member for communities Rachael Hunt said collecting black bins less often was “not where we are progressing at the moment”.

South Gloucestershire is also involved in a national trial to collect plastic bags and wrapping from households as part of normal weekly recycling collections. Starting in Bradley Stoke, Chipping Sodbury and Olveston in October, if it’s successful, collections could be made from all homes in the district by 2025.

Most black bin rubbish in South Gloucestershire gets sent to an incinerator where it’s burned to create energy.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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Emersons Green Primary School’s new reception pupils

Cossham Birth Centre shuts

A MIDWIFE-led service allowing mothers to give birth at Cossham Hospital has been temporarily closed due to staff shortages. The Cossham Birth Centre at the hospital in Lodge Road is part of the closest NHS-run maternity service to the Downend area.

Other midwife services at the hospital, including antenatal and postnatal clinics, are running as normal.

North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, aims to reopen as soon as possible but has not given an anticipated reopening date.

A previous temporary closure of the birth centre lasted a year, from October 2018 to October 2019.

NBT chief nursing officer Steve Hams said: "Like many NHS organisations across the country, we are facing workforce challenges due to sickness and vacancies.

"As a result, we have decided to temporarily suspend our birthing service at Cossham Birth Centre and divert labouring women to the midwife-led Mendip Birth Centre at Southmead Hospital - this will ensure that we are able to maintain a safe service.

"We have temporarily suspended the service before in similar circumstances and

our focus has always been on resuming the full service as soon as possible.

"Our improved home birth service, which launched this month, will continue to be available as an option for women on a case-bycase basis.

"All antenatal and postnatal clinics at Cossham are unaffected and running as normal.

"Any woman worried about this decision should, in the first instance, contact their midwife."

The trust needed to carry out a recruitment drive before reopening the centre in 2019, with expectant mothers who arrived during daytime offered the chance to give birth at the centre but those arriving at night diverted to Southmead.

It comes as the NHS faces widespread staff shortages as demand increases for the winter.

A meeting of South Gloucestershire Council's health scrutiny committee on September 21 to discuss NHS provision to manage winter pressures was cancelled, with members being told that the area's winter plan would not be finished in time to be discussed at the meeting.

The plan is now due to be discussed at a meeting on November 23.

Vaccination rates high

CHILDHOOD vaccination rates in South Gloucestershire are among the highest in the country.

While an NHS report found vaccine coverage had decreased nationally over the past year, with average rates below the 95% target, in South Gloucestershire 96.3% of babies had received the 6-in-1 jab, including polio diphtheria and tetanus, by their first birthday, with 96.7 vaccinated for pneumococcal disease, 95.6% for meningitis B and 94.6% for rotavirus.

NHS England South West screening and immunisation lead Dr Emma Kain said: "Childhood immunisation uptake for under 5s remains good across the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care System and is above the England average rate.

"Vaccination rates have not been significantly affected by the pandemic."

Dr Kain said the NHS was focusing on improving the uptake of the preschool booster and the second dose of Measles Mumps and Rubella, offered when a child turns 3 years 4 months, which were below the national 95% target.

Emersons Green Town Council needs a new team member! Do you have a knowledge of, and interest in, local affairs? If you think you would like to represent your community and are over 18 years of age, you may be interested in joining us…

What is a Town Councillor?

Councillors are elected to represent an individual geographical area on the council, known as a ward or parish. The current vacancy is to represent the Pomphrey Ward, and applications close on Friday the 18 th of November.

Councillors are generally elected by the public every four years, but there is currently a Co-option space available on the Town Council as a former councillor has resigned from their position.

Introducing...…

Originally, Alka is an Essex girl and has two teenage sons. One is studying at Oxford University, reading Law, and the other is on track to study Medicine. Naturally, Alka’s family is also proud of their British Asian and West Indian heritage and embraces all cultures in the area.

Personally, Alka moved to Emersons Green from the Asia Pacific region in 2000, when her husband was offered a role in an engineering company in South Glos.

Since then, Alka has been involved in a variety of multicultural community projects in the local area, with a focus on bringing people together.

Cllr Alka Mehta Graham

“I would like to meet as many r esidents as possible, listen to their needs, and tr y to help.”

Professionally, Alka has over 20 years of experience, worldwide, in Human Resources, relationship management, workforce planning, talent acquisition, and Senior Account Management. Alka’s focus on diversity and inclusion has consistently resulted in growth for her business clients. Naturally, Alka has a great network, both locally and globally! For fun, Alka enjoys walking, nature, and a good dance!

Being a Town Councillor, like Alka, is highly rewarding, and there are other voluntary roles available too. All of these roles give you a chance to make a huge difference in the quality of life for people in your local area, and to influence the way issues are dealt with locally.

Interested in helping? Get in touch now: clerk@emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk Why not stand for election? Local elections are managed by South Glos Council and will take place in May 2023. More info: www.southglos.gov.uk

Platinum award for school's travel plan

A MANGOTSFIELD primary school has become the first in the area to win a top award for encouraging families to leave the car behind on the school run.

Barley Close Primary School is one of only 51 in England to receive platinum Modeshift STARS (Sustainable Travel Accreditation and Recognition for Schools) accreditation for encouraging pupils to walk, scoot or cycle to school.

And the prize for being the first school in South Gloucestershire to reach the highest level is a £5,000 award towards providing facilities such as cycle and scooter storage, lockers, seating or parent waiting shelters.

Barley Close has been working for four years to reduce the number of parents driving the school run, achieving its first award in 2019. Since then 21 other schools have signed up.

Before the project began, half of all Barley Close parents drove their children to school but that

number has reduced to 17.5 per cent as the school promoted 'active travel', including cycling, scooting and a 'Park & Stride' project to encourage those parents who do drive to par away from the school and make the last part of their journey on foot.

Head teacher Jo Williams said: "We are so proud to be awarded platinum in recognition for all our work on sustainable travel,

educating our pupils on being active travellers and the impact on them, and their environment.

"The whole school community is involved in the project and over the last few years it has been great to work together and build on our success year on year.

"We have increased the number of children actively travelling to school and been able to provide more storage for

bikes and scooters.

"We have also been able to continue our partnership with South Gloucestershire Council’s Road Safety and Sustainable Travel team to provide training and opportunities for our children on road safety, Bikeability and sustainable travel which is important to our children’s future and the school ethos.”

Council cabinet member for schools Erica Williams presented the school with a banner to announce its achievement of an 'outstanding travel plan'.

She said: "We know that small changes like walking and cycling to school or work instead of using cars and other vehicles can have a big impact on congestion, pollution and improve air quality. Becoming more active also provides significant health benefits and I’m sure more schools across South Gloucestershire will be inspired by the success achieved here."

OPEN

Barley Close pupils with head teacher Jo Williams and South Gloucestershire cabinet member for education Erica Williams

developing at science park

AS your local MP, I am delighted at two major new investments making the headlines locally and nationally that will create new high-skilled jobs, supporting our local economy to grow and contribute towards our movement to a net zero carbon future.

Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, historically high global energy prices and the need to fight climate change all show the importance of developing home-grown energy sources.

It’s welcome news, therefore, that our increasingly world-renowned Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPs), at the Bristol and Bath Science Park, has secured funding to deliver its Hydrogen Sustainable Transport Economy Accelerator.

This project will create a new and unique ‘green hydrogen’ production, storage, and research facility, will help collaboration between industry and academia and support to start-ups and small businesses, and prepare for and capture opportunities from the hydrogen economy.

The government’s ‘UK Hydrogen Strategy’ estimates that by 2050 the hydrogen economy will create 100,000 jobs and £13 billion of benefit to our economy, driven by application in road transport, maritime and aviation sectors.

This will include a UK-first – a ‘liquid hydrogen and cryogenic cooling’ capability to deliver the power demands of the latest propulsion technologies. The project will

create over 250 new jobs and protect existing jobs too, adding £33.5 million to the West of England economy each year.

I am particularly proud to see IAAPS go from strength to strength.

As the local MP, I worked closely with the University of Bath to lobby the government and others for the original funding to build it - and then as a government minister laid the foundation plaque of the building in 2019.

The second major new investment to welcome is planning permission being granted for a new £58m investment at the science park. The state-of-the-art new Inhalation Centre of Excellence building, which should be completed in 2025, will enable local company Vectura to expand its operations, and provide new career opportunities for research and development scientists and engineers in pharmaceutical and device manufacturing.

It will help create new inhaled treatments and products for patients and consumers.

In my new role leading the national independent Net Zero Review, it is fantastic to be able to champion projects and investments in the Kingswood constituency that represent a blueprint for the rest of the country to follow, as we seek to grow our economy, reduce carbon emissions and capitalise on the industries of the future.

Julie Borowski and Julie Scull with Hetty Blackmore

Tribute to two Julies

MANGOTSFIELD School has paid tribute to two long-serving members of staff who clocked up 67 years of service between them.

Music teacher Julie Borowski reached a milestone 40 years teaching music at the school, while Julie Scull was the head teacher’s personal assistant for 27 years.

Both Julies have now retired, and their farewell speeches were an opportunity to look back over their decades of service, celebrate their careers and hear some funny anecdotes along the way.

Former colleagues and students sent messages, and "tears and laughter were shared in equal measure".

Head teacher Hetty Blackmore said: "So many students and families from our community will have been touched by their years of dedication.

"Mangotsfield will not be the same without them but their legacies will live on in our community."

Time to remember

ARRANGEMENTS for this year's parades and services to remember the sacrifices of those who have died in conflict have been confirmed.

This year Remembrance Sunday is on November 13 and the Staple Hill parade will gather at Page Road at 10am, with representatives of uniformed organisations marching along the High Street and Broad Street to Page Park for a service which will begin at around 10.30am, culminating with the two minutes' silence at 11am.

Afterwards veterans are encouraged to join a gathering after the march back from the park, at Page Community Association Hall on Page Road.

Mangotsfield's Remembrance service will be at the war memorial, with people gathering at 12.15pm for a 12.30pm start. A less formal service of remembrance will take place in the Red Lion at 11am.

Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion, which organises the area's Poppy Appeal, needs volunteers to collect donations at four supermarkets, from October 29 until November 12.

Anyone who can volunteer at Tesco Staple Hill is being urged to call Paul or Lynn on 0774 700 3240; volunteers who can help at Sainsbury's in Emersons Green should call Hazel on 0771 732 6303; volunteers who can help at the Co-op in Downend should call Glen on 0785 713 3500; anyone who can volunteer at Morrisons in Fishponds should call Ian on 0795 010 4450.

The Page Park service relies on donations to help pay for essential expenditure such as insurance, order of service printing, loudspeakers and qualified first aiders.

Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion president Ian Boulton has set up an online fundraising page with the aim of raising £600 towards the cost.

The page can be found at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ianboulton-1.

n WHAT’S ON

November 8

n SODBURY & DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT SOCIETY practice class, the Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury at 7.30pm. Learn to arrange a design using twigs titled ‘Frosty Mornings’. £5, booking essential. Christmas Open Demonstration on November 23, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, Pam Lewis will demonstrate The Bells Ring out for Christmas. Tickets £12. Call 0117 9373836 or email rosemary.cummins2@gmail.com for more information.

November 11

n MANGOTSFIELD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION STARS IN THEIR EYES, raising money for St Peters Hospice and Special Friends Club, Red Lion from 6pm.

November 12

n CHRISTMAS MARKET, Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, Downend, BS16 2RW, 11am-3pm

Downend Flower Arranging Club will be selling beautiful Christmas arrangements for your home or to give as gifts to your friends and family at reasonable prices.

November 13

n ROYAL BRITISH LEGION FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE, 4.30pm, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, with Bristol Military Wives Choir and Filton Concert Brass. Tickets £12 adult, £8 child, from 01454 326336.

November 17 n SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE OVER 50S FORUM TALK on energy efficiency with experts from Warm and Well, at Emersons Green Village Hall, Emerson Way, 10am. Open to anyone over the age of 50.

November 18-19

n PUCKLECHURCH PLAYERS present ‘Murdered to Death’ by Peter Gordon, Pucklechurch Community Centre. Text or Call Elaine on 07940 207559 for tickets. BYO drinks and nibbles.

November 26

n DOWNEND SCHOOL PTFA CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR, noon5pm. More than 35 stalls with local crafters. Entry £1 for over-16s, to include a raffle ticket. Under-16s free. Coffee with cakes and mince pies.

REGULAR EVENTS

Monday n MEDITATION SESSIONS IN FRENCHAY Come along to the sessions that run from 3rd Monday each month at 7pm Frenchay Unitarian Chapel BS16 1ND from 20 Sept for the Person-centred Group Meditation and 1st Wednesday at 7pm from 6th Oct for the Kundalini

emersonsgreenvoice

movement meditation. Blessings to you. For more information contact Andrea on 07791119658 homewards.ma@btinternet.com.

n MESSY SPACE AT BADMINTON ROAD METHODIST CHURCH, 10.00-11.30am. This is a term-time group for babies and toddlers with their carers: play, crafts, story, refreshments. More information: www.badmintonroadmethodist.org. uk or 0117 239 3875

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

n LONGWELL LIGHTNING

NETBALL CLUB is looking for members with experience of netball, aged 16 or over for seniors and over 10 for juniors. Training Monday nights at Wellsway Way School, in Keynsham. For more information call Maisie Nash on 07920 443820 for juniors, Sandra Nash on 07479 015048 for seniors.

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 information from Graham on 07968 050320.

Wednesday

n THE WOMEN’S SECTION OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION We meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 2pm at the old school hall now known as the YOU Foundation by the car park in Page Road Staple Hill. Speakers, quiz’s and handy craft afternoon finish’s with tea. If you are interested please telephone Madeleine Bills Secretary. 0117 9560805.

n WEDNESDAY CAFE FOR SENIORS, at Badminton Road Methodist Church (BS16 6NU) every Wednesday 10am to 12 noon. All Welcome – just come along – make new friends over a 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 DOWNEND TANG SOO DO meets at Christchurch Parish Hall, North Street on Wednesday evenings from 7.30-9pm. Suitable for beginners and ages 10+. First class free. More details from Ian on 07817 744689 or at the Downend Tang Soo Do Facebook page.

To advertise, contact Gary on 07799

n DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB: Would you like to arrange flowers? Friendly club meets at 7.30pm on the first and third Wednesdays, from September to June, at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road. For information call Joyce 0117 956 8978.

n CLEEVESINGERS OF DOWNEND Enjoy singing, then come and join this four part choir who meet on Wednesday evenings at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road 7.30 p.m. from September until July. For more information contact the Secretary on 0117 9561881.

n FRENCHAY PROBUS CLUB We meet at Frenchay Village Hall on the first Wednesday of each month between 10.00 and 12.00 hrs. For further details contact: frenchayprobus@outlook.com

n WARMLEY JAZZ CLUB, every Wednesday £5 on the door. Cadbury Heath Social Club. Doors open 7.30pm. More details at warmleyjazz.co.uk.

n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcomefirst visit free so come along and give us a try. For further information contact Sheila on 01179570792 or 07435316458 or email shinett@ blueyonder.co.uk.

n DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB

We are a friendly group, we meet at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincolne Barn, Overndale Road, BS16 2RW. Ring Genise on 0777 2451217 for more information.

Thursday

n NEXT DOOR BOOKS welcomes new members. Book club meets on the last Thursday of the month at either 10am or 2pm, depending on numbers. Normally meets at Lyde Green Community Centre. email jessica.callaway@hotmail.co.uk.

n LONGWELL GREEN ORCHESTRA meet each Thursday evening at Longwell Green Community Centre from 7:30 until 9:40. We have players of all abilities. Contact@longwellgreenorchestra. org.uk or 07972 844073. Please get in touch before to tell us what instrument and what level.

Friday

n TAI CHI FOR PARKINSON’S.

Weekly beginners Tai Chi & Qi Gong class for people with Parkinson’s disease, their families and carers. We meet for Tai Chi, tea and cake at Lincombe Barn, Downend. BS16 2RW. Time: Fridays (term times) 10.15 – 12.15 including tea / coffee

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

break. Contact: Claire - Claire@ Taichibodyandmind.co.uk (07769 857672) or Sarah - buqiworks@ gmail.com (07815 662844)

n MANGO JAMS PARENT/ CARER AND TODDLER GROUP meets every Friday at St James Church Hall, Richmond Road, Mangotsfield, 9.15am to 11.15am. Warm and friendly group run by volunteers from St James Church: everyone welcome to attend.

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 every Friday morning in term time, from 10-11.30am. All welcome - for more info e-mail 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.

Saturday

n BRISTOL SUGARCRAFT

GUILD We are a small friendly group who meet every third Saturday of the month 2pm to 4pm at St Andrews Hall, Elm Park, Filton. Beginners very welcome. Please call Jean Kington on 01454 314178.

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.

Sunday

n EMERSONS GREEN BAPTIST

CHURCH is now up and running again, after Covid, at the Emersons Green Village Hall every Sunday at 10.30am. Do come along. It would be great to see you. We look forward to having our regulars back as well as many new people.

n BADMINTON ROAD

METHODIST CHURCH In-person Sunday worship continues weekly at 10.30am and all are welcome. For more 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.

On

n LYDE GREEN OPEN SPACE COLUMN

How a bonfire can help your garden

REMEMBER, Remember the Fifth of November - a day when we remember the Gunpowder Plot by setting off firecrackers and burning bonfires.

Whilst there is a controversy over burning bonfires, what with smoke and global warming, did you know that the ash left after a bonfire is very useful in our gardens?

Wood ash (not coal ash) can be a great addition to the garden. The ash contains potassium, which is a vital nutrient for crops.

It also has a liming effect, which can remedy excessively acidic soil.

Potassium regulates plants’ water balance and plays a part in transporting food within the plant, as well as creating starches and sugar.

A vegetable plant that lacks potassium is more vulnerable to drought, frost, pests and diseases.

Add the ash to your compost heap. Don’t add too much, though, as it will raise the pH and affect the bacteria and worms. Keep some in a container and sprinkle on a layer every so often. For every 15cm/6inches of compost, a sprinkle of ash can be added.

With winter fast approaching, we would

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like to encourage all residents to do what they can for our precious wildlife. I have noticed the grey squirrels busily collecting food for the winter on my early morning bike rides to work; the hedgehogs are also busy preparing for their hibernation.

Setting up a hedgehog habitat in your garden, and preparing your garden so that they have a safe place for their long winter sleep, is vital for keeping this species going.

Use an old wooden wine crate or box to make a tunnel, then add some dry leaves, hay or straw to fill the box and keep the hedgehogs warm and cosy.

Set up the hedgehog habitat in the quietest part of the garden and cover it with leaves and logs, to make it look as natural as possible.

Many people ask if they need to add food to their hedgehog habitats, and whilst you may want to put out food at first to attract them, once a hog has taken residence, the food will need to be moved away, so as not to attract predators or rivals.

The birds will need a bit of help too. Sugar water (the colourless type, as food colouring can hurt the birds), fat balls, bird seed, wild

flowers and sunflower seeds are some of the foods we can use to help the birds through the winter. Your garden will benefit from their presence.

The community garden is now open and is ready to be enjoyed by residents. The herbs are growing and will be accessible for all to use when needed.

The Lyde Green Common information boards are due to be installed on November 8: keep your eye out for this amazing improvement.

We are always looking for volunteers to help with our upcoming projects. You can find details of various volunteering opportunities on our Facebook page, or email lgopenspace@ gmail.com for more information.

Meghan Buchanan (Lyde Green resident)

Have you heard about Shared Lives yet?

It’s a bit like foster care – but for an adult. As a Shared Lives carer, you will be paid to support adults who need a little extra help from your own home.You’ll help them to achieve their goals and support them to live independently, helping them live their life, their way. They could spend the day with you, stay overnight or even move in, it’s flexible to you.

What does it mean to be a Shared Lives carer?

“I’m proud to be a Shared Lives carer because I believe that everyone deserves to be happy and be themselves, regardless of who they are and that’s exactly what Shared Lives does -placing people in homes with families where they are cared for, loved and respected.”Kwame, Shared Lives carer

Do you need support to live your life?

Find out if Shared Lives could support you: www.ategi.org.uk

Find out more about becoming a Shared Lives carer on our website: www.ategi.org.uk or email us on carerapplication@ategi.co.uk

800th anniversary draws to a close

MEMBERS of St James Church Mangotsfield have had a busy year celebrating the church's 800th anniversary.

The final fundraising event for the year will be the Christmas Fair, to be held at the church hall, Richmond Road, on Saturday November 26 from 10.30am to 2pm.

The fair will have several stalls, games, refreshments and a visit from Father Christmas.

The year of celebration began in January with a Sunday morning visit from the Archdeacon of Malmesbury, Ven Christopher Bryan.

The following Sunday a full peal was rung by Bristol Bellringers.

In June, we welcomed several hundred local primary school children to the church for a living history presentation of the church alongside aspects of the history of the nation, with role-playing by church members to enliven the occasion.

Activity peaked with a festival weekend in July, which included a wine and cheese reception, church open day with cream teas, the Phoenix Wind Band playing in the church grounds and ending with Choral Evensong, sung by a festival choir directed by Jim Williams.

Also in July we were pleased to host part of the Ham Farm Festival, when a large choir

performed Misa Criolla, by the Argentinian composer Ariel Ramirez.

In September our first dog show was very popular with our canine friends and their owners, and in October our harvest supper was combined with a barn dance.

There have been several other events and we are thankful for the support of local choirs, as well as ongoing input from our own congregation and the local community.

We also look forward to welcoming Bishop Lee at our All-age Christmas Celebration on December 11.

A coloured brochure was produced as a souvenir of the church's 800 years. In its introduction our vicar, Rev Teresa Taylor, says: "It is our prayer that as you visit St James you will experience a sense of awe at its ancient history, receive strength from the 800 years of almost continuous weekly worship, and find peace."

As we look ahead we pray that this will continue, and future generations will enjoy this beautiful church and become part of its history.

Roger Long St James Church Mangotsfield

37 Frampton Cotterell Squadron RAFAC

Dame School renovations are ready to start

PLANNING is well under way for this year's Remembrance parade and service.

It will take place on Sunday November 13. The parade will assemble at the Scout Hall at 12 noon and walk up to the War Memorial for the service of remembrance at 12.30pm.

This year we want to change something. Those who regularly attend will know that the young uniformed groups, the various age groups of scouting and guiding, stand behind the War Memorial, and parents and members of the public stand in front of the War Memorial.

It has been pointed out that this means many of the young people aren’t able to see what’s really going on. So this year we want to flip it round and have them in front of the memorial, with parents and public at the back, and we are asking for your help to make this happen, please.

There is also a less formal and quieter service of remembrance in the Red Lion at 11am.

The wheels of voluntary work often turn slowly, but we finally have the money and necessary permissions to start work on

renovating the Dame School building, by having the bars on the windows and the door repaired and repainted. We are also about to rebuild the small retaining wall at the back of the planting area, so if you have any natural local stones, the sort I seem to dig up every time I work on my garden, and want to donate them, then please let us know or just drop them off but please no bricks or concrete etc.

I know this has been mentioned before, but South Glos Councillors have money to give out each year, called Member Awarded Funding, to local groups and organisations to help in the community. But did you know that many councillors struggle to give this money away, as people don’t apply? Well, we do - and have just received money to provide more flower planters around the village. You’ll see them soon.

Our last South Glos Council Community Engagement Forum in September had a very useful presentation on what is available to the community to help with the cost of living crisis.

There is a range of help, including the Community Resilience Fund, Welfare Grant Scheme, Council Tax Rebate Scheme, Household Support Fund and help with energy payments.

A new welfare and debt advice service can help and signpost people to specialist agencies such as Citizens Advice, Talking Money, Bristol Water and Severn Wye.

It can be accessed through council One Stop Shops or by calling 01454 868009.

Finally a couple of dates for your diary:

the next MRA/Red Lion coffee morning is on November 2 from 10am: a chance to meet old friends and make new ones.

Our next meeting is on October 28, at 7.30pm in the Scout Hall.

As always, we’d love more people to get involved, so if you’d like to please get in touch via MangotsfieldRA@gmail.com, the Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page or call our chair, Clive Heath, on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881.

Chris Amos

Sharing memories of Downend's past

RESIDENTS have been telling CHAP, Downend’s Community History and Art Project, about their memories of days gone by in the area.

Barb has fond memories of growing up in Downend.

She remembers being taken to the Downend Cottage Homes development for swimming lessons, skimming the leaves (and occasionally a dead hedgehog) from the surface of the water before being told to get in, cling onto a white polystyrene float and sink or swim.

As she recalls: "There was no health and safety then!"

The cottage homes were resident childcare communities for youngsters who were suffering difficulties or had been classed as 'wayward' or 'delinquent'.

Barb thinks that some of the girls had been sent there as a result of liaisons with American GIs during the war. What was considered acceptable behaviour was very different back then.

Mrs Duncombe has shared some interesting artefacts, such as a ration book from 1941, showing how you had to exchange coupons to get hold of a restricted amount of meat, cooking fats, butter and margarine, and sugar during the Second World War.

The book has been stamped by a butcher at the Staple Hill branch of the Bristol Co-op, which was on Broad Street near the High Street crossroads and has long since gone.

It’s hard to imagine always

having to keep outdoor clothing, your gas mask, identity card and ration book ready to take with you if you needed to take shelter during an air raid, as instructed on the back cover.

Mrs Duncombe has also kept this paper bag since 1936, when she was seven years old! It shows King George VI, grandfather of our new King Charles III, after his brother Edward VIII had abdicated. He is pictured with his wife Elizabeth, our late Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, who was known later as the Queen Mother.

Do any readers remember where Downend Press was located?

How long will we hold on to our souvenirs from King Charles III’s coronation next year?

If you have memories or artefacts you'd like to share, contact us at downendchap@gmail. com or write to CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS

Downend CHAP is a not-forprofit voluntary organisation that aims to produce a community history resource, create a coherent identity for Downend and Emersons Green based on past places, people and events, and encourage local people to take part in all its activities.

We want to run enjoyable and inclusive community activities that bring history to life through arts, publications, music and events.

For more information visit the CHAP website at www. downendchap.org.

Helen Rana

A ration book from 1941 shows a stamp from the butcher at the Co-op in Staple Hill

A paper bag commemorating the accession of King George VI, printed by the Downend Press

WECA must take control of buses

AS residents and organisations in the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and North Somerset, we are deeply concerned by the present cuts to essential bus services. The impact of these lost services will mean many, including the most vulnerable, will be unable to make essential journeys including to shops, schools, and doctors and hospitals.

The private bus companies are entirely profit-driven, so they’re justifying the bus cuts with the falling passenger numbers, rising fuel and wage costs, and driver shortages that make the services unprofitable with no regard for the public need.

This deregulated market is always at odds with the bus services that many in our communities need to get to work, school, shops, and health centres.

These changes to local bus services are making many residents genuinely fearful that people of all ages and abilities will be cut off from vital facilities they need to live well. Further, the loss of public transport will worsen congestion on the roads, increase air pollution, and undermine commitments WECA has made to reduce its carbon emissions and its climate emergency pledge.

The current constitution of WECA requires that the Metro Mayor Dan Norris and the three group leaders of Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire to all agree to make changes to bus services.

This open letter is calling for them to put in place bus franchising, to suspend the deregulated bus market and provide a bus service under contract from WECA.

Residents want and deserve a bus service that delivers for all, and the only way for this to take place is for WECA to use its powers under the WECA constitution to deliver bus franchising.

We encourage readers to sign this open letter now at actionnetwork.org/forms/franchiseweca-bus-services-now West of England Shared Transport and Active Travel Network

Loss of Y5 leaves us isolated

THE First Bus withdrawal of the Y5 service will isolate the residents of Shortwood, and our link to the big outside world of Bristol and Yate.

It was bad enough when the service was reduced to two-hourly, but this is far worse.

Our close neighbours in Mangotsfield and Staple Hill will also lose this fast service into Bristol city centre bus station, as it used the M32 and was almost 20 minutes quicker than the number 49 bus, much to the benefit of residents using the BRI hospitals and city-based office workers.

I have enclosed a photo of the Y5 bus that readers may wish to retain and place as a keepsake in their memory boxes, perhaps to be shown in a distant future edition of the Antiques Roadshow.

Mr D Bryant Shortwood

Help your dog cope with fireworks

BONFIRE night can be terrifying for many dogs, but did you know that teaching dogs to cope with noise fears in advance can help lessen the stress they experience when they hear the unexpected whizz, pop, and bang of fireworks?

Gradually teaching your dog

that noises are not scary will help them cope with unexpected noises over time. This usually involves playing recorded versions of the scary noises, but starting at such a low volume that your dog is not worried by them.

The volume and direction of sounds are changed over time, but so slowly that your dog shows no signs of any fear. The sounds should also be associated with something that they enjoy, such as their favourite treats or a game.

Dogs who are very frightened already may require support from a qualified, experienced behaviourist.

We are a charity that offers more tips and advice at Dog School: fun, educational courses for dog owners based on up-to-date scientific research.

The nearest sessions are in Pucklechurch and St George.

Using reward-based training, we teach the key skills your dog needs to thrive in everyday situations, including focusing on helping dogs to cope with unusual sounds, so they remain relaxed and happy. For more information visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/dogschool.

Bec Konteh Coach, Bristol Dog School The Dogs Trust

Can you support CAB team?

DO you have a few hours a week to spare and want to make a real difference? Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire is looking for volunteers to help in our friendly office in Yate.

You don’t need specific qualifications or experience: advisers receive full training.

You’ll gain new skills, meet new people, and you’ll be helping our clients overcome the problems

they face and making a real difference to their lives.

We’re a registered charity providing people with free information and advice to help them solve their benefits, debt, employment, and other problems. Our service is free, independent, confidential and impartial. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.

We are currently recruiting for a variety of roles, whether you have 3 hours to offer or 2 half days.

If you are interested or would like more information, visit our website www.southgloscab.org.uk/ get-involved/ or email Emmanuelle. claverie@southglos.org.uk for more details or an informal chat.

Emmanuelle Claverie Lead Supervisor Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire

Nominate your dementia hero

INDIVIDUALS and organisations in Bristol who have gone the extra mile for people affected by dementia could be recognised at the prestigious Dementia Hero Awards, sponsored by Tunstall Healthcare.

The Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Hero Awards will celebrate the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations who meaningfully involve people affected by dementia in activities and projects that make a real difference.

There are nine award categories, including an outstanding achievement award. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges in research and innovation, local government, those who care for people with dementia and dementia-friendly businesses, among others.

With an estimated 4,730 people living with dementia in Bristol, it’s vital we join forces to improve the lives of people affected by dementia, now and in the future. Facing dementia, we are always better together.

It couldn’t be easier to enternominate yourself or someone who has inspired you for a Dementia Hero Award at alzheimers.org.uk/ dementiaheroawards.

Nominations close on Friday November 18.

Lorna Robertson Area Manager Alzheimer’s Society

Metro Mayor Dan Norris and First Bus managing director Doug Claringbold.

Sitting on a small gaming fortune?

local Emersons Green Sue Ryder charity shop had been donated an unused Super Nintendo Entertainment System from 1998.

By Emersons Green-based gamer Conor McGeachie

WE’LL soon be getting to that time again where we start to dig out the Christmas decorations from the loft or garage.

As you’re sifting through the boxes and bags, it’s worth

keeping in mind that you may find some unexpected treasures that could help out with present shopping!

This time last year, the Voice ran an article reporting how the

It was then put on the charity’s eBay page and, thanks to some frantic last-minute bidding, ended up selling for £2,045. For those of you who don’t remember the story - yes, you read that price correctly!

This was due to the SNES being in ‘brand new’ condition, as it had previously been in storage for its life.

This trend isn’t just a one-off, as throughout this year there has been a spate of auctions where people have found unopened game consoles in their lofts, with some sales even reaching five figures.

Over in America this is nothing

new. Back in 2019 a Nevada man came across a perfectly packaged, unopened copy of 1987 cult classic Nintendo game Kid Icarus as he cleared out the attic of his childhood home.

Still in a shopping bag, with a receipt for the $38 purchase price, it sold for more than 200 times that much – $9,000 - when it went up for auction.

It was certainly enough to pay for a few nice holidays, and he used the money to take his family to Disneyland.

So, while you’re looking out Christmas decorations, keep a keen eye for any hidden treasures that could net you a small fortune.

8AM-5PM

The SNES donated in Emersons Green (Picture: Sue Ryder)

AROUND THE WIs

Shortwood Village WI

OUR October meeting was our AGM, so a big happy birthday to us!

The existing committee agreed to stand for another year and our present president Jo was nominated and elected again for another year.

Many thanks go to two lovely ladies from Wick WI, who joined us for the evening to officiate and count the votes.

A cuppa and birthday cake and the raffle followed. We finished the evening with a logic game, which saw us colouring in a picture of a fruit bowl using four colours only - and none of the same colours could touch - then a good old game of “consequences”, which was hilarious. We all had a good belly laugh.

This year we will be playing skittles again, and actually have more than enough players for a team of six, with reserves, which is brilliant. Let’s see if we can get past the second round this season.

The visit to Berkeley Castle was a success, despite an unexpected diversion and a threatening puncture on the way.

“Do you have breakdown insurance?” was my question to the driver - the answer was: “I am not sure.”

Luckily, it turned out to be a false alarm as the car was just telling us that the tyre actually needed more air at that point.

We arrived in time for lunch which, due to unforeseen catering problems, was just pizza and a lovely array of cakes. Nevertheless, the pizza was stone baked and freshly cooked and tasted lovely.

In November we have a talk and demo form Bijoux Floral, who will be demonstrating Xmas decorations.

We meet on the second Thursday of the month, at 7.30pm in the chapel or vestry in Main Road, Shortwood. Our next meeting is on November 10.

As we are a friendly bunch, we will give a warm welcome to new members, so just turn up for a complimentary visit to see what the WI has to offer.

For more info or just a chat, please email me at millhousejoinery@aol.com, with the heading Shortwood Village WI.

Lynne Miller

n LIBRARY NEWS News from Downend, Emersons Green & Staple Hill libraries

WITH money being tight for many of us this Winter don’t forget that most of the services on offer at our libraries are free.

So that means it is still free to join the library to borrow books (with DVDs available to 50p for 3 weeks hire).

You can reserve books from across South Gloucestershire and the neighbouring authorities for collection at your local library.

There are no fines if children’s books should go overdue.

Pre-school Rhyme Time is on Wednesdays 9.30am at Downend, and Thursdays 9.30am at Staple Hill and Storytime is 9.30am on Tuesdays at Emersons Green Library.

Join in our Lego Clubs: one Saturday morning a month at each library – see www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries

It ‘s also free to

• Use the computers and wifi (printing also available at a small charge)

• Research your Family History on Ancestry (available on the library computers)

• Download our e-books, e-audiobooks, e-newspapers, e-magazines at www.librarieswest.org.uk

Come along to our Coffee Morning (Fridays 9.30am at Downend Library) or Tea, Talk & Stories Book Group (Thursdays at 2.15pm at Staple Hill Library).

Milestone for crematorium

WESTERLEIGH Cemetery & Crematorium, near Pucklechurch, has marked its 30th anniversary.

Representatives from industry organisations joined some of the key figures in establishing the crematorium at a commemoration ceremony.

Guests wrote messages in a book which will be placed in a time capsule and buried on the site later this year, to be re-opened in 30 years’ time, and a commemorative plaque was unveiled by site manager Shaun Chapman-Young.

Westerleigh Crematorium was built after Northavon District Council and Kingswood Borough Council, which later merged to become South Gloucestershire Council, decided a crematorium to serve the area was badly needed.

Local developer Ian Pratt formed a consortium, which built the facility on a 22-acre site owned by Northavon.

It opened in August 1992.

A special guest of honour at the 30th anniversary celebration was former Northavon District Council member Marilyn Palmer, who had planted the first tree on the site to mark the beginning of the building process.

Shaun said: “It was a pleasure to welcome so many industry leaders, business partners and supporters to our crematorium and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to attend.

“I am honoured to be at the helm of the crematorium for this special anniversary.

“We will continue to support bereaved families in the years to come, to serve them with exceptional care and to ensure that the final farewell to their loved one is uniquely personal.”

Westerleigh Cemetery & Crematorium is part of Westerleigh Group, the UK’s largest independent owner and operator of crematoria and cemeteries.

Chief executive Debbie Smith said: “This is a moment not just to commemorate the 30th anniversary of this site but to remember 60,000 families that we have served here at Westerleigh since the site’s opening in 1992 and also to acknowledge the commitment and exceptional care shown by our teams all over the country.”

To find out more about the crematorium, visit www.westerleighcrem.co.uk.

n LYDE GREEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Panto is coming IT’S nearly pantomime time. Oh, no it isn’t! Oh, yes it is! Get ready for the holiday season by booking a familyfriendly pantomime, right on your doorstep.

On Sunday December 4 at 7pm, Goldilocks and the Three Bears will be coming to Lyde Green Community Centre.

Tickets cost £7 and you can buy them from buytickets.at/ lgca/776603.

Chaplins touring pantomime team are putting on the show and Coffee at Lyde will be open to provide snack boxes and drinks, to sustain you through the performance.

If you would like to volunteer for future events, then please get in touch with us.

You can reach us via Facebook, either @ lydegreencommunityassociation or @LydeGreenCC, by email at info@ lydegreenca.org or by calling the office number, 0117 957 0410.

For event bookings, email Bookings@lydegreenca.org.

Current and first Westerleigh Crematorium site managers Shaun Chapman-Young (left) and Cecil Skelton

DURING the last few months of this blog I’ve really enjoyed talking to you about all the things going on outside of the clinic. Now it’s time to take you back inside and focus on a common problem that we treat here at Cleve Chiropractic – neck and arm pain.

Pain in both these areas can vary from a mild annoyance to having a crippling impact on your life. When a patient comes to see us with these symptoms, we first consider red flags that would need further investigations, such as night pain and unexplained weight loss.

When these have been ruled out or dealt with, in most cases the problems can then be managed in house. Some of the causes of this condition include traumas, such as a sports injury or a fall, simply sleeping in a strange position, or even extreme sneezing. Our job is then to work out what happened in the first place and try to reverse it.

With severe neck and arm pain, we would first consider problems such as disc bulges or bony spurs in the neck. To assess this in the clinic, we run through

Neck and arm pain

the same advanced neurological tests that a consultant would conduct and, if appropriate, refer the patient in house for an X-ray, or for an MRI scan, which takes place off site.

If the diagnosis is confirmed as a disc issue, the immediate remedy involves gentle traction and soft tissue work. With regular treatment, we would expect a patient to feel significantly better within two or three months.

Another cause of neck and arm pain that’s even more common is a condition known as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, or TOS. Many people would have suffered with temporary TOS, probably without realising – it sometimes happens when we have slept in an odd position that leaves us with a numb arm. In most cases, this sensation will quickly disappear.

However, muscle spasms and joint issues can sometimes create permanent neck and arm pain, or feelings of numbness. We define TOS as a condition where a patient’s pulse will disappear

at the wrist when we perform certain stress tests – sadly this can frustrate patients for years. Fortunately, however, TOS normally responds really well to treatment in most cases, allowing the patient to get back to enjoying their lives again within a matter of weeks.

One more example of neck and arm pain can actually originate from shoulder problems. The most common of these is impingement syndrome, where classically a tendon and small fat sac – called a bursa – gets trapped between the arm and the shoulder. Bursas can refer pain down the arm and make the neck muscles spasm, causing the patient to endure some annoying neck pain.

It’s beginning to sound like all bad news, isn’t it? But don’t worry, because help is at hand. The good news is that, in the clinic, we have ultrasound scanners that can easily diagnose these conditions. After that, we can treat you with a combination of therapies

n SPORT

including chiropractic, physio, sports therapy and sometimes injections.

So if you, or anyone you know, has been suffering with neck and arm pain, book in to see us straight away and let’s get you on the road to recovery!

Carsons and Mangotsfield celebrate successful season

THE annual club dinner of Carsons and Mangotsfield Cricket Club was held at Pomphrey Hill to celebrate a successful season of cricket.

As a reflection of how the club has evolved over recent seasons, more than 70 guests attended the event.

It was also pleasing to see most of the young players who had played their part in the successful 3rd team attend for the first time, and the camaraderie that had developed between them.

During the evening Tom King was presented with the Young Player of the Year award for his contribution with the bat and the keeping gloves.

The main club award went to Hannah Clatworthy, for her fantastic contribution in time and commitment to the club as Child Welfare Officer.

Hannah's work in this demanding role since 2017, as membership has expanded, was recognised by Gloucestershire Cricket earlier in the season when she was named its volunteer of the month for June.

As the season has drawn to a close, I want to say a massive thank you to all those who sponsored the club over the season - it was much appreciated.

As well as shirt sponsors and ground boards, there were also match ball sponsors for the first time.

If you are interested in either playing cricket next season or a local business interested in sponsoring the club, please contact iancoles7@ sky.com.

Ian Coles Vice Chair

Mangos in the relegation zone again

HAVING been relegated from the Southern League Division 1 South last term, Mangotsfield United find themselves facing another fight for survival.

Currently second from bottom in the Hellenic League Premier Division, manager John Allen, who only joined the club in the summer, has seen his side take just one point from six home league matches this season.

The return to the club of strikers Ben Bament and Luke Ballinger, with a wealth of experience between them, may help stop the slump.

The poor run started with a 2-1 home loss to Hereford Pegasus, who were visiting Cossham Street for the first time. Josh Haynes scored Mangotsfield's goal.

Another 2-1 home defeat followed just three days later, when Royal Wootton Bassett Town completed the double over the Mangos. The visitors were ahead after just four minutes, and although the Mangos tried everything they could to get back into the game, they found the Royals’ defence a hard nut to crack and the visitors scored a second with just 7 minutes to go; Josh Haynes scored a consolation goal on 89 minutes.

The following Saturday saw Mangotsfield in FA Vase action at Cossham Street. Older supporters remember the halcyon days of the

mid-1990s when the Mangos reached the FA Vase semi-finals, only to lose 2-1 on aggregate to Lancashire outfit Clitheroe.

Could the Mangos replicate the good old days? They started with a 2-0 win over Abingdon United, in what was a very even game, which went right to the wire before Isaac Flynn and Oli Jenkins both scored in second-half added time, to clinch another home tie, against Devon side Crediton United, which was due to be played on October 22.

Unfortunately, Mangotsfield’s poor league form in the league quickly resumed, with the club losing the next four games.

First came a crushing 3-0 defeat at Chipping Sodbury Town, where the hosts simply out-muscled the visitors in every department.

Another abject performance followed at Corsham Town, where ex-Mangos striker Dan Demkiv opened the scoring on 51 minutes, before his brother Callum Owen Demkiv made it 2-0 five minutes later.

Just three days later came another home defeat, again 2-1 to Wiltshire side Shrivenham.

Conceding again after just four minutes, the Mangos were once again chasing the game and Ben Bament’s goal in second-half

stoppage time was once again too little, too late.

Things then went from bad to worse as the Mangos crashed 5-1 at home to another Hereford side, Westfields FC, who were also making their first visit ever to Cossham Street.

It was, as the score suggests, a poor performance by the hosts, who were already 3-0 down before Jeffrey Barimah scored on 53 minutes but went on to concede another two goals.

Dave Smale

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

October 25 Cribbs FC (home)

October 29 Malvern Town (away)

November 5 Tuffley Rovers (home)

November 8 Chipping Sodbury (homeGlos Challenge Trophy)

November 12 Lydney Town (home)

November 19 Worcester Raiders (home)

November 26 Brimscombe & Thrupp (away)

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Medals for Lyde Green team

A MARTIAL arts team from Lyde Green has won several medals at the World Championships held in the Netherlands.

Four students from Fishponds Taekwondo Academy, based at Lyde Green Community Centre, represented Team UK in the International Taekwon-Do Federation competition.

They returned from Amsterdam with silver and bronze medals for patterns and sparring in junior and adult categories.

Instructor Simon Herrington, a 3rd degree black belt in the Korean martial art, said: “We are very proud of our team who worked hard and performed well.

“It’s always nice to win medals, but it’s more important that they followed the tenets of Taekwondo, which includes courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.”

Teenagers Millie and Cameron Bates, and Ellianne Reader – who are all 1st degree black belts, along with 20-year-old Joel Cassar, a 3rd degree black belt, competed in the championships.

For more information about the academy, call Simon on 0783 822 7522 or email fishpondstkd@hgbp.uk.com.

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Tackling the climate emergency

Recycling success

More than 2,000 South Gloucestershire homes are taking part in an exciting trial of a new flexible plastic recycling scheme as part of their normal weekly recycling collections. Selected households in Bradley Stoke, Chipping Sodbury and Olveston are participating in the first year of the potential three-year trial which is part of the drive to increase the amount of packaging that we can recycle to protect our environment, including plastic bags, confectionary wrappers, foil lined packaging and plastic film.

Government figures on national recycling rates show South Gloucestershire is now recycling 60 per cent of all its waste. The council had the fifth highest recycling rate of all councils of its kind in the country in 2020/21, an amazing success by everyone involved.

Green light for nature projects

The council is looking at ways to protect and conserve wildlife and nature across the area. It is a key part of the council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan, for which it was scored in the top-10 of councils in the UK, recognising the commitment to deliver real change.

Several nature projects have been given the go ahead, including as part of the new local plan. One such project is Frampton End Farm nature reserve, near Frampton Cotterell where planting new trees and wetlands will help act as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide emis sions and tackling climate change.

At Siston Common in Kingswood, hundreds of local volunteers recently came together to plant over 7,000 wildflower plants in the new meadow created by the council. The mass planting marked the start of the Commons Con nections, the Wild Belt project, a £1.26 million project to increase, improve and better connect important habitats across South Gloucestershire for nature that will also include the planting over 6,000 new trees to help address biodiversity decline.

Improvements will be made to links between registered common land, unimproved grasslands, woodlands and associated habitats along the South Gloucestershire and Bristol border. Tree and wildflowers will be planted, alongside the conservation of grassland habitats and pond creation and restoration.

The council will create a brand-new biodiversity-focused park at the former Warmley Pitch and Putt golf course to support nature

recovery in the community. The council asked residents to choose where the park should be and received nearly 200 responses with the most popular choice being the former golf course. The park will also aim to include space that is accessible for everyone, providing a

Following its success last year, the council’s tree voucher scheme is back. To mark National Tree Week (Saturday 26 November –Sunday 4 December), the council will be offering vouchers that can be exchanged for trees once again to residents to improve the tree coverage in South Gloucestershire. The council is aiming to plant enough trees by 2030 to double its tree canopy to improve biodiversity and keep its local environment healthy as part of its response to the climate and nature emergency.

stimulating and relaxing environment for the whole community. Consultation on what might be included as part of the new park will start in November and on the council’s consultation website at southglos.gov.uk/consultations

Tree Week coming up

South Gloucestershire is taking action to respond to the climate emergency with many initiatives to help residents and organisations play their part in helping the planet.

Cllr Steve Reade planting wildflowers with Max and Kady Stuart

Community planting in Page Park, Staple Hill

Spotlight on learning Schools success

South Gloucestershire is making great strides with education, as demonstrated by its recent Ofsted reports. Over the last five years, its schools have moved from 35 per cent Good or Outstanding at Secondary and Post 16 to 71 per cent. And, as of 31 May this year, 83 per cent of all its schools (including Primary) are rated as Good or Outstanding. This means 32,432 of the area’s young people attend a Good or Outstanding South Gloucestershire School, compared with 6,036 pupils in 2017.

Building blocks of learning in Winterbourne and Frenchay

The new Frenchay Church of England Primary School opened its doors to pupils last month. The £11 million building on the former Frenchay Hospital site will accommodate 420 pupils – up from 140 at its former Victorian home on Frenchay Common, where it had been since 1842.

The building is designed to the standards of environmental organisation Passivhaus, meaning it will have a very low carbon impact on the environment. Benefiting from an £800,000 investment from the council’s Climate Emergency Fund, the design includes high levels of insulation, triple glazing, low energy LED lighting, heating provided by air-source heat pumps and recycling of heat through a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system, which also ensures good air quality throughout the school.

The school will use electricity only, requir ing no fossil fuel consumption on site, and generate its own zero carbon energy through photovoltaic solar panels on the roof, with any surplus energy feeding into the national grid.

Meanwhile, work is underway building Elm Park Primary School’s new facilities. Two build ings will replace the Winterbourne school’s existing premises over two phases, ultimately providing places for 210 local children to learn in high quality classrooms.

The first phase is expected to cost around £11 million, provided by the council, and will open for pupils at the start of term in September 2023. Also designed to Passivhaus standards to minimise environmental impact, the new buildings will transform the existing site with eight classrooms and state-of-the-art facilities providing community-use spaces in cluding a hall, multi-use outdoor sports pitch and playing field.

This is all part of the council’s continued investment in schools with £82m capital investment since 2019 and last summer more than £2.2m was spent on improvements and maintenance.

Summer Reading Challenge

Six thousand children took part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at South Glouces tershire libraries, with primary school children reading nearly 100,000 books

over the school holidays. Libraries and The Reading Agency partnered with the Science Museum Group for this year’s challenge, which helps to build children’s reading skills and confidence.

The science and innovation theme, named ‘Gadgeteers’, was designed to spark children’s curiosity about the world around them and celebrate the role of the imagination in both reading and the sciences. Parents and carers said the challenge had been great to keep children reading over the summer holidays and the free events really helped to involve and encourage children to be part of the challenge.

Well done to all those who took on the challenge.

Cllr Ben Burton and Cllr Erica Williams with Headteacher, Carol-Marie Bond, plus local councillors and representatives from BAM Construct UK.

Cllr Rachael Hunt with children receiving their Summer Reading Challenge certificates and medals