Frome Valley Voice April 2023

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WINTERBOURNE, FRAMPTON COTTERELL, COALPIT

April, 2023 Issue 115

fromevalleyvoice CSI: Frome Valley!

HEATH, IRON ACTON & WINTERBOURNE DOWN

MEMBERS of St Michael’s Primary School's Mini Police club became crime scene investigators for an evening to find out how police use forensics to solve a robbery. They also staged a mock riot, using shields and batons, as part of the scheme run by Winterbourne neighbourhood police team's PC

Cycle lane safety 'shambles'

A CONTROVERSIAL cycle lane system between Coalpit Heath and Yate is still missing a safety feature – 14 months after it was built.

Raised bike lanes alongside a mile-long stretch of the A432 between Yate and Nibley have been criticised as hard to see in the dark or wet weather. They should have been painted green soon after installation in January last year but the delay was

among 14 “safety problems” highlighted in an audit published in September.

South Gloucestershire Council says all measures will be carried out “in the required timeframe”. But the situation has been labelled a "shambles" by a councillor.

Turn to pages 2&3

Mega marathon feat

A FOOTBALL fan from Coalpit Heath was given a rousing standing ovation by fellow Bristol Rovers supporters, after completing seven marathons in seven days for charity.

PAGE 11

Housing fears

A CAMPAIGN group to stop green belt development has been revived amid concerns that hundreds of new homes are in the pipeline at Frampton Cotterell.

PAGES 6&7

Online surgery

DOCTORS in Frampton Cotterell have introduced online consultations in an attempt to cope with rising demands for appointments - but even the new system has felt the strain.

PAGE 5

Club's thumbs-up

INSPECTORS have praised an after-school club for Frampton Cotterell children.

PAGE 9

Paula Stone and PCSO Jacqui McCormack.

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Your views

Council must 'get

From page 1

Cyclist Tony Sharp, a member of the council’s Cycle Forum, said while the new cycle lanes were welcome, they had draw backs.

Ken McCormick Editor contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

Letters for publication can be sent to us via email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

We reserve the right to edit your letter.

Local information

South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk

01454 868009

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

Complaints

Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk

General enquiries: 0117 926 2061

NHS Health

He said: “When driving the route at night, and in particular in the recent bad weather, the kerb defining the new cycleway doesn’t seem to be that clear. The cycleway and resurfaced road, both new black tarmac, can easily blend into each other.”

The audit also highlighted areas where debris and gravel became trapped by ramps on and off the cycle lanes –potentially causing skid risks for riders.

Tony said: “The cycleways do seem to stop and start a lot for driveways, and at those points there is a lot of silt and general rubbish building up – a puncture danger.”

South Gloucestershire

Council says it will carry out regular street cleaning to prevent debris building up. Other problems related to risks of collisions caused by motorists being confused by old white line markings left on the road, missing bollards and missing markings.

Yate Town councillor Chris Willmore called the cycle paths a “shambles”.

She said that even by March this year, many of the points raised by last September's safety audit had not been addressed with work.

Councillor Willmore also said the narrow carriageway caused by the cycle lanes was a concern, as wide lorries and buses now passed within two feet of each other.

She said: “We want a route that is safe for everyone.

"South Gloucestershire needs to get on and do what the

Call 111

Well Aware health & social care information www.wellaware.org.uk

Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

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A member of the

on and finish safety measures'

the original plans, so she was disappointed it had not been done last year.

She said: "I have been approached by cyclists who are concerned that if they do not see the edge, they could slip off into the road, or lorries could mount the kerb onto the cycle lane.

"It feels like money wasted that they have had to come back and make changes."

The new raised cycle lanes were built by the council on both sides of a one-mile stretch of the A432 Badminton Road between Nibley and Coalpit Heath early last year.

planned.

A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: "Dedicated cycle lanes have been installed which are raised from the road surface and will help to keep cyclists segregated from traffic.

"The scheme has been supported by (transport charity) Sustrans and has been implemented around national guidelines for the design of high-quality, safe cycle infrastructure.

safety audit says.

"We have an A-road surrounded by fields, with lots of heavy lorries and buses, which is now only just wide enough for them to pass, with a 50cm gap.

"We have to hope vehicles don’t end up hitting each other."

South Glos Liberal Democrat group leader Claire Young said the green painting was needed to make the edges of the cycle lanes clearer and appeared in

The cycle lanes resulted in the carriageway being narrowed – which meant regulations came into force downgrading it from 40mph to 30mph.

They are part of a four-stage plan to improve connections for cyclists and pedestrians between Yate and the A4174 Avon Ring Road, four miles away. More are

"It is standard practice for a road safety audit to be carried out following the completion of schemes such as this, so that any opportunities to improve safety are identified and implemented.

"Following the audit, we have been carrying out the work in the required time-frame and it will be finished in the coming weeks."

A cyclist travels on part of the lane where issues were raised in a road safety audit

£1.6 million for plan to drill for heat from mines

A PROJECT to use South Gloucestershire's old coal mines to provide renewable energy has been earmarked £1.6 million in funding to start drilling.

The Voice reported earlier this year that South Gloucestershire Council was investigating whether the water in flooded abandoned mine workings, which is naturally heated by geothermal energy, could be used to heat and cool buildings in the area.

Several abandoned works in the district have been identified as "areas of interest" by the government's Coal Authority.

The council believes up to 26,000 homes and businesses are near to former mine workings: in the Frome Valley area, Coalpit Heath takes its name from its time as a mining area.

But the council says the initial areas to be investigated are further south.

The process would involve using pumps to raise the temperature of the water to the level required for heating and hot water, and use it above ground as a climate-friendly alternative to gas boilers, in homes and larger buildings.

So far only £10,000 has been spent on the Coal Authority's initial examination of potential "areas of interest" for the project.

But now the plan has been allocated £1.65m from the West of England Green Recovery Fund, after the region's political leaders agreed to increase the fund by £10m to £60m at a meeting in March.

Also confirmed was money to create a Frome Valley River Reserve at Frampton End Farm, which was allocated more than £1m in funding last year, retrofitting draughty homes with more efficient insulation, and expanding South Gloucestershire and Stroud College to help train up future green jobs.

Mobile footcare

The cash allocated to the project by the West of England Combined Authority would pay for further studies, including drilling investigative boreholes in "up to six high potential areas", to see how dated records of mines match up with the reality underground.

A report to WECA said that if the concept could be turned into a financially viable source of renewable heat, it could then attract commercial investment to build a system that could serve anything from 20 to 60,000 homes.

Further funding for the project will be sought from other sources.

West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris said it was “ironic” that coal mines could be one solution to climate change.

South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage said: "We have extensive mining heritage in parts of the district, with over 40 coal seams and over 1,000 different mine entrances.

"The next stage of the project is to identify the scale of the potential heat and cooling demand within the broad areas of search."

Meeting report by Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Funding for a nature reserve at Frampton End Farm was also confirmed.

GPs ask patients to go online

DOCTORS in Frampton Cotterell have introduced online consultations in an attempt to cope with rising demands for appointments.

Frome Valley Medical Centre says it is working at maximum capacity, and contacted patients by text to tell them the new system was up and running.

But so many people have used it that on some days the system has had to be temporarily suspended part way through the day, to allow staff to cope with requests.

The practice in Court Road says the system is designed to take pressure off their phone service, and direct patients to the most suitable health care. That may mean a phone consultation, face-toface appointment with a doctor, or a visit to a pharmacy.

Anyone who cannot use the online service is being advised to phone for an appointment as usual.

GP partner Dr Helen Pidduck said the system was introduced in order to help the surgery cope with “the enormous pressures in primary care across the nation”.

She said: “The aim is not to restrict the number of face-to-face appointments for patients.

“The changes relate to the initial access to be online, for those that are able to do so, rather than subsequent care.”

Patients who are confident using web-based services are being asked to fill in an online form for both routine and urgent care, via the practice website at www.fromevalley.nhs.uk.

Trained staff then 'triage' inquiries and get back to patients within two days by phone or text.

A statement on the practice website said: “This will relieve the pressure on our telephone lines meaning that those patients that are unable to use our online system will be able to get through by telephone in a more timely manner.

“If the most appropriate step is that you see one of our clinicians in the surgery, this may be a phone consultation or it may be a face-toface appointment depending on the problem.

“The majority of patient contact will still be via telephone, as this enables us to deal with more patients each day.

“Please be aware that the practice is working at maximum capacity because of our patient demand and therefore we are dealing with all requests based on clinical need.

“We understand this may be frustrating for you but please do not take your frustrations out on our staff.”

Dr Pidduck added: “We have always tried to be a warm and welcoming surgery; having to carefully manage patient demand when under high pressure is challenging as prioritisation is necessary.”

On days where the online system has reached capacity, patients have been asked to wait until the next day, look for "self-help" measures on the NHS website or visit a pharmacist, only to call "if you have an urgent clinical need" and not to go to the surgery to ask for an appointment.

Frome Valley Medical Centre

Campaign group revives Toby to step down

THE leader of South Gloucestershire Council will step down in May at the local elections.

Toby Savage has led the council for five years but said he has had a “promotion” after the birth of his second child in February.

Cllr Savage has represented the Longwell Green ward for the Conservatives since 2015, but decided not to stand for re-election so he could dedicate more time to his young family.

He will lead the party in South Gloucestershire into the elections on May 4, after which a new leader will then be chosen.

Cllr Savage said: “I have recently been given a promotion to dad-of-two and will therefore be standing down from South Gloucestershire Council at the forthcoming elections on May 4.

"I have been council leader for just under five years, and it has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve the area in which I was born and brought up.

"These past years have been unprecedented and exhausting. We have led the local responses to a global pandemic, a war and a worldwide cost of living crisis.

"Throughout all of this I have been honoured to work with extraordinary people both inside and outside the council, who serve local people with dedication and distinction. I am proud to be leaving at a time of record high performance for the council on school standards, recycling and investments into our communities, to name just a few."

Labour group leader Pet Rooney has also announced her intention to stand down after the elections.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service Voter ID row: Page 8

CAMPAIGNERS who fought off plans to build 1,800 homes in Coalpit Heath have revived their group, over concerns that plans for hundreds more homes are in the pipeline.

And it is the appearance of small boxes in hedgerows in Frampton Cotterell that has set alarm bells ringing.

The boxes are used to carry out surveys to see if dormice are living in an area - and those surveys are carried out ahead of formal planning applications being drawn up, because dormice are an endangered and protected species. If any are found it can affect development projects.

Members of VALID (Villages Against Locally Intended Development), a group that opposes large scale development in the area, says the boxes are evidence a plan could soon be submitted.

They have been spotted on a site on land between Poplars Farm Shop and Black Rocks in

Frampton.

Bristol architects Pad Design submitted a 40-page proposal for a development of 400 new homes called The Poplars on the site last year, in response to a 'call for sites' by South Gloucestershire Council, asking people to suggest places where housing development could take place.

Details on the submission have been redacted by South Gloucestershire Council – but they indicate the landowner may be willing to sell and the site could be developed in five years.

The document set out “a vision” for 24 acres of housing, with parkland and traditional stone walls.

The Voice has contacted the architects and farm shop for a comment.

VALID, which was first set up in 2016 and successfully campaigned to stop 1,800 homes being earmarked for fields east of Roundways in Coalpit Heath, has now revived with a meeting

STROUD AUCTION ROOMS

Toby Savage with his new daughter Dorothy

revives over development concerns

Nature Group said: "Representatives from the Frampton Cotterell Nature group expressed their concerns about the potential impact of development on local nature."

He said the area where the dormouse boxes have been put up is a "key site for local wildlife".

speculative planning applications and are also appealing for people to help with leaflet design and delivery, social media and managing email accounts.

The group is holding a public meeting on Wednesday May 10 at 7.30pm, in the skittle alley at the Miners Club on Badminton Road.

at Crossbow House in March, attended by representatives of community groups, councillors and other residents.

Recent planning appeal decisions which have questioned town and village "settlement boundaries" and the district's five-year supply of housing land have added to the group's concerns.

Frampton Cotterell Parish Councillor Dave Hockey, who has been campaigning on protecting the Green Belt for

decades, said: "Here we go again!

"We want to be ready for any new threats to our Green Belt and green spaces. We know developers have put forward lots of the land around our villages as potential sites for development."

Dave and wife Pat led a successful ‘Keep the Frome Valley Green’ campaign in the early 1990s which resulted in fields between Winterbourne and Frampton Cotterell being returned to the Green Belt.

David

Hanks of Frampton

VALID says the area is "ecologically rich" and home to species including kingfishers and otters, and developers have to show a planning application will produce a "biodiversity net gain".

The group has produced a leaflet and poster to raise awareness of the issues, which will be distributed around Frome Valley villages, which they have paid to have printed in this edition of the Voice.

They are calling on people to display the poster in their windows.

There are also plans to set up a formal VALID committee to deal with any potential

Anyone who wants to get involved can contact the group at validcampaign@gmail.com or via its Facebook page.

South Gloucestershire’s guidance on “its “call for sites” says: "The inclusion of a site on the call for sites map does not mean the site will be allocated or provide any indication of the outcome of any assessment process through the Local Plan or any subsequent planning application.

"The sites will be assessed to determine which sites have potential to be allocated through the Local Plan."

See pages 16&17

Winterbourne Independent Voices Working for

We are a group of independently minded people who are standing for election to the Winterbourne Parish Council on 4th May 2023. Working together without being aligned to a party means we can listen to community needs and leverage limited resources in partnership.

Let us know what would make our community a better place to live. From buses and roads, to public events, green spaces and community facilities - tell us your vision for Winterbourne. Please contact winterbournevoices@gmail.com with your ideas, and we would like to encourage you to make the time

Fogg-Rogers, Penny Sykes, Sharon Hancock, Peter Bruce, David Eldridge and others.

Frampton Cotterell parish councillor Dave Hockey with one of the dormouse boxes

Row over new voter ID rules

MORE than 8,000 voters could be "disenfranchised" at South Gloucestershire’s elections because of a new law requiring them to show proof of identity at the polling station, it has been claimed.

The elections in May will be the first for which residents will have to show an accepted form of ID - and face being barred from voting if they do not have one.

Frampton Cotterell ward Liberal Democrat councillor Tristan Clark told a council meeting in February: “The number of voters who lack an accepted form of ID in South Gloucestershire could, under the Cabinet Office’s own assessment, exceed 8,000 people.

“Will polling station staff be recording the number of people they turn away for lacking the requisite form of ID, so that proper analysis of the residents disenfranchised by this rushed and ill-conceived legislation can occur?”

Council cabinet member Ben Burton

insisted that the changes in last year’s Elections Act had not been rushed.

The Frenchay & Downend ward Conservative councillor said: "I’ll follow up with democratic services whether they will be recording the amount of people turned away."

He said a trial in 2018 in Swindon had been followed by a "a robust and comprehensive review" by the Electoral Commission of the number of people voting.

Cllr Burton said: "In that instance it did not cause a significant change in voting habits, and actually turnout was higher than the previous election in 2016.

"The arrangements are in place to ensure that the democratic process remains secure and that voting will hopefully remain high.

"The actual list of acceptable forms of ID is incredibly long. We are talking passports, driving licence, biometric immigration document, identity cards, MOD ID, blue badge, national identity, old person’s bus card, Oyster card, freedom passes and a whole host more.

“So actually the chances of someone not having those is relatively small, and we will make the arrangements where we are able to support those who do not have an acceptable

form of ID.”

More information about ID and how to apply can be found online at beta.southglos. gov.uk/voter-id.

Anyone who is not online can also apply in person, by calling South Gloucestershire Council on 01454 863030 and making an appointment to visit the council offices in Yate.

People applying for the free ID need to have their National Insurance number and a recent photo to hand.

Cllr Burton said that 56 people in the district had applied for a free 'voter authority certificate' by early February.

Electoral Commission research found voters less likely to have an accepted form of ID are over-85s, people with disabilities, trans and homeless people.

The deadline to register to vote is April 17, postal vote applications must be made by April 18 and proxy vote and for free ID applications by April 25.

Anyone who would like to stand for election in this year has until April 4 to submit their nomination.

For more information about becoming a candidate, visit beta.southglos.gov.uk/ stand-for-election, call 01454 863030, email electoral.services@southglos.gov.uk or write to Electoral Registration, PO Box 1953, Badminton Road, Bristol, BS37 0DB.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

'Not just somewhere to go after school'

THE work of a before and after-school club in Frampton Cotterell has been celebrated following its first Ofsted inspection for nearly six years.

OSCARS, which stands for Out of School Club And Recreation Scheme, is based in the grounds of Frampton Cotterell Church of England Primary School and run independently by a committee.

It was founded 31 years ago has places for 50 children aged four to 11.

An Ofsted inspection in February said the club met the regulator's requirements and praised the club's caring and friendly staff, who build close relationships with the children.

Inspector Tracey Cook said the children were highly sociable and contributed their own ideas for activities and snacks.

She said: "Children organise games themselves and play cooperatively, sharing resources and taking turns.

"This helps to support their

physical development, widens their friendship groups and builds on their social skills successfully."

Her report highlighted the club's good partnership with the school and relationships with parents, who say their children love attending and are sometimes reluctant to leave.

She also highlighted the club's work to help children understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle and support for

children with special educational needs or disabilities.

The report said staff ensured that children were safe, had the best care and a positive experience while at the club.

Manager Mollie Chappell said the club was fortunate to be in

stimulating environment for the children and not just somewhere to go after school”.

Mollie said: “I am so happy with the feedback from our Ofsted report. It is all very positive and highlights all of the things which I personally love about OSCARS.

“Myself and the staff team are so proud and we are very thankful to all of the amazing families who attend OSCARS during term time and in the school holidays.”

School head teacher Hannah Hornig said the club's 'wraparound care' was in high demand from working parents.

She said: “The children benefit hugely from the wonderful range of opportunities and experiences that the dedicated staff provide each day. "The introduction of the children

OSCARS children on the climbing frame at Frampton Cotterell Primary

Plea to save bus service dismissed as 'bribe'

AN attempt to extend a bus service running linking Yate and several villages to Thornbury and Cribbs Causeway until June has been dismissed as an “election bribe”.

The 622 service will be axed from the start of April, along with many other subsidised bus routes in the West of England region.

The three councils in the region, including South Gloucestershire, said they couldn’t afford to increase the amount they pay to subsidise all of the services enough to cover rapidly-rising costs.

Conservative council leader Toby Savage urged Labour Metro Mayor Dan Norris to pay £785,000 to keep some routes going for a couple more months, until the new dial-aride WESTlink service, which launches in April, beds in.

But Mr Norris claimed the real reason behind the calls to keep the 622 service - which stops at Nibley Rangeworthy and Bagstone - running was the local elections on May 4.

The two politicians disagreed on the request for extra cash during a meeting of the West of England Combined Authority on March 17.

Cllr Savage said: "The councils did want to extend a number of supported services over several months, and we built into our budgets the increased costs next year, at the levels advised by WECA.

“Those costs have now come in higher than anyone thought

they would. It’s now too late for councils to get approval for those costs. The only decision-making route open to us is today’s meeting to ensure that those vital transitional services can continue to be commissioned.

Cllr Savage suggested the £785,000 could come from the West of England’s reserves. But one issue is that the West of England has some of the lowest financial reserves of all 10 combined authorities in England, according to WECA bosses.

Mr Norris said: “What Toby has said about not being able to make an emergency decision is simply not the case. There are processes that you can adopt if you wish to do that.

"I’m going to be a politician now and say that this is more about an election bribe than anything else."

The amendment to spend £785,000 of the West of England’s reserves on keeping some routes going was voted down.

Afterwards Frampton Cotterell ward councillor Claire Young accused the Metro Mayor and Cllr Savage of "bickering over politics rather than helping the people of South Gloucestershire who rely on these buses for work, school and getting about".

A school bus service which lost funding has been saved at least until the end of the summer term - but fares are more than doubling.

The 967 from Westerleigh to

Brimsham Green School in Yate has been dropped by Stagecoach but taken over by another operator, Transpora Group.

However, fares are going up from £1.20 to £3 for a return trip.

Yate town councillor Chris

Willmore said the bus served "some of the poorest people in the community" who cold not afford the rise.

Meeting report by Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

New 'stop-to-stop' buses launched

PEOPLE living in the Frome Valley and surrounding villages will be able to book a new minibus service to link them to major bus routes from April.

The green WESTlink minibuses do not run to a timetableinstead they are booked up to 24 hours in advance by phone, online or using an app, similar to a dial-a-ride service.

But the destinations for the buses will be limited to existing stops elsewhere on the transport network, such as railway stations, bus stops for metrobus or park and ride services, and WESTlink is not a “substitute for getting a taxi,” according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris.

The "stop-to-stop" service, funded by the West of England Combined Authority using £3 million from the government's Bus Service Improvement Plan, will eventually include 30 minibuses across the region in areas which do not have a regular mainstream bus service.

Single fares will cost £2 for adults and £1 for children, for any length of journey, with concessionary and older people’s bus passes accepted on the services, which will run from Monday to Saturday from 7am to 7pm.

People will have the option of paying in advance or in cash on the minibus.

The new services are the largest “demand responsive transport” scheme in the country, having only been run before on a much smaller scale.

Mr Norris said: "This is a major investment for a key project. And it’s new to us all, so it certainly won’t be plain sailing. Undoubtedly things will go wrong, but we’re ready to learn as we go along."

The services will be run by two operators, global public transport, logistics and tech company Via and WeDRT, which has experience of working with Transport for West Midlands.

Nik's gruelling marathon challenge

A FOOTBALL fan from Coalpit Heath was given a rousing standing ovation by fellow Bristol Rovers supporters, after completing seven marathons in seven days for charity.

Nik Weeks has raised more than £9,700 so far for the club’s community trust in tribute to Rovers left-back Nick Anderton, who was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer last summer.

He timed his seven marathons to take place in the week before his team took on Portsmouth at the Memorial Ground on March 18, and was introduced on the pitch to a rousing reception.

Nik, a police Sergeant at Bristol Port Authority, was joined for the last leg of the run by his son Archie – wearing a number 16 shirt to represent Anderton, who is being treated for osteosarcoma.

Nik was tearful as he was presented with a replica Rovers shirt with “Weeksy 183.4 miles” printed on the back, in honour of

the seven 26.2-mile marathons he had completed.

Interviewed after the presentation, Nik said he couldn’t believe the reception.

He said: "I know what I achieved is pretty good - without blowing my own trumpet - it's been hard work, but walking around that pitch and everybody shouting out and clapping...I walked around with my little boy and the Pompey fans were brilliant as well."

He even got a mention on Sky’s Soccer Saturday programme where presenter Jeff Stelling praised his efforts.

As he neared the end of the challenge Nik's wife Emma told supporters he had received a message from Anderton during the challenge, which made him even more determined.

Bristol Rovers Community Trust chief executive Adam Tutton said: “When Nik came into our office and told us about

this challenge, we were all gobsmacked.

"We are so grateful that he’s taken on the 7 For 7 Challenge to benefit the Community Trust.

"The funds raised will make an enormous difference for many people within our communities.”

The trust runs inclusion, health, education and sports participation projects in the Bristol area.

In 2020 Nik set himself the challenge of running five marathons in five days for the Trust – raising £13,300 for the Community Trust and charity TOFS, which offers support for those born unable to swallow.

He was inspired for this year's challenge by the team's 7-0 nil over Scunthorpe last May, which secured promotion to League One on the final day of last season.

Donations to Nik’s online fundraising page can be made at justgiving.com/campaign/ sevenforseven

Nik Weeks (left) is interviewed on the Memorial Stadium pitch at the end of his challenge.

Picture: Bristol Rovers

School meets exacting standards

AN INDEPENDENT school has successfully met the standards required by the sector's regulator.

Tockington Manor School, in Tockington, was visited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate for a regulatory compliance inspection in January.

The ISI has now published its report on the co-educational day school, which has 273 pupils aged from two to 13 on its roll, divided into a nursery section for two to four-year-old children, a lower school for pupils aged four to seven and upper school for those aged seven to 13.

Inspectors Hilary Wyatt and Richard Raistrick spent two days observing lessons, talking to pupils and looking at their work,

as well as attending assemblies and extra-curricular activities.

They also held discussions with staff, examined the curriculum and documentation.

Questionnaires completed by staff, parents and pupils from both the school and nursery were also taken into consideration.

The report said: "The teaching enables pupils to make good progress, encompasses effective behaviour management and is supported by suitable resources."

The ISI inspectors report on

the school’s compliance with the Independent School Standards Regulations and, in Tockington Manor's case, the Early Years Foundation Stage.

All independent schools are required to meet the standards and the findings validate the school's performance in a variety of areas, including: quality of education; the health, safety and welfare of pupils; quality of leadership and management.

The report highlighted the use of the school's 28-acre grounds, saying: "The school

strives to make full use of the outdoor spaces around the site to engender a spirit of adventure within the pupils and prepare them with the attitude and aptitude for senior schools and beyond."

This latest report builds on a more comprehensive inspection at the school and nursery in 2018. The ISI’s Educational Quality Inspection Report found that Tockington Manor School produces pupils who “demonstrate self-confidence and self-awareness of the highest quality”.

It also commended the school on the personal development of pupils, which it said was excellent.

Headmaster Stephen Symonds said: "I am incredibly proud of the excellent team effort which resulted in our school meeting every applicable standard required.

"Tockington prides itself on its high standards and this is a testament to our hard work."

The full report can be found at www.tockingtonmanorschool. com/isi-inspection.

Tockington Manor School and Nursery

Tockington Manor headmaster Stephen Symonds with children who are in Year 1 at the school.

School's travel award

WINTERBOURNE

Academy has won an award for its efforts to persuade families to leave the car behind on the school run.

The school has gained bronze Modeshift STARS accreditation for promoting cycling, walking and other forms of active and sustainable travel.

The scheme aims to cut congestion and pollution while also improving the health and well-being of children and young people.

Pupils who were made 'Active Travel Ambassadors' have worked hard on the scheme and the school is now on the way to gaining its silver award.

A school spokesperson said: "We are now working closely with the local council to map out safe group walks to school through nature in order to support well-being, as well as looking into a nearby 'park and stride' scheme to ease traffic congestion around our school site."

Carnival preparations build

ORGANISERS of Winterbourne Down Carnival are making their final preparations for this year's event.

The carnival's volunteer committee was preparing to pick the event's king, queen and attendants as the Voice went to print, after asking for nominations from Hambrook, St Michael’s and Elm Park Primary schools: the winners are drawn at random from the entries.

May Day programmes are due to appear in shops over the next few weeks, after the events programme has been finalised.

Some stalls are still available for people who would like to sell crafts, cakes and other items at the main event on May 1, with hire charges going to St Peter’s Hospice.

Anyone who is interested should email winterbournedowncarnival@ gmail.com to find out more.

Kathryn Hopes, from the committee, said: "Don’t forget, not only do we have the Carnival itself on Monday, but Sunday also offers the chance to join in the Songs of Celebration, Treasure Hunt and Scarecrow Trail.

"And finally a message to the children, get planning your fancy dress. This year’s theme is ‘My Hero’ - there are prizes up for grabs, so go big!"

Updates on the event, which is sponsored by the Cross Hands & Ben’s Reclamation, are being made via Facebook.

Winterbourne Academy interim head Jenny Cartwright, staff and students display the award.

The GREEN BELT protects our open spaces, but the areas in RED have been put forward as potential sites for development Map source : South Gloucestershire Council interactive call for sites map

https://maps.southglos.gov.uk/Map2/Map.aspx?mapName=CFS_MAP_01

Villagers Against Local Intended Development (VALID) reasons to say no to more housing on our green belt

• SERVICES - Our health services, schools and transport systems are already stretched to breaking point and will not cope with increased demand.

• WELLBEING - Spending time in nature is vital for our wellbeing and mental health. Some of our most well loved places to visit are threatened.

• NATURE - Some of our most important local sites for nature are threatened with development which would destroy habitats and damage biodiversity.

• ENVIRONMENT - More commuter housing will add to the climate emergency, damage air quality and increase pollution in the River Frome.

• FOOD - Building on farmland limits the food we can grow, threatening our food security.

Once it’s gone it’s gone - act now! What you can do to help…..

Display the poster in a prominent position

Come to a public meeting held by VALID at the Miners Club in Coalpit Heath on 10th May at 7.30pm

to discuss our concerns and organise the campaign.

We need your help and welcome all offers of support. Contact VALID validcampaign@gmail.com

MP Jack visits war-torn Ukraine

WINTERBOURNE'S MP Jack Lopresti has recently returned from a visit to Ukraine.

The Filton & Bradley Stoke Conservative MP, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Sovereign Defence Manufacturing Capability, visited the "destroyed town" of Irpin as well as the capital Kyiv.

He said that in Irpin, he was "surrounded by homes similar to the ones we live in and the same cars that we drive".

Mr Lopresti added: "All that was left behind by the people fleeing for their lives were

n LOCAL MP

discarded shoes, clothes and a few wrecked vehicles. I saw the complete annihilation of a community.

"On the outskirts of Irpin I saw what the local Ukrainians referred to as the Cemetery of Burnt

Celebrating some big steps forward

WE have taken some big steps forward in South Gloucestershire, but there is much more to do.

Half-hourly train services from Yate to Bristol have finally been confirmed following my debate in Parliament. More funding has been made available, and we can expect half-hourly train services from May, providing a more reliable transport option for people locally, reducing journey times, taking cars off the road, and reducing emissions.

Planning permission to reopen Charfield Railway Station was also granted, following strong community support which demonstrated to the Council and the Combined Authority the need

LIVE MUSIC

We host live music once a month on a Saturday starting at 8 pm!

April 1st - Mark Feven

May 27th - Mark Woodruff

June 17th - Alex Bayross

July 29th - Sunfest

August 5th - Stacey Charles

September 2nd - Angie McCoy

7th October - Oktoberfest Fest

November 11th - Simon Lloyd DJ

December 7th - Snowfest

SKITTLE ALLEY

We have a private functions room with a skittle alley it can cater for large groups & private events.

Please ask a member of staff if you would like to book out the skittle alley. We do also offer a buffet menu.

to get these plans over the line.

Promising progress was made for safer communities with local police confirming increased speeding enforcement in Rangeworthy and Bagstone. They will also be working alongside the local primary school to improve safety, and the council will deploy speed data recorders.

I am working closely with the neighbourhood police team to enhance the safety and security for residents in our rural villages and I will continue to push for us to get our fair share of extra officers to tackle antisocial behaviour and rural crime.

Last month we heard the fantastic news from the council

OFFERS ON FOOD

Tuesday - Friday : 2 for £14.95!

Offering a Roast of the day, Ham, Egg & Chips or Scampi, Peas & Chips or Veggie Sausages, Peas, Mash & Gravy 12pm -2pm

Wednesday Pie Night

Pie of the day with a pint of Hop Union Beer, Dortmunder Vier, Thatchers Gold, Pepsi/Pepsi Max or Lemonade £13.95

6pm - 9pm

Thursday: Grill Night!

Selections of steaks at a discounted price, also offer Gammon and Cajun Chicken for £11.99.

6pm - 9pm

Cars, where families had loaded up what they could to escape the advancing Russian forces, but they didn’t make it out.

"The Russians fired on them and killed all trying to escape.

"This is taking place, on the continent of Europe, in a Parliamentary democracy.

"The people of Ukraine are fighting for their lives and their freedom.

"I felt incredibly moved to be in Kyiv for the anniversary of the invasion, when I was able to place a candle at the Wall of Heroes."

Mr Lopresti, who has asked several Parliamentary questions on supplying equipment to Ukrainian forces and hosted Ukrainian Members of Parliament at Westminster, said he would continue to work with ministers, manufacturers, and the MoD's equipment team at Abbey Wood to ensure that Ukrainians "get the equipment they need as quickly as possible as they defend our universal values of democracy, freedom and an international rules-based order".

that Church Road will be resurfaced this year. We had an excellent response to our petition last year, which helped make the case to the council that this should be a priority.

We have had positive national announcements for school funding, with South Gloucestershire’s per pupil funding increase of 6.9%, significantly above the national increase.

This will help with our plans to build a new primary school in Yate and refurbish school buildings locally.

However, there is still more to do. I have met with the Health Minister, as we await

announcements on the future of Thornbury Health Centre.

And I will continue to fight excessive development, oppose inappropriate projects and defend our beautiful natural countryside.

We have made a huge amount of progress, but there is lots more still to do.

FIZZ FRIDAYS & GIN OF THE WEEK

Every Friday from 12 - 11:30pm we offer our large bottles of prosecco at a discounted price of only £15! Every week we change our gin of the week!

LOCAL

Our

Luke Hall MP writes for Frome Valley Voice

Jack Lopreste outside a ruined building in Ukraine

Skye takes to stage

A YOUNG musician who goes to school in Frampton Cotterell will perform on the same bill as professionals this month.

Flautist Skye Uhlyk, who attends Watermore Primary School in Frampton Cotterell, is one of children working with South Gloucestershire Music Hub who will play at the Young Performers Spotlight event at St James Church, Mangotsfield, on April 29 at 7pm.

They will be followed by a one-hour performance from professional violin and guitar duo Paco y Julian.

The one-off concert has been set up by the organisers of Mangotsfield's Ham Farm Festival.

Festival organiser and musician Emily Correa, who is also a flute teacher, said: "It's the first time a concert like this has happened in South Gloucestershire, but we hope not the last time - if it's successful we will run it every year."

Tickets for the event, which is being subsidised by the festival, are free to under-18s and cost £10 in advance for adults, online at bit.ly/3ZJeN4O, or £12 on the door.

Ear Wax Removal

•

Mother's Day love

PUPILS at Watermore Primary School in Frampton Cotterell put their love for their mums on display around the village for Mothering Sunday.

Every pupil from Reception to Year 6 was encouraged to write a poem to their mother, carer or family on a decorated heart.

The paper hearts were then put on posters and displayed in the windows of Budgens, Magnolia Mews Bakehouse and the Daisy Chain Deli in the village.

Play coordinator Bridie Ellaway, who organised and worked with every pupil on the project, said: "The children enjoyed walking the village over the weekend to find their live hearts, showing family on the way round.

Foot Clinic

•

•

Skye Uhlyk

Children from Watermore Primary School with some of the posters

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

Let's keep washing those feet!

OVER the last few weeks I have been spending some time reflecting on the Easter story.

I think if we know a story well there is a danger that we can become somewhat complacent about it and ‘think we know it all’.

However there is always more to understand and help us in our daily lives.

In particular I have been thinking about the incident on Maundy Thursday when Jesus, the night before he was crucified, had supper with his friends and washed their feet.

Feet – such a vital part of the human body.

One of my favourite pastimes is putting on my faithful wellies and walking miles across the fields.

I love noticing the changing seasons, listening to the birdsong and of course being aware of my feet taking every

step. I find it a really helpful way to think things through and without my faithful feet I would not be able to do so.

So why did Jesus, the night before he was killed, decide to wash the feet of his friends?

We may think it was a very strange thing to do. We need to remember in those days, and in that part of the world, there were no wellies, socks or shoes – at best feet where a little protected by rustic sandals but would get very dirty, sweaty and smelly daily.

So the washing of feet was considered a very unpleasant, menial task. And yet this is what Jesus chooses to do – to get down on his knees and wash and tenderly dry those smelly feet.

What an amazing act of servanthood and love.

Just for a moment imagine you are one of those friends

having your feet lovingly washed. Not only must it have felt refreshing, after a long day on foot, but the overwhelming sense of love must have been almost tangible.

So what does this mean to us today in our very troubled world?

We should be prepared to serve others in extravagant acts of love done tenderly.

In John’s gospel Jesus says "I have just washed your feet, you then should wash one another’s feet".

We are called to reach out to those around us, both near and far, and ‘metaphorically’ wash their feet, through acts of kindness and generosity.

We need to put the needs of others before our own.

But the other important part of this story today is that we need to allow others to ‘wash our feet’. Not literally, but

Jo Strange Licensed lay minister, Fromeside Benefice

some of us find it quite hard to receive acts of kindness and care from others, as Peter in the story tried to stop Jesus from washing his feet.

And yet we need to accept these acts of love and kindness as well - even those of us who do not feel we deserve it.

So my friends let us renew our commitment to serve those around us - let’s keep washing those feet!

Join our bioblitz

ONE of the joys of spending time in nature is that there is always something new to discover, and always the possibility of something rare turning up.

We were very excited recently to find a firecrest along the river between the Centenary Field and Black Rocks.

This beautiful little bird is similar to the tiny Goldcrest but is more colourful, with stripes around the eyes.

We’ll be taking a close look at the wildlife in this area on April 29 when we hold our second annual bioblitz at the Centenary Field.

Part of the City Nature Challenge, an international event, a bioblitz sees people work together to find and record as many wildlife species as possible in one place.

We’ll be leading nature walks throughout the day focusing on birds, trees, wildflowers, butterflies and bugs, starting with the dawn chorus and ending with bats.

Our walks are free and families are welcome (children must be accompanied by an adult).

There will also be stalls, workshops and activities including arts and crafts, bat detection, making footprint tunnels and den building.

We’ll be showing people how to use the iNaturalist app to identify and record the wildlife they see.

We’re hoping to raise some money with a nature books and plants stall. If you have any to donate, then bring them along!

Money raised will be used for our projects to improve local wildlife habitats. This year we’ll be organising monthly conservation sessions at the Glebeland, and creating a wildlife garden at the back of the Brockeridge Centre.

We hope you can join us at the bioblitz.

For more details join the Frampton Cotterell Nature Facebook group or email framptoncotterellnature@gmail.com.

David Hanks

Award for gardeners

THE owner of a garden that has opened to the public for more than 60 years to raise money for charity has been given an award in recognition of her achievement.

Barbara Naish and her daughter Sonya hold open garden days to share the spring flowers at Algars Manor, in Station Road, Iron Acton every year for the National Gardens Scheme.

During that time the family has raised around £47,000 in donations for the charities supported by NGS, including a variety of health, nursing and gardening charities.

The organisation presented Barbara with a garden clock in recognition of their work at its March local garden owners meeting.

The garden will be open next on April 23 for the magnolias, and camellias, rhododendrons and other spring flowers, along with nearby Algars Mill garden.

Firecrest picture by David Hanks

Barbara Naish (second left) receives her award

n FROME VALLEY GROWING PROJECT

Time to plant some seeds

OUR favourite time of year has arrived...seed planting time!

We love seeing those sweet green babies popping up in their seed trays in our wonderful polytunnel.

Now is the time to buy your seeds and seedlings, and this year, as with other years, we will have seedlings and cuttings for sale.

If you want to come down and buy some plants from us directly, please do come to our next Volunteer session on Sunday April 2, from 10am-2pm, where we will have lots on offer. Alternatively you can buy our seeds and plants from the Winterbourne Environmental Group Share and Repair Cafe, which is held once a month at the Winterbourne Down Village Hall (see page 25).

All sales of plants and seeds go directly back in to the project, funding essential items for our group to continue.

Additionally if you are still looking for plants and seeds at the end of April we will be at the Frampton BioBlitz on April 29, at the Centenary

Field in Frampton Cotterell.

We are looking forward to this wonderful annual nature event which aims to identify and record local wildlife in the area.

Don't forget, if you would like to get involved in our project you can come on down to our weekly volunteering session, on Wednesdays from noon to 4pm.

These are informal, fun and welcoming sessions for all sections of the community. Activities are varied and can suit a variety of skills and interests. If you want to get involved but have questions, then feel free to get in touch.

We are delighted to be working in partnership with Wesport and Winterbourne Academy to offer weekly sessions to a group of students.

Each week the students come and visit our site and work really hard. They have been incredibly helpful taking care of seedlings, planting trees and mulching our willow dome.

In addition, in April we hope to welcome a group of Academy students to come along and volunteer as part of the Duke Of Edinburgh award.

We would love this work to continue and are working closely with the school to make this possible. Our view is that by providing opportunities for our young people to experience eco-compassion, and to develop skills and inspiration in biodiverse environments, we empower a new generation to work towards reversing the trajectory of mass extinction and climate crisis that we face.

If you have young people who are experiencing eco-anxiety, or indeed if you are, then please do get in contact to see if getting involved could help with these challenging feelings.

Finally we are looking for wild garlic to plant in our Food Forest.

If anybody has any spare growing in their garden that they would like to donate, we would be very grateful.

Contact us at thegrowingproject123@gmail. com.

Seedlings at the Growing Project

n WHAT'S ON

April 9

n WALKS FOR SINGLE PEOPLE. Meet Sandie at 11am, Hawkesbury Upton car park opposite The Duke of Beaufort for a free circular walk passing part of the Cotswold Way, Horton Court and the Somerset Monument. For details call Sandie on 0786 659 7104.

April 15

n GENTLE TAI CHI FOR ALL - WADCA Fundraising Event, 10.30am-12.30pm. £5 per person. Sessions start at 10.45am and 11.30am. Wear loose clothes and flat shoes. Refreshments available throughout the morning. Contact Jenny on 0785 556 0257 or jksmith@blueyond er.co.uk for more information.

April 16

n WALKS FOR SINGLE PEOPLE. Meet Les 1100.am in the car park behind the Co-op, Winterbourne for a picturesque free circular walk around the Winterbourne countryside. Refreshments at halfway stop. Fore details call Sandie on 0786 659 7104.

April 20

n ARTS APPRECIATION GROUP, Bradley Stoke Community School, 7pm. Demonstration and talk by Paul Weaver: An artist at work.

More details from Sally on 01454 774401.

April 29

n FRAMPTON COTTERELL MALE

VOICE CHOIR Annual Concert, 7pm at Zion United Church, Frampton Cotterell. All proceeds to Cancer Research UK. Tickets can be booked online via the choir website, www.fcmvc.co.uk.

REGULAR EVENTS

n MONDAY: WINTERBOURNE

FLOWER CLUB now meets at WADCA in Watleys End Road, Winterbourne. Meetings are on the second Monday of the month between 2pm and 4pm. Call 01454 776753 for details.

n MONDAY: GENTLE SHIBASHI

TAI CHI AND RELAXATION, accessible to all, 6-7pm, St Michael's Rooms, High Street, Winterbourne. Contact Jenny on 07855 560257or jksmith@ blueyonder.co.uk for more information.

n MONDAY: FRAMPTON SINGALONG meets on the first Monday in the month at Crossbow House, School Road, Frampton Cotterell, 2-3.30pm. Live music from The Jays & The Rosettes. £5, refreshments included. Carers free.

All profits to UNICEF supporting children affected by Ukraine war. More details 07515 351 813.

n TUESDAY: WINTERBOURNE DOWN METHODIST

CHURCHDrop in for free cup of tea and chat or play board games, every Tuesday from 2-4pm.

n TUESDAY: SUNRIDGE GOLF CROQUET CLUB meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Coalpit Heath and has players at all levels. Learn how to play, club equipment is available to use. Contact croquet@wilko.eclipse.co.uk or call 07977 201440.

n TUESDAY - CRAFTING: Come and join our group of crafters on the first Tuesday of every month in the Red Brick Annexe, Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath, BS36 2TG from 2-4pm. Bring your own project. £4 per session: Kay 07792189276.

n WEDNESDAY: GENTLE

SHIBASHI TAI CHI AND RELAXATION, accessible to all, 10.30-11.30am and 11.45am12.45pm, Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne. Contact Jenny on 07855 560257or jksmith@blueyonder.co.uk for more information.

n WEDNESDAY DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB

meets at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road. Call Genise on 0777 245 1217 for more information.

n THURSDAY: WINTERBOURNE WINDS, a friendly amateur wind band who play a wide range of music including pop, musicals and classical, rehearse at Frenchay Village Hall from 7.40-9.30pm. New members are welcome. For more information email winterbournewinds@yahoo.com.

THURSDAY: COELIAC UK

LOCAL CAFÉ MEET-UP, every third Thursday of the month from April 20, 10-11.30am, at Iron Acton Garden Centre cafe. Join us to share experiences of living gluten-free. For further information contact volunteering@coeliac. org.uk.

n FRIDAY: FROME VALLEY ART GROUP meets at the Greenfield Centre, Winterbourne each Friday 2-4pm or 7-9pm. Thriving club with demonstrations and workshops from visiting professional artists. More details online at winterbourneart.uk or email fromevalleyartwinterbourne@ gmail.com.

Winterbourne Library news

WINTERBOURNE Library is looking for people to help create bunting to be displayed for the Coronation.

It can be red, white or blue, with crowns or castles, and should be 14.5cm wide at the top, with a 21cm drop to the middle point: each side will then be 22cm long.

Anyone who would like to help can pick up a template in the library during staffed hours and decorate it or use it to cut out fabric or guide knitting.

All finished flags should be brought to the library by April 30.

The library holds an Easter holiday craft activity, Dinosaur Stomp, on April 14 from 10.30-11.30am.

The library will be closed from Good Friday to Easter Monday, April 7-10.

Lego club next meets on April 15, from 10am to 11am – for children aged four and up.

Storytime sessions, on Fridays from 9.30-10am in term time only, are suitable for children aged 18 months to four years.

Regular Rhymetimes take place on Wednesdays, 9.30am-10am. Suitable for babies aged up to 18 months.

An adult craft group meets on April 22 and 29, from 10am-noon: join a friendly group of crafters to do your own work and chat – refreshments available.

A new Digital Champion can help people get online, use a PC or phone. The volunteer is available on Fridays from 10am-noon: booking is essential. Computer classes are held on Thursdays (term time only). Enrolment required with SGS College - for more information call Cindy on 0117 909 2296 or email cindy.corbett@sgscol.ac.uk.

For more details of events or bookings, visit the library, email Winterbourne.library@southglos.gov.uk or phone 01454 868006.

The library is open and staffed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-5pm, and on Saturday from 9.30am-12.30pm.

Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group

SPRINGTIME sees us in the mood to tidy and restore, to bring a sense of freshness to our houses.

If the longer days and brighter light has got you in the mood to repair and refresh your home, then come along to our Share and Repair Café.

The community cafes are held on the third Saturday of the month at All Saints Church Hall in Winterbourne Down, from 10.30am until noon.

We have a team of volunteer repairers who share their skills to breathe new life into our goods.

A different team is there each month - check our Facebook page more information each month.

On our team is jewellery repairer Kim, who runs Cross My Palm Designs; sewing gurus Nic,

Floral Friends of Frampton

YOU may have noticed that the weeping cherry tree in the Sensory Garden has been removed – it had got too big for the space, and had also been vandalised.

We have now replaced it with a crab apple tree –hopefully this will soon be flowering and will be followed in the autumn with a plentiful supply of crab apples!

The planters are also due to be replaced shortly, since the existing ones are deteriorating and will be replaced with planters made from recycled plastic. These will be planted up with a mix of perennial and annual plants.

A date for your diary - our Spring Fayre and Plant Sale takes place on Saturday May 27 from 10am to noon.

Come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a cake, browse the stalls and, maybe, buy some plants for your garden. An event not to be missed!

If you can help us in any way, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at floralfriendsofframpton@gmail. com.

Janet and Jane; electrical wizards Steve, Steve, Steve, Stefano, and Nigel (yes there are four Steves!); wood restorer Paul; bike tuner Duncan; and clocksmith Mike. More volunteers are always welcome.

As well as saving goods from landfill, the team is also keen to share repair skills with the community. The Repair Café movement was set up to encourage us all to learn how to keep our belongings at their best, so we can treasure our possessions instead of buying new.

Over the next few months we

will be running special Repair Cafes with a focus on different skills – join us to learn more.

The next cafés are on April 22, May 20 and June 17.

We also run a litter pick alongside the café - pop in and get your litter picker, and be rewarded with tea and cake afterwards!

Laura Fogg-Rogers

Beesmoor Road Playing Field

THE unwanted muddy water feature at Beesmoor Road Playing Field has gone!

Through the winter months children using the wooden play equipment had to deal with a muddy puddle that appeared by the hollow log after heavy rain.

Playground contractors Touchwood, who built the play area in 2019, have carried out drainage work which means the area should no longer flood, and

eventually grass should grow through the protective matting.

The play area, which includes two slides, swings, balance logs and climbing towers, is open to all children in the village.

The Playing Field Committee, who are all unpaid volunteers, hope the drainage work will allow children to enjoy the play equipment even more.

The Park is funded by grants from Frampton Cotterell Parish Council, and support from local businesses, and makes a small income from hiring out the football pitches to teams including the Ridings FC, Ridings Veterans and Frampton Athletic FC.

Beesmoor Road Playing field is always looking for people to join the committee, and you could get involved as part of King Charles's Big Helpout Coronation appeal, or just email field@beesmoor.uk.

You can find out more about us at the website www.beesmoor.uk and on Facebook.

Phil Kerswell

Learning to use a sewing machine

Frampton Cotterell WI – April News

OUR late February meeting was enjoyed by all - local dance expert and Zumba instructor Karen Davis made a welcome return visit to our group.

Karen started off with a fun 'Strictly' quiz, before managing to get most of us on our feet to practice some key Strictly moves, including rumba, tango and samba.

Our March talk was a history talk on Norman Hunting Lodges by local historian John Wilson Smith.

Other confirmed events for the coming months include Tai Chi with Jenny Smith on April 25 and our annual WI resolutions meeting on May 23.

We have many other events and socials lined up for the coming year, including visits to the theatre, including Fisherman’s Friends in May, local gardens and other local group trips throughout the coming year.

We also have a monthly lunch club, open to all members and held at a different local venue each

time.

Watch this space and our Facebook page for confirmation of future event dates, more details and to contact us if you're interested in joining.

Visitors and new members are welcome to our monthly meetings at St Peter’s Hall on School Road, which are normally the fourth Tuesday of every month, at 7.45pm.

There is a charge of £4 for the evening and any new members can also join by paying a membership fee.

Special interest groups that

meet separately including a book club, craft group, gardening group and our skittles and darts teams.

Coeliac UK local café meet-up

DO you have coeliac disease? Do you need to live gluten Free? Do you know someone who does?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then why not pop along to a new Coeliac UK local café meet-up?

These events are run by Coeliac

UK volunteers and offer relaxed and informal support for anyone affected by the disease or needing to live gluten free.

We will be meeting on the third Thursday of each month, starting on April 20, from 10-11.30am at Iron Acton Garden Centre café in Wotton Road.

Just pop in for a chat any time during the event.

The Coeliac UK volunteers will be wearing an orange t-shirt.

The local café meet-up is free to attend, with car parking available.

Why not buy a drink and Gluten Free snack or Gluten Free cake while you're there?

Everyone is welcome, including family, friends and carers (under 18s should be accompanied by a parent or guardian).

You don’t need to be a member of Coeliac UK or live locally to attend.

For further information on the above café meet-up email volunteering@coeliac.org.uk.

Coeliac UK is a charity for people who need to live without gluten – the website can be found at www.coeliac.org.uk.

WI members try Zumba

Winterbourne

Medieval Barn

THERE'S lots going on for all ages down at the barn this spring.

There are just a few tickets left for Family Easter Crafts and Egg Hunt on April 3, and for the UWE Big Band on April 21.

Spring is a great time to hear birdsong - but can you recognise birds from their songs?

There will be a lovely spring morning walk on April 23 with naturalist Ed Drewitt, who will help us identify the different birds in the

hedges, fields and nature reserve, and learn their sounds.

The walk starts at 8am and will end back at the barn around 9.30am, for breakfast and a chat.

Our region's architectural follies are the subject of an illustrated talk by expert Jonathan Holt on April 27. These buildings served no useful purpose but were built out of passion, eccentricity, or just to show off! A true folly enthusiast, Jonathan has built a shell house in his garden in Bath.

There may be some tickets available on the door for this talk.

Monthly talks in the Barn all

start at 7pm and are also available live-streamed on zoom (book online). The bar opens at 6.30pm.

Barn events provide a range of accessible activities for the community, and help to raise essential money for the Trust for conservation and improvement of the heritage site.

All events can be booked online at www.winterbournebarn.org.uk, via Facebook or on Ticketsource.

For those without internet access, a box office is open 1.302.30pm on the first Thursday of each month for in-person ticket sales.

Louise Harrison

Crossbow Singers

WE have embraced 2023 with vigour and have been enthusiastically learning a whole range of new pieces that Carolyn, our musical director, and the committee have chosen.

We are so pleased to have welcomed several new members to the choir but also sad that there are some very long-standing members who have not been able to return

yet; we miss them terribly.

It seems a long time ago now but thank you to everyone who supported our Christmas Concert, it was a real success with lots of audience participation. As usual we had a retiring collection, which was used to donate to the Zion Food Hub. Thank you to all the very generous donations, we were able to give £500 to this very worthy local cause.

The next few months are looking very busy, starting with our AGM, which is always a good opportunity to get together. We are also very pleased to resume social events, something that has been on hold for the past two years. A skittles evening is being planned.

Finally, we are very pleased to announce that we will be singing at a couple of local events.

We have been asked to do a concert at the Winterbourne Down Carnival on Sunday April 30 from 6-7pm at All Saints Church, and again at All Saints on June 19 in the evening. We are very much looking forward to being part of both concerts, and performing a variety of old favourites and new tracks.

Louise Lewis

A folly at Badminton.

Coalpit Heath WI

ANN Fisher’s beautiful sugar-crafted floral arrangements were the centrepiece of our March meeting.

Ann explained that even quite complicated finished pieces start off the same way, demonstrated how pieces were cut and shaped from fondant icing using a variety of tools, then shared the different methods of colouring that could be used to create realistic flowers.

While she was talking she assembled the pieces of an orchid so we could see how a flower was made.

Members again supported NICU units locally by making over 40 hearts to be given out on Mother’s Day: we know they are much

appreciated.

Our additional groups include a theatre group who have recently been to see My Fair Lady and the book group, who are meeting every other month.

There are also plans for an afternoon tea and a trip to the wildflower meadow at Highgrove.

We had another great evening of skittles, against Iron Acton. It was very closely contested, and we only lost by four. We are now looking into the possibility of having a game amongst ourselves.

If you fancy coming along and seeing what we have to offer you would be most welcome. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month in St Saviour’s church hall, at 7.45pm.

Our next meeting is indoor curling, on April 5.

For more information find us on Facebook or Instagram.

Caroline Johnston

Winterbourne Down WI

A NUMBER of our members recently met up for coffee and a chat at the very busy Mokka café in Downend.

We have all really enjoyed these monthly informal get-togethers and have been surprised by how many small cafes there are dotted around our area, serving good coffee and cakes. We are pleased to support them.

Our skittles team beat Rodway Rubies WI, so we are now through to the next round against Falfield WI.

Three of our members enjoyed a Boccia class, which has similar rules to boules and pétanque, but you have to remain seated.

This month we are all looking forward to a three-course meal hosted by our president Margaret. Our WI maintains the garden adjacent to All Saints’ Church Hall, where we hold our monthly meetings, and this is the time of year when we ask members to volunteer to carry out a spring tidy-up.

We hope that the very cold winter weather has not caused too much damage to our precious plants.

Our speaker this month gave us a demonstration of armchair yoga, explaining that in order to relax we must control our breathing and that the main philosophy of yoga is health, a balanced life-style, mind and body.

The Winterbourne Down May Day Carnival is fast approaching and our WI stall will include home-bakes, jams and preserves, together with a tombola.

This is a good day out for all the family and your support will help many charities.

We meet at All Saints’ Church Hall on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm.

Our April meeting will feature a cake decorating demonstration by one of our own members.

Victoria Goodman

A sugarcraft orchid

New girls' football initiative

COALPIT Heath Football Club is starting a new football initiative aimed at getting more girls playing the sport.

Are you looking for a fun way, for girls aged five to 11 to get involved? Then look no further!

The club is working in partnership with the Weetabix Wildcats programme, with sessions starting from late April on the Manor Field.

Weetabix Wildcats is non-competitive football for girls who want to give it a go for the very first time or want to play with other girls of their own age.

Most importantly, it is all about having loads of fun and meeting amazing new friends.

Each session will be supported by Football Association qualified coaches and volunteers.

Club chairman Stuart Aris said: "Coalpit Heath are really excited to be setting this up and have a long term commitment to providing an opportunity for girls aged 5-11.

"Sessions will focus on developing your child’s fundamental movement skills – agility, balance coordination and speed.

"Girls will learn new football skills, make brilliant friendships and have fun together. We can’t wait to get going."

To register your interest, drop us an email at info@coalpitheathfc. org.uk.

Sessions will be on a pay-as-you-go basis, so you can come along and see you how get on.

Once you’ve registered your interest, we’ll add you to our list and notify you when we get going.

Steve Clemente

Jaspers win promotion

BRISTOL

& West Hockey Club's Jaspers ladies 1st team have secured promotion by guaranteeing first place with one game still to play in their division.

The side remains unbeaten in the league so far, and will be looking to add the cherry on top of that cake with one final game against Westberries.

B&WJ1s have drawn four games and won the rest, scoring 46 goals and conceding only eight times in a 17-game period.

The team will move up into the West Women's Division 1 North league from the start of next season where they will be one step away from West Premiership status, following a tremendous effort.

On the men's side of the game it's crunch time, as the 1st team are currently sitting joint top with Bristol University 2s, on 51 points.

The lads are ahead by the narrowest of margins, only by +1 goal difference. The stage is set however, as the local students are next up, in what could prove to be the season decider with only three games remaining.

The summer hockey season is just around the corner - to get involved or for more information visit www.bandwhc.org.uk.

Harry Bryant

Tour is about more than just the match

A TOUR to Cornwall saw Frampton Cotterell in action on the pitch and raising money off it.

A tour party of 45 senior players, most of them under 23 and enjoying their first tour, were joined by more than 50 veterans and former players for the friendly with St Austell RFC.

After a Friday night trip to Newquay, the group played St Austell the following day.

The game was close but Frampton lost 29-25.

Fram man of match and captain was Liam Hennessy, who crossed for a hat-trick of tries, with the other tries scored by stalwarts Mark Smith and Sam Rumley, who borrowed kit to enter the fray at half-time.

The tour also saw funds raised for two good rugby-related

causes, with £1,000 donated to help Matt Badman, of Coalpit Heath, fund a specialist chair to play wheelchair rugby.

The Voice reported last month that Matt, who is 28 and has cerebral palsy, has been playing wheelchair rugby for two years.

His ambition is to make the Team GB wheelchair rugby team in the Paralympics but to play at a high level he needs a made-tomeasure chair.

A further £250 was raised to sponsor former Frampton junior

player Michael Holden, who has been selected for the England Universities Rugby League squad. Players have to self-fund their places.

The junior tour raised a further £450, with the cause yet to be decided, to make a total of £1,700.

The club would like to thank Euro Coaches, Avon Drivers and all players, non-players, parents and coaches for their contributions and support for the good causes.

While around 100 club

members were away enjoying the tour match and a few beers in Cornwall, Frampton's first team still had to fulfil a fixture against Drybrook 2nds.

After some frantic ringing around and dusting off of boots, the Frampton Cotterell Barbarians were born.

Under the coaching guidance of Matt Flood and James Carver, and the captaincy of Alamo Moore, they dominated the match and came away with a 29-7 victory.

The match day squad included several first team debutants, such as Tim Mason, Lawrence Chidley, Liam Crowley, Matt Harvey, Dan Casey, Josh Kay, Rudi Hahn and Adam Nolan.

Tries from Nolan (2), Mason, Rob Keir and the evergreen Tony Bleakman drove the Fram to a convincing victory - and showed what strength in depth the club has.

Matt Badman has an online fundraising page on Gofundme at bit.ly/3YUs626.

Mike Weaver, Matt Marsh and Peter Zaffiro

Action from the St Austell v Frampton match