fishpondsvoice November, 2021 — ISSUE 80
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Time for our close-up, Mr Merchant Lodge Causeway 5G mast row Some residents are objecting to a proposed 5G mobile phone mast on Lodge Causeway near the junction with Chester Park Road. PAGE 6
So much rubbish in the river Seventeen car tyres, three shopping trolleys, road cones and enough litter to fill ten bags was retrieved from the river Frome on a clean-up day. PAGE 15
Fishponds and Speedwell are among the locations for Bristol comedian Stephen Merchant's new primetime TV comedy drama The Outlaws, which stars Hollywood legend Christopher Walken and is being screened on Monday nights on BBC1. Full story: Page 3 Picture: BBC
Park's future up for grabs BRISTOL City Council is inviting groups and businesses to make bids to take over the management of Eastville Park. The park is one of five in the city picked to be part of the Bristol Future Parks project, which aims to "transform how parks and green spaces are run". And the Bristol Future Parks website lists Eastville Park as one of three with "specific commercial potential", with the council saying it is
"keen to explore a variety of opportunities that can generate revenue". Volunteer group the Friends of Eastville Park has already announced plans to make a community bid to run facilities, with a separate proposal from the Eastville Park Lido steering group to build an outdoor swimming pool also being prepared.
33 years of keeping score Colin Froud, who has been scorer for Stapleton Cricket Club for 33 years and a club member for 65, is retiring. PAGE 28
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EDITORIAL Ken McCormick 07715 770377 news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk
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DECEMBER DEADLINE Our December edition will be distributed from November 25. To ensure your news or letters are included, please contact us by Wednesday November 17. Advertisers are asked to contact us by the same date. LOCAL INFORMATION Bristol City Council
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n NEWS Teen seriously injured in scooter crash A TEENAGER was still in hospital a month after a crash involving the e-scooter he was riding and a car. He was seriously injured in the collision on Forest Road in Fishponds, at 9.50pm on September 27. Police say the injured man was riding a privately-owned e-scooter, which was not part of the current rental trial taking place in the city. The car was a black Audi Q2. The Voice understands that the scooter rider, who was 18 at the time of the collision but has since turned 19, has not been well enough to speak to police since the incident. A police spokesman said the teenager suffered "serious injuries" in the crash, adding: "Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision or the moments leading up to it." Officers are also appealing for anyone with dashcam footage that could help their investigation to get in touch by calling 101 and quoting the incident reference number 5221 225 706.
Family 'devastated' by death THE family of a 27-year-old man found dead at a house in Easton say they are grieving for his loss in "such tragic circumstances". Two men from Fishponds have been charged with the murder of Fahad Pramanik, 27, and Denzil McKenzie, 56, who were found dead at a house in Wood Street on September 12. Mr Pramanik's family, who live in Bangladesh, released a statement: "As a family we are devastated with what has happened to Fahad. We also want justice for Fahad through a fair trial." Ionut-Valentin Boboc, 21, of Abingdon Road, and 45-year-old Jacob Bebe Chers, of Whitefield Road, have been charged with the murder of Mr Pramanik and Mr McKenzie, and are in custody.
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November, 2021
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November, 2021
3
n NEWS
Spot Bristol locations as The Outlaws hits airwaves FISHPONDS residents can see some familiar sights in new primetime BBC One comedy drama The Outlaws. Sunny Bank in Speedwell is the scene of a dramatic night-time incident in the first episode of the six-part series, which follows a group of offenders on a 'community payback' sentence as they get into a lot more trouble. And, as reported in last month's Voice, a later episode will include a scene filmed at the Oldbury Court Inn featuring Hollywood legend Christopher Walken. The whole series has been shot on location in the city, and other familiar places to spot include The Galleries shopping centre, which features in the opening scene, and College Green, which is the location for a protest in episode three. Viewers had their first chance to see the show on October 25, a transmission date fixed after last month's Voice was published. Further episodes will be screened on Monday nights at 9pm, with the show also available on iPlayer. The first episode received a 'world premiere' at the city's Watershed centre earlier in October, when Hanham-born comedian Stephen Merchant, who co-created and directed the show, presented it with
"Who's been leaking stories to Fishponds Voice magazine?" Stephen Merchant discusses filming in Bristol at the Watershed premiere of Picture: BBC The Outlaws. fellow Bristol comic Jayde Adams. Merchant explained how the story was inspired by his parents' work for the probation service and said he had always wanted to film in Bristol, which was "a character in the show". During a question and answer session after the screening the Fishponds Voice came up for discussion when Merchant was asked about bringing veteran Oscar-winner Walken to work in the city.
Recounting the story of superfan Michael Riley's meeting with the star during a location shoot in Shirehampton, an audience member pointed out that the incident had been reported in September's Voice, where Michael had shared his story. Merchant joked: "It was in Fishponds Voice magazine? Who's leaking stories to Fishponds Voice magazine? There's a mole in our show!" While the director had allowed Michael on to the set, he said he had been aghast at what happened next. Merchant joked: "I suddenly looked round and he's having his photo taken with this bloke, hugging this guy in the middle of Covid. I was furious – I thought if a Bristolian kills Christopher Walken I'm going to be absolutely livid, particularly if it's before we finish filming!" Walken, who returned to America before the premiere, described Bristol as a "terrific place", adding: "I like it here very much. "There’s a strong counterculture here. First time I was here there were riots, a lot of noise outside. "Second time there was also a lot of noise outside, but I think it was on account of the soccer."
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November, 2021
n NEWS
Future of Eastville Park open to offers From Page 1 The bidding process is now open, with individuals, groups and businesses invited to submit an "expression of interest" proposal by December 31. Announcing the project's launch, the council said it was looking for "community-led ideas for enhancing parks and green spaces to help improve health and well-being in Bristol". It said: "The Bristol Future Parks project will not involve selling off parks or green spaces but is exploring ideas that could help generate income from which parks, and the people who use them, can benefit. "This will include exploring a variety of commercial opportunities to generate revenue that will be used to maintain parks and fund improvements, such as bike hubs, splash parks, cafes, lakeside activities and tree top adventures."
The authority says the project will "also examine how our green spaces can help the city address the climate and ecological emergencies" it declared last year. The scheme also includes Blaise Castle Estate, Chaplin Road Green Space in Easton, Dame Emily Park in Bedminster and Sea Mills Recreation Ground. Cabinet councillor for communities Ellie King said: "It’s now more important than ever that we rethink how our parks are managed, funded and maintained so that everyone benefits from our green spaces. "I therefore encourage everyone to get involved by going to the Bristol Future Parks website and tell us how you want your parks to be used." The council says proposals will be assessed by its parks service and a representative from the Bristol Parks Forum, who will recommend the best ones to
move forward. Parks forum secretary Rob Acton-Campbell said: "At a time when local authority finances are under increasing pressure, it’s vital we look at every option to bring in more funds to ensure our parks are maintained to a high standard." Labour Eastville ward councillor Marley Bennett said the inclusion of Eastville Park in the project was "an exciting opportunity". He said: "The aim is to explore ideas to generate income from parks, and I'm glad to see assurances that no green space would be sold off as a part of this. "I'll be working with the council, community groups and local residents to ensure any action following this has local support." Green Eastville ward councillor Lorraine Francis said: "While I recognise we have to move with the times and I hope to see some positive ideas come
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of this, I must also admit I am cautious about the project. "I am not yet clear about how much Cllr Ellie King scope there is for our parks and green spaces to generate revenue for the city, and am unsure whether the deep cuts the council aims to make to our city’s parks can really be sustainable. "The Friends of Eastville Park have made a tremendous effort to improve the park and have shown a real commitment to reenergising park spaces. However, any creative and innovative ideas for making use of underused spaces in the park should be welcomed." The Future Parks website can be found at bristol.gov.uk/web/ bristol-future-parks
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November, 2021
5
n NEWS
Friends unveil bid to run Eastville Park
The Friends of Eastville Park explain how they aim to combine volunteering and a sustainable business model to take charge of Eastville Park ALL parks across Bristol have seen budgets slashed to reduce taxes and streamline the economy, putting the council in the unenviable position of finding a way for our commons to pay for their keep. The traditional model of capitalism is at odds with parks, which deliver under-recognised benefits to cities, from cleaning air to managing well-being, making them difficult assets to manage using a spreadsheet from a council office. The costs of parks fit nicely into the boxes but the benefits are much harder to measure – and therefore easy to miss. This is the challenge of future funding in parks: how to keep such spaces green and pleasant without turning them into shopping malls or theme parks. The launch of Bristol City Council’s long awaited Future Parks Expression of Interest process has now begun, with Eastville Park one of those inviting community proposals and investment. In many ways it’s odd to be here, after spending the last five years attempting to convince the council that toilets and a café can pay for themselves in Eastville Park, bidding for funds, leading the council into the murky world of community engagement, volunteers, free events and budget activities that would at first appear not to dent the black hole in parks budgets. Yet here we are, not only building on the success of community engagement and hundreds of volunteer hours, but finally spending grant funds that turn an old WW2 historical building into a thriving community hub and upgrading the play area with £108,000 won from the Community Infrastructure Levy fund to spend on new equipment, which is due to be installed by the end of March next year. In October we were awarded £5,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund and Ikea to
A pop-up cafe, music and bowls event organised by the Friends of Eastville Park improve the Old Swimming Pool garden, to provide seating, planters, fruit trees and climbers, and make it ready to host small theatre or music events, without taking away its quaint charm as a lovely place to sit and ponder. Our vision brings together nature and community to show what parks really are in the 21st Century. The Friends of Eastville Park committee are preparing our own bid to continue this vision: to unite the diverse communities around Eastville, connect them with an appreciation of nature, and enhance well-being. We do this not just with the traditional tools of meetings and – yes – spreadsheets, but with volunteering, friendships, storytelling, music, cake, trees, films, bowls, charities, celebrations, photography, children’s activities, good coffee, books, conversation with neighbours. These and many other things may seem almost worthless on a business plan, but breathe life and soul into communities: quite simply, they are all the things we’ve missed the most since lockdown and learned to value again. They bring queues to our pop-up cafes that can rival every coffee chain in the city. It’s on this foundation that we tie together the love of volunteering with the sustainable business model that satisfies those with budgets to balance in City Hall – not just financial budgets but carbon budgets too.
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What could parks be in a world of environmental crisis? Pockets of diverse natural habitat that provide a buffer to the biodiversity crisis, shade to cool a sweltering
city, an antidote to traffic fumes, a vaccine for city life offering positive physical and mental well-being, year-round activities for everyone, a hub of learning and resilience building. The climate solutions we need will not be delivered by another round of international talks but by creating solutions that are peoplebased, community driven, and creative. By listening to our community, representing our neighbourhoods, bringing time and passion for creating a better park, we can give our community the facilities they have long asked for and a place to connect in nature. If you would like to know more or volunteer with us, please contact friendsofeastvillepark@gmail.com. To bowl in Eastville Park, please contact eastvillebowls@gmail.com. Friends of Eastville Park Lido open letter: Page 29
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November, 2021
n NEWS
5G phone mast plan for Lodge Causeway MOBILE phone network operator 3 has announced plans to build a new mast for its 5G network in Lodge Causeway. The 15m (49ft) antenna would stand on the pavement near the junction with Chester Park Road, between the SM Gauge Company and the pedestrian crossing. Agents WHP Telecoms have made an application to Bristol City Council on behalf of 3's parent company CK Hutchison Networks (UK) to determine whether planning permission is needed for the mast. As the Voice went to print, 19 objections had been lodged against the plans, 12 from residents living nearby, with one person supporting them. The agents said the antenna would "provide improved coverage and capacity, most notably in relation to 5G services" and the site chosen "meets its specific technical and operational requirements". They said 5G needed different equipment to existing networks, and antennas needed to be separated from other equipment, including those belonging to a different operator. The agents said the site had been chosen because there were already other "vertical
The site of the proposed 5G mast on Lodge Causeway - the red line shows its approximate height and position elements of street furniture" nearby, such as street lights. They added: "The height of the pole has been kept down to the absolute minimum capable of providing the required essential new 5G coverage. "This equipment is considered unlikely to have any material impact on the local area but significant connectivity improvements,
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which is a material consideration in the judgment of the site’s suitability." Objections from residents of Lodge Causeway, Chester Park Road and Poplar Place are among those published on the city council's website. One Lodge Causeway resident said: "I am very worried about the safety, health and environmental concerns this would pose to the surrounding residential area. There are several schools and nurseries nearby, residential houses, shops and local wildlife that will all be affected by the pollutant radiation that will be emitted." A Poplar Place resident said: "Putting up this mast in the heart of a residential area and near to both primary and nursery schools is disgusting. It would be a hideous addition to Lodge Causeway and a distressing feature for me and residents in the neighbourhood." One resident of Russell Road wrote in support of the plans, saying: "I fully support the rollout of next gen telecommunications infrastructure. I'm writing this to add balance to all the anti-progress hysteria." The plans can be viewed on the planning section of the city council's website, by searching for application 21/05061/Y.
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November, 2021
7
n NEWS
Charity cafe is back in business A VOLUNTEER-run cafe raising money for good causes has reopened after more than a year away. The charity cafe at Barton Hill Rugby Club’s Speedwell ground had only been running for just over a month when the coronavirus lockdown forced organisers to close its doors in March last year. But the pandemic did not stop the determined volunteers from helping others. They found new ways to continue their fundraising, from running outdoor tabletop sales to hosting a Facebook selling site, and have now raised more than £17,800 in total. The money has been used to help individual families buy expensive equipment needed to help children with disabilities lead more independent lives, with some also donated to mental health charity Mind. While the cafe was closed the volunteers found many ways to keep their "cafe community" together, writing newsletters, making phone and video calls and setting up Messenger and WhatsApp groups. They also continued to help people in the community by distributing food, from charity FareShare and foodbanks, collecting shopping and giving lifts to medical appointments. But now the popular lunchtime cafe at the clubhouse in Duncombe Lane is back, with the all-volunteer staff team serving meals, hot drinks and treats on Monday and Wednesday lunchtimes from
noon until 3pm. Supporters come from both the local area and as far away as Kingswood and Keynsham to enjoy the welcoming atmosphere, and flocked back to the cafe's reopening party on October 18. Volunteer Mandy Bryant said: "It was good to be back, for the first time since we closed for covid. At times it seemed like the day would never come. "We made a great start when we first opened and we wanted to build on that as far as we could. To raise £17,000 in such a short space of time is amazing. "Our cafe friends are a kind, genuine, supportive and tight little unit who all care about each other. "What we are accomplishing and building is making a real difference, not only the people that come to our cafe but the wider community." The cafe sets a fundraising target for each person they help and works towards it, with a part of each total going to Mind. The volunteers are now helping their fifth family, and are close to their target of raising £6,820 to buy Fishponds boy Zee Walker a Tiny Trax powered wheelchair. Zee's mum Ellie Walker said: "Having the Tiny Trax chair will give Zee so much independence. He’ll be able to play with his friends without being pushed by his mum. "He can explore where he wants to go and have the freedom that every child deserves. "It really is an amazing gift." The cafe previously raised
Volunteers Mandy Bryant and Elizabeth Harris back behind the counter
Cafe customers at the grand reopening £5,000 towards a bespoke wheelchair for Leo Hughes, who came to the reopening with mum Ruby. She said: "It is amazing what the cafe has done to raise such a huge amount for Leo. I’m just so amazed and blown away by the kindness. It really will make a
huge difference to his life." Cafe customer Lynne Hallet said: "I think it’s a wonderful thing that this cafe is doing for these children, while our local community, especially us older people, have a lovely friendly cafe to go to."
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November, 2021
8
n NEWS
Police act to tackle race-hate crime POLICE teams in Fishponds are stepping up work to tackle hate crime and antisocial behaviour, and strengthen links with communities. The East Bristol neighbourhood policing team, based at Fishponds and Trinity Road police stations, has been using a combination of patrols and community engagement meetings to respond after recent reports of hate crime and antisocial behaviour. School engagement and prevention officers PC Ryan Day and PC Myles Connor have been carrying out educational work with pupils at Bristol Metropolitan Academy and City Academy in Redfield covering issues including hate crime, knife crime, drugs and alcohol. PC Day ran a four-week programme of training on hate crime and discrimination with Year 7 pupils aimed at giving them a better understanding of people’s differences. Part of Fishponds Road has been prioritised for patrols using part of a £660,000 from the Home Office to increase the visible police presence in "hotspot" areas. Officers have been targeting the lower part of Fishponds Road in Eastville, between the Muller Road and Stapleton Road junctions. A spokesperson said the area was identified as a 'hotspot' because of the large
Avon and Somerset Black Police Association outreach volunteers with Home Secretary Priti Patel and Home Office Minister Kit Malthouse after winning a national award number of people using the area and the number of pubs and takeaways. Police say that in the 72 hotspots across the Avon and Somerset force area where the extra foot patrols have been carried out since June, an estimated 99 fewer violent crimes have been committed, based on those areas' previous history. Police lead for serious violence Superintendent James Raphael said: “We
know that high visibility policing is what the public want from us. Providing a regular presence in locations where crime often takes place is invaluable, not only in reducing crime but also helping people to feel safe." Two awards have been made to recognise police work in improving racial inclusion and diversity. The force’s Black Police Association (BPA) Outreach Volunteers team of Simranjeet Kaur, Andra Serbanescu, Tino Mushongah, Kishore Narain, Eden Tang, Kavita Kaur and Ted Stargatt has won the Police Support Volunteer Team Award at this year’s Lord Ferrers Awards, an annual Home Office event which recognises the role that volunteers play in support of policing. The award was made at an event in London in October which was attend by the Home Secretary Priti Patel and the Home Office Minister Kit Malthouse. The force has also received an Outstanding Contribution to Diversity Award from Bristol's Stepping Up mentoring and leadership development programme. BPA general secretary Kermal Singh, who co-ordinates the Outreach Volunteers team, said: “The Outreach Volunteers do groundbreaking work in building strong and lasting relationships with communities."
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fishpondsvoice
November, 2021
9
n NEWS
Minerva Primary School children with some of their creations
A Halloween-themed bike
Spooky scooters and blood-curdling bikes CHILDREN at Minerva Primary Academy had a pre-Halloween treat as teachers found a new way to persuade more pupils to come to school under their own steam. Youngsters at the school in Hillfields decorated their bikes, scooters and skateboards on a haunted Halloween theme to promote active travel to school before the half-term holidays.
Using recycled materials including egg boxes and old pillowcases, and with help from parents, they created some monstrous modes of transport covered with sinister-looking spiders and ghastly ghosts. But all that horror had a good side-effect – there were fewer cars haunting the school gates at drop-off and pick-up times. Principal Jenny Harvey said: "Everyone
enjoyed celebrating such imaginative creations in assemblies, whilst remembering the important message of 'be safe, be seen' in the winter months. "We are hoping that this inspires children to walk, cycle or scoot every day. "Well done to everyone who joined the fun and a big thank-you to Catherine Archer, who organised the event."
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fishpondsvoice
November, 2021
n NEWS
11
n ADVERTISING FEATURE
Teen sold crack and heroin A FISHPONDS teenager was one of four people caught selling crack cocaine and heroin in Bristol. Police saw Zubiar Hassan Hamdi doing a deal with a known drug user, who was then stopped and found to have several wraps of cocaine. Officers followed 19-year-old Hamdi to an address in Redfield, where they arrested him and Yuvraj Singh, 18, of Lockleaze. A four-month police Operation Remedy Zubiar Hassan investigation, which concluded in February, Hamdi found the teenagers were being directed to deal class A drugs by Abdullahi Aden, 27, of St Philip's. Avon and Somerset police said that when officers raided her home they found her cutting and preparing drugs for sale. More than £15,000 worth of class A drugs were seized during the operation, in which 26-year-old Nasra Ali, of St Philip's was also arrested after being seen with Aden. All four admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. At Bristol Crown Court in September Aden was sentenced to four years and three months in prison. Hamdi was given a two-year suspended sentence, ordered to carry out unpaid work and given a curfew enforced with a tag, while Singh was given a 22-month suspended sentence, with unpaid work and a curfew. Ali was jailed for 22 months at an earlier hearing. PC Louise Jones said: "Those involved in the illegal supply of class A drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin are causing untold harm to the communities in which they live. "We know this issue causes great concern and anxiety within our local communities and we simply won’t tolerate it. "This was a meticulous operation in which evidence was gathered over a period of several months, which has resulted in four people being convicted – two of whom are now serving prison terms. "Information provided by the public is always critical to the success of operations like this and we’d encourage people to keep providing information about illegal drug activity they suspect of taking place. We will listen and where there’s sufficient evidence, we will take action."
Where education is a journey, not a race Bristol Steiner School is an independent day school for children from the age of 3 to 11 years. Fundamental to the Steiner Waldorf philosophy is the belief in a child-centred, relational approach to learning and a commitment to promoting the development of the whole child. This is embraced and cherished throughout all aspects of life at school, through lived values rooted in the delivery of contextual learning, with true meaning and purpose. Small class sizes promote the wellbeing and self-belief of each child. There is an authentic and tangible sense of community and culture that cultivates excellence, within a safe environment, in which the children can be curious. Opportunities to explore are embedded throughout the curriculum and this discretely encourages independence, resilience and respect. Language and oracy play an important part in school life and children participate in activities that enhance this. Mathematics is taught in class and then used across the curriculum in woodwork, handwork and form drawing. Pupils learn science in class and through outdoor learning in the school garden. Eurythmy is an expressive artform that combines language, music and movement. Physical education, swimming, music and forest school complement the diverse curriculum. Head Teacher Nicola Forder believes that it is these guiding principles, that provide the time and space to allow each child to grow and develop an appreciation of themselves and a genuine love of learning, as they journey through the school. New pupils are accepted throughout the academic year. For more information, contact: Vishwa Wijedasa Telephone: 0117 933 9990 Email: vishwawijedasa@bristolsteinerschool.org Website: www.bristolsteinerschool.org
BRISTOL STEINER SCHOOL Independent Day School for Children
Check us out online at: www.fishpondsvoice.co.uk
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fishpondsvoice
12
November, 2021
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Love the experience, love your hair Located on the popular Straits Parade and not far from the UWE campus, Reflections Hair Salon has been styling Fishponds’ residents for over 40 years with everything from trend-led colours to classic barbering. Meet Jolie and her talented team below: Jolie, Manager Jolie thrives on leading and training her team to be the best they can be. Jolie jokes “I've been hairdressing for 31 years so I must enjoy it!”. Jolie loves to build relationships with her clients and help them express their personalities through their appearance. Jolie says “I am very confident that whoever visits our salon will thoroughly enjoy it. To me and my team, its not just a haircut or colour, its an experience”. Phoebe, Assistant Manager Phoebe has been with Reflections for over 5 years and is Level 3 qualified. Phoebe
loves to create exactly what her clients want when they sit in her chair and says: “I love making people feel confident and happy about themselves”. Outside of work, Phoebe loves fashion, attending festivals and live music events. Book with Phoebe if you are inspired by current trends or would like a modern twist on a classic style. Molly, Senior Stylist Molly has been hairdressing for nearly 5 years and is a fantastic stylist. Molly says: “I love making people feel good and the creativity each and every client and day brings”. Robyn, Apprentice Robyn is the salon’s apprentice and is already creating some fantastic colours. “I love learning all about the new techniques and helping clients decide which is the right one for them”, she says.
16 Straits Parade, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2LE Tel: 0117 965 4189
LOVE THE EXPERIENCE, LOVE YOUR HAIR Established in 1971, Reflections is a family business with a passion for great hairdressing. Located on the popular Straits Parade, our salon is stylish and inviting with an experienced team offering amazing customer service. From fringe trims to balayage, we want each and every visit to feel like a real treat.
NOVEMBER OFFERS £5 off during November for all NEW clients Olaplex Treatment worth £10 for all existing clients 20% Student Discount 25% NHS Discount OPEN LATE EVERY THURSDAY
16 Straits Parade, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2LE Tel: 0117 965 4189 www.reflectionshair.co.uk/salons/fishponds To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
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fishpondsvoice
November, 2021
n NEWS
13
Call to bring back masks
Children love new library A NEW school library is helping children to lose themselves in books. Chester Park Infant School library was refitted in time for the start of the autumn term, with new furniture installed to make sure pupils can sit comfortably as they read. The idea behind the project was to provide an area to help develop a love of reading. A school spokesperson said: "The children were excited to come back to school in September to find new reading areas, including a tree house, comfortable seating and cosy reading corners. "Bookcases and reading areas have been specifically designed to suit infant children and allow them easy access to reading. "The children have loved going to library sessions to read books, share stories and access the library space. "Bright colours and new reading books have made this space a great place to learn."
PEOPLE are being urged to wear masks in shops and on public transport after a surge in coronavirus cases. Metro Mayor Dan Norris has written to more than 10,000 businesses across the region with a poster to display in their windows urging customers to wear a face covering, and called for extra resources for the region. Covid-19 case numbers in Bristol more than doubled in the week to October 19, when 3,558 cases were recorded. This represented a case rate of 763.7 per 100,000 – far above the England average of 484. Mr Norris said he suspected the sharp rise was in part due to people in the region previously receiving false negative PCR tests. Testing at a private laboratory run by Immensa Health Clinic in the Midlands was suspended by NHS Test and Trace as it investigated how an estimated 43,000 people, many of them in the South West, received negative PCR results after previously testing positive in a lateral flow test, which can be carried out at home. Mr Norris said: “Through no fault of the NHS, local civic leadership, local businesses, or local people, infections continued to spread unchecked within our region. Now we face a hugely difficult situation.” Bristol public health director Christina Gray said the “true picture” of Covid had emerged in the latest figures. She said those people who had received a false negative PCR test and thought they were Covidfree had continued to mix in the community instead of self-isolating. That allowed the virus to spread and at the same time had kept official coronavirus figures artificially low. Ms Gray told members of Bristol’s health and well-being board: "Our rates dropped quite steeply over the last couple of weeks and that was partly due to these negative PCR results. What we’re now seeing in our reported rates is what’s happening in the rest of the country, the true picture of that, and a reset of our tests coming back in."
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fishpondsvoice
14
November, 2021
n PETER'S VISION
Accents or full technicolour?
“When it comes to eyewear, why compromise? Style & comfort come as a pair.”
57 Henleaze Road
768 Fishponds Road
Bristol BS9 4JT
Bristol BS16 3UA
0117 962 2474
0117 965 4434
eyecareteam@turnersopticians.co.uk www.turnersopticians.co.uk Turners Eye Care Ltd T/A Turners Opticians Incorporated in England & Wales Reg No. 8201460 Subject to availability, T&C’s apply.
To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
AUTUMN'S here, which always brings a good splash of colour to the trees around us as they prepare for winter. This also means that for many of us, it’s time to enjoy watching the latest Bake Off series on TV. Maybe just a few of us (I hope it’s not just me...) also watch for the glasses Prue wears too. You can be certain that they won’t be dull or boring, and probably a little over the top for some! We’ve long been fans of both the baking and glasses on the show. For the last couple of years we’ve stocked Prue’s own range of colourful glasses as well as our own collections ranging from true technicolour glasses, through glasses with accents of colour, to the timeless classic tortoise-shell and even black glasses. I’m still wearing my mid-season Ray-Ban’s in a deep sea blue colour, which is my take on an accent of colour. My colleagues at Turners Opticians wear sophisticated purple, royal red and even gorgeous green frames. We really are all spoiled for choice now when it comes to glasses that not only look amazing but also feel great to wear. I read a patient's story recently, which ran true to the experiences quite a few of my patients have reported over the years. It was one of hiding their visual difficulties in plain sight. And yes, the title, as it was designed to, caught my eye. This patient wrote about the difficulty they had experienced as a child, in class, seeing the school board. Too shy to speak up, they struggled on. As often children can, they managed to hide the true extent of their difficulty for weeks, until one day the teacher called them forward and said ”why not sit here for a few days”, pointing to the front seat by their desk. This, I thought, was a lovely and delicate way to offer assistance to a child who needed to be directed to an opticians’ for glasses. As a young school child myself I had the same experience. Of course, being the son of an Optometrist I didn’t have to wait long before I was swiftly in the opticians’ chair and then given glasses, through which I saw the world clearly again! It serves to me at least, as a good reminder of not assuming our children can see as clearly as we may think they can. Unfortunately, as many others also experienced, my first pair of spectacles were not full of colour as they are today. If only we had had the choice then, that we do now! When it comes to your eyes, we’d love to see you and for you to experience the world class eye care we firmly believe you deserve. Don’t forget, whether it’s for reassuringly thorough eye care, or for glasses with a little or a lot of colour, we’re here when you need us, six days per week. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to see how we can help you. We continue to offer COVID safe ways to choose your new glasses too! To help us keep you all safe, we’re still asking you all to telephone first to book a time to come in. Please call our Henleaze practice on 0117 962 2474 or our Fishponds practice on 0117 965 4434.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Peter
Peter Turner is a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, and also works part time as a Senior Optometrist at the Bristol Eye Hospital.
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fishpondsvoice
November, 2021
15
n NEWS
Huge haul of rubbish in river clean-up A VOLUNTEER clean-up team removed a huge amount of rubbish from the river Frome in Eastville. The day of action to mark World Rivers Day, on a stretch of the river near the M32 flyover, was organised by charity the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, weeks after it published a study that found high levels of pollutants in the river. The 12 volunteers found 17 car tyres, three shopping trolleys, road cones and enough litter to fill ten bags in and around the river on a single day in late September. The previous day another six car tyres, several road cones and car parts, hose pipes and 15 bags full of rubbish had been removed from the river upstream in Yate. BART spokesperson Rozy Gray said: "We found so much more rubbish in the river than expected and were really impressed with the community efforts to make these river cleans a success. "The removal of this litter will make a real difference to the river, for both local biodiversity and the local community. "BART would like to say thank you to our wonderful volunteers for their hard work, the Environment Agency for funding the river cleans, and our partners South
Gloucestershire Council, Bristol Council and Bristol Frome Reconnected." During the summer BART held events, including one in Oldbury Court, where people took kits to collect water samples to measure pollution in the river. High levels of nitrate or phosphate pollution were found in the Frome at Frenchay, Vassalls Park, Begbrook Park, opposite Blackberry Hill and in Eastville, at Cottrell Road and near Ikea. Medium levels of pollutants were found at Snuff Mills and Eastville Park, while algae
Volunteers with some of the rubbish at the clean-up in Eastville and oil were found in two samples. Litter was also found in Eastville and in Vassalls Park. Overall, more than half of the 47 samples taken from the river – which flows through the Fishponds area on its way from its source near Chipping Sodbury to Bristol's Floating Harbour – and its tributaries showed a high level of nutrient pollution. Another third had medium levels. To get involved with BART's cleanups and other events email rozy@ bristolavonriverstrust.org.
A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT QUARRY HOUSE NURSING HOME Providing top quality, best value, holistic care Quarry House in Fishponds offers safe and nurturing care We are now enabling close contact visits in the home, every resident is able to have an essential care giver, and there is no isolation required for new residents from the community. We still have a varied activity schedule which keeps life interesting and happy.
We also ensure: • Strict Infection Control measures approved by Public Health England are fully implemented • Care staff wear PPE at all times and we have ensured a high volume of supply • Skilled nurses are on site 24/7 and respiratory equipment is at hand • Safe face-to-face visits where possible
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We’d love to hear from you and we’d be very happy to give you a virtual tour of the home...
Give us a call on 0117 969 0990 or visit our website at bristolcarehomes.co.uk To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
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fishpondsvoice
16
November, 2021
n ADVERTISING FEATURE
Staying well in winter 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 – 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 you feel at the beginning of December, you won’t regret it.
Emotional wellbeing – connection
Matt Sutton 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.
A Note from Sutton Chiropractic:
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
We want you at your best, safely - the clinic is using PPE to keep everyone safe as we continue serving the community’s wider health needs.
SPECIAL OFFER: New patient consultation £20 If a previous patient consultation free of charge
Rates: £38 a session (adult) £22 under 16 years old or blocks of sessions at a discounted rate starting of £31 Christchurch Family Medical Centre, North Street, Bristol BS16 5SG T: 0117 214 1636 W: www.suttonchiro.co.uk FB: @suttonchiro E: reception@suttonchiro.co.uk
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fishpondsvoice
November, 2021
n NEWS
Alcohol licence for new store
The site of the planned convenience store A NEW Fishponds mini-supermarket has been given a licence to sell alcohol, despite opposition from rival traders. The 11 Eleven Convenience Store and Off-licence, at the former Artistic Blinds premises in Staple Hill Road, was granted permission to open and sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm daily. Bristol City Council's licensing sub-committee was told that the 12 objections were not relevant because they related to commercial competition, and matters which were not substantiated by the police or other authorities, who were satisfied with the application. It will be the sixth shop in Bristol opened by Kamaljeet Singh, who runs the chain with his wife, a hearing at City Hall was told on October 7. Other branches include one on Straits Parade and another in Staple Hill High Street. Mr Singh's licensing agent Jim Leahy told the panel it was a straightforward application for a “perfectly normal” convenience store and opening hours. He said: “The objections are of a commercial nature but this is business. “There are no objections from any of the responsible authorities.” Sub-committee chairman Richard Eddy said: “I would measure the seriousness of the relevant persons’ submissions by looking at the police response, and the fact they haven’t opposed this application and seem content with the proposed conditions suggests they’re relatively relaxed. “From reading the relevant persons’ statements there is some element of what I would categorise as concerns about commercial rivalry, and that isn’t an issue for members of this panel to consider.” Granting the licence for alcohol sales off-premises, he said Mr Singh was an experienced licence holder with an “impressive, unblemished track record”. Artistic Blinds has relocated to North View, in Soundwell. By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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17
Surprise for teachers YEAR 6 teachers at May Park Primary School were given a big surprise by their pupils when they organised a thank-you party. The children planned the "heart-warming" event one lunchtime before the half-term holidays to show the staff who May Park Year 6 teachers show their surprise as work with them they realise their pupils have laid on a party how much they are appreciated. School spokesperson Ellie Grout said: "We are delighted with the hard work and kindness that is persistently shown by our pupils." The good deeds did not stop there, as the school's parent-teacher association hosted a coffee morning, which raised more than £65 for Macmillan Cancer Support, and pupils raised more than £300 for Jeans for Genes by wearing jeans into school for a day. May Park has also been holding "stay'n'play" sessions for families of young children, with music, storytelling and bubbles. And the school has also been nominated for the Music Mark School certificate by the Bristol Beacon in recognition of its commitment to providing high-quality music education for all pupils.
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fishpondsvoice
November, 2021
19
n NEWS A RESCUE service that has been saving, rehabilitating and rehoming rabbits or 15 years is looking for help in finding and funding a new home. The Littlest Lives Rescue is based in Speedwell and currently has more than 60 rabbits in its care, with even more on a waiting list. The boom in pet ownership during the coronavirus lockdown has in turn led to "record numbers" of enquiries from people who now want to give up their rabbits - at a time when nearly half of the group's foster volunteers have had to step back due to work commitments. Now the volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation is struggling to find suitable bigger premises to rent, and is calling on residents and local businesses to help. Trustee Jo Bray said: "Rabbits can make great pets but like any animal they have specific needs and, for a first-time pet owner these requirements can be surprisingly demanding, not least if you want the rabbit to
Rescue service seeks new home for 'record numbers' of rabbits thrive and be happy. "We never turn any away. If it’s classed as an emergency, we’ll find space. No rabbit that comes into our care is ever unnecessarily euthanised due to space or time constraints." Jo said the rescue had found responsible and loving permanent homes for 160 rabbits in the past year but it can take time to find suitable ones. It also has 24 permanent residents which cannot be rehomed and live together in a large group. She said: "We ensure that every rabbit that leaves us has been neutered and vaccinated by a vet, which carries a cost as you can imagine. So we fundraise as much as we can, though we’re expecting our application for charitable status to be approved soon which will enable us to do
far more.” The rescue relies on public donations and sales of gifts through an online shop to fund its rescue work. Jo said: "Our One of the biggest problem centre's is space, so we permanent desperately need residents help in looking for a new home for the Rescue, in Bristol or the surrounding area, one where we can receive, process and house rabbits given up for adoption." The service needs a space to rent of up to half an acre, at least partly grassed, with a small building, where it can build up to 80 enclosures, store feed and have a small office.
A crowdfunding page has been set up to help fund the service and its relocation project at justgiving. com/crowdfunding/ thelittlestlivesrescuerelocation. For more information on the Littlest Lives Rescue, visit thelittlestlivesrescue. org.uk or email hello@ thelittlestlivesrescue.org.uk.
Investing in council homes
Help shape our 30-year plan for council homes We know we have a housing crisis in Bristol, and we want to be part of finding solutions to that crisis. As a public sector landlord, the money we receive from our council housing rents and service charges is kept in a separate account called our Housing Revenue Account – HRA. This money is exclusively for building and maintaining council housing. We can borrow money to build more homes, or to refurbish or regenerate existing homes.
What do you think should be our priority for spending and raising the money that we need? How do we get the right balance between investing in the standard of our existing homes, investing to reduce carbon emissions, and investing to build new homes? We need your view to help shape the plan for delivering council homes across our city.
● Investing in council homes – we need your view www.bristolhousingconversation.co.uk To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk
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November, 2021
20
n NEWS FROM OUR MP
We need a politics of kindness THE killing of my parliamentary colleague, Sir David Amess MP, was a tragic and devastating attack on our democracy. We had the opportunity to pay tribute to him in the Commons, and it was striking just how much warmth and respect for him was voiced by MPs on both sides of the House. I spoke about his support for animal welfare causes, and in particular his long-standing opposition to fox hunting; we may have been political opponents, but there were many issues on which we could work together and did. The attack is all the more heart-breaking because we’ve been here before. It comes just five years after the murder of my colleague Jo Cox, and four years after the death of PC Keith Palmer in an attack on Parliament. Sir David’s death has revived the debate about how we
conduct politics in this country. I would commend the work of organisations like More In Common, which was formed after the murder of Jo Cox, and Compassion in Politics. There has been renewed pressure on social media giants, like Facebook and Twitter, who too often provide a platform for those who want to incite hatred, and we have now been promised a debate on the muchdelayed Online Harms Bill before Christmas. But it is not just Members of Parliament who face abuse or whose physical safety is at risk. We have heard recently about NHS staff having to wear body cameras to work. Teachers, police officers, transport workers and shop workers are also often subject to abuse and violence while simply doing their jobs. In 2018, Parliament passed the
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Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act, which made it a specific crime to assault an emergency worker and doubled the maximum sentence to 12 months. This came after a rising number of assaults against police officers and paramedics. The passage of this legislation was a good example of crossparty collaboration, as it was first introduced as a Private Members’ Bill by a Labour MP, Chris Bryant. To give them credit, Government MPs saw the value in the Bill and worked with Chris to make it into law. A bill has been introduced by my Labour colleague Alex Norris to make assaulting retail workers a specific offence as well. Finally, I’m so grateful for the kindness that’s been shown to me by East Bristol residents over the years. Constituents who’ve come to me for help, often whilst facing incredibly stressful situations,
Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East
writes for Fishponds Voice have overwhelmingly been respectful and grateful for what we have been able to do. I know not everyone agrees with me on everything, but I promise I’ll always treat people with respect and value what they have to say.
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fishpondsvoice
November, 2021
n NEWS A TEENAGERS' football team has raised nearly £12,000 for charity in honour of a Fishponds business owner's daughter. Longwell Green U16s collected the incredible sum through sponsorship for a charity fun run last month. Team member Ted HillNelmes, 15, inspired team mates to participate to help charity Anthony Nolan. The charity started the world’s first stem cell register and found a bone marrow donor for Ted's sister, Phoebe, 18, two years ago when she was diagnosed with leukaemia. Within 24 hours the charity had taken the bone marrow from a donor match in Germany and performed the transplant for Phoebe. Ted and Phoebe's dad, Andy Hill, runs Surecar garage in Fishponds and has sponsored the football team’s kit on numerous occasions. He said: "From the outset people got together to raise money. It really is a fantastic charity and hopefully the money will help future proof things for
21
Teen footballers raise £12k in support of team-mate’s sister The fundraising team at the Battle of Lansdown fun run other young people who need treatment.” Phoebe came along to support the U16s team on the day of the fun run in her honour. Andy said: “It was the first time she’d been out anywhere. "She was on the clinically vulnerable list last year and is in and out of hospital doing a clinical trial. "I think she was pleased about the effort everyone had
gone to." Four parents and 12 youngsters joined in the 5.7k Battle of Lansdown fun run, which included 41 obstacles. Participants had to go down a giant hill slide into a water pit, make their way across monkey bars and rope swings and crawl through tunnels. Ken Major from Longwell Green went along to support his son Jack, 15.
He said: “All the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves getting wet and covered in mud, although I’m not sure the adults did! They looked shattered at the end. “The amount they’ve raised is unbelievable, plus there’s about £2,000 gift aid on top of that. “Andy put a video out online which a lot of his business customers saw and the JustGiving site went ballistic. “We contacted Anthony Nolan and they sent t-shirts for everyone to wear on the day. They’ve been really supportive.” To donate to the team’s fundraising page go to justgiving.com/team/LongwellGreen-U16s-Football-Team. For more information about the Anthony Nolan charity visit its website at anthonynolan.org.
Housing Forums
for Bristol council tenants – get involved! Evening:
Afternoon:
Monday 22 November 2021, 6–8pm
Wednesday 24 November 2021, 1–3pm
Your opinions help us make decisions! If you’re a council tenant, you can have your say on how the housing service is run and can make suggestions about improvements. For winter 2021, we’re hosting online meetings focussing on issues we know matter most to tenants. ● Come along and take part in our big housing conversation. Help us shape our business plan and find out more about how we are developing our long‑term proposals for investing in council housing.
To advertise, contact Shaun Tel 07540 383 870
● Places must be booked, you can do this online at: www.bristol.gov.uk/LocalHousingForums ● If you are not online but would like to take part, there is also a free dial‑in option which you can join using your phone. For more information about how you can access the meetings contact Tenant Participation 0117 352 1444 or email tpu@bristol.gov.uk
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November, 2021
n NEWS
fishpondsvoice
23
Families flock to Festival of Fun
Fishponds Academy staff collected donations at the event PARENTS, staff and supporters of a Fishponds primary school raised £1,200 at a "brilliant" fundraising event. The Friends of Fishponds Academy organised the Festival of Fun, which raised money to support forest school activities as part of the school's outdoor learning programme. School staff ran face-painting, games and sweets stalls and also collected donations in buckets, while sports coach Bradley Simons and Year 1 teacher Tanzil Gibbons took turns between the sticks for a popular 'beat the goalie' game which had children "returning
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Crowds at the barbecue at the Festival of Fun
time after time" to try to score. Parents ran a disco and book stall as well as cooking a barbecue, vegetarian food, curry and samosas. Everyone who came to the event on September 24 was given a free raffle ticket for a draw including prizes donated by local shops and restaurants. School principal Debbie Coker said: "The event was brilliant and we were amazed at the numbers of families who turned out to support it. "The sun shone and there was a buzz of excitement.
"It was so lovely to be able to gather as a community again. We have certainly missed doing that over the past 18 months or so. "I think our families loved the chance to get together. One of the parent/carers commented to me that it was like going to a festival! "Our school vision and values are all about loving, caring and welcoming everyone to our school family, and this event did just that. "I must thank the FOFA team, our brilliant staff team and our community for supporting the event and helping to fundraise approximately £1,200 for our children."
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November, 2021
24
n MAYOR'S VIEW
Making ends meet THROUGHOUT my time in office, we have prioritised building a strong and resilient economy for Bristol. We’ve worked to attract investment that brings good sustainable jobs to our city. And I’m proud that we are recognised as a Living Wage City by the Living Wage Foundation, making sure that workers across our city take home a wage they can support themselves on. We’re looking to accelerate our progress on this – with an ambition to double the number of Living Wage accredited employers by the end of 2023. The resilience we have worked to build in to our economy was crucial in keeping people afloat during the pandemic. However, we knew that the impact the virus would have on jobs and pay would not be felt evenly and would exacerbate existing inequalities.
Working across the city, we’ve stepped in to help people who have lost income over the past two years. We distributed over £100 million of pandemic support to businesses to protect jobs and livelihoods. Over the last school year, we stepped up and provided 105,997 vouchers to support families entitled to free school meals. And we currently help 35,795 households with their bills through our Council Tax Reduction Scheme – one of the only local authorities in the country to fully fund council tax for the poorest households. It is clear, however, that our work isn’t done. As I write, rising energy prices are not only putting pressure on people’s bank balances, they’re threatening jobs as businesses struggle to meet their overheads and supply chains across industries are interrupted. To make matters
worse, the government have chosen to end the £20 uplift in Universal Credit, which has been helping around 17,000 working families in Bristol make ends meet. I know that for many families, a cut in income like this will hurt. It’s the wrong move, at the wrong time. Nonetheless, as a city we stand ready to help. In addition to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, there is lots of information on the Bristol City Council website about the financial support that is available for households who may be struggling to make ends meet. And our Local Crisis and Prevention Fund can help with emergency payments if you can’t afford basics like food, electricity or gas. Visit www.bristol.gov.uk/ benefits-financial-help for more information. I pay tribute also to the
Parkw ay
Each month Bristol mayor Marvin Rees shares his views with Fishponds Voice
network of city partners and voluntary and community groups who are already stepping up to help people experiencing hardship over the coming months. We’ve seen that spirit of generosity shine through time and time again in our city over the past two years. It’s what makes Bristol a City of Hope, and it’s what will see our city through the testing times to come.
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fishpondsvoice
November, 2021
25
n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
A better way to approach Christmas – and life I EXPECT, like me, you are beginning to think about Christmas. How do you feel when you hear there might be a shortage of turkeys and toys this year? And even if the supply chains do work, are you especially concerned this year about the cost of festivities and keeping your home warm? In the build-up I would like to encourage you to keep things simple and to not worry. The first Christmas was all about the Son of God being born – not into a wealthy family but to a humble couple. The delivery was not in a palace fit for a king, not in a private hospital, not even at home. In fact, there was little room for Mary and Joseph where they had had to travel to. And when the baby was born, his cot was not from a department store
but from an animal pen – just a feeding trough. Then the first visitors, not excited grandparents with cuddly toys but lowly shepherds from the fields. It was a humble birth but there was love, care, and worship shown towards this special child and because of his birth great joy was promised. There is nothing wrong with turkey and toys – and tacky tinsel (if you must!) but they are not what Christmas is essentially about. You and I can have the most wonderful Christmas without those things and in fact, they can be huge distractions when we do have them (or too much of them). Let me encourage you this year to focus on showing simple love and care to others and giving our love and worship to Jesus the Son of God who was sent to be the Saviour of
the world. Jesus grew up in the humble manner in which he was born. He became a carpenter but at aged 30 he knew it was time to do what he really came for. He went around loving and serving others. He healed, he helped, and he taught about God and his kingdom. One of the things he taught was that we should not worry about tomorrow – about the things we need, our food and clothing. He said that we cannot add a single hour to our lives by worrying – it achieves nothing. Rather, we should trust God who feeds the birds and clothes the flowers (Have a read of Matthew chapter 6 verses 25-34). Friends, God so loved the world that he sent his Son to save us from what we deserve for the way we often live. God wants
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fishpondsvoice
26
November, 2021
n HISTORY Prisoners and the poor were the previous occupants of Blackberry Hill, writes Mike Jempson
Shades of the prison house
THE luxury Blackberry Hill housing development on Manor Road is quite a turnaround from the site’s grim history. Originally known as Stapleton Prison, the buildings undergoing conversion were once cell blocks in an internment camp for Dutch and Spanish sailors and others sympathetic to the American cause during the War of Independence (1775-1782). And during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-15), the premises were expanded to house captured French soldiers, who had to help build new wings to their prison. They ran their own market to earn pocket money. In 1808, Mr Birtle, secretary of the Bristol Society for the Suppression of Vice, wrote: "They wished to intrude on me a variety of devices in bone and wood of the most obscene kind, particularly those representing a crime [not to be mentioned among Christians], which they termed the new fashion. I purchased a few…"
developed an identity of its own it was gradually extended, with medical facilities and its own vegetable gardens. By the time of the 1881 Census, the then Bristol Union Workhouse contained almost 2,000 men, women and children, with a staff of 25 led by a master, Richard Hughes. Bristol artist Samuel Loxton’s drawing of Among the staff there the Stapleton Workhouse were also six nurses to When the war was over, the deal with ‘imbeciles’ - a building was used as a naval store term then used, along with ‘idiots’, and then as a boys’ school, but to label those we would now say not for long. When the Bristol had learning disabilities or suffered Corporation of the Poor needed an from forms of dementia. overflow for its crowded, insanitary Boys had a schoolmaster and workhouse at St Peter’s Hospital, assistant, and girls an infants' in what is now Castle Park, they school-mistress; there was an rented then bought the buildings industrial trainer for girls and a in 1837. male drill instructor. Now called Stapleton According to the 1881 Census Workhouse, as demand grew over the majority of inmates came from the coming century and Fishponds Bristol and the West Country, but
there were 79 from Ireland, 37 from Wales, 31 Londoners and seven from Scotland. Others were from as far away as America, Chile, China, France, Germany, Gibraltar, India, Italy, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. The oldest inmates were 97-year-old twins Maria, a domestic servant, and her ‘imbecile’ sister Mary, and 96- year-old William Chedzoy, from Minehead. The youngest were four one-yearold children, a boy and girl from Stapleton and two girls from Surrey. The buildings went through a succession of changes during the last century becoming first a training centre for ‘mental defectives’, then a psychiatric unit as Stapleton Hospital, before changing its name to Manor Park Hospital, specialising in geriatric care. They eventually merged with the Glenside Hospital next door to become Blackberry Hill Hospital in 1993.
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November, 2021
fishpondsvoice
27
n NEWS
School glad to welcome back community A FISHPONDS primary school has welcomed more than 100 parents and children to its first two open events. Avanti Gardens School in College Road returned to in-person tours with a 'stay and play' daytime event attracting 20 parents and their children, while an open evening was attended by approximately 90 parents and some children. Principal Ashley Milum said that after a year of virtual events it was "a real treat for staff to be able to invite the community into our growing school". He added: "I had a huge feeling of pride whilst showing our prospective families around AGS and enjoyed meeting so many keen young children nearly ready to learn and enjoy their first year of education." The school, which has capacity for 60 pupils in its reception classes, is due to hold another open evening on November 2 and a nursery stay and play event on December 14.
Bin collections delayed BRISTOL Waste has been sending refuse crews out on weekends to catch up with missed collections. The city council-owned company has blamed "the significant impact of the national driver shortage" for delays in collecting rubbish and recycling from hundreds of streets across the city. In an update on October 22, the company listed more than 200 streets where crews would return and also said many garden waste collections would be made a day late. Garden waste collections were suspended for more than two months from July due to the driver shortage and Covid-19 affecting more than one in 10 collection staff. The company thanked residents for their patience and advised they continue to report missed collections via the council website.
Ellie joins council cabinet A HILLFIELDS councillor has been made a member of Bristol City Council's ruling cabinet, less than six months after being elected. Ellie King will take on responsibility for public health, communities and the Bristol One City project to bring together public, private and voluntary groups. Councillor King, who was elected for the first time in May, said: “It’s an honour to join the leadership team. This new role is very much about collaboration and working together across sectors and organisations to ensure communities continue to grow in a safe, healthy and sustainable way. I look forward to facing the challenges ahead and being part of a successful future for Bristol.” Her responsibilities will include overseeing libraries, parks, events and public health services.
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fishpondsvoice
28
November, 2021
n SPORT
Vinnie continues a proud family tradition DOWNEND Boxing Club's Vinnie Bush has continued a proud family tradition in winning the National Schools Championship Western Counties title. Vinnie’s great-grandfather Les was a stalwart of amateur boxing and his grandfather Sean was a national champion. After a unanimous win over the stylish Tadhg Moloney of Wotton-under-Edge, 14-year-old Vinnie contested the Western counties final against the talented Tommie Goodwin, of Bournemouth. In a wonderful contest deserving of the occasion, the Bournemouth boxer used his height and reach advantage to try and keep the relentless Bristolian away, but Vinnie’s pressure and fast attacks paid off, and he took the first title of his career. In a supporting bout on the card, 21-yearold Usamah Zaman won the first of two fights in quick succession, against tough Ben Pasco. After sensibly keeping the Sturminster Newton boxer at distance, a long right hand from Usamah caught him in the last round, prompting a protection count. The Downend boxer took a unanimous win. Usamah then headed to RAF Cranwell
with team mates Liam Whelan and Bailey Phillips to face members of the RAF boxing team. Facing Senior Aircraftsman Deller of RAF Honington, he again used his reach and movement well against an opponent who forced the action to the final bell, and his cleaner punching saw the win come back to Bristol. Two other boxers from the Fishpondsbased club took on RAF opponents. Bantamweight Liam Whelan, 25, making his debut for his new club, faced the much taller Senior Aircraftsman Crozier who used his physical advantage well. The Downend boxer used effective head movement to slip and roll his opponent's long shots, pushing the Airman back with strong counter shots, but at the end of a tough three rounds the split decision went to the RAF. Bailey Phillips faced Aircraftman Lambert of RAF Cosford and, in a rough affair, he looked to have clearly taken the first two rounds, however the judges disagreed and awarded the contest to AC Lambert on a split decision. The Downend representatives were
delighted to be present at the RAF debut of one of our own. Senior Aircraftsman Taylor Andrews took to the ring for the first time as a serviceman, against clever Sonny Hardy of Chalvedon boxing club, taking a Vinnie Bush with his hard-won points championship badge decision. Jake Edwards, 15, competed in Havant on September 17 against an older opponent before boxing again nine days later in the first round of the junior championships, showing a superb attitude. Lamech Sanchez, 13, has made the decision to leave boxing to concentrate on basketball after being selected for the Bristol Flyers. Craig Turner
Froudy retires after 33 years keeping score STAPLETON Cricket Club has marked the end of an era with the retirement of Colin Froud, who has been scoring 1st XI matches for the last 33 years. Colin, who grew up and still lives in Stapleton, joined the club some 65 years ago, in 1956, and has held many roles, becoming scorer in 1988. His passion for neatness and
getting things right meant he spent many hours in the different scoreboxes around Bristol and beyond collating the statistics for Stapleton CC and making many friendships over the years. Colin is held in high regard around the Bristol cricket scoring community, with one of his proudest moments being being asked to score for England vs
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Zimbabwe in 2003: a testament to the standards he strived to achieve. Asked about his favourite ground he said: "Without fail, Sleepy Hollow at Stapleton. I lived at the bottom of the ground as a child and my Dad paid my club membership to join when I was 10 years old." His second favourite "all depends on the person you are scoring with and there have been so many lovely people that it's hard to pick one". Stapleton Cricket Club celebrated its 158th year in 2021. As part of the presentation evening marking the club's 158th year, life member Colin was presented with a tankard in honour of his commitment. Froudy has been a stalwart at Stapleton for many many years and has dedicated a huge amount of time and effort to help the club in many roles. It's only our cricketing friend Old Father Time that has pulled stumps on his scoring role and we offer him our heartfelt thanks for an
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amazingly dedicated and top quality performance. He truly has scored more runs for Stapleton than anybody else. The club is now looking for a new 1st XI scorer who is keen to be part of a fantastic team and would enjoy lovely days out at some fantastic venues across the region. The club will ensure that full training is given and you will be accompanied by an experienced colleague from the opposition at all games. Anyone who is interested in the position can make contact via email at stapletonccsec@gmail. com or use the contact page on the club website stapleton.playcricket.com. Andy Chidgey Chairman
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fishpondsvoice
November, 2021
29
n LETTERS An open letter from the Eastville Park Lido Steering Group In August, the Voice published a statement from the Friends of Eastville Park stating the group's opposition to plans for a Lido in the park. Here, the Eastville Park Lido Steering Group responds. WE firstly want to thank members of Friends of Eastville Park for attending our picnic in the park. It was important to hear their concerns and to start planning how to best mitigate impact to those people who live directly next to the park. We also want to acknowledge the statement of the 12 members of FOEP stating their position to not support the reinstating of outdoor swimming facilities in Eastville Park. As a community we want to recognise the amazing work that
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FISHPONDS AREA
Children declare war on litter
Children at Fishponds Primary have cleared CofE litter that has blown into their school grounds and have written to MP Kerry McCarthy about the issue. PAGE 11 Annie Moir, Deya Ward build the new outdoor and Shanks Raj of the lido steering group in front of pool, a former bowling the site where they green in Eastville want to Park.
Lido plan for Eas tville Park
OUTDOOR swimming could return to Eastville Park if a project to build a new lido wins the backing it needs. A group wants to turn a former bowling in the park into a green new lido with a 30m changing rooms, cafe and reception by 15m pool, area. The organisers say the lido would be
community-focused community interest and run as a charity or company. But some residents and volunteer group Friends of Eastville the Park have raised the choice of site concerns over for the scheme and effect on the surroundin its possible g area. Turn to Page 3
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FOEP do as a group of volunteers for the park. The hard work, passion and dedication put in every day for years to keep the park flourishing and enjoyable for all has not gone unnoticed, and we want to say a huge thank-you for all your brilliant efforts. We wanted to pay particular thanks to Andrew Gee, Mo Lewis and Paul Lewis for the dedication they have shown to the park. We as a group of local residents want to be able to support the brilliant work FOEP already do,
whilst participating in the longterm preservation of the park and its context with support, expertise and infrastructure. The process which we started two years ago has been to complete the survey work for the community's needs, designing the facilities the community wishes to see through a masterplan and to research funding streams to deliver this on the ground. FOEP could then run the facilities if they felt they had the capacity, hiring out spaces available all year round and fostering their volunteer base, giving the control fully to FOEP to manage and run as they choose. To provide more functioning facilities for the park, such as a café every day, all-year around, nature programmes, hireable indoor space for kids parties/exercise classes, outdoor gym equipment, outdoor swimming facilities does, however, involve us acknowledging the need for and acceptance of positive change to keep the park in the control of the community, into the future and next five decades. When we look at parks within
the city of Bristol and across the country, Eastville Park has the potential to offer people of all ages and backgrounds a more diverse range of facilities than is currently being provided. With 70 acres of land, there is space to increase biodiversity, whilst also providing functioning community facilities which could be used all year round, through the day and night, to make the park safer and accessible for all. The Lido project will provide the opportunity to assess the park environment holistically and create a robust framework to improve and preserve its ecological system. Providing these community facilities will help to create surplus funds to support the maintenance work of the parks department and FOEP's volunteer base. We wish to continue working with FOEP to nurture and deliver these much-needed facilities to support the many people of Bristol who cherish this city centre green space, Eastville Park. Big hugs from the Lido Steering Group team
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November, 2021
30
n NEWS Lunchtime concerts return
Neighbourhood network
LUNCHTIME concerts on the second Friday of each month are returning to Fishponds after more than 18 months away because of Covid restrictions. The hour-long free events will take place at St Mary’s Church, Manor Road, with the first, a pre-Christmas concert from the Bristol Veterans Band, happening on December 10 from 1-2pm. Tea, coffee and biscuits are served from 12.30pm, before the concert begins, and there will be a retiring collection at the end of the concert to help pay for expenses. Mary Barrington, of organisers Activate Fishponds, said: "We know people have missed the concerts over the last months. We look forward to the return of all our regulars and hope to see some new faces as well."
THE Eastville Neighbourhood Network is relaunching this month for people who live, work or are active within the council ward boundary. The group plans to meet once every two months to discuss ideas and put forward proposals to councillors for the future of the ward, with the first meeting due on Monday November 1, from 7-8.30pm. A spokesperson said: "We want to create a liveable neighbourhood where you can get the essential facilities you need within a 15-minute walk from you." The group is looking for ideas about everything from community facilities, play areas and tree planting to traffic improvements, car sharing and markets. It has also started a Facebook group. To join the online meeting on November 1 visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/ eastville-neighbourhood-network-tickets-162027126497
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