Frome Valley Voice February 2024

fromevalleyvoice www.fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

February, 2024 Issue 124 FREE EVERY MONTH IN WINTERBOURNE, FRAMPTON COTTERELL, COALPIT HEATH, IRON ACTON & WINTERBOURNE DOWN

Drive-by attacks

POLICE are trying to trace vandals who drove through Winterbourne smashing windows and damaging the bodywork of cars.

PAGE 2

Charity is moving Head teacher Carol Bond with year 6 and Reception children stood alongside the artwork Our Elm Park Tree, designed and created by Somerset metalwork sculptor Ian Marlow

Welcome to our new school

STAFF and pupils of a Winterbourne primary school have moved in to their £11 million new building.

The new term at Elm Park Primary School in Nicholls Lane saw lessons taking place in the new eco-friendly building for the first time.

Pupils have described their new home as a "bright and happy" place, and head teacher Carol

Bond says everyone is “extremely excited” to finally Funding for a new school was first approved nearly five years ago - but changes to the design have seen it open more than two years later than originally planned, and at more than double the original cost.

Full story: Pages 3

COALPIT Heath charity Paul's Place is set to move this year after 'outgrowing' its current home.

PAGE 5

Children are 'outstanding'

INSPECTORS have praised the 'exemplary' behaviour of pupils at a village primary school.

PAGE 7

Photo award

A FRAMPTON Cotterell-based photographer is one of the winners of UK’s biggest annual photography exhibition.

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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

Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 NHS Health Call 111 Well Aware health & social care information www.wellaware.org.uk Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

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'drive-by' attacks AROUND a dozen cars in Winterbourne have been damaged in a series of drive-by attacks using pellets or ball bearings.

Police have appealed for help tracing the suspect vehicle – believed to be a dark L200 Mitsubishi 4x4 pick up truck, with a hard rear cover.

The attacks happened overnight on December 27 to 28 and involved cars parked in A car window smashed during the attacks Park Avenue, Common Road, Nicholls Lane, Dragon Road, Cloisters Road, and North Road.

An Avon & Somerset police spokesperson said officers were aware of 11 vehicles and one building that had been damaged, although other incidents may not have been reported.

Police beat manager for Winterbourne and Hambrook, A dark Mitsubishi L200 was caught PC Paula Stone, said car on CCTV bodywork and windscreens had been damaged.

It was not known whether an air weapon or catapult was used to inflict the damage.

The police spokesperson said: "Fortunately, we are glad to report nobody was injured.

"We are still taking this matter extremely seriously and enquiries are ongoing to identify the person or persons responsible.

"Officers from the neighbourhood team in the days after collected CCTV from businesses and have knocked on doors to try to gather as much information as possible."

The police have called on anyone who has information about what happened to either call 101 or visit the police website, quoting the crime reference number 5223 316 044.

Boys pepper sprayed POLICE are trying to trace a man who sprayed a group of boys with a pepper spray-like substance in Yate - leaving one of them in need of hospital treatment.

The incident happened shortly before 7.30pm on Boxing Day near the Shell petrol station on Westerleigh Road.

An Avon & Somerset police spokesperson said: "Six boys, aged between 12 and 15, were walking along the road when a car pulled up.

"A man got out and sprayed an irritant substance, similar to pepper spray, at the boys before driving off at speed.

"One of the boys went to hospital and was discharged after treatment to skin irritation, while another was cared for at home."

At present police do not have a description of the man or the car involved, but are appealing for witnesses and people with CCTV or dashcam footage to call them on 101, quoting the crime reference number 5223 314 794.

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£11m primary school is open at last CHILDREN at Elm Park Primary School in Winterbourne have moved into their new £11 million eco-building – more than two years later than originally planned.

Staff and pupils had originally been told they would be in their new building in September 2021 – but finally moved in at the start of the current term, on January 5.

Head teacher Carol Bond said they were all “extremely excited” at the new state-ofthe-art school, and pupils have welcomed it as a bright and happy space.

The building in Nicholls Lane is constructed to 'Passivhaus' environmental standards, to be highly energy efficient, insulated and ventilated, and have a very low carbon impact, with solar panels and heating from air source heat pumps.

Mrs Bond said: “Since our old school opened in 1961, our building has seen thousands of children pass through our school gates.

“It was sad to say goodbye to our old building, which was full of so many memories, but we have been truly excited to welcoming our children into our new building.

"We really look forward to welcoming many more generations through our new school gates and making new memories.

“From our school community, I would like to extend our very grateful thanks to BAM (building contractor) and the team at South Gloucestershire Council for their incredible dedication to

Demolition work has already started on the old buildings, in the foreground, now pupils and staff have moved in to their new school, which is in the background behind the digger

this project.”

Mrs Bond said the school’s 210 pupils were enjoying the new building and comments had included one youngster saying: “I was sad that we had to say goodbye to our old school but I love the new one. The library is my favourite place.”

Another described the new building as "really bright and happy", adding: "My favourite place is the upstairs bit because it has lots of space.”

The school hall, a new multiuse outdoor sports pitch and the playing field are to be made available for community use.

The new school has been built on the old staff car park – the old school is already in the process of being demolished, after which landscaping and external works will be carried out.

The opening marks the end of a near five-year process of replacing the school.

It was in March 2019 that

South Gloucestershire Council confirmed it had allocated £4.9m in its budget to replace what Winterbourne ward councillor Trevor Jones had described as a "tired old building".

However two years later, with building yet to start, the council said it had superseded the original plans with a scheme for a building built to energy efficient 'Passivhaus' standards, with solar panels, high levels of insulation and low energy consumption, adding £1.2m to the cost.

The delay angered the area's MP Jack Lopresti, who spoke out in August of 2021 when the council said the changes, and delays related to the covid pandemic, meant the school would not be ready before September 2023.

He described it as "a terrible failure by the council to deliver this project".

During the summer of last year the council said that due to

324 arrests in drink-drive crackdown

POLICE arrested more than 50 drivers in South Gloucestershire for driving under the influence of drink or drugs during a national festive crackdown.

In total, Avon and Somerset Police arrested 324 drivers during the annual Operation Tonic in December, 51 of them in South Gloucestershire and 86 in Bristol.

Numbers were 10% up on the previous year, with more than two thirds (68%) of arrests for drinkdriving and the other 32% for

drug-driving.

Stops were made through a combination of stop checks at fixed sites, intelligence operations, public reports of suspected drinkdriving, and 'proactive patrols' to look for erratic drivers.

In total around 2,000 drivers were stopped during the operation, and approximately 16% of them were arrested.

One driver was arrested and later banned after another motorist saw him driving erratically on the M5.

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Police said four out of five drivers arrested were male.

Under-25s made up 17% of drivers arrested, with 25 to 34 year olds accounted for 30% and people aged 35-44 making 26%.

People aged between 45 and 54 made up 17% of those arrested, with over-55s accounting for the other 10%.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: "Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not only illegal, but also a reckless and

further delays, the school would not be ready until this January, when staff and pupils finally moved in.

The delays, and high inflation in the construction industry over the past few years, have pushed the price of the project over the £11m mark.

A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “The replacement building has been designed to Passivhaus standards to minimise environmental impact, dramatically reducing reliance on fossil fuels, minimising energy consumption, while also generating its own electricity via solar panels.

“The new layout of the school site incorporates educational facilities for the benefit of the pupils and staff, and spaces for community use including access to the hall, a multi-use outdoor sports pitch and the playing field.”

dangerous choice that puts lives at risk.

“I would like to thank the public who are helping us to target those people that they suspect are drink or drug-driving. By doing this, you are helping us to reinforce the message that getting behind the wheel while under the influence is never acceptable."

Police are encouraging people to continue to report information about drink or drug-drivers, either online or via 101 - or 999 if the person involved is behind the wheel at the time.

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February, 2024

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34 miles to NHS dentist PEOPLE in the Frome Valley area currently face a 34-mile trip to reach the nearest dentist accepting new adult NHS patients.

As of January 23 the closest practice to Frampton Cotterell currently open to new adult patients on the NHS Find a Dentist website was just under 34 miles away in Marlborough, Wiltshire, followed by a practice in Malvern, Worcestershire, nearly 42 miles away.

For children aged 17 and under, the nearest practice open to new NHS patients was almost 17 miles away, in Bradford-onAvon. The same practice was accepting adults who are entitled to free dental care.

Seven dentists within ten miles of Frampton, including one in Yate, said they would treat new patients on the NHS only if they

have been referred for specialist dental care.

It is more than two years since the practice that ran the Frampton and Flaxpits surgeries serving the Frome Valley area told its 14,000 patients that it would only treat them if they paid to be seen privately.

A spokesperson for NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, which is responsible for NHS services in the area, said: "We are aware that access to NHS dentistry in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire is challenging and we are working hard to try and improve the situation for local people.

"We continue to engage extensively with local dental clinicians, their representatives and partners, as part of a wider

South West Dental Reform programme, to encourage and support them to continue to provide services for NHS patients."

The ICB said people with an urgent dental need could call 111 to access one of 64 appointments available each week.

The profession's official body, the British Dental Association, says the "access crisis" facing the area is typical of the situation around the country.

It blames the "long discredited" NHS dental contract, first introduced in 2006, which has led to severe recruitment and retention problems.

Parliament's Health and Social Care Committee recommended in July last year that it should be reformed, after carrying out an inquiry.

But the BDA said it was still

waiting for the government to publish its recovery plan and said it had "singularly failed to show it shares the aspirations of the Committee".

BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: “The Government claim they want access for all but appear unwilling to make any commitments that could actually achieve that.

“We’ve heard big ambitions but no action, and our patients will continue paying the price.”

A recent national survey carried out for The Times found more than half of children in South Gloucestershire had not seen a dentist in the past year, and that tooth problems were now the most common cause of hospital visits among children.

Only 39% of the area's adults had seen a dentist in the past two years, the newspaper found.

More time to have a say on Local Plan SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has extended the deadline for people to have their say on the blueprint for the future of the district.

The council opened the latest phase of consultations on its Local Plan, which will guide how and where development takes place over the 15 years from 2025 to 2040, in December.

It says it needs to find sites for 9,260 new homes, at least 7,813 of which will need to be built on greenfield sites.

The 'preferred' version of the plan proposes allowing 235 new homes to be built

on fields around Winterbourne.

Another 150 could be built around Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath, while 800 could be built at Henfield, between Westerleigh Road and the M4.

The council held a series of meetings in January, to explain why it believes it has to build on greenfield sites and to listen to residents' ideas.

It has also produced a series of alternative views of where homes could go if it pursued a different strategy - including a 'no Green Belt loss' vision that would involve building just 89

homes in the Frome Valley, off Park Road in Coalpit Heath.

Local campaign groups VALID (Villages Against Locally Intended Development) and Frampton Nature have been encouraging people to respond to the consultation.

The council has extended the deadline for comments on the Local Plan to February 16.

Full details have been published online at www.southglos.gov.uk/newlocalplan, where people can fill in a consultation survey.

People who are not online can call the council on 01454 868009.

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Charity plans move to new base A COALPIT Heath charity which helps adults with disabilities is planning a million-pound expansion and move to a new base.

Paul’s Place has taken over the lease of the troubled Shire Way Centre in Yate – and plans to move its operations from its current premises at Coalpit Heath Cricket Club by the end of this year.

The charity says the move will allow Paul’s Place to grow to offer services to many more people in the area.

The Shire Way centre has been closed since the Charity Commission launched an investigation into its finances and management two years ago.

Paul’s Place will take over the site, moving from its current leased space in Serridge Lane, after being awarded the Shire Way lease in a “closed bid” process, which is understood to have involved several other takeover offers.

The charity works to enhance the lives of physically disabled adults by providing social activities that connect people, reduce isolation, improve health and well-being, and give people the opportunity to develop new skills and enjoy new experiences.

Chief executive Lynda Williams said they had allocated £900,000 to fund buying the centre's 65-year lease, along with refurbishment work.

She said the new look centre will include a community café run by Paul’s Place members, an allotment area, and rooms for hire for events and local organisations.

Lynda said: “The much-loved Shire Way Community Centre, in Yate, has sat untouched since Paul's Place chief executive Lynda Williams

The Shire Way Centre has been closed for the past two years 2022 but our charity is going to bring it back to life.

“We are extremely excited about our move to Shire Way and the opportunities it will create for not only the charity but the residents of Yate.

“It means we can increase our daily activities and our facilities for all our members.

“And it means we’ll be able to take on more members in the future, so it’s a really good day for Paul’s Place and it’s a fantastic day for people who have physical disabilities and use our services, now and in the future.

“Our current home at the cricket club has been great but with growth and increasing demand for our services, we have simply outgrown the building.”

Lynda said the charity hoped to create a ‘Paul’s Place Hub’ - a completely accessible building that will allow it to support more disabled people to live their life to the full.

She added: “We really hope the local community will get behind our plans and support us as much as possible."

The news has been welcomed by local councillors in Yate.

The town's mayor Cheryl Kirby, who is a Dodington ward councillor on South Gloucestershire council, said: "The prospect of a fully accessible 'Paul's Place Hub' at Shire Way is genuinely exciting.

"We are excited to see how the charity's expanded offerings will benefit the community and help individuals locally live fulfilling

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lives."

In January 2022 the Charity Commission launched an inquiry into the Shire Way Community Association, “over concerns about misconduct and/or

mismanagement”.

The centre has been closed and unused ever since.

A Charity Commission spokesperson said the inquiry was still “ongoing”.

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February, 2024

Solar farm plans approved COUNCILLORS have approved plans for a huge solar farm north of Iron Acton, despite more than 100 objections.

South Gloucestershire Council's development management committee granted permission, by six votes to three, for the new plant across 15 agricultural fields at Varley Farm in Talbots End, between Wickwar Quarry and the B4058 Bristol Road, near Cromhall.

But a resident accused the council of “blindly” accepting a report commissioned by the applicants, RES Group (Renewable Energy Systems), that downgraded the quality of the farmland using a method he claimed to be “totally bogus”.

Speaking on behalf of the 122 objectors, qualified surveyor Cyrus Contractor told the meeting on January 18 that RES was a massive, “bullying” firm with a £1 billion annual turnover, which would just sell off the land.

(Left) The current entrance to Varley Farm. (Right) Residents Cyrus and Sophie Contractor address the planning meeting He said: "I am convinced that RES has absolutely no interest in climate change – solar farms are just a way to make more money.

“There is no benefit to the local community whatsoever – the electricity produced will just be exported to the National Grid.

“The community suffers all of the downsides and none of the upsides.

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“Our village is a thriving and historic agricultural village.

“We should not be forced to surrender productive farmland to a highly aggressive and commercial power company, bullying its way across the world with its money and influence.”

Mr Contractor said the council’s declaration of a climate emergency meant it shared the same goals as RES and so could not be neutral in determining the proposals.

He said a council report, which recommended approval of the plans, excluded the extra building needed to complete the solar farm, with pylons and electrical substations allowed under permitted development to connect to the National Grid.

Cromhall parish councillor Daren Jeffery said: “We strongly object to the construction of Varley Solar Farm.

“It will have an overall negative impact on the immediate neighbours to the site, the village and the wider community.”

He said children were dropped off from the school bus and walked home along Farleigh Lane, a twisty, rural road, and lorries going in and out of the site during construction would create a “deathtrap waiting to happen”.

Senior planning officer Rae Mepham said the plans for the farm - which will be returned to agricultural use after 40 years were acceptable, including road safety, and that the benefits outweighed the harms.

She said the agricultural land was re-graded because the previous analysis was carried out back in the 1980s, which at the time did not include as many categories of soil quality.

Ms Mepham said the grading

was done by an independent, qualified company using a Defraapproved rating system.

Committee member June Bamford (Con, Hanham) said that although new trees and hedgerows would be planted, these would not screen the site completely because the solar panels would be up to 3.5 metres tall, so there would be “harm to the environment”, as well as noise from the equipment.

She said: "I would have liked to have seen the company pay a large bond upfront so that the taxpayer does not foot the bill for any cleanup after 40 years because we don’t know whether that company is going to be there."

Council head of development management Marie Bath said the committee had recently granted consent for two bigger solar farms.

RES development project manager Bert Devossel said the scheme would provide enough energy to power 10,000 homes and save 600,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions over its lifetime, while 100 new trees and a kilometre of hedgerows would be planted.

He said 90% of the land was not classified as “best and most versatile”.

After the meeting RES insisted the design would "enable continued agricultural use of the land in the form of sheep farming" and said new planting would help "significantly enhance the biodiversity of the site".

Mr Devossel added: "Feedback from the local community and stakeholders during the consultation stage helped to positively shape the proposal, resulting in changes being made to the design."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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February, 2024

7

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School's 'exemplary' pupils impress inspectors INSPECTORS have praised a primary school's "exceptionally" well-behaved pupils, caring relationships and ambitious curriculum.

Regulator Ofsted said the behaviour and attitudes of pupils at Hambrook Primary School was 'outstanding' and rated the school 'good' in all other areas - quality of education, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

Two inspectors visited the school in Moorend Road, which has 196 pupils aged from four to 11 on its roll, last November.

They said: "Pupils behave exceptionally well at Hambrook Primary School.

"They show exemplary attitudes to their learning. The school has high expectations of pupils’ behaviour.

"Hambrook is an inclusive and welcoming school. The caring relationships in the school mean that pupils feel safe and happy.

"Pupils respond to each other with kindness and respect. They understand the importance of looking after each other and being kind as a part of the ‘Hambrook family’."

The report said the chance to take on responsibilities was enjoyed by pupils, adding: "They say that these roles make them feel proud, help them to set a positive example to others and make the school better."

The inspectors said the school's curriculum is "ambitious and is designed to develop pupils’ curiosity about the world and empathy for others".

They highlighted the "sharp focus on reading", from early Toasting marshmallows at a forest school session

Pupils from Hambrook Primary School with certificates for achievement presented at a celebration assembly in January teaching of phonics, rhymes does in enabling our children and stories to developing more to thrive, both personally and complex skills in older pupils. academically.

Books are well-matched to children's abilities, enabling them to "develop a love for reading".

The maths curriculum is "designed and sequenced well", with clear explanation of new concepts, and pupils were "supported to catch up and keep up" in many subjects.

The inspectors also highlighted the school's support for pupils' mental health and well-being, with "many highquality opportunities" such as outdoor forest school lessons and meditation.

Support for children with special educational needs or disabilities, and teaching of "British values", including democracy and equal treatment for all.

Staff feel well supported and "are proud to work at this school", the inspectors said, reporting that school leaders were mindful of workloads and well-being.

To improve further the inspectors said the school needed to ensure the important knowledge that pupils need to learn and remember was identified in all subjects, to use assessment more precisely to understand what pupils know and adapt where necessary.

Head teacher Jennifer Rubel said: "The inspectors were glowing about the work our school

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"They praised the range of opportunities we provide and the high quality learning that happens in all classrooms.

"In addition to the report we are rightly proud of the continuing academic success of Hambrook Primary School. Out of the 97 primary schools in South Gloucestershire, we have been consistently ranked in the top 5 for the progress and attainment of our pupils, for the last five years running.

"This is testament to the dedication we have of providing every pupil with the best start to their education.

"On behalf of all Hambrook staff, we are very proud of the report but also the work we do each and every day to make Hambrook such a special school, in which our pupils thrive."

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February, 2024

Council tax up by nearly 5% Bus schemes 'benefit the rich' SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is set to increase its part of the council tax bill by the maximum amount allowed without a referendum - 4.99% - from April.

That would represent an extra £86.23 on the main council element of the bill, from £1,727.98 to £1,814.21, for taxpayers in a typical Band D home.

The final bill, which will be voted on in February, will also include the charges levied by parish councils, the police and fire service, and 'special expenses' for neighbourhood facilities.

Other changes include a hike in green bin charges from £30 to £60 a year and a £10 administration charge to apply for a Blue Badge.

The council says both changes will bring the council into line with neighbouring authorities.

It says the proposals followed "an extensive public consultation process" which saw 50,000 comments submitted on the authority's original draft proposals.

The budget will include a £1 million increase in spending on

children’s services, providing Free School Meal vouchers for one week at Easter and one week of summer holidays, a pilot scheme to help landlords make rental homes more energy efficient and continued support for food banks and community pantries.

Announcing the proposals, a spokesperson said: "The council has chosen to prioritise support for those most in need of costof-living support because of current uncertainty over whether the Household Support Fund, which is worth £2.8m for South Gloucestershire, will be continued after March 2024. The Fund, and its previous iterations, has been used to provide a significant amount of the Council’s cost-ofliving support to date."

Councillors will begin the formal review of the budget at a scrutiny commission meeting on January 31, before it is considered by the cabinet on February 5 and voted on by the Full Council on February 21.

Details of final bills will appear in next month's Voice.

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NEW bus schemes in the West of England are helping the rich and those who can “exploit the system,” political leaders have been warned.

The West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council together received £106 million of “bus service improvement plan” (BSIP) funding from the government to spend on finding ways to improve bus services in the region.

But the flagship birthday bus scheme and WESTlink service for people living away from major bus routes are not working as intended, a task and finish group set up to look at the spending has warned.

At the same time, many communities are still with no bus service at all after “savage cuts” to buses across the region last year.

Publicly supported buses were cut after the councils that make up WECA did not increase their “transport levy” — which pays for the buses — in line with the high 40% inflation in the bus sector last year, arguing that Metro Mayor Dan Norris should instead use the BSIP funding to pay for the buses.

Mr Norris said he could not as the money was restricted for use on “new and innovative” bus schemes.

But now those schemes have come under fire. A paper from the BSIP task and finish group warned that the birthday bus scheme — which offers people a free bus pass in the month of their birthday — is benefiting the richest 10% of the region significantly more than the poorest 10%, and a fares scheme targeted based on age, employment or socio-economic status may work better.

The paper also warned that the WESTlink "demand-responsive transport" scheme, where minibuses are booked by app and follow flexible routes instead of set timetables, was being exploited by people who were tech-savvy to book much longer journeys than intended.

Mr Norris conceded: “I think we have messed up on some of the zones."

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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A CAT found wandering near Hambrook was 40 miles from home - and had been missing for 10 years.

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PLANS to convert former Frampton Cotterell pub the Live and Let Live into a Co-op and homes have been approved.

PAGE 3

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February, 2024

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n NEWS

School gets in on the Act STUDENTS at Winterbourne Academy are putting the finishing touches to their latest blockbuster musical production.

The school's arts faculty is staging the feel-good musical comedy Sister Act from February 6 to 9.

The show is based on the hit 1992 film, set in a convent where a disco diva is hiding out after witnessing a murder, and helps the nuns find their voices.

A school spokesperson said: "Building on the success of Mary Poppins last year we have chosen a more challenging musical and this year we also have a live band made up of students from the Academy.

"Students have been rehearsing since September and have risen exceptionally well to the challenge."

Tickets are still available for the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances by emailing Rachel.Gittoes@olympustrust. co.uk.

9

3,000 homes lose water AROUND 3,000 homes in Winterbourne and parts of Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford lost their water supply on Christmas Day. A burst water main caused some people to start losing their supplies in mid-morning, and by the afternoon supplier Bristol Water confirmed that many homes in the area were suffering either poor water pressure or no supply at all.

The company sent a team of around 20 people to find and tackle the burst, and provide bottled water to residents.

A spokesperson said eight pallets of bottled water were delivered to a "hub" at Winterbourne Co-op.

There were reports of water running out during the evening, before more supplies were delivered.

Bottled water was also delivered to "vulnerable" customers on the company's priority services register.

After the repair team worked

through the night, supplies were returned on Boxing Day morning, although further work continued throughout the day to flush the system.

The company said the longest anyone was without water was 16 hours.

It described the work as a "challenging repair", but did not give further details of what had caused the burst.

The spokesperson said: “We are sorry to customers in the Winterbourne area who experienced a disruption to their water supply on Christmas Day due to a burst water main.

"Our teams worked really hard to repair the burst and deliver bottled water to affected customers.

"Thankfully water was restored to all customers by the early hours of Boxing Day morning, and we would like to thank our teams who worked tirelessly to get all customers back in water as quickly as possible over the festive period."

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February, 2024

n NEWS

Ofsted - Village school is 'inadequate'

A VILLAGE primary school has been put into special measures after regulator Ofsted said it was 'inadequate'.

Rangeworthy Primary School was visited by two Ofsted inspectors in September last year.

Their report, published in December, said the school had undergone “significant staff turbulence” since the previous inspection rated it as 'good' in 2018.

The report said: “This school requires special measures because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school.”

Ofsted said lead inspector Jen Southall had met with South Gloucestershire Council and the director of primary education from a local trust that has been helping the school to bring in changes.

A new head teacher, Samantha Travis, took over last summer and told the Voice work was well under way to bring in changes which she hoped would result in improvements.

The report said: "The school, including governors, has been too slow to sort out the widespread weaknesses.

"The quality of education that pupils receive is poor.

"The recently-appointed school leaders are working with the governing body to provide some clarity and direction. They have identified the failings of the school.

"However, it is too soon to see any demonstrable impact."

The Church of England school, which has 53 pupils aged from five to 11, was assessed as being inadequate for quality of education, leadership and management, and early years provision.

Pupil behaviour and attitudes, and personal development both require improvement, the inspectors said.

The report said that despite the failings, pupils enjoy going to the school.

But it concluded the curriculum was “weak and poorly planned”, and did not set out the key knowledge that pupils need to know, understand and remember.

The inspectors said: "The school does not provide pupils with the education they deserve. Pupils do not learn enough in too many subjects."

Pupils with special educational needs or disabilities were not getting the help they needed.

The inspectors did say that relationships within the school are strong, and pupils are confident that they can talk to any adult if they have a concern.

Miss Travis said: “We were extremely disappointed with the outcome of the Ofsted inspection, but fully accepted the findings.

"Having been recently appointed to post at the time of inspection, I was heartened that inspectors were satisfied that we were already making progress with the work underway to make essential improvements at the school, and our strengths were also recognised.

“Inspectors commented on the positive work being done to support children’s personal development and well-being while keeping them safe.

"Our new leadership team remain focussed on continuing to drive forward the work we are doing to make the required improvements, with additional training being provided for our staff and measures being implemented to address the issues raised in the report.

"We are confident that this work is delivering positive results, and we remain focussed on developing and delivering the best possible school environment and education for our children."

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February, 2024

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11

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Frampton photographer wins national competition A FRAMPTON Cotterell-based photographer is one of the winners of UK’s biggest annual photography exhibition.

Ciara Hillyer, who has a BA and MA in Photography from the University of the West of England, works as a professional taking pictures of everything from weddings and concerts to pets and commercial products.

One of her images, called 'Making it Work', has been picked as one of 100 winning images in this year's Portrait of Britain public art project.

The winners were selected after a call for images that "celebrate the many faces of modern Britain", capturing unique traditions and diversity.

Ciara’s portrait of two boys trying to fix a Bluetooth speaker was taken after a football match in Wolverhampton.

She said: “I had gone to support a friend of mine, who has dwarfism, play football, and he introduced me to his friends.

"There is nothing contrived about the photo, it was a real honest moment between Isaac and Nima.

"As soon as I took it, I felt a wave of excitement because I knew it was a great image.

"The composition, the facial expressions, juxtaposition; everything aligned perfectly in that second. And the boys absolutely love it!"

Ciara's final MA project last summer, called Breathing Space, focused on her life with respiratory condition cystic fibrosis.

UWE Bristol said the inclusion of her image in the Portrait of Britain 100 was a "thrilling start" to the new year.

The 100 winning images are currently being exhibited on JCDecaux digital advertising screens across the UK. A book of 200 images from the project, Portrait of Britain Vol. 6, has been published on Bluecoat Press.

British Journal of Photography creative director Mick Moore said: "It is in each other that we see ourselves and form our sense of place.

“Portrait of Britain captures the quirky, the mundane, the here and now of the extraordinary everyday in which we live.”

You can see more of Ciara's work at her website, ciarahillyer.com.

(Top right) Ciara Hillyer's award-winning portrait. Picture: Ciara Hillyer.

(Right) Ciara Hillyer. Picture: Ciara Hillyer

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February, 2024

n NEWS

New ways needed to protect rail line from flooding NETWORK Rail says it is looking into new ways to protect the line through Chipping Sodbury after it flooded again – for the third time this winter.

The line was closed and services between Bristol Parkway and Swindon suspended for several days after the line was flooded at the start of January.

It was the latest in a series of floods after continued heavy rain, which also flooded roads and fields in South Gloucestershire - with the river Frome again bursting its banks at Frampton Cotterell.

Network Rail said wetter weather caused by climate change meant a £5 million lagoon built in 2018 was overwhelmed and could not cope with the excess water, and now it is looking at other options.

Julie Gregory, from the company's climate change task force, said the lagoon had similar problems last year, during Storm Babet in October and between Storms Ciaran and Debi in November.

She said: "The situation on the railway here presents a real challenge for us to provide a resilient railway.

“It basically is cut through low-lying land, right through the middle of a catchment area where water filters through permeable rock and the railway effectively acts as a large drainage channel.”

(Left) Flooding across the region in January included this lake in Rectory Road, Frampton Cotterell, when the River Frome burst its banks again. (Right) Flooding on the railway line near Chipping Sodbury tunnel Julie said the lagoon holds 11 million litres of water, and is designed to take the flood water temporarily, which can then be pumped back into local rivers, when it is safe to do so. But this had to be delayed in January.

She said: "When there were widespread flood warnings over the country, we couldn’t pump that water out because there would be a risk of flooding to local properties.”

Julie said this meant the lagoon stayed full for longer, and they could not clear flood water from the line – so services had to be suspended longer than expected.

She said since the lagoon was built in 2018, it had prevented flooding “on a number of occasions”, and reduced the amount of time the line was closed.

Mayor takes coal mine heat plans to MPs PLANS to harness natural underground heat from flooded former coal mines could help solve the energy crisis, Metro Mayor Dan Norris has told MPs. Mr Norris, who is in charge of the West of England Combined Authority, backed the plan first suggested by South Gloucestershire Council to utilise the untapped resource at a Parliamentary hearing in January.

The council – one of the three unitary authorities that make up WECA – first announced it was investigating how to power homes with naturally warm water from disused mines as an alternative to fossil fuels in 2022.

Using heat pumps, the water temperature could be raised to the level required for heating and hot water in homes as well as schools, hospitals and offices, through heat networks.

There are disused mines in an area from Coalpit Heath to Mangotsfield, Westerleigh and Kingswood, as well as in Bristol and North East Somerset.

Giving evidence to the Energy

Security and Net Zero Select Committee’s “heating our homes” inquiry in the House of Commons, Mr Norris said: "We have a lot of former mines in the area and we want to get energy out of those pits that have been closed since the 1970s so we can have heating systems for the public.

“There is a nice irony in that because since the mining industry contributed so greatly to CO2 emissions, it would be lovely to get something positive about the climate emergency which is a huge problem and one we can’t roll back on.”

Mr Norris said he was also working with the Welsh Government to explore the options of lagoons in the Bristol Channel to provide tidal power.

He said: “We have the Severn and the Bristol Channel so we are interested in generating energy from the second highest tidal range.

“We are working with our Welsh Government colleagues in trying to do that."

In 2022, the Western Gateway

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Metro Mayor Dan Norris addresses the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee cross-border partnership, which brings together local authorities from Swindon to Swansea, set up a commission to look again at getting electricity from the Severn Estuary.

Mr Norris also said there needed to be a 25-fold increase in "retrofitting" - making older homes warmer and more energy efficient claiming that every £1 spent would bring a 40p saving for the NHS. He said WECA's £11m Retrofit

West service could only scratch the surface in an area where there were thousands of listed buildings.

Mr Norris said: "The Government has been remiss – there has been short-termism, too little long-term thinking, too many poorly-designed initiatives, too focused here in Whitehall."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

February, 2024

13

n NEWS

Children turn into Greek gods, goddesses - and monsters

CHILDREN at St Michael's Primary School in Winterbourne had a Greek celebration day to kick off a term of classical studies.

The Year 4 pupils dressed as Greek gods and goddesses, hoplite soldiers, architects and even the one-eyed giant Cyclops and snake-haired Medusa.

Year 4 teacher Sarah Duncan said: "We started the day by reading our class book, Leo and the Gorgon’s Curse.

Every good Greek myth needs a mythical creature and hero or heroine, so we decided to invent our own.

"The children enjoyed mixing animal features with human qualities to create some quite beastly creatures.

"Next came the creation of the heroes and heroines needed to defeat these mythical creatures.

"Later in the term, we will be writing our own Greek myths using these characters.

"After lunch came the Greek banquet. On the menu were olives, flat breads, figs, pomegranate seeds, houmous, greek yoghurt with honey, tzatziki, taramasalata."

Mrs Duncan said children enjoyed trying the olives and even the pomegranate seeds, which one pupil described as "delicious".

They then carried out n art project decorating a minotaur using charcoal.

Mrs Duncan said: "A great day had by the whole class. Over this term we will also be learning about what daily life was like in an

Children dressed as gods and goddesses, soldiers and even Cyclops for their celebration of ancient Greece ancient Greek society, where the Olympic games start, women in Greece, Alexander the Great and what it was like to be at school during the Ancient Greek era."

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fromevalleyvoice

February, 2024

n NEWS

Loss of Tyler 'leaves a massive hole' THE family of a 20-year-old man who died in a lorry crash say his death "has left a massive hole in everyone's heart".

Tyler Carley, who lived in Thornbury, was at work when the scaffolding lorry he was a passenger in overturned on the A4174 Avon Ring Road near Mangotsfield on the evening of December 5.

He died at the scene of the crash.

Tyler's family say he will be "hugely missed".

In a tribute released through Avon & Somerset police, they said: "Sadly, our whole world got turned upside down on December 5 when we lost our beautiful boy Tyler.

"He was only just 20 and had so many plans in life still, and loads of festivals booked.

"Tyler loved going out with his friends and enjoyed playing and watching football.

"He loved his holidays with friends and family, and had a big one planned for his 21st and mum Gemma's 40th birthday.

"He went to work that morning fully intending to come home, and had texted his mum just 45 minutes before the accident.

"Tyler will always be hugely missed by his mum Gemma, dad Mark, brother Kylan, sisters Skye and Ronnie-Irene, step-dad Matt,

step-mum Tracey and all of his family and friends.

"His death has left a massive hole in everyone's heart."

The 37-year-old driver of the lorry was treated in hospital for minor injuries before being arrested in connection with the incident and taken into custody.

He was then released under investigation

MOST of the new Avon & Somerset Police officers recruited in a major four-year campaign are not carrying out uniformed patrols on the beat – despite a government pledge they would be.

The force took on 558 officers – exceeding its target of 456 – as part of the Home Office’s flagship Uplift programme, which aimed to bolster frontline crime-fighting by 20,000 additional police in England and Wales between 2019 and March 2023.

But Chief Constable Sarah Crew has admitted that the majority of these have been appointed into non-uniformed roles, including intelligence gathering and offender management.

She defended the decision during a question time session with Police & Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford, and insisted that visible policing was still a priority.

The constabulary said last September that the 558 new recruits were “frontline officers”.

At the PCC performance and accountability board meeting on January 17, Mr Shelford asked how the chief constable was ensuring that the new officers were "out policing in the community and not unduly tied to the desk at a station".

Ms Crew replied: “Quite a number of our Uplift posts have not been allocated directly into uniformed policing but into a number of our plain-clothes functions – 55% of them.

“That would be our CID teams, our integrated offender management teams, our intelligence departments and in the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

“Part of that is a reflection of the changes in our demand – much crime happens online, so it’s right that we reflect the deployment of those resources so we are visible in the online frame.

“There has been a significant investment in the way we deal with rape and serious sexual offences, violence against women and girls, within that CID deployment, and that is a reflection of increasing reports, the dangerousness of the offenders and also a lack of confidence in the criminal justice response to that.

“I don’t want you to think, though, there hasn’t been a focus within neighbourhood policing and in the patrol teams on the importance of visibility.

“That’s a very big focus within briefings, within how we decide how resources are based.”

Ms Crew said the force could mobilise 100 officers from neighbourhoods and specialist units at any given time through Project Servator, where police are deployed unannounced to disrupt offenders in a “highly visible way”, and that this gave residents confidence and reassurance.

She said special constables had given

Tyler Carley

while further enquiries take place.

Police say no other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the incident.

Anyone with information who has yet to come forward is being asked to call the police on 101 and give the incident reference number 5223 297 300.

A fundraising campaign in Tyler's memory to help pay the costs of his funeral has raised £9,000.

More than 640 friends and well-wishers donated towards the Gofundme campaign.

It was organised by family friend Sammie England, who said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with his parents, siblings and the rest of the family at this very difficult time.

"The unexpected loss of a child is hard at any time but with it being right before Christmas, I hoped to raise as much as possible to give this beautiful boy the send off he deserves."

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to contact them by calling 101 and quoting the incident reference number 5223 297 300.

The ring road remained closed between the two roundabouts for more than a day after the incident, for investigations and work to repair the carriageway.

Most new cops not on the beat, says chief

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Chief Constable Sarah Crew 11,000 hours in the last three months and support volunteers who ran identification parades and carried out other tasks saved a further 15,000 hours of work for uniformed officers.

Ms Crew added: "All of that helps our uniformed presence be much more frontfooted, out on patrol and visible."

She said GPS data from police radios showed 64% of officer time across the force was spent out of the station.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

February, 2024

15

n NEWS

Award for care farm A CHARITY which teaches disabled and disadvantaged people agricultural skills on a farm near Winterbourne has won a healthcare award for its work.

Maria Needs and Kelly Rogers of Empowering Futures Care Farm, based at Bury Hill Lane in Moorend, near Hambrook, won the Green Award at the South West Integrated Personalised Care Awards.

The judges of the regional awards, held in December, said they were particularly impressed

by Empowering Futures'

work to help people of all ages and abilities take control and improve their own health.

They also praised its work around sustainable farming, tree planting and carbon capture.

The charity started in 2016 and the farm raises goats, sheep and hens as well as growing vegetables and other plants.

People learn skills including outdoor cookery, willow craft and wool weaving.

The charity was nominated forward for the award by Steve Spiers, a former programme manager for 'Green Social Prescribing' in the region who is

The winners of the Integrated Personalised Care Awards

now the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) personalised care manager, based with provider Sirona Care & Health.

Steve said: "You only have to visit Empowering Futures to see the impact they have on people. There is something magical about being outside and connecting with nature that can improve physical and mental health in ways that more clinical approaches cannot.

"That Empowering Futures also promote nature recovery and biodiversity makes their work even more impressive."

Personalised Care means people have choice and control over the way their care is planned and delivered, and is based on individual strengths, choice and needs.

BNSSG head of personalised care Michelle Scofield said: "Steve and I are working to develop personalised care across BNSSG and this is a fantastic example of how we can really make a difference by asking, ‘What matters to you?' and focusing on the strengths of people in our communities.

"This approach really does make a difference!"

McFly, Jools and Sophie headline Yate music festival POP superstars McFly will headline a music festival being held in Yate this spring.

The band, who have sold more than 10 million records since bursting on to the pop scene in 2004, including seven number 1 singles, will launch the Good Times on the Pitch festival stage at Yate Town Football Club in May. Other headliners at the festival, which will run over six days from May 22-27, include Jools Holland, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Scouting for Girls.

James Murden, who is one of the event organisers, said: "With seven UK numberone singles, six top-ten albums, seven arena tours and ten million records sold worldwide, McFly are without question one of the most significant British pop acts of the 21st century, and I’m thrilled that we’re bringing them to Yate for an unforgettable night."

Event producer Tom Campbell said: "We want to bring a huge production to Yate and audience members can look forward to a large festival stage complete with video

McFly walls, epic light show and premium sound system."

The latest act to be added to the line-up is Aston Merrygold of JLS, who will be Sophie Ellis-Bextor's special guest on May 25.

James said: "Aston is an incredible performer with boundless energy and we know he’s got big plans for his appearance

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

in Yate.

"He’ll be performing work from his solo career and throwback JLS tracks before Sophie Ellis-Bextor performs her headline set alongside her live band.”

The series of shows, leading up to and including the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, includes a comedy gala featuring stand-ups Ed Byrne, Zoe Lyons, Troy Hawke and Cerys Nelmes on May 27.

All the shows take place outdoors, on a festival stage on the pitch at Yate Town FC in Lodge Road, with ticket holders invited to bring along camping chairs or picnic blankets.

McFly headline on May 22, with Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra the following day Scouting for Girls' show on May 24 will see them supported by Toploader and local band Mosaic.

Last year's series of shows attracted more than 5,000 people.

Tickets are available now at GoodTimesYate.com.

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

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fromevalleyvoice

18

February, 2024

n LOCAL MP

We must stand against overdevelopment ONCE again, we find ourselves having to fight unsustainable overdevelopment in Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath and the surrounding towns and villages.

Together as a community, we managed to defeat the developer’s plans to build over 1,000 new houses on land off Roundways. This is good news for Coalpit Heath.

The proposal to build on the Green Belt would have placed huge pressure on local schools, health services and our road network.

However, now the council have decided that a significant amount of further housing should be built in Frampton Cotterell and Rangeworthy, including on our precious Green Belt.

Having lived locally all my life, I know we have seen significant growth in recent years: we can feel the extra cars on the road and

more pressures on local services.

I received clear written assurances from government ministers that areas such as Bristol should be taking an additional 35% of housing need, to stop further pressure being put on our GP services, our schools, and our roads.

It is time for the council to stand up to urban areas like Bristol and make them take their fair share of housing before concreting over our precious countryside.

We need to see the new health centre in Thornbury and more services at Frenchay. We need to repair potholes. We need to resurface roads. We need a greater variety of bus services back to our villages, and the A432 open before more houses are agreed.

The council also has questions to answer about why

Rangeworthy has been asked to take so much housing, especially when nearby villages such as Wickwar and Tytherington have been deemed to have taken their fair share of housing.

For local commuters in Coalpit Heath and Frampton Cotterell, there will also be great concern about the number of houses that have been suggested for Westerleigh and the surrounding area. When taken together as a whole, the sites that the council have said should take housing would see over 3,000 new houses in these villages, which will put extra pressure on local health services, schools, and road network.

There’s still time to have your say, so make sure you respond to the council’s consultation.

We must protect our Green Belt, the council must be firm with Bristol and make them

Luke Hall MP writes for Frome Valley Voice

take their fair share and fight the overdevelopment of our community.

South Gloucestershire is the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family. No wonder developers want to build here.

However, we cannot allow the council to give the green light to developments which put our roads, GP services and schools under further pressure.

Protecting against overdevelopment needs to be this council’s core mission.

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fromevalleyvoice

February, 2024

19

n NEWS

Display raises £7,500 for charity A COUPLE who covered their house and garden in Winterbourne with Christmas lights are planning an even bigger display this year.

Ricky and Chrissie Fenning’s Winterbourne Wonderland raised £7,558 in public donations for the Grand Appeal for Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The display had more than 50,000 lights, which were alight three days a week through December, and is thought to have been one of the biggest in the Bristol area.

Ricky said it had been such a popular attraction they are planning something even more spectacular this year.

He said: “Everyone we spoke to would say just how amazing it was.

"People really were taken aback by the vastness of the display.

"I guess a lot of people hadn’t seen our previous two displays, which were much smaller by comparison, so maybe they thought it was our first attempt.

“Many people said how they would look around and see different things that they’d missed initially.”

The couple first lit up their home

Ricky & Chrissie Fenning’s display in 2021, and this year's donations take the total they have raised over £10,000.

Now they are appealing to locals with some practical skills to help set up their 2024 show.

Ricky said: "The latest display was a lot of work, probably more work than anticipated, what with the time it took to set up, having to sort various bits each day before and after the lights went on and

off, running music nights, posting on social media - it really was like having a second full time job.

"But to see so many people visit and enjoy the display, and to receive so many thank-yous and brilliant feedback from so many people, made it all worth while - not forgetting the huge amount raised for the charity."

The display took around two months to set up, with Ricky

working on it three days a week, sometimes with helpers.

Ricky said: "We were still adding the finishing touches right up until the switch-on."

He estimates the electricity cost around 34p an hour, or about £60 for the entire duration.

It took five days to put everything away from January 1.

Ricky said he hopes the next display will have even more lights and detail.

He said: "Most of all we really want to add some interactivity to the display, maybe having certain characters moving."

Ricky and Chrissie are appealing for a carpenter or joiner, entertainment providers, an "electronics and animatronics guru" and artists or crafters to donate some time to help set up the next display, in return for some advertisement space.

They are also looking for sponsors.

Anyone who is interested in helping can reach Ricky and Chrissie via the Winterbourne Wonderland Facebook page.

Mummers draw the crowds WINTERBOURNE Down's traditional Mummers Play has raised more than £1,200 for a Coalpit Heath charity.

A window of good weather on Boxing Day, with the heavy rain that plagued the festive seasons having a break, encouraged more people out to watch the street performances at Stone Lane, All Saints Church Hall, Colston Close and the Cross Hands Pub in Down Road.

The Christmas Boys and Winterbourn Down Border Morris dancers perform every year on Boxing Day, in a tradition which has its roots in medieval or even pagan times, and was once played out, in differing versions, in every village in the country.

The Winterbourne Down version has five characters - The Doctor, St George, The Turkish Knight, The Little-fellow, and Old Father Christmas - and was revived in the 1970s, having been abandoned after the First World War, when one of the players was killed on active service.

Alan Mildren, who plays the Turkish Knight, said this year's event raised just under £1,240 for Coalpit Heath charity Paul’s Place, which enhances life for adults with physical disabilities, Alan said: "It was a great day - lovely sunny dry weather, and record crowds were out in

force, cheering them on.

"A big thanks to Becky and Kevin of the Cross Hands for paying £250 for the Down Road road closure, which saved it coming out of the total collected."

Winterbourn Down Border Morris is inviting anyone who would like to try the traditional dance - and be involved in next year's performance - to come and have a go.

Anyone who is interested can call Alan on 01454 7756222 or Sarah Archer 01454 777684 for more details.

(Below) Winterbourn Down Christmas Boys and Border Morris dancers outside the Cross Hands. (Right) The performers celebrate with a pint

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

20

February, 2024

n NEWS

Planting to save the planet AN organisation set up to help communities achieve environmental change is encouraging people to get outside and get involved.

One Planet Matters is holding a series of events at community orchards in South Gloucestershire during February and March, including in Winterbourne and Hambrook.

The organisation is a non-profit community interest company, set up three years ago to help creating environmental and social change.

It is instrumental in setting up and supporting local community groups who plant and then maintain community orchards, helping to improve local biodiversity.

The projects link with parish and town councils' local nature action plans and South Gloucestershire Council's target of ensuring that every resident lives within 15 minutes' walk of a community orchard.

One Planet Matters director Kevin Thomas said: "The Community Orchard Programme brings people together, providing outside healthy activities which benefit not only the individual but also the wider community and of course the environment."

So far schemes supported by One Planet Matters have planted 1,350 fruit trees and 2,000 wildflower plugs.

The organisation has also set up the Growing Communities Network, bringing together community growing schemes, allotment holders and orchards via an app to distribute produce to community food clubs, kitchens, and fridges as well as food banks.

A three-week trial last year distributed 325kg of fresh fruit and 175 portions of fresh produce: this year the network will be supporting charity Family Action's food clubs, and is inviting growers with surplus fruit and veg to join up.

One Planet Matters has also created a schools network to help create school orchards, setting up growing spaces helping develop the biodiversity of school grounds, as well as providing support for the curriculum and activities via a biodiversity and growing awards scheme.

So far 18 schools and around 920 pupils have got involved.

In February One Planet Matters is organising community activity days at several sites in South Gloucestershire, including orchard maintenance, planting and habitat development in Hanham on February

Volunteers at a planting day at Blackhorse Road Community Orchard and Nature Area 18, Bromley Heath Orchard in Scantleberry Close on February 20, Oaktree Avenue, Pucklechurch, on February 26, Court Road, Kingswood, on February 26 and Blackhorse Road on February 28.

A community activity day at Whiteshill Common, in Hambrook, will take place on March 2 from 10am, combining community orchard planting and the Winterbourne Tree Day event.

A similar event will take place in Frenchay, next to the Village Hall, the same day.

The organisation is encouraging anyone who lives in one of the areas mentioned and wants to get involved to email info@ oneplanetmatters.com or call 07378 323380.

More information is also available online at www.oneplanetmatters.com.

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

xxx

IF you’ve seen anything of the self-improvement industry, or have some experience or knowledge of talking therapies, you have doubtless heard about the importance of being yourself.

Likewise, if you’ve come across ‘influencer’ culture, you’ve probably heard about the importance of being authentic, or at least heard people being criticised for not being authentic.

It is the social creed of the 21st century.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I was diagnosed with ADHD by a clinical psychologist 12 months ago.

This condition, a recognised disability, means that I struggle to be myself without realising it.

I’ve grown up learning to make my behaviour conform, masking my conscious thought processes to those around me and myself, because I would otherwise spend my life being excessively rude and disruptive in most circumstances.

It is only since receiving a

impulses.

"I use up my life trying to accumulate pleasures and experiences and power and honour and knowledge and love, to clothe this false self… when they are gone there will be nothing left of me but my own nakedness and emptiness and hollowness."

Christians believe that you and I, Thomas Merton and all the reality TV stars were made for the purpose and function of love.

Not infatuation, which suppresses itself, or idolisation, which prevents us from sharing our love more widely, but with the honest and generous love modelled in the person of Jesus Christ.

It’s a love which allows us to accept others as they truly are, and even overcomes the challenge of accepting ourselves as we truly are.

If you really want to be authentic, really want to be yourself, start by looking beyond

The importance of being yourself diagnosis I’ve become alert to the person behind my various public and private faces, the me I’ve hidden from myself almost as much as from others, in order to 'fit' into every situation.

It’s also no secret that the mainstream culture of being “authentic” is full of deception and falsehoods.

Some are rejected for the crime of being inauthentic when trying to fit in, even though ‘people pleasing’ is a part of their personality.

Others are so anxious to be liked that they mask their vulnerabilities in an attempt to acquire credibility, leading to endless “drama triangles” of victim-persecutor-saviour dynamics as they shift the focus from themselves onto others.

The 20th century Trappist monk and mystic Thomas Merton wrote: "For me, to be a saint means to be myself."

Merton explains that this is not to say that we should bow to our

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Rev Ben Thompson Curate, Fromeside Benefice

those walls you’ve built to protect yourself, especially those preventing you from accepting that you have been created by God who is love for love, and that you are worthy of love regardless of anything and anyone else in this world.

Your true self is loved, and will love and receive love freely, if you will take the risk of removing the mask.

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

February, 2024

21

n FRAMPTON NATURE

Join our community nature reserve THIS year we’ll be launching an exciting new project, the Frampton Cotterell Community Nature Reserve.

This will see people working together to create and improve habitats for wildlife in private gardens and other green spaces in Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath.

The importance of gardens for wildlife is increasingly recognised.

They have become vital refuges for pollinators and other species such as amphibians, reptiles, birds and hedgehogs.

Anyone with a garden or area of land of any size will be able to sign it up to be a part of the project - no space is too small.

As long as you are doing something for nature in your garden, it can be part of the reserve.

We hope to support people to plant trees, hedges and wildflowers, and to create minimeadows, hedgehog highways, log piles and ponds in their

The goldfinch is a regular visitor to gardens in Coalpit Heath. Picture: David Hanks gardens.

We can provide advice on how to create and manage different habitats.

We’re hoping to get funding so we can provide signs, seeds, plants, trees, bird boxes, bee

boxes and ponds.

If you’d like to make space for nature in your garden then please email us at framptoncotterellnature@ gmail.com to join the project mailing list.

We’d love to know about the wildlife that visits your garden - photos and sightings can be shared on our Facebook group.

David Hanks

n WINTERBOURNE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP AND FROME VALLEY GROWING PROJECT

How we can help our pollinators ACROSS the UK, pollinator species have been facing a decline, primarily due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.

Why worry? Well, these little workers bees, flies, butterflies and many more - play a crucial role in our ecosystems, aiding in the reproduction of many plants and crops.

Their decline doesn't just mean fewer bees buzzing; it affects our food supply and the health of our natural world.

That is why we at Winterbourne Environmental Group are so delighted that we received funding from the West of England Combined Authority to be working with lots of local organisations to address this decline through improving local habitats.

Here's where the magic happens.

Introducing new ponds, making seed bombs, and developing wildflower meadows in the local area does more than just provide a banquet for bees. These initiatives create vibrant, diverse green spaces that serve as a haven for wildlife and a tranquil spot for community members.

Ponds, for example, attract a variety of wildlife, creating a mini-ecosystem in our local schools and community growing

Bees are just one type of pollinator spaces.

Seed bombs are fun, easy, and a 'guerrilla gardening' favourite. We are running seed bomb workshops at local events this spring, including Winterbourne Library on Friday February 16 from 10-11am, Frome Valley Growing project for a 'stay and play' over half term, in the Easter holidays and at Winterbourne Down Carnival, too.

Our larger projects - two wildflower meadows on Hambrook Common and Frome Valley Growing Project - will be part

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

of a local nature trail walk, which we plan to launch later in the year.

Watch out for more information on how to get involved on our Facebook pages over the coming months.

By enhancing local areas for pollinators, we're not just giving bees a home, but we're also creating spaces that invite community interaction, promote physical activity, and become a source of local pride.

It's about fostering a connection with nature, right where we live. For more information and advice about creating pollinator habitats in your green spaces you can find lots of information on the Wildlife Trust website.

Our hope is that the green spaces we are working in become educational hubs, where children and adults alike learn about biodiversity, the importance of pollinators, and the joy of nurturing nature. We are always looking for volunteers, so please do get in contact if you would like to be involved, and look out on our Facebook pages to find out more about our events.

Kate Macdonald Katemacdon7@gmail.com

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

22

February, 2024

n RECIPE OF THE MONTH

An easy Valentine’s pudding I KNOW a lot of people think Valentine’s Day is a commercialised money-spinner.

Why spend a lot of money going out for an overpriced meal?

Well, my alternative suggestion is to cook a meal for your partner at home. This is especially well received if it’s done by the one who doesn’t usually cook!

Don’t panic - it doesn’t have to be too difficult. Sometimes the simplest things are the best, especially if they are done with love.

First, think about your partner’s favourite choices on a restaurant menu and then work with them.

For many of the less confident cooks, the dessert is the course they worry about, so I’ve got a knockout individual chocolate pudding as my recipe.

The good things are that it’s super-quick to make and requires no cookery skills, so anyone can make it successfully.

As you are doing it at home you’ll save a lot of money, so you can choose top quality ingredients and a decent bottle of something to go with it!

Before we start, here are two tips: ● Make sure you have all the ingredients laid out ready to go and, ● Having cooked it, eat the dessert as soon as it has stood

for a minute to cook through.

Otherwise, the sponge can go very dry.

Ann Murray founded the Cooking4 Cookery School based in Chipping Sodbury. She’s teamed up with Frome Valley Voice to pass on her wealth of experience in the kitchen.

● 1 tablespoon milk

a sharp knife.

● 1 ½ tablespoon melted, unsalted butter, about ½ oz or 12g

● Put your cups in the microwave and cook for 1 min on high at 900 watts.

So what are you waiting for?

Start making your list of favourite ingredients, delve into your phone for easy recipes for them and prepare yourself for lots of compliments.

● 1 ½ level tablespoons chocolate chips (I like to use plain chocolate ones)

Five-minute chocolate sponge pudding

Here’s what you do:

Serves 2 Ingredients: ● 2 heaped tablespoons selfraising flour, sieved ● 1 flat tablespoon golden caster sugar ● 1 heaped tablespoon good quality cocoa (I like Green and Blacks) ● 1 large egg, preferably freerange, lightly beaten

● 2 medium-sized teacups or ramekins - microwave safe

● Measure all the dry ingredients and tip into a medium-sized bowl.

Mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. ● Pour in the milk and butter and mix well. ● Add the chocolate chips and mix again. ● Grease your chosen containers with a butter paper. ● Divide the mixture between your cups. ● Cover each cup with cling film, then pierce in several places with

● Remove from the microwave and stand for 1 min to finish cooking. ● Remove the cling film. ● Decorate with seasonal fruits and a scoop of quality vanilla ice cream or single cream. ● Then eat as soon as possible! ● Microwavable sponges are best eaten within five minutes of cooking, otherwise they may become dry.

Cook’s Tip The ingredients given will make two medium-sized teacups or ramekins.

The pudding is quite rich, so I find this size works well. Also then there’s room for some raspberries/ strawberries or seasonal fruit of your choice to go on the top.

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Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

February, 2024

23

n COMMUNITY NEWS Winterbourne Musical Theatre: WINTERBOURNE Musical Theatre had a wonderful week of sell-out shows for Bah! Humbug!

The funny and poignant take on the Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol had all the expected elements of the story - ghosts, bad behaviour, dire warnings and, ultimately, a feel-good Christmas party - with an added wacky

Winterbourne Medieval Barn WINTERBOURNE Medieval Barn is awakening from a short winter hibernation!

There are just one or two spaces still available for February workshops, and only a handful for March. Bookings can be made online at Ticketsource or via the Barn website.

At the whittling workshop on February 3, Dan Bendel will teach you how to whittle a sculptural figure or head with a knife from a single piece of wood.

On February 24 you can learn how to graft apple trees on a oneday course with Tim Andrews of Orchard Revival.

Participants will make at least three newly-grafted trees to take home.

At the sewing workshop on March 15 you can learn basic sewing machine skills and, in just one morning, make a beautiful professionally-finished shoulder bag, complete with lining and pockets.

Our monthly talks on varied

section in the spirit world club, Bar Humbug, inhabited by Jacob Marley and the Wailers!

A good time was had by cast and audiences alike.

The group's next production will be their version of The Pirates of Penzance in mid-May, again at WADCA community centre.

For more information visit Winterbournemusical.co.uk or Facebook.

Louise Harrison

topics start again on February 26, with a presentation on "piracy and war in the Bristol Channel, 1450 to 1680.

A range of notable events took place in the Bristol Channel during these times, involving ships from many nations. Philip Ashford brings some of these events to life in a very visual style, and endeavours to explain the background to many of the circumstances.

His talk will also be livestreamed on zoom. Online prebooking is advised, and essential for Zoom. Barn open from 6.30pm, with talk at 7pm.

The next talk, on March 21, is about Medieval wall paintings in Gloucestershire churches, including those in St Michael's, Winterbourne.

The first live performance of the year is on March 24, when top musicians Chris Green and Sophie Matthews return to the Barn with their hilarious new show, Witty Ditties: 400 Years of Comic Song.

From bawdy Restoration ballads through to Sixties satire, the show includes songs by Noel Coward, Tom Lehrer, Flanders & Swann, and many others.

You are guaranteed a fun and

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

(Right) Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Present. Picture: Gary Woodruff .

(Below) The ensemble cast performs a number. Picture: Gary Woodruff

entertaining evening. Tickets are now on sale online at Ticketsource.

For more information on the barn, visit www.winterbournebarn. org.uk.

Louise Harrison

Winterbourne Down Ladies Probus Club OUR January meeting was wellsupported, on a bright but very cold winter’s day.

We were very pleased to welcome nine visitors to the meeting, all of whom enjoyed their afternoon.

The business section of the meeting was followed by a very interesting and informative talk about the life and work of Florence Nightingale. Speaker Carole Darling had obviously researched Florence very well and gave us a lot of facts about her dedication to nursing and its impact on other services.

Our travel and entertainments secretary also gave us information on a future trip in April and is

investigating venues for regular coffee mornings between meetings.

We are now looking forward to the President's Lunch in February, which will be held at Thornbury Golf Club.

This is followed later in the month by our annual general meeting, when we will be welcoming a new president.

If you are recently retired and looking to socialise in a friendly group, you would be very welcome at Winterbourne Down Ladies Probus Club.

We meet at 2pm on the third Monday of each month at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down.

Meetings start with a short club business session followed by a talk from a visiting speaker. We then have tea and biscuits and time for a chat before the meeting ends at 4pm.

Visitors can attend five meetings per year for £3.50 per meeting, or pay an annual membership of £25.

For more information, please call me on 01454 773647.

Sue Humphreys

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

24

fromevalleyvoice

February, 2024

n WHAT'S ON FEBRUARY 15 n ARTS APPRECIATION GROUP meeting at Bradley Stoke Community School, 7pm.

Illustrated talk by Justine Hopkins on Victorian stained glass. Further details from Sally on 0794 650 8316.

FEBRUARY 21 n SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE MINES RESEARCH GROUP TALK: Toxic Mine Gases (and how to survive them) by Roger Gosling.

In the Miners Institute, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, from 7pm.

Non-members welcome - £2 entry.

More information at www.sgmrg. co.uk March 2 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION Connect and celebrate with women and communities across Bristol, Saturday 2 March 2024, Bristol City Hall, 10am – 5pm. Over 50 workshops, all welcome, free transport, creche, interpreting and accessibility support available. For more information go to: www.bristolwomensvoice.org.uk or emailinfo@ bristolwomensvoice.org.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: WINTERBOURNE DOWN LADIES PROBUS CLUB meets at meets at 2pm on the third Monday of each month at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down.

Join us for an interesting talk and refreshments. £3.50 visitors, £25 annual membership. Call 01454 773647 for more details. n SINGALONG WITH THE JAYS AND JOY first Monday of the month at Miners Social Club, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, 2-3.30pm. Live music: song books and refreshments provided. £5, carers free. Bring a friend free, first time. Details from Hilary, 07515 351813. 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 OPEN DOOR at Winterbourne Down Methodist Church, Down Road, every Tuesday 2-4pm. Social gathering - enjoy tea, coffee, cakes, games, music and friendship, especially for those who live on their own. n WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY: ADULT BALLET- COALPIT HEATH Improve fitness, strength, flexibility & coordination. No experience necessary. Wednesday 9.30am Beginners/10.30am Over 60s Ballet- St Saviours Church Hall.

Saturday 9.15am Beginners/ 10.15am Intermediate- Manor Hall. Book £5 trial. Contact georgiarsmart@yahoo.co.uk / 07751812701

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: TABLE TENNIS Henfield Hall, Ram Hill on the first Wednesday of the month, 2-4.30pm. All abilities welcome.

Equipment provided. £2 per session including tea, coffee, biscuits. For more details email henfieldhall@yahoo.com or call 0785 119 8434. 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 information. n THURSDAY: WINTERBOURNE WINDS, friendly amateur wind band rehearses at Holy Trinity Church, Bradley Stoke, every Thursday from 7.30-9.30pm.

New members welcome.

For more information email winterbournewinds@yahoo.com. n WINTERBOURNE DOWN ART GROUP meets on Thursdays from 2-4pm at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Friendly nonprofit making group welcomes new members of all abilities. More information from Alison Sansum on 01454 775133 n THURSDAY: COELIAC UK LOCAL CAFÉ MEET-UP, every third Thursday of the month, 10-11.30am, at Iron Acton Garden Centre cafe. Join us to share experiences of living gluten free. For more details email volunteering@coeliac.org.uk. n THURSDAY: CROSSBOW CAMERA CLUB meets every Thursday evening at 7.45pm at Crossbow House, School Road, Frampton Cotterell. Small friendly group who enjoy looking at and taking pictures. Call 0789 026 6650 or just turn up for free taster sessions. n THURSDAY: HAMBROOK MEN’S PROBUS CLUB meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 10am-noon at Whiteshill Chapel, Hambrook, with a speaker at each meeting. Friendly group, new members welcome. For more details call the secretary on 01454 778250. 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. n SATURDAY :WINTERBOURNE AND FROME VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP repair cafe, every third Saturday of the month, 10.30am, All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Free electrical, textile and woodwork repairs, with voluntary donations going to the work of Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group.

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February, 2024

fromevalleyvoice

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

Brunel’s SS Great Britain: tickets that last a year, memories that last a lifetime VALUE for money is more important than ever this year, especially for families. At Brunel’s SS Great Britain, buy tickets once and visit as many times as you like for a whole year. With two interactive museums and a Victorian steamship to explore, there’s more to experience than you think. There are hundreds of sights, sounds and smells to discover along with new activities for each school holiday, meaning no two days out are the same.

This year’s theme of botany explores the vital role of steamships like the SS Great Britain in the global migration of plants in the Victorian era and the lasting impact on our world today.

It kicks off in February half term with Victorian paper flower-making and bookmark-making, with many more family activities to come throughout 2024.

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25

n WINTERBOURNE LIBRARY NEWS WINTERBOURNE Library is holding a free half-term holiday children's craft activity.

Crafts from the Riverbank includes a seed bomb making activity with Winterbourne & Frome Valley Environmental Group.

It takes place from 10-11am on Friday February 16.

Stay and make your crafts or collect a free takeaway bag to make at home.

A new craft drop-in starts on February 3. Come in with your own craft or try one of ours - all welcome.

Tea at 2 is every Friday afternoon from 2-3pm: drop in for a cuppa and a friendly chat.

Story time is every Friday from 9.30-10am, suitable for children aged 18 months to four years.

Lego club meets on February 17 from 10am to 11am, for children of all ages - all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Regular Rhymetimes take place on Wednesdays, 9.30am-10am.

Suitable for babies aged up to 18

months.

An adult craft group meets on February 10 and 24, from 10amnoon: join a friendly group of crafters to do your own work and chat – refreshments available.

Computer Thursdays take place during term time - enrolment with SGS College is required.

For further information contact Cindy on 0117 909 2296 or email cindy.corbett@sgscol.ac.uk.

A digital champion can help people get online, use a PC or phone or print documents. The volunteer is available on Friday mornings: booking is essential.

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

Open Access is seven days a week between 8am and 7.30pm.

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

More information is available online at www.southglos.gov.uk/ libraries or from library staff.

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

26

February, 2024

n COMMUNITY NEWS Winterbourne Evening WI

WI member Carol Shield with speaker Trevor Carter OUR first meeting for 2024 was well attended.

We were given every good wish for the New Year by our president, Di Woodman, and members were reminded to vote for their choice of resolution for this year’s national annual meeting.

Other reminders included a coffee morning at the president’s house on February 5, at which

there will be a ‘bring and buy’ stall, and advance notice of the ever-popular plant sale and coffee morning at Gill Parker’s home on May 17.

The programme for the coming year will be available at our February meeting, and members are always interested in what is in store in the coming months.

If the January speaker, Trevor Carter, is an example of what to expect it will be an excellent year. Trevor is a poet/writer and independent celebrant, although it was the former role he spoke about.

He used his voice to great effect to bring the stories he told to life. These ranged from death and Frankenstein to a poem for his wife’s birthday based on them being penguins! This may not sound amusing, but the way he told it had everyone laughing.

Audience participation was also encouraged, and members were keen to oblige. We would certainly be happy to have Trevor speak to us again.

Our usual chat and refreshments followed and we are now looking forward to our next

meeting on Thursday February 8, at St Michael’s School at 7.30 pm, where visitors are always welcome.

Susan Marshfield

Winterbourne Down WI

WHAT a wet start to 2024 - but it did not deter our members, as we had a good turn-out at our first meeting of the year.

Our speaker was Steve Slade, who talked about his "flying adventures", accompanied by a slide show.

Steve had his first flight at the age of 17, when he accepted an apprenticeship with the Royal Navy.

It was life-changing and he knew it was the life for him.

He also became a keen cyclist, a member of the Exeter rugby team and took part in pedal car races, winning championships.

Sadly, whilst a member of the cadet force he had a spinal injury when his lorry overturned.

After studying aeronautical engineering and joining Rolls-Royce he met another flying enthusiast.

They got together to modify a microlight aircraft with hand controls that enabled Steve to fly.

Steve won a scholarship to the Douglas Bader Flying School and regained his licence, having many adventures and making it into the Guinness Book of Records in 2002 for the most take-off and landings in one hour.

Steve also raised an amazing £6,000 for the Help for Heroes charity by taking off and landing on 114 airstrips in one day.

Steve is also a member of the Dragons wheelchair rugby team in Pontypool.

We were treated to lots of aerial photographs of Bristol and the surrounding areas, in particular our local villages, so we could compare the differences in development of the land.

Our next meeting is on February 1 and our speaker will be Sarah Weaver, talking on the “holistic approach to health”.

We meet the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm at All Saints Church Hall at Winterbourne Down, where all will be made welcome.

Carol Tremlin

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

The fightback against shoplifting starts now AFTER the expense of Christmas, many of us headed to the sales on the hunt for some January bargains.

But a minority of people on the high street weren’t out to spot an amazing deal - they were there to rip us all off.

They were the criminals who target shops, looking to steal whatever they can get away with.

Shoplifting has reached epidemic proportions in the West. Locally, we’ve seen a whopping 41% increase in just 12 months.

One local shopkeeper told me he’s losing £300 worth of goods every week to brazen thieves, and feels powerless.

Sadly, I hear similar anecdotes from workers in stores across the region.

They say nothing seems to happen even when they go to the police.

Shoplifting is fast becoming a ‘free’ crime.

But as shopworkers’ union USDAW reminds us, theft from shops isn’t victimless. It’s a major flashpoint for

violence and abuse against shop staff.

Hard-working retailers’ livelihoods are threatened by shoplifting. That means more local stores going under and closing. And for those that stay open, we all lose out as they’re forced to raise prices to recoup costs.

In short, it’s making the cost of living crisis even worse.

Why have ministers given up on trying to deal with this crisis?

One idea organisations like the British Independent Retailers Association have come up with is grants for shops nationwide to install security measures. In the autumn, they asked the PM to step in. Their pleas were ignored.

As your Metro Mayor, I decided I had to step into the void left by government.

That’s why I launched Safer Shops West, supporting independent stores in the West to install much-needed security. Shops in our patch can now apply for £2,000 towards the costs

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

of things like CCTV, body cams and handheld radios. I’m supporting those smaller, indie shops, without the backup of a ‘head office’, because they make our local high streets really special, and they’re on the frontline of this crisis.

I’m pleased to say Safer Shops West has been backed by some big national groups. The British Independent Retailers Association say they want it replicated nationwide, and the Association of Convenience Stores is offering free advice on how best to use the funds.

But while I’m doing what I can at a regional level to fix this crisis, the government also needs to get its act together.

That’s why I’m calling on them to do four things: First, reverse the 2014 decision to downgrade the offence of shoplifting.

Criminals know that nothing happens if they steal less than £200 of goods.

It’s made things worse.

Metro Mayor

Dan Norris

writes for The Voice Second, put more neighbourhood police on the beat. We’ve lost 10,000 since 2010.

Third, introduce a specific standalone offence for assaulting shop staff.

And fourth, fix the cost of living crisis once and for all. It really is time to get tough on shoplifting and tough on the causes of shoplifting.

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

February, 2024

27

n COMMUNITY NEWS Coalpit Heath WI

Jenny Smith WE started January with a session of Tai Chi, led by Jenny Smith.

Jenny leads sessions in Shibashi Tai Chi around the local area.

Shibashi is based around 18 moves that aim to promote health and well-being by introducing the basic elements of weight shifting and coordination of leg and arm movements, along with controlled breathing.

After taking part in the sequence of moves, including 'Paint a Rainbow in the Sky' and 'Pushing the Waves', we agreed we felt calm and relaxed.

Several members were keen to find out more about the classes that Jenny leads, as they felt it was something they would benefit from.

January was busy with many of the other activities organised through our WI, including a trip to the ballet to see Swan Lake - a bucket list activity for some, it definitely lived up to expectations.

We had our first lunch club outing, continued superb efforts at parkrun, and a book club meeting to discuss Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

Plans are already being made for our skittles team too; last year’s matches were a lot of fun.

If this sounds like something you would enjoy, why not come along and meet us?

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 on February 7 is a ukulele evening with Danielle Greenwood, followed by needle felting with Amy Grimsby on March 6.

Look out for updates by searching @WICoalpitHeath on Facebook or @coalpitheathwi on Instagram.

Caroline Johnston

Frampton Cotterell WI OUR January talk was about the dangers of cyber crime, an issue that, sadly, we can all be exposed to these days.

Our annual New Year’s dinner was booker for January 30, again at the very popular White Horse at Hambrook.

Other events to look forward to this year include needle felting with Amy Grimsby on February 27, a talk on slavery with historian Margot Cevik on March 26 and a talk on WWI in Yate and Sodbury

from David Hardill of Yate Heritage Centre on April 24.

We have many other events/ socials lined up for the year ahead, including visits to the theatre (including the musical Hamilton) and various meals out, garden and historic trips.

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

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

There is a charge of £4, or you can join on the evening.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in joining us please let us know and get in touch via our Facebook page, FramptonCottWI, where there are more details.

Special interest groups that meet separately include a book club, craft group, gardening group and our skittles and darts teams.

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Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

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28

February, 2024

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

Make this the year you volunteer ARE you looking for a new opportunity - and a challenge?

Why not make this the year you get involved in supporting community safety?

There are many opportunities to volunteer through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office, including several roles we are currently recruiting for.

All are crucial in helping me to effectively hold the police to account and support improvement of the service they deliver to local people.

I am looking for people from a range of backgrounds, professions and experience who are passionate about ensuring the police are efficient and effective to become members of our joint audit committee (JAC).

The roles are voluntary but do attract an annual payment of £2,000, plus expenses.

The JAC is independent, and advises on good governance

and providing assurance on the effectiveness of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office.

It assesses risks to the organisation, undertakes compliance checks and ensures good financial practices are in place and followed.

You can apply for the role online here: tinyurl.com/yc2emtyc.

I am also currently recruiting for independent custody visitors, who carry out unannounced inspections of police custody centres to ensure people being held in custody are aware of their rights and what they are entitled to for their well-being while detained.

Volunteers sign up to do one visit per month to one of three custody centres located in Keynsham, Patchway and Bridgwater.

Being arrested and taken into custody will be a moment of stress, and when people are at

®

their lowest ebb. These roles are part of my legal responsibility to scrutinise the work of the police, and my custody visitor volunteers are members of the public who ensure the police provide the level of care and respect we expect.

You can apply directly for this role online here: tinyurl. com/38ky3pex.

February 6 is Safer Internet Day, a campaign designed to remind and empower people to use the internet safely.

As the national lead for Economic and Cyber Crime at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), I want to echo these sentiments and encourage everyone to practice secure internet usage, taking back control from cybercriminals.

If there’s one action anyone can take, it’s using strong and unique passwords for each online account, a simple step that can

With police and crime commissioner

Mark Shelford

keep you protected.

If you’ve fallen victim to a scam, know that there’s no shame in seeking support.

Contact your bank immediately, and then report the scam to Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or online through actionfraud. police.uk.

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February, 2024

29

n SPORT

Walking back to netball Colts start year in style xxx

FRAMPTON Cotterell RFC Colts started the New Year with a bang, running in eight tries in a 48-5 win at Kingswood.

This was a welcome restart to the season, after losing several weeks of games due to unplayable sodden pitches.

Roman Beckhaus put in a barnstorming performance in attack, touching down an incredible six times.

In defence, captain Joe Kempson led from the front, with tackles aplenty in his usual swashbuckling style.

The other tries were scored by Oscar Mumby and Jack Goodwin, with Rhys Roberts and Oliver Sheppard sharing 4 conversions.

The boys are looking to push on from this great performance in their forthcoming fixtures.

Andy Kempson Frampton Cotterell RFC Colts

The Walkie Talkies walking netball team WALKING netball is a version of the sport adapted to be a slower game and thus more inclusive.

It allows older or less fit people to continue playing, return to playing, or take up netball for the first time.

There is no running or jumping, so there is less impact on your joints.

Usually held indoors, there are over 200 programmes running across the country all year round. Since its inception, more than 37,000 people have become involved in their local communities. Sessions are run by specially trained walking netball hosts, who run the activities and join in with all the fun and laughter!

Walking netball is open to everyone. Age and ability should never barriers to participating and, a huge amount of emphasis is placed on just enjoying yourself and having fun.

The Walkie Talkies Walking Netball Club is a local walking netball group, which initially formed just before lockdown in 2021.

We meet weekly on a Wednesday evening at Brimsham Green Sports Hall in Yate for an hour’s training session, and currently have 22 members of the club, of all ages and abilities.

All of the ladies have their own personal reasons for playing walking netball: some to keep fit, some are recovering

from knee surgery, some haven’t played since school and fancy giving it a go, others have moved to the area and wanted to make new friends.

Initially, most of the players were very nervous about attending the sessions, as they weren’t sure if they would be good enough or whether they would remember the rules, so the sessions started at a very basic level, with the main focus being on having fun and getting on to the court to play netball.

The players all very much encourage and support each other, with lots of laughs along the way.

There is also a social side to the club, and the ladies are looking forward to a quiz and Caribbean food night in February.

They enjoyed a Christmas meal and dance at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club in December, and they have also been to Bath University to watch Team Bath play in the Netball Superleague.

All of the players very much agree that joining the Walkie Talkies has been a very positive step for them, as they look forward to attending the weekly sessions and have made many new friends as a result.

If you are interested in participating in walking netball please contact me at carolmt123@gmail.com.

Carol Rowson Walking Netball Host

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February, 2024

n COMMUNITY NEWS Support is a call away for carers CARING for someone can be difficult and lonely, but Carers Support Centre is here to help.

Carers Support Centre’s CarersLine is a free, confidential information and support service for unpaid carers.

Whether you’ve been caring for years, or you’re new to caring, the friendly voices on CarersLine can give you practical advice or just a sympathetic ear to talk to.

Last year we talked to over 3,000 carers in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, all with different challenges and different caring responsibilities.

Our experienced team can give you support and advice about almost anything related to caring, including, from information about benefits and debt and where to start getting help to ways of looking after yourself.

Our CarersLine is open from 10am-1pm on Monday to Friday and 2pm-4pm Monday to Thursday (closed on bank holidays),

Call 0117 965 2200 or email carersline@carerssupportcentre.org. uk for help.

Adrian Robson Carers Support Centre

Bins frustration HOW many others experience this?

We are frequently phoning the council as our rubbish collection doesn't happen.

Recently my wife watched the operator look at our bin and then get in his truck and drive off without emptying it. We immediately contacted South Glos and explained yet again.

The person logged the complaint again, and asked if we owned a car, so we could take it to the refuse centre.

Our bins have been left in the same place for over 20 years.

Is this why there is an increase in fly tipping? Should we expect a reduction in tax if we have to deal with it ourselves?

We have no problem with the

recycling waste pickup.

Russell Knight

Celebrate International Women’s Day BRISTOL Women’s Voice is once again hosting its fantastic free flagship annual event to celebrate International Women’s Day. The celebration takes place at City Hall and on College Green on Saturday March 2, from 10am-5pm.

Everyone is welcome, so bring your partners, friends, families and people from the community.

There is something for everyone, with over 50 activities showcasing women speakers, organisations and accessible activities that cover movement, art, film, debate, sport, employment, well-being and more.

Our International Women’s Day Celebration mobilises more than 300 Bristol women volunteering to make this event truly special.

City Hall is a fully accessible

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Panel discussion subjects include global feminisms, women in the built environment, women and health, the caring economy as well as breaking the barriers to women in sports.

You can learn to make a podcast with Ujima Radio, get involved with Black Women’s Theatre with Breathing Fire, take part in armchair yoga, get involved in crafting as protest or have your voice heard at the open mic space or the older women and the younger women’s forums.

There really is something for everyone.

For more information visit the website www.bristolwomensvoice. org.uk.

Bristol Women’s Voice works to make women’s equality a reality in Bristol through campaigning, connecting, and celebrating.

Claire Charras, Bristol Women’s Voice

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Mobile 07770944727 anytime including weekends

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

At Filton, we are making it easier for you to choose the right golf club Join Filton Golf Club before April 2024 and get up to 14 months for price of 12!

New members joining anytime before April 2024, paying the 2024 rate, will enjoy membership from the date of joining

We have various member rates to suit all ages and budgets Full 7 day Membership £1195 Intermediate Age rates starting at only £360 Corp rates starting at £2,100 +VAT

plus many more....

Visitor green fees starting at £18

Contact us now on: 0117 969 4169 admin@filtongolfclub.co.uk or use the QR code Function Room available to hire for all occasions Filton Golf Club, Golf Course Lane, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7QS